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 Amendment
This Office Action is in response to applicant’s amendment submitted on November 26, 2025.
Claims, 1-13 are now currently pending in the present application.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 1-13, has been amended and Examiners claimed objection has been withdrawn.
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 1-2 and 4-14 are rejected under U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
HIRSCH et al. (US 2016/0308603 A1, hereinafter HIRSCH) in view of Treesh et al. (US 2009/0042562 A1, hereinafter Treesh).
Consider Claim 1, HIRSCH discloses a multibeam satellite radio communications
system comprising:
At least one satellite having at least one passive multibeam antenna system,
(paragraph 0022, the multibeam transmission antenna system has a single multiple feed per beam (MFPB) transmission antenna).
At least one satellite terminal, (paragraph 0002, The present invention concerns a
high-capacity broadband multibeam satellite radio communication system).
A resource allocator configured to form a regular network of satellite spots over a
given geographic zone, said regular network of satellite spots being arranged according to a regular mesh in a form of quadrilaterals, and to associate spectral resources to the satellite spots such that, for each satellite spot, the spectral resources which are assigned to it differ from those assigned to each adjacent satellite spot, then to allocate spectral resources to said at least one satellite terminal as a function of its position in said satellite spot network, (paragraph 0021, a square first network mesh and a first main reflector; the second antenna having a second network of distributed feeds in accordance with a square second network mesh and a second main reflector; and the first and second networks of feeds and the first and second main reflectors are geometrically configured so as to form a coverage for the service area with quadruple points and square coverage mesh; Paragraph 0022, the transmission antenna has a main reflector and a network of multiple feeds illuminating the reflector, the feeds being distributed according to a hexagonal or square antenna network mesh and being associated in multiple groups that are staggered in relation to one another in X and Y directions of a plane. the network of feeds, the reflector and the distribution circuits are configured in terms of geometry and connectivity so as to form a total coverage or a semi- coverage for the service area by means of transmission spots distributed in accordance with a coverage mesh that is included among the rectangular, diamond-shaped and square meshes).
HIRSCH fails to disclose the multibeam satellite radiocommunications system
comprising the resource allocator is configured to, in an event of failure of a satellite spot, extend a zone of coverage of the satellite spots adjacent to the failing satellite spot so as to cover the surface that it occupies, and allocate new spectral resources to at least one satellite terminal of the failing satellite spot as a function of their position.
However, Treesh teaches this in (Paragraph 063, the present invention, one or
more of the neighboring beams can be expanded to cover parts of the blackout area (area associated with the unavailable gateway. FIG. 9 shows an exemplary beam re-mapping in which all of the adjacent beams are enlarged and completely cover the affected area in an over- lapping fashion. an operator could instruct the satellite to enlarge an operational service beam, which is adjacent to the affected beam, until it sufficiently covers the affected area. The multi-beam on-board of the satellite may be automatically programmed to enlarge one or more adjacent beams of the subject area upon discovery of the gateway failure by the satellite). (Paragraphs 0045, 0047, 0057, "and allocate new spectral resources to the satellite terminals of the failing satellite spot as a function of their position (at least fig. 2A, fig. 6, read as allocating frequency channels in a dynamic fashion, where there are places where the spot beams 204 overlap such that a particular subscriber terminal 130 could be allocated to one or another spot beam 204. It is further noted that this is based upon their presence within a particular spot beam 204. In addition, , the feeder beam 115-1 may be geographically separated from the service beams in order to allow for re-use of the allocated service beam frequencies for the feeder beams).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify the multibeam satellite system of Hirsch to include the failure coverage of the multibeam satellite system of Treesh. The motivation to do so would yield the predictable results of providing a satellite radio communication system to supports a robustness in face of failures by the focal networks of the satellite antennas without redundancy of amplification circuits.
Consider Claim 2, as applied to claim 1, HIRSCH discloses the multibeam
satellite radio communications system according to claim 1, wherein orthogonal polarizations are associated with adjacent satellite spots. (Paragraph 0020, the first and second polarization states (Pl, P2) are the left circular polarization and the right circular polarization or a first linear polarization according to a first axis and a second linear polarization according to a second axis, which is orthogonal with respect to the first axis).
Consider Claim 4, as applied to claim 1, HIRSCH discloses the multibeam
satellite radio communications system according to claim 1, wherein the satellite comprises an antenna system configured to ensure a function of transmission to the satellite terminal or terminals, an antenna system configured to ensure a function of reception from the satellite terminal or terminals, an antenna system configured to ensure a function of transmission/reception with the satellite terminal or terminals, or a first antenna system configured to ensure a function of transmission to the satellite terminal or terminals and a second antenna system configured to ensure a function of reception from the satellite terminal or terminals. (Paragraph 0037, a satellite having a multibeam transmission antenna system configured to cover a geographical service area that is broken down into a plurality of transmission spots, having a first grid G1 of spots and a second grid G2 of transmission spots, the transmission spots of the first grid G1 and the transmission spots of the second grid G2 being positioned).
Consider Claim 5, as applied to claim 1, HIRSCH discloses the multibeam
satellite radio communications system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the antennas of the satellite system is a multibeam antenna wherein each beam is formed by a plurality of radiating elements, called MFB antenna. (Paragraph 0158, the multibeam transmission antenna system has a first transmission antenna and a second multiple feed per beam (MFPB) antenna. Paragraph 0180, The multibeam transmission antenna system 652 is implemented by a single multiple feed per beam transmission antenna MFPB that has a main reflector and the network 654 of multiple feeds illuminating the reflector). (Paragraph 0168, Each feed has a first port T1 and a second trans- mission port T2 for the same frequency F, with the first polarization P1 for the first port T1 and with the second polarization P2 for the second port, first and second polarizations P1, P2 being orthogonal among themselves. The same couple of frequency and polarization values, (F, P1) or (F, P2), are connected among themselves, the four transmission ports connected among themselves forming a transmission beam).
Consider Claim 6, as applied to claim 5, HIRSCH discloses the multibeam
satellite radio communications system according to claim 5, wherein the radiating elements of the MFB antenna or antennas are configured to allow the simultaneous transmission of signals polarized in two orthogonal polarizations, linked by groups to radio frequency feeds such that each group of radiating elements forms a satellite beam. (Paragraph 0168, Each feed has a first port T1 and a second trans- mission port T2 for the same frequency F, with the first polarization P1 for the first port T1 and with the second polarization P2 for the second port, first and second polarizations P1, P2 being orthogonal among themselves. The same couple of frequency and polarization values, (F, P1) or (F, P2), are connected among themselves, the four transmission ports connected among themselves forming a transmission beam).
Consider Claim 7, as applied to claim 6, HIRSCH discloses the multibeam
satellite radio communications system according to claim 5, wherein groups of radiating elements forming beams of adjacent satellite spots in crossed polarization mode or beams of remote satellite spots associated with a same frequency band and the same polarization are linked by passive distribution circuits. (Paragraph 0023, the mesh of the network of feeds is a hexagonal antenna network mesh and the radiating aperture of the radiating element has a circular or square shape; and two consecutive adjacent groups (Gr1, Gr2) in the X direction are spaced apart by a first pitch L1 corresponding to a feed in the X direction and share a feed in common; Paragraph 0077, the transmission spots of the first grid G2 and the transmission spots of the second grid G2 are positioned globally and their radiation patterns are configured such that there are points of intersection between the roll-off is con-tours of an integral number m, equal to 4, of partially overlapping adjacent transmission spots).
Consider Claim 8, as applied to claim 1, HIRSCH discloses the multibeam
satellite radio communications system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the satellite systems comprises a plurality of antennas. (Paragraph 0010, a satellite having a multibeam transmission antenna system, configured to cover a geographical service area that is broken down into a plurality of transmission spots, having a first grid G1 of spots and a second grid G2 of transmission spots, the transmission spots of the first grid G1 and the transmission spots of the second grid G2 being positioned).
Consider Claim 9, as applied to claim 1, HIRSCH discloses the multibeam
satellite radio communications system according to claim 1, and comprising at least two satellites each having at least one passive multibeam antenna system, wherein said geographic zone is covered by a first antenna system embedded in a first satellite out of said at least two satellites, and by a second antenna system embedded in a second satellite out of said at least two satellites. (Paragraph 0010, a satellite having a multibeam transmission antenna system, configured to cover a geographical service area that is broken down into a plurality of transmission spots, having a first grid G1 of spots and a second grid G2 of transmission spots, the transmission spots of the first grid G1 and the transmission spots of the second grid G2 being positioned).
Consider Claim 10, as applied to claim 1, HIRSCH discloses the multibeam
satellite radio communications system according to claim 1. wherein the mesh of the network of satellite spots is of square, rectangular or rhomboid form. (Paragraph 0017, the shape of the mesh is a square or a rectangle or a diamond; Paragraph 0018, each internal area is inscribed in the elemental useful surface of its transmission spot).
Consider Claim 11, as applied to claim 1, HIRSCH discloses the multibeam
satellite radio communications system according to claim1, wherein said at least one multibeam antenna system of the satellite comprises an antenna whose feeds are linked to radiating elements through distribution circuits without the implementation of redundancy circuits. (Paragraph 0022, square antenna network mesh and being associated in mul-tiple groups that are staggered in relation to one another in X and Y directions of a plane, each feed having a radiating element linked to a microwave channel. the formation of each beam, the links between the transmission ports of a group of four feeds are implemented by distribution circuits, the distribution circuits dedicated to the formation of different beams being independent among themselves).
Consider Claim 12, HIRSCH discloses a method for allocating satellite resources,
by a resource allocator in a satellite radio communications network comprising at least one satellite terminal and at least one satellite, said at least one satellite having at least one passive multibeam antenna system configured to cover a given geographic zone, said method comprising: (Paragraph 0037, a satellite having a multibeam transmission antenna system configured to cover a geographical service area that is broken down into a plurality of transmission spots, having a first grid G1 of spots and a second grid G2 of transmission spots, the transmission spots of the first grid G1 and the transmission spots of the second grid G2 being positioned).
An initial step of formation of a network of satellite spots arranged according to a
regular mesh in quadrilateral form, of association of spectral resources to said network of satellite spots such that, for each satellite spot, the spectral resources which are assigned to it differ from those assigned to each adjacent satellite spots, and of allocation of spectral resources to said at least one satellite terminal as a function of its position in the network of satellite spots, (paragraph 0021, a square first network mesh and a first main reflector; the second antenna having a second network of distributed feeds in accordance with a square second network mesh and a second main reflector; and the first and second networks of feeds and the first and second main reflectors are geometrically configured so as to form a coverage for the service area with quadruple points and square coverage mesh. Paragraph 0022, the transmission antenna has a main reflector and a network of multiple feeds illuminating the reflector, the feeds being distributed according to a hexagonal or square antenna network mesh and being associated in multiple groups that are staggered in relation to one another in X and Y directions of a plane. the network of feeds, the reflector and the distribution circuits are configured in terms of geometry and connectivity so as to form a total coverage or a semi- coverage for the service area by means of transmission spots distributed in accordance with a coverage mesh that is included among the rectangular, diamond-shaped and square meshes).
HIRSCH fails to disclose a step, performed when a satellite spot having a zone of
coverage that occupies a surface is failing, of extension of the zone of coverage of the satellite spots adjacent to the failing satellite spot so as to cover the surface that it occupies.
However, Treesh discloses in (paragraph 063, FIG. 9 shows an exemplary beam re-mapping in which all of the adjacent beams are enlarged and completely cover the affected area in an over- lapping fashion. an operator could instruct the satellite to enlarge an operational service beam, which is adjacent to the affected beam, until it sufficiently covers the affected area. The multi-beam on-board of the satellite may be automatically programmed to enlarge one or more adjacent beams of the subject area upon discovery of the gateway failure by the satellite. Paragraphs 0061, FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of an example of a fully deployed satellite communications system that experiences the failure of one of the gateways. Here, the failed gateway is depicted by the X over the associated gateway beam 115-2. The service beams associated with the failed gateway are available, subscriber terminals within the covered areas won't be able to receive services because there is no information in the uplink (feeder link) between the failed gateway and the satellite. The service beams associated with the failed gate- way are represented with blank circles 701 a-c).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify the multibeam satellite system of Hirsch to include the failure coverage of the multibeam satellite system of Treesh. The motivation to do so would yield the predictable results of providing a satellite radio communication system to supports a robustness in face of failures by the focal networks of the satellite antennas without redundancy of amplification circuits.
HIRSCH fails to disclose a step of allocation of new spectral resources to the
at least one satellite terminal of the failing satellite spot as a function of their position.
However, Treesh teaches this in (Paragraphs 0045, 0047, 0057, "and allocate new spectral resources to the satellite terminals of the failing satellite spot as a function of their position (at least fig. 2A, fig. 6, read as allocating frequency channels in a dynamic fashion, where there are places where the spot beams 204 overlap such that a particular subscriber terminal 130 could be allocated to one or another spot beam 204. It is further noted that this is based upon their presence within a particular spot beam 204. In addition, , the feeder beam 115-1 may be geographically separated from the service beams in order to allow for re-use of the allocated service beam frequencies for the feeder beams).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify the multibeam satellite system of Hirsch to include the failure coverage of the multibeam satellite system of Treesh. The motivation to do so would yield the predictable results of providing a satellite radio communication system to supports a robustness in face of failures by the focal networks of the satellite antennas without redundancy of amplification circuits.
Consider Claim 13, as applied to claim 12, HIRSCH discloses a resource
allocator in a satellite radio communications network comprising at least one satellite terminal and at least one satellite, said at least one satellite having at least one passive multibeam antenna system configured to cover a given geographic zone, to implement a the method for allocating satellite resources according to claim 12.(Paragraph 0073, The satellite radio communication system 2 com-prises a satellite 10, a set 12 of transmitting terminals 14, 16 and a forward channel transmission resource planner and allocator 18. Paragraph 0052, the satellite transmission coverage and to the geographical allocation plan for the transmission resources by the system by the transmission spots of the satellite).
Consider Claim 14, HIRSCH fails to disclose the multibeam satellite radiocommunications system according to claim 2, wherein each of the extended zones of coverage of the satellite spots adjacent to the failing satellite spot have an associated polarization which is the same as the others such that the surface which was occupied by the failing satellite spot is covered by spots having the same polarization.
However, Treesh teaches this in (Paragraph 063, the present invention, one or
more of the neighboring beams can be expanded to cover parts of the blackout area (area associated with the unavailable gateway. FIG. 9 shows an exemplary beam re-mapping in which all of the adjacent beams are enlarged and completely cover the affected area in an over- lapping fashion. an operator could instruct the satellite to enlarge an operational service beam, which is adjacent to the affected beam, until it sufficiently covers the affected area. The multi-beam on-board of the satellite may be automatically programmed to enlarge one or more adjacent beams of the subject area upon discovery of the gateway failure by the satellite. Paragraphs 0045, 0047, 0057, and allocate new spectral resources to the satellite terminals of the failing satellite spot as a function of their position (at least fig. 2A, fig. 6, read as allocating frequency channels in a dynamic fashion, where there are places where the spot beams 204 overlap such that a particular subscriber terminal 130 could be allocated to one or another spot beam 204. It is further noted that this is based upon their presence within a particular spot beam 204. In addition, the feeder beam 115-1 may be geographically separated from the service beams in order to allow for re-use of the allocated service beam frequencies for the feeder beams).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify the multibeam satellite system of Hirsch to include the failure coverage of the multibeam satellite system of Treesh. The motivation to do so would yield the predictable results of providing a satellite radio communication system to supports a robustness in face of failures by the focal networks of the satellite antennas without redundancy of amplification circuits.
Claims 3 and 15 are rejected under U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
HIRSCH et al. (US 2016/0308603 A1, hereinafter HIRSCH) and Treesh et al. (US 2009/0042562 A1, hereinafter Treesh in view of Capots et al. (US2004/0192197 A1, hereinafter Capots).
Consider Claim 3, HIRSH combined with Treesh discloses invention of expanding the zones to cover failed spots but fails to disclose the multibeam satellite radiocommunications system according to claim 1, wherein the extension of the zone of coverage of the satellite spots adjacent to the failing satellite spot comprises: a dividing-up of the surface of the failing satellite spot into N sub-parts formed so as to minimize the distance with respect to the adjacent satellite spots, with N the number of satellite spots adjacent to the failing satellite spot, an extension of the surface of the satellite spots adjacent to the failing satellite spot, so as to cover the closest sub-part.
However, Capots teaches in (Paragraph 0040, in FIG. 2a. In this embodi-ment, cluster satellites 202-212 are homogeneous; that is, all satellites perform similar functions in the cluster. The functions performed by each cluster satellite include broadband telecommunications relay and communications with other satellites in the cluster. FIG. 2b. Each cluster satellite 222A-F has a steerable antenna system, which allows each satellite to cover one or more different terrestrial zones, even though all satellites are in the same orbital slot. A steerable antenna system must include at least one steerable antenna, but may include a plurality of steerable antennas. Each steerable antenna may provide coverage of a different ter-restrial zone. Each steerable antenna may further subdivide each terrestrial zone into a plurality of smaller zones, such as sub-zones 228. Paragraph 0041, in the zones covered by satellites in a satellite cluster overlap, as shown in FIG. 2b, to provide gapless coverage. a cluster satellite should fail, the coverage zones of one or more other cluster satellites may be adjusted to provide backup coverage for the zone previously covered by the failed cluster satellite).
Consider Claim 15, HIRSH combined with Treesh discloses invention of expanding the zones to cover failed spots but fails to disclose the multibeam satellite radiocommunications system according to claim 3, wherein the failing satellite spot is covered by adjacent spots coming from the same passive multibeam antenna system.
However, Capots teaches in (Paragraph 0040, in FIG. 2a. In this embodi-ment, cluster satellites 202-212 are homogeneous; that is, all satellites perform similar functions in the cluster. The functions performed by each cluster satellite include broadband telecommunications relay and communications with other satellites in the cluster. FIG. 2b. Each cluster satellite 222A-F has a steerable antenna system, which allows each satellite to cover one or more different terrestrial zones, even though all satellites are in the same orbital slot. A steerable antenna system must include at least one steerable antenna, but may include a plurality of steerable antennas. Each steerable antenna may provide coverage of a different ter-restrial zone. Each steerable antenna may further subdivide each terrestrial zone into a plurality of smaller zones, such as sub-zones 228. Paragraph 0041, in the zones covered by satellites in a satellite cluster overlap, as shown in FIG. 2b, to provide gapless coverage. a cluster satellite should fail, the coverage zones of one or more other cluster satellites may be adjusted to provide backup coverage for the zone previously covered by the failed cluster satellite).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify the multibeam satellite system with failure coverage of Hirsch and Treesh to include the satellite subzones, as in the multibeam satellite system with failure coverage of Capots. Capots also includes the extension of the zone of coverage of the satellite spots adjacent to the failing satellite spot. The motivation to do so would be to further subdivide terrestrial zones in order to scale the failure coverage to an even more precise locations and even further improve gapless coverage for doing so would yield the predictable results of offering fault tolerance via gapless coverage thereby ensuring continued connectivity/network operations.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed November 26, 2025, with respect to claims 1-15 have been fully considered by Examiner but they are not persuasive because of new grounds of rejection.
Applicant's arguments filed November 26, 2025, with respect to independent claims 1 and 12 have been fully considered by Examiner but they are not persuasive because of new grounds of rejection.
In response to applicant's argument on (page 7) that the examiner's conclusion of obviousness is based upon improper hindsight reasoning, it must be recognized that any judgment on obviousness is in a sense necessarily a reconstruction based upon hindsight reasoning. But so long as it takes into account only knowledge which was within the level of ordinary skill at the time the claimed invention was made, and does not include knowledge gleaned only from the applicant's disclosure, such a reconstruction is proper. See In re McLaughlin, 443 F.2d 1392, 170 USPQ 209 (CCPA 1971).
With regards to applicant’s argument( page 8) Treesh does not teach or suggest
"extend a zone of coverage of the satellite spots adjacent to the failing satellite spot so as to cover the surface that it occupies, and allocate new spectral resources". Examiner respectfully disagrees, the cited reference Treesh does disclose extend a zone of coverage of the satellite spots adjacent to the failing satellite spot so as to cover the surface that it occupies as noted in paragraph 045, each frequency channel may be divided into several timeslots that can be assigned to a connection (i.e., a subscriber terminal 130). Paragraph 0047, a number of subscriber terminal (ST) antennas 125 are configured in the spot beam 204 to capture the forward down- link channel 208. The ST 130 are distributed among then spot beams 204 based generally upon their presence within a par-ticular spot beam 204. There are places where the spot beams 204 overlap such that a particular subscriber terminal 130 could be allocated to one or another spot beam 204. Paragraph 0063, paragraph 063, the present invention, one or more of the neighboring beams can be expanded to cover parts of the blackout area (area associated with the unavailable gateway. FIG. 9 shows an exemplary beam re-mapping in which all of the adjacent beams are enlarged and completely cover the affected area in an over- lapping fashion. an operator could instruct the satellite to enlarge an operational service beam, which is adjacent to the affected beam, until it sufficiently covers the affected area. The multi-beam on-board of the satellite may be automatically programmed to enlarge one or more adjacent beams of the subject area upon discovery of the gateway failure by the satellite. In addition, Applicant recites “a resource allocator configured to form a regular network of satellite spots over a given geographic zone, said regular network of satellite spots being arranged according to a regular mesh in a form of quadrilaterals”. However, Examiner respectfully disagrees Hirsch does disclose in paragraph 0021, a square first network mesh and a first main reflector; the second antenna having a second network of distributed feeds in accordance with a square second network mesh and a second main reflector; and the first and second networks of feeds and the first and second main reflectors are geometrically configured so as to form a coverage for the service area with quadruple points and square coverage mesh; Paragraph 0022, the transmission antenna has a main reflector and a network of multiple feeds illuminating the reflector, the feeds being distributed according to a hexagonal or square antenna network mesh and being associated in multiple groups that are staggered in relation to one another in X and Y directions of a plane. the network of feeds, the reflector and the distribution circuits are configured in terms of geometry and connectivity so as to form a total coverage or a semi- coverage for the service area by means of transmission spots distributed in accordance with a coverage mesh that is included among the rectangular, diamond-shaped and square meshes which includes a regular mesh. A quadrilateral is a four-sided polygon (a closed, flat shape with straight edges) having four vertices (corners) and four interior angles that always sum to 360 degrees, with common types including squares, rectangles, rhombuses, parallelograms, trapezoids, and kites. Examiner does acknowledge the cited reference Hirsh the multibeam satellite system does not disclose those features alone, but if combined the with cited reference of Treesh’s failure coverage of the multibeam satellite system which will provide a satellite radio communication system virtual gateway redundancy without having to reserve platform resources.
With regards to applicant’s argument( page 9) Capots is as equally silent as all of the prior art of record to the feature of “dividing-up of the surface of the failing satellite spot into N sub-parts formed”. Examiner respectfully disagrees, the cited reference Capots does disclose in paragraph 0040, in FIG. 2a. In this embodi-ment, cluster satellites 202-212 are homogeneous; that is, all satellites perform similar functions in the cluster. The functions performed by each cluster satellite(N sub-parts) include broadband telecommunications relay and communications with other satellites in the cluster. FIG. 2b. Each cluster satellite(N sub-parts) 222A-F has a steerable antenna system, which allows each satellite to cover one or more different terrestrial zones, even though all satellites are in the same orbital slot. A steerable antenna system must include at least one steerable antenna, but may include a plurality of steerable antennas. Each steerable antenna may provide coverage of a different ter-restrial zone. Each steerable antenna may further subdivide each terrestrial zone into a plurality of smaller zones, such as sub-zones 228. Paragraph 0041, in the zones covered by satellites in a satellite cluster(N sub-parts) overlap, as shown in FIG. 2b, to provide gapless coverage. a cluster satellite(N sub-parts) should fail, the coverage zones of one or more other cluster satellites may be adjusted to provide backup coverage for the zone previously covered by the failed cluster satellite(N sub-parts). Applicant recites Capot does not teach or suggest “a dividing-up of the surface of the failing satellite spot into N sub-parts formed so as to minimize the distance with respect to the adjacent satellite spots as recited in the claims”. However Examiner respectfully disagrees, Capot in paragraph 0090, the wireless LAN, the wireless WAN, or both can intelligently route the communication signal through one or several desirable routes towards its final destination. The determi-nation of the desirable routes takes into account various factors, such as route cost, route distance, route availability, route traffic load, and signal priority. A com-munication signal with high priority takes precedent over a communication signal with low priority while providing GAPLESS coverage means that eliminating the gaps between clusters would mean the distance between clusters is reduced. In order to accomplish cited features by modifying the multibeam satellite system with failure coverage of Hirsch and Treesh to include the satellite subzones, as in the multibeam satellite system with failure coverage of Capots.
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