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 .
Claims 1-30 are pending.
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 of this title, 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.
Claims 1-2, 22-23, and 28-29 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hu et al. (Pub. No.: US 20230179332 A1), hereinafter Hu, in view of Liu et al. (Pub. No.: US 20170104553 A1), hereinafter Liu.
With respect to claim 1, Hu teaches An apparatus for wireless communication ([0007], apparatus), comprising:
a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code, the processing system configured to cause the apparatus to ([0007], memory coupled to processor and capable of being accessed by processor and storing data): obtain an indication of a resource unit and an indication of a bandwidth ([0007], indication of a resource unit and bandwidth), wherein a first subset of resource units associated with the bandwidth comprises the indicated resource unit ([0030], a transmission bandwidth of 20 MHz, 40 MHz or 80 MHz, bit B56 indicates the RU type as rRU or dRU for a 20 MHz, 40 MHz or 80 MHz bandwidth), the bandwidth being associated with the first subset and a second subset of resource units ([0030], bandwidth being associated with the first subset and a second subset of resource units), wherein each of the resource units of the first subset includes a quantity of tones that is smaller than a quantity of tones of each of the resource units of the second subset ([0030], bandwidth of 20 MHz, 40 MHz or 80 MHz, bit B56 indicates the RU, bandwidth of 160 MHz, each of bits B56 and B57 indicates the RU), and wherein the indicated resource unit comprises a first pair of consecutively populated tones ([0024], a RU with tones that are continuous), a second pair of consecutively populated tones ([0024], a RU with tones that are continuous), and a third pair of consecutively populated tones ([0024], a RU with tones that are continuous); and
output a frame for transmission via the bandwidth and in accordance with the indicated resource unit (fig. 11, [0062-0064], transmit a frame for transmission via the bandwidth and in accordance with the indicated resource unit).
Hu does not explicitly teach a first tone spacing, a second tone spacing, and a third tone spacing between.
However, Liu teaches a first tone spacing, a second tone spacing, and a third tone spacing between ([0038], RU size 26 with tone spacing between).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Liu, a first tone spacing, a second tone spacing, and a third tone spacing between, into the teachings of Hu, in order to LDPC tone mapping for dual subcarrier modulation (DCM) in wireless communications systems (Liu, [0002]).
With respect to claim 2, the combination of Hu and Liu teaches the apparatus of claim 1. Hu teaches obtain a trigger frame soliciting the frame, wherein the trigger frame includes the indication of the resource unit and the indication of the bandwidth ([0029], trigger frame indicates the resource unit and indicates the bandwidth), and wherein the frame is output for transmission after obtaining the trigger frame (fig. 11, [0062-0064], the frame is output for transmission after obtaining the trigger frame).
With respect to claim 22, the combination of Hu and Liu teaches the apparatus of claim 1. Hu teaches receive the indication of the resource unit and the indication of the bandwidth ([0007], indication of a resource unit and bandwidth); and transmit the frame via the bandwidth and in accordance with the indicated resource unit (fig. 11, [0062-0064], transmit a frame for transmission via the bandwidth and in accordance with the indicated resource unit) wherein: the apparatus is configured as a wireless station (STA) (fig. 1, [0007, 0027], STA).
With respect to claim 23, Hu teaches An apparatus for wireless communication ([0007], apparatus), comprising:
a processing system that includes processor circuitry and memory circuitry that stores code, the processing system configured to cause the apparatus to ([0007], memory coupled to processor and capable of being accessed by processor and storing data): output, for transmission, an indication of a resource unit and an indication of a bandwidth ([0007], indication of a resource unit and bandwidth), wherein a first subset of resource units associated with the bandwidth comprises the indicated resource unit ([0030], a transmission bandwidth of 20 MHz, 40 MHz or 80 MHz, bit B56 indicates the RU type as rRU or dRU for a 20 MHz, 40 MHz or 80 MHz bandwidth), the bandwidth being associated with the first subset and a second subset of resource units ([0030], bandwidth being associated with the first subset and a second subset of resource units), wherein each of the resource units of the first subset includes a quantity of tones that is smaller than a quantity of tones of each of the resource units of the second subset ([0030], bandwidth of 20 MHz, 40 MHz or 80 MHz, bit B56 indicates the RU, bandwidth of 160 MHz, each of bits B56 and B57 indicates the RU), and wherein the indicated resource unit comprises a first pair of consecutively populated tones ([0024], a RU with tones that are continuous), a second pair of consecutively populated tones ([0024], a RU with tones that are continuous), and a third pair of consecutively populated tones ([0024], a RU with tones that are continuous); and
obtain a frame via the bandwidth and in accordance with the indicated resource unit (fig. 11, [0062-0064], transmit a frame for transmission via the bandwidth and in accordance with the indicated resource unit).
Hu does not explicitly teach a first tone spacing, a second tone spacing, and a third tone spacing between.
However, Liu teaches a first tone spacing, a second tone spacing, and a third tone spacing between ([0038], RU size 26 with tone spacing between).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Liu, a first tone spacing, a second tone spacing, and a third tone spacing between, into the teachings of Hu, in order to LDPC tone mapping for dual subcarrier modulation (DCM) in wireless communications systems (Liu, [0002]).
With respect to claim 28, this claim recites the apparatus of claim 22, and it is rejected for at least the same reasons.
With respect to claim 29, Hu teaches A method for wireless communication at a wireless node ([0007], a method), comprising:
obtaining an indication of a resource unit and an indication of a bandwidth ([0007], indication of a resource unit and bandwidth), wherein a first subset of resource units associated with the bandwidth comprises the indicated resource unit ([0030], a transmission bandwidth of 20 MHz, 40 MHz or 80 MHz, bit B56 indicates the RU type as rRU or dRU for a 20 MHz, 40 MHz or 80 MHz bandwidth), the bandwidth being associated with the first subset and a second subset of resource units ([0030], bandwidth being associated with the first subset and a second subset of resource units), wherein each of the resource units of the first subset includes a quantity of tones that is smaller than a quantity of tones of each of the resource units of the second subset ([0030], bandwidth of 20 MHz, 40 MHz or 80 MHz, bit B56 indicates the RU, bandwidth of 160 MHz, each of bits B56 and B57 indicates the RU), and wherein the indicated resource unit comprises a first pair of consecutively populated tones ([0024], a RU with tones that are continuous), a second pair of consecutively populated tones ([0024], a RU with tones that are continuous), and a third pair of consecutively populated tones ([0024], a RU with tones that are continuous); and
outputting a frame for transmission via the bandwidth and in accordance with the indicated resource unit (fig. 11, [0062-0064], transmit a frame for transmission via the bandwidth and in accordance with the indicated resource unit).
Hu does not explicitly teach a first tone spacing, a second tone spacing, and a third tone spacing between.
However, Liu teaches a first tone spacing, a second tone spacing, and a third tone spacing between ([0038], RU size 26 with tone spacing between).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Liu, a first tone spacing, a second tone spacing, and a third tone spacing between, into the teachings of Hu, in order to LDPC tone mapping for dual subcarrier modulation (DCM) in wireless communications systems (Liu, [0002]).
With respect to claim 30, Hu teaches A method for wireless communication at a wireless node, comprising ([0007], a method):
outputting, for transmission, an indication of a resource unit and an indication of a bandwidth ([0007], indication of a resource unit and bandwidth), wherein a first subset of resource units associated with the bandwidth comprises the indicated resource unit ([0030], a transmission bandwidth of 20 MHz, 40 MHz or 80 MHz, bit B56 indicates the RU type as rRU or dRU for a 20 MHz, 40 MHz or 80 MHz bandwidth), the bandwidth being associated with the first subset and a second subset of resource units ([0030], bandwidth being associated with the first subset and a second subset of resource units), wherein each of the resource units of the first subset includes a quantity of tones that is smaller than a quantity of tones of each of the resource units of the second subset ([0030], bandwidth of 20 MHz, 40 MHz or 80 MHz, bit B56 indicates the RU, bandwidth of 160 MHz, each of bits B56 and B57 indicates the RU), and wherein the indicated resource unit comprises a first pair of consecutively populated tones ([0024], a RU with tones that are continuous), a second pair of consecutively populated tones ([0024], a RU with tones that are continuous), and a third pair of consecutively populated tones ([0024], a RU with tones that are continuous); and
obtaining a frame via the bandwidth and in accordance with the indicated resource unit (fig. 11, [0062-0064], transmit a frame for transmission via the bandwidth and in accordance with the indicated resource unit).
Hu does not explicitly teach a first tone spacing, a second tone spacing, and a third tone spacing between.
However, Liu teaches a first tone spacing, a second tone spacing, and a third tone spacing between ([0038], RU size 26 with tone spacing between).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Liu, a first tone spacing, a second tone spacing, and a third tone spacing between, into the teachings of Hu, in order to LDPC tone mapping for dual subcarrier modulation (DCM) in wireless communications systems (Liu, [0002]).
Claims 13 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hu, in view of Liu, and further in view of LIM et al. (Pub. No.: US 20250080289 A1), hereinafter LIM.
With respect to claim 13, the combination of Hu and Liu teaches the apparatus of claim 1. Hu wherein the bandwidth is 20 megahertz (MHz), the first subset of resource units including ([0030], bandwidth of 20 MHz).
The combination of Hu and Liu does not explicitly teach a first resource unit having x tones; and a second resource unit having y tones.
However, LIM teaches a first resource unit having x tones; and a second resource unit having y tones ([0224-0225], X-tone RU, and Y-tone RU).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of LIM, a first resource unit having x tones; and a second resource unit having y tones, into the teachings of Hu and Liu, in order to provide a method and a device for distributing and allocating multiple resource units in a WLAN system (LIM, [0005]).
With respect to claim 19 the combination of Hu and Liu teaches the apparatus of claim 1. Hu wherein the bandwidth is 80 megahertz (MHz), the first subset of resource units including ([0030], bandwidth of 80 MHz).
The combination of Hu and Liu does not explicitly teach a first resource unit having x tones; and a second resource unit having y tones.
However, LIM teaches a first resource unit having x tones; and a second resource unit having y tones ([0224-0225], X-tone RU, and Y-tone RU).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of LIM, a first resource unit having x tones; and a second resource unit having y tones, into the teachings of Hu and Liu, in order to provide a method and a device for distributing and allocating multiple resource units in a WLAN system (LIM, [0005]).
Claim 16 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hu, in view of Liu, in view of LIM, and further in view of Hu et al. (Pub. No.: US 20240114462 A1), hereinafter ‘462.
With respect to claim 16, the combination of Hu and Liu teaches the apparatus of claim 1. Hu wherein the bandwidth is 40 megahertz (MHz), the first subset of resource units including ([0030], bandwidth of 40 MHz).
The combination of Hu and Liu does not explicitly teach a first resource unit having x tones; and a second resource unit having y tones.
However, LIM teaches a first resource unit having x tones; and a second resource unit having y tones ([0024-0025], X-tone RU, and Y-tone RU).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of LIM, a first resource unit having x tones; and a second resource unit having y tones, into the teachings of Hu and Liu, in order to provide a method and a device for distributing and allocating multiple resource units in a WLAN system (LIM, [0005]).
The combination of Hu and Liu and LIM does not explicitly teach a third resource unit having z tones.
However, ‘462 teaches a third resource unit having z tones ([0024-0025], X-tone RU, and Y-tone RU).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of ‘462, a third resource unit having z tones, into the teachings of Hu and Liu and LIM, in order for determining transmit power in a wireless local area network and a related apparatus (‘462, [0002]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-12, 14-15, 17-18, 20-21, and 24-27 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
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Pub. No.: US 20240195582 A1; “Gong”, ([0011])
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KIET TANG whose telephone number is (571)270-7193. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 8:00-5:00.
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, IAN MOORE can be reached on (571) 272-3085. 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.
/KIET TANG/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2469
Prosecution Insights