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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`16/63 1,637
`
`01/16/2020
`
`TETSUYA YAMAMOTO
`
`731456.556USPC
`
`5254
`
`Seed IP Law Group LLP/Panasonic (PIPCA)
`701 5th Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`OVEISSI, MANSOUR
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2415
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`06/17/2021
`
`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):
`USPTOeAction @ SeedIP.com
`
`pairlinkdktg @seedip.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-27 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) 1-15 is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`() Claim(s)__ is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 16-27 is/are rejected.
`S)
`) © Claim(s)___is/are objected to.
`C] Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`S)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`http:/Awww.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) )
`
`Application Papers
`10)() The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11) The drawing(s)filed on 16 January 2021 is/are: a) accepted or b)C] objected to by the Examiner.
`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:
`c)() None ofthe:
`b)( Some**
`a) All
`1.4) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.1.) 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)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) (J Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`4)
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20210602
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/631 ,637
`YAMAMOTOetal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`David M OVEISSI
`2415
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEofthis communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing
`date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHSfrom 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, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s)filed on 24 July 2020.
`C) A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)L) This action is FINAL. 2b)¥)This action is non-final.
`3)02 An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4\0) 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 Exparte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/631 ,637
`Art Unit: 2415
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`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
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`1.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined
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`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Claims 1-15 have been cancelled.
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`Status of Claims
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`2. This Office Action is in responseto the application filed on 07/24/202020. Claims
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`16 through 27 are presently pending and are presented for examination.
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`Examiner’s note
`
`3.
`
`Inthe event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA
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`35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 108)is incorrect,
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`any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new
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`ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection,
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`would be the same under either status.
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`Claim Objections
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`4.
`
`Claim 27 is objected to becauseof the following informalities: Claim 27 recites
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`“the communication method...”. Claim 27 must recites “A communication method...”.
`
`Appropriate correction is required.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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`5.
`
`The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
`
`(a) INGENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the
`invention, and of the manner and process of making and usingit, in such full, clear, concise,
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/631 ,637
`Art Unit: 2415
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`Page 3
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`and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with whichit
`is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode
`contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
`
`The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 112:
`
`The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the
`manner and process of making and usingit, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to
`enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with whichit is most nearly
`connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the
`inventor of carrying out his invention.
`
`Claims 25-26 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA),
`
`first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The
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`claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a
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`way as to reasonably conveyto one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint
`
`inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time
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`the application wasfiled, had possession of the claimed invention.
`
`Claims 25-26 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA),
`
`first paragraph, becausetherecite the limitation “configured information and dedicated
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`signal’. The specification does not disclosethis limitation therefore, it is considered new
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`matter.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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`6.
`
`Claims 25-26 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA),
`
`second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly
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`claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject
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`to pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/631 ,637
`Art Unit: 2415
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`Page 4
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`Claims 25-26 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA),
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`second paragraph becausetheyrecite the limitation “ determines the cyclic shift based
`
`on information configured prior to receiving a signal dedicated to the terminal” It is not
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`clear how information is configured. It is also it is not clear what does the dedicated
`
`signal do.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`7.
`
`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that
`
`form the basis for the rejections under this section madein this Office action:
`
`A personshall be entitled to a patent unless —
`
`(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an
`application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the
`patent or application, as the case may be, namesanother inventor and waseffectively filed
`before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
`
`Claims 16-22 and 24-27 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) (2) as being
`
`anticipated by Matsumuraet al. (US 2020/0170005 a1).
`
`For claim 16 Matsumura teachesa terminal comprising:
`
`circuitry, which, in operation, determines a cyclic shift depending on uplink
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`control information out of a plurality of available cyclic shifts that are a part of 12 cyclic
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`shifts (see claim 7 “a control section that determines a cyclic shift used for transmission
`
`of an uplink control information...a transmitting section that transmits the uplink control
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`information channel’ and paragraph 68 “12 cyclic shift’); and
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`a transmitter, which, in operation, transmits the uplink control information using
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`the cyclic shift (see claim 7 “a control section that determines a cyclic shift used for
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/631 ,637
`Art Unit: 2415
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`Page 5
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`transmission of an uplink control information...a transmitting section that transmits the
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`uplink control information channel’).
`
`For claim 17 Matsumurateaches the terminal, wherein a number of the plurality
`
`of available cyclic shifts is restricted (see paragraph 68 “maximum available cyclic shift
`
`is 12” and paragraph 140 “cyclic shift candidate set is based on the minimum and
`
`maximum CCE”).
`
`For claim 18 Matsumurateaches the terminal, wherein a number of the plurality
`
`of available cyclic shifts is less than 12 (see paragraph 68 “maximum available cyclic
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`shift is 12” and paragraph 140 “cyclic shift candidate set is based on the minimum and
`
`maximum CCE”).
`
`For claim 19 Matsumura teaches the terminal, wherein the uplink control
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`information has 1 or 2 bits (see paragraph 68 “2-bit UCI”).
`
`For claim 20 Matsumura teaches the terminal, wherein the transmitter, in
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`operation, transmits the uplink control information on a short PUCCH (physical uplink
`
`control channel) of 1 or 2 symbols (see paragraph 68 “UCIis transmitted over
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`PUCCH’).
`
`For claim 21 Matsumura teaches the terminal, wherein the uplink control
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`information includes at least one of ACK or NACK,and the circuitry, in operation,
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/631 ,637
`Art Unit: 2415
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`Page 6
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`determinesthe cyclic shift depending on said at least one of ACK or NACK (see
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`paragraph 64 “UCI values 00, 01, 11, and 10 may correspond to a NACK-NACK,
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`NACK-ACK, ACK-ACK, AND ACK-NACk’).
`
`For claim 22 Matsumurateaches the terminal, wherein each of the plurality of
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`available cyclic shifts is associated with at least one of ACK or NACK,one of two cyclic
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`shifts that are next to each other out of the plurality of available cyclic shifts is
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`associated with ACK, and the other of the two cyclic shifts is associated with NACK (see
`
`paragraph 64 “UCI values 00, 01, 11, and 10 may correspond to a NACK-NACK,
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`NACK-ACK, ACK-ACK, AND ACK-NACk’).
`
`For claim 24 Matsumura teaches the terminal, comprising, a receiver, which, in
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`operation, receives information related to a PUCCH (physical uplink control channel)
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`resource, wherein the circuitry, in operation, determines the cyclic shift based on the
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`information (see paragraph 140 “UE may identify a cyclic shift candidate setfor a
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`sequence-based PUCCHbased on a CCE (Control Channel Element) index of the
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`PDCCH(DCI)”).
`
`For claim 25 Matsumura teaches the terminal, wherein the circuitry, in operation,
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`determines the cyclic shift based on information configured prior to receiving a signal
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`dedicated to the terminal (see paragraph 133 “estimate cyclic shift amount based on the
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`result of channel estimation’).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/631 ,637
`Art Unit: 2415
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`Page 7
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`For claim 26 Matsumura teaches the terminal, wherein the circuitry, in operation,
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`determines the cyclic shift based on both information configured prior to receiving a
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`signal dedicated to the terminal and the signal dedicated to the terminal (see paragraph
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`133 “estimate cyclic shift amount based on the result of channel estimation’).
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`For claim 27 Matsumura teaches the communication method comprising:
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`determining a cyclic shift depending on uplink control information out of a plurality
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`of available cyclic shifts that are a part of 12 cyclic shifts (as discussed in claim 1); and
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`transmitting the uplink control information using the cyclic shift (as discussed in
`
`claim 1).
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`8.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousnessrejections setforth 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 23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
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`Matsumurain view of Zhou etal. (US 2014/0334431 A1).
`
`For claim 23 Matsumura does notexplicitly teach the terminal, wherein a cyclic
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`shift allocated to one terminal has a given offset that is added to a cyclic shift allocated
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`to another terminal out of the plurality of available cyclic shifts.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/631 ,637
`Art Unit: 2415
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`Page 8
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`However, Zhou teaches the networkside device sends different cyclic shift value
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`offset information to UEs in different groups, so that the UEs generate control signals
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`according to the cyclic shift value offset information and send the control signals and the
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`network side device determines cyclic shift values used by the UEs according to the
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`cyclic shift value offset information, and detects the control signals sent by the UEs
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`according to the cyclic shift values (see Zhou: Fig. 1 “S10 2 & S20 3”).
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`Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before
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`the filing date of claimed invention to use the teachings of Zhou in the cyclic shift
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`generation of Matsumurain order for the network side device sendsdifferent cyclic shift
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`value offset information to UEs in different groups, so that the UEs generate control
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`signals according to the cyclic shift value offset information and send the control signals
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`and the network side device determines cyclic shift values used by the UEs according to
`
`the cyclic shift value offset information, and detects the control signals sent by the UEs
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`according to the cyclic shift values (see Zhou: Fig. 1 “S10 2 & S20 3”).
`
`Conclusion
`
`9.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to David M OVEISSI whosetelephone number is
`
`(571)270-3127. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday 8Am-5PM.
`
`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video
`
`conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-basedcollaboration tool. To schedule an
`
`interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request
`
`(AIR) at http:/Awww.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/631 ,637
`Art Unit: 2415
`
`Page 9
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's
`
`supervisor, Jeffey Rutkowski can be reached on 01215. The fax phone number for the
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`organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`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 https://ppair-
`
`my.uspto.gov/pair/PrivatePair. Should you have questions on accessto the Private
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`If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access
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`272-1000.
`
`/MANSOUR OVEISSI/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2415
`
`