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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-8, 10-17, and 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Cherian et al (Publication number: US 2020/0077273).
Consider Claim 1, Cherian et al shows a first sharing access point (see figures 3 and 4), comprising:
(a) At least one processor; and a memory coupled to the processor to store instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the first sharing AP to: generate a multi-AP (M-AP) trigger frame, wherein the first sharing AP is configured to share at least a portion of a transmission opportunity (TXOP) with one or more second shared APs operating under a coordination agreement within a M-AP set for participating in a coordinated transmission (see figures 3 and 4; and paragraphs 112-114); (The AP may be referred to as an AP owner (or in some examples, a TXOP leader or AP leader). The AP (for example, the AP owner, the TXOP leader, the AP leader) may initiate a procedure for selecting an un-managed AP based on receiving the measured signal strength indicator. The AP (for example, the AP owner, the TXOP leader, the AP leader) may also determine one or more reuse criteria associated with participation in coordinated reuse over a TXOP. The AP owner may perform polling of a set of un-managed APs that support coordinated reuse, including the transmission of one or more spatial reuse poll frames, as part of determining the one or more reuse criteria).
(b) Transmit the M-AP trigger frame to a second shared AP (120) within the M-AP set, wherein the M-AP trigger frame is configured to solicit the second shared AP to initiate a Sequential Pre-TX coordination- related procedure with at least one of one or more non-AP stations associated with the second shared AP or one or more overlapping basic serving set (OBSS) non-AP stations associated with one or more further third shared APs operating under the coordination agreement within the M-AP set and to transmit a completion notification frame to the first sharing AP (see paragraphs 163-165); (By performing spatial reuse of resources during the TXOP and promoting synchronous DL transmission by the un-managed APs 105, the AP 105-a may reduce interference between BSSs of the network and improve total data throughput associated with DL transmission to the served STAs 115. Additionally, in some examples, the AP 105-a may obtain a longer TXOP or increased access priority for resources of the wireless medium based on the number of un-managed APs of OBSSs selected for coordinated reuse).
(c) Receive from the second shared AP the completion notification frame indicating the completion of the Sequential Pre-TX coordination-related procedure (see figure 16; and paragraphs 256-258); (At 1625, the AP may determine a criterion for coordinated reuse over a TXOP with the second access point based on one or more of the second poll or the second response, in which selecting the second access point is based on determining the criterion).
Consider Claim 10, Cherian et al shows a second shared access point (AP) (see figures 3 and 4), comprising:
(a) At least one processor; and a memory coupled to the processor to store instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the second sharing AP to:
receive a multi-AP M-AP} trigger frame from a first sharing AP (110) operating under the coordination agreement within the M-AP set, wherein the second sharing AP is configured to participate in a coordinated transmission making use of at least a portion of a transmission opportunity (TXOP), obtained and shared by the first sharing AP (see figures 3 and 4; and paragraphs 112-114); (The AP may be referred to as an AP owner (or in some examples, a TXOP leader or AP leader). The AP (for example, the AP owner, the TXOP leader, the AP leader) may initiate a procedure for selecting an un-managed AP based on receiving the measured signal strength indicator. The AP (for example, the AP owner, the TXOP leader, the AP leader) may also determine one or more reuse criteria associated with participation in coordinated reuse over a TXOP. The AP owner may perform polling of a set of un-managed APs that support coordinated reuse, including the transmission of one or more spatial reuse poll frames, as part of determining the one or more reuse criteria).
(b) In response to receiving the M-AP trigger frame, initiating a Sequential Pre-TX coordination-related procedure with at least one of one or more non- AP stations associated with the second shared AP or one or more overlapping basic serving set (OBSS) non-AP stations associated with one or more further third shared APs operating under the coordination agreement within the M-AP set (see paragraphs 163-165); (By performing spatial reuse of resources during the TXOP and promoting synchronous DL transmission by the un-managed APs 105, the AP 105-a may reduce interference between BSSs of the network and improve total data throughput associated with DL transmission to the served STAs 115. Additionally, in some examples, the AP 105-a may obtain a longer TXOP or increased access priority for resources of the wireless medium based on the number of un-managed APs of OBSSs selected for coordinated reuse).
(c) Transmit a completion notification frame to the first sharing AP indicating a completion of the Sequential Pre-TX coordination-related procedure (see figure 16; and paragraphs 256-258); (At 1625, the AP may determine a criterion for coordinated reuse over a TXOP with the second access point based on one or more of the second poll or the second response, in which selecting the second access point is based on determining the criterion).
Consider Claim 19, Cherian et al shows a method of operating a first sharing access point (AP) configured to share at least a portion of a transmission opportunity (TXOP) with one or more second shared APs within a multi-AP (M-AP) set for participating in a coordinated transmission (see figures 3 and 4), comprises:
(a) Generating a M-AP trigger frame; transmitting the M-AP trigger frame to a second shared AP operating under a coordination agreement within the M-AP set (see figures 3 and 4; and paragraphs 112-114); (The AP may be referred to as an AP owner (or in some examples, a TXOP leader or AP leader). The AP (for example, the AP owner, the TXOP leader, the AP leader) may initiate a procedure for selecting an un-managed AP based on receiving the measured signal strength indicator. The AP (for example, the AP owner, the TXOP leader, the AP leader) may also determine one or more reuse criteria associated with participation in coordinated reuse over a TXOP. The AP owner may perform polling of a set of un-managed APs that support coordinated reuse, including the transmission of one or more spatial reuse poll frames, as part of determining the one or more reuse criteria).
(b) Wherein the M-AP trigger frame is configured to solicit the second shared AP to initiate a Sequential Pre-TX coordination- related procedure with at least one of one or more non-AP stations associated with the second shared AP or one or more OBSS non-AP stations associated with one or more further third shared APs operating under the coordination agreement within the M-AP set and to transmit a completion notification frame towards the first sharing AP (see paragraphs 163-165); (By performing spatial reuse of resources during the TXOP and promoting synchronous DL transmission by the un-managed APs 105, the AP 105-a may reduce interference between BSSs of the network and improve total data throughput associated with DL transmission to the served STAs 115. Additionally, in some examples, the AP 105-a may obtain a longer TXOP or increased access priority for resources of the wireless medium based on the number of un-managed APs of OBSSs selected for coordinated reuse).
(c) Receiving the completion notification frame from the second shared AP indicating a completion of the Sequential Pre-TX coordination-related procedure (see figure 16; and paragraphs 256-258); (At 1625, the AP may determine a criterion for coordinated reuse over a TXOP with the second access point based on one or more of the second poll or the second response, in which selecting the second access point is based on determining the criterion).
Consider Claims 2, 12 and 20, Cherian et al shows that the M-AP trigger frame comprises a M-AP set identifier indicative of the M-AP set (see paragraphs 31, 75, and 76).
Consider Claims 3 and 11, Cherian et al shows that the M-AP trigger frame comprises a coordination agreement identifier within the M-AP set, wherein the coordination agreement identifier identifies one coordination agreement of a plurality of coordination agreements within the M-AP set and wherein the first sharing AP and the second shared AP operate under the coordination agreement identified by the coordination agreement identifier within the M-AP set (see figures 3 and 4; and paragraphs 112-114); (The AP may be referred to as an AP owner (or in some examples, a TXOP leader or AP leader). The AP (for example, the AP owner, the TXOP leader, the AP leader) may initiate a procedure for selecting an un-managed AP based on receiving the measured signal strength indicator. The AP (for example, the AP owner, the TXOP leader, the AP leader) may also determine one or more reuse criteria associated with participation in coordinated reuse over a TXOP. The AP owner may perform polling of a set of un-managed APs that support coordinated reuse, including the transmission of one or more spatial reuse poll frames, as part of determining the one or more reuse criteria).
Consider Claims 4 and 13, Cherian et al shows that the M-AP trigger frame comprises an indication indicative of a type of the Sequential Pre-TX coordination- related procedure (see figure 16; and paragraphs 256-260); (At 1620, the AP may receive, from a second access point of a set of access points, a second response including a measured signal strength indication of the first response based on transmitting the first poll).
Consider Claims 5 and 14, Cherian et al show that the M-AP trigger frame comprises information about one or more parameters of the Sequential Pre-TX coordination-related procedure (see figures 3 and 4; and paragraphs 112-114); (The AP may be referred to as an AP owner (or in some examples, a TXOP leader or AP leader). The AP (for example, the AP owner, the TXOP leader, the AP leader) may initiate a procedure for selecting an un-managed AP based on receiving the measured signal strength indicator. The AP (for example, the AP owner, the TXOP leader, the AP leader) may also determine one or more reuse criteria associated with participation in coordinated reuse over a TXOP. The AP owner may perform polling of a set of un-managed APs that support coordinated reuse, including the transmission of one or more spatial reuse poll frames, as part of determining the one or more reuse criteria).
Consider Claims 6 and 15, Cherian et al shows that the M-AP trigger frame comprises an indication to the second shared AP to initiate a transmission of the completion notification frame indicating the completion of the Sequential Pre-TX coordination-related procedure towards the first sharing AP (see paragraphs 163-165); (By performing spatial reuse of resources during the TXOP and promoting synchronous DL transmission by the un-managed APs 105, the AP 105-a may reduce interference between BSSs of the network and improve total data throughput associated with DL transmission to the served STAs 115. Additionally, in some examples, the AP 105-a may obtain a longer TXOP or increased access priority for resources of the wireless medium based on the number of un-managed APs of OBSSs selected for coordinated reuse).
Consider Claims 7 and 16, Cherian et al shows that the M-AP trigger frame comprises an identifier of the first shared AP (see paragraphs 31, 75, and 76).
Consider Claims 8 and 17, Cherian et al shows that the M-AP trigger frame comprises an indication indicative of a time period for performing the Sequential Pre- TX coordination-related procedure with at least one of the one or more non-AP stations associated with the second shared AP or the one or more OBSS non-AP stations associated with the one or more further third shared APs operating under the coordination agreement within the M-AP set (see paragraphs 163-165); (By performing spatial reuse of resources during the TXOP and promoting synchronous DL transmission by the un-managed APs 105, the AP 105-a may reduce interference between BSSs of the network and improve total data throughput associated with DL transmission to the served STAs 115. Additionally, in some examples, the AP 105-a may obtain a longer TXOP or increased access priority for resources of the wireless medium based on the number of un-managed APs of OBSSs selected for coordinated reuse).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 9 and 18 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.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL A FARAGALLA whose telephone number is (571)270-1107. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:00-5:00.
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, Matthew Eason can be reached at 571-270-7230. 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.
/MICHAEL A FARAGALLA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2624 09/16/2026
Prosecution Insights