The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
DETAILED ACTION
Priority
Applicant is eligible for priority benefit, however, not explicitly stated in the applicant’s specification.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement submitted has been considered by the Examiner and made of record in the application file.
Claim Objections
Claim 2 is objected to because of the following informalities: (i) claim 2 introduces “a feeder link antenna subsystem,” “a first user link antenna subsystem,” and “a second user link antenna subsystem,” but subsequently refers to “the feeder link antenna system,” “the first user link antenna system,” and “the second user link antenna system,” omitting “sub-”; consistent terminology is required; and (ii) the final wherein clause recites “at one or more first times” but “for one or more second times”; parallel phrasing (e.g., “at one or more second times”) appears intended. Claims 7 and 8 are objected to because they recite “each first [second] transmit antenna element of the first [second] user link antenna subsystem,” whereas claim 2 introduces these elements as the “array of first [second] transmit elements”; the terminology should be conformed. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections — 35 U.S.C. 112(b)
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 5–8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite. First, the preamble of claim 5 recites “the first and second user coverage areas” and “via the satellite operating as an end-to-end relay” before any antecedent for “the satellite” or the coverage areas appears in the claim; the antecedents arise only in the subsequently recited body element “the satellite of claim 2.” The claim is amenable to correction, e.g., by reciting “A satellite communications system configured for end-to-end forward beamforming, the satellite communications system comprising: the satellite of claim 2 operating as an end-to-end relay with respect to the first and second user coverage areas; ….” Second, claim 5 recites, as a positively claimed component of the system, “the plurality of ANs of claim 2.” In claim 2, however, the access nodes are not positively recited elements of the claimed satellite; they appear only in a statement of intended environment (“a feeder link antenna subsystem for illuminating an access node area containing a plurality of geographically distributed access nodes (ANs)”). It is therefore unclear whether claim 5 positively imports into the claimed system subject matter that claim 2 recites only as environment, and what structural relationship the imported ANs must have to the satellite of claim 2 to satisfy the claim. See MPEP 2173.05(f) (reference to limitations in another claim may render a claim indefinite where the resulting scope is unclear). For purposes of examination, claim 5 is interpreted as a system comprising the satellite of claim 2, a plurality of geographically distributed ANs within the illuminated access node area, and the recited CPS. Claims 6–8 inherit the deficiencies of claim 5 and are rejected for the same reasons. It is additionally noted that claim 5, although drafted in a form referring to claim 2, is directed to a different statutory combination (a system comprising the satellite together with ground segment elements) and is treated for examination purposes as an independent claim incorporating the limitations of claim 2 by reference. See MPEP 608.01(n).
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 §§ 706.02(l)(1) - 706.02(l)(3) 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 USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The 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/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Claims 2-8 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims of U.S. Patent Nos. 10079636, 10313000, 10749595, 11171716, 11843448, and 12212401, respectively. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at a time before the effective filing date of the claimed subject matter to arrive at the broader instantly claimed invention. See comparison tale below.
Instant Application
Pat # 10079636
Comment
2. A satellite comprising: a plurality of bent-pipe transponders, each bent-pipe transponder being a respective signal path through the satellite and having a receive side and a transmit side; a feeder link antenna subsystem for illuminating an access node area containing a plurality of geographically distributed access nodes (ANs), the feeder link antenna system comprising an array of receive antenna elements having overlapping receive antenna patterns;
1. A satellite for providing communications between a plurality of access node clusters and a plurality of user terminals, wherein each access node cluster of the plurality of access node clusters comprises a plurality of access nodes geographically distributed within a corresponding access node area, and wherein the plurality of user terminals are geographically distributed over a user coverage area, the satellite comprising: a feeder-link antenna subsystem comprising a feeder-link element array to illuminate the plurality of access node clusters, the feeder-link element array comprising an array of cooperating feeder-link constituent transmit elements and an array of cooperating feeder-link constituent receive elements;
Substantially similar subject matter.
a first user link antenna subsystem for illuminating a first user coverage area containing first user terminals, the first user link antenna system comprising an array of first transmit elements having overlapping transmit antenna patterns; and a second user link antenna subsystem for illuminating a second user coverage area containing second user terminals, the second user link antenna system comprising an array of second transmit elements having overlapping transmit antenna patterns; wherein the receive side of each bent-pipe transponder is coupled to a respective one of the receive antenna elements; and
a user-link antenna subsystem comprising a user-link element array to illuminate the user coverage area, the user-link element array comprising an array of cooperating user-link constituent transmit elements and an array of cooperating user-link constituent receive elements;
Substantially similar subject matter.
wherein the satellite further comprises a plurality of switches controllable for, at one or more first times, coupling the transmit sides of the plurality of bent-pipe transponders to respective ones among the array of first transmit elements for end-to-end forward beamforming with respect to the first user coverage area, and, for one or more second times, coupling the transmit sides of the plurality of bent-pipe transponders to respective ones among the array of second transmit elements for end-to-end forward beamforming with respect to the second user coverage area.
a plurality of forward-link transponders, each coupled between a respective one of the feeder-link constituent receive elements and a respective one of the user-link constituent transmit elements; and a plurality of return-link transponders, each coupled between a respective one of the user-link constituent receive elements and a respective one of the feeder-link constituent transmit elements.
Substantially similar subject matter.
Claims 3-8 are obvious over claims of Pat No. 10079636.
Instant Application
Pat # 10313000
Comment
2. A satellite comprising: a plurality of bent-pipe transponders, each bent-pipe transponder being a respective signal path through the satellite and having a receive side and a transmit side; a feeder link antenna subsystem for illuminating an access node area containing a plurality of geographically distributed access nodes (ANs), the feeder link antenna system comprising an array of receive antenna elements having overlapping receive antenna patterns;
1. A system for providing a communication service to user terminals geographically distributed over a user coverage area via an end-to-end relay comprising multiple receive/transmit signal paths, comprising: means for receiving composite input forward signals, each of the composite input forward signals being a respective superposition of a plurality of forward uplink signals transmitted by a set of access nodes, the set of access nodes comprising access nodes of at least one of a plurality of access node clusters, wherein each of the plurality of access node clusters comprises a plurality of access nodes at geographically distributed locations within a corresponding one of a plurality of access node areas;
Substantially similar subject matter.
a first user link antenna subsystem for illuminating a first user coverage area containing first user terminals, the first user link antenna system comprising an array of first transmit elements having overlapping transmit antenna patterns; and a second user link antenna subsystem for illuminating a second user coverage area containing second user terminals, the second user link antenna system comprising an array of second transmit elements having overlapping transmit antenna patterns;
means for generating a plurality of forward downlink signals from the composite input forward signals; and
Substantially similar subject matter.
wherein the receive side of each bent-pipe transponder is coupled to a respective one of the receive antenna elements; and wherein the satellite further comprises a plurality of switches controllable for, at one or more first times, coupling the transmit sides of the plurality of bent-pipe transponders to respective ones among the array of first transmit elements for end-to-end forward beamforming with respect to the first user coverage area, and, for one or more second times, coupling the transmit sides of the plurality of bent-pipe transponders to respective ones among the array of second transmit elements for end-to-end forward beamforming with respect to the second user coverage area.
means for transmitting the plurality of forward downlink signals to a plurality of the user terminals.
Substantially similar subject matter.
Claims 3-8 are obvious over claims of Pat No. 10313000.
Instant Application
Pat # 10749595
Comment
2. A satellite comprising: a plurality of bent-pipe transponders, each bent-pipe transponder being a respective signal path through the satellite and having a receive side and a transmit side; a feeder link antenna subsystem for illuminating an access node area containing a plurality of geographically distributed access nodes (ANs), the feeder link antenna system comprising an array of receive antenna elements having overlapping receive antenna patterns; a first user link antenna subsystem for illuminating a first user coverage area containing first user terminals, the first user link antenna system comprising an array of first transmit elements having overlapping transmit antenna patterns; and
1. A satellite for providing communications between a plurality of access nodes (ANs) and a plurality of user terminals, the plurality of ANs geographically distributed over an AN coverage area and the plurality of user terminals geographically distributed over a user coverage area, the satellite comprising: a feeder-link antenna subsystem to illuminate the access node (AN) coverage area, the feeder-link antenna subsystem comprising an array of cooperating feeder-link constituent transmit elements and an array of cooperating feeder-link constituent receive elements;
Substantially similar subject matter.
a second user link antenna subsystem for illuminating a second user coverage area containing second user terminals, the second user link antenna system comprising an array of second transmit elements having overlapping transmit antenna patterns; wherein the receive side of each bent-pipe transponder is coupled to a respective one of the receive antenna elements; and
a user-link antenna subsystem to illuminate the user coverage area, the user-link antenna subsystem comprising an array of cooperating user-link constituent transmit elements and an array of cooperating user-link constituent receive elements;
Substantially similar subject matter.
wherein the satellite further comprises a plurality of switches controllable for, at one or more first times, coupling the transmit sides of the plurality of bent-pipe transponders to respective ones among the array of first transmit elements for end-to-end forward beamforming with respect to the first user coverage area, and, for one or more second times, coupling the transmit sides of the plurality of bent-pipe transponders to respective ones among the array of second transmit elements for end-to-end forward beamforming with respect to the second user coverage area.
a plurality of forward-link transponders, each coupled between a respective one of the feeder-link constituent receive elements and a respective one of the user-link constituent transmit elements; and
Substantially similar subject matter.
a plurality of return-link transponders, each coupled between a respective one of the user-link constituent receive elements and a respective one of the feeder-link constituent transmit elements.
Claims 3-8 are obvious over claims of Pat No. 10749595.
Instant Application
Pat # 11171716
Comment
2. A satellite comprising: a plurality of bent-pipe transponders, each bent-pipe transponder being a respective signal path through the satellite and having a receive side and a transmit side; a feeder link antenna subsystem for illuminating an access node area containing a plurality of geographically distributed access nodes (ANs), the feeder link antenna system comprising an array of receive antenna elements having overlapping receive antenna patterns;
1. A method for communicating through an end-to-end relay, the method comprising: receiving a communication signal at each of a plurality of receive antenna elements of the end-to-end relay, the communication signal originating from an Earth transmitter, such that each of a subset of the receive antenna elements receives the communication signal at a signal level not substantially less than a signal level corresponding to a peak gain of the receive antenna element;
Substantially similar subject matter.
a first user link antenna subsystem for illuminating a first user coverage area containing first user terminals, the first user link antenna system comprising an array of first transmit elements having overlapping transmit antenna patterns; and a
outputting from each of the plurality of receive antenna elements, a corresponding received signal resulting from the receiving antenna element's reception of the communication signal;
Substantially similar subject matter.
independently amplifying each received signal to form a plurality of amplified received signals; and
second user link antenna subsystem for illuminating a second user coverage area containing second user terminals, the second user link antenna system comprising an array of second transmit elements having overlapping transmit antenna patterns; wherein the receive side of each bent-pipe transponder is coupled to a respective one of the receive antenna elements; and wherein the satellite further comprises a plurality of switches controllable for, at one or more first times, coupling the transmit sides of the plurality of bent-pipe transponders to respective ones among the array of first transmit elements for end-to-end forward beamforming with respect to the first user coverage area, and, for one or more second times, coupling the transmit sides of the plurality of bent-pipe transponders to respective ones among the array of second transmit elements for end-to-end forward beamforming with respect to the second user coverage area.
transmitting, from each of at least some of a plurality of transmit antenna elements, a different one of the amplified received signals as a downlink signal, such that at least a subset of the downlink signals illuminates an Earth receiver at a signal level not substantially less than a signal level corresponding to a peak gain of the transmit antenna elements participating in the transmitting.
Substantially similar subject matter.
Claims 3-8 are obvious over claims of Pat No. 11171716.
Instant Application
Pat # 11843448
Comment
2. A satellite comprising: a plurality of bent-pipe transponders, each bent-pipe transponder being a respective signal path through the satellite and having a receive side and a transmit side; a feeder link antenna subsystem for illuminating an access node area containing a plurality of geographically distributed access nodes (ANs), the feeder link antenna system comprising an array of receive antenna elements having overlapping receive antenna patterns;
8. An end-to-end relay system comprising: means for inducing multipath by generating a plurality of received signals from multiple concurrent observations of an uplink signal received wirelessly from a transmit location;
Substantially similar subject matter.
a first user link antenna subsystem for illuminating a first user coverage area containing first user terminals, the first user link antenna system comprising an array of first transmit elements having overlapping transmit antenna patterns; and
and means for relaying the plurality of received signals wirelessly to a receive location by independently amplifying the received signals to form a beam by superposition to illuminate the receive location.
Substantially similar subject matter.
a second user link antenna subsystem for illuminating a second user coverage area containing second user terminals, the second user link antenna system comprising an array of second transmit elements having overlapping transmit antenna patterns; wherein the receive side of each bent-pipe transponder is coupled to a respective one of the receive antenna elements; and wherein the satellite further comprises a plurality of switches controllable for, at one or more first times, coupling the transmit sides of the plurality of bent-pipe transponders to respective ones among the array of first transmit elements for end-to-end forward beamforming with respect to the first user coverage area, and, for one or more second times, coupling the transmit sides of the plurality of bent-pipe transponders to respective ones among the array of second transmit elements for end-to-end forward beamforming with respect to the second user coverage area.
Obvious over dependent claims of Pat No. 11843448.
Claims 3-8 are obvious over claims of Pat No. 11843448.
Instant Application
Pat # 12212401
Comment
2. A satellite comprising: a plurality of bent-pipe transponders, each bent-pipe transponder being a respective signal path through the satellite and having a receive side and a transmit side; a feeder link antenna subsystem for illuminating an access node area containing a plurality of geographically distributed access nodes (ANs), the feeder link antenna system comprising an array of receive antenna elements having overlapping receive antenna patterns;
1. A satellite for providing communications between a plurality of access nodes (ANs) and a plurality of user terminals, the plurality of ANs geographically distributed over an AN coverage area and the plurality of user terminals geographically distributed over a user coverage area, the satellite comprising: a feeder-link antenna subsystem configured to illuminate the AN coverage area and comprising an array of feeder-link receive elements where adjacent ones in the array of feeder-link receive elements have overlapping receive antenna patterns, and further comprising an array of feeder-link transmit elements where adjacent ones in the array of feeder-link transmit elements have overlapping transmit antenna patterns;
Substantially similar subject matter.
a first user link antenna subsystem for illuminating a first user coverage area containing first user terminals, the first user link antenna system comprising an array of first transmit elements having overlapping transmit antenna patterns; and
a user-link antenna subsystem configured to illuminate the user coverage area and comprising an array of user-link receive elements where adjacent ones in the array of user-link receive elements have overlapping receive antenna patterns, and further comprising an array of user-link transmit elements where adjacent ones in the array of user-link transmit elements have overlapping transmit antenna patterns;
Substantially similar subject matter.
a second user link antenna subsystem for illuminating a second user coverage area containing second user terminals, the second user link antenna system comprising an array of second transmit elements having overlapping transmit antenna patterns; wherein the receive side of each bent-pipe transponder is coupled to a respective one of the receive antenna elements; and wherein the satellite further comprises a plurality of switches controllable for, at one or more first times, coupling the transmit sides of the plurality of bent-pipe transponders to respective ones among the array of first transmit elements for end-to-end forward beamforming with respect to the first user coverage area, and, for one or more second times, coupling the transmit sides of the plurality of bent-pipe transponders to respective ones among the array of second transmit elements for end-to-end forward beamforming with respect to the second user coverage area.
a plurality of forward-link transponders, each comprising a bent-pipe signal path having a receive side coupled to a corresponding one of the feeder-link receive elements in the array of feeder-link receive elements, and having a transmit side coupled to a corresponding one of the user-link transmit elements in the array of user-link transmit elements; and a plurality of return-link transponders, each comprising a bent-pipe signal path having a receive side coupled to a corresponding one of the user-link receive elements in the array of user-link receive elements, and having a transmit side coupled to a corresponding one of the feeder-link transmit elements in the array of feeder-link transmit elements.
Substantially similar language.
Claims 3-8 are obvious over claims of Pat No. 12212401.
Instant Application
Pat # 12261680
Comment
2. A satellite comprising: a plurality of bent-pipe transponders, each bent-pipe transponder being a respective signal path through the satellite and having a receive side and a transmit side; a feeder link antenna subsystem for illuminating an access node area containing a plurality of geographically distributed access nodes (ANs), the feeder link antenna system comprising an array of receive antenna elements having overlapping receive antenna patterns;
1. A satellite communications system (SCS) comprising: an array of access nodes, the access nodes being distributed geographically, and each access node configured to transmit a respective beam-weighted forward uplink signal corresponding to an access-node specific forward signal received by the access node; a central processing system (CPS) comprising a forward beamforming circuit that is configured to split a forward beam signal into multiple copies, each copy corresponding to a respective one of the access nodes, and each copy weighted according to an access-node specific forward beam weight, for formation of the corresponding access-node specific forward signal, and wherein the forward beam signal carries traffic for one or more user terminals located in a forward user beam coverage area; and a satellite comprising a plurality of forward signal paths, each forward signal path configured to transmit a forward downlink signal corresponding to reception by the forward signal path of a unique superposition of the beam-weighted forward uplink signals;
Substantially similar subject matter.
a first user link antenna subsystem for illuminating a first user coverage area containing first user terminals, the first user link antenna system comprising an array of first transmit elements having overlapping transmit antenna patterns; and
wherein the forward beamforming circuit is configured to compute the access-node specific forward beam weights such that coherent combining of the forward downlink signals as transmitted by the satellite forms a forward user beam illuminating the forward user beam coverage area.
Substantially similar subject matter.
a second user link antenna subsystem for illuminating a second user coverage area containing second user terminals, the second user link antenna system comprising an array of second transmit elements having overlapping transmit antenna patterns; wherein the receive side of each bent-pipe transponder is coupled to a respective one of the receive antenna elements; and wherein the satellite further comprises a plurality of switches controllable for, at one or more first times, coupling the transmit sides of the plurality of bent-pipe transponders to respective ones among the array of first transmit elements for end-to-end forward beamforming with respect to the first user coverage area, and, for one or more second times, coupling the transmit sides of the plurality of bent-pipe transponders to respective ones among the array of second transmit elements for end-to-end forward beamforming with respect to the second user coverage area.
Claims 3-8 are obvious over claims of Pat No. 12261680.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-21 would be allowable once the double patenting rejection has been overcome.
No rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102 or 103 is applied to the pending claims at this time. The closest prior art of record includes von der Embse et al. (U.S. Patent No. 5,903,549, “Ground based beam forming utilizing synchronized code division multiplexing”), which discloses ground-based beamforming in which amplitude and phase beam weights are applied on the ground and multiple spot beams are generated through a satellite phased array or reflector with an array feed operating as a non-processing repeater, and Miller et al. (U.S. Patent No. 9,184,829, “Flexible capacity satellite communications system,” priority May 2, 2010), which discloses a bent-pipe phased-array satellite that flexibly allocates pathway capacity and hops beams among different coverage areas under programmable timeslot control. The prior art of record does not teach or fairly suggest, in combination with the other claim limitations, a satellite in which each receive element of a feeder-link array having overlapping receive antenna patterns receives a unique superposition of end-to-end beam-weighted forward uplink signals transmitted by a plurality of geographically distributed access nodes, such that end-to-end forward beamforming through the induced multipath of the plurality of bent-pipe transponder paths forms user beams — much less doing so in combination with a plurality of switches for coupling the transponder transmit sides to first and second user-link transmit element arrays at different times for end-to-end forward beamforming with respect to first and second user coverage areas. The pending claims accordingly stand rejected only as set forth above (35 U.S.C. 112(b) and nonstatutory double patenting)
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. U.S. Patent Nos. 5,903,549 (von der Embse et al.); 9,184,829 (Miller et al.).
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Fayyaz Alam
August 3, 2026
/FAYYAZ ALAM/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2646
Prosecution Insights