DETAIL 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 Amendment
This Office Action is in response to applicant’s amendment submitted on JULY 17, 2025.
Claims, 1-20 are now currently pending in the present application.
Figures 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, Examiner drawing objections have been withdrawn.
Figure 10, Specification have been amended and Examiner drawing objection have been withdrawn.
Claims 1,12 and 20, has been amended and Examiners claim objection has been withdrawn.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claim 11, has been amended and Examiners claim objection has been withdrawn.
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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 made in 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 effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(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 effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 3-7, 9-12 and 16-20 are rejected under U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Cha et al. (Cha US 20230300777 A1, hereinafter Cha).
Consider Claim 1, Cha discloses a method of determining a position of a mobile wireless device in a wireless communication network, the method comprising the steps of:
Clustering transmission reception points (TRPs) into a plurality of clusters of TRPs using a clustering algorithm: (Paragraph 0316, according to various embodiments, an algorithm/method for finding/locating a UE based on multiple references may be used).
Measuring a parameter of first reference signals transmitted between said mobile wireless device and a single selected or predetermined TRP from each cluster of TRPs; (Paragraph 0486, for example, it may transmit an SRS and enable the TRP to perform measurement and report to the LMF a measurement associated with the reference Device (e.g., relative time of arrival (RTOA), Rx-Tx time difference, AOA, etc.). Paragraph 0487, for example, signals, measurements, parameters, and the like for Rx timing/Tx timing/angle of departure (AOD)/AOA enhancement and/or measurement calibration may be provided).
Based on the respective measured parameter of the first reference signals, selecting one cluster of TRPs from said plurality of clusters of TRPs; (Paragraph 0011, according to various embodiments, the first plurality of references includes one or more of (i) a plurality of reference transmission and reception points (TRPs) obtained among a plurality of TRPs related to the plurality of PRSs, (ii) a plurality of reference PRS resources obtained among a plurality of PRS resources related to the plurality of PRSs, or (iii) a plurality of reference PRS resource sets obtained among a plurality of PRS resource sets related to the plurality of PRSs. (Paragraph 0317, According to various embodiments, a measurement (e.g., RSTD) may be selected from among the multiple references based on one or more specific references to measure the location of the UE. Paragraph 0320, according to various embodiments, UE positioning may be performed by using a reduced measurement set by selecting a reported measurement (e.g., RSTD measurement) based on each reference).
Determining position estimation information from second reference signals transmitted between said mobile wireless device and a plurality of the TRPs comprising the selected cluster of TRPs; (Paragraph 0026, according to various embodiments, the first plurality of references may include one or more of (i) a plurality of reference transmission and reception points (TRPs) obtained among a plurality of TRPs related to the plurality of PRSs, (ii) a plurality of reference PRS resources obtained among a plurality of PRS resources related to the plurality of PRSs, or (iii) a plurality of reference PRS resource sets obtained among a plurality of PRS resource sets related to the plurality of PRSs. Paragraph 0208, FIG. 11(b), an RTT may correspond to a double-range measurement between two devices. Positioning estimation may be performed from the corresponding information. d1, d2, and d3 may be determined based on the measured RTT, and the location of a target device may be determined to be the intersection of the circumferences of circles with radiuses of d1, d2, and d3, in which BS1, BS2, and BS3 (or TRPs) are centered, respectively).
Measuring a parameter of the second reference signals transmitted between said mobile wireless device and the plurality of the TRPs comprising the selected cluster of TRPs; (Paragraph 0019, according to various embodiments, based on at least one portion of the first plurality of references being different from at least one portion of the second plurality of references identified from the configuration information, the information related to the measurement may include information about the at least one portion of the first plurality of references).
Calculated from the respective values of the measured parameter of the second reference signals with the respective position estimation information determined from the second reference signals to provide respective weighted position estimation information; and (Paragraph 0286, when the UE is configured/instructed to report 4 RSTD measurements, the UE may calculate/ acquire a weighting factor for each combination of the RSTD measurements by plotting a hyperbola based on 3 RSTD measurements and calculating/acquiring an uncertainty area. For example, this operation may be performed for all combinations).
Determining the position for said mobile wireless device based on the respective weighted position estimation information, (paragraph 0291, the UE may plot a hyperbola based on the RSTD measurements included in each set. That is, for example, the location of the UE may be estimated. Thereby, a weighting factor for a specific RSTD measurement may be determined and/or the specific RSTD measurement may be excluded).
Consider Claim 3, Cha discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the selected or predetermined single TRP from each cluster of TRPs comprises a TRP located centrally of its respective cluster. (Paragraph 0469, For example, to support positioning, the UE/TRP may implement/perform internal calibration/compensation of the Rx time delay before reporting measurements acquired from the DL PRS/UL SRS, which may include calibration/compensation of a relative time delay between different RF chains of the same UE/TRP. For example, for the calibration/compensation, the offset of the Rx antenna phase center with respect to the physical antenna center may be considered).
Consider Claim 4, Cha discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the position estimation information determined from the second reference signals is determined using a time-based positioning algorithm or other positioning algorithm. (Paragraph 0329, According to various embodiments, when the location of the UE is measured/calculated/determined by a technique of DL-TDOA (Time Difference Of Arrival)/OT DOA (Observed Time Difference Of Arrival), the information related to a round trip time between a specific cell/BS/ TRP and the UE other than the RSTD measurement may be utilized. According to various embodiments, implementation of the DL-TDOA/OTDOA algorithm may be further simplified. Paragraph 0316, according to various embodiments, an algorithm/method for finding/locating a UE based on multiple references may be used).
Consider Claim 5, Cha discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the respective measured parameter of the first reference signals comprises a signal quality parameter and the selected cluster of TRPs from said plurality of clusters of TRPs is selected as the cluster of TRPs having a highest, best, maximum, or optimal value of the signal quality parameter. (Paragraph 0092, Control information that the UE transmits to the BS is generically called uplink control information (UCI). The UCI includes a hybrid automatic repeat and request acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement (HARQACK/NACK), a scheduling request (SR), a channel quality indicator (CQI), a precoding matrix index (PMI), a rank indicator (RI), etc. Paragraph 0196, UE measurement: E-UTRA reference signal received power (RSRP), E-UTRA reference signal received quality (RSRQ), UE E-UTRA reception (Rx) transmission (Tx) time difference, GERAN/WLAN reference signal strength indication (RSSI), UTRAN common pilot channel (CPICH) received signal code power (RSCP), and/or UTRAN CPICH Ee/Io).
Consider Claim 6, Cha discloses the method of claim 5, wherein the signal quality parameter comprises any of: signal-to-noise ratio (SNR); received signal strength indicator (RSSI); reference signal received power (RSRP); and reference signal received quality (RSRQ). (Paragraph 0303, according to various embodiments, the UE may distinguish between a preferred cell/BS/TRP and a nonpreferred cell/BS/TRP based on a signal strength such as RSRP/SINR/SNR for the RS resource transmitted from each cell/BS/TRP. For example, the measurement quality may be determined based on the signal strength and the like, and a cell/BS/TRP corresponding to the case where the measurement quality is below a specific level or is relatively poor may be distinguished from a cell/BS/TRP corresponding to the case where the measurement quality is above the specific level or is relatively good).
Consider Claim 7, Cha discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the position estimation information is determined from the second reference signals transmitted between said mobile wireless device and all of the TRPs comprising the selected cluster of TRPs. (Paragraph 0392, , a panel of the UE suitable for each cell/BS/TRP may vary according to the orientation/position of the UE and/or the orientation/position of the cell/BS/TRP. Accordingly, for example, a specific panel of the UE suitable for signal transmission/reception with a specific cell/BS/ TRP may be selectively used at a specific time. Additionally/ alternatively, for example, antenna panels of the UE suitable for cells/BSs/TRPs may be simultaneously used for simultaneous wireless communication of the different cells/BSs/ TRPs).
Consider Claim 9, Cha discloses the method of claim1, wherein the respective measured parameter of the second reference signals comprises a signal quality parameter and the respective weight values are calculated based on the respective measured signal quality of the second reference signals. (Paragraph 0286, when the UE is configured/instructed to report 4 RSTD measurements, the UE may calculate/ acquire a weighting factor for each combination of the RSTD measurements by plotting a hyperbola based on 3 RSTD measurements and calculating/acquiring an uncertainty area. For example, this operation may be performed for all combinations).
Consider Claim 10, Cha discloses the method of claim 9, wherein the respective weight values are calculated to enhance the position estimation information for any second reference signals having a high value of the measured signal quality parameter and to diminish the position estimation information for any second reference signals having a low value of the measured signal quality parameter. (Paragraph 0462, the above described panel-specific transmission/reception related information (e.g., panel ID, etc.) may be provided by higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC message, MAC-CE, etc.) and/or lower layer signaling (e.g., L1 signaling, DCI, etc.). According to various embodiments, the corresponding information may be transmitted from the BS (and/or network node) to the UE and/or from the UE to the BS (and/or network node) according to circumstances or needs).
Consider Claim 11, Cha discloses the method of claim1, wherein the weight values calculated from the respective values of the measured parameter of the second reference signals are normalized prior to combining said weight values with the respective position estimation information. (Paragraph 0286, when the UE is configured/instructed to report 4 RSTD measurements, the UE may calculate/ acquire a weighting factor for each combination of the RSTD measurements by plotting a hyperbola based on 3 RSTD measurements and calculating/acquiring an uncertainty area. For example, this operation may be performed for all combinations).
Consider Claim 12, Cha discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining position estimation information from second reference signals transmitted between said mobile wireless device and the plurality of the TRPs comprising the selected cluster of TRPs comprises:
Determining the position for said mobile wireless device based on second reference signals comprising positioning reference signals (PRSs) or other DL reference signals (DL-DMRSs); or (Paragraph 0468, in terms of signal transmission, a time delay may be present in between the time when a digital signal is generated in baseband and the time when a radio frequency (RF) signal is transmitted through a Tx antenna. For example, to support positioning, the UE/TRP may implement/perform internal calibration/ compensation of the Tx time delay for transmission of DL PRS/UL SRS, which may include calibration/compensation of a relative time delay between different RF chains of the same UE/TRP).
Determining the position for said mobile wireless device based on second reference signals comprising sounding reference signals (SRSs) or other UL reference signals (UL-DMRSs); or (Paragraph 0468, in terms of signal transmission, a time delay may be present in between the time when a digital signal is generated in baseband and the time when a radio frequency (RF) signal is transmitted through a Tx antenna. For example, to support positioning, the UE/TRP may implement/perform internal calibration/ compensation of the Tx time delay for transmission of DL PRS/UL SRS, which may include calibration/compensation of a relative time delay between different RF chains of the same UE/TRP).
Determining the position for said mobile wireless device based on sounding reference signals (SRSs) transmitted by said mobile wireless device to a node in response to receiving the second reference signals comprising positioning reference signals (PRSs). (Paragraph 0469, to support positioning, the UE/TRP may implement/perform internal calibration/compensation of the Rx time delay before reporting measurements acquired from the DL PRS/UL SRS, which may include calibration/compensation of a relative time delay between different RF chains of the same UE/TRP. For example, for the calibration/compensation, the offset of the Rx antenna phase center with respect to the physical antenna center may be considered).
Consider Claim 16, Cha discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the TRPs are divided into clusters by:
(a) determining or selecting a number K of TRP clustering centers in a local region or area where each TRP clustering center corresponds to one cluster of TRPs and where K > 2; (Paragraph 0203, referring to FIG. 11(a), an exemplary RTT procedure is illustrated, in which an initiating device and a responding device perform ToA measurements, and the responding device provides ToA measurements to the initiating device, for RTT measurement (calculation). The initiating device may be a TRP and/or a UE, and the responding device may be a UE and/or a TRP).
(b) determining distances between each TRP and each of the K TRP clustering centers; and (paragraph 0208, referring to FIG. 11(b), an RTT may correspond to a double-range measurement between two devices. Positioning estimation may be performed from the corresponding information. d.sub.1, d.sub.2, and d.sub.3 may be determined based on the measured RTT, and the location of a target device may be determined to be the intersection of the circumferences of circles with radiuses of d.sub.1, d.sub.2, and d.sub.3, in which BS.sub.1, BS.sub.2, and BS.sub.3 (or TRPs) are centered, respectively).
(c) dividing the TRPs into respective clusters of TRPs corresponding to said K TRP clustering centers by dividing each TRP into the TRP clustering center which it is at a minimum distance from. ( Paragraph 0208, referring to FIG. 11(b), an RTT may correspond to a double-range measurement between two devices. Positioning estimation may be performed from the corresponding information. d.sub.1, d.sub.2, and d.sub.3 may be determined based on the measured RTT, and the location of a target device may be determined to be the intersection of the circumferences of circles with radiuses of d.sub.1, d.sub.2, and d.sub.3, in which BS.sub.1, BS.sub.2, and BS.sub.3 (or TRPs) are centered, respectively).
Consider Claim 17, Cha discloses the method of claim 16,
(d) calculating a mean distance value of each cluster of TRPs and selecting the TRP having a distance to the corresponding TRP clustering center that is closest to the mean value as a new TRP clustering center. (Paragraph 0254, a path-loss may be (approximately) calculated/acquired based on the reception power and the transmission power, and a (approximate) distance may be calculated/acquired/estimated therefrom. For example, based on calculation/acquisition, the UE may exclude measurements that exceed a specific distance level/threshold that means/corresponds to the (approximate) distance. Paragraph 0258, In operation 1303 according to various embodiments, the location server and/or the LMF may transmit reference configuration information to the TRP, and the TRP may receive the reference configuration information. In operation 1305 according to various embodiments, the TRP may transmit the reference configuration information to the UE, and the UE may receive the reference configuration information).
Consider Claim 18, Cha discloses the method of claim 17, wherein steps (b), (c) and (d) are repeated until the K clusters become unchanged, these being taken as the final clustering centers and clusters. (Paragraph 0262, in operation 1309 according to various embodiments, the UE may transmit a signal related to positioning to the TRP, and the TRP may receive the signal related to positioning. In operation 1311 according to various embodiments, the TRP may transmit the signal related to positioning to the location server and/or the LMF, and the location server and/or the LMF may receive the signal related to positioning)
Consider Claim 19, Cha discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the TRPs are divided into clusters by:
(a) determining or selecting a number K of TRP clustering centers in a local region or area where each TRP clustering center corresponds to one cluster of TRPs and where K > 2; (Paragraph 0203, referring to FIG. 11(a), an exemplary RTT procedure is illustrated, in which an initiating device and a responding device perform ToA measurements, and the responding device provides ToA measurements to the initiating device, for RTT measurement (calculation). The initiating device may be a TRP and/or a UE, and the responding device may be a UE and/or a TRP).
(b)measuring signal quality between each TRP and each of the K TRP clustering centers; and (paragraph 0297, in order to more accurately determine the quality related to the timing measurement, it may be necessary to perform calculations/operations at the level of locating the UE based on the measurement and the geographic location of the cell/BS/TRP).
(c) dividing the TRPs into respective clusters of TRPs corresponding to said K TRP clustering centers by dividing each TRP into a respective TRP clustering center based on the measured signal quality. ( Paragraph 0208, referring to FIG. 11(b), an RTT may correspond to a double-range measurement between two devices. Positioning estimation may be performed from the corresponding information. d.sub.1, d.sub.2, and d.sub.3 may be determined based on the measured RTT, and the location of a target device may be determined to be the intersection of the circumferences of circles with radiuses of d.sub.1, d.sub.2, and d.sub.3, in which BS.sub.1, BS.sub.2, and BS.sub.3 (or TRPs) are centered, respectively).
Consider Claim 20, Cha discloses a node in a wireless communication system comprising a memory storing machine-readable instructions and a processor for executing the machine-readable instructions such that, when the processor executes the machine-readable instructions, it configures the node to implement the steps of:
Clustering transmission reception points (TRPs) in a wireless communication network into a plurality of clusters of TRPs using a clustering algorithm; (Paragraph 0316, according to various embodiments, an algorithm/method for finding/locating a UE based on multiple references may be used).
Measuring a parameter of first reference signals transmitted between said mobile wireless device and a single selected or predetermined TRP from each cluster of TRPs; (Paragraph 0486, for example, it may transmit an SRS and enable the TRP to perform measurement and report to the LMF a measurement associated with the reference device (e.g., relative time of arrival (RTOA), Rx-Tx time difference, AOA, etc.). Paragraph 0487, for example, signals, measurements, parameters, and the like for Rx timing/Tx timing/angle of departure (AOD)/AOA enhancement and/or measurement calibration may be provided).
Based on the respective measured parameter of the first reference signals, selecting one cluster of TRPs from said plurality of clusters of TRPs; (Paragraph 0011, according to various embodiments, the first plurality of references includes one or more of (i) a plurality of reference transmission and reception points (TRPs) obtained among a plurality of TRPs related to the plurality of PRSs, (ii) a plurality of reference PRS resources obtained among a plurality of PRS resources related to the plurality of PRSs, or (iii) a plurality of reference PRS resource sets obtained among a plurality of PRS resource sets related to the plurality of PRSs. Paragraph 0317, According to various embodiments, a measurement (e.g., RSTD) may be selected from among the multiple references based on one or more specific references to measure the location of the UE. Paragraph 0320, according to various embodiments, UE positioning may be performed by using a reduced measurement set by selecting a reported measurement (e.g., RSTD measurement) based on each reference).
Determining position estimation information from second reference signals transmitted between said mobile wireless device and a plurality of the TRPs comprising the selected cluster of TRPs; (Paragraph 0026, according to various embodiments, the first plurality of references may include one or more of (i) a plurality of reference transmission and reception points (TRPs) obtained among a plurality of TRPs related to the plurality of PRSs, (ii) a plurality of reference PRS resources obtained among a plurality of PRS resources related to the plurality of PRSs, or (iii) a plurality of reference PRS resource sets obtained among a plurality of PRS resource sets related to the plurality of PRSs. Paragraph 0208, FIG. 11(b), an RTT may correspond to a double-range measurement between two devices. Positioning estimation may be performed from the corresponding information. d1, d2, and d3 may be determined based on the measured RTT, and the location of a target device may be determined to be the intersection of the circumferences of circles with radiuses of d1, d2, and d3, in which BS1, BS2, and BS3 (or TRPs) are centered, respectively).
Measuring a parameter of the second reference signals transmitted between said mobile wireless device and the plurality of the TRPs comprising the selected cluster of TRPs; (Paragraph 0019, according to various embodiments, based on at least one portion of the first plurality of references being different from at least one portion of the second plurality of references identified from the configuration information, the information related to the measurement may include information about the at least one portion of the first plurality of references).
Combining respective weight values calculated from the respective values of the measured parameter of the second reference signals with the respective position estimation information determined from the second reference signals to provide respective weighted position estimation information; and (Paragraph 0286, when the UE is configured/instructed to report 4 RSTD measurements, the UE may calculate/ acquire a weighting factor for each combination of the RSTD measurements by plotting a hyperbola based on 3 RSTD measurements and calculating/acquiring an uncertainty area. For example, this operation may be performed for all combinations).
Determining the position for said mobile wireless device based on the respective weighted position estimation information. (Paragraph 0291, the UE may plot a hyperbola based on the RSTD measurements included in each set. That is, for example, the location of the UE may be estimated. Thereby, a weighting factor for a specific RSTD measurement may be determined and/or the specific RSTD measurement may be excluded).
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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 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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
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 present in the application indicating obviousness or non-obviousness.
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 owned as of 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 owned as of the effective filing 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.
Claims 14 and 15 are rejected under U.S.C. as being unpatentable over Cha et al. (Cha US 20230300777 A1, hereinafter Cha) in view of ABDELAAL et al. (ABDELAAL US 20230205740 A1, hereinafter ABDELAAL).
Consider Claim 14, Cha discloses the claim invention but fails to teach the method of claim1, wherein the clustering algorithm comprises a K-means clustering algorithm.
However, ABDELAAL teaches the method of claim1, wherein the clustering algorithm comprises a K-means clustering algorithm. (Paragraph 055, the method of claim1, wherein the clustering algorithm comprises a K-means clustering algorithm. (Paragraph 055, Clustering the base classifiers serves as a workaround for precisely selecting the most relevant meta-level features. A K-Means clustering approach may be used to generate k clusters, where each cluster comprises the most similar feature vectors of the historical datasets. As can be seen in line 3 of the FIG. 6 example algorithm, the features used to train the K-Means clustering method are the distribution of each character and a set of metadata).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art which said subject matter pertains, to modify by incorporating the positioning reference system of Cha to include the positioning calculating algorithm system of ABDELAAL. The motivation to do so would be to better define clusters of data. While controlling the number of clusters and reducing the overall execution.
Consider Claim 15, Cha discloses the claim invention but fails to teach the method of claim1 wherein the step of arranging the TRPs associated with said mobile wireless device into clusters is performed offline.
However, ABDELAAL teaches the method of claim1 wherein the step of arranging the TRPs associated with said mobile wireless device into clusters is performed offline. (Paragraph 055, in certain example embodiments, the generation of the clustering model is performed in the offline phase, whereas the clustering model is used in the online phase to assign the new dirty dataset to one of the clusters. In certain example embodiments, in the online phase, only the base classifiers that exist in that cluster are used to generate the meta-features while the base classifiers in other clusters are ignored.
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art which said subject matter pertains, to modify by incorporating the positioning reference system of Cha to include the positioning calculating algorithm system of ABDELAAL. The motivation to do so would be to use the k-mean algorithm to access the entire dataset at start of the computation. Allowing the clustering to advantageously perform offline storing the data until service is restored.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1, 3-7, 9-12 and 14-20 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
As a result, the claims are written such that they read upon the cited references.
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 nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) 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 mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHELE CAMILLE DOUGLAS whose telephone number is (571)270-0458. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 6:30 am - 5:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Matthew Anderson can be reached at 571-272-4177. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MICHELE C DOUGLAS/Examiner, Art Unit 2646
/MATTHEW D. ANDERSON/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2646