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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The listing of references in the specification is not a proper information disclosure statement. 37 CFR 1.98(b) requires a list of all patents, publications, or other information submitted for consideration by the Office, and MPEP § 609.04(a) states, "the list may not be incorporated into the specification but must be submitted in a separate paper." Therefore, unless the references have been cited by the examiner on form PTO-892, they have not been considered. See paragraphs [0005] and [0006].
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because the labeling of FIG. 1, (a), (b), and (c) is improper. Per 37 CFR 1.84(u)(1), figures must be labeled "FIG." followed by a consecutive Arabic numeral (e.g., FIG. 1, FIG. 2) or an Arabic numeral and capital letter (e.g., FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B). Further, under 37 CFR 1.84, labels of the number of drawings must be clearly placed, usually centered below the corresponding figure. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
Paragraph [0017], lines 1, 2, 4, and 5, “[Fig. 1] showing”, “(a) is”, “(b) is”, and “(c) is” should be “FIG. 1 shows”, “FIG. 1A is”, “FIG. 1B is”, and “FIG. 1C is”, respectively; line 8, “[Fig. 2] It is” should be “FIG. 2 is”; line 9, “[Fig. 3] It is” should be “FIG. 3 is”; line 10, “[Fig. 4] It is” should be “FIG. 4 is”; line 11, “[Fig. 5] It is” should be “FIG. 5 is”; line 12, “[Fig. 6] It is” should be “FIG. 6 is”; and line 13, “[Fig. 7] It is” should be “FIG. 7 is”.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claims 1-4 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Regarding the independent claim 1, claim 1 recites “a control and monitoring signal transmission system” which is an apparatus claim (an apparatus or machine), although the preamble of the apparatus claim 1 recites the control and monitoring signal transmission system comprising a master station that transmits and receives data to and from a control part, and a plurality of remote stations that transmit and receive data to and from the master station by a transmission synchronization method via a common transmission line, but the body of the claim recites a series of “method steps” after the word “wherein” instead of “comprising” that normally used in the apparatus claims. Claim 1 may consider there are no transitional phrases, for example, “comprising”, “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of” recited in the preamble of the claim. The transition phrases “comprising”, “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of” define the scope of the claim with respect to what unrecited additional components or steps, if any, are excluded from the scope of the claim (See MPEP 2111.03). Further, according to the invention discussed in the specification and shown in the disclosure of the drawings, and based on the best understanding of the invention by the examiner, the following claim amendments are proposed by the examiner.
1. (Proposed Amendment) A control and monitoring signal transmission system, comprising:
a master station that transmits and receives data to and from a control part;[[,]] and
a plurality of remote stations that transmits and receives data to and from the master station by a transmission synchronization method via a common transmission line, wherein:
transmitting and receiving data between the master station and the remote stations is performed by superimposing data on a frame repeatedly transmitted from the master station,
a transmission clock signal for synchronizing the master station and the remote station is composed of a plurality of clock pulses, each of the clock pulses has a data pulse used for data transmission of the master station and the remote station, the data pulse is allocated to each of the remote stations, for each of the remote stations, a numerical value as an address for obtaining the timing of the data pulse allocated to the own station is set, and
the data pulse is time-divided into a plurality of ranges, and at least one of the ranges is a changeable range that can be used for both data transmission from the master station and data transmission from the remote station.
2. (Proposed Amendment) [[A]] The control and monitoring signal transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes a management data range by all of the remote stationsthe master station transmits instruction data in which the changeable range is used for , and a second state in which the changeable range is used for remote station, and the remote station transmits and receives data according to the instruction data.
3. (Proposed Amendment) [[A]] The control and monitoring signal transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes a management data region by all of the remote stationsuses the management data region to specify the address and transmit the instruction data, indicating either or a second state when the specified address matches its own, and the remote station transmits and receives data accordingly.
4. (Proposed Amendment) [[A]] The control and monitoring signal transmission system according to claim 1, wherein the frame includes a management data range accessible to all of the remote stationsusing the management data range, the master station collects information regarding data to be received by, or transmitted to, each remote station of the remote stationstheir addresses within the management data range, based on the information, the master station determines, for each changeable range of data pulses, either of a first state, where the range is used for , or a second state, where the range is used for , for each of the changeable range of the data pulses, the master station transmits instruction data indicating either the first state or the second state by specifying the address using the management data region, and the remote station transmits and receives data corresponding to the instruction data if the designated address matches its own address.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim 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.
Claim 1 (lines 7, 9, and 15), claim 2 (line 6), claim 3 (lines 5 and 6), and claim 4 (lines 3, 7-8, and 10), the phrase “the remote station” lacks antecedent basis because it is unclear which remote station of the plurality of remote stations is referred to.
Claim 1 (line 12), claim 3 (lines 5-6, 6, and 7-8), and claim 4 (line 11), the phrases “the own station”, “the addresses”, “the own address”, and “the designated address” all lack antecedent basis.
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.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by NISHIKIDO et al. (EP 2 782 356 A1), cited in the IDS filed on October 13, 2025, hereinafter “Nishikido”.
Nishikido illustrates a signal transmission system in FIG. 2 comprising: a master station 2 connected to a control part 1 and common data signal lines DP and DN; and a plurality of slave stations 4, 6, and 7 for data transmission/reception with the master station via the common data signal lines DP and DN.
Regarding claim 1, Nishikido illustrates a control and monitoring signal transmission system (signal transmission system in FIG. 2) comprising a master station (master station 2) that transmits and receives data to and from a control part (control part 1), and a plurality of remote stations (slave stations 4, 6, and 7) that transmits and receives data to and from the master station by a transmission synchronization method via a common transmission line (FIG. 2 and at least paragraph [0009]: “a control/monitoring signal transmission system in which a master station is connected with a plurality of slave stations via a common data signal line, and transmission of data is performed according to a transmission synchronization scheme”), wherein: transmitting and receiving data between the master station and the remote stations is performed by superimposing data on a frame repeatedly transmitted from the master station, a transmission clock signal for synchronizing the master station and the remote station is composed of a plurality of clock pulses, each of the clock pulses has a data pulse used for data transmission of the master station and the remote station, the data pulse is allocated to each of the remote stations (at least paragraph [0011]: “the master station outputs a series of pulse-like signals to the common data signal line as a control data signal according to a value of control data transferred from a control part, extracts a data value of a monitoring data signal superimposed on a series of pulse-like signals at each clock cycle from each of the plurality of slave stations, and transfers the extracted data value to the control part … each a plurality of slave stations counts pulses of the series of pulse-like signals … and causes the monitoring data signal to be superimposed on the series of pulse-like signals at the same pulse cycle as a clock cycle at which data corresponding to its own station is extracted”), for each of the remote stations, a numerical value as an address for obtaining the timing of the data pulse allocated to the own station is set (at least paragraph [0011]: “each a plurality of slave stations extracts data corresponding to its own station from the series of pulse-like signals if a count value is identical to its own station address”), the data pulse is time-divided into a plurality of ranges, and at least one of the ranges is a changeable range that can be used for both data transmission from the master station and data transmission from the remote station (at least paragraphs [0035]: “The transmission clock signal includes a control/monitoring data region consecutive to a start signal ST and a management data region consecutive to the control/monitoring data region … The control/monitoring data region includes data of the control data signal transmitted from the master station and data of the monitoring data signal transmitted from the input/output slave station or the input slave station”).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-4 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the objection(s) set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claims 2-4 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include 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.
Kurby relates to a method of synchronizing a plurality of remote site transmitters (200) in a digital simulcast transmission system that enables use of four-level modulation on two-level modulation systems.
Huijgen et al. relates to a main-remote radio base station system 10 in FIG. 1 comprises a plural remote radio units (16) each having a remote digital interface unit and a main unit having a main digital interface unit.
Liu relates to a method of signal transmission between a host BTS and Remote Radio Unit(s).
Barabell et al. relates to a cellular network comprising: a processing system including a controller and remote units, with the remote units being configured to communicate with the controller and to communicate with mobile devices within a communication cell of the cellular network.
HAMANAKA et al. relates to a control and monitoring signal transmission system in FIG. 1 comprising: a master station (2) that transmits and receives data to and from a control unit (1); a plurality of remote stations (70, 80) that transmits and receives data to and from the master station by a transmission synchronization method via common transmission lines (DP, DN); and a terminator (3) that is connected to the common transmission lines, and transmitting and receiving data between the master station and the remote stations performed by superimposing data on a frame repeatedly transmitted from the master station.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Young T. Tse whose telephone number is (571)272-3051. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 10:30am-7pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Chieh M Fan can be reached at 571-272-3042. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Young T. Tse/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2632