Datum Blatt ‘Anmetde-Ne date cf Form 1507 Sheet 1 amtesion 16 901 231.7 Date Feullo s 7 ‘The examination is being cartied out on the following application documents Description, Pages 31-48 1-30 as published filed with entry into the regional phase before the EPO Claims, Numbers 115 filed with entry into the regional phase before the EPO Drawings, Sheets 113-1313 filed with entry into the regional phase before the EPO. D1 D2 D3 D4 DS Dé Cited Documents Reference is made to the following documents; the numbering will be adhered to in the rest of the procedure. US 2015/230134 A1 (CHIBA TSUNEHIKO [JP] ET AL) 13 August 2015 (2015-08-13) ERICSSON: "Updates to Intra-LTE handover in 36.300", 3GPP DRAFT; R3-061945, XP050160823 US 2015/351061 A1 (KIM BONGHOE [KR] ET AL) 3 December 2015 (2015-12-03) WO 2018/115737 At (LG ELECTRONICS INC [KR]) 6 August 2015 (2015-08-06) US 2013/188473 At (DINAN ESMAEL HEJAZI [US]) 25 July 2013 (2013-07-25) US 2014/226481 A1 (DAHOD ASHRAF M [US] ET AL) 14 August 2014 (2014-08-14) PO Form 170301 997AIAnmelde-Nr Datum aun date cf Form 1507 Sheet 2, amtesion 16 901 231.7 Date Feullo Domanda.n! 2 Lack of Unity (Art. 82 EPC) The application lacks unity within the meaning of Article 82 EPC, for the reasons detailed below. 21 Non-Unity Subjects The following groups of inventions have been found: Invention I - claims: 1-8 Independent claim 1 and dependent claims 2-8 relate to a method executed ina control node, comprising: (F1) generating a first transmission configuration message, (F2) said first message containing transmission configuration information of at least one first serving cell of a UE, (F3) said transmission configuration information containing transmission scheme information and/or PHY parameter information and corresponding transmission resource pool information, (F4) the at least one serving cell belonging to a first transmission node, and (F5) sending said first message by the control node to the first transmission node. Invention Il - claim: 9 Independent claim 9 relates to a method executed in a first transmission node comprising: (F5) receiving a first transmission configuration message sent by a control node, (F2) said first message containing transmission configuration information of at least one first serving cell (F4) of the first transmission node, (F3) said transmission configuration information containing transmission scheme information and/or PHY parameter information and corresponding transmission resource pool information, and (F6) performing, by the first transmission, communication with the UE through the saif first serving cell(s) according to said first message. Invention Il - claims: 10-15 Independent claims 10 and 15 and dependent claims 11-14 relate to a method executed in a UE (and the corresponding UE) comprising: (F7) receiving by a UE a second transmission configuration message sent by a control node, (F8) said second message containing transmission configuration information of at least one serving cell of the UE, (F3) said transmission configuration information containing transmission scheme EO Form 1708 01 9°7RIoo Pa Anmelde-Nr Date cf Form 1507 sheet 3 Appteation 16 901 231.7 No Date Feuille x . information and/or PHY parameter information and corresponding transmission resource pool information, and (F9) performing, by the UE, communication with the at least one serving cell according to said second message. 2.2 Non-Unity Reasoning The reasons for which the inventions are not so linked as to form a single general inventive concept, as required by Article 82 EPC, are described in the following. Common Concept of the Identified Separate Inventions The only common concept linking together said groups of inventions are the following features - (C1) acontrol node, - (C2) a terminal equipment and - (C3) a transmission configuration message, wherein the transmission configuration message contains: - (C4) transmission configuration information of each of at least one serving cell; - (C8) the transmission configuration information of each serving cell comprises transmission scheme information - (C6) and/or Physical, PHY, parameter information of each of at least one transmission configuration set of the serving cell; - (C7) and transmission resource pool information corresponding to the transmission scheme information - (C8) and/or the PHY parameter information The common concept is neither new nor inventive since features (C1), (C2), (C3), (C4), (C5) and/or (C6), (C7) and/or (C8) are well-known in the field of wireless communications. For example, document D2 discloses according to all features of said common concept, see e.g. in section 10.1.2.1.1 on page 6 and in Figure 10.1.2.1.1-1 on page 5: FO Form 170901 977AAnmelde-Nr nppieaton 16 901 231.7 Domanda.n! Datum Blatt Date cf Form 1507 sheet 4 Date Feuille - "Source eNB" (C1), IE" (C2), -"4. HO Request” "The source eNB issues a HANDOVER REQUEST message to the target eNB passing necessary information to prepare the HO at the target side"(C3), ~ “target cell ID" (C4), - "UE X2 signalling context reference at source eNB, UE St EPC signalling context reference" (C5) and (C7), - "E-RAB context and physical layer ID of the source cell” (C6) - "The E-RAB context includes necessary RNL and TNL addressing information, and QoS profiles of the E-RABs" (C6) and (C8). Potentially Special Technical Features of the Identified Separate Inventions and Objective Technical Problems The groups of claims corresponding to the inventions specified above can also be unambiguously identified in the light of the description as separate inventions each set out to solve a different technical problem Invention I: With reference to prior art, the first invention yields the potentially special technical features (F1) and (F5) mentioned above. The technical effect generated by feature (F5) is that another node is informed about transmission configuration information, Hence, the objective technical problem may be regarded as how to share transmission configuration information regarding the serving cell of a UE between a first node and a second node. Invention Il: With reference to prior art, the second invention yields the potentially special technical feature (F6) mentioned above. The technical effect generated by feature (F6) is that a communication link is established between a UE and a first serving cell of a transmission node.Anmelde-Nr Datum aun date cf Form 1507 Sheet 5 amtesion 16 901 231.7 Date Feullo Hence, the objective technical problem may be regarded as how to. establish a communication link between a UE and a second node Invention Ill: With reference to prior art, the second invention yields the potentially special technical features (F7), (F8) and (F9) mentioned above. The technical effect of those potentially special technical features is that a first node reconfigures a communication link between a UE and a first serving cell of the UE. Hence, the objective technical problem may be regarded as how to reconfigure by a a first node the communication between a UE anda first serving cell of the UE. Consequently, neither the objective technical problems underlying the subjects of the claimed inventions nor the solutions as defined by the special technical features (see summary of the inventions above) allow for a common inventive concept to be established between said inventions. As the claims comprise neither the same, nor corresponding special technical features, the technical relationship between the subject matter of the claims required by Rule 44 EPC is lacking and the claims are not so linked as to form a single general inventive concept. The application does not fulfil the requirement for unity of invention in the sense of Article 82 EPC. 23 Further Prosecution of the Application The applicant paid one additional search fees for claims 10-15 defining Invention ill which have consequently been covered by the supplementary European search report The Applicant is asked to state upon which of the searched inventions the further prosecution of this application should be based and to limit the application accordingly. The other inventions are to be excised from the claims, description and drawings.Datum Date bate 34 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Bat Anmelde-Nr cf Form 1507 Sheet 6 Apoieation 46 99) 231.7 No Feulle Ne ada ne Lack of Clarity (Art. 84 EPC} The following observations are made with respect to the first and the third group of inventions as identified in item 2.1 above. The current application does not comply with the requirements of Article 84 EPC for the objections described below. Claims 1 and 10 are not clear since the formulation "Physical parameter information" is vague and ambiguous. Based on the description, it is assumed that the Applicant means "physical layer, PHY, parameter information”, but this is not unambiguously derivable from the present formulation of the claim. It appears that the description offers definitions in more concrete terms related to clearly limiting technical feature, e.g. "the PHY parameter information includes at least one of a subcarrier spacing, a frame structure, a chip rate or a common control channel configuration’. Claims 1 and 10 are not clear since the formulation “transmission scheme information” is vague and ambiguous, the limiting technical features to which it relates is unclear and for the skilled person the sought scope of protection is unclear. It appears however, that the description offers a definition in more concrete terms, e.g. "the transmission scheme information includes at least one of a duplex manner or a multiple access scheme" Claims 1 and 10 are not clear since the formulation "transmission resource pool information " is vague and ambiguous, the limiting technical features to which it relates is unclear and for the skilled person the sought scope of protection is unclear. It appears however, that the description offers a definition in more concrete terms, e.g. "the transmission resource pool information includes at least one of a time-domain resource, a frequency- domain resource, a code-domain resource or a space-domain resource”, Claims 1 and 10 are not clear since the formulations "control node” “transmission node" are vague and ambiguous as formulations encompass different concepts like control network node, access node, cell, wired or wireless network node from the claims alone. Nonetheless, there is no support in the description for the whole ambit of the claims. Claim 12 is not clear since it is not clear to which limiting technical features the formulation "serial number information of the at least one transmission configuration set of the serving cell" refers to.Datum Date bate 3.6 37 3.8 Bat Anmelde-Nr cf Form 1507 Sheet 7 Apoieation 46 99) 231.7 No Feulle Ne ada ne Claim 13 is not clear since it is not clear to which limiting technical features the formulation "serial number information of the at least one transmission configuration set corresponding to each of the at least one UL grant” refers to. Claim 14 is not concise as the reference to "any one of claims 10-13" in conjunction with the alternatives in claim 14 make it obscure and difficult to construe (Artic! e 84 EPC and Rule 43(4) EPC, see also EPO Guidelines F- 1V, 3.7). In order to avoid this problem, the expressions resulting from features connected by the word “or should be replaced by clear formulations (e.g., expressions without that word), in separate claims representing each of the alternatives (i.e., each alternative should be claimed by using the dependent form in a separate single claim) Claim 15 is not clear since it claims a device implementing the method steps according to any of claims 10 to 14. However, claims 10 to 14 refer to steps that are performed by different devices, namely either by a terminal equipment or a transmission node. Thus, the sought scope of protection is not clear. One possibility to overcome this objection is to claim a system comprising the different devices. Novelty and Inventive Step (Art. 52(1), 54 and 56 EPC) The following observations are made with respect to the first and third group of inventions as identified in item 2.1 above. Notwithstanding the above-mentioned lack of clarity in item 3 and as far as the claims can be understood, the present application does not meet the requirements of Article 52(1) EPC for the reasons described below. Invention | 44 444 Independent Cl: 1 In so far as this claim can be understood, document D1 discloses, according to all the features of claim 1 (the references in parentheses applying to D1)oo Pa Anmelde-Nr Date cf Form 1507 shest 8 Appteation 16 901 231. 0% Feull ne ate ule ae a A communication method, characterized by comprising (see the the procedure illustrated in Figure 2: "performing Radio-Resource-Control (RRC) connection handover from a Master evolved-Node-B (MeNB) to a Secondary evolved-Node-B (SeNB)"): - (F1) generating, by a control node, a first transmission configuration message (see in Figure 2: "2. decide RRC connection handover to the SeNB"; in paragraph 58: "At step 2, the MeNB decides to handover the RRC connection to the SeNB"), (F2) wherein the first transmission configuration message contains transmission configuration information of each of at least one first serving cell of a terminal equipment, (F3) the transmission configuration information of each first serving cell comprises transmission scheme information and/or Physical, PHY, parameter information of each of at least one transmission configuration set of the first serving cell, and transmission resource pool information corresponding to the transmission scheme information and/or the PHY parameter information (see in paragraph 58: "At step 3, the MeNB then performs handover preparation with the SeNB, along with the retrieving of a timing advance value measured at the SeNB", the "timing advance value measured at the SeNB" being a PHY parameter of at least one transmission configuration set of the first serving cell; see also in Fig. 2: "3. X2 Handover Reg/Ack (timing advance information retrieval)"; itis also to be noted that itis well-known in the field of wireless telecommunications that handover signalling contains transmission configuration information regarding transmission schemes, modes, frequency and time resources etc.), (F4) and the at least one first serving cell belongs to a first transmission node (see in paragraph 61: "If the new cell matches the last-connected SeNB"); - (F5) and sending, by the control node, the first transmission configuration message to the first transmission node (see in Figure 2: "3. X2 Handover Regj/Ack [...]"; in paragraph 58: "At step 3, the MeNB then performs handover preparation with the SeNB [...]") The subject-matter of claim 1 is therefore not new, Articles 52(1) and 54(1)(2) EPC and consequently, said claim is not allowable. 4.1.2 Itis to be noted that the scope of claim 1 is so broad, that also Fig. 3 of document D1 is novelty harming, see in particular paragraphs 59-61oo Pa Anmelde-Nr Date cf Form 1507 sheet 9 Appteation 16 901 231.7 0% Feull ne ate ule ae a 4.2 Dependent Claims 2-8 Dependent claims 2-8 do not appear to contain any additional features which, in combination with the features of any claim to which they refer, meet the requirements of the EPC with respect to novelty, Article 52(1) and 54(1)(2) EPC or inventive step, Articles 52(1) and 56 EPC, for the reason that the subject-matter of said claims is already disclosed in document D1, represents obvious implementation choices and/or minor technical modifications that are well-known in the field of wireless telecommunications. See for example in D1 - for claim 3: paragraph 58, Fig. 2: "3. X2 Handover Req/Ack [..."; = for claim 4 paragraph 58: "At step 4, the MeNB then sends RRC-Reconfiguration information to the UE (which includes the retrieved timing-advance value and mobility information). Upon receiving the RRC-Reconfiguration information with the mobility information and the timing-advance value", Fig. 2. "4. RRC Reconfiguration’. The additional features of claims 2 and 5-8 represents obvious implemen- tation choices and/or minor technical modifications that are well-known in the field of telecommunications which the skilled person would choose without exercising any inventive skill. Therefore, dependent claims 2-8 do not meet the requirements of Article 52(1) EPC in combination with either Article 54(1)(2) EPC or Article 56 EPC and hence, said claims are not allowable. Invention iit 4.3 Independent Claim 10 In so far as this claim can be understood, document D3 discloses, according to all the features of claim 10 (the references in parentheses applying to D3):Anmelde-Nr baru aust bate” cf Form 1507 sheet 10 Apoteaton 16 901 231.7 bate Feat Domanda n* A method for communication, characterized by comprising - (F7) receiving (S212), by a terminal equipment, a second transmission configuration message sent by a control node (see in Fig. 12 step $1230 "S cell information” and in paragraph 206: "The P cell [...] may transmit a cell addition command message [...] to the user equipment’, wherein the user equipment is the terminal equipment and the control node is be P cell), (F8) the second transmission configuration message containing transmission configuration information of each of at least one serving cell of the terminal equipment (see in paragraph 206: "[.. a cell addition command message, which includes S cell information on one or more S cells which will be able to be added, to the user equipment, wherein the at least one serving cell is considered to be the one or more S cells, the second transmission configuration message is the cell addition command, and the configuration information is the the S cell information), and (F3) the transmission configuration information of each serving cell comprising transmission scheme information and/or Physical, PHY, parameter information of each of at least one transmission configuration set of the serving cell and transmission resource pool information corresponding to the transmission scheme information and/or the PHY parameter information (see in paragraph 206: "the S cell information may include one or more information of a cell identifier for a target cell (that is, $ cell) where the user equipment will perform the RACH procedure, action frequency of the S cell and a list of candidate S cells (S1230)", wherein the information comprised by the transmission configuration information is the cell identifier, action frequency, S cells candidate lists and parameters well-known in the field to be transmitted in the RACH procedure); and - (F9) performing ($214), by the terminal equipment, communication with the at least one serving cell according to the second transmission configuration message (see in paragraph 209: "The user equipment may perform the RACH procedure with the cell’; see also in paragraph 211: "After successfully performing the RACH procedure, the user equipment may transmit § cell indication information to the S cell [...)") The subject-matter of claim 1 is therefore not new, Articles 52(1) and 54(1)(2) EPC and consequently, said claim is not allowable.Anmelde-Nr Datum ait vae cf Form 1507 shet 11 Aepieaton 16 901 231.7 Date Full a 44 Claim 15 The subject-matter of claim 15 defines a device that refers to method claim 11 which is not new. The subject-matter of claim 1 is therefore not new, Articles 52(1) and §4(1)(2) EPC and consequently, said claim is not allowable. 45 Dependent Claims 11-14 Dependent claims 11-14 do not appear to contain any additional features which, in combination with the features of any claim to which they refer, meet the requirements of the EPC with respect to inventive step, Articles 52(1) and 56 EPC, for the reason that the subject-matter of said claims is obviously derivable from document D3, or is directly derivable from the combination of the teachings of document D3 with the teachings of documents D4 or DS or D6, represents obvious implementation choices and/or minor technical modifications that are well-known in the field of wireless telecommunications. See for example: - for claim 12: see in D4: in paragraph 165: "This function allows decreasing energy consumption by enabling indication of cell activation/deactivation” see in D5: in paragraph 83: "deactivation timer for each secondary cell in plurality of secondary cells" and in paragraph 107: "maintain an SCellDeactivationTimer timer per configured SCell and may deactivate the associated SCell upon its expi The additional features of claims 11, 13 and 14 represents obvious implementation choices and/or minor technical modifications that are well- known in the field of telecommunications which the skilled person would choose without exercising any inventive skill Therefore, dependent claims 11-14 do not meet the requirements of Article 52(1) EPC in combination with either Article 54(1)(2) EPC or Article 56 EPC and hence, said claims are not allowable.Datum Date bate 5.2 61 6.2 6.3 64 65 Pa Anmelde-Nr cf Form 1507 Shest 12 Appteation 16 901 231.7 Full ne eulte Damani Further Objections To meet the requirements of Rule 42(1)(b) EPC, at least document D1 for the first invention and documents D3 to D5 for the third invention should be identified in the description and the relevant background art disclosed therein should be briefly discussed. The independent claims are not in the two-part form in accordance with Rule 43(1) EPC, which in the present case would be appropriate, with those features known in combination from the prior art being placed in the preamble (Rule 43(1)(a) EPC) and the remaining features being included in the characterising part (Rule 43(1)(b) EPC). The independent claims should therefore be redrafted accordingly. However, if the Applicant is of the opinion that the two-part form would be inappropriate, reasons therefor should be provided. In addition, the Applicant should ensure that it is clear from the description which features of the subject-matter of said claims are already known in combination from the prior art documents (see Guidelines F-IV, 2.3.2). Procedure The applicant is invited to file new claims which take account of the above and also the following comments ‘Any new independent claim should be drafted in the proper two-part “characterised” form recommended by Rule 43(1) EPC, having a preamble that correctly reflects the nearest prior art. The features of the claims should be provided with reference signs placed in parentheses to increase the intelligibility of the claims (Rule 43(7) EPC). This applies to both the preamble and characterising portion (see Guidelines F-IV, 4.19). The opening part of the description should be modified to bring it into agreement with any new independent claim (see Rule 42(1)(c) EPC). The attention of the Applicant is drawn to the fact that the application may not be amended in such a way that it contains subject-matter which extends beyond the content of the application as filed (see Article 123(2) EPC). In order to comply with the requirements of Rule 137(4) EPC to facilitate the examination of the conformity of the amended application with the requirements of Article 123(2) EPC, the applicant should clearly identity theoo Pa Anmelde-Nr Date cf Form 1507 Shest 13 Appteation 16 901 231.7 0% Full ne ate ule a amendments made, irrespective of whether they concern amendments by addition, replacement or deletion, and indicate the passages of the application as filed on which these amendments are based (see Guidelines H-lll, 2.1) 6.6 Amendments should be made by filing replacement pages only for those pages which have been amended. Unnecessary recasting of the description should be avoided. An amended abstract is not required. The Applicant should also take account of the requirements of Rules 49(8) and 50(1) EPC which are now strictly applied by the EPO, i.e. the EPO does not accept handwritten amendments anymore (OJ EPO 2013/6083). PO Form 170301 997AI