DETAILED ACTION
This office action is a response to an application field on 11/21/2024, in which claims 1-15 are pending and ready for examination.
Priority
Applicant’s claim for the benefit of a prior-filed application under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) or under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c) is acknowledged.
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.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-18 of U.S. Patent No. 12191942B2 (Lee et al.; hereinafter “Lee”). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
In response to claim 1,
Lee teaches wireless communication method performed by a wireless communication apparatus in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, the wireless communication method comprising: generating a frame comprising a SIG-A field and a SIG-B field, wherein the SIG-B field comprises bit information that comprises subchannel allocation information in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) mode where different subchannels are allocated to different users and simultaneous data transmission to multiple users is allowed; and
transmitting the generated frame to the multiple users (claim 1, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation), and
wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a number of space-time streams (NSTS) of channels transmitted in the OFDMA mode, and bit information indicating each user corresponding to each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 1, paragraph 2 teaches this limitation),
wherein the transmitting of the frame includes transmitting the SIG-B field using a frequency bandwidth indicated in the SIG-A field (claim 5 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 2,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a modulation and coding mode used by each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 2 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 3,
Lee teaches wherein the subchannel allocation information indicates a position of each of subchannels in a channel bandwidth of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 80MHz+80MHz, or 160MHz in the OFDMA mode, and wherein a frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is greater than 0 and smaller than 20 MHz (claim 3 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 4,
Lee teaches wherein the frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is dynamically set from 0 to 20MHz (claim 4 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 5,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-A field comprises bit information indicating a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) mode (claim 6 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 6,
Lee teaches a wireless communication method performed by a wireless communication apparatus in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, the wireless communication method comprising: receiving, by the wireless communication apparatus corresponding to one of multiple users from a transmission apparatus, a frame comprising an SIG-A field and an SIG-B field, wherein the SIG-B field comprises bit information that comprises subchannel allocation information in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) mode where different subchannels are allocated to different users and simultaneous data transmission to the multiple users is allowed (claim 7, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation); and
determining each of subchannels to be used for communications based on at least the subchannel allocation information (claim 7, paragraph 2 teaches this limitation), and
wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a number of space-time streams (NSTS) of channels transmitted in the OFDMA mode, and bit information indicating each user corresponding to each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 7, paragraph 3 teaches this limitation),
wherein the receiving of the frame includes receiving the SIG-B field using a frequency bandwidth indicated in the SIG-A field (claim 11 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 7,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a modulation and coding mode used by each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 8 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 8,
Lee teaches, wherein the subchannel allocation information indicates a position of each of subchannels in a channel bandwidth of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 80MHz+80MHz, or 160MHz in the OFDMA mode, and wherein a frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is greater than 0 and smaller than 20 MHz (claim 9 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 9,
Lee teaches wherein the frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is dynamically set from 0 to 20MHz (claim 10 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 10,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-A field comprises bit information indicating a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) mode (claim 12 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 11,
Lee teaches a wireless communication apparatus comprising: a processor to generate a frame comprising an SIG-A field and an SIG-B field, wherein the SIG-B field comprises bit information comprising subchannel allocation information in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) mode where different subchannels are allocated to different users and simultaneous data transmission to multiple users is allowed (claim 13, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation); and
a transmitter to transmit the generated frame to the multiple users (claim 13, paragraph 2 teaches this limitation), and
wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a number of space-time streams (NSTS) of channels transmitted in the OFDMA mode, and bit information indicating each user corresponding to each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 13, paragraph 3 teaches this limitation),
wherein the transmitter, in order to transmit the generated frame, transmits the SIG-B field using a frequency bandwidth indicated in the SIG-A field (claim 18 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 12,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a modulation and coding mode used by each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 14 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 13,
Lee teaches, wherein the SIG-A field comprises bit information indicating a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) mode (claim 14 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 14,
Lee teaches, wherein the subchannel allocation information indicates a position of each of subchannels in a channel bandwidth of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 80MHz+80MHz, or 160MHz in the OFDMA mode, and wherein a frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is greater than 0 and smaller than 20 MHz (claim 16 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 15,
Lee teaches, wherein the frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is dynamically set from 0 to 20MHz (claim 17 teaches this limitation).
Claims 1, 3-6, 8-11 and 13-15 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-4, 6, 9-12 and 14 of U.S. Patent No. 11870468B2 (Lee et al.; hereinafter “Lee”). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
In response to claim 1,
Lee teaches wireless communication method performed by a wireless communication apparatus in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, the wireless communication method comprising: generating a frame comprising a SIG-A field and a SIG-B field, wherein the SIG-B field comprises bit information that comprises subchannel allocation information in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) mode where different subchannels are allocated to different users and simultaneous data transmission to multiple users is allowed (claim 1, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation); and
transmitting the generated frame to the multiple users (claim 1, paragraph 2 teaches this limitation), and
wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a number of space-time streams (NSTS) of channels transmitted in the OFDMA mode, and bit information indicating each user corresponding to each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 1 paragraph 4 and claim 2 together teaches this limitation),
wherein the transmitting of the frame includes transmitting the SIG-B field using a frequency bandwidth indicated in the SIG-A field (claim 1, paragraph 3 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 3,
Lee teaches wherein the subchannel allocation information indicates a position of each of subchannels in a channel bandwidth of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 80MHz+80MHz, or 160MHz in the OFDMA mode, and wherein a frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is greater than 0 and smaller than 20 MHz (claim 3 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 4,
Lee teaches wherein the frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is dynamically set from 0 to 20MHz (claim 4 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 5,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-A field comprises bit information indicating a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) mode (claim 5 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 6,
Lee teaches A wireless communication method performed by a wireless communication apparatus in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, the wireless communication method comprising: receiving, by the wireless communication apparatus corresponding to one of multiple users from a transmission apparatus, a frame comprising an SIG-A field and an SIG-B field, wherein the SIG-B field comprises bit information that comprises subchannel allocation information in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) mode where different subchannels are allocated to different users and simultaneous data transmission to the multiple users is allowed (claim 9, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation); and
determining each of subchannels to be used for communications based on at least the subchannel allocation information (claim 9, paragraph 2 teaches this limitation), and
wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a number of space-time streams (NSTS) of channels transmitted in the OFDMA mode, and bit information indicating each user corresponding to each channel in the OFDMA mode,
wherein the receiving of the frame includes receiving the SIG-B field using a frequency bandwidth indicated in the SIG-A field (claim 9 paragraph 4 and claim 10 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 8,
Lee teaches, wherein the subchannel allocation information indicates a position of each of subchannels in a channel bandwidth of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 80MHz+80MHz, or 160MHz in the OFDMA mode, and wherein a frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is greater than 0 and smaller than 20 MHz (claim 11 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 9,
Lee teaches wherein the frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is dynamically set from 0 to 20MHz (claim 12 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 10,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-A field comprises bit information indicating a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) mode (claim 6 teaches this limitaion).
In response to claim 11,
Lee teaches a wireless communication apparatus comprising: a processor to generate a frame comprising an SIG-A field and an SIG-B field, wherein the SIG-B field comprises bit information comprising subchannel allocation information in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) mode where different subchannels are allocated to different users and simultaneous data transmission to multiple users is allowed (claim 14, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation); and
a transmitter to transmit the generated frame to the multiple users (claim 14, paragraph 2 teaches this limitation), and
wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a number of space-time streams (NSTS) of channels transmitted in the OFDMA mode, and bit information indicating each user corresponding to each channel in the OFDMA mode,
wherein the transmitter, in order to transmit the generated frame, transmits the SIG-B field using a frequency bandwidth indicated in the SIG-A field (claim 14, paragraph 4, and claim 2 together teach this limitation).
In response to claim 13,
Lee teaches, wherein the SIG-A field comprises bit information indicating a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) mode (claim 6 teaches this limitaion).
In response to claim 14,
Lee teaches, wherein the subchannel allocation information indicates a position of each of subchannels in a channel bandwidth of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 80MHz+80MHz, or 160MHz in the OFDMA mode, and wherein a frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is greater than 0 and smaller than 20 MHz (claim 3 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 15,
Lee teaches, wherein the frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is dynamically set from 0 to 20MHz (claim 4 teaches this limitation).
Claims 1-4, 6-9, 11-12 and 14-15 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-8 and 10 of U.S. Patent No. 11522583B2 (Lee et al.; hereinafter “Lee”). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
In response to claim 1,
Lee teaches wireless communication method performed by a wireless communication apparatus in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, the wireless communication method comprising: generating a frame comprising a SIG-A field and a SIG-B field, wherein the SIG-B field comprises bit information that comprises subchannel allocation information in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) mode where different subchannels are allocated to different users and simultaneous data transmission to multiple users is allowed (claim 1, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation); and
transmitting the generated frame to the multiple users (claim 1, paragraph 2 teaches this limitation), and
wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a number of space-time streams (NSTS) of channels transmitted in the OFDMA mode, and bit information indicating each user corresponding to each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 1, paragraph 3 teaches this limitation),
wherein the transmitting of the frame includes transmitting the SIG-B field using a frequency bandwidth indicated in the SIG-A field (claim 4 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 2,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a modulation and coding mode used by each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 1, paragraph 3 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 3,
Lee teaches wherein the subchannel allocation information indicates a position of each of subchannels in a channel bandwidth of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 80MHz+80MHz, or 160MHz in the OFDMA mode, and wherein a frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is greater than 0 and smaller than 20 MHz (claim 2 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 4,
Lee teaches wherein the frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is dynamically set from 0 to 20MHz (claim 3 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 6,
Lee teaches a wireless communication method performed by a wireless communication apparatus in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, the wireless communication method comprising: receiving, by the wireless communication apparatus corresponding to one of multiple users from a transmission apparatus, a frame comprising an SIG-A field and an SIG-B field, wherein the SIG-B field comprises bit information that comprises subchannel allocation information in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) mode where different subchannels are allocated to different users and simultaneous data transmission to the multiple users is allowed (claim 5, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation); and
determining each of subchannels to be used for communications based on at least the subchannel allocation information (claim 5, paragraph 2 teaches this limitation), and
wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a number of space-time streams (NSTS) of channels transmitted in the OFDMA mode, and bit information indicating each user corresponding to each channel in the OFDMA mode(claim 5, paragraph 3 teaches this limitation),
wherein the receiving of the frame includes receiving the SIG-B field using a frequency bandwidth indicated in the SIG-A field(claim 8 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 7,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a modulation and coding mode used by each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 5, paragraph 3 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 8,
Lee teaches, wherein the subchannel allocation information indicates a position of each of subchannels in a channel bandwidth of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 80MHz+80MHz, or 160MHz in the OFDMA mode, and wherein a frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is greater than 0 and smaller than 20 MHz (claim 6 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 9,
Lee teaches wherein the frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is dynamically set from 0 to 20MHz.
In response to claim 11,
Lee teaches a wireless communication apparatus comprising: a processor to generate a frame comprising an SIG-A field and an SIG-B field, wherein the SIG-B field comprises bit information comprising subchannel allocation information in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) mode where different subchannels are allocated to different users and simultaneous data transmission to multiple users is allowed (claim 10, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation); and
a transmitter to transmit the generated frame to the multiple users (claim 10, paragraph 2 teaches this limitation), and
wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a number of space-time streams (NSTS) of channels transmitted in the OFDMA mode, and bit information indicating each user corresponding to each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 10, paragraph 3 teaches this limitation),
wherein the transmitter, in order to transmit the generated frame, transmits the SIG-B field using a frequency bandwidth indicated in the SIG-A field (claim 4 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 12,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a modulation and coding mode used by each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 10, paragraph 3 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 14,
Lee teaches, wherein the subchannel allocation information indicates a position of each of subchannels in a channel bandwidth of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 80MHz+80MHz, or 160MHz in the OFDMA mode, and wherein a frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is greater than 0 and smaller than 20 MHz (claim 2 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 15,
Lee teaches, wherein the frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is dynamically set from 0 to 20MHz (claim 3 teaches this limitation).
Claims 1-4, 6-9, 11-12 and 14-15 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-8 and 10 of U.S. Patent No. 10931336B2 (Lee et al.; hereinafter “Lee”). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
In response to claim 1,
Lee teaches wireless communication method performed by a wireless communication apparatus in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, the wireless communication method comprising: generating a frame comprising a SIG-A field and a SIG-B field, wherein the SIG-B field comprises bit information that comprises subchannel allocation information in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) mode where different subchannels are allocated to different users and simultaneous data transmission to multiple users is allowed (claim 1, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation); and
transmitting the generated frame to the multiple users (claim 1, paragraph 2 teaches this limitation), and
wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a number of space-time streams (NSTS) of channels transmitted in the OFDMA mode, and bit information indicating each user corresponding to each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 3, paragraphs 2-3 together teach this limitation),
wherein the transmitting of the frame includes transmitting the SIG-B field using a frequency bandwidth indicated in the SIG-A field (claim 4 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 2,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a modulation and coding mode used by each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 1 paragraph 1 teaches using SIG-B field and claim 3, paragraph 3 teaches bit information indicating a modulation and coding mode used by each channel in the OFDMA mode).
In response to claim 3,
Lee teaches wherein the subchannel allocation information indicates a position of each of subchannels in a channel bandwidth of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 80MHz+80MHz, or 160MHz in the OFDMA mode, and wherein a frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is greater than 0 and smaller than 20 MHz (claim 1, paragraph 3 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 4,
Lee teaches wherein the frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is dynamically set from 0 to 20MHz (claim 2 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 6,
Lee teaches A wireless communication method performed by a wireless communication apparatus in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, the wireless communication method comprising: receiving, by the wireless communication apparatus corresponding to one of multiple users from a transmission apparatus, a frame comprising an SIG-A field and an SIG-B field, wherein the SIG-B field comprises bit information that comprises subchannel allocation information in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) mode where different subchannels are allocated to different users and simultaneous data transmission to the multiple users is allowed (claim 5, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation); and
determining each of subchannels to be used for communications based on at least the subchannel allocation information (claim 5,paragraph 2 teaches this limitation), and
wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a number of space-time streams (NSTS) of channels transmitted in the OFDMA mode, and bit information indicating each user corresponding to each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 7, paragraphs 2-3 together teach this limitation),
wherein the receiving of the frame includes receiving the SIG-B field using a frequency bandwidth indicated in the SIG-A field (claim 8 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 7,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a modulation and coding mode used by each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 5 paragraph 1 teaches using SIG-B field and claim 6, paragraph 3 teaches bit information indicating a modulation and coding mode used by each channel in the OFDMA mode).
In response to claim 8,
Lee teaches, wherein the subchannel allocation information indicates a position of each of subchannels in a channel bandwidth of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 80MHz+80MHz, or 160MHz in the OFDMA mode, and wherein a frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is greater than 0 and smaller than 20 MHz (claim 5, paragraph 3 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 9,
Lee teaches wherein the frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is dynamically set from 0 to 20MHz (claim 6 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 11,
Lee teaches a wireless communication apparatus comprising: a processor to generate a frame comprising an SIG-A field and an SIG-B field, wherein the SIG-B field comprises bit information comprising subchannel allocation information in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) mode where different subchannels are allocated to different users and simultaneous data transmission to multiple users is allowed (claim 10, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation); and
a transmitter to transmit the generated frame to the multiple users (claim 10, paragraph 2 teaches this limitation), and
wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a number of space-time streams (NSTS) of channels transmitted in the OFDMA mode, and bit information indicating each user corresponding to each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 3, paragraphs 2-3 together teach this limitation),
wherein the transmitter, in order to transmit the generated frame, transmits the SIG-B field using a frequency bandwidth indicated in the SIG-A field (claim 4 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 12,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a modulation and coding mode used by each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 1 paragraph 1 teaches using SIG-B field and claim 3, paragraph 3 teaches bit information indicating a modulation and coding mode used by each channel in the OFDMA mode).
In response to claim 14,
Lee teaches, wherein the subchannel allocation information indicates a position of each of subchannels in a channel bandwidth of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 80MHz+80MHz, or 160MHz in the OFDMA mode, and wherein a frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is greater than 0 and smaller than 20 MHz (claim 1, paragraph 3 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 15,
Lee teaches, wherein the frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is dynamically set from 0 to 20MHz (claim 2 teaches this limitation).
Claims 1-15 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-3, 7-9 and 11-14 of U.S. Patent No. 10367549B2 (Lee et al.; hereinafter “Lee”). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
In response to claim 1,
Lee teaches wireless communication method performed by a wireless communication apparatus in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, the wireless communication method comprising: generating a frame comprising a SIG-A field and a SIG-B field, wherein the SIG-B field comprises bit information that comprises subchannel allocation information in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) mode where different subchannels are allocated to different users and simultaneous data transmission to multiple users is allowed (claim 1, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation); and
transmitting the generated frame to the multiple users (claim 1, paragraph 2 teaches this limitation), and
wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a number of space-time streams (NSTS) of channels transmitted in the OFDMA mode, and bit information indicating each user corresponding to each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 2, teaches this limitation),
wherein the transmitting of the frame includes transmitting the SIG-B field using a frequency bandwidth indicated in the SIG-A field (claim 7 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 2,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a modulation and coding mode used by each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 1, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 3,
Lee teaches wherein the subchannel allocation information indicates a position of each of subchannels in a channel bandwidth of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 80MHz+80MHz, or 160MHz in the OFDMA mode, and wherein a frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is greater than 0 and smaller than 20 MHz (claim 1 paragraph 3 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 4,
Lee teaches wherein the frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is dynamically set from 0 to 20MHz (claim 1, paragraph 4 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 5,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-A field comprises bit information indicating a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) mode (claim 3 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 6,
Lee teaches a wireless communication method performed by a wireless communication apparatus in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system, the wireless communication method comprising: receiving, by the wireless communication apparatus corresponding to one of multiple users from a transmission apparatus, a frame comprising an SIG-A field and an SIG-B field, wherein the SIG-B field comprises bit information that comprises subchannel allocation information in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) mode where different subchannels are allocated to different users and simultaneous data transmission to the multiple users is allowed (claim 8, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation); and
determining each of subchannels to be used for communications based on at least the subchannel allocation information (claim 8, paragraph 2 teaches this limitation), and
wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a number of space-time streams (NSTS) of channels transmitted in the OFDMA mode, and bit information indicating each user corresponding to each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 11 teaches this limitation),
wherein the receiving of the frame includes receiving the SIG-B field using a frequency bandwidth indicated in the SIG-A field (claim 9 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 7,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a modulation and coding mode used by each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 8, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 8,
Lee teaches, wherein the subchannel allocation information indicates a position of each of subchannels in a channel bandwidth of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 80MHz+80MHz, or 160MHz in the OFDMA mode, and wherein a frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is greater than 0 and smaller than 20 MHz (claim 8, paragraph 3 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 9,
Lee teaches wherein the frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is dynamically set from 0 to 20MHz (claim 8, paragraph 4 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 10,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-A field comprises bit information indicating a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) mode (claim 12 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 11,
Lee teaches a wireless communication apparatus comprising: a processor to generate a frame comprising an SIG-A field and an SIG-B field, wherein the SIG-B field comprises bit information comprising subchannel allocation information in an Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) mode where different subchannels are allocated to different users and simultaneous data transmission to multiple users is allowed (claim 14, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation); and
a transmitter to transmit the generated frame to the multiple users (claim 14, paragraph 2 teaches this limitation), and
wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a number of space-time streams (NSTS) of channels transmitted in the OFDMA mode, and bit information indicating each user corresponding to each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 2 teaches this limitation),
wherein the transmitter, in order to transmit the generated frame, transmits the SIG-B field using a frequency bandwidth indicated in the SIG-A field (claim 7 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 12,
Lee teaches wherein the SIG-B field further comprises bit information indicating a modulation and coding mode used by each channel in the OFDMA mode (claim 13, paragraph 1 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 13,
Lee teaches, wherein the SIG-A field comprises bit information indicating a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) mode (claim 3 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 14,
Lee teaches, wherein the subchannel allocation information indicates a position of each of subchannels in a channel bandwidth of 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 80MHz+80MHz, or 160MHz in the OFDMA mode, and wherein a frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is greater than 0 and smaller than 20 MHz (claim 14, paragraph 3 teaches this limitation).
In response to claim 15,
Lee teaches, wherein the frequency bandwidth of each of the subchannels is dynamically set from 0 to 20MHz (claim 14, paragraph 4 teaches this limitation).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
20120020261……………paragraphs 25, 34, 38 and 54.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ABUSAYEED HAQUE whose telephone number is (571)270-7252. The examiner can normally be reached 9 am -7:30 pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Faruk Hamza can be reached at 571-272-7969. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/ABUSAYEED M HAQUE/ Examiner, Art Unit 2466
/CHRISTOPHER M CRUTCHFIELD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2466
Prosecution Insights