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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
`
`16/637,714
`
`02/07/2020
`
`LEI HUANG
`
`731456.555USPC
`
`4078
`
`Seed IP Law Group LLP/Panasonic (PIPCA)
`701 5th Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`MIAN, OMERS
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2461
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`04/15/2021
`
`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*
`15-34 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`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.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) 15-34 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 2/7/2020 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
`1.2 Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.2) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.4 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 20210315
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/637,714
`HUANG etal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`OMER S MIAN
`2461
`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 2/7/2020.
`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: 16/637,714
`Art Unit: 2461
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA 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.
`
`Priority
`
`Receipt is acknowledgedof certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
`
`Claim 21, receives the priority date of 12/24/2017 and doesnot getthe priority
`
`date of 8/30/2017. “Teardown”is not disclosed or supported by the priority documents
`
`of 8/30/2017.
`
`Claims 23, 32-34 receive the priority date of 2/7/2020 and not of 12/24/2017 or
`
`8/30/2017 as the “channel offset” being in the first set of parameters is not disclosed or
`
`supported by the priority documents.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35
`
`U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103)is incorrect, any
`
`correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of
`
`rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be
`
`the same under either status.
`
`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 —
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/637,714
`Art Unit: 2461
`
`Page 3
`
`(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an
`application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the
`patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectivelyfiled
`before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
`
`Claim(s) 15-17, 22, 27-29 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being
`
`anticipated by KIM et al (US 2019/0246356)
`
`Regarding claim 15, 27, KIM et al (US 2019/0246356) discloses a station
`
`comprising: circuitry which, in operation, switches from Wake-Up Radio (WUR) mode
`
`suspend to WUR mode byinitiating and completing a WUR mode setup frame
`
`exchange (KIM: (154, 155, 9157, Fig. 17-18, a change moderequestis transmitted
`
`from the STAto the AP during initiating and completing WUR modesetup
`
`information exchange with the AP); and
`
`a transmitter which, in operation, transmits a WUR mode setup frame to an
`
`access point (AP) in the WUR modesetup frame exchange (KIM: 9154, 9155, 7157,
`
`Fig. 17-18, a change moderequest is transmitted from the STAto the APafter
`
`completing WUR modesetup information exchange with the AP; the WUR is
`
`switched to a WUR mode on (WUR mode) from a WUR modeoff (WUR mode
`
`suspend)).
`
`Regarding claim 16, 28, KIM et al (US 2019/0246356) discloses a station
`
`according to claim 15/27, wherein the circuitry switches from WUR mode suspend to
`
`WUR mode after negotiation of WUR power management service (KIM: Fig. 17-Fig.18,
`
`9153-157, STA WUR mode on (WUR mode)is achieved after a WUR
`
`parameter/negotiation procedure).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/637,714
`Art Unit: 2461
`
`Page 4
`
`Regarding claim 17, 29 KIM et al (US 2019/0246356) discloses a station
`
`according to claim 16/28, wherein an action type field of a WUR mode element
`
`contained in the WUR modesetup frame indicates that the circuitry enters the WUR
`
`mode (KIM: 9156-159, 7162, Fig. 19, a WUR mode support element is included in
`
`the action frame of association request).
`
`Regarding claim 22, KIM et al (US 2019/0246356) discloses station according
`
`to claim 17, wherein the WUR mode element is used to negotiateafirst set of
`
`parameters related to WUR operation (KIM: 1166, a first set of parameters are
`
`negotiated).
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35
`
`U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103)is incorrect, any
`
`correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of
`
`rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be
`
`the same under either status.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousnessrejections 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: 16/637,714
`Art Unit: 2461
`
`Page 5
`
`The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness
`
`under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized asfollows:
`
`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 presentin the application indicating
`
`obviousness or nonobviousness.
`
`This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the
`
`claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was
`
`commonly ownedasof the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any
`
`evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to
`
`point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly
`
`ownedas ofthe effectivefiling date of the later invention in order for the examiner to
`
`consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2)
`
`prior art against the later invention.
`
`Claim 18-20, 30 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over KIM et al (US 2019/0246356) in view of HUANG etal (US 2018/0049131)
`
`Regarding claim 18, 30, KIM et al (US 2019/0246356)disclosesa station
`
`according to claim 16/28, wherein when a response frame from the AP indicates that
`
`the AP accepts the requestthe circuitry enters the WUR mode suspend in the
`
`negotiation (KIM: Fig. 17-Fig.18, 4153-157, a WUR modeoff (suspend) is entered by
`
`the STA aspart of the negotiation and upon receiving a frame from the AP).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/637,714
`Art Unit: 2461
`
`Page 6
`
`KIM doesnot explicitly disclose, however, HUANG et al (US 2018/0049131)
`
`regarding the transmitter transmits to the AP a request frame that indicates a requestfor
`
`entering the WUR mode suspend, (HUANG: Fig. 7-8, 76, a WUR mode suspension
`
`(WUR off) is requested using an action frame)
`
`A person of ordinary skill in the art working with the invention of KIM would have
`
`been motivated to use the teachings of HUANG asit provides a way to improve
`
`communication between STA and AP regarding power states thereby improving control
`
`over the network communications and stations. Therefore, it would have been obvious
`
`to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify
`
`invention of KIM with teachings of HUANG in order to improve control over
`
`communication and stations.
`
`Regarding claim 19, KIM modified by HUANG discloses station according to
`
`claim 18, wherein an action type field of a WUR mode element within the request frame
`
`indicates the request (HUANG: 976, Fig. 8 and 75, action frame is a request frame;
`
`WUR mode elementwithin the frame).
`
`Regarding claim 20, KIM modified by HUANG discloses station according to
`
`claim 18, wherein an action type field of a WUR mode element within the response
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/637,714
`Art Unit: 2461
`
`Page 7
`
`frame indicates that the AP accepts the request (HUANG: 74, KIM: Fig. 19, a
`
`response frameindicating the AP has accepted a requestof the STA).
`
`Claims 21, 23, 31-34 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being
`
`unpatentable over KIM et al (US 2019/0246356) in view of HUANG et al (US
`
`2019/0045445)
`
`Regarding claim 21, 31, KIM et al (US 2019/0246356) discloses a station
`
`according to claim 15/27, wherein the circuitry invalidates WUR power management
`
`service byinitiating WUR mode teardown frame (KIM: Fig. 19, 4166, WUR parameters
`
`invalidated and renewed/changed).
`
`KIM remains silent regarding, however, HUANG2 (HUANG et al US
`
`2019/0045445) discloses tears down WUR power managementservice byinitiating
`
`WUR modeteardown frame (HUANG2: 9114, WUR mode frame/teardown frame
`
`being utilized to discard WUR parameters).
`
`A person of ordinary skill in the art working with the invention of KIM would have
`
`been motivated to use the teachings of HUANG2asit provides a way to improve
`
`memory utilization in the device by freeing up space for updated WUR parameter and
`
`speed up the updating process. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of
`
`ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify invention
`
`of KIM with teachings of HUANG2 in order to improve memory resourceutilization.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/637,714
`Art Unit: 2461
`
`Page 8
`
`Regarding claim 23, 32, KIM et al (US 2019/0246356) discloses station
`
`according to claim 22/29, wherein the first set of parameters includes WUR channel
`
`information and WUR dutycycle start time (KIM: (164, WUR channel information and
`
`duty cycle is one of the parameters).
`
`KIM remains silent regarding, however, WUR channel information including WUR
`
`channel offset.
`
`However, HUANG2 (HUANG et al US 2019/0045445) discloses WUR channel
`
`information including WUR channel offset. (HUANG2: 767, WUR channeloffset).
`
`A person ofordinary skill in the art working with the invention of KIM would have
`
`been motivated to use the teachings of HUANG2 asit provides a way to improve
`
`channel synchronization by including channel related information, thereby improving
`
`throughput. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art
`
`before the effectivefiling date of the invention to modify invention of KIM with teachings
`
`of HUANG2in order to improve overall synchronization.
`
`Regarding claim 33, KIM modified by HUANG2 discloses communication
`
`method according to claim 32, comprising: receiving WUR beacon frame containing a
`
`WUR operation element which contains a second set of parameters necessary to
`
`support WUR operation and wherein a secondset of parameters includes minimum
`
`wake-up duration, WUR channel information and WUR beacon period (KIM: 4164, On-
`
`duration information; channel information and 779, beacon interval and other
`
`parameters; HUANG2: (67, WUR beacon frameis usedto transmit parameters).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/637,714
`Art Unit: 2461
`
`Page 9
`
`Regarding claim 34, KIM modified by HUANG2 discloses communication
`
`method according to claim 33, wherein each of the parametersin the first set is different
`
`from each of the parametersin the second set (KIM: (164, On-duration information;
`
`channel information and 979, beacon interval and other parameters; HUANG2:
`
`467, WUR beacon frame is used to transmit parameters; the parameters are
`
`different than one another and thus the sets are different).
`
`Claims 24-26,is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over KIM et al (US 2019/0246356) in view of AHN et al (US 2019/0028967)
`
`Regarding claim 24, KIM et al (US 2019/0246356) discloses station according
`
`to claim 22, comprising: a receiver which, in operation, receives a second setof
`
`parameters necessary to support WUR operation (KIM: 4164, On-duration
`
`information; channel information and 779, beacon interval and other parameters).
`
`AHN remains silent regarding the parameters being in a beacon frame in an
`
`WUR operation element.
`
`However, AHN discloses the parameters being in a beacon frame in an WUR
`
`operation element. (Jl: (213, 172, WUR beacon frame regarding the WUR
`
`operation information in an WUR mode element; the channel information is sent
`
`by the WUR beacon frame; timing information is included in the beacon WUR
`
`frame).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/637,714
`Art Unit: 2461
`
`Page 10
`
`A person ofordinary skill in the art working with the invention of KIM would have
`
`been motivated to use the teachings of AHN asit provides a wayto provide parameters
`
`to the WUR without significant change to a legacy beacon frame, therefore, improving
`
`compatibility. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art
`
`before the effectivefiling date of the invention to modify invention of KIM with teachings
`
`of AHN in order to improve compatibility
`
`Regarding claim 25,, KIM modified by AHN discloses station according to claim
`
`24, wherein the second set of parameters includes minimum wake-up duration, WUR
`
`channel information and WUR beacon period (KIM: 7164, On-duration information;
`
`channelinformation and 79, beacon interval; Jl: 4173, (212, minimum wake-up
`
`duration; synchronization information/beacon interval information).
`
`Regarding claim 26, KIM modified by AHN discloses station according to claim
`
`24, wherein each of the parametersin the first set is different from each of the
`
`parameters in the second set (KIM: 4164, 979, JI: 4173, (212, the parameters are
`
`different from each other).
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to OMER S MIAN whosetelephone number is (571)270-
`
`7524. The examiner can normally be reached on M,Th: 10a-9p, Tu,W:930a-530p,
`
`F:930a-1130a.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/637,714
`Art Unit: 2461
`
`Page 11
`
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`
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`
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`
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`
`OMER 8S. MIAN
`Primary Examiner
`Art Unit 2461
`
`/OMER S$ MIAN/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2461
`
`