UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`15/890,863
`
`02/07/2018
`
`LEI HUANG
`
`731156.682C1
`
`8516
`
`Seed IP Law Group LLP/Panason1e
`701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`PHUNKULH' BOB A
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2412
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`04/3 0/2020
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
`
`following e—mail address(es):
`US PTOeACtion @ SeedIP .Com
`
`pairlinkdktg @ seedip .eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`017/09 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`15/890,863
`Examiner
`BOBA PHUNKULH
`
`Applicant(s)
`HUANG et al.
`Art Unit
`2412
`
`AIA (FITF) Status
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 the correspondence address -
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE g MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing
`date of this communication.
`|f NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, even if timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 3/27/2020.
`CI A declaration(s)/affidavit(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):] Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Expade Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`5)
`
`Claim(s)
`
`1—4,10—13,21—25 and 27—31 is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`
`
`[:1 Claim(ss)_is/are allowed.
`
`Claim(ss) 1,3 —4, 10,12— 13,21 —25 and 27—31 is/are rejected.
`
`Claim(s)2_and 11 is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`S)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`C] Claim(s
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`
`httpfiwww.”smogovmatentsflnit_events[pph[index.'§p or send an inquiry to PPeredhack@gsptg.ggv.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10):] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`is/are: a)[:| accepted or b)D objected to by the Examiner.
`11):] The drawing(s) filed on
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`
`12):] Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a)i:i All
`
`b)C] Some**
`
`c)C] None of the:
`
`1.1:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`2.[:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`
`SD Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`
`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`2) C] Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date_
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) E] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20200425
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 2
`
`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined
`
`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Request for Continued Examination
`
`The request filed on 3/27/2020 for a Request for Continued Examination (RCE)
`
`under 37 CFR 1.114 based on parent Application No. 15/890,863 is acceptable and a
`
`RCE has been established. An action on the RCE follows.
`
`This communication is in response to applicant’s 03/27/2020
`
`amendment/responses in the application of HUANG et al. for “COMMUNICATION
`
`METHOD AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS” filed 02/07/2018. The
`
`amendments/response to the claims have been entered. No claims have been
`
`canceled. No claims have been added. Claims 1-4, 10-13, 20-25, 27-31 are now
`
`pending.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed
`invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the
`claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have
`been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having
`ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be
`negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 3
`
`Claims 1, 10, 21 -25, 27-31 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being
`
`unpatentable over ZHANG et al. (US 2015/0146807 A1), hereinafter ZHANG in view of
`
`GRANDHI (US 2011/0261708 A1).
`
`Regarding eiarri in ZHANG dieeieeee a eemrntinieetien rnethed irnaiemented by a
`
`eermniiriieatieh apparatus, the communication methed eemerieing:
`
`traneinitting a eeunding frame cempneing a training eignai (the AP tranemit the
`
`generated setinding packet 498 incitiding the ene at more eignais te the eiieht etetiehg
`
`eee $13031 0041); and
`
`receiving a first feedback frame from a eernnttii'iieatien partner deviee, the first
`
`feedback frame eemerieihg iiret beamfermihg feedback iniennatien and subhand
`
`indieatieh inferrnatien {Fit} 43 is a diagram at a feedback packet 459 that a eiient
`
`etatien 25 is configured ta transmit te the AP 14 during the attending nreeedtire 4% at
`
`FEG. 4A, aeeerding to ene each embediment. in an embodiment, the feedback packet
`
`450 corresponds in each ef the feedback baskets 412 et FEG. 4A.
`
`in an einhediinent,
`
`the feedback packet 459 is generated by a eiient station 25 in respenee te receiving a
`
`eeunding naeket transmitted by the AP 14 te the eiient atatien 25 eee $1001“),
`
`wherein the first feedback frame ie trarieniitted together with a ieaet ene eeeend
`
`feedback frame Sii’i’itiitfii‘ififiiifiiyj by a nitiitiuser transmission, and the first beamfennihg
`
`feedback infermatien eerreebende to an entire bandwidth (the eiient etetieh transmits
`
`the feedback packet 45G ehewn beamierrning feedback, over entire 8W, see figure 4333)
`
`er ene er rnere enhhende, the ene er rnere etihhande heirig indicated by the eiibhend
`
`indieatieh inferrnatien (the feedback packet 476 shown heamierming feedback ever
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 4
`
`eefeeted DFDMA sabehannei bieehe; and OFDMA feedback 4-58, eee figure 4C and fi
`
`£3041 43042}
`
`EHAMG taite ta exbfieitiy dieoieee that generating a eeanding frame comprising a
`
`training eignai.
`
`in the earne iieid (it endeaver, {fifief‘ffiflf dieetdeee an AP inoindirtg a prdeeeeer
`
`fer generating a eeunding frame ineiuding training aymbeie tb be rneaetire by each at a
`
`biaratity of STAS teee {361313661314},
`
`Therefore, it wotiid have been ebvieee te ene having ordinary ekiii in the art at
`
`the time (if inventien wee fiied te inedrpdrate Gfiflfiflfife teaching in the
`
`netwerie’eyetem taught by EHANG fer breviding eignaiing breteetien rneehaniem for
`
`great) transmission invefving two at rnere devices“
`
`Regarding eiairn 2t), ZHANG dieefeeee the tiret feedback frame is; transmitted
`
`together with at feaet bne second feedback frame by a rntiftitieer tranernieeien (the
`
`feedback baeket 450 inoiadee beamterming feedback ever entire SW and (Denna
`
`feedback 4563, eee figure 48).
`
`Regarding eiairn 21, ZHANS discieeee the first beamterming feedback
`
`intermatien eorreebende te a biuraiity at eabbande inoftitfing the ene er rriere sabbandeq
`
`and the etibband indieatien intermatien indicates the bitiraiity of eubbande {a feedback
`
`packet 47% that a etient etatien 25 ie eertfigured to tranerttit it) the AP 14 during the
`
`aeending preeedure 4% et Fifi, 4A., The feedback packet 470 is generatiy the same
`
`as the feedback packet 455, except that a beamterming bortien 47G ineiedee a
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 5
`
`beatnierming feedback enrtien 4?4 that eevere a bandwidth that eerreeeende to the (the
`
`er mete etib—channei biecka indicated by the OFDMA feedback bertien 458, eee ti 0946;
`
`where the OFDMA pertien 456 inetudes ene er more et {i} indieatiens et ene or there
`
`bretei‘red eub—ohannei btecke identified by the eiieht etatieh 25 based en the eeending
`
`irarne transmitted by the AF“ t4 te the ciieht e‘tatieh 25, eee ti 0943).
`
`Regarding eiairn 22, Z’HANQ diseteses the first feedback frame eeinbriees a
`
`eiuratity et enbiietde containing the etieband indieatien intermatieh, and the eieraiity et
`
`eubtieide indicate ehe (it there tenee ceneeeending te ineatiene bi the eturaiity et the
`
`snbbands in a frequency deinain (the beainterrning feedback ever seiected OFDMA
`
`Stib-Chaititfii bteeks 4274 comprises a pturetity et tietde (43/8, 480, 482), ineieding tene
`
`iniennatien tieid 482, see figure 40}
`
`Regarding claim 23: EHANCS diecieeee the ene er mere snbbands are resource
`
`unite ter an OFDMA transmission (generating teedbeck retated te quaiity et snbehannei
`
`hieeke tei OFEMA eerntnunieatien, each eiient etatien 25 deyeteee, based en the
`
`training eigi‘tate in the eeending packet 40%, beatnterntihg feedback, and bi’eyidee the
`
`beatntbnning feedback te the AP i4, eee ti Cadet ),
`
`Regarding oiairn 24, EHANQ dieeieeee the eebband indication tittennatieh
`
`ineindee ene er rnbte tenee eei‘teebending te teea‘tiene et the we (it there enbhande in a
`
`trequency demain (the OFDMA portion 456 includes one or more of (i) indications of
`
`one or more preferred sub-channel blocks identified by the client station 25 based on
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 6
`
`the sounding frame transmitted by the AP 14 to the client station 25, (ii) indications of
`
`order of preference of multiple preferred sub-channel blocks identified by the particular
`
`station 25 based on the sounding frame based on the sounding frame transmitted by
`
`the AP 14 to the client station 25, see 11 0043).
`
`Regarding eiairn 25, EHANG discioses the one or more tones correspond to a
`
`widtn oi tne one or more subhahds {the OFDMA portion 456 includes one or more of (i)
`
`indications of one or more preferred sub-channel blocks identified by the client station
`
`25 based on the sounding frame transmitted by the AP 14 to the client station 25, (ii)
`
`indications of order of preference of multiple preferred sub-channel blocks identified by
`
`the particular station 25 based on the sounding frame based on the sounding frame
`
`transmitted by the AP 14 to the client station 25, see 11 0043).
`
`Regarding eiairn 10, EHANG discioses a communication apparatus, comprising:
`
`an antenna which, in operation, transmit a sounding frame comprising a training
`
`signai (the AP transmit the generated sounding packet 408 inciuding the one or more
`
`signais to the ciieni station, see ti 0037, 0041); and
`
`receive a first feedback frame ircrn a communication partner device, the first
`
`ieedback frame comprising first beamiorming feedback information and sobcand
`
`indication information (PEG. 48 is a diagram of a feedback packet 450 that a ciient
`
`station 25 is configured to transmit to the AP 14 during the sounding procedure 400 of
`
`PEG, 4A, according to one such embodiment. in an embodiment, the feedback packet
`
`450 corresponds to each at the feedback packets 412 of Fifi, 4A,
`
`in an embodiment,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 7
`
`the ieedbaek packet 450 is generated by a eiient station 25 in reebenee te receiving a
`
`sbdhding packet transmitted by the AP M to the eiierit atatieh 25 See ti 53841),
`
`wherein the first feedback frame is transmitted tegether with a ieast ene secend
`
`feedback traine eiiniiitaneetieiy, by a maitiueer transmission, and the first beaintorrning
`
`ieedbaeit inierrnatien eorreebonde te an entire bandwidth (the eiieht etatien tranemite
`
`the teedbach basket 450 ehewn hearnferming feedback ever entire BW, eee tigure 4B}
`
`er one er rnere sabbandsg the one er mere aubhanda being indicated by the stihband
`
`indication intorrnatien {the feedback, packet are enewn beantfenning feedback ever
`
`eeieeted DFDMA eab~ehahnei bieeke; and OFDMA feedback 4-58, eee figure 4C and ti
`
`£3041 43042,)“
`
`EHAMG faiia ta exbiieitiy diacieee that generating a eeanding heme comprising a
`
`training eignat.
`
`in the earne tieid ei endeaver, fifidi‘tfifli dieeieeee an AP inetnding a breeeeeer
`
`ter generating a attending ti'arrie ineiuding training eymbeie the be measure by each at a
`
`biaraiity of Sites (eee {3613124361314},
`
`Thereiore, it wotiid have been ehviede te ene having ordinary ekiii in the art at
`
`the time (it inventien wee iiied te ineerperate Gfidfiflfiis teaching in the
`
`netwerie’eystem taught by EHANG fer previdihg signaiing breteetieh mechanism tor
`
`greab transmission inveiving two er mere devices.
`
`Regarding eiairn 2?, ZHANG dieeteeee the iiret beamterrnirig feedback
`
`inferrnatien cen‘eebende tb a biuraiity et suhbands incinding the ene er mere snbbantfs,
`
`and the etihband indicatien inferrnatien indicates the biaraiity of aubhanda {a feedback
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 8
`
`packet 4m that e eiieht etatieh 25 ie eehtigtited te tranamit he the AP t4- ddrihg the
`
`eetihdihg preeedure 40E) of Fifi. 4A... ~the feedback packet 478 ie genereiiy the aame
`
`as the teedbech packet 450‘, except that e beemtetmihg edition 5m) theiddee e
`
`beehitetmihg feedback bei‘tieh 474 that eevere a bahdwidth that eerreeeehde te the we
`
`er more SLEb'Chéiiii‘iéEE hiecke ihdicated by the QFDMA teedhech pertieh 456, eee it 0948;
`
`where the GFDMA pettieh 456 theiudee we or mete et (i) indications ei ehe er there
`
`preteited Subuchehhei bieeke identified by the eiieht etetieh 25 based on the eedhdihg
`
`heme ttehemitted by the hi3 iii to the eiieht etetieh 25, see t (3643).
`
`Regarding eieim 28, ZHANS diseieeee the first feedback frame cembtieee e
`
`eiuteiity et subtieide containing the subbahd ihdicatieh ihtermetieh, and the eitii'aiity et
`
`euhtieide ihdieate ehe er there tehee eetteeeehdihg te ieeatiehe hi the biutaiity et the
`
`edhhehde ih a frequency deitieih (the heemtermihg feedback ever eeieeted OFDMA
`
`euh—ehaenei bteeke 4M eemerieea a biureiity et tieide {478, 48%, 482}, ii'iCiiidii’ig tehe
`
`intei‘matieh tieid 482, see figure 4(2),
`
`Regarding claim 29, E'Hdhit’; diecieeee the ehe or there euhbaede ere reeeuree
`
`unite hit an GFDMA trehemieeieh (generating feedback tetated te duetity et edb~ehehhei
`
`bieehe tei OFDMA cemmunieetieh, each eiieht station 25 deveieee, based hit the
`
`training eighaie ih the eeundihg peeket 488, heemtermihg feedback, and brevidee the
`
`beemtetmihg feedback it: the AP 14, eee fit {3941).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 9
`
`Regarding claim 30, E’HANé’; discloses the sobband indication information
`
`inoiuoes one or more tones corresponding to locations of the one or more subhands in at
`
`frequency domain (the OFDMA portion 456 includes one or more of (i) indications of
`
`one or more preferred sub-channel blocks identified by the client station 25 based on
`
`the sounding frame transmitted by the AP 14 to the client station 25, (ii) indications of
`
`order of preference of multiple preferred sub-channel blocks identified by the particular
`
`station 25 based on the sounding frame based on the sounding frame transmitted by
`
`the AP 14 to the client station 25, see 11 0043).
`
`Regarding ciaim 31, ZHANG discloses the one or more tones correspond to a
`
`width of the one or more soboanos {the OFDMA portion 456 includes one or more of (i)
`
`indications of one or more preferred sub-channel blocks identified by the client station
`
`25 based on the sounding frame transmitted by the AP 14 to the client station 25, (ii)
`
`indications of order of preference of multiple preferred sub-channel blocks identified by
`
`the particular station 25 based on the sounding frame based on the sounding frame
`
`transmitted by the AP 14 to the client station 25, see 11 0043).
`
`Claims 3-4, 12-13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over the combination of ZHANG—GRANDHI as applied to claims 20 or 26 above, and
`
`further in view of KWON et al. (US 2016/0242195 A1), hereinafter KWON.
`
`Regarding claims 344, 1213, the combination of EHANG—fififillififfitaifs to
`
`discloses the first feedback frame and the at least one second feedback frame,
`
`transmitted by the mttltitiser transmission, comprise first power control information or
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 10
`
`transmitting a frame comprising second power CQi‘iti’Gi information before receiving the
`
`first feedback frame.
`
`In the same field of endeavor, KWON discloses the STAs may transmit a
`
`feedback including power related information in an OFDMA system (see 11 0075).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at
`
`the time of invention was filed to incorporate KWONs teaching in the network/system
`
`taught by the combination of ZHANG-GRANDHI in order to provide power control
`
`between serving AP node and the plurality of STAs in the AP’s serving area.
`
`Allowable Subject Matter
`
`Claims 2, 11 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but
`
`would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the
`
`base claim and any intervening claims.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`Applicant's arguments filed 3/27/2020 have been fully considered but they are
`
`not persuasive.
`
`The amendment to the claims does not change the scope of the claims. The
`
`cited reference ZHANG discloses in figures 48, 4C:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 11
`
`FIG. #8
`
`gm
`
`M1 550 Control
`Reid
`
`0% Dad». hmfiecmk-
`
`Durispmwefi massing
`Feedback
`
`‘1
`5‘
`c
`-
`Periwmis mm
`
`~
`
`*‘: a» t”. .A .
`
`Fifi: 458'
`
`If
`55%
`
`Essmtxrmkg
`ii’smtjixmtx mar
`entire; aw
`
`x 4m
`vii
`
`
`
`{immerse-sad Staging
`
`News; sea
`
`spasm mmr
`
`Miléfi‘ timed
`Fm
`
`{A
`g
`
`Esanxfimaisg
`S‘mfimck owes
`
`{‘Jsbfihz‘lmi‘lei finals-s
`
`As shown in figures 48, 40, the client station transmits at least two feedbacks to
`
`the AP: the first feedback including beamforming feedback over entire BW or selected
`
`OFDM sub-channel blocks 454 or 474; and OFDMA feedback 456. The claim does not
`
`called for where the second frame is transmitted to nor the content. Therefore, ZHANG
`
`discloses the claimed subject matter “the first feedback frame is transmitted together
`
`with at least one second feedback frame simultaneously, by the multiuser transmission.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any response to this action should be mailed to:
`
`The following address mail to be delivered by the United States Postal
`Service (USPS) only:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/890,863
`Art Unit: 2412
`
`Page 12
`
`Mail Stop
`Commissioner for Patents
`
`P. O. Box 1450
`
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`or faxed to:
`
`(571) 273-8300, (for formal communications intended for entry)
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to Bob A. Phunkulh whose telephone number is (571)
`
`272-3083. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Thursday from 8:00 AM.
`
`to 5:00 PM. (first week of the bi-week) and Monday-Friday (for second week of the bi-
`
`week).
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor CHARLES C. JIANG can be reach on (571) 270-7191.
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
`
`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
`
`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
`
`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
`
`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
`
`you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
`
`Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
`
`/BOB A PHUNKULH/
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2412
`
`