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
The following is a final office action in response to applicant’s amendment filed on 01/08/2026 for response of the office action mailed on 10/30/2025. Claims 16-35 are pending in this application.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 01/08/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Main argument:
Park does not constitute prior art. Park was filed on May 14, 2021, which is after the priority date of this application (February 10, 2021). Park claims priority to Korean Application No. 10-2020-0057975 filed May 14, 2020 ("ParkKoreanPriority"). However, not all cited sections in Park are in ParkKoreanPriority. For example, the Office Action cites Park's FIGs. 10- 14 for rejecting claim 16. See NFOA, p. 4. However, the cited FIGs. 10-11 and 13-14 are not in ParkKoreanPriority. As such, claim 16 is allowable. Independent claims 25 and 30 are allowable at least for similar reasons as claim 16 is allowable.
Response:
Examiner has considered the applicant’s arguments and respectfully disagrees. ParkKoreanPriority has been translated and the following cited sections dated 05/14/2020 are recited here regarding Claims 16, 25 and 30. A full machine translation of ParkKoreanPriority is also attached. Please find cited sections on pages 27, 30, 53-54 and 76-82:
Page 27, ¶1, shows “… terminal 1 can perform V2X or SL communication with terminal 2 according to the resource scheduling. For example, terminal 1 can transmit SCI (Sidelink Control Information) to terminal 2 via PSCCH (Physical Sidelink Control Channel), and then transmit data based on the SCI to terminal 2 via PSSCH (Physical Sidelink Shared Channel)” which is enough to support “A method, applied in a first communication device, the method comprising:receiving sidelink (SL) control information from a second communication device;”
Page 27, ¶2 shows “… the transmitting terminal may report SL HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) feedback received from the receiving terminal to the base station. In this case, the PUCCH resources and timing for reporting the SL HARQ feedback to the base station may be determined based on the indication in the PDCCH for the base station to allocate resources for SL transmission” which is enough to support “wherein the SL HARQ feedback resource is used for transmitting a HARQ feedback of the SL control information or SL data scheduled by using the SL control information;”
Page 54, ¶1 – “For example, a receiving terminal can determine the frequency domain and/or code domain of a PSFCH resource based on at least one of a slot index associated with PSCCH/PSSCH/PSFCH, a subchannel associated with PSCCH/PSSCH, and/or an identifier for distinguishing each receiving terminal in a group for HARQ feedback …”. Please also see Page 53.
Page 76, Sidelink DRX configurations (equivalent to Table 5 from US 2023/0164768 A1) shows “SL drx-HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX (per HARQ process): the minimum duration before PSCCH (Sidelink Control Information) & PSSCH for SL HARQ retransmission is expected by the RX UE’s MAC entity”, which is enough to support “wherein the first timer indicates an expected minimum duration before resource configuration information or grant information for SL retransmission arrives”
Page 76, Sidelink DRX configurations (equivalent to Table 5 from US 2023/0164768 A1) shows “SL drx-RetransmissionTimer-RX (per HARQ process): the maximum duration until PSCCH (Sidelink Control Information) & PSSCH for SL HARQ retransmission is received, RX UE monitors PSCCH & PSSCH to receive SL HARQ retransmission transmitted by TX UE”, which is enough to support and the second timer indicates a maximum duration required for receiving the resource configuration information or the grant information for the SL retransmission.”
Page 80, ¶2 shows “… if the RX UE successfully decodes the PSCCH (Sidelink Control Information), it starts the Sidelink HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX timer … When the SL drx-HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX timer expires, the RX UE transitions to active mode to receive the PSCCH and PSSCH for the SL HARQ retransmission packets transmitted by the TX UE, starts the SL drx-RetransmissionTimer-RX timer, and received the PSCCH and PSSCH transmitted by the TX UE …”. Please also see Fig. 12 and Pages 76-82, which is enough to support “starting a first timer based on an SL hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback resource, and starting or skipping starting a second timer based on the first timer”.
In conclusion, Fig. 12 and pages 27, 30, 53-54 and 76-82 show enough support in ParkKoreanPriority for the portions cited.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
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.
Claims 16 and 19-35 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Park et al. (US 2023/0164768 A1), Park hereinafter.
Re. Claim 16,
Park teaches a method, applied in a first communication device, the method comprising: receiving sidelink (SL) control information from a second communication device; (Fig. 10-14, 16 & ¶0009 - a method for a first device to perform sidelink communication may be provided. The method may include: receiving sidelink control information (SCI) from a second device …);
starting a first timer based on an SL hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback resource, wherein the SL HARQ feedback resource is used for transmitting a HARQ feedback of the SL control information or SL data scheduled by using the SL control information; (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0009 - determining a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) resource for transmitting sidelink hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback information related to the data to the second device, based on an index of a slot and an index of a subchannel related to the PSSCH; starting a first timer related to the PSFCH resource …);
and starting or skipping starting a second timer based on the first timer, (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0100 - In step S1050, the first device according to an embodiment may start a second timer related to a sidelink HARQ retransmission packet for SCI or PSSCH based on that the first timer has expired);
wherein the first timer indicates an expected minimum duration before resource configuration information or grant information for SL retransmission arrives, (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0105 (Table 5) - ✓ SL drx-HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX (per HARQ process): the minimum duration before PSCCH (Sidelink Control Information) & PSSCH for SL HARQ retransmission is expected by the RX UE's MAC entity);
and the second timer indicates a maximum duration required for receiving the resource configuration information or the grant information for the SL retransmission (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0105 (Table 5) - ✓ SL drx-RetransmissionTimer-RX (per HARQ process): the maximum duration until PSCCH (Sidelink Control Information) & PSSCH for SL HARQ retransmission is received. Please also see ¶0106).
Re. Claim 19, Park teaches Claim 16.
Park further teaches the starting the first timer based on the SL HARQ feedback resource comprises: starting the first timer in a first time unit after the SL HARQ feedback resource (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0126 (Table 7) - For transmissions with HARQ feedback, the RX UE starts SL HARQ RTT timer in the symbol/slot following the end of PSFCH transmission).
Re. Claim 20, Park teaches Claim 16.
Park further teaches the starting the first timer based on the SL HARQ feedback resource comprises: starting the first timer in a first time unit after a configured SL HARQ feedback resource (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0126 (Table 7) - FFS whether explicitly configured SL HARQ RTT timer may be still required … The value(s) of the SL HARQ RTT Timer, when explicitly configured and not determined via SCI (if agreed to do so), is determired by UE or NW implementation … For transmissions with HARQ feedback, the RX UE starts SL HARQ RTT timer in the symbol/slot following the end of PSFCH transmission).
Re. Claims 21 and 32, Park teaches Claim 16 and 30.
Park further teaches the starting the first timer based on the SL HARQ feedback resource comprises: failing to send or skipping sending the HARQ feedback, (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0009 - based on the sidelink HARQ feedback information not being transmitted to the second device through the PSFCH resource);
wherein the HARQ feedback is an acknowledgment (ACK) or a negative acknowledgment (NACK); (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0136 - As in FIG. 12, when an RX UE successfully decodes a PSCCH (sidelink control information) transmitted by a TX UE, but fails to decode the PSSCH and transmits a HARQ NACK to the TX UE, an RX UE may start a Sidelink HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX timer…);
and starting the first timer based on the SL HARQ feedback resource (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0009 -… starting a first timer related to the PSFCH resource …).
Re. Claim 22, Park teaches Claim 16.
Park further teaches the starting or skipping starting the second timer based on the first timer comprises: when the first timer expires, and the first communication device successfully decodes or fails to decode the SL control information or the SL data scheduled by using the SL control information, starting the second timer (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0107 - For example, SL drx-HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX may be defined as a minimum time required to monitor PSCCH and/or PSSCH for sidelink HARQ retransmission packet transmitted by a TX UE, when a MAC entity of an RX UE receives and successfully decodes the PSCCH (sidelink control information) transmitted by a TX UE, and fails to decode the received PSSCH (sidelink data) and transmits the HARQ NACK to the TX UE. That is, it may mean that a PSCCH and/or PSSCH for SL HARQ retransmission is not transmitted from a TX UE before an SL drx-HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX expires. … if SL dix-HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX is expired, may transition to an active state and start an SL drx-Retransmission-Timer-RX timer).
Re. Claims 23 and 28, Park teaches Claims 16 and 25.
Park further teaches the starting or skipping starting the second timer based on the first timer comprises: when the first timer expires, starting the second timer (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0107 - … if SL dix-HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX is expired, may transition to an active state and start an SL drx-Retransmission-Timer-RX timer).
Re. Claims 24 and 34, Park teaches Claims 21 and 32.
Park further teaches the failing to send or skipping sending the HARQ feedback comprises: failing to send or skipping sending the HARQ feedback based on prioritization or a conflict (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0127 (Table 8) - For transmissions will HARQ feedback, the RX UE starts the SL HARQ RTT timer in the symbol/slot following the end of PSFCH transmission. Proposal 25 if the RX UE does not transmit PSFCH for a HARQ enabled transmission (e.g. due to UL/SL prioritization) the RX UE still starts the HARQ RTT timer in the symbol/slot following the end of PSFCH resource. Please also see ¶0121).
Re. Claim 25, Park teaches a method applied in a second communication device, comprising: sending sidelink (SL) control information to a first communication device; (Fig. 10-14, 16 & ¶0009 - a method for a first device to perform sidelink communication may be provided. The method may include: receiving sidelink control information (SCI) from a second device … ¶0169 - In step S1410, a second device according to an embodiment may transmit SCI to a first device);
starting a first timer based on an SL hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback resource; (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0009 - determining a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) resource for transmitting sidelink hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback information related to the data to the second device, based on an index of a slot and an index of a subchannel related to the PSSCH; starting a first timer related to the PSFCH resource …);
and starting or skipping starting a second timer based on the first timer, (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0100 - In step S1050, the first device according to an embodiment may start a second timer related to a sidelink HARQ retransmission packet for SCI or PSSCH based on that the first timer has expired);
wherein the first timer indicates an expected minimum duration before resource configuration information or grant information for SL retransmission arrives, (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0105 (Table 5) - ✓ SL drx-HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX (per HARQ process): the minimum duration before PSCCH (Sidelink Control Information) & PSSCH for SL HARQ retransmission is expected by the RX UE's MAC entity);
and the second timer indicates a maximum duration required for receiving the resource configuration information or the grant information for the SL retransmission (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0105 (Table 5) - ✓ SL drx-RetransmissionTimer-RX (per HARQ process): the maximum duration until PSCCH (Sidelink Control Information) & PSSCH for SL HARQ retransmission is received. Please also see ¶0106).
Re. Claims 26 and 31, Park teaches Claims 25 and 30.
Park further teaches the starting the first timer based on the SL HARQ feedback resource comprises: starting the first timer in a first time unit in the SL HARQ feedback resource;
or starting the first timer in a first time unit in a configured SL HARQ feedback resource;
or starting the first timer in a first time unit after the SL HARQ feedback resource; (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0126 (Table 7) - For transmissions with HARQ feedback, the RX UE starts SL HARQ RTT timer in the symbol/slot following the end of PSFCH transmission).
or starting the first timer in a first time unit after the configured SL HARQ feedback resource.
Re. Claim 27, Park teaches Claim 25.
Park further teaches the method further comprises: stopping the second timer if the second timer is running (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0106 - When an SL HARQ retransmission transmitted by a TX UE is received while an SL drx-RetransmissionTimer-RX timer is running, an RX UE may stop the SL drx-RetransmissionTimer-RX timer).
Re. Claim 29, Park teaches Claim 25.
Park further teaches the starting or skipping starting the second timer based on the first timer comprises: when the first timer expires, based on that the second communication device successfully receives a HARQ feedback, the HARQ feedback comprises a feedback of the SL control information or SL data scheduled by using the SL control information, and the HARQ feedback is a negative acknowledgment (NACK), (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0112 - If an RX UE receives a PSCCH and PSSCH for SL HARQ retransmission transmitted by a TX UE, but the decoding of the PSSCH fails again (PSCCH decoding succeeds, PSSCH decoding fails) and transmits a HARQ NACK to the TX UE, the RX UE may restart a Sidelink HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX timer and transition to sleep mode until the Sidelink HARQ-WIT-Timer-RX expires);
or based on that the second communication device fails to receive the HARQ feedback, (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0132 - For example, sidelink HARQ feedback information may not be transmitted to the TX UE through the PSFCH resource 1110 based on a first priority value related to the sidelink HARQ feedback information. In a more specific example, the sidelink HARQ feedback information may not be transmitted to the TX UE, based on the first priority value being greater than a second priority value related to an uplink transmission to a base station);
or based on that the second communication device sends the HARQ feedback to a third communication device and the HARQ feedback is the NACK, (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0121 - When an RX UE also has SL data (e.g., SL HARQ feedback) to be transmitted to the counterpart UE and UL data to be transmitted to a base station occurs at the same time, the RX UE may compare the SL data and the UL data with priority, and may transmit data having a higher priority first. If the priority of UL data is high in the priority comparison, there may be a problem in that an SI, HARQ feedback cannot be transmitted to a TX UE and UL data must be transmitted to a base station. ¶0122 - If PSCCH and PSSCH for SL HARQ retransmission transmitted by a TX UE are received, but decoding of PSSCH fails again (decoding of PSCCH succeeds, decoding of PSSCH fails), and HARQ NACK is transmitted to the TX UE, an RX UE may restart an Sidelink HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX timer and transition to sleep mode until an Sidelink HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX timer expires…);
starting the second timer (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0100 - In step S1050, the first device according to an embodiment may start a second timer related to a sidelink HARQ retransmission packet for SCI or PSSCH based on that the first timer has expired. ¶0122 - When an Sidelink HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX timer expires, an RX UE may start an SL drx-RetransmissionTimer-RX timer by transitioning back to an active state to receive a PSCCH and PSSCH for SL HARQ retransmission that a TX LIE retransmits. Please also see ¶0133).
Re. Claim 30, Park teaches an apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform operations including: (Fig. 10-14, 16 & ¶0010 - The first device may comprise: one or more memories storing instructions; one or more transceivers; and one or more processors connected to the one or more memories and the one or more transceivers, wherein the one or more processors may execute the instructions to… ¶0166 - a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions may be proposed. The instructions, when executed, may cause a first device to);
receiving sidelink (SL) control information from a second communication device; (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0009 - a method for a first device to perform sidelink communication may be provided. The method may include: receiving sidelink control information (SCI) from a second device …);
and starting a first timer based on an SL hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback resource, wherein the SL HARQ feedback resource is used for transmitting a HARQ feedback of the SL control information or SL data scheduled by using the SL control information, (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0009 - determining a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) resource for transmitting sidelink hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback information related to the data to the second device, based on an index of a slot and an index of a subchannel related to the PSSCH; starting a first timer related to the PSFCH resource …);
wherein starting or skipping starting a second timer based on the first timer, (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0100 - In step S1050, the first device according to an embodiment may start a second timer related to a sidelink HARQ retransmission packet for SCI or PSSCH based on that the first timer has expired);
wherein the first timer indicates an expected minimum duration before resource configuration information or grant information for SL retransmission arrives, (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0105 (Table 5) - ✓ SL drx-HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX (per HARQ process): the minimum duration before PSCCH (Sidelink Control Information) & PSSCH for SL HARQ retransmission is expected by the RX UE's MAC entity);
and the second timer indicates a maximum duration required for receiving the resource configuration information or the grant information for the SL retransmission (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0105 (Table 5) - ✓ SL drx-RetransmissionTimer-RX (per HARQ process): the maximum duration until PSCCH (Sidelink Control Information) & PSSCH for SL HARQ retransmission is received. Please also see ¶0106).
Re. Claim 33, Park teaches Claim 30.
Park further teaches the starting or skipping starting the second timer based on the first timer comprises: when the first timer expires, and the SL control information or the SL data scheduled by using the SL control information is successfully decoded or fails to be decoded, starting the second timer; or when the first timer expires, starting the second timer (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0107 - For example, SL drx-HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX may be defined as a minimum time required to monitor PSCCH and/or PSSCH for sidelink HARQ retransmission packet transmitted by a TX UE, when a MAC entity of an RX UE receives and successfully decodes the PSCCH (sidelink control information) transmitted by a TX UE, and fails to decode the received PSSCH (sidelink data) and transmits the HARQ NACK to the TX UE. That is, it may mean that a PSCCH and/or PSSCH for SL HARQ retransmission is not transmitted from a TX UE before an SL drx-HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX expires. … if SL dix-HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX is expired, may transition to an active state and start an SL drx-Retransmission-Timer-RX timer).
Re. Claim 35, Park teaches Claim 16.
Park further teaches the starting the first timer comprising: starting the first timer based on the SL HARQ feedback resource regardless of whether the HARQ feedback is successfully sent (Fig. 10-14 & ¶0120 - In one embodiment (or in a fifth embodiment), when an RX UE succeeds in decoding a PSCCH (SCI) transmitted by a TX UE and fails to decode a PSSCH (SL data), the RX UE should transmit SL HARQ NACK to the TX UE, but if it cannot transmit due to the following reasons, it may start an Sidelink HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX timer and transition to sleep mode (since the TX UE can send the SL HARQ retransmission packet to the RX UE even if the SL HARQ NACK is not transmitted to the TX UE, the Sidelink HARQ-RTT-Timer-RX timer must be started. Examiner interprets the RX UE must start the SL HARQ-RTT timer even when it cannot transmit HARQ feedback (NACK), since retransmission may still occur without that feedback. This shows the timer is initiated independently of whether HARQ feedback is successfully sent).
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.
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 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.
Claims 17 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Park, and further in view of Yi et al. (US 2021/0212099 A1), Yi hereinafter.
Re. Claim 17, Park teaches 16.
Yet, Park does not explicitly teach the starting the first timer based on the SL HARQ feedback resource comprises: starting the first timer in a first time unit in the SL HARQ feedback resource.
However, in the analogous art, Yi explicitly teaches the starting the first timer based on the SL HARQ feedback resource comprises: starting the first timer in a first time unit in the SL HARQ feedback resource (¶0277 - The wireless device may start a drx-SL-HARQ-RTT-Timer (or drx-HARQ-RTT-TimerSL) in response to each of resource of the first set of resources and optionally each of resources of a second set of resources … The wireless device may restart or start the timer (e.g., drx-HARQ-RTT-TimerSL) for a sidelink resource indicated either by a SL DCI or configured via a sidelink configured grant configuration).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to add the teaching of Yi to the teaching of Park. The motivation would be because it discusses wireless devices with Discontinuous Reception (DRX) functionality (Yi, ¶0274).
Re. Claim 18, Park teaches 16.
Yet, Park does not explicitly teach the starting the first timer based on the SL HARQ feedback resource comprises: starting the first timer in a first time unit in a configured SL HARQ feedback resource.
However, in the analogous art, Yi explicitly teaches the starting the first timer based on the SL HARQ feedback resource comprises: starting the first timer in a first time unit in a configured SL HARQ feedback resource (¶0277 - The wireless device may start a drx-SL-HARQ-RTT-Timer (or drx-HARQ-RTT-TimerSL) in response to each of resource of the first set of resources and optionally each of resources of a second set of resources … The wireless device may restart or start the timer (e.g., drx-HARQ-RTT-TimerSL) for a sidelink resource indicated either by a SL DCI or configured via a sidelink configured grant configuration).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to add the teaching of Yi to the teaching of Park. The motivation would be because it discusses wireless devices with Discontinuous Reception (DRX) functionality (Yi, ¶0274).
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 ALYSSA WILLIAMS whose telephone number is (571)270-7673. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8-5pm. 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, Ayman Abaza can be reached on (571) 270-0422. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ALYSSA WILLIAMS/Examiner, Art Unit 2465B
/AYMAN A ABAZA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2465
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