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 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, 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 1-4, 7, 11, 13-16, 19, 23 and 27-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gao et al (US 2024/0322961, hereinafter Gao) and in view of Lim et al (US 2026/0156507, hereinafter Lim, claiming the priority date of provisional application 63/274,948).
Regarding claim 1, Gao discloses a communication method, performed by an access point device, comprising: determining a trigger frame, wherein the trigger frame comprises a first information field, the first information field comprises type information indicating a type of the trigger frame, and the type of the trigger frame indicates different phases of wireless local area network sensing initiated by the access point device (sensing measurement related information includes a trigger frame type field, Para [0038], trigger frame type includes field for indicating a sensing trigger frame subtype, Para [0039], first value indicates trigger frame is a sensing measurement poll trigger frame, Para [0040], second value indicates trigger frame is a sensing measurement trigger frame, Para [0045], there are different phases: sensing measurement setup phase, sensing measurement phase and sensing measurement reporting phase, Para [0138], WLAN sensing, Para [0003]); and sending the trigger frame (AP sends trigger frame to stations, Para [0132], AP sends sensing measurement poll trigger frame to the stations, Para [0140]); but does not fully disclose wherein the type of information indicates a third type corresponding to a downlink sensing report phase of the wireless local area network sensing the trigger frame of the third type indicates a station device to send a downlink sensing measurement result, wherein the trigger frame further comprises a second information field related to the station device, wherein in a case where the type information indicates the third type, the second information field comprises at least one of: identification information of the station device; allocation information of a resource unit allocated to the station device for sending the downlink sensing measurement result; allocation information of a spatial stream allocated to the station device for sending the downlink sensing measurement result; and indicating a modulation and coding scheme to be used by the station device to send the downlink sensing measurement result. Lim discloses a sensing trigger frame with a trigger frame type subfield, Para [0221], and the trigger frame can be used to trigger the reporting of sensing measurement results, a sub-variant sensing trigger frame can be reporting type, Para [0222], sub-variant of trigger frame can be indicated in common info subfield, Para [0223] and the sensing trigger frame includes an AID field which represents user ID and a RU allocation field, Para [0264]/Fig. 19c. Also see pages 20 and 23 from the provisional application. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to utilize the techniques taught by Lim in the system of Gao in order to provide efficient sensing measurements of multiple stations and efficient channel estimation.
Regarding claims 2 and 14, Gao discloses the communication method according to claim 1/13, wherein the type information indicates at least one of: a first type corresponding to a polling phase of the wireless local area network sensing, wherein the trigger frame of the first type is used for detecting an availability status of a station device, a second type corresponding to an uplink sensing measurement phase of the wireless local area network sensing, wherein the trigger frame of the second type indicates a station device to send an uplink sensing measurement frame (AP sends sensing measurement trigger frame where the station sends a uplink measurement frame, 7b).
Regarding claims 3 and 15, Gao discloses the communication method according to claim 2/14, wherein in a case where the type information indicates the first type, the first information field further comprises: bandwidth information for the station device to send a response frame as a response to the trigger frame, in a case where the type information indicates the second type, the first information field further comprises: bandwidth information for the station device to send the uplink sensing measurement frame (UL BW indicating bandwidth to be used by the uplink PPDU triggered by trigger frame, Para [0294], UL BW field in Fig. 12), in a case where the type information indicates the third type, the first information field further comprises: bandwidth information for the station device to send the downlink sensing measurement result.
Regarding claims 4 and 16, Gao discloses the communication method according to claim 2/14, wherein in a case where the type information indicates the first type, the second information field comprises: identification information of the station device; and allocation information of a resource unit allocated to the station device for sending the response frame (device IDs with corresponding resource allocation information, Para [0238], identifier of terminal, resource unit allocation, Fig. 10).
Regarding claims 7 and 19, Gao discloses the communication method according to claim 2/14, wherein in a case where the type information indicates the second type, the second information field comprises at least one of: identification information of the station device; allocation information of a resource unit allocated to the station device for sending the uplink sensing measurement frame; allocation information of a spatial stream allocated to the station device for sending the uplink sensing measurement frame; and uplink target power information indicating a power value at which the access point device expects to receive the uplink sensing measurement frame (device IDs with corresponding resource allocation information, Para [0238], identifier of terminal, resource unit allocation, Fig. 12).
Regarding claims 11 and 23, Gao discloses the communication method according to claim 1/13, wherein the first information field further comprises: at least one sensing measurement setup identifier, and/or an identifier of at least one sensing measurement instance corresponding to each sensing measurement setup identifier (sensing measurement setup identifier and sensing measurement instance identifier, Para [0168]).
Regarding claim 13, Gao discloses a communication method, performed by a station device, comprising: receiving a trigger frame, wherein the trigger frame comprises a first information field, the first information field comprises type information indicating a type of the trigger frame, and the type of the trigger frame indicates different phases of wireless local area network sensing initiated by an access point device (sensing measurement related information includes a trigger frame type field, Para [0038], trigger frame type includes field for indicating a sensing trigger frame subtype, Para [0039], first value indicates trigger frame is a sensing measurement poll trigger frame, Para [0040], second value indicates trigger frame is a sensing measurement trigger frame, Para [0045], there are different phases: sensing measurement setup phase, sensing measurement phase and sensing measurement reporting phase, Para [0138], WLAN sensing, Para [0003], AP sends sensing measurement poll trigger frame to the stations, Para [0140]); and performing a corresponding communication operation according to the trigger frame (station can sent back a feedback measurement frame in response to trigger frame, Para [0140]); but does not fully disclose wherein the type of information indicates a third type corresponding to a downlink sensing report phase of the wireless local area network sensing the trigger frame of the third type indicates a station device to send a downlink sensing measurement result, wherein the trigger frame further comprises a second information field related to the station device, wherein in a case where the type information indicates the third type, the second information field comprises at least one of: identification information of the station device; allocation information of a resource unit allocated to the station device for sending the downlink sensing measurement result; allocation information of a spatial stream allocated to the station device for sending the downlink sensing measurement result; and indicating a modulation and coding scheme to be used by the station device to send the downlink sensing measurement result. Lim discloses a sensing trigger frame with a trigger frame type subfield, Para [0221], and the trigger frame can be used to trigger the reporting of sensing measurement results, a sub-variant sensing trigger frame can be reporting type, Para [0222], sub-variant of trigger frame can be indicated in common info subfield, Para [0223] and the sensing trigger frame includes an AID field which represents user ID and a RU allocation field, Para [0264]/Fig. 19c. Also see pages 20 and 23 from the provisional application. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to utilize the techniques taught by Lim in the system of Gao in order to provide efficient sensing measurements of multiple stations and efficient channel estimation.
Regarding claim 27, Gao discloses an electronic device (AP or AP STA, Para [0096]), comprising: a memory, a processor (processor and memory, Para [0009]), and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor is configured to: determine a trigger frame, wherein the trigger frame comprises a first information field, the first information field comprises type information indicating a type of the trigger frame, and the type of the trigger frame indicates different phases of wireless local area network sensing initiated by the electronic device (sensing measurement related information includes a trigger frame type field, Para [0038], trigger frame type includes field for indicating a sensing trigger frame subtype, Para [0039], first value indicates trigger frame is a sensing measurement poll trigger frame, Para [0040], second value indicates trigger frame is a sensing measurement trigger frame, Para [0045], there are different phases: sensing measurement setup phase, sensing measurement phase and sensing measurement reporting phase, Para [0138], WLAN sensing, Para [0003]); and send the trigger frame (AP sends trigger frame to stations, Para [0132], AP sends sensing measurement poll trigger frame to the stations, Para [0140]); but does not fully disclose wherein the type of information indicates a third type corresponding to a downlink sensing report phase of the wireless local area network sensing the trigger frame of the third type indicates a station device to send a downlink sensing measurement result, wherein the trigger frame further comprises a second information field related to the station device, wherein in a case where the type information indicates the third type, the second information field comprises at least one of: identification information of the station device; allocation information of a resource unit allocated to the station device for sending the downlink sensing measurement result; allocation information of a spatial stream allocated to the station device for sending the downlink sensing measurement result; and indicating a modulation and coding scheme to be used by the station device to send the downlink sensing measurement result. Lim discloses a sensing trigger frame with a trigger frame type subfield, Para [0221], and the trigger frame can be used to trigger the reporting of sensing measurement results, a sub-variant sensing trigger frame can be reporting type, Para [0222], sub-variant of trigger frame can be indicated in common info subfield, Para [0223] and the sensing trigger frame includes an AID field which represents user ID and a RU allocation field, Para [0264]/Fig. 19c. Also see pages 20 and 23 from the provisional application. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to utilize the techniques taught by Lim in the system of Gao in order to provide efficient sensing measurements of multiple stations and efficient channel estimation.
Regarding claim 28, Gao discloses a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (non-transitory computer readable medium, Para [0011]) having stored therein a computer program that, when executed by a processor, causes the method according to claim 1 to be implemented (see claim 1).
Regarding claim 29, Gao discloses an electronic device (STA or non-AP STA, Para [0097]), comprising: a memory, a processor (processor and memory, Para [0009]), and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor is configured to perform the method according to claim 13 (see claim 13).
Regarding claim 30, Gao discloses a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (non-transitory computer readable medium, Para [0011]) having stored therein a computer program that, when executed by a processor, causes the method according to claim 13 to be implemented (see claim 13).
Claims 12 and 24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gao, in view of Lim and in view of Saad et al (US 2025/0113217, hereinafter Saad, claiming priority date of provisional application 63/303,349).
Regarding claims 12 and 24, Gao discloses the communication method according to claim 11/23, wherein the at least one sensing measurement setup identifier and the identifier of the at least one sensing measurement instance are dialog token information. Saad discloses a Dialog Token subfield can be used to signal sensing measurement setup/instance, Para [0113] or Para [0096] from provisional application 63/303,349. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to utilize the techniques taught by Saad in the system of Gao in view of Lim in order to increase sensing accuracy.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 9/9/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. The Applicant amends the limitations in the claim and argues the references do not disclose the amended limitations. Applicant argues Gao does not disclose the information field in the measurement reporting trigger frame. In response, Applicant amended one of the optional limitations in original dependent claim 2. The original claim 2 stated the type of information was at least one of a first type, second type or a third type. Gao was not used to disclose the third type which indicated the sensing measurement result. Applicant amended the “third type” limitation into the independent claims and another limitation from dependent claim 10. This was previously an optional limitation. A new reference is being cited to disclose the previously optional limitations and argument against Gao are moot.
Conclusion
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 KEVIN CUNNINGHAM whose telephone number is (571) 272-1765. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Thursday 7:30-18:00 (EST).
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Huy Vu can be reached on (571) 272-3155. The fax number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KEVIN M CUNNINGHAM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2423
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