DETAILED ACTION
This action is responsive to claims filed on 18 May 2026 and Information Disclosure Statements filed on 08 December 2023.
Claims 1-13 and 17 are pending for examination.
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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Response to Amendment
Applicant’s arguments filed 18 May 2026 have been entered. The claims have been amended, original as follows:
a. Claims are amended: 1-3, 5, 9, 12-13, 17.
b. Claims are original: 4, 6-8, 10-11.
c. Claims are cancelled: 14-16.
Claims 1-13 and 17 are pending for examination.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Remarks, Pages 9-13, filed 02/13/2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) Claims 1, 13, and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Liang et al. (US 20220140879 A1) in view of Stacey et al. (US 20200221545 A1) have been fully considered and are not persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been maintained. Applicant’s argues that the combination of Liang and Stacey is improper because Liang relies on dedicated sounding and channel measurement report frames, and modifying Liang to embed these requests and responses into link adaptation control fields of Data frames would requires a “fundamental redesign” of Lian’s protocol architecture. Applicant further argues that Stacey is directed to link configuration signaling rather than “multi-AP channel measurement exchange” or “link adaptation control”. Finally, applicant argues that the claimed invention provides technical effects such as reducing signaling overhead, which are not realized by the cited references. Examiner respectfully disagrees with applicant for the following reasons. Stacey explicitly addresses this problem by teaching that control and link adaptation signaling should not be relegated solely to separate management frames, but should rather be “piggybacked” on to ongoing Data transmissions. Specifically, Stacy teaches aggregating the A-Control field (which carries link adaptation parameters) with an A-MPDU alongside QoS Null/Data frames (which are strictly “frames for data communication”) to reduce overhead and avoid latency of separate management frame exchanges (See ¶[0126], [0163]-[0164]). Liang teaches that the channel sounding procedure utilizes a MIMO control field and a Beamforming Report field (See ¶[0130], [0137], [0168]). The MIMO Control filed contains parameters such as bandwidth, transmit/receive antenna quantities, and feedback type. These parameters are inherently and fundamentally used for link adaptation(i.e., determining the precoding matrices, Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS)), and spatial stream count for subsequent data transmissions). Because Liang applies this to a plurality of APs, these fields constitute “fields for multiple AP link adaptation control.” Stacey teaches that the A-Control subfield with the HT Control field is the standardized mechanism for carrying these exact link adaptation parameters (such as Spatial Stram (SS) allocation and multi-band operation) within Data frames (See ¶[0122]-[0126]), [0132]). Spatial stream allocation is a core kink adaptation parameter. Therefore, combination Liang’s Multi-AP link adaptation control information (CSI request/report) with Stacey’s A-Control field structure within Data frames.
Therefore, the rejection of claims 1, 13, and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being allegedly obvious over Liang et al. (US 20220140879 A1) in view of Stacey et al. (US 20200221545 A1). is maintained.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim 1 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
With regarding Claim 1, where applicant acts as his or her own lexicographer to specifically define a term of a claim contrary to its ordinary meaning, the written description must clearly redefine the claim term and set forth the uncommon definition so as to put one reasonably skilled in the art on notice that the applicant intended to so redefine that claim term. Process Control Corp. v. HydReclaim Corp., 190 F.3d 1350, 1357, 52 USPQ2d 1029, 1033 (Fed. Cir. 1999). The term would be "the channel measurement values being measured by the STA" in claim 1 is used by the claim to mean “the STA measure a channel, and the CSI includes the resulting measurement values from the STA's measurements of the channel,” while the accepted meaning is “the STA measures measurement values themselves.” The term is indefinite because the specification does not clearly redefine the term.Appropriate correction is required for proper clarity and form
With regarding Claims 2-12, by virtue of at least ultimately depending on independent claim 1, claims 2-12 at least inherit the deficiencies of the claims upon which they depend.
With regarding Claims 13 and 17, though of varying scope, the limitations of claim 13, 17 are substantially similar or identical to those of claim 1, and are rejected under the same reasoning.
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.
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 nonobviousness.
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.
Claims 1-2, 12-13, and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Liang et al. (US 20220140879 A1) in view of Stacey et al. (US 20200221545 A1). With regarding Claim 1, Liang disclose a method comprising (See FIG. 3-5, and ¶[0009], [0015], [0110], [0128], [0114], claim 1. Discloses a method for transmitting channel state information by a station.): receiving, by a station(STA) from an access point (AP), a first frame containing request information for requesting channel state measurement for a plurality of Aps (See FIG. 3-5, 19, and ¶[0009]-[0010], [0023]-[0026], [0049]-[0050], [0110]-[0113]. Disclosed that before sending channel sounding frames, the Aps send NDPA(first frame) frames to indicate to the STA to perform channel sounding on channels of the Aps, both primary and secondary Aps may send NDPA frames, it requests “Channel state measurement” (channel sounding via the subsequent NDPs). It is directed to “a plurality of APs”); and transmitting, by the STA to the AP, a second frame containing channel state information for the plurality APs (See FIG. 13, 15 ¶[0009]-[0011], [0015]-[0019], [0031]-[0035], [0048]-[0052], [0129]-[0131], [0168]. Disclosed STA transmits a second frame(channel measurement report frame), the frame contains channel state information, and the information is for multiple Aps (m target Aps out of n, where m less than are equal to 1), with per-AP identification). wherein the first frame and the second frame are frames for data communication between the STA and the AP (See FIG. 15 and 19.), wherein the request information is included in a field for multiple AP link adaptation control in the first frame and the channel state information is included in a field for multiple AP link adaptation control in the second frame (See FIG. 7, and ¶[0130], [0137], [0149], [0168]. Disclosed MIMO Control field with bandwidth, antenna config, feedback type for multiple APs), and wherein the channel state information includes channel measurement values for each of multiple APs measured by the STA. (See FIG. 12-15, 22 and ¶[0009]-[0011], [0019], [0048], [0144], [0115], [0124], [0137], [0168]. Disclosed that the STA measures channel state information for each AP form multiple Aps and then reports this information.) Liang may not explicitly disclose: wherein the first frame and the second frame are frames for data communication between the STA and the AP, wherein the request information and the channel state information are included in fields for multiple AP link adaptation control in the first frame and the second frame. However, in analogous art, Stacey disclose wherein the first frame and the second frame are frames for data communication between the STA and the AP (See FIG. 5, 12 ¶[0126], [0163]-[0164], [0037], [0132]. Disclosed that control signaling for multi-AP/Multi-link operations should be carried with in Data Frame(i.e. MAC frames with Type=Data, such as QoS Data frames or Qos Null Data frames) rather than in separate Management or Control frames. These QoS Data frames and QoS Null frames are, by definition, “frames for data communication between the STA and the AP” under the IEEE 802.11 MAC architecture.[0126] for DL Data frames, a new SS Allocation and Multi-band Operation subfield in A-Control subfield may be used.), wherein the request information and the channel state information are included in fields for multiple AP link adaptation control in the first frame and the second frame, respectively(See FIG. 5A, 12, 22 and ¶[0122]-[0126], [0132], [0163], [0168], [0192]. Disclosed fields for multiple AP link adaptation control , per-link policy fields for multi-AP/MLO, carried in MAC frame elements), and Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Stacey to modify Liang. Liang teaching multi-AP Channel sounding procedure (NDPA request to NDP measurements and CSI report for multiple APs. Stacey’s teaching the technique of piggybacking link adaptation control signaling onto Data frames via the A-Control field to reduce MAC overhead. The combination resulting the Encapsulating Liang’s multi-AP CSI request and response within Data frames link adaptation control fields the result of reduced signaling overhead and improved channel efficiency in multi-AP environments. With regarding Claim 2, Liang and Stacey disclose the method of claim 1, Liang may not explicitly disclose wherein A-Control subfield in a HT Control (High Throughput Control) field is used for multiple AP link adaptation control. However, in analogous art, Stacey disclose wherein A-Control subfield in a HT Control (High Throughput Control) field is used as a field for the multiple AP link adaption control (See FIG. 15-16, and ¶[0126], [0132], [0163]. Disclosed the A-Control subfield in the HT Control field as a dedicated field for multiple AP link adaptation control through SS allocation and multi-band operation subfield, multiple Rx chains operation duration subfield and SS and band activation/transition signaling.). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Stacey to modify Liang. Liang teaches the need for channel state information measurement and reporting for multiple Aps to enable coordinated transmission. Stacey teaching demonstrate that the A-Control subfield in the HT control field is used as a field for multiple AP link adaptation control. This combination Liang measurement reporting using Stacey explicitly defined multi-AP control fields in the standardized HT control field structure. With regarding Claim 12, Liang and Stacey disclose the method of claim 1, Liang disclose wherein the channel measurement value is a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value or a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value (See ¶[0124], [0126]-[0127], [0182]. Disclosed lists RSSI and SNR as valid channel quality indicators that can be used in this framework.). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Stacey to modify Liang. Liang teaches channel quality information, and first threshold may be indicators such as the RSSI, the SNR, the SINR or the channel correlation. Thi8s combination improve channel quality. With regarding Claim 13, Liang disclose an apparatus for a station (STA) the apparatus comprising: at least one transceiver; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one transceiver, wherein the at least one processor is configured to (See FIG. 24-25, and ¶¶[0151]-[0154], [0236]-[0239], [0245]-[0248]): receiving, from an access point (AP), a first frame containing request information for requesting channel state measurement for plurality of Aps (See FIG. 3-5, 19, and ¶[0009]-[0010], [0023]-[0026], [0049]-[0050], [0110]-[0113]. Disclosed that before sending channel sounding frames, the Aps send NDPA(first frame) frames to indicate to the STA to perform channel sounding on channels of the Aps, both primary and secondary Aps may send NDPA frames, it requests “Channel state measurement” (channel sounding via the subsequent NDPs). It is directed to “a plurality of APs”); and transmitting, to the AP, a second frame containing channel state information for the plurality APs (See FIG. 13, 15 ¶[0009]-[0011], [0015]-[0019], [0031]-[0035], [0048]-[0052], [0129]-[0131], [0168]. Disclosed STA transmits a second frame(channel measurement report frame), the frame contains channel state information, and the information is for multiple Aps (m target Aps out of n, where m less than are equal to 1), with per-AP identification). wherein the first frame and the second frame are frames for data communication between the STA and the AP (See FIG. 15 and 19.), wherein the request information is included in a field for multiple AP link adaptation control in the first frame and the channel state information is included in a field for multiple AP link adaptation control in the second frame (See FIG. 7, and ¶[0130], [0137], [0149], [0168]. Disclosed MIMO Control field with bandwidth, antenna config, feedback type for multiple APs), and wherein the channel state information includes channel measurement values for each of multiple APs measured by the STA. (See FIG. 12-15, 22 and ¶[0009]-[0011], [0019], [0048], [0144], [0115], [0124], [0137], [0168]. Disclosed that the STA measures channel state information for each AP form multiple Aps and then reports this information.) Liang may not explicitly disclose wherein the first frame and the second frame are frames for data communication between the STA and the AP, wherein the request information and the channel state information are included in fields for multiple AP link adaptation control in the first frame and the second frame (See FIG. 7, ¶[0149], [0137], []), and However, in analogous art, Stacey disclose wherein the first frame and the second frame are frames for data communication between the STA and the AP, (See FIG. 5, 12 ¶[0126], [0163]-[0164], [0037], [0132]. Disclosed that control signaling for multi-AP/Multi-link operations should be carried with in Data Frame(i.e. MAC frames with Type=Data, such as QoS Data frames or Qos Null Data frames) rather than in separate Management or Control frames. These QoS Data frames and QoS Null frames are, by definition, “frames for data communication between the STA and the AP” under the IEEE 802.11 MAC architecture.[0126] for DL Data frames, a new SS Allocation and Multi-band Operation subfield in A-Control subfield may be used.) wherein the request information and the channel state information are included in fields for multiple AP link adaptation control in the first frame and the second frame, respectively(See FIG. 5A, 12, 22 and ¶[0122]-[0126], [0132], [0163], [0168], [0192]. Disclosed fields for multiple AP link adaptation control , per-link policy fields for multi-AP/MLO, carried in MAC frame elements), and Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Stacey to modify Liang. Liang teaching multi-AP Channel sounding procedure (NDPA request to NDP measurements and CSI report for multiple APs. Stacey’s teaching the technique of piggybacking link adaptation control signaling onto Data frames via the A-Control field to reduce MAC overhead. The combination resulting the Encapsulating Liang’s multi-AP CSI request and response within Data frames link adaptation control fields the result of reduced signaling overhead and improved channel efficiency in multi-AP environments. With regarding Claim 17, Liang disclose an apparatus for an access point (AP), the apparatus comprising: at least one transceiver; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one transceiver, wherein the at least one processor is configured to (See FIG. 24-25, and ¶[0151]-[0154], [0236]-[0239], [0245]-[0248]). transmit, to a station(STA), a first frame containing request information for requesting channel state measurement for plurality of Aps (See FIG. 3-5, 19, and ¶[0009]-[0010], [0023]-[0026], [0049]-[0050], [0110]-[0113]. Disclosed that before sending channel sounding frames, the Aps send NDPA(first frame) frames to indicate to the STA to perform channel sounding on channels of the Aps, both primary and secondary Aps may send NDPA frames, it requests “Channel state measurement” (channel sounding via the subsequent NDPs). It is directed to “a plurality of APs”); and receive, from the STA, a second frame containing channel state information for the plurality APs (See FIG. 13, 15 ¶[0009]-[0011], [0015]-[0019], [0031]-[0035], [0048]-[0052], [0129]-[0131], [0168]. Disclosed STA transmits a second frame(channel measurement report frame), the frame contains channel state information, and the information is for multiple Aps (m target Aps out of n, where m less than are equal to 1), with per-AP identification). wherein the first frame and the second frame are frames for data communication between the STA and the AP (See FIG. 15 and 19.), wherein the request information is included in a field for multiple AP link adaptation control in the first frame and the channel state information is included in a field for multiple AP link adaptation control in the second frame (See FIG. 7, and ¶[0130], [0137], [0149], [0168]. Disclosed MIMO Control field with bandwidth, antenna config, feedback type for multiple APs), and wherein the channel state information includes channel measurement values for each of multiple APs measured by the STA. (See FIG. 12-15, 22 and ¶[0009]-[0011], [0019], [0048], [0144], [0115], [0124], [0137], [0168]. Disclosed that the STA measures channel state information for each AP form multiple Aps and then reports this information.) Liang may not explicitly disclose wherein the first frame and the second frame are frames for data communication between the STA and the AP, wherein the request information and the channel state information are included in fields for multiple AP link adaptation control in the first frame and the second frame (See FIG. 7, ¶[0149], [0137], []), and However, in analogous art, Stacey disclose wherein the first frame and the second frame are frames for data communication between the STA and the AP, (See FIG. 5, 12 ¶[0126], [0163]-[0164], [0037], [0132]. Disclosed that control signaling for multi-AP/Multi-link operations should be carried with in Data Frame(i.e. MAC frames with Type=Data, such as QoS Data frames or Qos Null Data frames) rather than in separate Management or Control frames. These QoS Data frames and QoS Null frames are, by definition, “frames for data communication between the STA and the AP” under the IEEE 802.11 MAC architecture.[0126] for DL Data frames, a new SS Allocation and Multi-band Operation subfield in A-Control subfield may be used.) wherein the request information and the channel state information are included in fields for multiple AP link adaptation control in the first frame and the second frame, respectively(See FIG. 5A, 12, 22 and ¶[0122]-[0126], [0132], [0163], [0168], [0192]. Disclosed fields for multiple AP link adaptation control , per-link policy fields for multi-AP/MLO, carried in MAC frame elements), and Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Stacey to modify Liang. Liang teaching multi-AP Channel sounding procedure (NDPA request to NDP measurements and CSI report for multiple APs. Stacey’s teaching the technique of piggybacking link adaptation control signaling onto Data frames via the A-Control field to reduce MAC overhead. The combination resulting Encapsulating Liang’s multi-AP CSI request and response within Data frames link adaptation control fields the result of reduced signaling overhead and improved channel efficiency in multi-AP environments.12. Claims 3-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Liang and Stacey as applied to claims 1/13 above, and further in view of Ouchi et al.(US 20230309076 A1). With regarding Claim 3, Liang, and Stacey disclose the method of claim 2, Liang and Stacey may not explicitly disclose wherein the A-Control subfield includes a control identifier (Control ID) subfield and a Control Information subfield, and wherein, based on the Control ID subfield indicating a value for the multiple AP link adaptation control, the Control Information subfield is used for transmission of the request information or the channel state information.. However, in analogous art, Ouchi disclose wherein the A-Control subfield includes a control identifier (Control ID) subfield and a Control Information subfield, and wherein, based on the Control ID subfield indicating a value for the multiple AP link adaptation control, the Control Information subfield is used for transmission of the request information or the channel state information. (See FIG. 9, and ¶[0049], [0054]-[0055], [0066]-[0067]. Disclosed that the A-Control subfield includes both a Control ID subfield and a Control Information subfield.). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Ouchi to modify Liang and Stacey. Stacey teaches that the A-Control subfield is used for multiple AP link adaptation control, providing specific examples of fields within this structure used for spatial stream allocation, multi-band operations, and multiple receive chain control. Ouchi teaches the field structure of the A-Control subfield, including the Control ID subfield and Control Information subfield, along with examples of how different Control ID values determine what information is carried in the Control Information subfield. This combination ensure implement efficient multi-AP coordination in wireless networks. With regarding Claim 4, Liang, Stacey and Ouchi disclose the method of claim 3, Liang and Stacey may not explicitly disclose wherein a subfield for a identifier in the Control Information subfield is included, wherein a value of the subfield for the identifier indicates which of the request information and the channel state information is included in the Control Information subfield However, in analogous art, Ouchi disclose wherein a subfield for a identifier in the Control Information subfield is included, wherein a value of the subfield for the identifier indicates which of the request information and the channel state information is included in the Control Information subfield (See FIG. 9, and ¶[0049], [0054]-[0055], [0066]-[0067]. Disclosed that the HT Control field structure includes identifier values within subfields of the Control information field that determine whether the field contains request information or channel state information.). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Ouchi to modify Liang and Stacey.Liang teaches the multi-AP coordination context where such fields would be used. Ouchi teaches subfield for an identifier within the Control Information subfield, the value of this identifier determines whether request information or channel state information is included in the Control Information subfield. This combination ensure a single MLA control subfield whose control information includes an inner type/identifier bit indicating whether that instance carries MLA request information or MLA CSI.13. Claims 5-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Liang and Stacey as applied to claims 1/13 above, and further in view of Sugaya et al.(US 20190268826 A1). With regarding Claim 5, Liang, Stacey disclosed the method of claim1, Liang disclose wherein the request information in the first frame includes subfields for basic service set color (BSS Color) values corresponding to each of the plurality of APs for which measurement is requested by the STA (See FIG. 12, 22 and ¶[0009]-[0011], [0019], [0048], [0144], [0112]-[0114]. Disclosed that the STA measures channel state information for each AP form multiple Aps and then reports this information.). Liang may not explicitly disclose wherein the request information in the first frame includes subfields for basic service set color (BSS Color) values corresponding to each of multiple Aps. However, in analogous art, Stacey disclose wherein the request information in the first frame includes subfields for basic service set color (BSS Color) values corresponding to each of multiple Aps control (See FIG. 15-16, and ¶[0125]-[0126], [0132], [0163]. Disclosed the structure of frames used for multiple access point coordination, including fields for identifying multiple Aps and their operational parameters). Liang and Stacey may not explicitly disclose wherein the request information in the first frame includes subfields for basic service set color (BSS Color) values However, in analogous art, Sugaya disclose wherein the request information in the first frame includes subfields for basic service set color (BSS Color) values. (See FIG. 2, 7-8, and ¶[0058], [0108]-[0109]. Disclosed that BSS color information is included in frames, specifically within the HE-SID field, and that ESS color mask information can be included to specify BSS color information for multiple Aps.). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Sugaya to modify Liang and Stacey.Liang teaches frame sequence where measurement is requested from the STA, Stacey teaches the filed structure for multiple AP link adaption control, and Sugaya teaches using BSS color values to identify multiple BSSs in frames. This combination incorporate BSS color values into the request frames of the Liang-Stacey system to efficiently identify the multiple Aps involved in coordinated channel measurement, thereby improving communication efficiency in dense wireless environments. With regarding Claim 6, Liang, Stacey and Sugaya disclosed the method of claim 5, Liang may not explicitly disclose wherein the number of subfields for the BSS Color value is predetermined or an end subfield indicates that the subfields for the BSS Color value have ended. However, in analogous art, Stacey disclose an end subfield indicates that the subfields for the BSS Color value have ended.(¶[0124]-[0126], [0132], [0163]. Disclosed predefined subfield structure with specific formats within the A-Channel field). Liang and Stacey may not explicitly disclose wherein the number of subfields for the BSS Color value is predetermined. However, in analogous art, Sugaya disclose wherein the number of subfields for the BSS Color value is predetermined .(See FIG. 8, 10-12, and ¶[0047]-[0048], [0053]-[0055], [0057]-[0058], Disclosed where BSS color values need to be communicated for multiple Aps within an ESS.). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Sugaya to modify Liang and Stacey. Stacey and Sugaya establish the need to carry multiple BSS color values in A-Control subfields, a protocol designer would face a fundamental formatting choice: use fixed-length fields with termination. This combination ensure implementing within bounded frame fields. With regarding Claim 7, Liang, Stacey and Sugaya disclosed the method of claim 5, Liang disclose wherein only subfields for each channel measurement value for the BSS Color values indicated by the request information are included as the channel state information (See ¶[0130], [0142], [0170]. Disclosed that channel measurement report frames carry channel state information in dedicated fields, and identifier information can be carried in a prior frame, allowing the measurement report frame.), without a subfield for the BSS Color value in the second frame. Liang and Stacey may not explicitly disclose BSS Color values indicated. However, in analogous art, Sugaya disclose BSS Color values indicated (See ¶[0048],[0110]. Disclosed BSS color as a compact, efficient identifier that reduces overhead compared to traditional identifiers.). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Sugaya to modify Liang and Stacey.Liang teaches a mechanism where AP identifier are carried in a frame sent before the channel measurement report frame, and the APs obtain their respective fields in the report frame based on an order in the identification information of the APs. Sugaya teaches BSS Color as an efficient, compact identifier(6-bit vs 48-bit BSSID) that can be processed at the physical layer header level. This combination improvement in high-efficiency wireless communications. With regarding Claim 8, Liang, Stacey and Sugaya disclosed the method of claim 7, Liang disclose wherein subfields for the channel measurement value are included in the second frame in the order of subfields for the BSS Color value in the first frame (See ¶[0170], [0144], [0174]. Disclosed STA information fields containing both identifiers and measurements, and identification information is provided separately and used to interpret ordered fields in the measurement report.). Liang and Stacey may not explicitly disclose the BSS Color value in the first frame. However, in analogous art, Sugaya disclose the BSS Color value in the first frame (See ¶[0048],[0110]. Disclosed using BSS Color values as identifiers for APs/BSSs within the same ESS, the BSS color information is information identifying each BSS in an upper-level ESS including the BSS to which its own device belongs.). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Sugaya to modify Liang and Stacey.Liang teaches a mechanism where AP identifier are carried in a frame sent before the channel measurement report frame, and the APs obtain their respective fields in the report frame based on an order in the identification information of the APs. Sugaya teaches BSS Color as an efficient, compact identifier(6-bit vs 48-bit BSSID) that can be processed at the physical layer header level. This combination improvement in high-efficiency wireless communications. With regarding Claim 9, Liang, Stacey disclosed the method of claim 1, Liang disclose wherein, based on that BSS Color values corresponding to each of the plurality of APs for which measurement is requested by the STA are not included in the first frame, subfields for BSS Color values of frames measured by the STA in the second frame and subfields for corresponding channel measurement values are included (See ¶[0009],[0144], [0170]. Disclosed the inclusion of identifiers with channel state information in report frames). Liang and Stacey may not explicitly disclose BSS Color values of frames measured. However, in analogous art, Sugaya disclose BSS Color values of frames measured (See ¶[0048],[0110]-[0112]. Disclosed BSS Color as the standard, efficient identifier for BSSs in IEEE 802.11 systems, replacing longer identifiers like BSSID.). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Sugaya to modify Liang and Stacey. Liang teaches a mechanism where AP identifier are carried in a frame sent before the channel measurement report frame, and the APs obtain their respective fields in the report frame based on an order in the identification information of the APs. Sugaya teaches BSS Color as an efficient, compact identifier(6-bit vs 48-bit BSSID) that can be processed at the physical layer header level. This combination improvement in high-efficiency wireless communications. With regarding Claim 10, Liang, Stacey and Sugaya disclosed the method of claim 9, Liang disclose wherein the frames measured by the STA are arbitrarily selected by the STA (See ¶[0009],[0131], [0153]. Disclosed that the STA can select a subset of APs (m APs) from a larger set of available APs (n APs) based on channel state information. This selection process is performed by the STA itself, establishing that the STA has the capability to arbitrarily choose which APs to measure and report on.). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Sugaya to modify Liang and Stacey.Liang teaches that the STA selects target APs for channel measurement reporting from a larger pool of available APs. This selection is made by the STA based on its own criteria, demonstrating arbitrating selection capability. With regarding Claim 11, Liang, Stacey and Sugaya disclosed the method of claim 9, Liang disclose wherein the number of subfields for the BSS Color value and the channel measurement value is predetermined, or an end subfield indicates that subfields for the BSS Color value and the channel measurement value have ended (See ¶[0009],[0131], [0153]-[0155]. Disclosed reporting channel state information for multiple APs but does not address predetermined field structure for BSS Color and measurement pairs). Liang may not explicitly disclose an end subfield indicates that subfields for the BSS Color value and the channel measurement value have ended. However, in analogous art, Stacey disclose an end subfield indicates that subfields for the BSS Color value and the channel measurement value have ended (See FIG. 15-16, and ¶[0125]-[0126], [0132], [0163]. Disclosed the structure of frames used for multiple access point coordination, including fields for identifying multiple Aps and their operational parameters). Liang and Stacey may not explicitly disclose BSS Color value and the channel measurement value. However, in analogous art, Sugaya disclose BSS Color value and the channel measurement value (See ¶[0048],[0110]. Disclosed using BSS Color values as identifiers for APs/BSSs within the same ESS, the BSS color information is information identifying each BSS in an upper-level ESS including the BSS to which its own device belongs.). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Sugaya to modify Liang and Stacey.Liang teaches a mechanism where AP identifier are carried in a frame sent before the channel measurement report frame, and the APs obtain their respective fields in the report frame based on an order in the identification information of the APs. Sugaya teaches BSS Color as an efficient, compact identifier(6-bit vs 48-bit BSSID) that can be processed at the physical layer header level. This combination improvement in high-efficiency wireless communications.
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.
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/SHIVAKRISHNA VALLAMDASU/Examiner, Art Unit 2468
/Thomas R Cairns/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2468
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