DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present U.S. non-provisional application is being examined under the first-inventor-to-file provisions of the AIA . The present U.S. non-provisional application, filed on August 22, 2023, is the U.S. national stage of an international PCT application, filed on February 26, 2021.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on August 22, 2023 was filed before the mailing date of a first Office action in the present U.S. non-provisional application, in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement has been considered by the examiner.
Response to Amendment
This Office action is responsive to the preliminary amendment under 37 CFR 1.115 on August 22, 2023. Claims 1-38 were canceled. Claims 39-58 were added. Claims 39-58 are pending for consideration in the present U.S. non-provisional application.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 41, 43, 46 and 57 would be considered as allowable if rewritten into independent form to include all of the limitations of the respective base claim and any intervening claims. The claimed invention is neither anticipated by the prior art of record, nor considered as obvious in view thereof to a person having ordinary skill in the art.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 39, 40, 42, 44, 45, 47-56 and 58 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as unpatentable over Li et al. (US 2023/0103325 A1) in view of Monajemi et al. (US 2021/0321473 A1).
39. A method of controlling wireless transmissions in a wireless communication system (Li, FIG. 4A), the method comprising:
on a first channel, an access point of the wireless communication system maintaining a first wireless link to a first wireless station (Li, paras. [0106], [0109], “Optionally, FIG. 4a is a schematic diagram of multi-link communication according to an embodiment of this application. FIG. 4a is a schematic diagram of communication between AP MLD 100 and non-AP MLD 200. As shown in FIG. 4a, AP MLD 100 includes n affiliated stations: AP 100-1, AP 100-2, ... , and AP 100-n. The non-AP MLD 200 includes n affiliated stations: STA 200-1, STA 200-2, ... , and STA 200-n. AP MLD 100 and non-AP MLD 200 communicate concurrently through link 1, link 2, ... , and link n…”);
on a second channel, the access point maintaining a second wireless link to a second wireless station (Li, paras. [0106], [0109], “Optionally, FIG. 4a is a schematic diagram of multi-link communication according to an embodiment of this application. FIG. 4a is a schematic diagram of communication between AP MLD 100 and non-AP MLD 200. As shown in FIG. 4a, AP MLD 100 includes n affiliated stations: AP 100-1, AP 100-2, ... , and AP 100-n. The non-AP MLD 200 includes n affiliated stations: STA 200-1, STA 200-2, ... , and STA 200-n. AP MLD 100 and non-AP MLD 200 communicate concurrently through link 1, link 2, ... , and link n…” Id.);
the access point receiving a measurement report from the first wireless station, the measurement report representing a level of interference from the second channel to the first channel (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], “…In another embodiment, AP1 uses a cross link interference (CLI) measured at MLD client 120 as a basis on which to compute frequency separation Δf. In that case, a receiver of the first STA radio of MLD client 120 measures interference, referred to as the “cross link interference,” due to transmission from a transmitter of the second STA radio of the MLD client. The measured CLI is indicative of a power leakage (i.e., leakage power) from the transmitter to the receiver. Then, instead of reporting the full reference set to AP1 as described above, MLD client 120 reports to AP1 the cross link interference in addition to the slope parameters that represent the slope of the transmit filter sideband. The combination of the CLI and the slope parameters transmitted by MLD client 120 to AP1 may be considered an alternative reference set. AP1 computes frequency separation Δf based on the CLI and the slope parameters…”); and
based on the measurement report, the access point controlling multi-link operation on the first wireless link and the second wireless link (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], “…In an example of method 400, assume that, after initial association with AP1, the first and second STA radios initially operate with AP1 over initial frequencies/channels f.sub.1 and f.sub.2, respectively. Also, assume that the frequency separation between the initial frequencies/channels f.sub.1 and f.sub.2 is less than the frequency separation computed at operation 412, and thus will not support the STR mode of operation at MLD client 120. Then, at operation 414, AP1 may maintain frequency/channel f.sub.1 for the first STA radio, but select a new frequency/channel f.sub.3 for the second STA radio, such that the frequency separation between frequencies/channels f.sub.1 and f.sub.3 is equal to or greater than the computed frequency separation.” Id.)
Li et al. may not seem to describe the identical claimed invention, however in the same field of endeavor, Monajemi et al. provides prior art disclosure for the claimed invention, such as based on the measurement report, the access point controlling multi-link operation on the first wireless link and the second wireless link (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id.) The prior art disclosure and suggestions of Monajemi et al. are for reasons of supporting STR mode via frequency separation (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id.) In view of the prior art of record, the claimed invention 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, for reasons of supporting STR mode via frequency separation.
40. The method of claim 39, wherein the measurement report is based on at least one measurement performed by the first wireless station on the first channel during a wireless transmission on the second channel (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id.)
42. The method of claim 40, comprising: the access point instructing the second wireless station to perform an uplink wireless transmission on the second channel (Monajemi, paras. [0017], [0042], “…Assuming MLD client 120 associates with AP1, the MLD client 120 configures the first and second STA radios to operate on the first and second frequencies/channels advertised by AP1, respectively. The first STA radio may transmit and receive on the first frequency/channel while the second STA radio may transmit and receive on the second frequency/channel…”)
44. The method of claim 39, comprising: the access point receiving a further measurement report from the second wireless station, the further measurement report representing a level of interference from the first channel to the second channel, wherein said controlling of the multi-link operation is further based on the further measurement report (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id.)
45. The method of claim 44, wherein the further measurement report is based on at least one measurement performed by the second wireless station on the second channel during at least one wireless transmission on the first channel (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id.)
47. The method of claim 39, wherein said controlling the multi-link operation comprises switching the first wireless link from the first channel to another channel (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id.)
48. The method of claim 39, wherein said controlling the multi-link operation comprises switching the second wireless link from the second channel to another channel (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id.)
49. The method of claim 39, wherein said controlling the multi-link operation comprises synchronizing a downlink wireless transmission on the first wireless link with a downlink wireless transmission on the second wireless link (Li, paras. [0148], [0150], “…Specifically, the first multi-link device and the second device concurrently transmit uplink data or downlink data on the first link and the second link. For example, the first multi-link device simultaneously or concurrently sends PPDUs on the first link and the second link. Alternatively, the second device simultaneously or concurrently sends PPDUs to the first multi-link device on the first link and the second link…”)
50. The method of claim 39, wherein said controlling the multi-link operation comprises synchronizing an uplink wireless transmission on the first wireless link with an uplink wireless transmission on the second wireless link (Li, paras. [0148], [0150], Id.)
51. The method of claim 39, wherein said controlling the multi-link operation comprises adjusting one or more transmit parameters of a downlink wireless transmission on the first wireless link and/or adjusting one or more transmit parameters of a downlink wireless transmission on the second wireless link (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id.).
52. The method of claim 39, wherein said controlling the multi-link operation comprises adjusting one or more transmit parameters of an uplink wireless transmission on the first wireless link and/or adjusting one or more transmit parameters of an uplink wireless transmission on the second wireless link (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id.)
53. The method of claim 39, wherein said controlling the multi-link operation comprises sequentially performing a downlink wireless transmission on the first wireless link and a downlink wireless transmission on the second wireless link (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id.)
54. The method of claim 39, wherein said controlling the multi-link operation comprises sequentially performing an uplink wireless transmission on the first wireless link and an uplink wireless transmission on the second wireless link (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id.)
55. The method of claim 39, wherein said controlling the multi-link operation comprises restricting uplink access of the first wireless station to the first channel (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id.)
56. The method of claim 39, wherein said controlling the multi-link operation comprises restricting uplink access of the second wireless station to the second channel (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id.)
58. An access point for a wireless communication system, the access point comprising radio circuitry and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the radio circuitry, the processing circuitry being configured to use the radio circuitry (Li, FIG. 14) to:
on a first channel, maintain a first wireless link to a first wireless station (Li, paras. [0106], [0109], Id.);
on a second channel, maintain a second wireless link to a second wireless station (Li, paras. [0106], [0109], Id.);
receive a measurement report from the first wireless station, the measurement report representing a level of interference from the second channel to the first channel (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id.); and
based on the measurement report, control multi-link operation on the first wireless link and the second wireless link (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id. cf. Claim 39).
Li et al. may not seem to describe the identical claimed invention, however in the same field of endeavor, Monajemi et al. provides prior art disclosure for the claimed invention, such as based on the measurement report, control multi-link operation on the first wireless link and the second wireless link (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id.) The prior art disclosure and suggestions of Monajemi et al. are for reasons of supporting STR mode via frequency separation (Monajemi, paras. [0042], [0051], Id.) In view of the prior art of record, the claimed invention 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, for reasons of supporting STR mode via frequency separation.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record (PTO-1449, PTO-892) and not relied upon is considered pertinent to the subject matter of the present U.S. non-provisional application.
Tanaka et al. (US 2024/0275507 A1) provides prior art disclosure considered as relevant to the subject matter of the claimed invention (Tanaka, Abstract, “The present technique relates to a wireless communication device and a wireless communication method that enable a proper communication setting. A wireless communication device according to an aspect of the present technique includes a control unit configured to: transmit an inter-link interference measurement signal by using a first channel from a first antenna or a second antenna that forms a first link from among a plurality of antennas of a communication unit that communicates with an external communication device through a plurality of links, and measure interference caused by the inter-link interference measurement signal, by using a third antenna or a fourth antenna that forms a second link from among the plurality of antennas.”)
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Timothy J. Weidner whose telephone number is (571) 270-1825. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ayaz R. Sheikh can be reached on (571) 272-3795. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/TIMOTHY J WEIDNER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2476