Response to Amendment
This Office Action is in response to claim amendment filed on March 31, 2026.
Claims 1-20 are currently pending in this application.
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 Arguments
With respect to the prior art rejection of claims 1-4, 6-14 and 16-20 under 35 USC §103, as set forth in the previous Office Action, the arguments (see remarks Pg. 9-12), have been fully considered, but are not persuasive.
Applicant submits that, firstly, an intended purpose of packet detection taught by Kerner is distinct from an intended purpose of selecting an idle unlicensed frequency taught by Li. A skilled artisan should readily appreciate that packet detection taught by Kerner is to detect packet transmission that is present in a selected/used channel, while idle unlicensed frequency selection taught by Li is to select an unused channel in which packet transmission is absent. Therefore, Li does not teach or suggest using an RSSI value statistical result for packet detection.
Applicant further argues, secondly, Kerner discloses that packet detection is performed on a user equipment (UE), while Li discloses that idle unlicensed frequency selection is performed on a base station according to an RSSI value statistical result reported by a UE.
The examiner has considered all the arguments, but disagrees. Firstly, note that (emphasis added) "an unlicensed frequency that has relatively low load and that is relatively idle" does not imply that it is an idle unlicensed frequency and that the packet transmission is absent (see Li, Col. 1, lines 38-66, e.g., the base station may select, by detecting an RSSI value of a signal on each candidate unlicensed frequency, an unlicensed frequency that has relatively low load and that is relatively idle, and provide a communications service for user equipment on the selected unlicensed frequency… When the base station selects an unlicensed frequency according to the RSSI value obtained through detection, the RSSI value may be less than an actual value. Consequently, the selected unlicensed frequency may be not idle.).
An unlicensed frequency band that is classified as “idle” does not necessarily mean there is zero packet transmission and generally means that the channel is not being used by specific device. Kerner teaches monitoring the frequency band and which can be performed on both licensed and unlicensed frequencies as it is not specific to using a particular frequency band (see Kerner, Col. 1, lines 55-57, e.g., a user equipment (UE) includes a transceiver configured to monitor a frequency band using a plurality of receive antennas.). Also, the claim language is not limited to a specific type of frequency band.
Secondly, Kerner discloses that packet detection is performed on a user equipment (UE), and Li also further teaches wherein the UE detects a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value of a signal on a frequency, performs sampling and determines statistics on RSSI values of the signal on the frequency at sampling moments, thereby further improving accuracy of an RSSI value. (see Col. 11, lines 8-23, e.g., a user equipment may obtain configuration information used to detect a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value of a signal on an unlicensed frequency, sample the signal on the unlicensed frequency according to a sampling interval in the configuration information, obtain RSSI values of the signal on the unlicensed frequency at sampling moments, determine statistics on RSSI values of the signal on the unlicensed frequency at sampling moments included in at least one statistical window in the configuration information, and obtain an RSSI value statistical result of the signal on the unlicensed frequency and report the RSSI value statistical result to a base station… thereby further improving accuracy of an RSSI value.).
Lastly, regarding the motivation of modifying Kerner's teachings to incorporate the teachings of Li is to improve the accuracy of an RSSI value which helps the base station to select a frequency which is to be further monitored by the UE to determine whether a packet has been received and wherein accuracy of an RSSI value is crucial for packet detection and necessary for avoiding collision and interference. Accurate RSSI value helps to determine if a signal is present on a specific band. (see Li, Col. 11, lines 8-23, e.g., The user equipment samples the signal on the unlicensed frequency, and can obtain all signals using the unlicensed frequency within a particular range from the user equipment, thereby avoiding interference of a hidden base station to the user equipment when the user equipment uses a selected idle unlicensed frequency… thereby further improving accuracy of an RSSI value according to which the base station serving the user equipment selects an idle unlicensed frequency.).
As result, applicant’s arguments are not persuasive and the 35 USC §103 rejections of claims 1-4, 6-14 and 16-20 are maintained for the reasons set forth above.
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.
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.
Claim(s) 1-2, 11-12, are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kerner et al., US 10666345 B1, (hereinafter Kerner) in view of Li et al., US 11711154 B2, (hereinafter Li) and in further view of Liu et al. US 20090060006 A1 (hereinafter Liu).
Regarding claim 1, 11, Kerner teaches a wireless communication method comprising:
deriving a first received signal at a target channel from a first radio-frequency (RF) signal received through a first antenna (see Col. 2, lines 53-58, e.g., The WLAN may operate in several different frequency bands of the radio frequency (RF) spectrum. For example, the frequency bands may include, but are not limited to, the 900 megahertz (MHz), 2.4 gigahertz (GHz), 3.6 GHz, 4.9 GHz, 5 GHz, 5.9 GHz, 60 GHz bands, etc. Each band may include a plurality of channels; see Col. 4, lines 61-65, e.g., The packet detection engine 235 may monitor the signals received at various antennas and determine whether an indication of a packet is present; see Col. 7, lines 29-31, e.g., Here, y.sub.1 represents the received signal at a first receive antenna and y.sub.2 represents the received signal at a second receive antenna); and
performing a first packet detection operation for detecting if a packet is included in the first received signal by jointly considering the plurality of different parameters of the first received signal (see Col. 4, lines 61-65, e.g., the processor 205 may execute a packet detection engine 235. The packet detection engine 235 may monitor the signals received at various antennas and determine whether an indication of a packet is present; see Col. 1, lines 42-55, e.g., The operations comprising determining a first combined signal parameter based on a first signal received at two or more of the plurality of receive antennas. The operations further comprising, detecting a packet based on at least identifying a correlation between the first combined signal parameter.),
However, it does not explicitly teach deriving a plurality of different parameters from signal strength of the first received signal and deriving a first received signal at a target channel.
Li teaches deriving a plurality of different parameters from signal strength of the first received signal (see Col. 3-4, lines 66-67; 1-7, e.g., the RSSI value statistical result of the signal on the unlicensed frequency further includes at least one of or a combination of the following information: a total quantity of the RSSI values of the signal on the unlicensed frequency at the sampling moments included in the at least one statistical window, the sampling interval at which the signal on the unlicensed frequency is sampled, an average value of the RSSI values of the signal on the unlicensed frequency at the sampling moments).
Liu teaches deriving a first received signal at a target channel (¶ [0041], e.g., advantage of the present invention is that the detecting mechanism starts immediately when a packet of the input signal is detected, and can take as little as 100 ns for the proposed signal quality detecting unit to detect an in-band OFDM signal or 45 ns to detect an in-band CCK signal. (Note that, as per current specification target channel is i.e., in-band channel.).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified parameters of the first received signal of Kerner to incorporate the teachings of Li to include deriving a plurality of different parameters from signal strength of the first received signal and incorporate the teachings of Liu to include deriving a first received signal at a target channel. Doing so would facilitate in achieving improved accuracy of an RSSI value which helps base station for selecting an idle unlicensed frequency as a carrier for information exchange as suggested by Li (see Col. 12, lines 46-53, e.g., an RSSI value statistical result of a signal on the unlicensed frequency may be obtained, so that the base station selects an idle unlicensed frequency as a carrier for information exchange between the user equipment and the base station. The signal processing method can improve accuracy of an RSSI value according to which the base station serving the user equipment selects the idle unlicensed frequency.).
Regarding claim 2, 12, Kerner as combined with Li and Liu teaches the limitations of Claim 1 and 11.
Kerner does not teach but Li teaches, wherein deriving the plurality of different parameters from the signal strength of the first received signal comprises:
referring to a plurality of samples of the first received signal for calculating a receive signal strength indication (RSSI) value as a first parameter included in the plurality of different parameters (see Col. 3-4, lines 66-67; 1-7, e.g., obtaining the RSSI values of the signal on the unlicensed frequency at the sampling moments includes: sampling, by the user equipment, for the signal on the unlicensed frequency, the signal on the unlicensed frequency at the sampling interval according to the time length of the sampling window and the sampling window period, and obtaining the RSSI values of the signal on the unlicensed frequency at the sampling moments.).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified parameters of the first received signal of Kerner to incorporate the teachings of Li and include referring to a plurality of samples of the first received signal for calculating a receive signal strength indication (RSSI) value as a first parameter included in the plurality of different parameters. Doing so would facilitate in achieving improved accuracy of an RSSI value which helps base station for selecting an idle unlicensed frequency as a carrier for information exchange as suggested by Li (see Col. 12, lines 46-53, e.g., an RSSI value statistical result of a signal on the unlicensed frequency may be obtained, so that the base station selects an idle unlicensed frequency as a carrier for information exchange between the user equipment and the base station. The signal processing method can improve accuracy of an RSSI value according to which the base station serving the user equipment selects the idle unlicensed frequency.).
Regarding claim 6, 16, Kerner as combined with Li and Liu teaches the limitations of Claim 1 and 11.
Kerner further teaches, deriving a second received signal at the target channel from the RF signal received through a second antenna (see Col. 4, lines 61-65, e.g., The packet detection engine 235 may monitor the signals received at various antennas and determine whether an indication of a packet is present. Col. 7, lines 29-31, e.g., Here, y.sub.1 represents the received signal at a first receive antenna and y.sub.2 represents the received signal at a second receive antenna); and
performing a second packet detection operation for detecting if a packet is included in the second received signal by jointly considering the plurality of different parameters of the second received signal (Col. 4, lines 61-65, e.g., the processor 205 may execute a packet detection engine 235. The packet detection engine 235 may monitor the signals received at various antennas and determine whether an indication of a packet is present. Col. 1, lines 61-67, e.g., The operations further comprising, determining a second combined signal parameter based on a second signal received at the two or more receiver antennas. The operations further comprising, detecting a packet based at least on identifying a correlation between the first combined signal parameter and the second combined signal parameter),
however, it does not explicitly teach deriving a plurality of different parameters from signal strength of the second received signal and deriving a second received signal at a target channel.
Li teaches deriving a plurality of different parameters from signal strength of the second received signal (see Col. 3-4, lines 66-67; 1-7, e.g., the RSSI value statistical result of the signal on the unlicensed frequency further includes at least one of or a combination of the following information: a total quantity of the RSSI values of the signal on the unlicensed frequency at the sampling moments included in the at least one statistical window, the sampling interval at which the signal on the unlicensed frequency is sampled, an average value of the RSSI values of the signal on the unlicensed frequency at the sampling moments).
Liu teaches deriving a second received signal at a target channel (¶ [0041], e.g., advantage of the present invention is that the detecting mechanism starts immediately when a packet of the input signal is detected, and can take as little as 100 ns for the proposed signal quality detecting unit to detect an in-band OFDM signal or 45 ns to detect an in-band CCK signal. (Note that, as per current specification target channel is i.e., in-band channel.).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified parameters of the first received signal of Kerner to incorporate the teachings of Li to include deriving a plurality of different parameters from signal strength of the first received signal and incorporate the teachings of Liu to include deriving a first received signal at a target channel. Doing so would facilitate in achieving improved accuracy of an RSSI value which helps base station for selecting an idle unlicensed frequency as a carrier for information exchange as suggested by Li (see Col. 12, lines 46-53, e.g., an RSSI value statistical result of a signal on the unlicensed frequency may be obtained, so that the base station selects an idle unlicensed frequency as a carrier for information exchange between the user equipment and the base station. The signal processing method can improve accuracy of an RSSI value according to which the base station serving the user equipment selects the idle unlicensed frequency.).
Claim(s) 3-4, 8 and 13-14, are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kerner in view of Li and Liu and in further view of Mayor et al., US 9401769 B2, (hereinafter Mayor).
Regarding claim 3, 13, Kerner as combined with Li and Liu teaches the limitations of Claim 2 and 12.
Kerner as improved by Li and Liu does not teach but Mayor teaches, wherein deriving the plurality of different parameters from the signal strength of the first received signal further comprises:
calculating a variance value of the plurality of samples, wherein a second parameter included in the plurality of different parameters is derived from at least the variance value. (see Col. 12, lines 29-34, e.g., processing circuitry 28 may gather a set of statistics (e.g., a mean value, variance value, standard deviation, range, median value, etc.) associated with each generated probability distribution (e.g., circuitry 28 may gather a respective set of statistics associated with radio-frequency signals received in each frequency channel); see Col. 18, lines 27-32, e.g., an RSSI threshold may be identified for each accumulated probability distribution. The RSSI threshold may, if desired, be determined based on the set of statistics associated with the accumulated probability distribution (e.g., the threshold may be computed based on a variance or standard deviation of the probability distribution).).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified parameters of the first received signal of Kerner improved by Li to incorporate the teachings of Mayor and include calculating a variance value of the plurality of samples, wherein a second parameter included in the plurality of different parameters is derived from at least the variance value. Doing so would facilitate in achieving generating calibrated receive signal strength data and also determine a location of the wireless electronic device using this calibrated data as suggested by Mayor (see Col. 1, lines 59-65, e.g., the processing circuitry may determine an offset value for each of the probability distributions and may add the offset value to the gathered receive signal strength data to generate calibrated receive signal strength data. If desired, the processing circuitry may determine a location of the wireless electronic device using the calibrated receive signal strength data.).
Regarding claim 4, 14, Kerner as combined with Li and Liu teaches the limitations of Claim 3 and 13.
Kerner as improved by Li and Liu does not teach but Mayor teaches, wherein deriving the plurality of different parameters from the signal strength of the first received signal further comprises:
dividing the variance value by the RSSI value to generate a normalized variance value as the second parameter (see Col. 12, lines 29-34, e.g., processing circuitry 28 may gather a set of statistics (e.g., a mean value, variance value, standard deviation, range, median value, etc.) associated with each generated probability distribution (e.g., circuitry 28 may gather a respective set of statistics associated with radio-frequency signals received in each frequency channel). (Note that, standard deviation value is normalized variance value)).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified parameters of the first received signal of Kerner improved by Li to incorporate the teachings of Mayor to include dividing the variance value by the RSSI value to generate a normalized variance value as the second parameter. Doing so would facilitate in achieving generating calibrated receive signal strength data and also determine a location of the wireless electronic device using this calibrated data as suggested by Mayor (see Col. 1, lines 59-65, e.g., the processing circuitry may determine an offset value for each of the probability distributions and may add the offset value to the gathered receive signal strength data to generate calibrated receive signal strength data. If desired, the processing circuitry may determine a location of the wireless electronic device using the calibrated receive signal strength data.).
Regarding claim 8, 18, Kerner as combined with Li and Liu teaches the limitations of Claim 3 and 13.
Kerner as improved by Li and Liu does not teach but Mayor teaches, wherein the wireless communication method is employed by a Bluetooth receiver (see Col. 7, lines 41-50, e.g., If desired, each transceiver in transceiver circuitry 76 such as transceivers 82 and 84 may be formed as a part of satellite data receiver 36, WiFi® and Bluetooth® transceiver 38, or cellular telephone transceiver 40 of FIG. 1 (e.g., a first transceiver in circuitry 76 may handle received satellite data signals, a second transceiver in circuitry 76 may handle WiFi® data signals, a third transceiver in circuitry 76 may handle Bluetooth® data signals, a fourth transceiver in circuitry 76 may handle cellular data signals, etc.).).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified receiver of Kerner to incorporate the teachings of Mayor to include a Bluetooth receiver. Doing so would facilitate in achieving support interactions with external equipment such as base station 14, storage and processing circuitry as suggested by Mayor (see Col. 4, lines 1-9, e.g., To support interactions with external equipment such as base station 14, storage and processing circuitry 28 may be used in implementing communications protocols. Communications protocols that may be implemented using storage and processing circuitry 28 include internet protocols, wireless local area network protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols—sometimes referred to as WiFi®), protocols for other short-range wireless communications links such as the Bluetooth® protocol, IEEE 802.16 (WiMax) protocols).
Claim(s) 7 and 17, are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kerner in view of Li and Liu and in further view of TANG, CN 114978270 B (see the English translated copy), (hereinafter TANG).
Regarding claim 7, 17, Kerner as combined with Li and Liu teaches the limitations of Claim 1 and 11.
Kerner as improved by Li and Liu does not teach but Tang teaches, selecting a target antenna from multiple antennas including the first antenna and the second antenna according to parameters including the plurality of different parameters of the first received signal and the plurality of different parameters of the second received signal (see Pg. 3, Paragraph 10-15 e.g.,
determining a difference between the first simulated radiation power and the second simulated radiation power; if the difference is greater than or equal to a preset difference threshold, determining the second antenna as the target antenna; if the difference value is less than the preset difference value threshold value, determining the first antenna as the target antenna.
In the above antenna selection method, after determining the second antenna as the target antenna, the method further comprises: using the antenna switching switch to switch the antenna for receiving and transmitting the current signal from the first antenna to the second antenna, and using the second antenna to receive and transmit the radio frequency signal.
In the above antenna selection method, the signal quality parameter includes a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and a reference signal received power (RSRP)).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified target antenna of Kerner to incorporate the teachings of Tang to include selecting a target antenna from multiple antennas including the first antenna and the second antenna according to parameters including the plurality of different parameters of the first received signal and the plurality of different parameters of the second received signal. Doing so would facilitate in achieving support interactions with external equipment such as base station 14, storage and processing circuitry as suggested by Tang (see Pg. 2, Paragraph 4 e.g., the invention claims an antenna selecting method, an electronic device and a storage medium, which can improve the accuracy when selecting the antenna with the best signal quality so as to improve the communication quality when communicating).
Claim(s) 9-10 and 19-20, are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kerner in view of Li and Liu and in further view of Imamura et al., US 9480019 B2, (hereinafter Imamura).
Regarding claim 9, 19, Kerner as combined with Li and Liu teaches the limitations of Claim 1 and 11.
Kerner as improved by Li and Liu does not teach but Imamura teaches, wherein the wireless communication method is employed by a Wake-up Radio (WuR) receiver (Col. 8, lines 48-50, e.g., The antenna 501 receives a wake-up signal or a data signal and outputs the reception signal to the variable LNA 502).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified receiver of Kerner to incorporate the teachings of Imamura to include a Wake-up Radio (WuR) receiver. Doing so would facilitate in achieving reducing the power consumption in a reception standby period as suggested by Imamura (see Col. 4, lines 1-9, e.g., The disclosure makes it possible to reduce the power consumption in a reception standby period).
Regarding claim 10, 20, Kerner as combined with Li and Liu teaches the limitations of Claim 1 and 11.
Kerner as improved by Li and Liu does not teach but Imamura teaches, wherein the first received signal is a constant envelope (CE) modulated signal (Col. 14, lines 54-56, e.g., the envelope signal detected from the first signal is one of a constant envelope signal and a non-constant envelope signal).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective
filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the first signal of Kerner to incorporate the teachings of Imamura to include constant envelope (CE) modulated signal. Doing so would facilitate in achieving reducing the power consumption in a reception standby period as suggested by Imamura (see Col. 4, lines 1-9, e.g., The disclosure makes it possible to reduce the power consumption in a reception standby period).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 5 and 15, are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
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 POONAM SHARMA whose telephone number is (571)272-6579. The examiner can normally be reached Monday thru 8:30-5:30 pm, ET.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kevin Bates can be reached at (571) 272-3980. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/POONAM SHARMA/Examiner, Art Unit 2472
/KEVIN T BATES/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2472
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