DETAILED ACTION
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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s corrections to claim objections for claims 1 and 4 made on 11/19/2025 has been considered and the objection to the claims is withdrawn.
In view of the amendments and arguments filed 02/11/2026, the previous rejection to claim(s) 1-6 has/have been withdrawn.
Examiner’s Note
In an attempt to place the case in condition for allowance, Examiner contacted Applicant to discuss potential amendments on 03/03/2026. However, no response has been received.
Claim Objections
Claim(s) 1 and 4 is/are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim(s) 1 and 4 recite “update link management information including a link destination ID, a frequency band, presence or absence of a multi-link, and a Traffic ID (TID) wherein the processing circuitry associates the TID with at least one of the first wireless signal processing unit and the second wireless signal processing unit based on the link management” but it should be “update link management information including a link destination ID, a frequency band, presence or absence of a multi-link, and a Traffic ID (TID) wherein the processing circuitry associates the TID with at least one of the first wireless signal processing circuit and the second wireless signal processing circuit based on the link management.” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim(s) 1-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention..
Regarding claims 1 and 4, the claims recite in part:
“establish a multi-link with the terminal apparatus/base station using the first link and the second link upon receiving/transmitting a multi-link request from the terminal apparatus/to the base station while the first link and the second link are establish;
if the processing circuitry detects that the first link and the second link have been established for the same terminal apparatus/base station, receive/transmit the multi-link request; and
update link management information including a link destination ID, a frequency band, presence or absence of a multi-link, and a Traffic ID (TID) wherein the processing circuitry associates the TID with at least one of the first wireless signal processing unit and the second wireless signal processing unit based on the link management.”
It is not clear if the “update” limitation is part of the condition “if the processing circuitry detects that the first link and the second link have been established for the same terminal apparatus/base station.” Based on the structure of the text, i.e., the indention, it appears the “update” limitation is not part of the condition. However, based on the “and” after the condition, it appears the “update” limitation is part of the condition. In light of the specification in paragraph [0073] teaching “For example, the link management units 120 and 220 sequentially update the link management information when a link or a multi-link is established,” the “update” limitation appears to be not part of the condition. Therefore, the Examiner suggests to move up the “update” limitation before the condition to avoid confusion.
Regarding claims 2-3 and 5-6, the claims are dependent on claims 1 and 4; and are therefore rejected based on their dependencies because they do not alleviate the confusion in claims 1 and 4.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim(s) 1-6 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for withdrawing the previous 103 rejection:
Applicant’s amendments, i.e., “update link management information including a link destination ID, a frequency band, presence or absence of a multi-link, and a Traffic ID (TID), wherein the processing circuitry associates the TID with at least one of the first wireless signal processing unit and the second wireless signal processing unit based on the link management” (claim(s) 1 and 4) filed 02/11/2026, in conjunction with other limitations recited in the claims have overcome the previous rejection(s). An updated search has been performed and no prior art has been found that solely, or in any reasonable combination, reads on the claims as amended. The closest prior(s) art found is/are as follows:
Inohiza et al. (US 2023/0007716 A1) (previously cited) teaches a plurality of communication units 206 control a plurality of antennas used for transmitting and receiving using links/channels/bands. For example, a first link 104 via a first channel is established via association processing between AP 102 and STA 103 in S401 and a second link 105 via a second channel is established via association processing between AP 102 and STA 103 in S402. Then multi-link communication is performed on the established link 1 and link 2. (Figs. 1-2 and 4, [0021], [0024], [0034]-[0035], [0046]).
Hwang et al. (US 2022/0287121 A1) (previously cited) teaches a primary link and at least another link are configured/established between STA MLD and AP MLD by using the exchange procedure of the association request/response frames. After the association procedure when the primary link and the at least another link are configured/established, the STA MLD transmits a multi-link request frame to the AP MLD. The multi-link request frame and a multi-link response frame are action frames, where the exchange of these action frames activates the multi-link operation between the AP MLD and the STA MLD. (Fig. 21, [0212], [0214]-[0216], [0218]).
Hashemi et al. (US 2020/0221367 A1) teaches a subfield 114 includes (d) Dest STA: is the address of the Destination STA; (h) Traffic ID: is the Traffic Identification of the associated traffic stream; (i) QoS Spec: is a traffic specification of this traffic stream (i.e., bandwidth, or similar traffic specifier). ([0147]).
Neither Inohiza, Hwang, nor Hashemi, taken alone or in any reasonable combination, teach the claims as amended.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to THE HY NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)270-3813. The examiner can normally be reached on Mo-Fr: 8am-4pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Joseph Avellino can be reached on (571) 272-3905. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/THE HY NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2478
TheHy.Nguyen@USPTO.gov
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