DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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 21 has been cancelled.
Claims 33-35 have been added.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
2. A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 04/23/2026 has been entered.
Status of Claims
3. This Office Action is in response to the application filed on 04/23/2026. Claims 1, 2-20, and 22 through 35 are presently pending and are presented for examination.
4. 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.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
5. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-20 and 22-35 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Claims 1 and 31-32 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, because they recite the limitation “negotiate the schedule of one or more SPs with the one or more clients independent of the frequency band”. The underlined portion is new. The underlined is interpreted as independent of any frequency band, while the speciation discloses only independent of 3.5 MHz.
Claims 2-20, 22-30, and 33-35 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph,
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
6. 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.
Claims 1 and 18-35 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Taneja et al. (US 2021/0099886 A1) in view of Chitrakar et al. (US 2024/0098712 A1).
For claim 1 Taneja teaches an apparatus (see Fig. 2 “SAS 110”) configured for wireless communication (see paragraph 30 “apparatus”), comprising:
a memory comprising instructions (see paragraph 131 “memory 2106”); and
one or more processors configured to execute the instructions (see paragraph 131 “CPU 2104”) and cause the apparatus to:
receive, from a network entity (see “AP 104”), via the at least one transceiver, an indication providing the apparatus with access to one or more channel resources within a spectrum (see Fig. 2 “spectrum enquiry response message: (available channel objects - frequency range, type of user: PAL/GAA, max EIRP)” and Fig. 4 “an exemplary allocated channels for CBSD, GAA, and PAL services);
schedule, within the one or more channel resources, one or more service periods (SPs), wherein the one or more channel resources are within a frequency band (see Fig. 15 “scheduling with one or more channel resources (e.g., c1, c2,…)”, pargraph 78, Fig. 6, paragraph 96, and Fig. 12 “coordinated scheduling techniques for managing Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) sub channels f1 and f2”), a dedicated service period (D-SP) and an opportunistic service period (O-SP) for communication with one or more clients, wherein the D-SP is reserved for communication with one of the one or more clients, and wherein the O-SP is dynamically scheduled for communication with one of the one or more clients (see Taneja: paragraph 60 “some type of services such as fixed satellite services (FSS) and a Priority Access License (PAL) is an access license which can be used by hospitals (clients)…the PAL service period is a fixed (dedicated) period, e.g., three years”, paragraph 63 “in some examples the SAS 110 can inform the CBRS Aps 104A-D of frequency bands or channels to use in the CBRS spectrum and transmit/receive powers for any specific time or time period”, and paragraph 61 “a third access license referred to as a General Authorized Access (GAA) is provided to users can potentially have access to all 150 megahertz in the 3550-3 700 MHz spectrum. GAA users are permitted to use any portion of the 3550-3700 MHz band not assigned to a higher tier user and may also operate opportunistically (GAA (OP-service period)) on unused Priority Access channels (it is also noted that operations of an enterprise may not be interrupted for using the GAA to perform critical operations)”).
negotiate the schedule of one or more SPs with the one or more clients independent of the frequency band; and
communicate, after the negotiating, with the one or more clients via the one or more SPs (see paragraphs 59-63 “communicating with US Navy , Hospitals…inform CBRS with any specific time period”).
Taneja does not explicitly teach negotiate the schedule of one or more SPs with the one or more clients independent of the frequency band; and
communicate, after the negotiating, with the one or more clients via the one or more SPs.
However, Chitrakar teaches any STAs, which need to access channel during
the Enhanced TWT SPs 121, 129, such as STA1 104, may then negotiate membership for the Enhanced TWT SPs 121,129 with AP 102 through TWT request/response frames exchange (see Chitrakar: paragraph 51).
Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of claimed invention to use the teachings of Chitrakar in the service periods of Taneja in order to prioritize traffic in the contention based channel access procedures (see Chitrakar: paragraph 51).
For claim 31 Taneja in view of Chitrakar teaches an access point (AP) configured for wireless communication (as discussed in claim 1), comprising:
at least one transceiver (as discussed in claim 1);
at least one memory comprising instructions (as discussed in claim 1); and
one or more processors configured to execute the instructions and (as discussed in claim 1) cause the AP to:
transmit, via the transceiver, a request for channel resources comprising an indication of one or more channel resources within a spectrum (as discussed in claim 1); and
receive, via the transceiver, a response to the request, the response providing the apparatus with access to the indicated one or more channel resources within the spectrum (as discussed in claim 1);
schedule, within the one or more channel resources, a dedicated service period (D-SP) and an opportunistic service period (0- SP) for communication with one or more clients, wherein the D-SP is reserved for communication with one of the one or more clients, and wherein the O-SP is dynamically scheduled for communication with one of the one or more clients (as discussed in claim 1); and
communicate with the one or more clients via the D-SP and O-SP (as discussed in claim 1).
For claim 32 Taneja in view of Chitrakar teaches a method for wireless communications at a wireless node (as discussed in claim 1), comprising:
outputting a request comprising an indication of one or more channel resources within a spectrum(as discussed in claim 1);
obtaining a response to the request, the response providing the apparatus with access to the indicated one or more channel resources within the spectrum (as discussed in claim 1);
scheduling, within the one or more channel resources, a dedicated service period (D-SP) and an opportunistic service period (O-SP) for communication with one or more clients, wherein the D-SP is reserved for communication with one of the one or more clients, and wherein the O-SP is dynamically scheduled for communication with one of the one or more clients (as discussed in claim 1); and
communicating with the one or more clients via the D-SP and O-SP (as discussed in claim 1).
For claim 33 Taneja teaches the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more SPs include at least one of a dedicated service period (D-SP) or an opportunistic service period (O-SP) for communication with one or more clients, wherein the D-SP is reserved for communication with one of the one or more clients, and wherein the O-SP is dynamically scheduled for communication with one of the one or more clients (see Taneja: paragraph 60 “some type of services such as fixed satellite services (FSS) and a Priority Access License (PAL) is an access license which can be used by hospitals (clients)…the PAL service period is a fixed (dedicated) period, e.g., three years”, paragraph 63 “in some examples the SAS 110 can inform the CBRS Aps 104A-D of frequency bands or channels to use in the CBRS spectrum and transmit/receive powers for any specific time or time period”, and paragraph 61 “a third access license referred to as a General Authorized Access (GAA) is provided to users can potentially have access to all 150 megahertz in the 3550-3 700 MHz spectrum. GAA users are permitted to use any portion of the 3550-3700 MHz band not assigned to a higher tier user and may also operate opportunistically (GAA (OP-service period)) on unused Priority Access channels (it is also noted that operations of an enterprise may not be interrupted for using the GAA to perform critical operations)”).
For claim 34 Taneja in view of Chitrakar teaches the apparatus of claim 33, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to:
negotiate the schedule of the D-SP with the one or more clients independent of the frequency band (as discussed in claims 1 and 33).
For claim 35 Taneja teaches the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to:
transmit, to the network entity via the at least one transceiver, an access request for the one or more channel resources within the spectrum (see Fig. 2 “204 spectrum enquiry request message (frequency range, .. )”)
For claim 18 Taneja teaches the apparatus, wherein the one or more channel resources are associated with 20 MHz or higher of bandwidth (see Taneja: paragraph 109 “20 MHz”).
For claim 19 Taneja teaches the apparatus, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to:
transmit to a client via the at least one transceiver, an indication of a maximum transmit power for transmission of signaling via the one or more channel resources (see Fig. 2 “spectrum enquiry response message (available channel objects - frequency range, type of user: PAL/GAA, max EIRP)”).
For claim 20 Taneja teaches the apparatus, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive via the at least one transceiver, instructions for reducing a maximum transmit power for transmission of signaling via the one or more channel resources (see Fig. 2 “spectrum enquiry response message (available channel objects - frequency range, type of user: PAL/GAA, max EIRP)”); and
reduce the maximum transmit power based on the instructions (see Fig. 2 “spectrum enquiry response message (available channel objects - frequency range, type of user: PAL/GAA, max EIRP)”).
For claim 22 Taneja the apparatus, wherein the one or more channel resources are within a 3.5 GHz band (see paragraph 2 “The Citizen Broadcast Radio Service (CBRS) is a 150 MHz wide spectrum in the 3550-3700 MHz frequency range in the United States”).
For claim 23 Taneja in view of Chitrakar teaches the apparatus claim 33, wherein the one or more channel resources are within a 3.5 GHz band (as discussed in claim 22), and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to:
advertise the O-SP independent of the 3.5 GHz band (see Chitrakar: paragraph 51 “advertise TWT SPs” and as discussed in claims 22 and 33).
For claim 24 Taneja in view of Chitrakar teaches the apparatus of claim 33, wherein one or more of the D-SP and the O-SP are indicated via a target wake up time (TWT) band (as indicated in claims 1 and 33”).
For claim 25 Taneja in view of Chitrakar teaches the apparatus of claim 33, wherein one or more of the D-SP and the O-SP are indicated via a bitmap (see Chitrakar: paragraph 87 “reserved bits” and paragraph 89 “LSB bits and MSB bits”).
For claim 26 Taneja in view of Chitrakar teaches the apparatus of claim 25, wherein each bit in the bitmap is configured to identify a time block corresponding to the D-SP or the O-SP, and wherein the bitmap is further configured to at least one of:
advertise one or more time blocks (see Chitrakar: paragraph 51 “advertise TWT SPs”);
request one or more time blocks (see Chitrakar: paragraph 51 “request TWT”); or
grant one or more time blocks (see Chitrakar: paragraph 51 “request/response (granting) TWT exchange”).
For claim 27 Taneja in view of Chitrakar teaches the apparatus, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to:
transmit to one or more clients via the at least one transceiver, a polling message (see Chitrakar: paragraph 127 “PS-Poll frame”) configured to at least one of: (i) indicate to the one or more clients that the one or more channel resources are still available for communication (see Taneja: at least pargraph 63 “Upon receiving a Spectrum Inquiry Response to the Spectrum Inquiry, the CBRS APs 104A-D send a Grant Request with one of the operating channels”), (ii) request whether any of the one or more clients have buffered data (see Taneja: at least pargraph 63 “Upon receiving a Spectrum Inquiry Response to the Spectrum Inquiry, the CBRS APs 104A-D send a Grant Request with one of the operating channels”), or (iii) notify the one or more clients that will be served by the apparatus (see Taneja: at least pargraph 63 “Upon receiving a Spectrum Inquiry Response to the Spectrum Inquiry, the CBRS APs 104A-D send a Grant Request with one of the operating channels”).
For claim 28 Taneja in view of Chitrakar teaches the apparatus of claim 27, wherein at least one of:
or
the polling message is a trigger frame (see Chitrakar: paragraph 80 “transmitting a Buffer Status Report Poll Trigger frame (BSRP TF)”).
For claim 29 Taneja teaches the apparatus, wherein the one or more channel resources are within a 3.5 GHz band (see paragraph 2 “Citizen Broadcast (advertised) Radio Service (CBRS) 1550-3700 MHz (3.5 GHz) range in United States”), and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to:
Transmit, via the at least one transceiver, independent of the 3.5 GHz band, an advertisement for a service period of the 3.5 GHz band (see pargraph 114 “cell neighbor frequencies broadcasted (advertised) to UEs via CBD”-the 3.5 GHz is a design choice).
For claim 30 Taneja teaches the apparatus, wherein the one or more channel resources are within a 3.5 GHz band (see paragraph 2 “Citizen Broadcast (advertised) Radio Service (CBRS) 1550-3700 MHz (3.5 GHz) range in United States”), wherein management frames are configured for at least one of discovery, authentication (see paragraph 64 “manage session states, authenticate, or association with the 3.5 GHz band (see paragraph 2 “Citizen Broadcast (advertised) Radio Service (CBRS) 1550-3700 MHz (3.5 GHz) range in United States, and manage communication associated
with access points and/or user equipment within the CBRS”), and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to:
transmit, via the at least one transceiver, independent of the 3.5 GHz band, the management frames (see paragraph 2 “Citizen Broadcast (advertised) Radio Service (CBRS) 1550-3700 MHz (3.5 GHz) range in United States”).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
7. 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.
Claims 2-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Taneja in view of Chitrakar and further in view of Zhao et al. (US 2022/0053505 A1).
For claim 2 Taneja teaches the apparatus, wherein the indicated one or more channel resources comprise a primary subchannel, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to:
transmit to at least one of a wireless node or a client via the at least one transceiver, at least one first frame via the primary subchannel (see paragraph 135 “The ASIC 2112 can communicate with other components in the network device 400 via the connection 2110, to exchange data and signals and coordinate various types of operations by the network device 2100, such as routing, switching, and/or data storage operations, for example” and paragraph 56 “the CBRS network 100 can include an eNodeB, Core Network for Packet services and IMS for voice and multimedia services”); and
receive, from at least one of the wireless node or the client via the at least one transceiver, at least one second frame via the primary subchannel (see paragraph 135 “The ASIC 2112 can communicate with other components in the network device 400 via the connection 2110, to exchange data and signals and coordinate various types of operations by the network device 2100, such as routing, switching, and/or data storage operations, for example”).
Taneja in view of Chitrakar does not explicitly teach a primary subchannel.
However, Zhao teaches assigning a assigning a primary channel using an interference overlapping map; and allowing spectrum extension of CBSD, that is, assigning an extended channel for CBSD, so as to improve spectral efficiency (see Zhao: paragraph 5).
Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of claimed invention to use the teachings of Zhao in the combined CBRS resource management of Chitrakar and Taneja in order to assign a primary channel using an interference overlapping map; and allowing spectrum extension of CBSD, that is, assigning an extended channel for CBSD, so as to improve spectral efficiency (see Zhao: paragraph 5).
For claim 3 Taneja in view of Chitra and further in view of Zhao teaches the apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors of the apparatus are further configured to cause the apparatus to:
communicate coordinated signaling with the wireless node, wherein the coordinated signaling comprises transmission scheduling information (see Taneja: paragraph 32 “coordination”, paragraph 34 “coordination capabilities …determining performance modifications based on the inter-AP coordination capabilities; and modifying resource allocations to the one or more CBSDs based on the performance modifications”, and paragraph 75 “Coordinated Multipoint Transmission (CoMP) techniques can be used, which can include coordinated scheduling”).
8. Claims 4-6, 9-10, 13-15, are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Taneja in view of Chitra and further in view of Zhao and further in view of provisional application No. 63/289,282, filed on Dec. 14, 2021 of Bandyopadhyay et al. (US 2023/0284033 A1) is being considered.
For claim 4 Taneja in view of Chitra and further in view of Zhao does not explicitly teach the apparatus, wherein the one or more channel resources are associated with 40 MHz or higher bandwidth, and wherein the spectrum is a 70 MHz band.
However, Bandyopadhyay teaches if all 70 MHz PAL slots have been auctioned off, there still remains 80 MHz of bandwidth available for GAA use. If PAL licenses have not been auctioned off, the entire 150 MHz of the CBRS spectrum will be available for GAA use. It is less likely that the entire 150 MHz of GAA will be available in more densely populated areas of the country than in rural areas (see Bandyopadhyay: paragraph 12). The choice of 70 MHz is a design choice.
For claim 5 Taneja in view of Chitra in view of Zhao and further in view of Bandyopadhyay teaches the apparatus, wherein the spectrum is a 70 MHz priority access license (PAL) spectrum, wherein a citizen broadband radio spectrum (CBRS) contains the PAL spectrum and a general authorized access (GAA) spectrum, wherein the request for channel resources further comprises an indication of channel resources within the GAA spectrum, and wherein the response to the request further provides the apparatus access to one or more of the indicated channel resources within the GAA spectrum (see Taneja: paragraphs 60-61 “PAL and GAA”, Fig. 2 “Spectrum enquiry response message (available channel objects - frequency range, type of user: PAL/GAA, max EIRP)” (and Bandyopadhyay: paragraph 12 “70 MHz PAL”).
For claim 6 Taneja in view of Chitra in view of Zhao and further in view of Bandyopadhyay teaches the apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to, at least one of:
receive or transmit, via the at least one transceiver, at least one frame via a control channel of the CBRS, wherein a bandwidth of the control channel is less than 20 MHz and is located adjacent to an end of the CBRS (see Taneja: paragraph 109 “remaining 20 MHz”) .
For claim 9 Taneja in view of Chitra in view of Zhao and further in view of Bandyopadhyay teaches the apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive, from the network entity via the at least one transceiver, signaling comprising an indication that access to the CBRS has been suspended or terminated (see Bandyopadhyay: paragraphs 48-49 “suspended or terminated states”).
For claim 10 Taneja in view of Chitra in view of Zhao and further in view of Bandyopadhyay teaches the apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to:
transmit, to the network entity via the at least one transceiver, another request for channel resources comprising an indication of the channel resources available to the apparatus (see Taneja: paragraphs 67-68 “step 206 and step 208”); and
receive, from the network entity via the at least one transceiver, access to the indicated channel resources available to the apparatus (see Taneja: paragraphs 67-68 “step 206 and step 208”).
For claim 13 Taneja in view of Chitra in view of Zhao and further in view of Bandyopadhyay teaches the apparatus of claim 5, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive, from the network entity via the at least one transceiver, signaling comprising an indication that access to a channel resource of at least one of the channel resources within the GAA spectrum or the channel resources within the PAL spectrum has been suspended or terminated (see Bandyopadhyay: paragraphs 48-49 “suspended or terminated states”).
For claim 14 Taneja in view of Chitra in view of Zhao and further in view of Bandyopadhyay teaches the apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive, via the at least one transceiver, an indication that access to another channel resource of at least one of the channel resources within the GAA spectrum or the channel resources within the PAL spectrum is available to the apparatus (see Taneja: Fig. 2 “(Spectrum enquiry response message (available channel objects - frequency range, type of user: PAL/GAA, max EIRP)”).
For claim 15 Taneja in view of Chitra in view of Zhao and further in view of Bandyopadhyay teaches the apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least one of a reduced neighbor report (RNR) or a multi-link probe response comprises the indication (see Taneja: Paragraph 99 “report their inter-AP coordination. For instance, the CBSDs may report any modifications to the inter-AP coordination capabilities that are recommended by the SAS 910 to the DNA-C 920”).
9. Claims 7-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Taneja in view of Chitra in view of Zhao in view of and further in view of Kim et al. (US 2021/0153126 A1).
For claim 7 Taneja in view of Chitra in view of Zhao in view of Bandyopadhyay does not explicitly teach the apparatus of claim 6, wherein a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) of the at least one frame is formatted by using an 802.11a half-rate PPDU or an 802.11p PPDU.
However, Kim teaches For example, when the main radio module 411 is in the awake state, the first wireless terminal 410 is able to transmit an 802.11-based frame ( e.g., 802.11-type PPDU) or receive an 802.11-based frame on the basis of the main radio module 411. For example, the 802.11-based frame may be a non-HT PPDU of a 20 MHz band-this is a design choice (see Kim: paragraph 62).
For claim 8 Taneja in view of Chitra in view of Zhao in view of Bandyopadhyay and further in view of Kim teach the apparatus of claim 5, wherein the indicated one or more channel resources within the PAL spectrum and the indicated channel resources within the GAA spectrum form an operating bandwidth of a basic service set (BSS) of the apparatus (see Kim: paragraph 202 “BSS update” a design choice).
10. Claims 11-12, 16-17, are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Taneja in view of Chitra in view of Zhao further in view of Bandyopadhyay and further in view of Wang et al. (US 2022/0095374 A1 A1).
For claim 11 Taneja in view of Chitra in view of Zhao and further in view of Bandyopadhyay does not explicitly teach the apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to:
modify a puncturing pattern of the CBRS to reflect the channel resources available to the apparatus.
However, Wang teaches in some embodiments, the receiver may transmit control signaling to the transmitter, indicating the puncturing pattern to be used (see Wang: paragraphs 6 and 76). In addition, Wang teaches wherein the control signaling indicates the puncturing pattern is to be used if the transmitter determines, based on a channel sensing procedure performed on unlicensed frequency spectrum (see Wang: paragraph 232).
Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of claimed invention to use the teachings of Wang in the combined CBRS resource management of Bandyopadhyay, Zhao, Chitra, and Taneja in order to not waste that partial transmission opportunity, the transmitter may nonetheless transmit a part of the transmission (e.g., by puncturing the block of modulated symbols to be transmitted)scheduled for that transmission opportunity (see Wang: paragraph 6).
For claim 12 Taneja in view of Chitra in view of Zhao further in view of Bandyopadhyay and further in view of Kim teaches the apparatus of claim 11, wherein a granularity of the puncturing pattern is given in chunks of 5 MHz, 10 MHZ, or 15 MHz (see Bandyopadhyay: paragraph 11 and Fig. 2 “10 MHz” and as discussed in claim 11).
For claim 16 Taneja in view of Chitra in view of Zhao further in view of Bandyopadhyay and further in view of Kim teaches the apparatus, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the apparatus to: generate, based on the response, a puncturing pattern for the one or more channel resources within the spectrum (as discussed in claim 11).
For claim 17 Taneja in view of Chitra in view of Zhao further in view of Bandyopadhyay and further in view of Kim teaches the apparatus of claim 16, wherein the response further provides the apparatus access to one or more channel resources within a general authorized access (GAA) spectrum, and wherein the puncturing pattern is generated also for the one or more channel resources within the GAA spectrum (see Taneja: Fig. 2 “(available channel objects - frequency range, type of user: PAL/GAA, max EIRP”).
Conclusion
11. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure: Kholaif et al. (US 2012/0213138 A1), Guo et al. (US 2023/0082270 A1), and Syed et al. (US 2020/0196196 A1).
12. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to David M OVEISSI whose telephone number is (571)270-3127. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8Am-5PM.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jeffrey Rutkowski can be reached on (571) 270 - 1215. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MANSOUR OVEISSI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2415
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