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 .
Claim Objections
Claims 9 and 17 objected to because of the following informalities: claim 9 recites the limitation “the processor configured to: transmit…; receive…;”. Claim 17 recites the limitation “the processor configured to: receive…; transmit…;”. The claim limitations seem to suggest that the processor (not the transceiver) is transmitting and receiving at the first wireless device and access point. The examiner suggests amending the claims clarify that the processor is configured to enable the transceiver to transmit and receive. Appropriate correction is required.
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)(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.
(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, 2, 5, 6, 8-10, 13, 14, 16, 17, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Ross et al US 20180042047 (hereinafter Ross).
Regarding claim 1, Ross discloses a method of wireless communication performed by a first wireless device (SCA capable node, see [0019], [0023]), the method comprising:
transmitting a message indicating a capability to support a simultaneous channel access transmission to a second wireless device (SCA capable STAs/nodes advertise that they are capable of SCA to an AP, see figs. 1 and 2, [0019], [0023]);
receiving, from the second wireless device (AP, see [0019], [0023]), an indication for support of the simultaneous channel access transmission (an AP may advertise the capability to support SCA, see fig. 2, [0023]);
negotiating parameters of coordination for the simultaneous channel access transmission with the second wireless device (SCA transmitter and SCA receiver agree ahead of time that the SCA transmission will take place, see [0027]-[0030]);
performing coordinated channel access inside coordination windows for the simultaneous channel access transmission with the second wireless device (see [0019], [0030], [0032]-[0033]); and
performing uncoordinated channel access outside the coordination windows for non-simultaneous channel access transmission with the second wireless device (periods in which PCA transmission is performed; operating outside the SCA agreement, see [0029], [0032], [0035]).
Regarding claim 2 as applied to claim 1, Ross further discloses wherein:
the first wireless device is a member of a first inter-connected network (1020-1040, see fig. 1, [0017]), and the second wireless device comprises an access point (AP) associated with a second inter-connected network (1050, see fig. 1, [0017]).
Regarding claim 5 as applied to claim 2, Ross further discloses wherein performing the coordinated channel access inside the coordination windows comprises:
coordinating transmission of devices within the first inter-connected network to access the channel with applicable constraints (see fig. 1, [0017], [0019], [0029], [0031]-[0033]); and
coordinating transmission of devices within the second inter-connected network to access the channel with applicable constraints (see fig. 1, [0017], [0019], [0029], [0031]-[0033]).
Regarding claim 6 as applied to claim 5, Ross further discloses wherein the constrained coordinated transmission within the coordination windows by each of the first inter-connected network and the second inter-connected network comprises selection of transmitting devices, resource allocations to the transmitting devices, and transmit powers and modulation and coding schemes that comply with the negotiated parameters of coordination (see [0031]-[0034], [0036]-[0037]).
Regarding claim 8 as applied to claim 1, Ross further discloses altering one or more of the parameters of coordination for a prior negotiation for simultaneous channel access transmission (see [0029]); or terminating the prior negotiation for simultaneous channel access transmission.
Regarding claim 9, Ross discloses a first wireless device (STA 10010, see figs. 10 and 11, [0040]) comprising:
a transceiver (10050, 10080, see fig. 10, [0041], [0044]-[0045]); and
a processor operably coupled to the transceiver (see figs. 10 and 11, [0040]), the processor configured to:
transmit a message indicating a capability to support a simultaneous channel access transmission to a second wireless device (SCA capable STAs/nodes advertise that they are capable of SCA to an AP, see figs. 1 and 2, [0019], [0023]);
receive, from the second wireless device (AP, see [0019], [0023]), an indication for support of the simultaneous channel access transmission (an AP may advertise the capability to support SCA, see fig. 2, [0023]);
negotiate parameters of coordination for the simultaneous channel access transmission with the second wireless device (SCA transmitter and SCA receiver agree ahead of time that the SCA transmission will take place, see [0027]-[0030]);
perform coordinated channel access inside coordination windows for the simultaneous channel access transmission with the second wireless device (see [0019], [0030], [0032]-[0033]); and
perform uncoordinated channel access outside the coordination windows for non-simultaneous channel access transmission with the second wireless device (periods in which PCA transmission is performed; operating outside the SCA agreement, see [0029], [0032], [0035]).
Regarding claim 10 as applied to claim 9, Ross further discloses wherein:
the first wireless device is a member of a first inter-connected network (1020-1040, see fig. 1, [0017]), and the second wireless device comprises an access point (AP) associated with a second inter-connected network (1050, see fig. 1, [0017]).
11. The first wireless device of Claim 10, wherein to negotiate the parameters of coordination, the processor is further configured to receive a message from the second wireless device with an indication of: an identifier of the negotiation being performed, a result of the negotiation being an accept, reject, or a rejection with suggestion of alternate parameters, a maximum interference level that can be tolerated by the second inter-connected network within the coordination windows, types of transmissions by the second inter-connected network within the coordination windows over which simultaneous transmission is allowed, and other parameters for simultaneous use of a transmission opportunity (TXOP) during the coordination windows.
Regarding claim 13 as applied to claim 10, Ross further discloses wherein to perform the coordinated channel access inside the coordination windows, the processor is further configured to:
coordinate transmission of devices within the first inter-connected network to access the channel with applicable constraints (see fig. 1, [0017], [0019], [0029], [0031]-[0033]); and
coordinate transmission of devices within the second inter-connected network to access the channel with applicable constraints (see fig. 1, [0017], [0019], [0029], [0031]-[0033]).
Regarding claim 14 as applied to claim 13, Ross further discloses wherein to coordinate transmission of devices within each of the first inter-connected network and the second inter-connected network, the processor is further configured to select transmitting devices, resource allocations to the transmitting devices, and transmit powers and modulation and coding schemes that comply with the negotiated parameters of coordination (see [0031]-[0034], [0036]-[0037]).
15. The first wireless device of Claim 9, wherein to negotiate the parameters of coordination, the processor is further configured to transmit a message with an indication of: an identifier of the negotiation being performed, a periodicity and duration of the coordination windows, required resources by a first inter-connected network within the coordination window, a transmit power to be used by devices of the first inter-connected network within the coordination windows, a maximum interference level that can be tolerated by the first inter-connected network within the coordination windows, link identifiers corresponding to links where the negotiated parameters are applicable, a direction of transmissions uplink, downlink or bidirectional that are allowed within the coordination windows, and other parameters for simultaneous use of a transmission opportunity (TXOP) during the coordination windows.
Regarding claim 16 as applied to claim 9, Ross further discloses wherein the processor is further configured to:
alter one or more of the parameters of coordination for a prior negotiation for simultaneous channel access transmission (see [0029]); or
terminate the prior negotiation for simultaneous channel access transmission.
Regarding claim 17, Ross discloses an access point (AP) associated with a second inter-connected network (AP 10010, see [0019], [0023], [0040]), the AP comprising:
a transceiver (10050, 10080, see fig. 10, [0041], [0044]-[0045]); and
a processor operably coupled to the transceiver (see figs. 10 and 11, [0040]), the processor configured to:
receive a message indicating a capability to support a simultaneous channel access transmission from a first wireless device (SCA capable STAs/nodes advertise that they are capable of SCA to an AP, see figs. 1 and 2, [0019], [0023]), wherein the first wireless device is a member of a first inter-connected network (see fig. 1, [0017]);
transmit, to the first wireless device (STA 10010, see figs. 10 and 11, [0040]), an indication for support of the simultaneous channel access transmission (an AP may advertise the capability to support SCA, see fig. 2, [0023]);
negotiate parameters of coordination for the simultaneous channel access transmission with the first wireless device (SCA transmitter and SCA receiver agree ahead of time that the SCA transmission will take place, see [0027]-[0030]);
perform coordinated channel access inside coordination windows for the simultaneous channel access transmission with the first wireless device (see [0019], [0030], [0032]-[0033]); and
perform uncoordinated channel access outside the coordination windows for non-simultaneous channel access transmission with the first wireless device (periods in which PCA transmission is performed; operating outside the SCA agreement, see [0029], [0032], [0035]).
Regarding claim 20 as applied to claim 17, Ross further discloses wherein to perform the coordinated channel access inside the coordination windows, the processor is further configured to:
coordinate transmission of devices within the first inter-connected network to access the channel with applicable constraints (see fig. 1, [0017], [0019], [0029], [0031]-[0033]); and
coordinate transmission of devices within the second inter-connected network to access the channel with applicable constraints (see fig. 1, [0017], [0019], [0029], [0031]-[0033]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3, 4, 7, 11, 12, 15, 18, and 19 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.
Tang US 20200229188 discloses a terminal device transmitting capability information to a network device to indicate that it has the capability in simultaneous transmission and reception on multiple carriers.
Zhang et al US 20170257885 discloses devices (AP and STA) exchanging multi-channel simultaneous capabilities.
Li et al US 20150036575 discloses negotiation of transmitting time between an access point and a wireless station.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to OLUMIDE T AJIBADE AKONAI whose telephone number is (571)272-6496. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8AM-4PM.
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, CHARLES N APPIAH can be reached at 571-272-7904. 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.
/OLUMIDE AJIBADE AKONAI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3648
Prosecution Insights