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 .
Introduction
The claims 1-20 are pending in this application. This is a non-final office action in response to Application Number 18/939,246 filed on 6 November 2024 with a preliminary amendment filed on 16 December 2024 in which the specification, abstract, and claims 1-20 are amended and no claims are canceled or added; the instant application is a CON of PCT/CN2023/090914 filed on 26 April 2023 and also claims priority to Chinese application 202210509427.9 filed on 11 May 2022.
The applicant of record is Huawei Technologies Co., LTD. in Shenzhen, China and the inventors of record are Jian Yu, Wei Ruan, Yunbo Li, and Ming Gan. The application papers have been signed by a U.S.-registered patent practitioner.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 17 January 2025, 25 July 2025, and 9 January 2026 were filed after the filing date of the instant application on 6 November 2024 and before the mailing date of the first office action on the merits. The submissions are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner.
Claim Objections
Claim 18 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 18 recites “the first data field” in lines 1-2.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Interpretation
The claims have been considered according to the latest Patent Eligibility Guidelines and are considered eligible.
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)(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.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being unpatentable over Lou et al. (U.S. Patent Publication 2023/0114857).
Regarding claim 1, Lou disclosed a communication method comprising:
generating a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) (see Lou Fig. 27 first step: generate an EHT PPDU) that comprises a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy long training field (L-LTF), a legacy signal (L-SIG) field, and a first short training field (STF) (see Lou Fig. 22: PPDUs include L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, and Data; three of the PPDUs include U-SIG, EHT SIG, an extended EHT STF, EHT STF, and EHT LTF, whereas one of the PPDUs has HE-SIG-A, HE-SIG-B, HE STF, and HE LTF), wherein the first STF is obtained based on a second STF and a first sequence (see Lou Fig. 22: four PPDUs of which three PPDUs include an extended EHT STF that is determined based on the fourth PPDU; [0217]: when EHT-SIG fields are not synchronized, extended STF sequences (fields) are added in front of an EHT-STF or HE STF field to ensure alignment of the PPDUs; Fig. 22, [0219]: inserting an extended EHT-STF after the EHT-SIG field and before EHT-STF field such that the size of the extended EHT-STF field is adjusted to ensure that the durations of the extended EHT-STF field and the EHT-STF field would bring the EHT PPDU into alignment with other PDDUs; [0221]: duration of the extended EHT-STF may be an integer multiple, or other function, of an EHT-STF period, e.g., M periodicities of the EHT-STF sequences, etc.), and a time length of the first STF is greater than a time length of the L-STF (see Lou Fig. 13a, [0160]: PPDU is transmitted using 80MHz numerology such that the L-STF to EHT-SIG are transmitted using legacy numerology and repeated on each 20MHz channel/bandwidth subsegment, i.e. 20MHz duplicate transmission, and then starting with EHT-STF, the transmission uses a numerology defined for the 80MHz channel/bandwidth segment, i.e. L-STF is shorter than the EHT-STF | Fig. 21: U-SIG indicates a MU-PPDU with BW 160/240/320 MHz, i.e. legacy first half is shorter than EHT second half); and
sending the PPDU (see Lou Fig. 27 second step: transmitting the EHT PPDU);
wherein:
the PPDU further comprises at least one of a repeated legacy signal (RL-SIG field), or a universal signal (U-SIG) field (see Lou Fig. 22: PPDU includes RL-SIG, i.e. repeated L-SIG, and also U-SIG) that comprises at least one of the following:
a physical layer version of the PPDU or a format of the PPDU, wherein a version number of the physical layer version of the PPDU is 1, and the format of the PPDU indicates that the format of the PPDU is an extended range PPDU format (see Lou Fig. 3, [0109]: U-SIG includes version dependent and version independent fields and may include bits indicating a PHY version identifier, PPDU type, etc.; [0189]: U-SIG field may carry any of a release number, sub-generation number, sub-version number | [0178]: U-SIG version field may include a one-bit E-SIG present (sub)field; [0173]: bits in U-SIG may be a bitmap and the number of bits set to specific values (e.g., “1”) to indicate information for the corresponding feature, e.g., presence of an extra signaling (E-SIG) field).
Regarding claim 2, Lou disclosed the communication method according to claim 1, wherein the PPDU further comprises a first SIG field that uses a 2x or 4x symbol, or the first SIG field is replicated and transmitted in frequency domain (see Lou Fig. 22, [0219]: PPDU includes RL-SIG, i.e. replicated L-SIG, and an extended EHT STF is added to ensure alignment among the four PPDUs; Fig. 14, [0164]: C-MAP PPDU with duplicated transmissions).
Regarding claim 3, Lou disclosed the communication method according to claim 1, wherein content of the L-SIG field is same as content of the RL-SIG field (see Lou Fig. 22: PPDU includes RL-SIG, i.e. replicated L-SIG), and a length of the L-SIG field is a multiple of 3 (see Lou [0107] Table 1: L-SIG field length is 12 bits, i.e. a multiple of 3).
Regarding claim 4, Lou disclosed the communication method according to claim 1, wherein a first data field of the PPDU is replicated and transmitted in frequency domain (see Lou Fig. 22, [0219]: transmitting PPDU over four subchannels; Fig. 14, [0164]: C-MAP PPDU with duplicated transmissions).
Regarding claim 5, Lou disclosed the communication method according to claim 2, wherein:
the L-STF, the L-LTF, and the L-SIG field are comprised in a first part of the PPDU (see Lou [0131]: each PPDU may carry OFDM symbols with different symbol durations, e.g., pre-EHT preamble portion uses one numerology whereas another numerology is used for the post EHT preamble portion and data fields; Fig. 8, [0135]: PPDU occupies 80MHz and uses legacy 802.11 numerology for the mandatory SIG fields (U-SIG+EHT-SIG) and uses EHT numerology for the subsequent fields EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, E-SIG);
the first STF and the first SIG field are comprised in a second part of the PPDU (see Lou [0131]: each PPDU may carry OFDM symbols with different symbol durations, e.g., pre-EHT preamble portion uses one numerology whereas another numerology is used for the post EHT preamble portion and data fields; Fig. 8, [0135]: PPDU occupies 80MHz and uses legacy 802.11 numerology for the mandatory SIG fields (U-SIG+EHT-SIG) and uses EHT numerology for the subsequent fields EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, E-SIG); and
a bandwidth of the first part is greater than a bandwidth of the second part (see Lou [0129]: sending via wideband channel, e.g., 160MHz, 240MHz, 320MHz, etc. | [0131]: each PPDU may carry OFDM symbols with different symbol durations, e.g., pre-EHT preamble portion uses one numerology whereas another numerology is used for the post EHT preamble portion and data fields | Fig. 8, [0135]: PPDU occupies 80MHz and uses legacy 802.11 numerology for the mandatory SIG fields (U-SIG+EHT-SIG) and uses EHT numerology for the subsequent fields EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, E-SIG); Fig. 10, [0149]: mandatory SIG fields include a bandwidth/puncturing pattern subfield).
Regarding claim 6, Lou disclosed the communication method according to claim 2, wherein a processing of the PPDU comprises at least one of the following:
performing cross-correlation or auto-correlation on the first STF (see Lou [0217]: performing auto-correlation to detect the end of the EHT-STF); or
performing maximum likelihood combining on at least one of a first LTF, the first SIG field, or a first data field.
Regarding claim 7, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 1 above. Examiner notes that claim 1 describes a method whereas claim 7 describes a communication apparatus implementing the method described in claim 1. Lou disclosed, as recited in claim 7: A communication apparatus comprising:
a processor (see Lou Fig. 1B #118 processor), configured to generate a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) (see Lou Fig. 27 first step: generate an EHT PPDU) that comprises a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy long training field (L-LTF), a legacy signal (L-SIG) field, and a first short training field (STF) (see Lou Fig. 22: PPDUs include L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, and Data; three of the PPDUs include U-SIG, EHT SIG, an extended EHT STF, EHT STF, and EHT LTF, whereas one of the PPDUs has HE-SIG-A, HE-SIG-B, HE STF, and HE LTF), wherein the first STF is obtained based on a second STF and a first sequence (see Lou Fig. 22: four PPDUs of which three PPDUs include an extended EHT STF that is determined based on the fourth PPDU; [0217]: when EHT-SIG fields are not synchronized, extended STF sequences (fields) are added in front of an EHT-STF or HE STF field to ensure alignment of the PPDUs; Fig. 22, [0219]: inserting an extended EHT-STF after the EHT-SIG field and before EHT-STF field such that the size of the extended EHT-STF field is adjusted to ensure that the durations of the extended EHT-STF field and the EHT-STF field would bring the EHT PPDU into alignment with other PDDUs; [0221]: duration of the extended EHT-STF may be an integer multiple, or other function, of an EHT-STF period, e.g., M periodicities of the EHT-STF sequences, etc.), and a time length of the first STF is greater than a time length of the L-STF (see Lou Fig. 13a, [0160]: PPDU is transmitted using 80MHz numerology such that the L-STF to EHT-SIG are transmitted using legacy numerology and repeated on each 20MHz channel/bandwidth subsegment, i.e. 20MHz duplicate transmission, and then starting with EHT-STF, the transmission uses a numerology defined for the 80MHz channel/bandwidth segment, i.e. L-STF is shorter than the EHT-STF | Fig. 21: U-SIG indicates a MU-PPDU with BW 160/240/320 MHz, i.e. legacy first half is shorter than EHT second half); and
a transceiver (see Lou Fig. 1B #120 transceiver), configured to send the PPDU (see Lou Fig. 27 second step: transmitting the EHT PPDU);
wherein the PPDU further comprises at least one of a repeated legacy signal (RL-SIG) field, or a universal signal (U-SIG) field (see Lou Fig. 22: PPDU includes RL-SIG, i.e. repeated L-SIG, and also U-SIG) that comprises at least one of the following:
a physical layer version of the PPDU or a format of the PPDU, wherein a version number of the physical layer version of the PPDU is 1, and the format of the PPDU indicates that the format of the PPDU is an extended range PPDU format (see Lou Fig. 3, [0109]: U-SIG includes version dependent and version independent fields and may include bits indicating a PHY version identifier, PPDU type, etc.; [0189]: U-SIG field may carry any of a release number, sub-generation number, sub-version number | [0178]: U-SIG version field may include a one-bit E-SIG present (sub)field; [0173]: bits in U-SIG may be a bitmap and the number of bits set to specific values (e.g., “1”) to indicate information for the corresponding feature, e.g., presence of an extra signaling (E-SIG) field).
Regarding claim 8, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 2 above. Lou disclosed, as recited in claim 8: The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the PPDU further comprises a first SIG field that uses a 2x or 4x symbol, or the first SIG field is replicated and transmitted in frequency domain (see Lou Fig. 22, [0219]: PPDU includes RL-SIG, i.e. replicated L-SIG, and an extended EHT STF is added to ensure alignment among the four PPDUs; Fig. 14, [0164]: C-MAP PPDU with duplicated transmissions).
Regarding claim 9, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 3 above. Lou disclosed, as recited in claim 9: The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein content of the L-SIG field is same as content of the RL-SIG field (see Lou Fig. 22: PPDU includes RL-SIG, i.e. replicated L-SIG), and a length of the L-SIG field is a multiple of 3 (see Lou [0107] Table 1: L-SIG field length is 12 bits, i.e. a multiple of 3).
Regarding claim 10, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 4 above. Lou disclosed, as recited in claim 10: The communication apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a first data field of the PPDU is replicated and transmitted in frequency domain (see Lou Fig. 22, [0219]: transmitting PPDU over four subchannels; Fig. 14, [0164]: C-MAP PPDU with duplicated transmissions).
Regarding claim 11, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 5 above. Lou disclosed, as recited in claim 11: The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:
the L-STF, the L-LTF, and the L-SIG field are comprised in a first part of the PPDU (see Lou [0131]: each PPDU may carry OFDM symbols with different symbol durations, e.g., pre-EHT preamble portion uses one numerology whereas another numerology is used for the post EHT preamble portion and data fields; Fig. 8, [0135]: PPDU occupies 80MHz and uses legacy 802.11 numerology for the mandatory SIG fields (U-SIG+EHT-SIG) and uses EHT numerology for the subsequent fields EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, E-SIG);
the first STF and the first SIG field are comprised in a second part of the PPDU (see Lou [0131]: each PPDU may carry OFDM symbols with different symbol durations, e.g., pre-EHT preamble portion uses one numerology whereas another numerology is used for the post EHT preamble portion and data fields; Fig. 8, [0135]: PPDU occupies 80MHz and uses legacy 802.11 numerology for the mandatory SIG fields (U-SIG+EHT-SIG) and uses EHT numerology for the subsequent fields EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, E-SIG); and
a bandwidth of the first part is greater than a bandwidth of the second part (see Lou [0129]: sending via wideband channel, e.g., 160MHz, 240MHz, 320MHz, etc. | [0131]: each PPDU may carry OFDM symbols with different symbol durations, e.g., pre-EHT preamble portion uses one numerology whereas another numerology is used for the post EHT preamble portion and data fields | Fig. 8, [0135]: PPDU occupies 80MHz and uses legacy 802.11 numerology for the mandatory SIG fields (U-SIG+EHT-SIG) and uses EHT numerology for the subsequent fields EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, E-SIG); Fig. 10, [0149]: mandatory SIG fields include a bandwidth/puncturing pattern subfield).
Regarding claim 12, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 6 above. Lou disclosed, as recited in claim 12: The communication apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a processing of the PPDU comprises at least one of the following:
performing cross-correlation or auto-correlation on the first STF (see Lou [0217]: performing auto-correlation to detect the end of the EHT-STF); or performing maximum likelihood combining on at least one of a first LTF, the first SIG field, or a first data field.
Regarding claim 13, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 1 above. Examiner notes that claim 1 describes a method whereas claim 13 describes a communication apparatus implementing the opposite perspective of the method described in claim 1. Lou disclosed, as recited in claim 13: A communication apparatus, comprising:
a transceiver (see Lou Fig. 1B #120 transceiver), configured to receive a physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) (see Lou Fig. 27 first step: generate an EHT PPDU; second step: transmit an EHT PPDU; [0162]: STAs receive a PPDU) that comprises a legacy short training field (L-STF), a legacy long training field (L-LTF), a legacy signal (L-SIG) field, and a first STF (see Lou Fig. 22: PPDUs include L-STF, L-LTF, L-SIG, RL-SIG, and Data; three of the PPDUs include U-SIG, EHT SIG, an extended EHT STF, EHT STF, and EHT LTF, whereas one of the PPDUs has HE-SIG-A, HE-SIG-B, HE STF, and HE LTF), wherein the first STF is obtained based on a second STF and a first sequence (see Lou Fig. 22: four PPDUs of which three PPDUs include an extended EHT STF that is determined based on the fourth PPDU; [0217]: when EHT-SIG fields are not synchronized, extended STF sequences (fields) are added in front of an EHT-STF or HE STF field to ensure alignment of the PPDUs; Fig. 22, [0219]: inserting an extended EHT-STF after the EHT-SIG field and before EHT-STF field such that the size of the extended EHT-STF field is adjusted to ensure that the durations of the extended EHT-STF field and the EHT-STF field would bring the EHT PPDU into alignment with other PDDUs; [0221]: duration of the extended EHT-STF may be an integer multiple, or other function, of an EHT-STF period, e.g., M periodicities of the EHT-STF sequences, etc.), and a time length of the first STF is greater than a time length of the L-STF (see Lou Fig. 13a, [0160]: PPDU is transmitted using 80MHz numerology such that the L-STF to EHT-SIG are transmitted using legacy numerology and repeated on each 20MHz channel/bandwidth subsegment, i.e. 20MHz duplicate transmission, and then starting with EHT-STF, the transmission uses a numerology defined for the 80MHz channel/bandwidth segment, i.e. L-STF is shorter than the EHT-STF | Fig. 21: U-SIG indicates a MU-PPDU with BW 160/240/320 MHz, i.e. legacy first half is shorter than EHT second half); and
a processor (see Lou Fig. 1B #118 processor), configured to process the PPDU (see Lou Fig. 27 first step: generate an EHT PPDU; second step: transmit an EHT PPDU; [0162]: STAs receive a PPDU and check all of the fields, i.e. process the PPDU);
wherein:
the PPDU further comprises at least one of a repeated legacy signal (RL-SIG) field, or a universal signal (U-SIG) field (see Lou Fig. 22: PPDU includes RL-SIG, i.e. repeated L-SIG, and also U-SIG) that comprises at least one of the following:
a physical layer version of the PPDU or a format of the PPDU, wherein a version number of the physical layer version of the PPDU is 1, and the format of the PPDU indicates that the format of the PPDU is an extended range PPDU format (see Lou Fig. 3, [0109]: U-SIG includes version dependent and version independent fields and may include bits indicating a PHY version identifier, PPDU type, etc.; [0189]: U-SIG field may carry any of a release number, sub-generation number, sub-version number | [0178]: U-SIG version field may include a one-bit E-SIG present (sub)field; [0173]: bits in U-SIG may be a bitmap and the number of bits set to specific values (e.g., “1”) to indicate information for the corresponding feature, e.g., presence of an extra signaling (E-SIG) field).
Regarding claim 14, Lou disclosed the communication apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first STF is obtained based on the second STF and the first sequence comprises:
the first STF is obtained based on the L-STF and the first sequence; or
the first STF is obtained based on an extremely high throughput (EHT)-STF and the first sequence (see Lou [0217]: extended STF sequences (fields) are added in front of an EHT-STF or HE STF field to ensure alignment of the PPDUs; Fig. 22, [0219]: inserting an extended EHT-STF after the EHT-SIG field and before EHT-STF field such that the size of the extended EHT-STF field is adjusted to ensure that the durations of the extended EHT-STF field and the EHT-STF field would bring the EHT PPDU into alignment with other PDDUs | [0221]: duration of the extended EHT-STF may be an integer multiple, or other function, of an EHT-STF period, e.g., M periodicities of the EHT-STF sequences, etc.); or
the first STF is obtained based on a high efficient (HE)-STF and the first sequence.
Regarding claim 15, Lou disclosed the communication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the first STF is obtained based on the L-STF and the first sequence comprises:
the first STF is obtained by extending an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol in the L-STF using the first sequence (see Lou [0217]: extended STF sequences (fields) are added in front of an EHT-STF or HE STF field to ensure alignment of the PPDUs; Fig. 22, [0219]: inserting an extended EHT-STF after the EHT-SIG field and before EHT-STF field such that the duration of the extended EHT-STF may an integer or fractional number of OFDM symbols with a different numerology, e.g., half or quarter of legacy symbol duration); or
the first STF is obtained by extending a part of an OFDM symbol in the L-STF using the first sequence;
a first mark field is used to distinguish the PPDU from a PPDU in another format.
Regarding claim 16, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 2 above. Lou disclosed, as recited in claim 16: The communication apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the PPDU further comprises a first SIG field that uses a 2x or 4x symbol, or the first SIG field is replicated and transmitted in frequency domain (see Lou Fig. 22, [0219]: PPDU includes RL-SIG, i.e. replicated L-SIG, and an extended EHT STF is added to ensure alignment among the four PPDUs; Fig. 14, [0164]: C-MAP PPDU with duplicated transmissions).
Regarding claim 17, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 3 above. Lou disclosed, as recited in claim 17: The communication apparatus according to claim 13, wherein content of the L-SIG field is same as content of the RL-SIG field (see Lou Fig. 22: PPDU includes RL-SIG, i.e. replicated L-SIG), and a length of the L-SIG field is a multiple of 3 (see Lou [0107] Table 1: L-SIG field length is 12 bits, i.e. a multiple of 3).
Regarding claim 18, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 4 above. Lou disclosed, as recited in claim 18: The communication apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first data field of the PPDU is replicated and transmitted in frequency domain (see Lou Fig. 22, [0219]: transmitting PPDU over four subchannels; Fig. 14, [0164]: C-MAP PPDU with duplicated transmissions).
Regarding claim 19, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 5 above. Lou disclosed, as recited in claim 19: The communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:
the L-STF, the L-LTF, and the L-SIG field are comprised in a first part of the PPDU (see Lou [0131]: each PPDU may carry OFDM symbols with different symbol durations, e.g., pre-EHT preamble portion uses one numerology whereas another numerology is used for the post EHT preamble portion and data fields; Fig. 8, [0135]: PPDU occupies 80MHz and uses legacy 802.11 numerology for the mandatory SIG fields (U-SIG+EHT-SIG) and uses EHT numerology for the subsequent fields EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, E-SIG);
the first STF and the first SIG field are comprised in a second part of the PPDU (see Lou [0131]: each PPDU may carry OFDM symbols with different symbol durations, e.g., pre-EHT preamble portion uses one numerology whereas another numerology is used for the post EHT preamble portion and data fields; Fig. 8, [0135]: PPDU occupies 80MHz and uses legacy 802.11 numerology for the mandatory SIG fields (U-SIG+EHT-SIG) and uses EHT numerology for the subsequent fields EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, E-SIG); and
a bandwidth of the first part is greater than a bandwidth of the second part (see Lou [0129]: sending via wideband channel, e.g., 160MHz, 240MHz, 320MHz, etc. | [0131]: each PPDU may carry OFDM symbols with different symbol durations, e.g., pre-EHT preamble portion uses one numerology whereas another numerology is used for the post EHT preamble portion and data fields | Fig. 8, [0135]: PPDU occupies 80MHz and uses legacy 802.11 numerology for the mandatory SIG fields (U-SIG+EHT-SIG) and uses EHT numerology for the subsequent fields EHT-STF, EHT-LTF, E-SIG); Fig. 10, [0149]: mandatory SIG fields include a bandwidth/puncturing pattern subfield).
Regarding claim 20, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 6 above. Lou disclosed, as recited in claim 20: The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein
a processor, configured to process the PPDU comprises the processor configured to: perform cross-correlation or auto-correlation on the first STF (see Lou [0217]: performing auto-correlation to detect the end of the EHT-STF); or perform maximum likelihood combining on at least one of the first LTF, the first SIG field, and a first data field.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Angela Widhalm de Rodriguez whose telephone number is (571)272-1035. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 6am-2:30pm EST.
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/ANGELA WIDHALM DE RODRIGUEZ/Examiner, Art Unit 2443
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