DETAILED ACTION
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-20, 24-25, 32-35, 39, and 49-51 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.
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.
Claims 1-20, 24-25, 32-35, 39, and 49-51 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by VIGER PASCAL (GB 2523151 A).
Considering claim 1, Viger teaches a wireless device (Fig.6-7), comprising:
a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code (Fig.6, pg.10, lines 5-13), the processing system configured to cause the wireless device to:
transmit an indication of a processing capability to perform verification of a medium access control (MAC) header (Fig.3a-c, pg.2, lines 15-18, pg.6, lines 16-22: receive MAC data frames from a transmitting node, pg.7, lines 2-11: verifying the integrity of a header of the data packet, pg.20, lines 6-14: MAC header 321 of MPDU data frame 320), a payload, or both, the processing capability being either:
a processing latency associated with the verification (pg.3, lines 27-31: latency, pg.37, lines 2-26: verifying the integrity of the header), or
a threshold quantity of MAC protocol data units (MPDUs) supported for the verification within a short interframe spacing (SIFS) time interval, or
both the processing latency and the threshold quantity of MPDUs;
receive one or more MPDUs that solicit an acknowledgment frame (Fig.4, pg.22, lines 16-20: At the end of the burst, the transmitting node transmits a Block ACK request (BAR) frame 410 to request the receiving node to acknowledge receipt of the received frames); and
transmit the acknowledgment frame in accordance with the processing capability (Fig.4, pg.22, lines 16-20: receiving node must immediately reply with a Block ACK (BA) frame 420 containing the acknowledgement status for each data frame of the previous burst of data frames).
Considering claim 18, Viger teaches a wireless device, comprising:
a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code (Fig.6, pg.10, lines 5-13), the processing system configured to cause the wireless device to:
receive an indication of a processing capability to perform verification of a medium access control (MAC) header (Fig.3a-c, pg.2, lines 15-18, pg.6, lines 16-22: receive MAC data frames from a transmitting node, pg.7, lines 2-11: verifying the integrity of a header of the data packet, pg.20, lines 6-14: MAC header 321 of MPDU data frame 320), a payload, or both, the processing capability being either:
a processing latency associated with the verification (pg.3, lines 27-31: latency, pg.37, lines 2-26: verifying the integrity of the header), or
a threshold quantity of MAC protocol data units (MPDUs) supported for the verification within a short interframe spacing (SIFS) time interval, or
both the processing latency and the threshold quantity of MPDUs;
transmit one or more MPDUs that solicit an acknowledgment frame (Fig.4, pg.22, lines 16-20: At the end of the burst, the transmitting node transmits a Block ACK request (BAR) frame 410 to request the receiving node to acknowledge receipt of the received frames); and
receive the acknowledgment frame in accordance with the processing capability (Fig.4, pg.22, lines 16-20: receiving node must immediately reply with a Block ACK (BA) frame 420 containing the acknowledgement status for each data frame of the previous burst of data frames).
Considering claim 32, Viger teaches a method for wireless communications, comprising:
transmitting an indication of a processing capability to perform verification of a medium access control (MAC) header (Fig.3a-c, pg.2, lines 15-18, pg.6, lines 16-22: receive MAC data frames from a transmitting node, pg.7, lines 2-11: verifying the integrity of a header of the data packet, pg.20, lines 6-14: MAC header 321 of MPDU data frame 320), a payload, or both, the processing capability being either:
a processing latency associated with the verification (pg.3, lines 27-31: latency, pg.37, lines 2-26: verifying the integrity of the header), or
a threshold quantity of MAC protocol data units (MPDUs) supported for the verification within a short interframe spacing (SIFS) time interval, or
both the processing latency and the threshold quantity of MPDUs;
receiving one or more MPDUs that solicit an acknowledgment frame (Fig.4, pg.22, lines 16-20: At the end of the burst, the transmitting node transmits a Block ACK request (BAR) frame 410 to request the receiving node to acknowledge receipt of the received frames); and
transmitting the acknowledgment frame in accordance with the processing capability (Fig.4, pg.22, lines 16-20: receiving node must immediately reply with a Block ACK (BA) frame 420 containing the acknowledgement status for each data frame of the previous burst of data frames).
Considering claim 49, Viger teaches a method for wireless communications, comprising:
receiving an indication of a processing capability to perform verification of a medium access control (MAC) header (Fig.3a-c, pg.2, lines 15-18, pg.6, lines 16-22: receive MAC data frames from a transmitting node, pg.7, lines 2-11: verifying the integrity of a header of the data packet, pg.20, lines 6-14: MAC header 321 of MPDU data frame 320), a payload, or both, the processing capability being either:
a processing latency associated with the verification (pg.3, lines 27-31: latency, pg.37, lines 2-26: verifying the integrity of the header), or
a threshold quantity of MAC protocol data units (MPDUs) supported for the verification within a short interframe spacing (SIFS) time interval, or
both the processing latency and the threshold quantity of MPDUs;
transmitting one or more MPDUs that solicit an acknowledgment frame (Fig.4, pg.22, lines 16-20: At the end of the burst, the transmitting node transmits a Block ACK request (BAR) frame 410 to request the receiving node to acknowledge receipt of the received frames); and
receiving the acknowledgment frame in accordance with the processing capability (Fig.4, pg.22, lines 16-20: receiving node must immediately reply with a Block ACK (BA) frame 420 containing the acknowledgement status for each data frame of the previous burst of data frames).
Considering claims 2, 19, 33, 50, Viger teaches wherein a duration associated with the one or more MPDUs is extended according to the processing capability (Fig.3-4, pg.20, lines 3-20).
Considering claims 3, 34, Viger teaches wherein, to transmit the acknowledgment frame, the processing system is configured to cause the wireless device to: transmit the acknowledgment frame in accordance with the SIFS time interval according to the duration associated with the one or more MPDUs being extended (Fig.4a-c, pg.22, lines 16-30).
Considering claims 4, 20, 35, 51, Viger teaches wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the wireless device to: transmit a request to accommodate the processing capability, wherein the duration associated with the one or more MPDUs is extended in accordance with the request to accommodate the processing capability (Fig.4a-c, pg.22, lines 16-30).
Considering claim 5, Viger teaches wherein the request to accommodate the processing capability comprises a request for a packet extension (pg.20, lines 3-20 and pg.44, lines 14-15).
Considering claim 6, Viger teaches wherein the duration associated with the one or more MPDUs is extended in accordance with end-of-frame padding (3302), one or more null frames, or both (Fig.3-4).
Considering claim 7, Viger teaches wherein: the one or more MPDUs correspond to an aggregate-MPDU (A-MPDU) format; and the one or more MPDUs comprise an A-MPDU or a single MPDU (SMPDU) (Fig.3-4).
Considering claims 8, 39, Viger teaches wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the wireless device to: verify one or more MAC headers (Fig.3a-c, pg.2, lines 15-18, pg.6, lines 16-22: receive MAC data frames from a transmitting node, pg.7, lines 2-11: verifying the integrity of a header of the data packet, pg.20, lines 6-14: MAC header 321 of MPDU data frame 320), one or more payloads, or both corresponding to the one or more MPDUs; and perform duplicate detection in accordance with the verifying the one or more MAC headers, the one or more payloads, or both, wherein the acknowledgment frame indicates a result of the duplicate detection (pg.6, lines 9-30: duplication of retransmitted data packets).
Considering claim 9, Viger teaches wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the wireless device to: update a scoreboard to indicate the verified one or more MAC headers, the verified one or more payloads, or both, wherein the acknowledgment frame is in accordance with the scoreboard (pg.30, lines 21-25).
Considering claim 10, Viger teaches wherein: the scoreboard comprises a bitmap (Fig.8, pg.48, lines 18-21); and a bit of the bitmap indicates whether a corresponding MPDU of the one or more MPDUs passes the verifying (Fig.8, pg.48, lines 18-21).
Considering claim 11, Viger teaches wherein the scoreboard comprises a first scoreboard (pg.20, line 27 to pg.21, line 11), and the processing system is further configured to cause the wireless device to: verify one or more frame check sequences (FCSs) corresponding to the one or more MPDUs; and update a second scoreboard to indicate the verified one or more FCSs (Fig.3-4, pg.20, lines 16-18).
Considering claims 12, 24, Viger teaches wherein the acknowledgment frame is output in accordance with the SIFS time interval (Fig.4a-c, pg.22, lines 16-30: receiving node must immediately reply with a Block ACK (BA) frame).
Considering claims 13, 25, Viger teaches wherein the acknowledgment frame comprises a first acknowledgment frame indicating frame check sequence (FCS) verification corresponding to the one or more MPDUs (The MPDU data frame 320 also comprises a FCS (Frame Check Sequence) field 323, which is a conventional CRC-32 checksum (i.e. error detection code), used to validate the integrity of the MPDU data frame 320), and the processing system is further configured to cause the wireless device to: transmit a second acknowledgment frame indicating the verification corresponding to the one or more MPDUs in accordance with a time interval different than the SIFS time interval according to the processing capability (Fig.3-4, Fig.4a-c, pg.22, lines 16-30: two Block ACK mechanisms: immediate and delayed block acknowledgment).
Considering claim 14, Viger teaches wherein, to transmit the indication of the processing capability, the processing system is configured to cause the wireless device to: transmit a management frame, a beacon frame, an action frame, a probe request frame, a probe response frame, an association request frame, an association response frame, a reassociation request frame, a reassociation response frame, or any combination thereof comprising one or more fields indicating the processing capability (Fig.3-4).
Considering claim 15, Viger teaches wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the wireless device to: receive a second indication of an acknowledgment policy set to Block Ack in accordance with the processing capability (Fig.4a-c, pg.22, lines 16-30: The latter standard defines two Block ACK mechanisms: immediate and delayed block acknowledgment), wherein the acknowledgment frame is transmitted in accordance with a time interval different than the SIFS time interval according to the acknowledgment policy set to Block Ack (pg.20, line 27 to pg.21, line 11).
Considering claim 16, Viger teaches wherein the processing system is further configured to cause the wireless device to: receive a block acknowledgment request frame indicating the time interval different than the SIFS time interval (pg.20, line 27 to pg.21, line 11), wherein the acknowledgment frame is transmitted further in accordance with the block acknowledgment request frame (Fig.4a-c, pg.22, lines 16-30: The latter standard defines two Block ACK mechanisms: immediate and delayed block acknowledgment).
Considering claim 17, Viger teaches wherein: the acknowledgment frame comprises a multi-station (STA) block acknowledgment frame; and the multi-STA block acknowledgment frame comprises an association identifier, an acknowledgment type indicator (Fig.4a-c, pg.22, lines 16-30), a traffic identifier, or any combination thereof that indicate that the acknowledgment frame verifies one or more frame check sequences (FCSs), one or more MAC headers, one or more payloads, or any combination thereof corresponding to the one or more MPDUs.
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 KHAI MINH NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-7923. The examiner can normally be reached 6-3.
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/KHAI M NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2641