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 .
DETAILED ACTION
RESPONSE TO AMENDMENT
Status of Application/Amendments/claims
Applicant’s amendment filed on 8/13/2026 is acknowledged. Claims 1-11, 13, 18 and 20 are amended.
Claims 1-20 are pending and have been examined, of which claims 1 and 11 are independent.
Claim Rejections/Objections Withdrawn
In view of the amendment filed, the following rejections/objections are withdrawn.
Claim rejection under 35 USC 112(b) for claims 1-10, 13-20 have been withdrawn.
New Grounds of Rejection Necessitated by the Amendment
The following rejections are new grounds of rejections necessitated by the amendment filed.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 1 recites “A method for a detecting wireless communication channel”, which appears to be typographical error for ““A method for [[a]] detecting a wireless communication channel”. Appropriate correction is required.
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 set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied 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 nonobviousness.
Claims 1-2, 10-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al. (US 2022/0210829) in view of Hu et al. (US 20200314907)
Regarding claim 1, Kim teaches a method for a detecting wireless communication channel (fig. 4; abstract: a method for operating a first communication node in a wireless communication network, comprising -performing a channel sensing operation in the first channel and a second channel), comprising:
detecting a wireless communication signal of the wireless communication channel by a wireless communication device to determine whether to generate an idle channel evaluation signal (para 92: when the channel state is determined to be busy during the predetermined period (e.g., SIFS or PIFS), the communication node may be configured not to transmit a control frame (or management frame), the carrier sensing operation may be referred to as a clear channel assessment (CCA) operation);
counting a random back-off period by the wireless communication device according to the idle channel evaluation signal (fig 4; para 94: a communication node intending to transmit a QoS data frame may be configured to perform a monitoring operation (e.g., carrier sensing operation) on a channel state during an arbitration IFS (AIFS), when the channel state is determined to be idle during an AIFS, the communication node may be configured to perform a random backoff procedure; para 96 and table 2 describe backoff value based on access category/QOS);
recording a plurality of channel state parameters of the random back-off period by the wireless communication device (para 93: the communication node may be configured to select a backoff value (e.g., backoff counter) within a contention window based on the random backoff procedure, and perform the monitoring operation (e.g., carrier sensing operation) during a period corresponding to the selected backoff value);
generating a channel state result according to the plurality of channel state parameters by the wireless communication device (para 97: the communication node may be configured to perform a monitoring operation (e.g., carrier sensing operation) on the channel state during a backoff period, and transmit the QoS data frame when the channel state is determined to be idle during the backoff period; para 212: the channel occupancy ratio may be the value reported periodically by the communication node as it is or a value notified again by the upper layer through statistics); and
determining an operation mode of the wireless communication device according to the channel state result (para 97: the communication node may be configured to perform a monitoring operation (e.g., carrier sensing operation) on the channel state during a backoff period, and transmit the QoS data frame when the channel state is determined to be idle during the backoff period).
Kim teaches the communication node to perform the channel sensing and clear channel assessment. Kim teaches the selection and monitoring of random back-off value, but does not teach the recording of specified parameter of interruption, maximum idle time, count value or termination mark. Hu is directed to grouping channel detection parameters for detecting if channel is idle (abstract).
Hu further teaches wherein the plurality of channel state parameters comprise one of a total number of interruption (para 65: energy detection is also performed during a duration of the random back-off, and back-off is performed in the duration by providing a random back-off counter (also abbreviated as a counter), counting of the random back-off counter is interrupted in a case that the energy detection indicates that the channel is occupied; here, the total number of interruption is considered one which is recorded during the random back-off period). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine channel sensing operation as taught by Kim with the channel detection and grouping as taught by Hu for the benefit of improving accuracy of the channel detection as taught by Hu in para 62.
Regarding claim 11, Kim teaches a wireless communication device (abstract: a first communication node), comprising:
a channel detection circuit (para 76-78: fig 2, a communication node 200 may include at least one processor 210, a memory 220, methods in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may be performed by the processor 210), configured to detect a wireless communication signal of a wireless communication channel to determine whether to generate an idle channel evaluation signal (para 92: when the channel state is determined to be busy during the predetermined period (e.g., SIFS or PIFS), the communication node may be configured not to transmit a control frame (or management frame), the carrier sensing operation may be referred to as a clear channel assessment (CCA) operation);
a random back-off circuit (para 76-78: fig 2, a communication node 200 may include at least one processor 210, a memory 220 and methods in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure), coupled to the channel detection circuit (fig 2), and configured to count a random back-off period according to the idle channel evaluation signa (fig 4; para 94: a communication node intending to transmit a QoS data frame may be configured to perform a monitoring operation (e.g., carrier sensing operation) on a channel state during an arbitration IFS (AIFS), when the channel state is determined to be idle during an AIFS, the communication node may be configured to perform a random backoff procedure; para 96 and table 2 describe backoff value based on access category/QOS);
a channel congestion statistics circuit (para 76-78: fig 2, a communication node 200 may include at least one processor 210, a memory 220 and methods in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure), coupled to the random back-off circuit (fig 2), and configured to record a plurality of channel state parameters of the random back-off period (para 93: the communication node may be configured to select a backoff value (e.g., backoff counter) within a contention window based on the random backoff procedure, and perform the monitoring operation (e.g., carrier sensing operation) during a period corresponding to the selected backoff value);
a channel congestion analysis circuit (para 76-78: fig 2, a communication node 200 may include at least one processor 210, a memory 220 and methods in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure), coupled to the channel congestion statistics circuit (fig 2), and configured to generate a channel state result according to the plurality of channel state parameters (para 97: the communication node may be configured to perform a monitoring operation (e.g., carrier sensing operation) on the channel state during a backoff period, and transmit the QoS data frame when the channel state is determined to be idle during the backoff period; para 212: the channel occupancy ratio may be the value reported periodically by the communication node as it is or a value notified again by the upper layer through statistics); and
a situational decision circuit (para 76-78: fig 2, a communication node 200 may include at least one processor 210, a memory 220 and methods in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure), coupled to the channel congestion analysis circuit (fig 2), and configured to determine an operation mode of the wireless communication device according to the channel state result (para 97: the communication node may be configured to perform a monitoring operation (e.g., carrier sensing operation) on the channel state during a backoff period, and transmit the QoS data frame when the channel state is determined to be idle during the backoff period).
Kim teaches the communication node to perform the channel sensing and clear channel assessment. Kim teaches the node comprising processor and memory, but does not teach functional units/ circuits to perform different functionality. Kim teaches the selection and monitoring of random back-off value, but does not teach the recording of specified parameter of interruption, maximum idle time, count value or termination mark. Hu is directed to grouping channel detection parameters for detecting if channel is idle (abstract).
Hu further teaches a wireless communication device (fig 1-14 include a structural block diagrams of a device for a wireless communication system), comprising:
a channel detection circuit (channel detecting unit 1005, fig 5),
a random back-off circuit, coupled to the channel detection circuit (channel detecting unit 1005, fig 5; para 102: the energy detection involving random back-off includes an initial detection phase, a random back-off phase and an additional defer phase. As shown in FIG. 12),
a channel congestion statistics circuit, coupled to the random back-off circuit (grouping information generating unit 1002, fig 5), wherein the plurality of channel state parameters comprise one of a total number of interruption (para 65: energy detection is also performed during a duration of the random back-off, and back-off is performed in the duration by providing a random back-off counter (also abbreviated as a counter), counting of the random back-off counter is interrupted in a case that the energy detection indicates that the channel is occupied; here, the total number of interruption is considered one which is recorded during the random back-off period),
a channel congestion analysis circuit, coupled to the channel congestion statistics circuit (controlling unit 503, fig 6),
a situational decision circuit, coupled to the channel congestion analysis circuit (uplink scheduling grant generating unit 1003, fig 5). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine channel sensing operation as taught by Kim with the channel detection and grouping as taught by Hu for the benefit of improving accuracy of the channel detection as taught by Hu in para 62.
Regarding claim 2, Kim further teaches wherein detecting the wireless communication signal of the wireless communication channel by the wireless communication device to determine whether to generate the idle channel evaluation signal (para 92: when the channel state is determined to be busy during the predetermined period (e.g., SIFS or PIFS), the communication node may be configured not to transmit a control frame (or management frame), the carrier sensing operation may be referred to as a clear channel assessment (CCA) operation) comprises:
generating the idle channel evaluation signal by the wireless communication device to stop counting the random back-off period if the wireless communication signal is detected (para 154: the communication node may detect the occupancy state of the secondary channel during the AIFS or during the random backoff operation on the 20 MHz channel, when a 10 MHz frame transmission operation using only the primary channel is allowed, the communication node recognizing that the secondary channel is busy may continue the random backoff operation on the 10 MHz primary channel of the 20 MHz channel (i.e., t3 to t4), and may stop the random backoff operation on the secondary channel); and
counting an arbitration inter-frame space period and continuing to count the random back-off period by the wireless communication device if the wireless communication signal is not detected (para 94: a communication node intending to transmit a QoS data frame may be configured to perform a monitoring operation (e.g., carrier sensing operation) on a channel state during an arbitration IFS (AIFS), when the channel state is determined to be idle during an AIFS, the communication node may be configured to perform a random backoff procedure).
Regarding claim 10, Kim further teaches wherein a channel type of the wireless communication channel comprises one of a voice data channel, a video data channel, a best effort data channel and a background data channel (para 94-95 and table 1: the AIFS may be set based on an access category (AC) of a data unit (e.g., protocol data unit (PDU)) included in the QoS data frame on channel, including background, best effort, video or voice data).
Regarding claim 12, Kim further teaches wherein if the wireless communication signal is detected, the channel detection circuit is further configured to generate the idle channel evaluation signal to stop the random back-off circuit from counting the random back-off period (para 154: the communication node may detect the occupancy state of the secondary channel during the AIFS or during the random backoff operation on the 20 MHz channel, when a 10 MHz frame transmission operation using only the primary channel is allowed, the communication node recognizing that the secondary channel is busy may continue the random backoff operation on the 10 MHz primary channel of the 20 MHz channel (i.e., t3 to t4), and may stop the random backoff operation on the secondary channel), wherein the wireless communication signal is not detected, the random back-off circuit is configured to count an arbitration inter-frame space period and continue to count the random back-off period (para 94: a communication node intending to transmit a QoS data frame may be configured to perform a monitoring operation (e.g., carrier sensing operation) on a channel state during an arbitration IFS (AIFS), when the channel state is determined to be idle during an AIFS, the communication node may be configured to perform a random backoff procedure).
Claims 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al. (US 2022/0210829) in view of Hu et al. (US 20200314907) in further view of Saed et al. (US 20160295509)
Regarding claim 20, Kim in view of Hu teaches the limitation of parent claim. The references Kim and Hu teach memory, but do not teach database to store channel state parameters. Saed is directed to determining inactivity timeout using distributed coordinated function.
Saed further teaches a channel congestion statistics database (para 72: a CW database), coupled between the channel congestion statistics circuit and the channel congestion analysis circuit (para 72: the communications manager 515-a may include a DCF manager or controller, a CW history generator, and a CW database), and configured to store the plurality of channel state parameters (para 72: a CW database (e.g., storing the available/defined CW values, a CW history, etc.)). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine channel sensing operation as taught by Kim and Hu with database for storing channel state parameters as taught by Saed for the benefit of improving power saving for a device of a wireless network as taught by Saed in abstract.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-9, 13-19 are 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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to Kim reference not teaching the amended claim limitation of claim 1 have been considered but are moot because the arguments do not apply to combination of the references being used in the current rejection.
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 RINA C PANCHOLI whose telephone number is (571)272-2679. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30am-4pm.
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, Chirag Shah can be reached on 571-272-3144. 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.
/RINA C PANCHOLI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2477 9/19/2026
Prosecution Insights