DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . This Office Action is in response to the submission filed 2023-11-06 (herein referred to as the Reply) where claim(s) 1-16 are pending for consideration.
Priority
Applicant cannot rely upon the certified copy/copies of the foreign priority application(s) to overcome rejection(s) because a translation of said application(s) has not been made of record in accordance with 37 CFR 1.55.
An English language translation of a non-English language foreign application is not required except:
(i) When the application is involved in an interference (see § 41.202 of this chapter) or derivation (see part 42 of this chapter) proceeding;
(ii) When necessary to overcome the date of a reference relied upon by the examiner; or
(iii) When specifically required by the examiner.
If an English language translation of a non-English language foreign application is required, it must be filed together with a statement that the translation of the certified copy is accurate. See MPEP §§ 213, 215 and 216.
Accordingly, because one of more reference used in the rejection(s) herein has one or associated dates that is intervening from the instant application’s filing date and priority claim date, the Examiner is requesting translations be made of record for all non-English priority documents in the instant application, in accordance with 37 CFR 1.55.
35 USC §103 - Claim Rejections
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 of this title, 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 non-obviousness.
Claim(s) is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over XIAO_846 (US20190268846) in view of LI_218 (US20220225218)
Claim(s) 1, 9
XIAO_846 teaches
receiving, by the first multi-link device, a first frame from a second station in a second multi-link device, wherein the first frame is used to request to tear down a target wake time (TWT) agreement for a first link, and First device, e.g., an AP, transmits the TWT teardown frame to other devices. AP can have multiple links to different STA and hence is considered a multi-link device. Similar comments apply to STA with also can communicate in different channels/spectrums/protocols and is considered multi-link. <FIG(s). 11, 6; para. 0040-0041, 0061, 0073>.
wherein the first frame comprises link identifier information indicating the first link being any link in one or more links for which a TWT agreement is set up between the first multi-link device and the second multi-link device, In one embodiment, an identifier is flow ID corresponding to a TWT-session between the AP and STA. In another embodiment, the identifier is a B-TWT ID. <FIG(s). 6, 7a, 7b; para. 0043, 0061-0064>.
the link identifier information comprising a link identifier Flow ID or B-TWT ID corresponding to the TWT session/agreement functions and performs in an equivalent manner as the claimed link identifier. <FIG(s). 6, 7a, 7b; para. 0043, 0061-0064>.
XIAO_846 does not explicitly teach
transmitting, by a first multi-link device, a second frame to a second station in response to receiving the first frame.
However in a similar endeavor, LI_218 teaches
transmitting, by a first multi-link device, a second frame to a second station in response to receiving the first frame. In response to receiving a TWT teardown frame, device replies with TWT teardown acknowledge frame. <para. 0044>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by XIAO_846 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by LI_218. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to efficient way of performing channel scan by utilizing the TWT mechanism <para. 0013>.
Claim(s) is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over KIM_119 (US20240008119) in view of LI_218 (US20220225218)
Claim(s) 1, 9
KIM_119 teaches
receiving, by the first multi-link device, a first frame from a second station in a second multi-link device, wherein the first frame is used to request to tear down a target wake time (TWT) agreement for a first link, and wherein the first frame is used to request to tear down a target wake time (TWT) agreement for a first link, and Multi-link device transmits a TWT teardown frame to tear down the TWT agreement <FIG(s). 19, 23; para. 0220-0227, 0261>.
wherein the first frame comprises link identifier information indicating the first link being any link in one or more links for which a TWT agreement is set up between the first multi-link device and the second multi-link device, Station of the multi-link device may tear down at least one of multiple TWT agreements on the basis of the identifier of the link, that is, the link ID indicated by the TWT teardown frame <FIG(s). 23; para. 0224, 0261>.
the link identifier information comprising
a link identifier or Link ID field indicating the identifier of the link to which the TWT agreement to be torn down is applied. <FIG(s). 23; para. 0224-0226, 0261>.
a link bitmap; and In another specific embodiment, the MLD TWT teardown frame may include a link ID bitmap for indicating multiple links. <FIG(s). 24, 25; para. 0272-0279>.
KIM_119 does not explicitly teach
transmitting, by a first multi-link device, a second frame to a second station in response to receiving the first frame.
However in a similar endeavor, LI_218 teaches
transmitting, by a first multi-link device, a second frame to a second station in response to receiving the first frame. In response to receiving a TWT teardown frame, device replies with TWT teardown acknowledge frame. <para. 0044>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by KIM_119 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by LI_218. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to efficient way of performing channel scan by utilizing the TWT mechanism <para. 0013>.
Claim(s) 2, 10
KIM_119 teaches
wherein a first correspondence exists between the TWT agreement for the first link and the link identifier information of the first link, Each of the multiple TWT agreements established on a link may be identified based on a link ID, a medium access control (MAC) address of the multi-link device, and a TWT Flow ID <FIG(s). 17, 18; para. 0016, 0199, 0213, 0216>.
wherein the first correspondence is the following combination information:
a TWT flow identifier of the TWT agreement, Each of the multiple TWT agreements established on the multiple links may be identified based on a link ID of each of the multiple links, a medium access control (MAC) address of the multi-link device, and a TWT Flow ID <FIG(s). 17, 18; para. 0016, 0199, 0213, 0216>.
MAC address information of a third station setting up the TWT agreement in the first multi-link device, and MAC address of second station in MLD <FIG(s). 17, 9; para. 0218-0219>.
MAC address information of a fourth station setting up the TWT agreement in the second multi-link device, MAC address of second AP of the MLD device. <FIG(s). 17, 9; para. 0218-0219>.
wherein the third station in the first multi-link device and the fourth station in the second multi-link device work on the first link; and The TWT agreement/session is with respect to a particular TWT flow ID such as a first link. <FIG(s). 17, 9; para. 0218-0219>.
the TWT flow identifier occupies 3 bits or 4 bits carried in the first frame. the TWT Flow ID may be indicated by using 3 bits. Accordingly, the TWT Flow ID bitmap may indicate a single TWT Flow ID value by using a field having a size of 3-bit <FIG(s). 25; para. 0277>.
Claim(s) 3, 11
KIM_119 teaches
wherein a first correspondence exists between the TWT agreement for the first link and the link identifier information of the first link, Each of the multiple TWT agreements established on a link may be identified based on a link ID, a medium access control (MAC) address of the multi-link device, and a TWT Flow ID <FIG(s). 17, 18; para. 0016, 0199, 0213, 0216>.
wherein the first correspondence is the following combination information:
a TWT flow identifier of the TWT agreement, Each of the multiple TWT agreements established on the multiple links may be identified based on a link ID of each of the multiple links, a medium access control (MAC) address of the multi-link device, and a TWT Flow ID <FIG(s). 17, 18; para. 0016, 0199, 0213, 0216>.
MAC address information of a station requesting to set up the TWT agreement, and MAC address of second station in MLD. Second station can be the station that sent a TWT request for the agreement. <FIG(s). 17, 9; para. 0011, 0218-0219>.
MAC address information of a station responding to a setup request, MAC address of second AP of the MLD device. Second AP can be the TWT response station can be the second AP. <FIG(s). 17, 9; para. 0011, 0218-0219>.
wherein the station requesting to set up the TWT agreement and the station responding to a setup request work on the first link; and The TWT agreement/session is with respect to a particular TWT flow ID such as a first link. <FIG(s). 17, 9; para. 0218-0219>.
the TWT flow identifier occupies 3 bits or 4 bits carried in the first frame. the TWT Flow ID may be indicated by using 3 bits. Accordingly, the TWT Flow ID bitmap may indicate a single TWT Flow ID value by using a field having a size of 3-bit <FIG(s). 25; para. 0277>.
Claim(s) 4, 12
KIM_119 teaches
wherein a first correspondence exists between the TWT agreement for the first link and the link identifier information of the first link, Each of the multiple TWT agreements established on a link may be identified based on a link ID, a medium access control (MAC) address of the multi-link device, and a TWT Flow ID <FIG(s). 17, 18; para. 0016, 0199, 0213, 0216>.
wherein the first correspondence is the following combination information:
a TWT flow identifier of the TWT agreement, Each of the multiple TWT agreements established on the multiple links may be identified based on a link ID of each of the multiple links, a medium access control (MAC) address of the multi-link device, and a TWT Flow ID <FIG(s). 17, 18; para. 0016, 0199, 0213, 0216>.
MAC address information of a station requesting to set up the TWT agreement, and MAC address of second station in MLD. Second station can be the station that sent a TWT request for the agreement. <FIG(s). 17, 9; para. 0011, 0218-0219>.
MAC address information of a station responding to a setup request, MAC address of second AP of the MLD device. Second AP can be the TWT response station can be the second AP. <FIG(s). 17, 9; para. 0011, 0218-0219>.
the link identifier information indicating the first link; Link ID field indicating the identifier of the link to which the TWT agreement to be torn down is applied. <FIG(s). 23; para. 0224-0226, 0261>.
the TWT flow identifier occupies 3 bits or 4 bits carried in the first frame. the TWT Flow ID may be indicated by using 3 bits. Accordingly, the TWT Flow ID bitmap may indicate a single TWT Flow ID value by using a field having a size of 3-bit <FIG(s). 25; para. 0277>.
Claim(s) 5, 13 and 6, 14 and 7, 15
KIM_119 teaches
tearing down the TWT agreement based on the first correspondence. TWT teardown frame indicates TWT Flow ID and link ID, which corresponds to a TWT agreement associated with the IDs. <FIG(s). 23; para. 0017, 0224-0227, 0261>.
Claim(s) 8, 16
KIM_119 teaches
wherein the TWT element is used to request to set up a TWT agreement on the first link; Before TWT tear down, TWT request station sends, to a TWT a response station, TWT element to establish TWT agreement. TWT element for TWT setup request for TWT agreement includes TWT Flow that will be applied to the TWT agreement. <FIG(s). 16; para. 0009-0011, 0195-0201>.
Claim(s) is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over XIAO_846 (US20190268846) in view of LI_218 (US20220225218), and further view of KIM_119 (US20240008119)
Claim(s) 2, 10
XIAO_846 does not explicitly teach
wherein a first correspondence exists between the TWT agreement for the first link and the link identifier information of the first link,
wherein the first correspondence is the following combination information:
a TWT flow identifier of the TWT agreement,
MAC address information of a third station setting up the TWT agreement in the first multi-link device, and
MAC address information of a fourth station setting up the TWT agreement in the second multi-link device,
wherein the third station in the first multi-link device and the fourth station in the second multi-link device work on the first link; and
the TWT flow identifier occupies 3 bits or 4 bits carried in the first frame.
However in a similar endeavor, KIM_119 teaches
wherein a first correspondence exists between the TWT agreement for the first link and the link identifier information of the first link, Each of the multiple TWT agreements established on a link may be identified based on a link ID, a medium access control (MAC) address of the multi-link device, and a TWT Flow ID <FIG(s). 17, 18; para. 0016, 0199, 0213, 0216>.
wherein the first correspondence is the following combination information:
a TWT flow identifier of the TWT agreement, Each of the multiple TWT agreements established on the multiple links may be identified based on a link ID of each of the multiple links, a medium access control (MAC) address of the multi-link device, and a TWT Flow ID <FIG(s). 17, 18; para. 0016, 0199, 0213, 0216>.
MAC address information of a third station setting up the TWT agreement in the first multi-link device, and MAC address of second station in MLD <FIG(s). 17, 9; para. 0218-0219>.
MAC address information of a fourth station setting up the TWT agreement in the second multi-link device, MAC address of second AP of the MLD device. <FIG(s). 17, 9; para. 0218-0219>.
wherein the third station in the first multi-link device and the fourth station in the second multi-link device work on the first link; and The TWT agreement/session is with respect to a particular TWT flow ID such as a first link. <FIG(s). 17, 9; para. 0218-0219>.
the TWT flow identifier occupies 3 bits or 4 bits carried in the first frame. the TWT Flow ID may be indicated by using 3 bits. Accordingly, the TWT Flow ID bitmap may indicate a single TWT Flow ID value by using a field having a size of 3-bit <FIG(s). 25; para. 0277>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by XIAO_846 and LI_218 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by KIM_119. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to provide a multi-link device operating in multiple links. Furthermore, an embodiment of the disclosure provides a method in which a multi-link device effectively performs a TWT operation <para. 0029>.
Relevant Cited References
US20220272630
KR2021-0034964. Kim (US2024000811) foreign priority application. Filed 2021-03-17.
KR2021-0036273. Kim (US2024000811) foreign priority application. Filed 2021-03-19.
KR2021-0038379. Kim (US2024000811) foreign priority application. Filed 2021-03-24.
Examiner’s Notes
While perfecting the priority date will provide the instant application with an effective filing date earlier than KIM_119 (US20240008119)’s intervening date of 2022-03-16, note that KIM_119 also has foreign priority dates that which predates the instant application’s earliest potential effective filing date. To expedition prosecution examiner has included English translations of said foreign priority application associated with the KIM reference. The Examiner encourages the applicant to review said translations to determine whether KIM would still be prior art even if foreign priority is perfected in the instant application and make amendments accordingly.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANDRE TACDIRAN whose telephone number is 571-272-1717. The examiner can normally be reached on M-TH, 10-5PM EST. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jeffrey Rutkowski can be reached on 571-270-1215. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/ANDRE TACDIRAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2415
Prosecution Insights