DETAILED ACTION
This communication is in responsive to Application 18/575845 filed 12/30/2023. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Status of Claims:
Claims 1-20 are presented for examination.
Information Disclosure Statement
3. The Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) complies with 37 CFR 1.97 provisions. Accordingly, the Examiner has considered the IDS.
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.
Claims 6, 16 and 20 are 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.
Claims 6, 16 and 20 recite the limitation “with the previous sensing setup.” There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-8 and 10-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (2) as being anticipated by Lim et al. (hereinafter Lim) US 2026/0012826 A1.
Regarding Claim 1, Lim teaches a device, the device comprising processing circuitry coupled to storage (Figs. 15 & 16; device), the processing circuitry configured to:
initiate sensing measurements by sending a sensing null data packet announcement (NDPA) frame to an access point (AP) responder (Figs. 15-16 & ¶0103-¶0104 & claim 1; initiator may transmit an NDPA frame e.g. sensing NDPA frame to the n responders. After a SIFS elapses from the time of transmitting the NDPA frame, the initiator may transmit an NDP frame to the n responders. ¶0102; sensing STAs may include STAs and APs);
and send one or more first null data packet (NDP) packets to the AP (Fig. 15 & ¶0104 & claim 1; After a SIFS elapses from the time of transmitting the NDPA frame, the initiator may transmit an NDP frame to the n responders. ¶0102; sensing STAs may include STAs and APs).
Regarding Claim 2, Lim further teaches the device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to identify one or more second NDP packets received from the AP responder (Figs. 15-16 & ¶0103-¶0104 & claim 1; initiator may transmit an NDPA frame to the n responders. After a SIFS elapses from the time of transmitting the NDPA frame, the initiator may transmit an NDP frame to the n responders).
Regarding Claim 3, Lim further teaches the device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to: identify one or more second NDP packets received from the AP responder instead of sending one or more first null data packet (NDP) packets to the AP responder (Figs. 15-16 & ¶0103-¶0104 & claim 1; the initiator may transmit an NDP frame to the n responders which means that one or more second NDP packets are being send to different responders).
Regarding Claim 4, Lim further teaches the device of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to append an STA info field (¶0106; FIG. 15 and/or FIG. 16, for the transmission of the NDP frame, the sensing STA may transmit an NDPA frame to inform about the transmission of the NDP frame. In this case, the NDPA frame may be configured as follows to indicate that the NDP frame transmitted for channel measurement is transmitted for a sensing operation) using a particular association identification (AID) value to identify the sensing NDPA frame (¶0186-¶0190; Special User Field may include a specific Association Identifier (AID) to distinguish it from other user fields).
Regarding Claim 5, Lim further teaches the device of claim 1, wherein the one or more first NDP packets are sent after short inter-frame space (SIFS) of the sensing NDPA frame (Figs. 15-16; see SIFS for sensing NDPA frame).
Regarding Claim 6, Lim further teaches the device of claim 1, wherein the NDPA frame comprise a Measurement Setup ID which associates the transmission with the previous sensing setup (¶0184-¶0198; sounding Dialog Token Number field with a length of 6 bits may be used to represent the measurement instance ID. The name of this field may remain the same or may be changed to Measurement Instance ID).
Regarding Claim 7, Lim further teaches the device of claim 1, wherein the NDPA frame comprise a dedicated signaling field that specify whether uplink (UL) NDP and downlink (DL) NDP is needed (¶0230-¶0232; Technical Feature 3. G. vii. 1. Both UL (trigger frame-based sounding, TF) and DL (NDPA-based sounding, NDPA) sounding can be present within one sensing measurement. Therefore, the information may be intended to indicate which of the UL/DL soundings is performed first).
Regarding Claim 8, Lim further teaches the device of claim 1, further comprising a transceiver configured to transmit and receive wireless signals (¶0096-¶0098; see transceiver 630).
Regarding Claim 10, Lim teaches an access point (AP) device (Figs. 15-16 & ¶0103; initiator may be an AP or non-AP STA), the AP device comprising processing circuitry coupled to storage, the processing circuitry configured to: identify a sensing null data packet announcement (NDPA) frame received from a non-AP station (STA) device (Figs. 15-16 & ¶0101-¶0104 & claim 1; a method for transmitting NDP frames to a non-AP STA to perform WLAN sensing using Wi-Fi signaling, or for transmitting NDP frames to a non-AP STA, including information about the NDP frames to indicate that the transmitted NDPA frames are NDPA frames for sensing (i.e., Sensing NDPA). ¶0102; sensing STAs may include STAs and Aps. ¶0103; initiator may be an AP or non-AP STA. This means that the device receives NDPA frame from non-STA);
and identify one or more first NDP packets received from the STA device (Fig. 15 & ¶0101-¶0104 & claim 1; After a SIFS elapses from the time of transmitting the NDPA frame, the initiator may transmit an NDP frame to the n responders. ¶0102; sensing STAs may include STAs and Aps. ¶0103; initiator may be an AP or non-AP STA. This means that the device receives NDPA frame from non-STA which indicates identify the packet).
Regarding Claim 11, Lim further teaches the AP device of claim 10, the processing circuitry is further configured to: send one or more second null data packet (NDP) packets to the STA device (Fig. 15 & ¶0101-¶0104 & claim 1; After a SIFS elapses from the time of transmitting the NDPA frame, the initiator may transmit an NDP frame to the n responders. ¶0102; sensing STAs may include STAs and Aps. ¶0103; initiator may be an AP or non-AP STA. This means that the device receives NDPA frame from non-STA which indicates identify the packet).
Regarding Claim 12, Lim further teaches the AP device of claim 10, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to: send one or more second null data packet (NDP) packets to the STA device instead of identifying one or more first NDP packets received from the STA device (Fig. 15 & ¶0101-¶0104 & claim 1; After a SIFS elapses from the time of transmitting the NDPA frame, the initiator may transmit an NDP frame to the n responders. ¶0102; sensing STAs may include STAs and Aps. ¶0103; initiator may be an AP or non-AP STA. This means that the device receives NDPA frame from non-STA which indicates identify the packet).
Claim 13 is substantially similar to claim 1, thus the same rationale applies.
Regarding Claim 14, Lim further teaches the non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise appending an STA info field using a particular association identification (AID) value to identify the sensing NDPA frame (¶0186-¶0190; Special User Field may include a specific Association Identifier (AID) to distinguish it from other user fields).
Regarding Claim 15, Lim further teaches the non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the one or more NDP packets are sent after short inter-frame space (SIFS) of the sensing NDPA frame (Figs. 15-16; see SIFS for sensing NDPA frame).
Regarding Claim 16, Lim further teaches the non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the NDPA frame comprise a Measurement Setup ID which associates the transmission with the previous sensing setup (¶0184-¶0198; sounding Dialog Token Number field with a length of 6 bits may be used to represent the measurement instance ID. The name of this field may remain the same or may be changed to Measurement Instance ID).
Claim 17 is substantially similar to claims 1 and 10, thus the same rationale applies.
Regarding Claim 18, Lim further teaches the method of claim 17, further comprising appending an STA info field using a particular association identification (AID) value to identify the sensing NDPA frame (¶0186-¶0190; Special User Field may include a specific Association Identifier (AID) to distinguish it from other user fields).
Regarding Claim 19, Lim further teaches the method of claim 17, wherein the one or more NDP packets are sent after short inter-frame space (SIFS) of the sensing NDPA frame (Figs. 15-16; see SIFS for sensing NDPA frame).
Regarding Claim 20, Lim further teaches the method of claim 17, wherein the NDPA frame comprise a Measurement Setup ID which associates the transmission with the previous sensing setup (¶0184-¶0198; sounding Dialog Token Number field with a length of 6 bits may be used to represent the measurement instance ID. The name of this field may remain the same or may be changed to Measurement Instance ID).
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 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 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.
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lim in view of Chu WO 2018/200164 A1.
Regarding Claim 9, Lim teaches the device of claim 8, but does not expressly teach further comprising an antenna coupled to the transceiver to cause to send the frame.
Chu is analogous art because Chu is directed to a first communication device (e.g., the client station 154) transmits a PPDU 1116 that includes an SU UL NDPA 1116 having information indicating the initiation of an SU ranging measurement exchange. In an embodiment, the SU UL NDPA in the PPDU 1116 is a type of NDPA frame specifically for initiating an SU ranging measurement exchange such as the SU ranging measurement exchange 1100. The SU UL NDPA in the PPDU 1116 causes the AP 114 [Ap responder] to be ready to receive an NDP as part of an SU ranging measurement exchange. See Figs. 11A & 11B & ¶00148.
Chu also teaches further comprising an antenna coupled to the transceiver to cause to send the frame (Fig. 1 & ¶0033 & ¶0047; includes a plurality of transceivers 134, and the transceivers 134 are coupled to a plurality of antennas 138. Although three transceivers 134 and three antennas 138 are illustrated in Fig. 1, the AP 114 includes other suitable numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 5, etc.) of transceivers 134 and antennas 138 in other embodiments. In some embodiments, the AP 114 includes a higher number of antennas 138 than transceivers 134, and antenna switching techniques are utilized).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed limitation to incorporate the teachings of Chu into the system of Lim in order to enable efficient two-way communication, improving signal strength, and extending coverage. A transceiver combines a transmitter and receiver in one unit, allowing devices to send and receive data simultaneously (common knowledge).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MAHRAN ABU ROUMI whose telephone number is (469)295-9170. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 6AM-5PM.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Emmanuel Moise can be reached at 571-272-3865. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
MAHRAN ABU ROUMI
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2455
/MAHRAN Y ABU ROUMI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2455