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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`16/629,284
`
`01/07/2020
`
`Katsuhiko HIRAMATSU
`
`731056.492USPC
`
`7078
`
`Seed IP Law Group LLP/Panasonic
`701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`HEIBER, SHANTELL LAKETA
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2645
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`05/04/2021
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above-indicated "Notification Date" to the
`following e-mail address(es):
`USPTOeAction @ SeedIP.com
`
`pairlinkdktg @seedip.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-22 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`C} Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-22 is/are rejected.
`S)
`) © Claim(s)____is/are objected to.
`Cj) Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`S)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) )
`
`Application Papers
`10)(] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11) The drawing(s) filed on 1/7/2020 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 (f).
`Certified copies:
`_—_c)L) None ofthe:
`b)L) Some**
`a)¥) All
`1.4) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.2) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.2.) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`* See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) (J Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`4)
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20210429
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/629,284
`HIRAMATSU etal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`SHANTELL L HEIBER
`2645
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEofthis communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing
`date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133}.
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s) filed on 1/7/2020.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)L) This action is FINAL. 2b)¥)This action is non-final.
`3)02 An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4\0) Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Exparte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/629,284
`Art Unit: 2645
`
`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
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`1.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined
`
`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`2.
`
`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that
`
`form the basis for the rejections under this section madein this Office action:
`
`A person shall be entitled to a patent unless —
`
`(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use,
`on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effectivefiling date of the claimed
`invention.
`
`3.
`
`Claim(s) 1, 11-12 and 22 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being
`
`anticipated by Hodson et al. (Hodson), U.S. Publication No. 2012/001 7247.
`
`Regarding Claims 1 and 11, Hodson discloses a transmitter (i-e., ground
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`gateway3, 5; see figure 1) that communicates with at least one receiver (i.e., user
`
`receivers 11, 12; see figure 1) via a satellite station (i.e., satellite 2; see figure 1) that
`
`transmits a signal (i-e., broadcast content; see paragraph [0034]) by a multibeam
`
`system (shownin figure 1), the transmitter comprising:
`
`a scheduler that performs scheduling to determine a time and a wireless channel
`
`to transmit data addressed to the at least one receiver based on an area wherethe at
`
`least one receiver is present (as described in paragraphs [0034] and [0043]); and
`
`a transmission unit that transmits a signal of the data addressedto the at least
`
`one receiver to the satellite station by the wireless channel determined by the scheduler
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/629,284
`Art Unit: 2645
`
`Page 3
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`and at the time determined by the scheduler (as described in paragraph [0034] and
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`shownin figure 1),
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`wherein the signal transmitted from the transmission unit by an i-th wireless
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`channel is transmitted from the satellite station to the at least one receiver by an i-th
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`beam, wherein i represents an integer of 1 or larger (as shownin figure 1), and
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`frequencies of signals transmitted from the satellite station by respective beams
`
`are same (as described in paragraph [0086)).
`
`Regarding Claims 12 and 22, Hodson discloses a transmitter that
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`communicates with at least one receiver via a satellite station that transmits a signal by
`
`a multibeam system (sameas claim 1 above), the transmitter comprising:
`
`a scheduler that performs scheduling to determine a time and a wireless channel
`
`among one or more wireless channels to transmit data addressed to the at least one
`
`receiver based on an area wherethe at least one receiver is present (Same as claim 1
`
`above); and
`
`a transmission unit that transmits a signal of the data addressedto the at least
`
`one receiver to the satellite station by the wireless channel determined by the scheduler
`
`and at the time determined by the scheduler (same as claim 1 above),
`
`wherein the signal transmitted from the transmission unit by the wireless channel
`
`is transmitted from the satellite station to the at least one receiver by a beam
`
`corresponding to the wireless channel among one or more beams (as described in
`
`paragraph [0034] and shownin figure 1), and
`
`frequencies of signals transmitted from the satellite station respectively by the
`
`one or more beams are same (same as claim 1 above).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/629,284
`Art Unit: 2645
`
`Page 4
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`4.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousnessrejections setforth in this Office action:
`
`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed
`invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the
`claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have
`been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having
`ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be
`negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
`
`5.
`
`Claims 2, 6, 9-10, 17 and 20-21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being
`
`unpatentable over Hodson in view ofLi et al. (Li), U.S. Publication No. 2010/0173639.
`
`Regarding Claim 2, Hodson discloses the transmitter as described above.
`
`Hodson further discloses wherein the scheduler performs scheduling to transmit the
`
`data addressed to the at least one receiver in a specified area ofafirst coverage area of
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`a first beam and a second coverage area of a second beam bya first wireless channel
`
`and a second wireless channel at a same time (See paragraph [0086] andfigure 1).
`
`Hodson fails to disclose including an overlap region. Li discloses including an overlap
`
`region (see paragraph [0027]). h would have been cbhvicus lo a person of ordinary Skil
`
`in the art before the effective fling cate of the claimed invention to consider Lis
`
`invention with Hodson’s invention to improve soectral efficiency and services (see
`
`paragraph (OO0S] of Li).
`
`Regarding Claims 6 and 17, Hodson andLi disclose the transmitter as
`
`described above. Hodson further discloses wherein the at least one receiver includes a
`
`first receiver and a second receiver (see figure 1), and when the first receiver is present
`
`in an area of the first coverage area or the second coverage area exceptfor the
`
`specified area and the second receiver is present in the specified area (see figure 1),
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/629,284
`Art Unit: 2645
`
`Page 5
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`the scheduler performs scheduling to transmit first data addressedto the first receiver
`
`and second data addressed to the second receiver in time division (See paragraph
`
`[0037]).
`
`Regarding Claims 9 and 20, Hodson andLi disclose the transmitter as
`
`described above. Hodson further discloses wherein when the first receiver is present in
`
`an area of the first coverage area except for the specified area and the second receiver
`
`is present in an area of the second coverage area except for the specified area (see
`
`figures 4a and 4b), the scheduler performs scheduling to successively transmit the first
`
`data bythe first wireless channel and to successively transmit the second data by the
`
`second wireless channel (see paragraph [0086] and figure 1).
`
`Regarding Claims 10 and 21, Hodson andLi disclose the transmitter as
`
`described above. Hodson further discloses wherein when the first receiver and the
`
`second receiver are present in the specified area (see figure 1), the scheduler performs
`
`scheduling to transmit the first data and the second datain time division and to transmit
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`the first data and the second data bythe first wireless channel and by the second
`
`wireless channel (see figure 1).
`
`6.
`
`Claims 3 and 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Hodson and Li in view of Kim et al. (Kim), U.S. Publication No. 2010/0118851.
`
`Regarding Claims 3 and 14, Hodson andLi disclose the transmitter as
`
`described above. Hodson and Li fail to disclose wherein the transmission unit transmits
`
`same data to the at least one receiver in the specified area bythe first wireless channel
`
`and the second wireless channel at the same time. Kim discloses wherein the
`
`transmission unit transmits same data to the at least one receiver in the specified area
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/629,284
`Art Unit: 2645
`
`Page 6
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`by the first wireless channel and the second wireless channel at the same time (see
`
`paragraphs [0036] and [0058] & figures 3 and 7).
`
`it would have been cbvious to a
`
`person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective fling date of the claimed invention
`
`to consider Kins invention with Hodsan’s and L?s invention far improving mobility of a
`
`wireless terminal and quality of service (see paradgranh [0006] of Kim).
`
`7.
`
`Claims 4-5 and 15-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over Hodson andLi in view of Dent, U.S. Patent No. 5,724,666.
`
`Regarding Claims 4 and 15, Hodson andLi disclose the transmitter as
`
`described above. Hodson and Li fail to disclose wherein the transmission unit transmits
`
`different data to the at least one receiver in the specified area by the first wireless
`
`channel and the second wireless channel at the same time so as to be separated from
`
`each other in the at least one receiver. Dent discloses wherein the transmission unit
`
`transmits different data to the at least one receiver in the specified area bythe first
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`wireless channel and the second wireless channel at the same time so as to be
`
`separated from eachother in the at least one receiver (see col. 13, lines 44-61 and
`
`figure 12).
`
`li would have been obvious fo a person of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`elfective filing date of the claimed invention to consider Dent's invention with Hodsor’s
`
`and Li's invention for providing enhanced communication (see cal 3, ines 62-67 af
`
`Dent).
`
`Regarding Claims 5 and 16, Hodson andLi disclose the transmitter as
`
`described above. Hodson and Li fail to disclose wherein the transmission unit transmits
`
`different data by different polarized waves using the first wireless channel and the
`
`second wireless channel. Dent discloses wherein the transmission unit transmits
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/629,284
`Art Unit: 2645
`
`Page 7
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`different data by different polarized waves using the first wireless channel and the
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`second wireless channel (see col. 13, lines 44-61 and figure 12).
`
`i{ would have been
`
`obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective fling date of the
`
`claimed invention to consider Dent's invention with Hodson’s and Li's invention for
`
`oroviding enhanced communicalion (see cab 3, lines 62-67 of Deni.
`
`8.
`
`Claims 7-8 and 18-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over Hodson and Li in view of Sorenson, Ill, U.S. Patent No. 9,621,468.
`
`Regarding Claims 7 and 18, Hodson andLi disclose the transmitter as
`
`described above. Hodson and Li fail to disclose wherein the scheduler performs
`
`scheduling so as to causea length of a first transmission time of the first data to be
`
`different from a length of a second transmission time of the second data. Sorenson, III
`
`discloses wherein the scheduler performs scheduling so as to causea length ofafirst
`
`transmission time of the first data to be different from a length of a second transmission
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`time of the second data (see col. 3, lines 26-49 and col. 3, line 62-col. 4, line 10).
`
`would have been obvious to 2 person of ordinary Skill in the art before the effective Hing
`
`date of the claimed invention to consider Sorenson’s invention with Hocison’s and Lis
`
`invention for providing a smooth packet lransmissian without dropping packeis and
`
`oreventing other problems (see col 2, ling S2-col 3, line 6).
`
`Regarding Claims 8 and 19, Hodson and Li disclose the transmitter as
`
`described above. Hodson and Li fail to disclose wherein the scheduler performs
`
`scheduling so as to cause the second transmission time to be shorter than the first
`
`transmission time. Sorenson, III discloses wherein the scheduler performs scheduling
`
`so as to cause the second transmission time to be shorter than the first transmission
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/629,284
`Art Unit: 2645
`
`Page 8
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`time (see col. 3, line 62-col. 4, line 10).
`
`it would have been obvicus fo a person of
`
`ordinary skill in the arf before the effective filing date of the claimed invention fo
`
`consider Sorensan’s invention with Hodson’s and Li's invention for providing a srnooth
`
`packet transmission without dropping packets and preventing other problems (see cal.
`
`2, ine S2-col. 3, ine 6).
`
`9.
`
`Claim 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hodson
`
`in view of Kim in further view of Li.
`
`Regarding Claim 13, Hodson discloses the transmitter as described above.
`
`Hodson further discloses the at least one receiver being in a specified area ofafirst
`
`coverage area ofafirst beam and a second coverage area of a second beam, the first
`
`wireless channel and a second wireless channel being included in the one or more
`
`wireless channels, the first beam and the second beam being included in the one or
`
`more beams (see paragraph [0086] and figure 1). Hodson fails to disclose wherein
`
`the scheduler performs scheduling to transmit the data addressed to the at least one
`
`receiver by a first wireless channel and a second wireless channel at a same time. Kim
`
`discloses wherein the scheduler performs scheduling to transmit the data addressed to
`
`the at least one receiver bya first wireless channel and a second wireless channel at a
`
`same time (see paragraphs [0036] and [0058] & figures 3 and 7).
`
`would have been
`
`obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective fling date of the
`
`claimed invention to consider Kim’s invention with Hodsan’s invention for improving
`
`mobility of a wireless terminal and qualily of service (see paragragh [0006] of Kim).
`
`Mocison and Kim fail to disclose including an overlap region. Li discloses including an
`
`overlap region (see paragraph [0027]). % would have been obvicus io a person of
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/629,284
`Art Unit: 2645
`
`Page 9
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`ordinary skilin the art before the effective filing date af the claimed invention fo
`
`consider Li's invention with Hodson’s and Kim’s invention to improve spectral efficiency
`
`and services (gee paragraph [O00S3] of Li).
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to SHANTELL HEIBER whosetelephone number is
`
`(571)272-0886. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 9am-5pm.
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`Application/Control Number: 16/629,284
`Art Unit: 2645
`
`Page 10
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`USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automatedinformation
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`
`/SHANTELL L HEIBER/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2645
`April 29, 2021
`
`