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 information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 10/29/2024 is considered. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97.
Claim Objections
Claim 17 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 17 recites the claim limitation “at least one NPAC primary channel” in line 6. Applicant is advised to revise the claim limitation to show “at least one NPCA primary channel”.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 1-2, 5-6 and 12-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yu et al. (US 2025/0039926; hereinafter Yu) in view of Patil et al. (US 2019/0158413; hereinafter Patil).
Regarding claim 1, Yu shows a wireless device (Figure 2; Par. 0024, 0029; wireless device 104 performs in part the disclosed method of Figure 13.) comprising:
a controller (Figure 2 shows a baseband processor.) configured to determine a plurality of backoff channels for a Basic Service Set (BSS) operating channel that comprise a primary channel and a non-primary channel access (NPCA) primary channel (Par. 0023-0024; a STA (which may be an AP STA or a non-AP STA) determines a maximum supportable bandwidth of a primary TXOP established in a primary channel. Responsive to a determination that the maximum supportable bandwidth of the primary TXOP is smaller than a maximum supportable bandwidth of the STA, the STA may establish a secondary TXOP in a non-primary channel.); and
a wireless transceiver (Figure 2 shows a wireless transceiver.) configured to switch to the NPCA primary channel for communicating between the wireless device and the second wireless device (Par. 0023-0024; the STA may establish a secondary TXOP in a non-primary channel. The STA may then transmit a data frame to another STA during the secondary TXOP in the non-primary channel.).
Yu shows all of the elements as discussed above. Yu does not specifically show announcing to a second wireless device the backoff channels of the BSS operating channel.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Patil. Specifically, Patil shows announcing to a second wireless device the backoff channels of the BSS operating channel (Par. 0058-0059, 0063; the AP may signal changes in the primary link via beacon frames broadcast at target beacon transmission times (TBTTs). For example, beacon frames are typically broadcast at regular intervals (referred to as “beacon intervals”) to enable any STAs in the vicinity of the AP to establish or maintain a connection to the wireless network. The AP may provide primary link (PL) information in Beacon1, broadcast on Link1, at time t1. For example, the PL information may be provided in a new element or field in the beacon frame that can be interpreted or decoded by ML STAs. In some aspects, the PL information may indicate that the primary link has been changed. In some other aspects (where there are multiple secondary links), the PL information may specify which secondary link is to become the new primary link.).
In view of the above, having the system of Yu, then given the well-established teaching of Patil, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Yu as taught by Patil, in order to provide motivation to dynamically change (or reallocate) the primary link based at least in part on channel conditions on each of the communication links and thereby, improve the throughput and channel utilization in a multi-link environment (Par. 0047 of Patil).
Regarding claim 2, modified Yu shows wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to switch to the NPCA primary channel for communicating between the wireless device and the second wireless device when an Overlapping Basic Service Set (OBSS) activity satisfies a channel switch condition (Yu: Figure 10; Par. 0023-0024, 0102; AP2 810B and STA2 820B may recognize that the maximum supportable bandwidth of the TXOP in BSS1 (80 MHZ) is less than its own maximum supportable bandwidth of 160 MHz, which means that there may be idle bandwidth available during the TXOP. Based on such recognition, AP2 810B and STA2 820B may communicate with each other over a link in the secondary 80 MHz channel during the TXOP.).
Regarding claim 5, modified Yu shows wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to announce to the second wireless device a switch delay from the primary channel to the NPCA primary channel and a switch delay from the NPCA primary channel to the primary channel (Patil: Figure 5; Par. 0102-0104; Beacons broadcasted may include updated PL information. The PL information may indicate the new primary link that is scheduled to take effect at the primary-switching time (TBTTPS), as well as an updated countdown timer (Count=1).).
Regarding claim 6, modified Yu shows wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to receive from the second wireless device the second wireless device's switch delay from the primary channel to the NPCA primary channel and a switch delay from the NPCA primary channel to the primary channel (Patil: Figure 5; Par. 0102-0104; Beacons broadcasted may include updated PL information. The PL information may indicate the new primary link that is scheduled to take effect at the primary-switching time (TBTTPS), as well as an updated countdown timer (Count=1).).
Regarding claim 12, modified Yu shows wherein the BSS operating channel is a 160 Megahertz (MHz) BSS operating channel or a 320 MHz BSS operating channel (Yu: Figure 8; Par. 0093; AP1 810A and AP2 810B may be IEEE 802.11bc APs that support a 160 MHz operating bandwidth (in general, IEEE 802.11bc APs can support up to 320 MHz operating bandwidth but some of the examples provided herein assume 160 MHz operation—it should be appreciated that the techniques described herein can be extended to 320 MHz operation).), and wherein the primary channel and the NPCA primary channel are located in a primary 80 MHz channel of the 160 MHz BSS operating channel and a secondary 80 MHz channel of the 160 MHz BSS operating channel, respectively (Yu: Figure 8; Par. 0093, 0098-0099; AP1 810A and STA1 820A may communicate over a link in the primary 80 MHz channel. The primary 80 MHz channel is an 80 MHz channel that includes the primary 20 MHz channel.), or located in a primary 160 MHz channel of the 320 MHz BSS operating channel and a secondary 160 MHz channel of the 320 MHz BSS operating channel, respectively.
Regarding claim 13, modified Yu shows wherein the BSS operating channel is an 80 Megahertz (MHz) BSS operating channel, and wherein the primary channel and the NPCA primary channel are located in a primary 40 MHz channel of the 80 MHz BSS operating channel and a secondary 40 MHz channel of the 80 MHz BSS operating channel, respectively (Yu: Par. 0022; In a basic service set (BSS) served by an access point (AP) supporting a wide operating bandwidth (e.g., an IEEE 802.11be AP supporting an operating bandwidth of 320 Megahertz (MHz)), there can be various STAs supporting varying operating bandwidths. For example, the BSS may include an IEEE 802.11a STA supporting a 20 MHz operating bandwidth, an IEEE 802.11n STA supporting a 40 MHz operating bandwidth, an IEEE 802.11ac STA supporting a 80 MHz bandwidth, an IEEE 802.11ax STA supporting a 160 MHz bandwidth, and/or an IEEE 802.11be STA supporting a 320 MHz bandwidth. An AP and a STA in the BSS may establish a transmission opportunity (TXOP) in a primary channel. The primary channel may be a channel that includes the primary 20 MHz channel (e.g., a 80 MHz channel that includes the primary 20 MHz channel). A non-primary channel may be a channel that does not include the primary 20 MHz channel (e.g., a 80 MHz channel that does not include the primary 20 MHz channel).).
Regarding claim 14, modified Yu shows wherein the wireless device comprises a wireless access point (AP), and wherein the second wireless device comprises a non-AP station (STA) device (Yu: Figure 1; Par. 0024; a STA (which may be an AP STA or a non-AP STA).).
Regarding claim 15, modified Yu shows wherein the wireless device is compatible with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 protocol (Yu: Figure 1; Par. 0027; wireless devices 104 operate under IEEE 802.11 protocol.).
Regarding claim 16, modified Yu shows all of the elements except wherein the wireless device is a component of a multi-link device (MLD).
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Patil. Specifically, Patil shows wherein the wireless device is a component of a multi-link device (MLD) (Par. 0037; “ML AP” may refer to an AP that is capable of link aggregation, and “ML STA” may refer to STAs that are capable of link aggregation.).
In view of the above, having the system of Yu, then given the well-established teaching of Patil, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Yu as taught by Patil, in order to provide motivation to dynamically change (or reallocate) the primary link based at least in part on channel conditions on each of the communication links and thereby, improve the throughput and channel utilization in a multi-link environment (Par. 0047 of Patil).
Regarding claim 17, Yu shows a wireless access point (AP) (Figure 2; Par. 0024, 0029; wireless device 104 performs in part the disclosed method of Figure 13. Wireless device/ STA may be an AP STA or a non-AP STA.) comprising:
a controller (Figure 2 shows a baseband processor.) configured to determine a primary channel and at least one non-primary channel access (NPCA) primary channel for a Basic Service Set (BSS) operating channel (Par. 0023-0024; a STA (which may be an AP STA or a non-AP STA) determines a maximum supportable bandwidth of a primary TXOP established in a primary channel. Responsive to a determination that the maximum supportable bandwidth of the primary TXOP is smaller than a maximum supportable bandwidth of the STA, the STA may establish a secondary TXOP in a non-primary channel.); and
a wireless transceiver (Figure 2 shows a wireless transceiver.) configured to execute a non-primary channel access (NPCA) channel switch operation to switch to the at least one NPCA primary channel from the primary channel for communicating between the wireless AP and the second wireless device (Par. 0023-0024; the STA may establish a secondary TXOP in a non-primary channel. The STA may then transmit a data frame to another STA during the secondary TXOP in the non-primary channel.).
Yu shows all of the elements as discussed above. Yu does not specifically show announcing to a second wireless device the primary channel and the at least one NPCA primary channel of the BSS.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Patil. Specifically, Patil shows announcing to a second wireless device the primary channel and the at least one NPCA primary channel of the BSS (Par. 0058-0059, 0063; the AP may signal changes in the primary link via beacon frames broadcast at target beacon transmission times (TBTTs). For example, beacon frames are typically broadcast at regular intervals (referred to as “beacon intervals”) to enable any STAs in the vicinity of the AP to establish or maintain a connection to the wireless network. The AP may provide primary link (PL) information in Beacon1, broadcast on Link1, at time t1. For example, the PL information may be provided in a new element or field in the beacon frame that can be interpreted or decoded by ML STAs. In some aspects, the PL information may indicate that the primary link has been changed. In some other aspects (where there are multiple secondary links), the PL information may specify which secondary link is to become the new primary link.).
In view of the above, having the system of Yu, then given the well-established teaching of Patil, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Yu as taught by Patil, in order to provide motivation to dynamically change (or reallocate) the primary link based at least in part on channel conditions on each of the communication links and thereby, improve the throughput and channel utilization in a multi-link environment (Par. 0047 of Patil).
Regarding claim 18, modified Yu shows wherein the at least one NPCA primary channel comprises at least one 20 Megahertz (MHz) channel (Yu: Par. 0022; The primary channel may be a channel that includes the primary 20 MHz channel (e.g., a 80 MHz channel that includes the primary 20 MHz channel). A non-primary channel may be a channel that does not include the primary 20 MHz channel (e.g., a 80 MHz channel that does not include the primary 20 MHz channel).).
Regarding claim 19, modified Yu shows wherein the wireless AP is compatible with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 protocol (Yu: Figure 1; Par. 0027; wireless devices 104 operate under IEEE 802.11 protocol.).
Regarding claim 20, Yu shows a method (Figure 2; Par. 0024, 0029; wireless device 104 performs in part the disclosed method of Figure 13.) for wireless communications, the method comprising:
at a wireless device, determining a plurality of backoff channels for a Basic Service Set (BSS) operating channel (Par. 0023-0024; a STA (which may be an AP STA or a non-AP STA) determines a maximum supportable bandwidth of a primary TXOP established in a primary channel. Responsive to a determination that the maximum supportable bandwidth of the primary TXOP is smaller than a maximum supportable bandwidth of the STA, the STA may establish a secondary TXOP in a non-primary channel.); and
at the wireless device, switching to one of the backoff channels for communicating between the wireless device and the second wireless device (Par. 0023-0024; the STA may establish a secondary TXOP in a non-primary channel. The STA may then transmit a data frame to another STA during the secondary TXOP in the non-primary channel.).
Yu shows all of the elements as discussed above. Yu does not specifically show announcing to a second wireless device the backoff channels of the BSS operating channel.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Patil. Specifically, Patil shows announcing to a second wireless device the backoff channels of the BSS operating channel (Par. 0058-0059, 0063; the AP may signal changes in the primary link via beacon frames broadcast at target beacon transmission times (TBTTs). For example, beacon frames are typically broadcast at regular intervals (referred to as “beacon intervals”) to enable any STAs in the vicinity of the AP to establish or maintain a connection to the wireless network. The AP may provide primary link (PL) information in Beacon1, broadcast on Link1, at time t1. For example, the PL information may be provided in a new element or field in the beacon frame that can be interpreted or decoded by ML STAs. In some aspects, the PL information may indicate that the primary link has been changed. In some other aspects (where there are multiple secondary links), the PL information may specify which secondary link is to become the new primary link.).
In view of the above, having the system of Yu, then given the well-established teaching of Patil, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Yu as taught by Patil, in order to provide motivation to dynamically change (or reallocate) the primary link based at least in part on channel conditions on each of the communication links and thereby, improve the throughput and channel utilization in a multi-link environment (Par. 0047 of Patil).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-4 and 7-11 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.
Examiner submits that none of the prior art references cited in this action teaches the claimed subject matter as specifically presented in the above dependent claims. The allowance of this application is based on an examination wherein the claim limitations recited in the dependent claims were not taken alone but in view of the scope of the claim(s) as a whole including any proceeding and/or preceding claim limitation(s) present within the claims and by their respective dependencies on other claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
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/REDENTOR PASIA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2413
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