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
Applicant's amendment filed on 12/16/2025 has been entered. Claims 1, 7 and 13 have been amended. No claims have been added. Claims 3 and 15 have been cancelled. Claims 1-2, 4-10, 13-14 and 16-18 are still pending in this application, with claims 1, 7 and 13, being independent.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 12/16/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Regarding claim 1, Applicant submits that the combination of Ko in view of Huang does not teach the claimed invention. Specifically, Applicant has submitted:
“…Ko specifically teaches that "the PE duration subfield may solicit one of 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 us. In such a case, the PE duration subfield may be 3 bits." (Ko, paragraph [0039]). According to Ko, the PE duration subfield may be 1 bit when the PE duration subfield is used to "solicit whether the use of a PE field of 20 us is allowed." (Ko, paragraph [0040]). As shown above, Ko uses 3-bit PE duration subfield to solicit one of 16 or 20 us and only uses 1-bit PE duration subfield to solicit whether the use of a PE field of 20 us is allowed…” (Applicant’s Remarks, page 7, 2nd par.); and
“…Huang's first subfield is used to indicate the trigger frame types, not to indicate the PE duration value” (Applicant’s Remarks, page 7, 3rd par.).
However, the Examiner respectfully disagrees with the Applicant and asserts that the combination of Ko in view of Huang teaches the claimed invention as broadly presented in independent claim 1.
Regarding argument (a), Examiner respectfully reminds the Applicant that MPEP 2141.02 VI states “a prior art reference must be considered in its entirety, i.e., as a whole, including portions that would lead away from the claimed invention.” In the argument, Applicant has submitted portions of Ko shows that the PE duration subfield may be 3 bits. However, the portion of Ko cited by the Examiner shows in Par. 0340 that “the PE duration subfield may solicit whether the use of a PE field of 20 us is allowed.” This reads on the broadly-presented claim limitation “…wherein the EHT operation parameter comprises an indicator for indicating a value of a packet extension (PE) duration… a first value of the indicator indicates that the PE duration is 16 μs or 20 μs…wherein the indicator is 1 bit…”
Regarding argument (b), Examiner submits that both Ko and Huang are directed to the use of different trigger frame types and therefore are in the same field of endeavor. Figure 15 and Par. 0119 of Ko states “a frame for soliciting or triggering multi-user (MU) transmission may be transmitted, and one or more STAs may perform transmission on the basis of the frame, or may respond to the frame.” On the other hand, Figure 3 and Par. 0048 of Huang illustrates a method 300 for triggering uplink transmission in WLAN 100 wherein a trigger frame is generated by the AP 101 based on a type of PPDU transmissions to be solicited from a plurality of STAs in the WLAN, e.g. the HE STAs 102, R1 EHT STAs 103 and/or R2 EHT STAs 104. In this instance, one of ordinary skill in the art would have looked into Huang to cure the deficiencies of Ko.
Given the current rejection and having the additional reasoning as presented above, Ko in view of Huang teaches the claimed invention as broadly presented in independent claim 1.
Regarding claims 2, 4-8, 10-14 and 16-18, Applicant submits the same arguments as already presented in independent claim 1. Therefore, the Examiner applies the same reasoning as already presented in independent claim 1.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 1-2, 4-14 and 16-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ko et al. (US 2023/0354098; hereinafter Ko) in view Huang (US 2023/0309070; hereinafter Huang).
Regarding claim 1, Ko shows a communication method (Figures 15, 20 and 24 shows a method performed in part by an access point (AP).), comprising:
sending, by an access device, an extremely high throughput (EHT) operation parameter to a station device (Figures 15 and 24; Par. 0227, 0338-0341; sending, by the AP, a trigger frame to an STA. The STA may identify whether the format of the triggered PPDU is an EHT TB PPDU or a HE TB PPDU on the basis of a value of a specific field included in the trigger frame.), wherein the EHT operation parameter comprises an indicator for indicating a value of a packet extension (PE) duration (Figure 24; Par. 0338-0341, 0352; a duration of a PE field included in the PPDU may be configured as a value solicited by a default PE duration subfield included in an operation element (for example, a HE operation element, an EHT operation element, etc.).), a first value of the indicator indicates that the PE duration is 16 μs or 20 μs (Par. 0339-0341; the PE duration subfield may solicit whether the use of a PE field of 20 us is allowed. The PE field duration of 20 us may be restricted to be used only for an EHT TB PPDU.), and a second value of the indicator indicates that the PE duration is duration specified by a high efficiency (HE) operation parameter (Par. 0339-0341; In addition, when the PE duration subfield included in the TRS control does not allow the use of the PE field of 20 us, the duration of the PE field may be configured by the duration solicited by the default PE duration subfield included in the operation element (i.e. HE operation element), described in FIGS. 20 and 21.) and wherein the indicator is 1 bit (Par. 0340, 0453; PE duration field is 1 bit.).
Ko shows all of the elements except the first value is 1, and the second value is 0.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Huang. Specifically, Huang shows the first value is 1, and the second value is 0 (Par. 0037-0038, 0051; the first subfield may be set to 0 or 1 to indicate whether the generated trigger frame is a first type trigger frame or a second type trigger frame. For example, if the trigger frame is the first type trigger frame (for soliciting HE TB PPDUs), the first subfield is set to 0; and if the trigger frame is the second type trigger frame (for soliciting EHT TB PPDUs), the first subfield is set to 1.).
In view of the above, having the system of Ko, then given the well-established teaching of Huang, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Ko as taught by Huang, in order to provide motivation for efficient triggering uplink transmission in WLAN.).
Regarding claim 2, modified Ko shows wherein the PE duration is used for packet extension of a trigger-based physical layer protocol data unit (TB PPDU) triggered by trigger response scheduling (TRS) (Ko: Figure 15; Par. 0341; In this case, the terminal may recognize whether the TB PPDU, the transmission of which is triggered by the TRS or the trigger frame, is an EHT TB PPDU or a HE TB PPDU on the basis of the TB PPDU format signaling described in FIGS. 17, 18, etc.).
Regarding claim 4, modified Ko shows wherein a default PE duration (Default PE Duration) subfield of the HE operation parameter comprises three bits, wherein when values of the default PE duration subfield are 0 to 4, the default PE duration subfield respectively corresponds to predefined PE duration 0 μs, 4 μs, 8 μs, 12 μs or 16 μs, and wherein values 5 to 7 of the default PE duration subfield are reserved values (Ko: Par. 0292; the HE operation parameters field may include a default PE duration subfield. In this case, the default PE duration subfield may be 3 bits, and values 5 to 7 may be reserved. That is, the values 5 to 7 of the default PE duration subfield are reserved, and thus only values 0 to 4 are only valid values. Accordingly, the duration which can be indicated by the default PE duration subfield may be 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 μs. When a reserved value 5 is used, the default PE duration subfield may be indicated up to 20 μs.).
Regarding claim 5, modified Ko shows wherein the first value of the indicator indicates that the PE duration is 16 μs or 20 μs (Ko: Par. 0339-0341; the PE duration subfield may solicit whether the use of a PE field of 20 us is allowed. The PE field duration of 20 us may be restricted to be used only for an EHT TB PPDU.), and the method further comprises:
sending, by the access device, a first PPDU to the station device, wherein the first PPDU carries indication information (Ko: Figures 15-16; AP sends a trigger frame to the STA which carries different information for the STA.), the indication information indicates bandwidth information of the first PPDU, and the indication information is used to determine the PE duration (Ko: Par. 0270-0275; a PE field having a pre-configured duration may be used only for a configuration that is pre-configured. The pre-configured value may be based on a channel width, a bandwidth, or the size of an RU. For example, when the channel width for transmission, the bandwidth, or the size of the RU is configured with a pre-configured value, the duration of the PE field may be determined as the pre-configured specific value.).
Regarding claim 6, modified Ko shows sending, by the access device, a first PPDU to the station device, wherein the first PPDU carries indication information (Ko: Figures 15-16; AP sends a trigger frame to the STA which carries different information for the STA.), the indication information indicates a resource unit (RU) size for a second PPDU, and the RU size is used to determine the PE duration (Ko: Par. 0270-0275; a PE field having a pre-configured duration may be used only for a configuration that is pre-configured. The pre-configured value may be based on a channel width, a bandwidth, or the size of an RU. For example, when the channel width for transmission, the bandwidth, or the size of the RU is configured with a pre-configured value, the duration of the PE field may be determined as the pre-configured specific value.).
Regarding claim 7, Ko shows a communication method (Figures 15, 20 and 24 shows a method performed in part by an STA.), comprising:
receiving, by a station device, an extremely high throughput (EHT) operation parameter from an access device (Figures 15 and 24; Par. 0227, 0338-0341; sending, by the AP, a trigger frame to an STA. The STA may identify whether the format of the triggered PPDU is an EHT TB PPDU or a HE TB PPDU on the basis of a value of a specific field included in the trigger frame.), wherein the EHT operation parameter comprises an indicator for indicating a value of a packet extension (PE) duration (Figure 24; Par. 0338-0341, 0352; a duration of a PE field included in the PPDU may be configured as a value solicited by a default PE duration subfield included in an operation element (for example, a HE operation element, an EHT operation element, etc.).), a first value of the indicator indicates that the PE duration is 16 μs or 20 μs (Par. 0339-0341; the PE duration subfield may solicit whether the use of a PE field of 20 us is allowed. The PE field duration of 20 us may be restricted to be used only for an EHT TB PPDU.), and a second value of the indicator indicates that the PE duration is duration specified by a high efficiency (HE) operation parameter (Par. 0339-0341; In addition, when the PE duration subfield included in the TRS control does not allow the use of the PE field of 20 us, the duration of the PE field may be configured by the duration solicited by the default PE duration subfield included in the operation element (i.e. HE operation element), described in FIGS. 20 and 21.) and wherein the indicator is 1 bit (Par. 0340, 0453; PE duration field is 1 bit.); and
determining, by the station device, the PE duration based on the EHT operation parameter (Figures 15 and 24; Par. 0227, 0338-0341; The STA may identify whether the format of the triggered PPDU is an EHT TB PPDU or a HE TB PPDU on the basis of a value of a specific field included in the trigger frame.).
Ko shows all of the elements except the first value is 1, and the second value is 0.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Huang. Specifically, Huang shows the first value is 1, and the second value is 0 (Par. 0037-0038, 0051; the first subfield may be set to 0 or 1 to indicate whether the generated trigger frame is a first type trigger frame or a second type trigger frame. For example, if the trigger frame is the first type trigger frame (for soliciting HE TB PPDUs), the first subfield is set to 0; and if the trigger frame is the second type trigger frame (for soliciting EHT TB PPDUs), the first subfield is set to 1.).
In view of the above, having the system of Ko, then given the well-established teaching of Huang, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Ko as taught by Huang, in order to provide motivation for efficient triggering uplink transmission in WLAN.).
Regarding claims 8 and 10, these claims are rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claims 2 and 4, respectively.
Regarding claim 11, modified Ko shows all of the elements including wherein the first value of the indicator indicates that the PE duration is 16 μs or 20 μs (Ko: Par. 0339-0341; the PE duration subfield may solicit whether the use of a PE field of 20 us is allowed. The PE field duration of 20 us may be restricted to be used only for an EHT TB PPDU.), and the method further comprises: receiving, by the station device, a first PPDU from the access device, wherein the first PPDU carries indication information (Ko: Figures 15-16; AP sends a trigger frame to the STA which carries different information for the STA.), and the indication information indicates bandwidth information of the first PPDU (Ko: Par. 0270-0275; a PE field having a pre-configured duration may be used only for a configuration that is pre-configured. The pre-configured value may be based on a channel width, a bandwidth, or the size of an RU. For example, when the channel width for transmission, the bandwidth, or the size of the RU is configured with a pre-configured value, the duration of the PE field may be determined as the pre-configured specific value.).
Modified Ko does not specifically show when a bandwidth of the first PPDU is greater than a first threshold, determining, by the station device, that the PE duration is 20 μs; or when a bandwidth of the first PPDU is less than or equal to a first threshold, determining, by the station device, that the PE duration is 16 μs.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Huang. Specifically, Huang shows when a bandwidth of the first PPDU is greater than a first threshold, determining, by the station device, that the PE duration is 20 μs (Par. 0106; Table 3; When the trigger frame is used to solicit a second type PPDU transmission, i.e. the PPDU BW subfield of the special user information field indicates the BW allocated for the solicited EHT TB PPDU transmission, i.e. the BW in the U-SIG of each solicited EHT TB PPDU. An example of a predetermined encoding rule of the PPDU BW subfield when the trigger frame is used to solicit EHT TB PPDU transmission is shown in Table 3. PE duration is 20 μs is used for EHT TB PPDUs.); or
when a bandwidth of the first PPDU is less than or equal to a first threshold, determining, by the station device, that the PE duration is 16 μs (Par. 0104; Table 1; When the trigger frame is used to solicit a first type PPDU transmission, i.e. the UL BW subfield is set to indicate the BW allocated for the solicited HE TB PPDU transmission, i.e. the BW in the HE-SIG-A field of each solicited HE TB PPDU. PE duration is 16 μs or below is used for HE TB PPDUs.).
In view of the above, having the system of Ko, then given the well-established teaching of Huang, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Ko as taught by Huang, in order to provide motivation for efficient triggering uplink transmission in WLAN.).
Regarding claim 12, modified Ko shows all of the elements including receiving, by the station device, a first PPDU from the access device, wherein the first PPDU carries indication information (Ko: Figures 15-16; AP sends a trigger frame to the STA which carries different information for the STA.), and the indication information indicates a resource unit (RU) size for a second PPDU (Ko: Par. 0270-0275; a PE field having a pre-configured duration may be used only for a configuration that is pre-configured. The pre-configured value may be based on a channel width, a bandwidth, or the size of an RU. For example, when the channel width for transmission, the bandwidth, or the size of the RU is configured with a pre-configured value, the duration of the PE field may be determined as the pre-configured specific value.).
Modified Ko does not specifically show when the RU size is greater than a second threshold size, determine, by the station device, that the PE duration is 20 μs; or when the RU size is less than or equal to a second threshold size, determine, by the station device, that the PE duration is 16 μs.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Huang. Specifically, Huang shows when the RU size is greater than a second threshold size, determine, by the station device, that the PE duration is 20 μs (Par. 0119; A R2 EHT STA would treat the user information field with the AID12 subfield matched with its AID as the HE format user information field or the EHT format user information field depending on whether the allocated RU or MRU is located within the BW allocated for HE TB PPDU transmission or EHT TB PPDU transmission. Specifically, a R2 EHT STA would treat the user info field with the AID12 subfield matched with its AID as the HE format user information field when the allocated RU or MRU is located within the BW allocated for the HE TB PPDU transmission; and would treat the user information field with the AID12 subfield matched with its AID as the EHT format user info field when the allocated RU or MRU is located within the BW allocated for the EHT TB PPDU transmission. PE duration is 20 μs is used for EHT TB PPDUs.); or
when the RU size is less than or equal to a second threshold size, determine, by the station device, that the PE duration is 16 μs (Par. 0119; A R2 EHT STA would treat the user information field with the AID12 subfield matched with its AID as the HE format user information field or the EHT format user information field depending on whether the allocated RU or MRU is located within the BW allocated for HE TB PPDU transmission or EHT TB PPDU transmission. Specifically, a R2 EHT STA would treat the user info field with the AID12 subfield matched with its AID as the HE format user information field when the allocated RU or MRU is located within the BW allocated for the HE TB PPDU transmission; and would treat the user information field with the AID12 subfield matched with its AID as the EHT format user info field when the allocated RU or MRU is located within the BW allocated for the EHT TB PPDU transmission. PE duration is 16 μs or below is used for HE TB PPDUs.).
In view of the above, having the system of Ko, then given the well-established teaching of Huang, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Ko as taught by Huang, in order to provide motivation for efficient triggering uplink transmission in WLAN.).
Regarding claim 13, Ko shows a communication apparatus (Figures 15, 20 and 24 shows a method performed in part by an access point (AP) of Figure 4.), comprising:
a transceiver (Figure 4 shows AP including a communication unit.) configured to send an extremely high throughput (EHT) operation parameter (Figures 15 and 24; Par. 0227, 0338-0341; sending, by the AP, a trigger frame to an STA. The STA may identify whether the format of the triggered PPDU is an EHT TB PPDU or a HE TB PPDU on the basis of a value of a specific field included in the trigger frame.), wherein the EHT operation parameter comprises an indicator for indicating a value of a packet extension (PE) duration (Figure 24; Par. 0338-0341, 0352; a duration of a PE field included in the PPDU may be configured as a value solicited by a default PE duration subfield included in an operation element (for example, a HE operation element, an EHT operation element, etc.).), a first value of the indicator indicates that the PE duration is 16 μs or 20 μs (Par. 0339-0341; the PE duration subfield may solicit whether the use of a PE field of 20 us is allowed. The PE field duration of 20 us may be restricted to be used only for an EHT TB PPDU.), and a second value of the indicator indicates that the PE duration is duration specified by a high efficiency (HE) operation parameter (Par. 0339-0341; In addition, when the PE duration subfield included in the TRS control does not allow the use of the PE field of 20 us, the duration of the PE field may be configured by the duration solicited by the default PE duration subfield included in the operation element (i.e. HE operation element), described in FIGS. 20 and 21.) and wherein the indicator is 1 bit (Par. 0340, 0453; PE duration field is 1 bit.).
Ko shows all of the elements except the first value is 1, and the second value is 0.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Huang. Specifically, Huang shows the first value is 1, and the second value is 0 (Par. 0037-0038, 0051; the first subfield may be set to 0 or 1 to indicate whether the generated trigger frame is a first type trigger frame or a second type trigger frame. For example, if the trigger frame is the first type trigger frame (for soliciting HE TB PPDUs), the first subfield is set to 0; and if the trigger frame is the second type trigger frame (for soliciting EHT TB PPDUs), the first subfield is set to 1.).
In view of the above, having the system of Ko, then given the well-established teaching of Huang, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Ko as taught by Huang, in order to provide motivation for efficient triggering uplink transmission in WLAN.).
Regarding claims 14, 16, 17 and 18, these claims are rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claims 2, 4, 5 and 6, respectively.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 20220078792 A1 - The present disclosure provides a wireless communication method. The wireless communication method includes a first apparatus communicating with at least one second apparatus in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system. The wireless communication method generates an aggregated physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) including a first null data packet (NDP) based on a first protocol standard and a second NDP based on a second protocol standard and transmits the aggregated PPDU to the at least one second apparatus, wherein the first NDP and the second NDP have a same duration in different frequency bands.
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 REDENTOR M PASIA whose telephone number is (571)272-9745. The examiner can normally be reached Mondays-Thursdays - 5am-245pm and Fridays 5am-330pm.
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/REDENTOR PASIA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2413
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