Response to Amendment
This office action in response to a communication received on February 28, 2026.
Claims 2-8 and 10-14 have been amended.
Claim 1 has been cancelled.
Claims 2-15 are pending in this application.
Response to Arguments
The 35 U.S.C §112(b) rejection of claims 12 has been withdrawn in light of applicant’s
amendments and remarks (see remarks Pg. 9).
The cancellation of claim 1 and amendments to claim 11 has not overcome the Claim Interpretation in accordance with 35 U.S.C §112(f) (see remarks Pg. 8-9).
The applicant’s arguments directed towards the 35 USC §103 rejections of independent claim 1 and 14-15 as set forth in the previous Office Action, have been fully considered, but are not persuasive (see remarks Pg. 9-13).
Applicant submits that, Nagata does not teach or suggest (i) a plurality of master and slave communication devices forming combinations, (ii) recording combinations of devices having communication abnormalities, (iii) performing a diagnostic mode, or (iv) determining and finalizing an abnormal position only when it is consistent with a recorded abnormal combination, as required in claim 14.
Rather, Nagata determines whether interference or propagation degradation has occurred. Nagata does not localize an abnormality to a specific master communication device, slave 11 communication device, link or system level fault through consistency validation, to which the claimed invention is directed.
Otsuki does not teach or suggest an abnormal position finalization mode in which communication is actively instructed for diagnostic purposes, as defined in claim 14. Nor does Otsuki teach or suggest recording combinations of devices having communication abnormalities and finalizing an abnormal position only when there is consistency with a recorded or stored abnormal combination, as claimed.
The examiner has considered the arguments, but disagrees. Nagata teaches “(i) a plurality of master and slave communication devices forming combinations” by using multiple BS and multiple wireless communication terminals connected together in combinations (see Fig. 2, e.g., element, wireless communication base stations 68, wireless communication terminals 70, Col. 3, lines 15-20, e.g., wireless links are formed between wireless communication base stations 68 and respective wireless communication terminals 70 as illustrated in FIG. 2, and wireless communication is performed between the wireless communication base stations 68 and the respective wireless communication terminals 70.).
Nagata teaches “(ii) recording combinations of devices having communication abnormalities”, by recording data for specific communication link between base station and wireless terminal and storing it (see Col. 5, lines 1-12, At step 100 of the wireless communication interruption cause determination processing, the acquisition section 12 acquires the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and the packet error rate (PER) of a wireless link formed between a freely selected wireless communication base station 68 and a freely selected wireless communication terminal 70. Next, at step 102, the acquisition section 12 stores the acquired radio wave reception strength and the packet error rate acquired at step 100 in the storage section 36, in association with the link ID allocated to the corresponding wireless link and the current time.
Nagata teaches “(iii) performing a diagnostic mode” (see Col. 3, lines 53-67 - Col. 4, lines 1-4, Then, from the plural characteristic curves of the packet error rate against radio wave reception strength stored in the characteristic curve storage section 14, the characteristic estimation section 16 selects a characteristic curve that passes through a point corresponding to a combination of the radio wave reception strength and the packet error rate equivalent to a point on the computed straight lines. The cause determination section 18 then determines the cause of the interruption based on a positional relationship of a point corresponding to a combination of the radio wave reception strength at the second point in time and the packet error rate for the wireless link in which the packet error rate has reached the threshold value or greater with respect to the characteristic curve selected by the characteristic estimation section 16. The output section 20 then outputs the cause of the interruption determined by the cause determination section 18)
Nagata further teaches “(iv) determining and finalizing an abnormal position only when it is consistent with a recorded abnormal combination” for a specific link (see Col. 9, lines 9-23, When affirmative determination is made at step 126, the cause of the position of the point corresponding to the combination of the values of the radio wave reception strength and the packet error rate at the current time being offset from the permissible range can be determined as mainly being radio wave interference. Processing therefore transitions to step 128, and the cause determination section 18 determines that the cause of interruption occurring in the wireless link (of the packet error rate reaching the threshold value or greater) is radio wave interference. Then, in the next step 132, the output section 20 outputs the determination result of the interruption cause made by the cause determination section 18, by, for example, displaying a message on the display section 38, and the wireless communication interruption cause determination processing is ended).
Nagata however does not teach a position where an abnormality is occurring and hence teachings of Otsuki are incorporated to determining a location where an abnormality is occurring (see ¶ [0009], e.g., determining a location where an abnormality occurred in accordance with a result of the comparison of the first comparison result and the second comparison result, the location being determined from among the wireless base station, the first wireless terminal, the second wireless terminal, and a wireless propagation environment between the wireless base station and the first wireless terminal and between the wireless base station and the second wireless terminal.).
As result, applicant’s arguments are not persuasive and the 35 USC §103 rejections of claims 1 and 14-15 are maintained.
The 35 USC §103 rejection of dependent claims 2-5 and 7-12 are maintained for the reasons set forth above.
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.
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.
Claim(s) 14 and 15, are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nagata, US 9722899 B2, (hereinafter Nagata) in view of OTSUKI et al., US 20210368364 A1, (hereinafter OTSUKI).
Regarding claim 14 and 15, Nagata teaches a communication system, comprising:
at least one master communication device;
a plurality of slave communication devices, wherein
the at least one master communication device is capable of wirelessly communicating with each of the plurality of slave communication devices (see Fig. 2, e.g., element, wireless communication base stations 68, wireless communication terminals 70, Col. 3, lines 15-20, e.g., wireless links are formed between wireless communication base stations 68 and respective wireless communication terminals 70 as illustrated in FIG. 2, and wireless communication is performed between the wireless communication base stations 68 and the respective wireless communication terminals 70. Note that, implicitly implied as Master and Slave by “wireless communication base stations 68 and the respective wireless communication terminals 70”), the
at least one master communication device includes at least one first processor programmed to obtain information indicative of communication characteristics related to wireless communication while performing the wireless communication with each of the plurality of slave communication devices (see Fig. 2, e.g., element, The wireless communication monitoring server 30, the wireless communication base stations 68, wireless communication terminals 70; see Col. 4, lines 4-26, e.g., The wireless communication monitoring server 30 includes a CPU 32, memory 34, a nonvolatile storage section 36, a display section 38, an input section 40, and a wireless interface (I/F) section 42.The wireless communication monitoring server 30 is included in a computer system 64, and is connected to a wired network 66 through the communication I/F section 42. The computer system 64 includes the plural wireless communication base stations 68 connected to the wired network 66, and the plural wireless communication terminals 70 that perform wireless communication with one of the wireless communication base stations 68. The wireless communication monitoring server 30 receives the parameters that evaluate the performance of the individual wireless links (the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and the packet error rate (PER)) from the individual wireless communication base stations 68 over the wired network 66; Col. 9, lines 55-63, e.g.,
(48) Explanation has been given in which the wireless communication monitoring server 30 is caused to function as the interruption determination device according to technology disclosed herein. However, technology disclosed herein is not limited thereto, and the wireless communication base stations 68 or the wireless communication terminals 70 may be caused to function as the interruption determination device according to technology disclosed herein.), and
see Fig. 1, e.g., element characteristic curve storage section 14; Col. 3, lines 27-40, e.g., Plural characteristic curves of packet error rate against radio wave reception strength are pre-computed based on the assumption that interference power is maintained at mutually different values, and stored in the characteristic curve storage section 14 as characteristic curves of packet error rate against radio wave reception strength for wireless links); and
instruct the at least one master communication device to perform wireless communication with at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices (see Col. 3, lines 16-20, e.g., wireless links are formed between wireless communication base stations 68 and respective wireless communication terminals 70 as illustrated in FIG. 2, and wireless communication is performed between the wireless communication base stations 68 and the respective wireless communication terminals 70. Col. 4, lines 27-33, e.g., An interruption cause determination program 50 that causes the wireless communication monitoring server 30 to function as the interruption cause determination device 10 is stored in the storage section 36 that serves as a recording medium),
determine, during performing the wireless communication, whether the wireless communication between the at least one master communication device and the at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices has been performed normally or abnormally based on the obtained communication characteristics (see Col. 5, lines 1-25, e.g., At step 100 of the wireless communication interruption cause determination processing, the acquisition section 12 acquires the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and the packet error rate (PER) of a wireless link formed between a freely selected wireless communication base station 68 and a freely selected wireless communication terminal 70. Next, at step 102, the acquisition section 12 stores the acquired radio wave reception strength and the packet error rate acquired at step 100 in the storage section 36, in association with the link ID allocated to the corresponding wireless link and the current time. Next, at step 104, the characteristic estimation section 16 determines whether or not the packet error rate acquired by the acquisition section 12 at step 100 is the threshold value or greater. When negative determination is made at step 104, processing returns to step 100 since determination can be made that no interruption is occurring in the corresponding wireless link, and the acquisition section 12 acquires the radio wave reception strength and the packet error rate of another of the formed wireless links. In this manner, when interruption is not occurring in any of the wireless links, the acquisition section 12 repeats the acquisition of the radio wave reception strength and the packet error rate of the wireless link at intervals of a fixed period of time), and
determine, as an abnormality-determined (see Col. 3-4, lines 61-68; 1-13, e.g., The cause determination section 18 then determines the cause of the interruption based on a positional relationship of a point corresponding to a combination of the radio wave reception strength at the second point in time and the packet error rate for the wireless link in which the packet error rate has reached the threshold value or greater with respect to the characteristic curve selected by the characteristic estimation section 16. The output section 20 then outputs the cause of the interruption determined by the cause determination section 18.)
finalize the abnormality-determined (see Col. 3-4, lines 61-68; 1-13, e.g., The output section 20 then outputs the cause of the interruption determined by the cause determination section 18. Col. 4, lines 29-33, e.g., An interruption cause determination program 50 that causes the wireless communication monitoring server 30 to function as the interruption cause determination device 10 is stored in the storage section 36 that serves as a recording medium. Col. 10, lines 64-67, e.g., Explanation has been given in of a mode in which the interruption cause determination program 50 is pre-stored (installed) in the storage section 36. However, the interruption cause determination program of technology disclosed herein may be provided in a mode recorded on a non-transitory recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM.),
however, it does not explicitly teach, a position where an abnormality is occurring based on a normal/abnormal determination result of the wireless communication between the at least one master communication device and the at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices and position as an abnormal position where the abnormality is occurring when the abnormality-determined position is consistent with the combination of the at least one master communication device and the at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices having a communication abnormality.
OTSUKI teaches a position where an abnormality is occurring based on a normal/abnormal determination result of the wireless communication between the at least one master communication device and the at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices and position as an abnormal position where the abnormality is occurring when the abnormality-determined position is consistent with the combination of the at least one master communication device and the at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices having a communication abnormality (see ¶ [0014], e.g., comparing the first comparison result and the second comparison result, and determining a location where an abnormality occurred in accordance with a result of the comparison of the first comparison result and the second comparison result, the location being determined from among the wireless base station, the first wireless terminal, the second wireless terminal, and a wireless propagation environment between the wireless base station and the first wireless terminal and between the wireless base station and the second wireless terminal. ¶ [0040], e.g., In FIG. 4, in the case where Sap1−Ssta1>α, the wireless performance information (throughput) of the STA 21 is lower than that of the AP 10, and the wireless performance measurement device 30 determines that a failure occurred at the STA 21. In the case where Ssta1−Sap1>α, the wireless performance information (throughput) of the AP 10 is lower than that of the STA 21, and the wireless performance measurement device 30 determines that a failure occurred at the AP 10. In the case where |Sap1−Ssta1|≤α, the wireless performance information (throughput) of the AP 10 and the wireless performance information of the STA 21 are comparable with each other, and the wireless performance measurement device 30 determines that both are normal. This similarly applies to the comparison of the wireless performance information of the STA 22 and the AP 10, and the wireless performance measurement device 30 determines the location of a failure in accordance with nine combinations (1) to (9)).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified determination of abnormal wireless communication between the at least one master communication device and the at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices of Nagata to incorporate the teachings of OTSUKI to include position where an abnormality is occurring based on a normal/abnormal determination result of the wireless communication between the at least one master communication device and the at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices. Doing so would facilitate in achieving determining a location where an abnormality occurred and also from among the various communication devices as suggested by OTSUKI (see ¶ [0015], e.g., determining a location where an abnormality occurred in accordance with a result of the comparison of the first comparison result and the second comparison result, the location being determined from among the wireless base station, the first wireless terminal, the second wireless terminal, and a wireless propagation environment between the wireless base station and the first wireless terminal and between the wireless base station and the second wireless terminal).
Claim(s) 2, is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nagata, in view of OTSUKI and in further view of XIA et al., WO 2022078267 A1, (hereinafter XIA).
Regarding claim 2, Nagata as combined with OTSUKI teaches the limitations of Claim 14.
Nagata as improved by OTSUKI do not teach but XIA teaches, wherein at least one of (a) the at least one master communication device and (b) the plurality of slave communication devices is arranged at a fixed position (see Fig. 3, element, positioning information generating device, Bluetooth master module, Bluetooth slave modules, Pg. 11, paragraph 6, e.g., An embodiment of the present application provides a vehicle. As shown in FIG. 3, the vehicle includes a positioning information generating device, a Bluetooth master module, a plurality of Bluetooth slave modules, and a body. The positioning information generating device and the Bluetooth master module are fixed on the body, and the plurality of Bluetooth slave modules are respectively fixed at different installation positions of the body).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified arrangement of master communication device and the at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices of Nagata and OTSUKI to incorporate the teachings of XIA to include the at least one master communication device and the plurality of slave communication devices arranged at a fixed position. Doing so would facilitate in achieving advance wiring harness at the installation position and convenient of installing the Bluetooth slave module as suggested by XIA (see Pg. 3, Paragraph 3, e.g., The wiring harness connector can be pre-fixed at the installation position of the Bluetooth slave module, and the position setting pins of the wiring harness connector can be connected to the corresponding level signal pins in advance. When installing the Bluetooth slave module, you only need to connect the Bluetooth. The position detection pin of the slave module is connected to the corresponding position docking pin on the corresponding wiring harness connector, so that the level setting of the position detection pin of the Bluetooth slave module can be realized, which is very convenient).
Claim(s) 3-5, and 7-12, are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nagata, in view of OTSUKI and in further view of Yanagida, US 10863418 B2, (hereinafter Yanagida).
Regarding claim 3, Nagata as combined with OTSUKI teaches the limitations of Claim 14.
Nagata as improved by OTSUKI does not teach but Yanagida teaches, wherein at least one of (a) the at least one master communication device and (b) the plurality of slave communication devices is mounted in a vehicle (see Fig. 8, e.g., element 101; Col. 16, lines 1-3, e.g., An example in which the communication system 100 according to this embodiment is mounted in a vehicle 101 will be described below with reference to FIG. 8; Col. 4-5, lines 64-67; 1-3, e.g., The door ECU 11 and the units 12, 13, 14, and 15 perform wireless communication with each other. The door ECU 11 transmits a command to the units 12, 13, 14, and 15 or acquires states of the units 12, 13, 14, and 15 by wireless communication. In the first wireless subsystem 10, a master unit is the door ECU 11 and the other units 12, 13, 14, and 15 are slave units.).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified master communication device and the at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices of Nagata and OTSUKI to incorporate the teachings of Yanagida to include at least one of the at least one master communication device and the plurality of slave communication devices to be mounted in a vehicle. Doing so would facilitate in achieving can improved stability of wireless communication in a vehicle as suggested by Yanagida (see, Col. 17, lines 41-48, e.g., The communication system 100 according to this embodiment includes a plurality of communication devices that perform wireless communication in the vehicle 101 on the basis of a common communication standard, the monitoring unit 2a, and the communication status improving unit 2b. Accordingly, the communication system 100 according to this embodiment can improve stability of wireless communication in a vehicle.).
Regarding claim 4, Nagata as combined with OTSUKI teaches the limitations of Claim 14.
Nagata further teaches, wherein the at least one master communication device includes at least two master communication devices,
each of the at least two master communication devices are capable of performing wireless communication with each of the plurality of slave communication devices (see Fig. 2, e.g., element, The wireless communication monitoring server 30, the wireless communication base stations 68, wireless communication terminals 70, Col. 4, lines 14-25, e.g., The computer system 64 includes the plural wireless communication base stations 68 connected to the wired network 66, and the plural wireless communication terminals 70 that perform wireless communication with one of the wireless communication base stations 68. The wireless communication monitoring server 30 receives the parameters that evaluate the performance of the individual wireless links (the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and the packet error rate (PER)) from the individual wireless communication base stations 68 over the wired network 66.), and
the at least one second processor see Col. 5, lines 13-43, e.g., Next, at step 104, the characteristic estimation section 16 determines whether or not the packet error rate acquired by the acquisition section 12 at step 100 is the threshold value or greater. When negative determination is made at step 104, processing returns to step 100 since determination can be made that no interruption is occurring in the corresponding wireless link, and the acquisition section 12 acquires the radio wave reception strength and the packet error rate of another of the formed wireless links. In this manner, when interruption is not occurring in any of the wireless links, the acquisition section 12 repeats the acquisition of the radio wave reception strength and the packet error rate of the wireless link at intervals of a fixed period of time. When the packet error rate of any of the wireless links has reached the threshold value or greater, the determination of step 104 is affirmative and processing transitions to step 106. At step 106, the characteristic estimation section 16 reads from the storage section 36 the radio wave reception strength and the packet error rate of the corresponding wireless link, for the time period spanning from the point in time (the first point in time) a specific amount of time earlier than when the packet error rate reached the threshold value or greater (the second point in time) up to the second point in time.)
however, it does not explicitly teach, where an abnormality is occurring from among
(a) the at least two master communication devices,
(b) the at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices, and
(c) communication propagation paths between the at least two master communication devices and the plurality of slave communication devices.
Yanagida teaches, where an abnormality is occurring from among (a) the at least two master communication devices (see Col. 13, lines 13-37, e.g., the managing unit 2 periodically transmits an inquiry about a current state to the master units. The master units transmit current status information of the wireless subsystems 10, 20, and 30 to the managing unit 2 in response to the inquiry. When a response from the master unit has not been received within a predetermined time after the inquiry has been transmitted, the managing unit 2 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the wireless subsystems 10, 20, and 30.).
OTSUKI teaches, where an abnormality is occurring from among (b) the at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices (see ¶ [0042] (2) Here, AP 10 normal+STA 21 normal” and “AP 10 normal+STA 22 failure”, and therefore the wireless performance measurement device 30 determines that a failure occurred at the receiver of the STA 22.), and
(c) communication propagation paths between the at least two master communication devices and the plurality of slave communication devices (see ¶ [0045] (5) Here, “AP 10 normal+STA 21 normal” and “AP 10 normal+STA 22 normal”, and the AP 10s and the STAs 21 and 22 are all normal, and therefore if an abnormality has occurred in this case, the wireless performance measurement device 30 determines that the abnormality occurred in the wireless propagation environment between the AP 10 and the STA 21 or 22).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified identifying abnormality occurring of Nagata to incorporate the teachings of OTSUKI and Yanagida to include identifying abnormality occurring from among communication devices. Doing so would facilitate in achieving determining the location of a failure in accordance with various combinations of communication devices as suggested by OTSUKI (see, ¶ [0040], e.g., This similarly applies to the comparison of the wireless performance information of the STA 22 and the AP 10, and the wireless performance measurement device 30 determines the location of a failure in accordance with nine combinations (1) to (9)).
Regarding claim 5, Nagata as combined with OTSUKI and Yanagida teaches the limitations of Claim 4.
Nagata as improved by OTSUKI does not teach but Yanagida teaches, wherein
when (a) wireless communication between (i) one of the at least two master communication devices and (ii) the at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices is determined as abnormal, and (b) wireless communication between (i) another of the at least two master communication devices and (ii) the at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices is determined as normal, the at least one second processor determines that the abnormal position is in the one of the at least two master communication devices (see Col. 13, lines 43-65, e.g., In Step S320, the managing unit 2 transmits an abnormality signal. The abnormality signal is a signal indicating an abnormality in the wireless subsystems 10, 20, and 30. The abnormality signal includes, for example, information indicating in which subsystem among the wireless subsystems 10, 20, and 30 an abnormality has occurred and a type of the occurring abnormality. The managing unit 2 transmits the abnormality signal by wired communication. In the safe mode, the managing unit 2 continues to monitor the wireless communication of the wireless subsystems 10, 20, and 30 while substituting the abnormal master unit. When an abnormality has occurred in a master unit, the slave units belonging to the same wireless subsystems 10, 20, and 30 as the master unit perform appropriate operations such as system standby or communication with the managing unit 2.).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified abnormal finalization unit of Nagata and OTSUKI to incorporate the teachings of Yanagida to include the abnormal finalization unit to determine that the abnormal position is in the one of the at least two master communication devices. Doing so would facilitate in achieving substituting the abnormal master unit as suggested by Yanagida (see Col. 13, lines 56-65, In Step S330, the managing unit 2 performs a safe mode. A safe mode is a wireless communication mode in which an abnormal master unit is substituted by the managing unit 2. In the safe mode, the managing unit 2 continues to monitor the wireless communication of the wireless subsystems 10, 20, and 30 while substituting the abnormal master unit. When an abnormality has occurred in a master unit, the slave units belonging to the same wireless subsystems 10, 20, and 30 as the master unit perform appropriate operations such as system standby or communication with the managing unit 2.).
Regarding claim 7, Nagata as combined with OTSUKI and Yanagida teaches the limitations of Claim 4.
Nagata does not teach but OTSUKI teaches, wherein
the at least one second processor see ¶ [0045] (5) Here, AP 10 normal+STA 21 normal” and “AP 10 normal+STA 22 normal”, and the AP 10s and the STAs 21 and 22 are all normal, and therefore if an abnormality has occurred in this case, the wireless performance measurement device 30 determines that the abnormality occurred in the wireless propagation environment between the AP 10 and the STA 21 or 22.)
(a) an abnormality is determined to occur in all wireless communications between one of the at least two master communication devices and the at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices (see ¶ [0042] (2) Here, “AP 10 normal+STA 21 normal” and “AP 10 normal+STA 22 failure”, and therefore the wireless performance measurement device 30 determines that a failure occurred at the receiver of the STA 22.),
however, it does not explicitly teach, (b) an abnormality is determined to occur in all wireless communications between another of the at least two master communication devices and the at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices.
Yanagida teaches, (b) an abnormality is determined to occur in all wireless communications between an other of the at least two master communication devices and the at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices (Col. 13, lines 31-37, e.g., The third condition is that wireless communication is not performed in the wireless subsystems 10, 20, and 30. When a wireless signal of a channel allocated to the wireless subsystems 10, 20, and 30 is not detected over a predetermined time, the managing unit 2 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the wireless subsystems 10, 20, and 30 to which the channel has been allocated.).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified identifying abnormality occurring of Nagata to incorporate the teachings of OTSUKI and Yanagida to include identifying abnormality occurring from among communication devices. Doing so would facilitate in achieving determining the location of a failure in accordance with various combinations of communication devices as suggested by OTSUKI (see, ¶ [0040], e.g., This similarly applies to the comparison of the wireless performance information of the STA 22 and the AP 10, and the wireless performance measurement device 30 determines the location of a failure in accordance with nine combinations (1) to (9)).
Regarding claim 8, Nagata as combined with OTSUKI and Yanagida teaches the limitations of Claim 4.
Nagata further teaches, wherein the at least one first processor obtains see Col. 5, lines 50-65, e.g., Thus, at the next step 108, the characteristic estimation section 16 computes a straight line representing average changes (trends) in the packet error rate and the radio wave reception strength in the time period spanning from the first point in time to the second point in time in order to eliminate errors due to employing instantaneous values of the packet error rate and the radio wave reception strength.),
when an abnormal position cannot be identified from a determination result of whether an abnormality occurs in wireless communications between each of the at least two master communication devices and at least one of the plurality of slave communication devices using the first communication characteristics information, the at least one second processor see Col. 5, lines 50-65, e.g.,
FIG. 4B illustrates an example of the straight line computed at step 108. Reference numerals “72” in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B indicate examples of the interruption determination threshold value. Reference numeral “74” in FIG. 4A indicates an example of the boundary at which the interruption determination result changes. Reference numeral “76” in FIG. 4B indicates an example of an average change (trend) of data for past radio wave reception strengths; Col. 5-6, lines 66-67; 1-11, e.g., In the next step 110, the characteristic estimation section 16 determines whether or not the gradient of the straight line computed at step 108 is a constant value or greater. Processing transitions to step 114 when the determination of step 110 is affirmative, and processing transitions to step 112 when the determination of step 110 is negative. At step 112, the characteristic estimation section 16 sets a longer interval of time from the first point in time to the second point in time, and processing returns to step 108. The computation durations for the straight lines representing the average changes (trends) in the packet error rate and the radio wave reception strength are thereby extended at step 108, and the straight lines are recomputed.).
Regarding claim 9, Nagata as combined with OTSUKI and Yanagida teaches the limitations of Claim 8.
Nagata further teaches, wherein the first communication characteristics information is a received signal strength indicator indicative of a reception strength of wireless communication, and the second communication characteristics information is a packet error rate or a bit error rate in wireless communication between the master communication device and the slave communication device (see Fig. 1, e.g., element 10, acquisition section 12; Col. 3, lines 27-40, e.g., The acquisition section 12 acquires for each individual wireless link the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and the packet error rate (PER), which are parameters for evaluating the performance of a wireless link. Each individual wireless link is identified by a link ID allocated thereto;
Fig. 2, e.g., element the wireless communication monitoring server 30, the wireless communication base stations 68, wireless communication terminals 70; Col. 4, lines 4-26, e.g., The computer system 64 includes the plural wireless communication base stations 68 connected to the wired network 66, and the plural wireless communication terminals 70 that perform wireless communication with one of the wireless communication base stations 68. The wireless communication monitoring server 30 receives the parameters that evaluate the performance of the individual wireless links (the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and the packet error rate (PER)) from the individual wireless communication base stations 68 over the wired network 66).
Regarding claim 10, Nagata as combined with OTSUKI teaches the limitations of Claim 14.
Nagata further teaches, wherein the at least one master communication device is capable of performing wireless communication with each of the plurality of slave communication devices (see Col. 3, lines 15-19, e.g., wireless links are formed between wireless communication base stations 68 and respective wireless communication terminals 70 as illustrated in FIG. 2),
the communication system further comprising:
a storage unit storing, for each of the plurality of slave communication devices, multiple reference communication characteristics related to wireless communication, the reference communication characteristics being characteristics that were obtained when the at least one master communication device communicated with each of the plurality of slave communication devices (see Col. 3, lines 33-60, e.g., Plural characteristic curves of packet error rate against radio wave reception strength are pre-computed based on the assumption that interference power is maintained at mutually different values, and stored in the characteristic curve storage section 14 as characteristic curves of packet error rate against radio wave reception strength for wireless links.); and
the at least one second processor
(a) an overall trend of the multiple communication characteristics across the multiple frequency channels obtained by the at least one first processor regarding wireless communication between the at least one master communication device and each of the plurality of slave communication devices (see Col. 5, lines 44-65, e.g., As illustrated in FIG. 4A, the instantaneous values of the packet error rate and the radio wave reception strength read from the storage section 36 at step 106 fluctuate on a small scale in time series thereof, due to effects such as fading. Although the packet error rate is plotted in FIG. 4A, small scale fluctuations due to effects such as fading also arise in the radio wave reception strength. Thus, at the next step 108, the characteristic estimation section 16 computes a straight line representing average changes (trends) in the packet error rate and the radio wave reception strength in the time period spanning from the first point in time to the second point in time in order to eliminate errors due to employing instantaneous values of the packet error rate and the radio wave reception strength. FIG. 4B illustrates an example of the straight line computed at step 108. Reference numerals “72” in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B indicate examples of the interruption determination threshold value.); and
(b) an overall trend of the multiple reference communication characteristics that are stored in the storage unit for each of the plurality of slave communication devices (see Col. 5, lines 44-65, e.g., Reference numeral “74” in FIG. 4A indicates an example of the boundary at which the interruption determination result changes. Reference numeral “76” in FIG. 4B indicates an example of an average change (trend) of data for past radio wave reception strengths.),
however, it does not explicitly teach, wireless communication over the multiple frequency channels.
Yanagida teaches, wireless communication over the multiple frequency channels (see Col. 3, lines 50-56, e.g., the managing unit 2 performs management and control of allocation of frequency channels or communication timings such that communications of a plurality of wireless subsystems 10, 20, and 30 do not interfere or collide with each other. Accordingly, simplification of a setting operation at the time of initial setting or addition of an optional communication device is realized.).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified wireless communication between the communication devices of Nagata to incorporate the teachings of Yanagida to include wireless communication between the communication devices over the multiple frequency channels. Doing so would facilitate in achieving improved communication status of the wireless communication between the communication devices and interference or collision in wireless communication between the wireless systems can be avoided as suggested by Yanagida (see, Col. 2, lines 2-10, e.g., in the communication managing device, each of the communication devices other than the communication managing device belongs to one of a plurality of wireless subsystems having different communication bands to be used, and the communication status improving unit improves the communication status of the wireless; Col. 8, lines 7-15, e.g., The communication management information includes allocation of frequency channels (communication bands) and communication timings. The frequency channels which are allocated to the wireless systems 10, 20, and 30 are determined such that interference or collision in wireless communication between the wireless systems can be avoided. communication between the communication devices other than the communication managing device by changing allocation of communication bands to the wireless subsystems.).
Regarding claim 11, Nagata as combined with OTSUKI and Yanagida teaches the limitations of Claim 10.
Nagata further teaches, wherein the at least one second processor is configured to update see Col. 5, lines 13-25, e.g., Next, at step 104, the characteristic estimation section 16 determines whether or not the packet error rate acquired by the acquisition section 12 at step 100 is the threshold value or greater. When negative determination is made at step 104, processing returns to step 100 since determination can be made that no interruption is occurring in the corresponding wireless link, and the acquisition section 12 acquires the radio wave reception strength and the packet error rate of another of the formed wireless links. In this manner, when interruption is not occurring in any of the wireless links, the acquisition section 12 repeats the acquisition of the radio wave reception strength and the packet error rate of the wireless link at intervals of a fixed period of time; Col. 3, lines 27-39, e.g., Plural characteristic curves of packet error rate against radio wave reception strength are pre-computed based on the assumption that interference power is maintained at mutually different values, and stored in the characteristic curve storage section 14 as characteristic curves of packet error rate against radio wave reception strength for wireless links.).
Regarding claim 12, Nagata as combined with OTSUKI and Yanagida teaches the limitations of Claim 11.
Nagata further teaches, wherein the at least one second processor updates the multiple reference communication characteristics stored in the storage unit using
(a) reference communication characteristics obtained from a server external to the communication system
(b) the multiple communication characteristics that were obtained by the at least one first processor when the at least one master communication device communicated with each of the plurality of slave communication devices over the multiple frequency channels (see Col. 5, lines 13-25, e.g., Next, at step 104, the characteristic estimation section 16 determines whether or not the packet error rate acquired by the acquisition section 12 at step 100 is the threshold value or greater. When negative determination is made at step 104, processing returns to step 100 since determination can be made that no interruption is occurring in the corresponding wireless link, and the acquisition section 12 acquires the radio wave reception strength and the packet error rate of another of the formed wireless links. In this manner, when interruption is not occurring in any of the wireless links, the acquisition section 12 repeats the acquisition of the radio wave reception strength and the packet error rate of the wireless link at intervals of a fixed period of time; Col. 3, lines 27-39, e.g., Plural characteristic curves of packet error rate against radio wave reception strength are pre-computed based on the assumption that interference power is maintained at mutually different values, and stored in the characteristic curve storage section 14 as characteristic curves of packet error rate against radio wave reception strength for wireless links.),
however, it does not explicitly teach, wireless communication over the multiple frequency channels.
Yanagida teaches, wireless communication over the multiple frequency channels (see Col. 3, lines 50-56, e.g., the managing unit 2 performs management and control of allocation of frequency channels or communication timings such that communications of a plurality of wireless subsystems 10, 20, and 30 do not interfere or collide with each other. Accordingly, simplification of a setting operation at the time of initial setting or addition of an optional communication device is realized.).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified wireless communication between the communication devices of Nagata to incorporate the teachings of Yanagida to include wireless communication between the communication devices over the multiple frequency channels. Doing so would facilitate in achieving improved communication status of the wireless communication between the communication devices and interference or collision in wireless communication between the wireless systems can be avoided as suggested by Yanagida (see, Col. 2, lines 2-10, e.g., in the communication managing device, each of the communication devices other than the communication managing device belongs to one of a plurality of wireless subsystems having different communication bands to be used, and the communication status improving unit improves the communication status of the wireless; Col. 8, lines 7-15, e.g., The communication management information includes allocation of frequency channels (communication bands) and communication timings. The frequency channels which are allocated to the wireless systems 10, 20, and 30 are determined such that interference or collision in wireless communication between the wireless systems can be avoided. communication between the communication devices other than the communication managing device by changing allocation of communication bands to the wireless subsystems.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 6 and 13, is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 POONAM SHARMA whose telephone number is (571)272-6579. The examiner can normally be reached Monday thru 8:30-5:30 pm, ET.
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, Kevin Bates can be reached at (571) 272-3980. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/POONAM SHARMA/Examiner, Art Unit 2472
/KEVIN T BATES/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2472