DETAILED ACTION
1. It is hereby acknowledged that 18/832466 following papers have been received and placed of record in the file: Remark date 07/23/24
2. The present application, file on or after March 16, 2013, is being examiner under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
3. 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 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.
Specification
4. The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Claim Objections
5. Claims 1-8 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claims 1, 7 and 8 states…... causing each of a plurality of distributed antennas to perform an all-beam search performed by transmitting beams in all transmittable directions in a beam search period for searching for a beam to be used for wireless communication with a terminal device …. the distributed antenna that has not performed the all-beam search in the beam search period to perform the all-beam search based on detection results in the causing.
It is unclear how the distributed antenna are not performing all-beam search in beam search period after previously explaining distributed antennas perform an all beam search.
This would seem contradictory and not clear.
The specification explains, When the beam search processing for searching for a beam is started, the candidate beam detection unit 15 causes the distributed antenna devices 30-1 to 30-4 to sequentially perform an all-beam search one by one. That is, the candidate beam detection unit 15 sequentially specifies the distributed antenna IDs of the distributed antennas 31-1 to 31-4 one by one, and outputs an all-beam search request signal containing the specified one distributed antenna ID to the beam search execution instruction unit 11. When the candidate beam detection unit 15 receives the first feedback signal after the beam search processing is started, the candidate NP beam detection unit 15 stops the all-beam search and sets the beam identified by the beam ID and the source antenna ID included in the feedback signal as a detection reference beam. The candidate beam detection unit 15 detects, from the beam combination history table 140, the beam IDs of the distributed antenna devices 30-1 to 30-4 that have not performed the all beam search during a beam search period, the beam IDs corresponding to the beams that have been selected together with the detection reference beam, and the distributed antenna IDs corresponding to the beam IDs. Here, the beam search period is, for example, the time allocated to one beam search processing. The beam search processing is a process that is performed periodically, and this period is referred to as a beam search cycle. (see paragraph [0049]).
It seems the beam search is an all-beam search sequentially one by one. Further it seems there is feedback signaling used as well, which stops the all-beam search. This seems to further clarify the limitations. (Also see paragraphs [0089]-[0096] further explains the process)
The claims further states …transmitting beams in all transmittable directions…
This leaves one questioning exactly what is considered all transmittable directions.
….and has been selected together with the detection reference beam as a candidate beam identifier for the distributed antenna from a beam combination history storage…
This limitation is also vague and unclear. How are these selected together? Is it simultaneously?
These limitations leave one of ordinary skill in the art questioning how these limitations are occurring.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
6. 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 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as failing to set forth 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 1, 7 and 8 states,….stopping the all-beam search when one beam identifier indicating a best beam is acquired among the beams used for the all-beam search. This leaves one guessing what makes a best beam? (i.e. is it based on lowest noise/interference, narrow beam, closest to designation, a formula/ratio, etc… or something else)
A best beam is vague, not clear and can be considered subjective.
Further the specification does not seem to provide clear clarification. (see paragraphs [0027], [0057], [0083], [0117],[0125]..)
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Gerald Smarth whose telephone number is (571) 270-1923. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Thursday 6am-4:30pm ET. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Joseph Avellino can be reached on 571-272-7784. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/GERALD A SMARTH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2478
Prosecution Insights