UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`15/890,863
`
`02/07/2018
`
`LEI HUANG
`
`731156.682C1
`
`8516
`
`Seed IP Law Group LLP/Panason1e
`701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`PHUNKULH' BOB A
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2412
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`11/27/2019
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
`
`following e—mail address(es):
`US PTOeACtion @ SeedIP .Com
`
`pairlinkdktg @ seedip .eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`017/09 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`15/890,863
`Examiner
`BOBA PHUNKULH
`
`Applicant(s)
`HUANG et al.
`Art Unit
`2412
`
`AIA (FITF) Status
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 the correspondence address -
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE g MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing
`date of this communication.
`|f NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, even if timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 9/18/2019.
`CI A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2a). This action is FINAL.
`
`2b) D This action is non-final.
`
`3)[:] An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`
`4):] Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Expade Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`5)
`
`Claim(s)
`
`1—4,10—13 and 20—31 is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`
`
`[:1 Claim(ss)_is/are allowed.
`
`Claim(ss) 1,3 —4, 10, 12— 13 and 20—31 is/are rejected.
`
`D Claim(s)2_and 11 is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`S)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`C] Claim(s
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`
`httpfiwww.”smogovmatentsflnit_events[pph[index.'§p or send an inquiry to PPeredhack@gsptg.ggv.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10):] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`is/are: a)[:| accepted or b)D objected to by the Examiner.
`11):] The drawing(s) filed on
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`
`12):] Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a)i:i All
`
`b)C] Some**
`
`c)C] None of the:
`
`1.1:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`2.[:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`
`SD Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`
`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`2) C] Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date_
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) E] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20191119
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 2
`
`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined
`
`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`This communication is in response to applicant’s 09/18/2019
`
`amendment/responses in the application of HUANG et al. for “COMMUNICATION
`
`METHOD AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS” filed 02/07/2018. The
`
`amendments/response to the claims have been entered. Claims 5-9, 14-19 have been
`
`canceled. Claims 20-31 have been added. Claims 1-4, 10-13, 20-31 are now pending.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed
`invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the
`claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have
`been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having
`ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be
`negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
`
`Claims 1, 10, 21-31 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over ZHANG et al. (US 2015/0146807 A1), hereinafter ZHANG in view of GRANDHI
`
`(US 2011/0261708 A1).
`
`Regarding ciam i. EHAMG discioscs a communication method implemented by a
`
`communication apparatus. the communication method comprising:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 3
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`tranemitting a sounding trarne eontorieing a training eignai (the AP tranernit the
`
`generated Sounding oaohet 498 inoinding the one or more eignaie to the oiient station,
`
`eee $3531 0841}; and
`
`receiving a tiret teedoaok frame from a oon‘imtinioation partner device, the tiret
`
`ieedhaoit irarne comprising tiret heanttorn'iing teedhaoh information and eohhand
`
`indication intorrnation (PEG. 48 is; a diagram of a feedback ioaoitet 450 that a chant
`
`station 25 ie oontignred to transmit to the AP i4 during the sounding procedure 46:“) ot
`
`Fifi, 4e, according to one etioh embodiment, in an embodiment, the feedback packet
`
`4-56 corresponds; to each at the feedback packets at 2 of Fifi. 4A.
`
`in an embodiment,
`
`the teedhaok packet 450 ta generated by a oiient Station 25 in reeoonse to receiving a
`
`sounding oaoket transmitted by the AP 14 to the ciient station 25 see ti ooan,
`
`wherein the first hearntorming feedback, information oorreeoende to an entire
`
`bandwidth (the feedback packet 45% ehown heamtorming feedback over entire BW, aee
`
`figure 48) or one or more euhhande, the one or more enohande being indicated by the
`
`soooand indication information {the teedoeoit packet 470 shown hearntorming teedioaok
`
`ever eeieoted OFDMA etihwohannei hieohe, eee tigore 4C and t (384143642).
`
`ZHANEE taiie to expiicitiy dieeioee that generating a sounding trarne oornorieing a
`
`training Signet.
`
`in the same tieid of endeavor. afiefiflfirdieoioees an AP incioding a processor
`
`tor generating a sounding trame incitiding training eymhoie to he measure by eaoh ot a
`
`eiuraiity ot STAe teee (3912423914).
`
`Ther'etore, it wonid have been obvious; to one having ordinary ekiii in the art at
`
`the time ot invention was tiied to inooroorate Gfiefififir’e teaching in the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 4
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`rfetworkfeyetem taught by Zfidflt}? for providing eigneiihg oreteetien mechanism fer
`
`greet} tranemieeioh ihveivihg two er mere devioee.
`
`Regarding strain: 28, ZHANQ‘ diecieeee the first feedback frartie ie transmitted
`
`together with at ieaet ehe eeeehd feedback frame by a indititieer traneniieeien (the
`
`feedback packet 450 inotudee beamfetming feedback ever entire SW and OFDMA
`
`feedback 456, see figure 48)“
`
`Regarding otairri 21, SHAME diecieeee the first beamtornting feedback
`
`inforntatieh oorresbehds te e biuratity of eubbende theitidihg the we er mere etibbehde,
`
`and the eubhand indication infoi‘ntatieh indicates the ptutatity ef eubbaride {a feedback
`
`packet 47% that a eiient etatieh 25 ie configured tc transmit te the AP i4 during the
`
`eedndihg broeedure 46% di‘ Fifi. (iii-t.“ The feedback packet 47%} ie generatiy the same
`
`ae the feedback packet 450, except that e beemietming bortieh 47E) ineitidee a
`
`beanttermihg feedback pcrtieh 474 that covers a bahdwidth that corteeeende te the one
`
`er more etibwchanhef biecke indicated by the OFDh’tA feedback bertien 456, see t (3648;
`
`where the OFDMA eertien 458 theitidee one or mere ei‘ (it indiea‘tiohe of one or mere
`
`preferred eubehennei bfoeke identified by the otient Station 25 baeed oh the Setihdihg
`
`frame transmitted by the AP M to the etient Station 25, see ti (2643}.
`
`Regarding ciairn 22, ZHANG dieeieeee the tiret feedback frame contbrieee a
`
`pturefity of subfiefde eenteihing the subbahd indicatieh information, and the oitiraiity ef
`
`euhfieide ihdieate ene cr ntete tehee eerteeeehdihg to tccatiene cf the pturaiity ef the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 5
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`eubbande in a frequency «domain (the beamtornting feedback over eetectee QFDMA
`
`eub~ehannei bioeke 474 oomptiees a pturatity of tieide (478, 480, 482), ineiudéng tone
`
`information fieie 482, see figure 45}.
`
`Regarding claim 23, ZHAMG diseioeee the one or more eebbande are resource
`
`unite for an OFDMA traneméssion (generating feedback tetated to quatity of eub—ohannet
`
`btooks for eeeten communication, eaoh citent station 25 deveteos, based on the
`
`training eignaie in the sounding patent-313408, beamtorming teedbaok, and provides the
`
`beatniorming feedback to the AP 14, see t 0041).
`
`Regarding etaim 24, KHANQ disoioses tne eubband indication information
`
`ineiueee one or more tenee corresponding to teeatione of the one or more enbbands in a
`
`frequency domain (the OFDMA portion 456 includes one or more of (i) indications of
`
`one or more preferred sub-channel blocks identified by the client station 25 based on
`
`the sounding frame transmitted by the AP 14 to the client station 25, (ii) indications of
`
`order of preference of multiple preferred sub-channel blocks identified by the particular
`
`station 25 based on the sounding frame based on the sounding frame transmitted by
`
`the AP 14 to the client station 25, see 11 0043).
`
`Regarding otaim 25, ZHANQ‘ dieeioees the one or more tenee oon‘eepono to a
`
`width of the one er more eobbanee (the OFDMA portion 456 includes one or more of (i)
`
`indications of one or more preferred sub-channel blocks identified by the client station
`
`25 based on the sounding frame transmitted by the AP 14 to the client station 25, (ii)
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 6
`
`indications of order of preference of multiple preferred sub-channel blocks identified by
`
`the particular station 25 based on the sounding frame based on the sounding frame
`
`transmitted by the AP 14 to the client station 25, see 11 0043).
`
`Regarding ciaim 10, married discfoses a communication apparatus; comprising:
`
`an antenna which, in operation, transmit a sounding frame comprising a training
`
`signaf {the AP transmit the generated sounding packet 408 inofuding the one or more
`
`signais to the ciient stationg see ft 0037, (3041); and
`
`receive a first feedback frame from a communication partner device, the first
`
`feedback frame comprising first beamforming feedback information and snboand
`
`indication information {Fit} 43 is a diagram of a feedback packet 450 that a eiient
`
`station 25 is configured to transmit to the AP i4 during the sounding erect-adore 406.”: of
`
`HG. 4A, according to one such embodiment. in an embodiment, the feedback packet
`
`450 corresponds to each of the feedback packets 412 of Fit}. 4A.
`
`in an embodiment,
`
`the feedback packet 450 is generated by a oiient station 25 in response to receiving a
`
`sounding packet transmitted by the AP 14 to the ciient station 25 see if 0011f),
`
`wherein the first beamtorming feedback information corresponds to an entire
`
`bandwidth (the feedback packet 455:) shown beamforming feedback over entire 8W, see
`
`figure diff} or one or more subbands, the one or more subbands being indicated by the
`
`subband indication information (the feedback packet 4ft) shown beamforming feedback
`
`over seiected OFDMA stibvchannei bfocks, see figure 4C and ti 0941~0942).
`
`fodftftéi faifs to exbficitfy disciose that generating a sounding frame comprising a
`
`training signai.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 7
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`fh the same tfeid cf endeaver, GRANBHidieeieaee art AP ft’tefudirtg a breeeeecr
`
`fer generating a eeur‘adfhg frame ihetudihg training eymbcfe te be measure by each at a
`
`bfuraiity bf Sifts (see (13612—613614).
`
`Thereiereg it weuici have been ebvieee to cne having brdihary ekiif in the art at
`
`the time at inventfcn was fiied te irieerberate GRANEHFS teaching in the
`
`nefwerh/eyefem taught by ZHANG ier brevidihg aigrtaifng bretectieh mechanism tct
`
`grcnb trahemieefch fnveivfhg twc er mere devices.
`
`Regardihg cfairrf 26, SHAME diacieeee the first ieedback frame is; traherrfftted
`
`fegethet with at ieaef: ehe eeechd feedback frame by a thuifieeer frariemfeeieh (the
`
`feedback packet 459 ihcfudee beamfermihg feedback ever entire SW and OFBMA
`
`feedback 458, see figure 48)"
`
`Regarding cfairh 273 EHANG dfeciceee the first beamferrhihg feedback
`
`infermatfen cerrespcnda te a bfurafity cf eubbahde fnciudihg the cane er mere eubbahde,
`
`and the eubbahd iitdicaticrt Ehfdrinatfeh indicates the pfurafity bf etfbbartde (a feedback,
`
`packet are that a chant etahen 25 is certffgtfred tb trahamit ta the AP 14- derihg the
`
`eeuhdfng breeedure 40E) of Fifi. 4A... The ieedbaek packet 47G Ee generaiiy the aame
`
`as the feedback packet 450‘, except that a beamtcrmfhg portion are iiiCitideS a
`
`beathicrrrrfng feedback certfcn 474 that cat/ere a bandwidth that ccrteebehde te the {the
`
`ct more anbvchahhef biccke fhdicafed by the QFDMA feedback bertieh 456, aee if 0948;
`
`where the GFDMA berfieh 456 fnciudee brie or there at (i) ihdieatfehe at we er there
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 8
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`preferred sub—channei bioche identified by the ciieht station 25 based on the sounding
`
`heme transmitted by the AP 14 to the oiient station 25, eee fit 0943),
`
`Regarding ctairn 28, ZHANQ‘ diecieeee the first feedback frame cemerieee a
`
`piuraiity of eubtieide oentatning the eubband indication itiifii’matifli‘t; and the einraiity ot
`
`etibtieide indicate one or more tones ceneebonding to tocatione of the pturaiity ot the
`
`subbande in a frequency domain (the beamiorming feedback over eetected OFDMA
`
`etib~chanhei biecke 474 comerieee a piuraiity et iieide {4?8, 480, 482), inciuding tone
`
`interr‘nation tieid 482, eee iigtire 4C).
`
`Regarding claim 29, zfidifiifi dieeioeee the one or more sobbande are resource
`
`unite ter an OFDMA transmission (generating feedback reiated tc quatity ct $tib'8hc’lti‘ittet
`
`btecke tor DFDMA communication, each oiient etatton 25 deveioee, beaed en the
`
`training signate in the eotinding packet 408, beamtorming feedback, and provides the
`
`beanitorniing feedback to the AP t4, eee fit eozn Ti,
`
`Regarding otairn 3t), fHdNé’i-‘t diecioeee the eubband indication ii‘tifii’matifli“!
`
`inctudes one or more tenets corr‘eeponding to tocatione of the one or mere enbbande in a
`
`ireeuency domain (the OFDMA portion 456 includes one or more of (i) indications of
`
`one or more preferred sub-channel blocks identified by the client station 25 based on
`
`the sounding frame transmitted by the AP 14 to the client station 25, (ii) indications of
`
`order of preference of multiple preferred sub-channel blocks identified by the particular
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 9
`
`station 25 based on the sounding frame based on the sounding frame transmitted by
`
`the AP 14 to the client station 25, see 11 0043).
`
`Regarding cieirn 31, ZHANQ‘ disoicses the one or more tones correspond to a
`
`width of the one or more sobbends (the OFDMA portion 456 includes one or more of (i)
`
`indications of one or more preferred sub-channel blocks identified by the client station
`
`25 based on the sounding frame transmitted by the AP 14 to the client station 25, (ii)
`
`indications of order of preference of multiple preferred sub-channel blocks identified by
`
`the particular station 25 based on the sounding frame based on the sounding frame
`
`transmitted by the AP 14 to the client station 25, see 11 0043).
`
`Claims 3-4, 12-13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over the combination of ZHANG—GRANDHI as applied to claims 20 or 26 above, and
`
`further in view of KWON et al. (US 2016/0242195 A1), hereinafter KWON.
`
`Regarding cieims Surf, 124 3, the combination of fiffifitfiffififif‘ffififtaiis to
`
`discfoses the first feedback frame and the at feast one second feedback frame,
`
`transmitted by the ntuitinser transmission, comprise first power centroi information or
`
`transmitting a frame comprising second power controi information before receiving the
`
`first feedback frame.
`
`In the same field of endeavor, KWON discloses the STAs may transmit a
`
`feedback including power related information in an OFDMA system (see 11 0075).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at
`
`the time of invention was filed to incorporate KWONs teaching in the network/system
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 10
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`taught by the combination of ZHANG—GRANDHI in order to provide power control
`
`between serving AP node and the plurality of STAs in the AP’s serving area.
`
`Allowable Subject Matter
`
`Claims 2, 11 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but
`
`would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the
`
`base claim and any intervening claims.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-4, 10-13 have been considered
`
`but are moot because the arguments do not apply to any of the references being used
`
`in the current rejection.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection
`
`presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See
`
`MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in
`
`37 CFR1.136(a).
`
`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE
`
`MONTHS from the mailing date of this action.
`
`In the event a first reply is filed within
`
`TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not
`
`mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the
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`shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 11
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`extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of
`
`the advisory action.
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`In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later
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`than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.
`
`Any response to this action should be mailed to:
`
`The following address mail to be delivered by the United States Postal
`Service (USPS) only:
`
`Mail Stop
`Commissioner for Patents
`
`P. O. Box 1450
`
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`or faxed to:
`
`(571) 273-8300, (for formal communications intended for entry)
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to Bob A. Phunkulh whose telephone number is (571)
`
`272-3083. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Thursday from 8:00 AM.
`
`to 5:00 PM. (first week of the bi-week) and Monday-Friday (for second week of the bi-
`
`week).
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor CHARLES C. JIANG can be reach on (571) 270-7191.
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
`
`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
`
`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
`
`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
`
`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 12
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`you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
`
`Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
`
`/BOB A PHUNKULH/
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2412
`
`