Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/596,970

Transmission Method and Apparatus Applied to Tunneled Direct Link Setup

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Mar 06, 2024
Priority
Sep 07, 2021 — CN 202111044588.7 +1 more
Examiner
CARDONE, JASON D
Art Unit
2458
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
85%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
53 granted / 61 resolved
+28.9% vs TC avg
Minimal -2% lift
Without
With
+-1.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
14 currently pending
Career history
72
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
6.2%
-33.8% vs TC avg
§103
59.9%
+19.9% vs TC avg
§102
20.2%
-19.8% vs TC avg
§112
8.2%
-31.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 61 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION 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 . Specification A new title of the invention has been filed and the objection, to the previous title, has been withdrawn. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-20 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 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Patil et al. (hereinafter “Patil”) [PGPUB 2018/0184285]. Regarding claim 1, the Patil reference discloses an apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory and configured to execute the instructions [ie. wireless device (STA); Patil; figures 2 and 10; paragraphs 0264-0267 and 0290] to cause the apparatus to: send a first radio frame comprising initiator address information, responder address information, and a first basic service set identifier (BSSID) in a multiple BSSID set [ie. “a frame control field, a receiver address field, a transmitter address field, or a destination address field, or a variable field, or any combination thereof”, “first attribute value and the second attribute value comprises a BSS color, a BSSID, a MAC address, or any combination thereof”; Patil; fig 2; para 0077-0082, 0130, 0148, 0218-0219, and 0272], wherein the multiple BSSID set comprises a second BSSID of a first basic service set (BSS) in which an initiator is located and a third BSSID of a second BSS in which a responder is located, wherein the second BSSID is different from the third BSSID [The claim does not restrict the first BSSID, where the 1st BSSID could be the 2nd or 3rd BSSID. The claim only restricts the 2nd BSSID is “different from “ the 3rd BSSID; ie. Different BSSIDs for each initiator and responder, in a multiple BSSID set system; Patil; fig 2 and 8; para 0130, 0135, 0197, 0240, 0272, and 0276], and wherein the first radio frame is a Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS) discovery request frame or a TDLS setup request frame [Patil; para 0121, 0126-0127, and 0130]; and receive, from the responder, a second radio frame, wherein the second radio frame is a response frame based on the first radio frame [ie. receiver probe response frame; Patil; para 0172, 0175, and 0264]. Regarding claim 2, the Patil reference further discloses a first station (STA) is associated with the initiator and a second STA is associated with the responder, and wherein: the initiator is the first station STA and the responder is the second STA; or the initiator is the first multi-link device (MLD) in which the first STA is located and the responder is the second MLD in which the second STA is located [Patil; fig 1, 2 and 10; para 0130, 0135, 0240, 0272, 0276, and 0290]. Regarding claim 3, the Patil reference further discloses the first STA is located in the first BSS, wherein the second BSSID is different from the third BSSID of the second BSS, and wherein the second STA is located in the second BSS [Patil; fig 2; para 0130, 0135, 0240, and 0272]. Regarding claim 4, the Patil reference further discloses the first BSSID corresponds to the first BSS, wherein the first STA is located in the first BSS [Patil; fig 2; para 0130, 0135, 0240, and 0272]. Regarding claim 5, the Patil reference further discloses the second radio frame comprises the initiator address information, the responder address information, wherein the third BSSID is included in the multiple BSSID set, and wherein the multiple BSSID set comprises the second BSSID [Patil; para 0126, 0130, 0136, and 0195-0197]. Regarding claim 6, the Patil reference further discloses the third BSSID is a transmitted BSSID in the multiple BSSID set [Patil; para 0059, 0126, 0130, 0231-0232 and 0272]. Regarding claim 7, the Patil reference further discloses the first BSSID is the same as the third BSSID [Patil; para 0059, 0126, 0130, 0231-0232 and 0272]. Regarding claim 8, the Patil reference further discloses the first radio frame is a Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS) discovery request frame and the second radio frame is a TDLS discovery response frame [Patil; para 0121, 0126-0127, 0130, and 0276]. Regarding claim 9, the Patil reference discloses an apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory and configured to execute the instructions [ie. wireless device (STA); Patil; figures 2 and 10; paragraphs 0264-0267] to cause the apparatus to: receive, from an initiator, a first radio frame comprising initiator address information, responder address information, and a first basic service set identifier (BSSID) in a multiple BSSID set [ie. “a frame control field, a receiver address field, a transmitter address field, or a destination address field, or a variable field, or any combination thereof”, “first attribute value and the second attribute value comprises a BSS color, a BSSID, a MAC address, or any combination thereof”; Patil; fig 2; para 0077-0082, 0130, 0135-0136, 0217-0219, and 0272], wherein the multiple BSSID set comprises a second BSSID of a first basic service set (BSS) in which a responder is located, wherein the first BSSID is in the multiple BSSID set and is different from the second BSSID [The claim does not restrict the first BSSID, where the 1st BSSID could be the 2nd or 3rd BSSID. The claim only restricts the 2nd BSSID is “different from “ the 3rd BSSID; ie. Different BSSIDs for each initiator and responder, in a multiple BSSID set system; Patil; fig 2 and 8; para 0130, 0135, 0197, 0240, 0272, and 0276], and wherein the first radio frame is a Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS) discovery request frame or a TDLS setup request frame [Patil; para 0121, 0126-0127, and 0130]; and send a second radio frame, wherein the second radio frame is a response frame based on the first radio frame [ie. send probe response frame; Patil; para 0172, 0175, and 0264]. Regarding claims 10-16, the apparatus of claims 10-16 perform the similar steps as the apparatus of claims 2-8. The Patil reference teaches the apparatus of claims 2-8, as referenced above. Therefore, claims 10-16 are rejected using the same art and rationale set forth above in the rejection of claims 2-8, by the teachings of Patil. Regarding claims 17-20, the method of claims 17-20 perform the similar steps as the apparatus of claims 1-4. The Patil reference teaches the apparatus of claims 1-4, as referenced above. Therefore, claims 17-20 are rejected using the same art and rationale set forth above in the rejection of claims 1-4, by the teachings of Patil. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Seok et al. [PGPUB 2016/0249397] describes supporting multiple BSSID for MLDs. 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 JASON D CARDONE whose telephone number is (571)272-3933. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri. 8am-4pmEST. 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, Umar Cheema can be reached at 571-270-3037. 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. /JASON D CARDONE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2458
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 06, 2024
Application Filed
Mar 25, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Mar 27, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jun 24, 2026
Response Filed
Sep 08, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
87%
Grant Probability
85%
With Interview (-1.9%)
2y 6m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 61 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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