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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 7/29/2026 has been entered.
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.
Claim(s) 1, 8, 15, 21-37 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bottari et al. (hereinafter Bottari)(US 2017/0272931) in view of Kuhlman et al. (hereinafter Kuhlman)(US 2023/0314550) and Wang et al. (hereinafter Wang)(US 2018/0020423).
Regarding claim 1, Bottari teaches a system comprising: a processor; and a memory storing programming instructions for execution by the processor, the programming instruction, upon execution by the processor, causing the system to perform the following operations(Figs 1A and 1B and Fig. 9): determining a location of the cell tower(P[0034], location of the vehicle; items 51, 52 in Fig. 1Band locations of internet of things (IoT) devices, wherein the IoT devices are not equipped with GPS technology(P[0028], radio terminal 52 (cell tower) may be configured to communicate with the network using first RAT and with the UEs using a second RAT (e.g., Wi-Fi); P[0089], network to determine the location for the UE and does not require GPS on the user equipment).
Bottari did not teach specifically receiving first positioning reference signal (PRS) timing data from fixed wireless access (FWA) devices having known global positioning system (GPS) locations, the PRS timing data being based on PRSs emitted from a cell tower; determining a location of the cell tower based on the PRS timing data and the known GPS locations of the FWA devices. However, Kuhlman teaches in an analogous art receiving positioning reference signal (PRS) timing data from fixed wireless access (FWA) devices having known global positioning system (GPS) locations, the PRS timing data being based on PRSs emitted from a cell tower; determining a location of the cell tower based on the PRS timing data and the known GPS locations of the FWA devices(P[0065], arrival times of multiple signals at anchor nodes together with known positions of the anchor nodes may generate one or more observed positions of the UWB antenna(cell tower); P[0003], GNSS signsls). Therefore, it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to receive positioning reference signal (PRS) timing data from fixed wireless access (FWA) devices having known global positioning system (GPS) locations, the PRS timing data being based on PRSs emitted from a cell tower; determining a location of the cell tower based on the PRS timing data and the known GPS locations of the FWA devices in order to have improved network planning.
Bottari in view of Kuhlmandid not teach specifically receive, by the cell tower, second PRS timing data from an internet of things (IoT) device; and determine a position of the IoT device based on the location of the cell tower and the second PRS timing data. However, Wang teaches in an analogous art receive, by the cell tower, second PRS timing data from an internet of things (IoT) device; and determine a position of the IoT device based on the location of the cell tower and the second PRS timing data(P[0116], [0116] At 1304, the BS estimates timing from the at least one wireless node based on the PRS. Continuing the example from above, the BS estimates the time required for the UL PRS to travel from the NB-IoT UE to the BS. In the example, the BS may report the estimated time to a location services (LCS) function (e.g., a location services program resident in the BS) for use in determining the location of the NB-IoT UE (e.g., by trilateration)). Therefore, it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to receive, by the cell tower, second PRS timing data from an internet of things (IoT) device; and determine a position of the IoT device based on the location of the cell tower and the second PRS timing data in order to have improved efficiency.
Regarding claim 21, Kuhlman teaches the system of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the cell tower based on the PRS timing data and the known GPS locations of the FWA devices comprises: periodically receiving updated GPS locations of the FWA devices and updated PRS timing data from the FWA devices; and updating the location of the cell tower based on the updated GPS locations and the updated timing data(P[0083], anchor nodes may transmit signals periodically; P[0137], every time the system determines the motion of the train; periodically checking; updating uncertainties associate with the distances determined with respect to anchor nodes).
Regarding claim 22, Kuhlman teaches the system of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the cell tower based on the PRS timing data and the known GPS locations of the FWA devices comprises: determining an equipment-based time delay of the cell tower using the PRS timing data; and determining the location of the cell tower at least partially based on the equipment- based time delay(P[0083], known delays also considered).
Regarding claim 23, Kuhlman teaches the system of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the cell tower further comprises: determining distances between the cell tower and the FWA devices based on the PRS timing data; and determining the location of the cell tower at least partially based on the distances between the cell tower and the FWA devices(Figs 9-10; P[0134-0141]).
Regarding claim 24, Kuhlman teaches the system of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the cell tower based on the PRS timing data and the known GPS locations of the FWA devices comprises: determining an equipment-based time delay of the cell tower using the PRS timing data; determining distances between the cell tower and the FWA devices based on the PRS timing data; and determining the location of the cell tower at least partially based on the equipment- based time delay and the distances between the cell tower and the FWA devices(P[0083], known delays also considered; Figs 9-10; P[0134-0141]).
Regarding claim 25, Kuhlman teaches the system of claim 24, wherein determining the location of the cell tower at least partially based on the equipment-based time delay and the distances between the cell tower and the FWA devices comprises: triangulating the location of the cell tower and the known GPS locations of the FWA devices based on the equipment-based time delay and the distances between the cell tower and the FWA devices(P[0083]; P[0167], triangulated position of GNSS in combination with the geometry of the train track; P[0087], triangulated position from the train; multiple triangulated position over time; Figs 9-10; P[0134-0141]).
Regarding claim 26, Kuhlman teaches the system of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the cell tower comprises: periodically receiving updated GPS locations of the FWA devices and updated PRS timing data from the FWA device over a period of time; determining an average equipment-based time delay of the cell tower for each of the FWA devices using the received PRS timing data; calculating an average distance for each of the FWA devices using the average equipment-based time delay; and triangulating the location of the cell tower and the known GPS locations of the FWA devices based on the average equipment-based time delay and the average distances between the cell tower and the FWA devices(P[0083], anchor nodes may transmit signals periodically; P[0137], every time the system determines the motion of the train; periodically checking; updating uncertainties associate with the distances determined with respect to anchor nodes; P[0167], triangulated position of GNSS in combination with the geometry of the train track; P[0087], triangulated position from the train; multiple triangulated position over time; Figs 9-10; P[0134-0141]; P[0006-0007], used Kalman filter which includes averaging; P[0083], The distance may be determined by subtracting from the round-trip travel time any known delays, such as a delay between when the anchor node 102 receives the first signal and transmits the second signal, dividing the round-trip travel time by two to obtain the one-way travel time, and multiplying the one-way travel time by the wave speed of the first and second signals (e.g., the speed of light in air). In some embodiments, the RF antenna(s) may transmit signals periodically, such as 10-100 times per second (e.g., 40 Hz), and anchor nodes 102 may be responsive to received signals. Alternatively or additionally, anchor nodes 102 may transmit signals periodically, and the RF antenna(s) may be responsive to received signals.).
Claims 8, 27-32 are rejected for the same reason as set forth in claims 1, 21-26 respectively.
Claims 15, 33-37 are rejected for the same reason as set forth in claims 1, 21-25 respectively.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MUTHUSWAMY GANAPATHY MANOHARAN whose telephone number is (571)272-5515. The examiner can normally be reached 6:30am-3:00pm.
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, Alison T Slater can be reached at 571-270-0375. 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.
/MUTHUSWAMY G MANOHARAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2647
Prosecution Insights