Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
2. 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.
3. Claims 1-3, 5-14, & 16-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Yang (2024/0334347).
Regarding claim 1, a method, comprising:
generating, by a processor of an apparatus (paragraph [0007]: processor), a distributed-tone resource unit (DRU)-based physical-layer protocol data unit (PPDU); (paragraph [0041]: FIG. 3 shows an example physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) usable for communications between a wireless AP and one or more wireless STAs.) (Paragraph [0110]: In some implementations, the STA 104-b may perform power boosting and/or TD repetition to improve reliability of one or more fields of the preamble 510. In some implementations, to get a 6 dB range extension, the STA 104-b may use a downclocking ratio of 8 with enlarged tone spacing on STF, such that the bandwidth for the transmission is 2.5 MHz, using MCS15, the STA 104-b may instead use a downclocking ratio of 5 using MCS14, or MCS15 with two frequency domain repetitions 520 of the ELR wireless packet 505, to accommodate a range gain threshold and carrier frequency offset (CFO) correction threshold.) (Paragraph [0192]: the wireless communication device 1000 can be configurable or configured to transmit and receive packets in the form of physical layer PPDUs and MPDUs conforming to one or more of the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocol standards.)
and transmitting, by the processor, the PPDU in an enhanced long range (ELR) communication. (Paragraph [0114]: each ELR wireless packet 505 may be transmitted with an extended long EHT STF for assigned resource unit to cover a transport block PPDU duration followed by a remaining narrowband resource unit portion.)
Regarding claim 2, the method of Claim 1,
wherein the PPDU comprises a plurality of functional blocks comprising a spoofing preamble, an ELR preamble, and an ELR data. (Paragraph [0093]: A wireless packet, such as a LR PPDU, may include a spoofing preamble, a preamble, and data. In some implementations, the ELR wireless packet 405 may be a non-standalone ELR PPDU that reuses an existing PPDU format with lower data rate than legacy formats, such as for an existing OFDM-based communication PPDUs or a new greenfield OFDM-based PPDU, or a standalone ELR PPDU with a new or updated preamble and data design that operates at a relatively low SNR.)
Regarding claim 3, the method of Claim 2, wherein the transmitting of the PPDU comprises transmitting the ELR data over a DRU with a fixed size and tone plan. (Paragraph [0114]: In some other implementations, each ELR wireless packet 505 may be transmitted with an extended long EHT STF for assigned resource unit to cover a transport block PPDU duration followed by a remaining narrowband resource unit portion.) (Paragraph 0110]: In some implementations, to get a 6 dB range extension, the STA 104-b may use a downclocking ratio of 8 with enlarged tone spacing on STF, such that the bandwidth for the transmission is 2.5 MHz, using MCS15, the STA 104-b may instead use a downclocking ratio of 5 using MCS14, or MCS15 with two frequency domain repetitions 520 of the ELR wireless packet 505, to accommodate a range gain threshold and carrier frequency offset (CFO) correction threshold.) (Paragraph [0035]: the ELR wireless packet may be associated with OFDM communications and the OFDM communications include the ELR wireless packet and a set of multiple wireless packets in accordance with the resource unit size and a tone plan associated with the ELR wireless packet and the set of multiple wireless packets.
Regarding claim 5, the method of Claim 2, wherein the ELR preamble comprises a DRU long training field (DRU-LTF) sequence. (Examiner’s notes: Fig. 4 410 depicts the composition of the Preamble containing STF, LTF, and SIGs) (paragraph [0110]: To achieve a 1 km coverage range, the STA 104-b may use a downclocking ratio of 10 using MCS14 and power boosting on STF with enlarged tone spacing and LTF, or use a downclocking ratio of 20 using MCS15 with 3 dB power boosting on the ELR STF 525 with enlarged tone spacing and the ELR LTF 530.)
Regarding claim 6, the method of Claim 5, wherein the transmitting of the PPDU comprises duplicating the DRU-LTF multiple times in a time domain. (Paragraph [0066]: In instances in which PPDUs are transmitted over a bonded channel, the preamble fields may be duplicated and transmitted in each of the multiple component channels.) (Paragraph [0099]: The form of repetitions may include performing DCM and multiple time domain repetitions, such as two time domain repetitions. In some implementations, each time domain repetition may have different interleaving parameters to maximize frequency diversity The form of repetitions may include encoding the ELR wireless packet 405 with a lower effective code rate, such as a quarter or an eighth of the code rate.) (Paragraph [0118]: Time domain repetitions may accommodate different tone plans, but may need the STA 104-b to apply an interleaver diversity to maximize a combining gain and also may need buffering for demodulation.)
Regarding claim 7, the method of Claim 5, wherein the ELR preamble further comprises an ELR short training field (ELR-STF), an ELR long training field (ELR-LTF) and an ELR signal field (ELR-SIG). (Examiner’s notes: Fig. 4 410 depicts the composition of the Preamble containing STF, LTF, and SIGs)
Regarding claim 8, the method of Claim 7, wherein each of the ELR-STF, the ELR-LTF and the ELR-SIG is duplicated in a frequency domain. (Paragraph [0109]: In some implementations, the STA 104-b may duplicate the ELR wireless packet 505 in the frequency domain to occupy the frequency band, such as the 20 MHZ frequency band. The STA 104-b may transmit one or more frequency domain repetitions 520, or duplications, of the ELR wireless packet 505 to improve reliability.)
Regarding claim 9, the method of Claim 5, wherein the ELR preamble further comprises a DRU signal field (DRU-SIG) using a DRU with a fixed modulation and carrying information related to the ELR data. (Paragraph [0096]: The STA 104-a may transmit the SIG fields 430 and data field 415 with ELR modulation.) (Paragraph [0132]: In some implementations, modulation of the U-SIG field(s) 635 may be two times repetition with MCS15 or four times repetition with MCS0. The L-SIG field 625 with four times repetition may be differentiated from the U-SIG field 635 with two times or four times repetition.)
Regarding claim 10, the method of Claim 5, wherein the spoofing preamble comprises a sequence of ELR signature symbols indicating the PPDU as an ELR PPDU. (Paragraph [0093]: A wireless packet, such as a LR PPDU, may include a spoofing preamble, a preamble, and data. In some implementations, the ELR wireless packet 405 may be a non-standalone ELR PPDU that reuses an existing PPDU format with lower data rate than legacy formats, such as for an existing OFDM-based communication PPDUs or a new greenfield OFDM-based PPDU, or a standalone ELR PPDU with a new or updated preamble and data design that operates at a relatively low SNR.) (paragraph [0141]: The preamble may include one or more fields, such as a STF, LTF, one or more SIG fields, and any other fields. The SIG fields may be a simplified SIG field that indicates whether the ELR wireless packet is for a single user or not, coding information, a length of the ELR wireless packet, an MCS, a bandwidth size, a resource unit size, or any combination thereof.)
Regarding claim 11, the method of Claim 1, wherein the PPDU comprises an ELR trigger-based (TB) PPDU comprising an ELR TB PPDU preamble and an ELR data. (paragraph [0164]: In some examples, the trigger frame manager 950 is configurable or configured to receive the indication in response to the request, the indication including a trigger frame that indicates protection for the ELR wireless packet, the ELR wireless packet including a trigger-based transmission associated at least in part with the trigger frame.)
Regarding claim 12, the method of Claim 11, wherein the transmitting of the PPDU comprises transmitting the ELR TB PPDU using an assigned DRU or a randomly selected DRU. (Paragraph [0077]: EHT-SIG 368 may be decoded by each compatible STA 104 served by the AP 102. EHT-SIG 368 may generally be used by a receiving device to interpret bits in the data field 374. For example, EHT-SIG 368 may include RU allocation information, spatial stream configuration information, and per-user (for example, STA-specific) signaling information) (Paragraph [0108]: In such cases, if a power imbalance is present between uplink and downlink, the STA 104-b may utilize subchannels and an RU allocation table for the downclocked bandwidth. Additionally, or alternatively, the STA 104-b may utilize a trigger frame for a narrowband transmission, which may be signaling from the AP 102-b that triggers transmission of the ELR wireless packet 505.)
Regarding claim 13, an apparatus, comprising: a transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly; (Paragraph [0007]: An apparatus for wireless communication at a wireless STA is described. The apparatus may include a processing system that includes one or more processors and one or more memories coupled with the one or more processors. The processing system may be configured to cause the apparatus to receive an indication to transmit an ELR wireless packet including a preamble and a data field, the ELR wireless packet...) (Paragraph [0159]: The processing system may further include or be coupled with multiple radios (collectively “the radio”), multiple RF chains or multiple transceivers, each of which may in turn be coupled with one or more of multiple antennas. In some implementations, one or more processors of the processing system include or implement one or more of the radios, RF chains or transceivers.)
and a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to perform operations (Paragraph [0159]: The processing system may further include or be coupled with multiple radios (collectively “the radio”), multiple RF chains or multiple transceivers, each of which may in turn be coupled with one or more of multiple antennas. In some implementations, one or more processors of the processing system include or implement one or more of the radios, RF chains or transceivers.) (paragraph [0041]: FIG. 3 shows an example physical layer (PHY) protocol data unit (PPDU) usable for communications between a wireless AP and one or more wireless STAs.)
comprising: generating a distributed-tone resource unit (DRU)-based physical-layer protocol data unit (PPDU); and transmitting, via the transceiver, the PPDU in an enhanced long range (ELR) communication. (Paragraph [0098]: the STA 104-a may perform power boosting when transmitting the ELR STF 420 to support the ELR data rate, which may be an example of an existing STF, such as for other WLAN communications.) (Paragraph [0110]: In some implementations, the STA 104-b may perform power boosting and/or TD repetition to improve reliability of one or more fields of the preamble 510. In some implementations, to get a 6 dB range extension, the STA 104-b may use a downclocking ratio of 8 with enlarged tone spacing on STF...) (Paragraph [0192]: the wireless communication device 1000 can be configurable or configured to transmit and receive packets in the form of physical layer PPDUs and MPDUs conforming to one or more of the IEEE 802.11 family of wireless communication protocol standards. The wireless communication device 1000 can be configurable or configured to transmit and receive signals and communications conforming to one or more 3GPP specifications including those for 5G NR or 6G. The wireless communication device 1000 also includes or can be coupled with one or more application processors which may be further coupled with one or more other memories.)
Regarding claim 14, the apparatus of Claim 13, wherein the PPDU comprises a plurality of functional blocks comprising a spoofing preamble, an ELR preamble, and an ELR data. (Paragraph [0093]: A wireless packet, such as a LR PPDU, may include a spoofing preamble, a preamble, and data. In some implementations, the ELR wireless packet 405 may be a non-standalone ELR PPDU that reuses an existing PPDU format with lower data rate than legacy formats, such as for an existing OFDM-based communication PPDUs or a new greenfield OFDM-based PPDU, or a standalone ELR PPDU with a new or updated preamble and data design that operates at a relatively low SNR.)
Regarding claim 16, the apparatus of Claim 14, wherein the ELR preamble comprises a DRU long training field (DRU-LTF) sequence. (Examiner’s notes: Fig. 4 410 depicts the composition of the Preamble containing STF, LTF, and SIGs) (paragraph [0110]: To achieve a 1 km coverage range, the STA 104-b may use a downclocking ratio of 10 using MCS14 and power boosting on STF with enlarged tone spacing and LTF, or use a downclocking ratio of 20 using MCS15 with 3 dB power boosting on the ELR STF 525 with enlarged tone spacing and the ELR LTF 530.)
Regarding claim 17, the apparatus of Claim 16, wherein the transmitting of the PPDU comprises duplicating the DRU-LTF multiple times in a time domain. (Paragraph [0066]: In instances in which PPDUs are transmitted over a bonded channel, the preamble fields may be duplicated and transmitted in each of the multiple component channels.) (Paragraph [0099]: The form of repetitions may include performing DCM and multiple time domain repetitions, such as two time domain repetitions. In some implementations, each time domain repetition may have different interleaving parameters to maximize frequency diversity The form of repetitions may include encoding the ELR wireless packet 405 with a lower effective code rate, such as a quarter or an eighth of the code rate.) (Paragraph [0118]: Time domain repetitions may accommodate different tone plans, but may need the STA 104-b to apply an interleaver diversity to maximize a combining gain and also may need buffering for demodulation.)
Regarding claim 18, the apparatus of Claim 16, wherein the ELR preamble further comprises an ELR short training field (ELR-STF), an ELR long training field (ELR-LTF) and an ELR signal field (ELR-SIG), and wherein each of the ELR-STF, the ELR-LTF and the ELR-SIG is duplicated in a frequency domain. (Examiner’s notes: Fig. 4 410 depicts the composition of the Preamble containing STF, LTF, and SIGs) (Paragraph [0102]: FIG. 5 shows an example of a signaling diagram 500 that supports ELR wireless packet transmission in accordance with a narrow bandwidth ELR wireless packet design. In some implementations, the signaling diagram 500 may implement aspects of the wireless communication network 100, the PDU 200, and the PPDU 300.) (Paragraph [0109]: In some implementations, the STA 104-b may duplicate the ELR wireless packet 505 in the frequency domain to occupy the frequency band, such as the 20 MHZ frequency band. The STA 104-b may transmit one or more frequency domain repetitions 520, or duplications, of the ELR wireless packet 505 to improve reliability.)
Regarding claim 19, the apparatus of Claim 16, wherein the ELR preamble further comprises a DRU signal field (DRU-SIG) using a DRU with a fixed modulation and carrying information related to the ELR data. (Paragraph [0096]: The STA 104-a may transmit the SIG fields 430 and data field 415 with ELR modulation.) (Paragraph [0132]: In some implementations, modulation of the U-SIG field(s) 635 may be two times repetition with MCS15 or four times repetition with MCS0. The L-SIG field 625 with four times repetition may be differentiated from the U-SIG field 635 with two times or four times repetition.)
Regarding claim 20, the apparatus of Claim 16, wherein the spoofing preamble comprises a sequence of ELR signature symbols indicating the PPDU as an ELR PPDU. (Paragraph [0093]: A wireless packet, such as a LR PPDU, may include a spoofing preamble, a preamble, and data. In some implementations, the ELR wireless packet 405 may be a non-standalone ELR PPDU that reuses an existing PPDU format with lower data rate than legacy formats, such as for an existing OFDM-based communication PPDUs or a new greenfield OFDM-based PPDU, or a standalone ELR PPDU with a new or updated preamble and data design that operates at a relatively low SNR.) (paragraph [0141]: The preamble may include one or more fields, such as a STF, LTF, one or more SIG fields, and any other fields. The SIG fields may be a simplified SIG field that indicates whether the ELR wireless packet is for a single user or not, coding information, a length of the ELR wireless packet, an MCS, a bandwidth size, a resource unit size, or any combination thereof.)
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.
Claims 4 & 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yang et al (2024/0334347) in view of Montreuil et al (2017/0126453).
Regarding claim 4, Yang teaches the the method of Claim 3 without explicitly teaching, wherein the DRU comprises a 26-tone DRU, a 52-tone DRU or a 106-tone DRU. Montreuil of the same or similar filed of endeavor does teach wherein the DRU comprises a 26-tone DRU, a 52-tone DRU or a 106-tone DRU. (Paragraph [0134 & 0135]: In many of the various diagrams shown below, various sub-carrier/tone plans, including a number of users that is supported by that specific sub-carrier/tone plan, are specified on the left hand side (LHS) of the diagram. Note also that these various diagrams include RUs of different sizes (e.g., RU26 including 26 sub-carriers/tones, RU52 including 52 sub-carriers/tones, RU106 including 106 sub-carriers/tones, RU242 including 242 sub-carriers/tones, RU484 including 484 sub-carriers/tones, RU996 including 996 sub-carriers/tones, and/or RU2×996 including 2×996 (or 1,992) sub-carriers/tones.
Thus it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art incorporate Montreuil’s resource unit allocation in Yang’s extended long range wireless packet design. The motivation being that the signaled resource unit allocation supports single and multi-user applications.
Regarding claim 15, Yang teaches the apparatus of Claim 14, wherein the transmitting of the PPDU comprises transmitting the ELR data over a DRU with a fixed size and tone plan, (Paragraph [0035]: the ELR wireless packet may be associated with OFDM communications and the OFDM communications include the ELR wireless packet and a set of multiple wireless packets in accordance with the resource unit size and a tone plan associated with the ELR wireless packet and the set of multiple wireless packets.) without explicitly teaching and wherein the DRU comprises a 26-tone DRU, a 52-tone DRU or a 106-tone DRU. Montreuil of the same or similar filed of endeavor does teach wherein the DRU comprises a 26-tone DRU, a 52-tone DRU or a 106-tone DRU. (Paragraph [0134 & 0135]: In many of the various diagrams shown below, various sub-carrier/tone plans, including a number of users that is supported by that specific sub-carrier/tone plan, are specified on the left hand side (LHS) of the diagram. Note also that these various diagrams include RUs of different sizes (e.g., RU26 including 26 sub-carriers/tones, RU52 including 52 sub-carriers/tones, RU106 including 106 sub-carriers/tones, RU242 including 242 sub-carriers/tones, RU484 including 484 sub-carriers/tones, RU996 including 996 sub-carriers/tones, and/or RU2×996 including 2×996 (or 1,992) sub-carriers/tones.
Thus it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art incorporate Montreuil’s resource unit allocation in Yang’s extended long range wireless packet design. The motivation being that the signaled resource unit allocation supports single and multi-user applications.
Conclusion
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/ADEDAYO O FADEYI/Examiner, Art Unit 2479 /JAE Y LEE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2479