`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMIVHSSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313-1450
`wwwusptogov
`
`
`
`
`
`15/034,736
`
`05/05/2016
`
`Toshiyuki Sugitani
`
`732256.439USPC
`
`1020
`
`Seed IP Law Group LLPflDanasonic
`701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`SHIUE’ DONG-CHANG
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2648
`
`PAPER NUIVIBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`02/27/2017
`
`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):
`
`patentinfo @ seedip.c0m
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 15/034,736 SUGITANI, TOSHIYUKI
`
`
`AIA (First Inventor to File)
`Art Unit
`Examiner
`Office Action Summary
`
`
`DONG-CHANG SHIUE $2215 2648
`-- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
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`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR1. 136( a).
`after SIX () 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).
`
`In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
`
`Status
`
`1)IZI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 01/05/2017.
`El A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2b)|:l This action is non-final.
`2a)|Z| This action is FINAL.
`3)I:I An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
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`; 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 Exparte Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`5)IZI Claim(s) 1-15is/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`is/are allowed.
`6)I:I Claim(s)
`7)|Z| Claim(s)_1-15 is/are rejected.
`8)|:I Claim(s)_ is/are objected to.
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`9)I:I Claim((s)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
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`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
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`Application Papers
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`10)I:l The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)I:l The drawing(s) filed on
`is/are: a)I:I accepted or b)I:I 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)I:| Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a)I:l All
`
`b)|:l Some” c)I:l None of the:
`
`1.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.|:l 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)
`
`
`
`3) D Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`1) E Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date.
`.
`.
`4) I:I Other'
`2) I] InformatIon DIsclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL—326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20170130
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
`
`Page 2
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`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.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`Applicant’s argument regarding the newly added limitations in claims 1 and 12 is
`
`unpersuasive. The examiner addressed every specific claim limitation with citations
`
`from the prior art using applicant’s claim language verbatim. See below.
`
`Examiner Notes
`
`The Examiner cites particular columns and line numbers in the references as
`
`applied to the claims above for the convenience of the Applicant. Although the specified
`
`citations are representative of the teachings in the art and are applied to the specific
`
`limitations within the individual claim, other passages and figures may apply as well. It is
`
`respectfully requested that, in preparing responses, the Applicant fully considers the
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`references in its entirety as potentially teaching all or part of the claimed invention, as
`
`well as the context of the passage as taught by the prior art or as disclosed by the
`
`Examiner.
`
`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.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
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`Page 3
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`1.
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`Claims 1-5, 11-12, and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being
`
`unpatentable over US 6434365 (Knutson‘365) in view of US 6788924 (Knutson'924),
`
`and further in view of US 20100081449 (Chaudhri).
`
`Regarding claim 1, Knutson‘365 discloses that “A wireless communication
`
`apparatus comprising:
`
`a base unit (Knutson'365, Fig. 1 and col. 2, |ine14: TDMA system 100
`
`comprises a base unit 110); and
`
`one or a plurality of handsets (Knutson'365, Fig. 1 and col. 2, |ine14-20: System
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`100 also comprises N wireless handsets 120_1 , 120_2 ,
`
`120_N), wherein:
`
`the base unit amplifies a control signal to a first transmission power value and
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`transmits the control signal to each of the handsets (Knutson‘365, col. 6,
`
`lines 9-18:
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`base 110 periodically transmits a synchronization data message 220, containing
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`the following information:
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`3. 4-bit word indicating power level being
`
`transmitted (power level field 227, wherein it is construed that synchronization
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`data message is a type of control signal which is amplified to a power level
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`indicated in power level field 227), the control signal including information indicating
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`the first transmission power value, (Knutson'365, Figs. 2 & 3 and col. 5, lines 55-58:
`
`handset 120,- can determine from the 4 bits of power level field 227 at which power
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`level the message was transmitted by base unit 110 (step312), wherein the first
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`transmission power value is the embedded power level information expressed as
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`a 4-bit data in 227 in Fig. 2);
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
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`Page 4
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`each of the handsets measures a received signal strength indicator level of the
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`control signal and determines a second transmission power value based on the
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`measured value of the received signal strength indicator level and the first transmission
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`power value (Knutson'365, col. 6, lines 57-61: Because it knows, from the
`
`embedded power level information, the power level of the too-weak signal
`
`received from base unit 110, it can use this power level information to determine
`
`how much to increase its own power level by, wherein the received signal
`
`strength is measured and determined to be too weak and the first transmission
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`power value is the embedded power level information expressed as a 4-bit data in
`
`227 in Fig. 2);
`
`each of the handsets amplifies a signal to a second transmission power value and
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`transmits the signal to the base unit usingW a single slotatpreaeteemiaedtime
`
`
`
`
`the transmitter transmits to the base transceiver a return data message at a
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`return power level..., and col. 1, lines 25-28: In a TDMA system, a single RF
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`channel is used, and each handset transmits and receives data during a
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`dedicated time slice or slot within an overall cycle or epoch), the signal including
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`information indicating the second transmission power value (Knutson'365, col. 6, lines
`
`1-4:
`
`both the base and the handset exchanging AGC level information...,
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`wherein AGC level is directly related to transmission power level as specified in
`
`field 227 described abo ve);”
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
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`Page 5
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`But, Knutson'365 does not expressly disclose that using a control channel during
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`a standby state, and the control channel being used for transmitting the control signal;
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`and the base unit measures a received signal strength indicator level of the signal
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`transmitted from each of the handsets and determines the first transmission power
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`value based on the measured value of the received signal strength indicator level and
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`the second transmission power value; within a frame including a plurality of slots,
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`without delivery confirmation, at defined time intervals over a plurality of frames.
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`However, Knutson'924 teaches that “using a control channel during a standby
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`state, and the control channel being used for transmitting the control signal
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`(Knutson'924, Fig. 2 and col. 3 line 67 to col. 4, lines 1-2: the base transmits data
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`in the first time slot (slot 251), to one of the 12 handsets, e.g. handset 1201,
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`wherein slot 251 is a control channel for the base unit to send signal such as
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`synchronization data as described above; and col. 3, lines 54-56: These data
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`packets may contain various types of data, such as synchronization data or
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`words with time stamp information transmitted to a handset in sleep mode,
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`wherein sleep mode is a type of standby mode); using a single slot-at—predetermined
`
`time—intervals within a frame including a plurality of slots, without delivery confirmation,
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`at defined time intervals over a plurality of frames (Knutson’924, Fig. 2 and Col. 4,
`
`lines 13-15: In row pairs 1-11, the same sequence occurs, except the data packets
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`are to and from different handsets than for row pair 0, wherein it is construed that
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`each row pair is a frame; and col. 4, lines 2-4: there is a row pair for each handset,
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`so that each handset can receive and transmit data to base unit 110 once per
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
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`Page 6
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`epoch, wherein each epoch is a defined interval and comprises a plurality of
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`frames; and col. 4, lines 4-9: After the first data slot 251, 5 assuming handset 1201
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`is operational (off hook), an audio packet is transmitted to handset 1201 in audio
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`packet slot 253, then an audio packet is transmitted by handset 1201 to base unit
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`110 in audio packet slot 254, and so on for 3 of the other handsets until the end of
`
`the field or row, wherein only a single slot is used and delivery confirmation is
`
`not taught by Knutson’924.)” Further, claim 1 merely recites a frame including a
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`plurality of slots without further defining what the frame structure actually is.
`
`Knutoson’924 teaches power-saving protocol and synchronization which do not require
`
`delivery confirmation of transmit power. Knutson’365 discloses that base unit and
`
`handset exchange transmit power levels automatically in a 4-bit data field in a packet
`
`(see 227 in Fig. 2), and hence delivery confirmation is not needed. Claim 1 also merely
`
`recites “without delivery confirmation” without further defining what the delivery
`
`confirmation means, hence the combination reads on this claimed subject matter.
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement Knutson'924’s teaching in the
`
`apparatus of Knutson'365 that each handset can receive the control data such as
`
`synchronization data in the dedicated control channel or slot when handsets are all in
`
`standby state and also can properly transmit/receive audio data in the designated single
`
`slot from/to the base unit within the TDMA time frame structure.
`
`Knutson'365 and Knutson‘924 do not explicitly teach that the base unit measures
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`a received signal strength indicator level of the signal transmitted from each of the
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
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`Page 7
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`handsets and determines the first transmission power value based on the measured
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`value of the received signal strength indicator level and the second transmission power
`
`value.
`
`Chaudhri teaches that “the base unit measures a received signal strength
`
`indicator level of the signal transmitted from each of the handsets and determines the
`
`first transmission power value based on the measured value of the received signal
`
`strength indicator level and the second transmission power value (Chaudhri, [0030],
`
`2nd equation: Pmss is the base transmit amplifier power output and is based on
`
`PmMs and RSSITGEBS, wherein PmBs is the first transmission power value and
`
`RSSITGEBS is the received signal strength at the base; and [0039], last 4 lines: the
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`path loss being determined by the difference between the transmit power of the
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`CR base station and the received signal strength of the mobile subscriber,
`
`wherein the pathloss calculation is well known and is taught by Chaudhri, and
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`exchanging AGC levels between base and handset and hence the second
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`transmission power level is sent to base by handset, which is taught by
`
`Knutson'365 above.)” Further, Knutson’365 discloses that, in at least col. 6, lines 57-
`
`61, Because it knows, from the embedded power level information, the power level of
`
`the too-weak signal received from base unit 110, it can use this power level information
`
`to determine how much to increase its own power level by, which inherently discloses
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`that the method of determining the handset transmission power level can be readily
`
`applicable to the base unit.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
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`Page 8
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement Chaudhri’s teaching in the
`
`apparatus of Knutson'365 and Knutson'924 so that an appropriate base transmit power
`
`level can be determined from the RSSI and the transmit power level of the handsets
`
`and also a more efficient transmit power level adjustment can be achieved.
`
`Regarding claim 2, Knutson‘365 and Knutson'365 further teach that “The
`
`wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
`
`each of the handsets comprises a counter for intermittent operation (Knutson‘924, Fig.
`
`2 and col. 2, lines 61-65: a handset powers off by switching off power to at least
`
`its CPU and transceiver (receiver and transmitter) units, while leaving powered on
`
`only a clock and associated timer or watchdog circuitry sufficient to wake up the
`
`CPU at a predetermined slot time, wherein counter 212 is a counter used to wake
`
`up handset, which is an intermittent operation); and when the counter expires, each
`
`of the handsets transmits the signal including the information indicating the second
`
`transmission power value to the base unit using a slot having a predetermined
`
`positional relationship with a slot of the control channel used for receiving the control
`
`signal (Knutson'365, col. 6, lines 1-4:
`
`both the base and the handset
`
`exchanging AGC level information..., wherein AGC level is directly related to
`
`transmission power level) and (Knutson'294, Fig. 2 and col. 4, lines 9-11: in the
`
`odd row for row pair 0, data slot 252 is used to receive data transmitted from
`
`handset 1201 to base unit 110).”
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
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`Page 9
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`Regarding claim 3, Knutson'365 further discloses that “The wireless
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`communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when a predetermined event
`
`occurs (Knutson‘365, col. 6, lines 54-56: handset 120: can recognize from the
`
`received signal getting too weak (i.e., starting to drop below the SNR threshold)
`
`that the power level of its own transmission needs to be increased, wherein it is
`
`construed that received signal dropping below the SNR threshold is technically
`
`the same as the propagation loss exceeding a predetermined threshold assuming
`
`base '3 transmission power remains the same), each of the handsets transmits the
`
`signal including the information indicating the second transmission power value to the
`
`base unit using a slot having a predetermined positional relationship with a slot of the
`
`control channel used for receiving the control signal (Knutson‘365, col. 1, lines 27-29:
`
`each handset transmits and receives data during a dedicated time slice or slot
`
`within an overall cycle or epoch; and col. 6, lines 1-4:
`
`both the base and the
`
`handset exchanging AGC level information..., wherein AGC level is directly related
`
`to transmission power level) and (Knutson‘294, Fig. 2 and col. 4, lines 9-11: in the
`
`odd row for row pair 0, data slot 252 is used to receive data transmitted from
`
`handset 1201 to base unit 110).”
`
`Regarding claim 4, Knutson'365 further discloses that “The wireless
`
`communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined event is an
`
`event that a propagation loss between the handset and the base unit exceeds a
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
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`Page 10
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`predetermined level (Knutson'365, col. 6, lines 54-56: handset 120i can recognize
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`from the received signal getting too weak (i.e., starting to drop below the SNR
`
`threshold) that the power level of its own transmission needs to be increased,
`
`wherein it is construed that received signal dropping below the SNR threshold is
`
`technically the same as the propagation loss exceeding a predetermined
`
`threshold assuming base '3 transmission power remains the same.)”
`
`Regarding claim 5, Knutson'365 further discloses that “The wireless
`
`communication apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined event is an
`
`event that a sensor of the handset detects a predetermined incident (Knutson'365, col.
`
`6, lines 53-55: during the sleep mode, handset 120; moves farther away from base
`
`unit 110, handset 120; can recognize from 55 the received signal getting too
`
`weak, wherein it is construed that a recognition unit or a detector that detects
`
`week 388! is a type of sensor sensing a predetermined incident which is very
`
`weak RSSI.)
`
`Regarding claim 11, Knutson'365 and Knutson'924 further teach that “The
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`wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
`
`the base unit transmits a message for requesting transmission of the second
`
`transmission power value using the channel for transmitting the control signal at
`
`predetermined time intervals (Knutson'365, col. 3, lines 63-64: 4-bit slot number
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`field; and Knutson‘924, Fig. 2 and col. 2, lines 19-21: a schematic representation
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
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`Page 11
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`of the TDMA slot structure and handset counters in the TDMA scheme of the
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`system of Fig. 1, wherein it is construed that base transmits and designates this
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`slot for a handset to transmits data back to base and hence base unit requests
`
`transmission of the second transmission during this designated channel at
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`predetermined time intervals such as an epoch, where the second transmission
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`power level is sent back to base in the form of AGC levels as described above);
`
`and
`
`upon reception of the message transmitted from the base unit, each of the
`
`handsets transmits the signal including the information indicating the second
`
`transmission power value to the base unit using a slot having a predetermined
`
`positional relationship with a slot of the control channel used for receiving the control
`
`signal (Knutson'365, col. 1, lines 27-29: each handset transmits and receives data
`
`during a dedicated time slice or slot within an overall cycle or epoch; and col. 6,
`
`lines 1-4:
`
`both the base and the handset exchanging AGC level information...,
`
`wherein AGC level is directly related to transmission power level) and
`
`(Knutson'294, Fig. 2 and col. 4, lines 9-11: in the odd row for row pair 0, data slot
`
`252 is used to receive data transmitted from handset 1201 to base unit 110).”
`
`Regarding claim 12, the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason
`
`as set forth in claim 1 above
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
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`Page 12
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`2.
`
`Claims 6, 8, and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`US 6434365 (Knutson'365), US 6788924 (Knutson‘924), and US 20100081449
`
`(Chaudhri) in view of US 7876704 (Bims).
`
`Regarding claim 6, Knutson‘365, Knutson‘924, and Chaudhri teach the
`
`features of claim 5, and further teach that “...including the information indicating the
`
`second transmission power value (Knutson‘365, col. 6, lines 1-4:
`
`both the base
`
`and the handset exchanging AGC level information)”, but do not expressly teach
`
`that wherein each of the handsets changes, in accordance with details of the
`
`predetermined incident, a number of frames for continuously transmitting the signal.
`
`Bims teaches that “wherein each of the handsets changes, in accordance with
`
`details of the predetermined incident, a number of frames for continuously transmitting
`
`the signal including the information indicating the second transmission power value
`
`(Bims, Fig. 30A, col. 36, lines 62-66: at block 3001, a mobile station detects that it
`
`is about to lose or has already lost a connection with the primary repeater it has
`
`been communicating based on, for example, errors, and starts to send several
`
`retry, probe request, and RTS (request to send) messages trying to restore the
`
`connection; and exchanging AGC levels is taught by Knutson'365 as described
`
`above).”
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement Bims’ teaching in the
`
`apparatus of Knutson'365, Knutson'924, and Chaudhri in order to restore the connection
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
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`Page 13
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`by repeatedly sending several retries, probe requests, etc., in the form of frames, to the
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`base unit.
`
`Regarding claim 8, Bims further teaches that “The wireless communication
`
`apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the handset cannot correctly receive a
`
`signal from the base unit, the handset continuously transmits the signal including the
`
`information indicating the second transmission power value over a plurality of frames
`
`(Bims, Fig. 30A, col. 36, lines 62-66: at block 3001, a mobile station detects that it
`
`is about to lose or has already lost a connection with the primary repeater it has
`
`been communicating based on, for example, errors, and starts to send several
`
`retry, probe request, and RTS (request to send) messages trying to restore the
`
`connection; and exchanging AGC levels is taught by Knutson‘365 as described
`
`above)”
`
`Regarding claim 9, Knutson‘365, Knutson'924, and Chaudhri teach the
`
`features of claim 1, and further teach that “wherein, when it is determined that a
`
`propagation loss between the handset and the base unit increases to a value greater
`
`than a predetermined value (Knutson'365, col. 6, lines 54-56: handset 120i can
`
`recognize from the received signal getting too weak (i.e., starting to drop below
`
`the SNR threshold) that the power level of its own transmission needs to be
`
`increased),” but do not expressly teach that the handset continuously transmits the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
`
`Page 14
`
`Art Unit: 2648
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`signal including the information indicating the second transmission power value over a
`
`plurality of frames.
`
`Bims teaches that “the handset continuously transmits the signal including the
`
`information indicating the second transmission power value over a plurality of frames
`
`(Bims, Fig. 30A, col. 36, lines 62-66: at block 3001, a mobile station detects that it
`
`is about to lose or has already lost a connection with the primary repeater it has
`
`been communicating based on, for example, errors, and starts to send several
`
`retry, probe request, and RTS (request to send) messages trying to restore the
`
`connection; and exchanging AGC levels is taught by Knutson'365 as described
`
`above.)”
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement Bims’ teaching in the
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`apparatus of Knutson'365, Knutson'924, and Chaudhri in order to restore the connection
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`by repeatedly sending several retries, probe requests, etc., in the form of frames, to the
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`base unit.
`
`3.
`
`Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 6434365
`
`(Knutson'365), US 6788924 (Knutson'924), and US 20100081449 (Chaudhri) in view
`
`of us 20030228865 (Terry).
`
`Regarding claim 7, Knutson‘365, Knutson‘924, and Chaudhri teach the
`
`features of claim 1, and further teach that “The wireless communication apparatus
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
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`Page 15
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`according to claim 1, wherein the base unit measures a received signal strength
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`indicator level of a signal transmitted from each of the handsets, calculates a
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`propagation loss between the base unit and the handset based on the measured value
`
`of the received signal strength indicator level and the second transmission power value
`
`(Chaudhri, [0039], last 4 lines: the path loss being determined by the difference
`
`between the transmit power of the CR base station and the received signal
`
`strength of the mobile subscriber, wherein the pathloss calculation is well known
`
`and is taught by Chaudhri, and exchanging AGC levels between base and
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`handset is taught by Knutson'365 above.)” but does not explicitly teach that
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`determines the first transmission power value based on a handset having a largest
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`propagation loss, as a reference.
`
`Terry teaches that “determines the first transmission power value based on a
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`handset having a largest propagation loss, as a reference (Terry [0034], lines 11-14:
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`the BAN 70 would typically set the transmission power level at a level for
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`reception by the user having the worst reception quality, such as the user having
`
`the largest pathloss.)”
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement Terry’s teaching in the
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`apparatus of Knutson'365, Knutson'924, and Chaudhri so that the handset having the
`
`largest pathloss can be included in the coverage area by the base unit.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
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`Page 16
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`4.
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`Claim 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US
`
`6434365 (Knutson'365), US 6788924 (Knutson'924), and US 20100081449
`
`(Chaudhri) in view of US 20010023189 (Kajimura).
`
`Regarding claim 10, the combination of Knutson‘365, Knutson‘924, and
`
`Chaudhri teaches the features of claim 1, and further teaches that “wherein:
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`when the base unit cannot receive a signal from a handset having a telephone
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`function for a predetermined period of time, the base unit performs transmission power
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`control with an assumption that the handset no longer exists (Knutson'365, col. 5,
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`lines 18-21: When handset 120; is inactive, base unit 110 periodically transmits,
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`during the appropriate TDMA epoch data slot for the particular handset,
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`synchronization data messages at successively higher power levels, to attempt to
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`downlink; and col. 5, lines 32-37 during this cycle base unit 110 successively
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`steps up output power in 20 dB steps until a link is established, or until the cycle
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`is repeated after the maximum output power is used without a link being
`
`established (handset 120;, may be out of range or out of battery power, for
`
`example), wherein examiner construes that the handset has a telephone function
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`and the base unit performs transmission power by adjusting power [eve/3).”
`
`But, the combination does not teach when the base unit cannot receive a signal
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`from a handset that performs intermittent reception, for a predetermined period of time
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`or longer, the base unit maintains a state where the transmission power value is set to a
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`maximum.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
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`Page 17
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`Kajimura teach that “when the base unit cannot receive a signal from a handset
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`that performs intermittent reception, for a predetermined period of time or longer, the
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`base unit maintains a state where the transmission power value is set to a maximum
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`(Kajimura, Fig. 4 and [0107], lines 1-5: At steps S211 and $223, the elapsed time
`
`measured by the timer 12 is checked. In the case where the non-communication
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`time period continues for a preset predetermined time period, there is a
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`possibility that the communication state is changed. Therefore, initialization is
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`carried out ($201), and setting of the optimum transmission power is again
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`carried out, wherein it is construed that at $201 the transmission power at its
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`maximum value, see Fig. 4).”
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement Kajimura’s teaching in the
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`apparatus of Knutson'365, Knutson'924, and Chaudhri so that an optimum transmission
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`power level can be determined by gradually reducing the maximum transmission power
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`qoo23p.
`
`5.
`
`Claim 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US
`
`6434365 (Knutson'365), US 6788924 (Knutson'924), and US 20100081449
`
`(Chaudhri) in view of US 20030228865 (Terry), and further in view of US 5608780
`
`(Gerszberg).
`
`Regarding claim 13, the combination of Knutson‘365, Knutson‘924, and
`
`Chaudhri teaches the features of claim 12, and further teaches that “obtaining a
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
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`Page 18
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`propagation loss between the base unit and each of the handsets based on the
`
`measured value of the stored received signal strength indicator level and the second
`
`transmission power value of a corresponding one of the handsets (Chaudhri, [0039],
`
`last 4 lines: the path loss being determined by the difference between the
`
`transmit power of the CR base station and the received signal strength of the
`
`mobile subscriber, wherein the pathloss calculation is well known and is taught
`
`by Chaudhri, and exchanging AGC Ie vels between base and handset is taught by
`
`Knutson'365 above.)” but the combination does not expressly teach that wherein the
`
`determining the first transmission power value by the base unit comprises: storing, for
`
`each of the handsets, the received signal strength indicator level of the signal
`
`transmitted from the handset; determining the first transmission power value based on a
`
`handset with a largest propagation loss, as a reference.
`
`Terry teaches that “determining the first transmission power value based on a
`
`handset with a largest propagation loss, as a reference (Terry [0034], lines 11-14: the
`
`BAN 70 would typically set the transmission power level at a level for reception
`
`by the user having the worst reception quality, such as the user having the
`
`largest pathloss.)”
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement Terry’s teaching in the
`
`apparatus of Knutson'365, Knutson'924, and Chaudhri so that the handset having the
`
`largest pathloss can be included in the coverage area by the base unit.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/034,736
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`Page 19
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`Art Unit: 2648
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`The combination of Knutson'365, Knutson'924, Chaudhri, and Terry does not
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`expressly teach that storing, for each of the handset