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 .
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
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Claims 1-18 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. US 11,251,841 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because (See mapping below).
Regarding claims 1, 7 and 13 (Instant Application), claim 1 and 15 (U.S. Patent No. US 11,251,841 B2) substantially disclose the corresponding claim limitations as highlighted in the table below.
As can be seen, the slight difference is that the instant claim recites “frame” in lieu of “data frame” recited in claims of the U.S. Patent No. US 11,251,841 B2.
The minor difference would be obvious to one skilled in the art since each of the respective elements perform the same function. The obvious variation in the wording does not change claim scope.
18/936,512 (instant application)
US 11,251,841 B2
1. An electronic device configured to communicate, as an Access Point (AP) from a plurality of collaborating APs, with a plurality of receiving stations (STAs) operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the electronic device comprising: at least
one processor coupled to a network interface; and a computer readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium storing instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the electronic device to perform operations including:
transmitting a frame to the plurality of receiving STAs,
the frame comprising a preamble portion, the preamble portion including a signal (SIG) field, wherein the SIG field comprises a first subfield indicating a total number of spatial streams transmitted by the plurality of collaborating APs.
1. An electronic device configured to communicate, as an Access Point (AP) from a plurality of collaborating APs, with a plurality of stations (STAs) operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the electronic device comprising:
a processor coupled to a network interface; and a computer readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium storing instructions executable by the processor to:
transmit a data frame to a receiving STA, wherein the receiving STA is part of the plurality of STAs,
the data frame comprising a preamble portion, the preamble portion including a signal (SIG) field, and wherein the SIG field comprises a first subfield including information representative of a total number of spatial streams transmitted to the receiving STA by the plurality of collaborating APs.
7. A method of communication between a plurality of collaborating Access Points (APs) and a plurality of receiving stations (STAs) operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method comprising: transmitting, by an AP in the plurality of collaborating APs, a frame to the plurality of receiving STAs, wherein the frame comprises a preamble portion, the preamble portion including a signal(SIG) field, and wherein the SIG field comprises a first subfield indicating a total number of spatial streams transmitted by the plurality of collaborating APs.
15. A method of communication between a plurality of collaborating Access Point (APs) and a receiving station (STA) operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method comprising: transmitting, by each AP in the plurality of collaborating APs, a data frame to the receiving STA, wherein each data frame comprises a preamble portion, the preamble portion including a signal (SIG) field, and wherein the SIG field comprises a first subfield including information representative of a total number of spatial streams transmitted to the receiving STA by the plurality of collaborating APs.
13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, cause an Access Point (AP) in a plurality of collaborating APs to perform operations, the operations comprising:
transmitting a frame to a plurality of receiving stations (STAs),wherein the frame comprises a preamble portion, the preamble portion including a signal (SIG) field, and wherein the SIG field comprises a first subfield indicating a total number of spatial streams transmitted by the plurality of collaborating APs.
1. An electronic device configured to communicate, as an Access Point (AP) from a plurality of collaborating APs, with a plurality of stations (STAs) operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the electronic device comprising: a processor coupled to a network interface; and a computer readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium storing instructions executable by the processor to:
transmit a data frame to a receiving STA, wherein the receiving STA is part of the plurality of STAs, the data frame comprising a preamble portion, the preamble portion including a signal (SIG) field, and wherein the SIG field comprises a first subfield including information representative of a total number of spatial streams transmitted to the receiving STA by the plurality of collaborating APs.
Regarding claim 2 (instant application), claim 2 (US 11,251,841 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 3 (instant application), claim 3 (US 11,251,841 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 4 (instant application), claim 4 (US 11,251,841 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 5 (instant application), claim 5 (US 11,251,841 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 6 (instant application), claim 20 (US 11,251,841 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 8 (instant application), claim 7 (US 11,251,841 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 9 (instant application), claim 3 or 17 (US 11,251,841 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 10 (instant application), claim 4 (US 11,251,841 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 11 (instant application), claim 14 (US 11,251,841 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 12 (instant application), claim 20 (US 11,251,841 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 14 (instant application), claim 16 (US 11,251,841 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 15 (instant application), claim 3 or 17 (US 11,251,841 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 16 (instant application), claim 13 (US 11,251,841 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 17 (instant application), claim 19 (US 11,251,841 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 18 (instant application), claim 20 (US 11,251,841 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
------Claims 1-2, 5, 7 and 13 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 4, 12-13 and 15 of U.S. Patent No. US 11,770,230 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because (See mapping below).
Regarding claim 1 (Instant Application), the combination of claims 12 and 15 (U.S. Patent No. 11,770,230 B2) substantially disclose the corresponding claim limitations as highlighted in the table below.
Regarding claim 7 (Instant Application), the combination of claims 1 and 4 (U.S. Patent No. 11,770,230 B2) substantially disclose the corresponding claim limitations as highlighted in the table below.
Regarding claim 13 (Instant Application), the combination of claims 12 and 15 (U.S. Patent No. 11,770,230 B2) substantially disclose the corresponding claim limitations as highlighted in the table below
As can be seen, the slight difference is that the instant claim recites “frame” in lieu of “downlink frame” recited in claims of the U.S. Patent No. US 11,770,230 B2.
The minor difference would be obvious to one skilled in the art since each of the respective elements perform the same function. The obvious variation in the wording does not change claim scope.
18/936,512 (instant application)
US 11,770,230 B2
1. An electronic device configured to communicate, as an Access Point (AP) from a plurality of collaborating APs, with a plurality of receiving stations (STAs) operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the electronic device comprising:
at least
one processor coupled to a network interface; and a computer readable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium storing instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the electronic device to perform operations including:
transmitting a frame to the plurality of receiving STAs, the frame comprising a preamble portion, the preamble portion including a signal (SIG) field, wherein the SIG field comprises a first subfield indicating
a total number of spatial streams transmitted by the plurality of collaborating APs.
12. An access point (AP) comprising:
at least one processor; and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming, the programming including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the AP to:
transmit a downlink frame to a receiving station (STA), the downlink frame comprising a preamble portion including a signal (SIG) field, wherein the SIG field comprises a first subfield including information representative of a total number of Long Training Fields (LTF) symbols transmitted by a plurality of collaborating APs.
15. The AP of claim 14, wherein the total number of LTF symbols is based on the total number of spatial streams transmitted by the plurality of collaborating APs.
7. A method of communication between a plurality of collaborating Access Points (APs) and a plurality of receiving stations (STAs) operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method comprising: transmitting, by an AP in the plurality of collaborating APs, a frame to the plurality of receiving STAs, wherein the frame comprises a preamble portion, the preamble portion including a signal(SIG) field, and wherein the
SIG field comprises a first subfield indicating a total number of spatial streams transmitted by the plurality of collaborating APs.
1. A method comprising:
transmitting, by an access point (AP), a downlink frame to a receiving station (STA), the downlink frame comprising a preamble portion including a signal (SIG) field, wherein the SIG field comprises a first subfield including information representative of a total number of Long Training Fields (LTF) symbols transmitted by a plurality of collaborating APs.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the total number of LTF symbols is based on the total number of spatial streams transmitted by the plurality of collaborating APs.
13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, cause an Access Point (AP) in a plurality of collaborating APs to perform operations, the operations comprising:
transmitting a frame to a plurality of receiving stations (STAs),wherein the frame comprises a preamble portion, the preamble portion including a signal (SIG) field, and wherein the SIG field comprises a first subfield indicating a total number of spatial streams transmitted by the plurality of collaborating APs.
12. An access point (AP) comprising:
at least one processor; and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming, the programming including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the AP to:
transmit a downlink frame to a receiving station (STA), the downlink frame comprising a preamble portion including a signal (SIG) field, wherein the SIG field comprises a first subfield including information representative of a total number of Long Training Fields (LTF) symbols transmitted by a plurality of collaborating APs.
15. The AP of claim 14, wherein the total number of LTF symbols is based on the total number of spatial streams transmitted by the plurality of collaborating APs.
Regarding claim 2 (instant application), claim 13 (US 11,770,230 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 5 (instant application), claim 15 (US 11,770,230 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
------Claims 7-9, 11 and 13 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-3, and 5 of U.S. Patent No. US 12,166,720 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because (See mapping below).
Regarding claim 7 (Instant Application), the combination of claims 1 and 3 (U.S. Patent No. 12,166,720 B2) substantially disclose the corresponding claim limitations as highlighted in the table below.
Regarding claim 13 (Instant Application), the combination of claims 1 and 3 (U.S. Patent No. 12,166,720 B2) substantially disclose the corresponding claim limitations as highlighted in the table below
As can be seen, the slight difference is that the instant claim recites “transmitting, by an AP in the plurality of collaborating APs” in lieu of “receiving a downlink frame from an access point (AP)” recited in claims of the U.S. Patent No. US 12,166,720 B2.
The minor difference would be obvious to one skilled in the art since each of the respective elements perform the same function. The obvious variation in the wording does not change claim scope.
18/936,512 (instant application)
US 12,166,720 B2
7. A method of communication between a plurality of collaborating Access Points (APs) and a plurality of receiving stations (STAs) operating in a wireless local area network (WLAN), the method comprising:
transmitting, by an AP in the plurality of collaborating APs, a frame to the plurality of receiving STAs, wherein the frame comprises a preamble portion, the preamble portion including a signal(SIG) field, and wherein the
SIG field comprises a first subfield indicating a total number of spatial streams transmitted by the plurality of collaborating APs.
1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a station (STA), cause the STA to perform operations, the operations comprising:
receiving a downlink frame from an access point (AP), the downlink frame comprising a preamble portion including a signal (SIG) field, wherein the SIG field comprises a first subfield including information representative of a total number of Long Training Fields (LTF) symbols transmitted by a plurality of collaborating APs.
3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein the total number of LTF symbols is based on the total number of spatial streams transmitted by the plurality of collaborating APs.
13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer instructions, that when executed by one or more processors, cause an Access Point (AP) in a plurality of collaborating APs to perform operations, the operations comprising:
transmitting a frame to a plurality of receiving stations (STAs),wherein the frame comprises a preamble portion, the preamble portion including a signal (SIG) field, and wherein the SIG field comprises a first subfield indicating a
total number of spatial streams transmitted by the plurality of collaborating APs.
1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a station (STA), cause the STA to perform operations, the operations comprising:
receiving a downlink frame from an access point (AP), the downlink frame comprising a preamble portion including a signal (SIG) field, wherein the SIG field comprises a first subfield including information representative of a total number of Long Training Fields (LTF) symbols transmitted by a plurality of collaborating APs.
3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2, wherein the total number of LTF symbols is based on the total number of spatial streams transmitted by the plurality of collaborating APs.
Regarding claim 8 (instant application), claim 5 (US 12,166,720 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 9 (instant application), claim 2 (US 12,166,720 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Regarding claim 11 (instant application), claim 3 (US 12,166,720 B2) substantially disclose similar claim limitations.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-18 would be allowable if a timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) is used to overcome the above double patent rejection.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: wherein the SIG field comprises a first subfield indicating a total number of spatial streams transmitted by the plurality of collaborating APs.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 20160205590 A1 or US 10447448 B2 or US 10122563 B1 or US 20120155447 A1 or US 10959121 B1 or US 20170181136 A1.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EMMANUEL BAYARD whose telephone number is (571)272-3016. The examiner can normally be reached 6-9.
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/EMMANUEL BAYARD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2633