`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF CONINJERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 223 13-1450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`14/625,625
`
`02/18/2015
`
`NAGANORI SHIRAKATA
`
`731156.460
`
`7012
`
`Seed IP Law Group LLP/Panasonic
`701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`PERWNsNUZHAT
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`ART UNIT
`
`3 648
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`12/12/2017
`
`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-QOA (Rev. 04/07)
`
`
`
`017709 A0110” Summary
`
`Application No.
`14/625,625
`
`Examiner
`NUZHAT PERVIN
`
`Applicant(s)
`SHIRAKATA et al.
`
`Art Unit
`3648
`
`AIA Status
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE ofthis communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address -
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE 3 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.
`If 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 10/31/2017
`.
`D A declaration(s)laffidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`2a)[:| This action is FINAL.
`2b)
`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)I:| 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 Exparfe Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims"
`5)
`Claim(s)
`
`1-2,4-5 and 7-8 is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above Claim(s)
`
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`6) El Claim(s) _ is/are allowed.
`
`7)
`
`8)
`
`Claim(s) 1-2,4-5 and 7-8 is/are rejected.
`
`I] Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
`
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`9) El 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
`
`http:llwww.uspto.govlpatents/init_events/pphlindex.jsp or send an inquiry to PPeredback@uspto.gov.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)l:| The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11). The drawing(s) filed on 18 February 2015 is/are: a). accepted or b)[:| 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 ( ).
`Certified copies:
`
`a)- All
`
`b)|:l Some**
`
`c)|:l None of the:
`
`1..
`
`Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`2.|:|
`
`Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`
`3.|:| 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) D Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTOISBIOSa andfor PTOISBIOBb)
`Paper No(s)lMail Date
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) |:| Interview Summary (PTO—413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) D Other'
`
`PTOL-325 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper NoJMail Date 20171207
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/625,625
`Art Unit:3648
`
`Page2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
`
`1.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined
`
`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`2.
`
`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.
`
`3.
`
`The factual inquiries set forth in Graham V. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148
`
`USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining
`
`obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
`
`1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
`
`2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
`
`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
`
`4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating
`
`obviousness or nonobviousness.
`
`4.
`
`Claims 1, 4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Asai et al. (US 7,606,531 B2), in View of Regnier et al. (US 6,933,887 B2), and
`
`further in view of Yu (US 6,084,540).
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/625,625
`Art Unit:3648
`
`Page3
`
`5.
`
`Note that a person of ordinary skill-in-the-art would be a person having a degree
`
`in electrical engineering or physics with several years of practical experience in the
`
`design and/or testing of navigation satellite communication system.
`
`6.
`
`In Claim 1, Asai et al. discloses, ”A wireless communication device [column 1,
`
`line 64: radio communications system] comprising:
`
`a directivity controller which, in operation, selects a first antenna directivity for a
`
`communication partner([Fig. 5: 111 Directivity Control Unit]; [column 7, lines 1-3: The
`
`directivity of the transmitting antennas 105 and 106 is controlled based on the signal
`
`acquired from the directivity control unit 111]; [column 7, lines 4-17: The directivity
`
`adjustment signal generating units 112 and 113 are connectable to the transmitting
`
`antennas 105 and 106, respectively. The directivity adjustment signal generating units
`
`112 and 113 generate directivity adjustment signals for adjusting the respective
`
`transmitting antennas 105 and 106. The received power of the directivity adjustment
`
`signals at the receiving antenna 101 is measured by the received-power measuring unit
`
`110. The directivity control unit 111 controls the directivity of each transmitting antenna
`
`according to the measured received power. For example, the directivity control unit 111
`
`controls the directivity of the transmitting antennas 105 and 106 so that the received
`
`power of the directivity adjustment signals measured by the received-power measuring
`
`unit 110 becomes small]);
`
`a reception quality estimation circuitry which, in operation, measures reception
`
`quality of a signal intended for another wireless communication device that is not a
`
`communication partner([Fig. 2]; [Fig. 18]), in the case where the signal intended for the
`
`another wireless communication device is received by a plurality of antennas using the
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/625,625
`Art Unit:3648
`
`Page4
`
`first antenna directivity”, "the directivity controller selects a second antenna directivity,
`
`based on the reception quality of the signal intended for another wireless
`
`communication device ([Fig. 5: 110 received power measuring unit]; [column 7, lines 25-
`
`36: The directivity adjustment signal generating unit 112, directivity adjustment signal,
`
`8602, the received-power measuring unit 110, Step 8604, the directivity control unit
`
`111, transmitting antenna 105, measured received power, Step 8606]); and
`
`a directivity switch which, in operation, switches a directivity of the plurality of
`
`antennas from the first antenna directivity to the second antenna directivity ([Fig. 5: 112,
`
`113 Directivity Adjustment signal Generation Unit]; [column 6, lines 51-61])”.
`
`However, Asai et al. does not disclose select first antenna directivity “by coarse-
`
`setting”, “by fine-setting on a basis of the first antenna directivity”.
`
`Asai et al. does not disclose that signal is received by first antenna directivity
`
`“during a communication period of the another wireless communication device, wherein:
`
`in the case where the signal intended for the another wireless communication device is
`
`received during the communication period of the another wireless communication
`
`device”, and “in the case where the signal intended for the another wireless
`
`communication device is received in a period other than the communication period of
`
`the another wireless communication device, the directivity switch maintains the
`
`directivity of the multiple of antennas at the first antenna directivity”.
`
`Nevertheless, Regnier et al. (‘88?) teaches select first antenna directivity “by
`
`coarse-setting”, “by fine-setting on a basis of the first antenna directivity” ([Abstract:
`
`coarse and fine mode, coarse adjustment mode, fine adjustment mode]; [Fig. 1]; [[Fig.
`
`3]; [Fig. 4]; [column 4, lines 35 — 43: coarse and fine adjustment]; [column 7, line 60 —
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/625,625
`Art Unit:3648
`
`Page5
`
`column 8, line 30: coarse adjustment, coarse mode, fine tune the aperture beam
`
`pattern]; [column 10, lines 5-12]; [column 10, lines 35-55]; [column 11, lines 36 — column
`
`12, line 12]; [column 12, line 57 — column 13, line 22])”.
`
`Yu (‘540) further teaches that signal is received by first antenna directivity “during
`
`a communication period of the another wireless communication device, wherein: in the
`
`case where the signal intended for the another wireless communication device is
`
`received during the communication period of the another wireless communication
`
`device”, and “in the case where the signal intended for the another wireless
`
`communication device is received in a period other than the communication period of
`
`the another wireless communication device, the directivity switch maintains the
`
`directivity of the multiple of antennas at the first antenna directivity ([Abstract: jammers,
`
`antenna nullers]; [Fig. 1]; [column 1, lines 14- 31: null, jammer]; [column 1, lie 59 —
`
`column 2, line 64])”.
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of
`
`invention to have modified the wireless communication device of Asai et al. (‘531) to
`
`select first antenna directivity "by coarse-setting”, “by fine-setting on a basis of the first
`
`antenna directivity”, as taught by Regnier et al. (‘88?) for the purpose of increasing
`
`capacity in a wireless communication system as used by the wireless communication
`
`device of Asai et al. (‘531) such that by directionally receiving and transmitting signals,
`
`multipath fading and inter cell interference are greatly reduced [Regnier et al. (‘88?) -
`
`Abstract].
`
`It would have been further obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the
`
`time of invention to have modified the wireless communication device of Asai et al.
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/625,625
`Art Unit:3648
`
`Page6
`
`(‘531)lRegnier et al. (‘88?) that signal is received by first antenna directivity “during a
`
`communication period of the another wireless communication device, wherein: in the
`
`case where the signal intended for the another wireless communication device is
`
`received during the communication period of the another wireless communication
`
`device”, and “in the case where the signal intended for the another wireless
`
`communication device is received in a period other than the communication period of
`
`the another wireless communication device, the directivity switch maintains the
`
`directivity of the multiple of antennas at the first antenna directivity, as taught by Yu
`
`(‘540) for the purpose of having an array of autonomous or adaptive nullers process the
`
`received signals to produce weights which adjust the antenna nulls to direct them
`
`toward the jammers as used by the wireless communication device of Asai et al. (‘531)
`
`such that the directions to the jammers are deemed to be those directions in which all
`
`beam patterns have nulls [Yu (‘540) - Abstract].
`
`7.
`
`In Claim 4, Asai et al. discloses, ”A directivity control method fora wireless
`
`communication device [column 1, line 64] comprising:
`
`selecting a first antenna directivity for a communication partner”, “receiving a
`
`signal intended for another wireless communication device that is not a communication
`
`partner, by a plurality of antennas using the first antenna directivity ([Fig. 5: 11 1
`
`Directivity Control Unit]; [column 7, lines 1-3: The directivity of the transmitting antennas
`
`105 and 106 is controlled based on the signal acquired from the directivity control unit
`
`111]; [column 7, lines 4-17])”,
`
`“measuring a reception quality of the signal intended for another wireless
`
`communication device,-' selecting a second antenna directivity,_based on the reception
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/625,625
`Art Unit:3648
`
`Page?
`
`quality of the signal intended for the another communication device ([Fig. 2]; [Fig. 18];
`
`[Fig. 5: 110 received power measuring unit]; [column 7, lines 25-36: The directivity
`
`adjustment signal generating unit 112, directivity adjustment signal, 8602, the received-
`
`power measuring unit 110, Step 8604, the directivity control unit 111, transmitting
`
`antenna 105, measured received power, Step 8606]); and
`
`switching a directivity of the plurality of antennas from the first antenna directivity
`
`to the second antenna directivity ([Fig. 5: 112, 113 Directivity Adjustment signal
`
`Generation Unit]; [column 6, lines 51-61: a directivity control unit 111 connected to the
`
`received-power measuring unit 110, the transmitting antennas 105 and 106 connected
`
`to the directivity control unit 111, directivity adjustment signal generating units 112 and
`
`113, and switches 114 and 115. Here, the switches 114 is connected to the transmitting
`
`antenna 105, and switches between the splitter 104 and the directivity adjustment signal
`
`generating unit 112; and the switch 115 is connected to the transmitting antennas 106,
`
`and switches between the splitter 104 and the directivity adjustment signal generating
`
`unit 113])”.
`
`However, Asai et al. does not disclose select first antenna directivity “by coarse-
`
`setting”, “by fine-setting on a basis of the first antenna directivity”.
`
`Asai et al. does not disclose that signal is received by first antenna directivity “in
`
`the case where the signal intended for the another wireless communication device is
`
`received during a communication period of the another wireless communication device”,
`
`and “in the case where the signal intended for the another wireless communication
`
`device is received in a period other than the communication period of the another
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/625,625
`Art Unit:3648
`
`Page8
`
`wireless communication device, maintaining the directivity of the multiple of antennas at
`
`the first antenna directivity”.
`
`Nevertheless, Regnier et al. (‘88?) teaches select antenna directivity “by coarse-
`
`setting”, “by fine-setting on a basis of the first antenna directivity” ([Abstract: coarse and
`
`fine mode, coarse adjustment mode, fine adjustment mode]; [Fig. 1]; [[Fig. 3]; [Fig. 4];
`
`[column 4, lines 35 — 43: coarse and fine adjustment]; [column 7, line 60 — column 8,
`
`line 30: coarse adjustment, coarse mode, fine tune the aperture beam pattern]; [column
`
`10, lines 5-12]; [column 10, lines 35-55]; [column 11, lines 36 — column 12, line 12];
`
`[column 12, line 57 — column 13, line 22])”.
`
`Yu (‘540) further teaches that signal is received by first antenna directivity “in the
`
`case where the signal intended for the another wireless communication device is
`
`received during a communication period of the another wireless communication device”,
`
`and “in the case where the signal intended for the another wireless communication
`
`device is received in a period other than the communication period of the another
`
`wireless communication device, maintaining the directivity of the multiple of antennas at
`
`the first antenna directivity ([Abstract: jammers, antenna nullers]; [Fig. 1]; [column 1,
`
`lines 14- 31: null, jammer]; [column 1, lie 59 — column 2, line 64])”.
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of
`
`invention to have modified the wireless communication device of Asai et al. (‘531) to
`
`select first antenna directivity "by coarse-setting”, “by fine-setting on a basis of the first
`
`antenna directivity”, as taught by Regnier et al. (‘88?) for the purpose of increasing
`
`capacity in a wireless communication system as used by the wireless communication
`
`device of Asai et al. (‘531) such that by directionally receiving and transmitting signals,
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/625,625
`Art Unit:3648
`
`Page9
`
`multipath fading and inter cell interference are greatly reduced [Regnier et al. (‘887) -
`
`Abstract].
`
`It would have been further obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the
`
`time of invention to have modified the wireless communication device of Asai et al.
`
`(‘531)/Regnier et al. (‘88?) that signal is received by first antenna directivity “in the case
`
`where the signal intended for the another wireless communication device is received
`
`during a communication period of the another wireless communication device”, and “in
`
`the case where the signal intended for the another wireless communication device is
`
`received in a period other than the communication period of the another wireless
`
`communication device, maintaining the directivity of the multiple of antennas at the first
`
`antenna directivity, as taught by Yu (‘540) for the purpose of having an array of
`
`autonomous or adaptive nullers process the received signals to produce weights which
`
`adjust the antenna nulls to direct them toward the jammers as used by the wireless
`
`communication device of Asai et al. (‘531)lRegnier et al. (‘887) such that the directions
`
`to the jammers are deemed to be those directions in which all beam patterns have nulls
`
`[Yu C540) - Abstract].
`
`8.
`
`Claims 2 and 5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Asai et al. (US 7,606,531 BZ)lRegnier et al. (US 6,933,887 BZ)IYu (US 6,084,540),
`
`and further in view of lde et al. (US 6,754,467).
`
`9.
`
`Note that a person of ordinary skill-in-the-art would be a person having a degree
`
`in electrical engineering or physics with several years of practical experience in the
`
`design and/or testing of navigation satellite communication system.
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/625,625
`Art Unit:3648
`
`Page10
`
`10.
`
`Regarding Claim 2, which is dependent on independent claim 1, Asai et al.
`
`(‘531)lRegnier et al. (‘88?)lYu (‘540) discloses all the claimed invention, except for
`
`“reception quality estimation circuit measures a reception quality of a signal intended for
`
`the wireless communication device, and the first antenna directivity is in a direction in
`
`which the reception quality of the signal intended for the wireless communication device
`
`is higher than or equal to a predetermined value”.
`
`Nevertheless, lde et al. (‘46?) teaches “reception quality estimation circuit
`
`measures a reception quality of a signal intended for the wireless communication
`
`device, and the first antenna directivity is in a direction in which the reception quality of
`
`the signal intended for the wireless communication device is higher than or equal to a
`
`predetermined value ([Fig. 5: blocks 131, 134,136]; [Column 7, lines 9-25: step 130,
`
`step 131, step 134])".
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of
`
`invention to have modified the wireless communication device of Asai et al.
`
`(‘531)lRegnier et al. (‘88?)lYu (‘540) to have “reception quality estimation circuit
`
`measures a reception quality of a signal intended for the wireless communication
`
`device, and the first antenna directivity is in a direction in which the reception quality of
`
`the signal intended for the wireless communication device is higher than or equal to a
`
`predetermined value”, as taught by lde et al. (‘46?) for the purpose of having the
`
`received level or received quality of each demodulated signal compared to each other to
`
`select a signal with the highest level or most excellent quality as used by the wireless
`
`communication device of Asai et al. (‘531)/Regnier et al. (‘88?)lYu (‘540) in order to set
`
`a path corresponding to a selected path for transmission. When a plurality of signals
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/625,625
`Art Unit:3648
`
`Page1 1
`
`each with an almost equal level or received quality exists in signals demodulated for
`
`each path, a history of transmission power control command (TPC) transmitted from a
`
`communication partner is referred. In other words, the reception condition in a
`
`communication partner is checked. Thereby, it is judged whether or not the currently
`
`selected path is appropriate as the path for transmission [lde et al. (‘46?) - Abstract].
`
`11.
`
`Regarding Claim 5, which is dependent on independent claim 4, Asai et al.
`
`(‘531)/Regnier et al. (‘88?)lYu (‘540)llde et al. (‘467) discloses all the claimed invention,
`
`except for “measuring a reception quality of a signal intended for the wireless
`
`communication device, the first antenna directivity being in a direction in which the
`
`reception quality of the signal intended for the wireless communication device is higher
`
`than or equal to a predetermined value ”.
`
`Nevertheless, lde et al. (‘46?) teaches “measuring a reception quality of a signal
`
`intended for the wireless communication device, the first antenna directivity being in a
`
`direction in which the reception quality of the signal intended for the wireless
`
`communication device is higher than or equal to a predetermined value ([Fig. 5: blocks
`
`131, 134,136]; [Column 7, lines 9-25: step 130, step 131, step 134])”.
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of
`
`invention to have modified the directivity control method of Asai et al. (‘531)lRegnier et
`
`al. (‘887)/Yu (‘540)/lde et al. (‘46?) to have “measuring a reception quality of a signal
`
`intended for the wireless communication device, the first antenna directivity being in a
`
`direction in which the reception quality of the signal intended for the wireless
`
`communication device is higher than or equal to a predetermined value”, as taught by
`
`lde et al. (‘46?) for the purpose of having the received level or received quality of each
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14l625,625
`Art Unit:3648
`
`Page12
`
`demodulated signal compared to each other to select a signal with the highest level or
`
`most excellent quality as used by the directivity control method of Asai et al.
`
`(‘531)/Regnier et al. (‘887)/Yu (‘540)/lde et al. (‘46?) in order to set a path corresponding
`
`to a selected path for transmission. When a plurality of signals each with an almost
`
`equal level or received quality exists in signals demodulated for each path, a history of
`
`transmission power control command (TPC) transmitted from a communication partner
`
`is referred. In other words, the reception condition in a communication partner is
`
`checked. Thereby, it is judged whether or not the currently selected path is appropriate
`
`as the path for transmission [lde et al. (‘467) - Abstract].
`
`12.
`
`Claims 7-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Asai et al. (US 7,606,531 BZ)lRegnier et al. (US 6,933,887 B2)lYu (US 6,084,540),
`
`and further in view of Brookner et al. (US 4,720,712).
`
`13.
`
`Note that a person of ordinary skill-in-the-art would be a person having a degree
`
`in electrical engineering or physics with several years of practical experience in the
`
`design and/or testing of navigation satellite communication system.
`
`14.
`
`Regarding Claim 7, which is dependent on independent Claim 4, Asai et al.
`
`(‘531)/Regnier et al. (‘887)/Yu (‘540) discloses all the claimed invention except for “the
`
`second antenna directivity lowers the reception quality of the signal intended for the
`
`another wireless communication device”.
`
`Nevertheless, Brookner et al. (712) teaches “the second antenna directivity
`
`lowers the reception quality of the signal intended for the another wireless
`
`communication device ([Fig. 5: 110 received power measuring unit]; [column 7, lines 4-
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 14/625,625
`Art Unit:3648
`
`Page13
`
`17]; [column 6, lines 51-61]; [column 7, lines 25-36: Step 8602, Step 8604, Step
`
`8606])".
`
`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of
`
`invention to have modified the directivity control method of Asai et al. (‘531)/Regnier et
`
`al. (‘887)/Yu (‘540) to have “the second antenna directivity lowers the reception quality
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`of the signal intended for the another wireless communication device”, as taught by
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`Brookner et al. (712) for the purpose of having the signals within the additional beams
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`weighted and then subtracted from the signals in the desired signal directed beam as
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`used by the directivity control method of Asai et al. (‘531)/Regnier et al. (‘887)/Yu (‘540)
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`in order to substantially cancel the interfering signals from the desired signal. The
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`number of weights required for computation is equal to the desired signal port plus the
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`number of additional beam ports [Brookner et al. (712) - Abstract].
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`15.
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`Regarding Claim 8, which is dependent on independent Claim 1, Asai et al.
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`(‘531)/Regnier et al. (‘887)/Yu (‘540) discloses all the claimed invention except for “the
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`second antenna directivity lowers the reception quality of the signal intended for the
`
`another wireless communication device”.
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`Nevertheless, Brookner et al. (712) teaches “the second antenna directivity
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`lowers the reception quality of the signal intended for the another wireless
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`communication device ([Fig. 5: 110 received power measuring unit]; [column 7, lines 4-
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`17]; [column 6, lines 51-61]; [column 7, lines 25-36: Step 8602, Step 8604, Step
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`8606])".
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`It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of
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`invention to have modified the directivity control method of Asai et al. (‘531)/Regnier et
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`
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`Application/Control Number: 14/625,625
`Art Unit:3648
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`Page14
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`al. (‘887)/Yu (‘540)) to have “the second antenna directivity lowers the reception quality
`
`of the signal intended for the another wireless communication device”, as taught by
`
`Brookner et al. (712) for the purpose of having the signals within the additional beams
`
`weighted and then subtracted from the signals in the desired signal directed beam as
`
`used by the directivity control method of Asai et al. (‘531)/Regnier et al. (‘887)/Yu (‘540)
`
`in order to substantially cancel the interfering signals from the desired signal. The
`
`number of weights required for computation is equal to the desired signal port plus the
`
`number of additional beam ports [Brookner et al. (712) - Abstract].
`
`Response to Arguments
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`Cancellation of Claims 3 and 6 is acknowledged.
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`Applicant’s arguments, see pages 7-8, filed 10l31/2017, with respect to the
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`1.
`
`2.
`
`rejections of amended claims 1 and 4 under 102l103 have been fully considered and
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`are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further
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`consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made with Asai et al. (‘531), in view of
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`Regnier et al. (‘887), and further in View of Yu (‘540).
`
`Regnier et al. (‘88?) teaches an antenna operates in conjunction with a station
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`and comprises a plurality of antenna elements, the antenna array creates a beam
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`former for signals to be transmitted from the mobile station, and a directional receiving
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`array to more optimally detect and receive signals transmitted from the base station, the
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`weights are adjusted in a coarse and fine mode.
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`Yu (‘540) teaches an array of autonomous or adaptive nullers process the
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`received signals to produce weights which adjust the antenna nulls to direct them
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`
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`Application/Control Number: 14/625,625
`Art Unit:3648
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`Page15
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`toward the jammers, and nulls are directed towards the interference source only during
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`a communication period with the interferer.
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`Conclusion
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`16.
`
`The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to
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`applicant‘s disclosure.
`
`Kudo et al. (US 9,276,652 B2) discloses Wireless Communication System and
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`Wireless Communication Method. Kudo et al. teaches a wireless communication system
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`including antenna elements, transmission directivity control unit, reception power
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`measurement unit, directivity control unit.
`
`Locher et al. (US 5,940,033) discloses Apparatus, Methods and Computer
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`Program for Evaluating Multiple Null-Forming Antenna Processors and Jammers.
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`Locher et al. teaches adaptive antenna with a number of antenna elements and method
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`to determine adaptive null steering antenna patterns produced in the presence of
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`numerous interferences.
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`Gainey et al. (US 2004/0053634 A1) discloses adaptive pointing for use with
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`directional antennas operating in wireless networks.
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`Kishigami et al. (US 7,937,057 B2) discloses radio communication device.
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`17.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to NUZHAT PERVIN whose telephone number is
`
`(571)272-9795. The examiner can normally be reached on M-Th 7:00-5:30.
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`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video
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`conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an
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`
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`Application/Control Number: 14/625,625
`Art Unit:3648
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`Page16
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`interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request
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`for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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`INUZHAT PERVIN/
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 3648
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`IBERNARR E GREGORY/
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`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3648
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`