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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on May 19, 2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Specification
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
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 1-18 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-18 of U.S. Patent No.12,341,721. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-18 of USPN 12,341,721 are obvious variants of claims 1-18 of the current application.
Current Application
U.S. Patent Number 12,341,721
Claim 1:
An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
a non-transitory memory configured to store instructions; and
a processor coupled with the non-transitory memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions in the memory to cause the apparatus to:
receive a signaling field (SIG), wherein the SIG includes a resource unit (RU) allocation field useable to indicate a size and a location of an RU or multiple RUs (MRU) in a frequency resource, and one or more user fields, each of the one or more user fields includes a station identifier (STA ID) of a scheduled station (STA);
wherein the MRU is assigned to one or more STAs, and the RU allocation field is useable to indicate a size and a location of each RU comprised in the MRU;
wherein the one or more user fields comprise a single RU user field and an MRU user field; the single RU user field corresponds to another RU which fails to be included in the MRUs; the MRU user field corresponds to the MRU;
process the SIG.
Claim 1:
An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
a memory that stores instructions; and
a processor coupled with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions in the memory to cause the processor to:
generate a signaling field, SIG, in a wireless local area network, WLAN, the SIG includes a resource unit, RU, allocation field indicating a size and location of an RU in a frequency resource, the SIG further includes one or more user fields, wherein a user field includes information of a scheduled station, STA;
wherein an MRU which includes multiple RUs is assigned to a same one or more STAs; and
the SIG comprises a Single- RU user field and a MRU user field; the Single-RU user field corresponds to a RU which is not a MRU; a MRU user field corresponds to a MRU, comprising at least the following: a STA identifier, STA ID; and a RU allocation information indicating size and location of each RU comprised in the MRU;
transmit the SIG.
Claim 2:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the MRU is a small MRU, which includes a combination of 26-RU, 52-RU, or 106-RU in a 20 MHz frequency segment; or the MRU is a large MRU which includes a combination of 242-RU, 484-RU, or 996-RU in a transmission bandwidth.
Claim 2:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the MRU is a small MRU, which includes combination of 26-RU, 52-RU, or 106-RU in a 20 MHz frequency segment; or the MRU is a large MRU which includes combination of 242-RU, 484-RU, or 996- RU in a transmission bandwidth.
Claim 3:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a common field of the SIG includes at least one of: information for a small MRU allocated in a corresponding 20 MHz frequency segment, or information for a number of a large MRU allocated in a bandwidth of the transmission.
Claim 5:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a common field of the SIG includes at least one of information for small MRU allocated in a corresponding 20 MHz frequency segment, and information for a number of a large MRU allocated in a bandwidth of the transmission.
Claim 4:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SIG includes a Common-MRU field useable to indicate at least one which 26-RUs are included in the MRU in a corresponding 20 MHz frequency segment, or which 242-RUs are included in the MRU in a bandwidth of the transmission.
Claim 6:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SIG includes a Common-MRU field indicating at least one of which 26-RUs are included in an MRU in a corresponding 20 MHz frequency segment, and which 242-RUs are included in an MRU in a bandwidth of the transmission.
Claim 5:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SIG includes one or more Common-MRU fields, a Common-MRU field of the one or more Common-MRU fields is useable to indicate which actual allocated RUs are in the MRU.
Claim 7:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SIG includes one or more Common-MRU fields, a Common-MRU field indicating which actual allocated RUs are in an MRU.
Claim 6:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SIG includes: puncturing information useable to indicate a non-contiguous large RU; and one or more user-fields corresponding to the non-contiguous large RU, the one or more user-fields include a different station's information.
Claim 8:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SIG includes puncturing information, indicating a non-contiguous large RU and one or more user- fields corresponding to the non-contiguous large RU, the one or more user-fields include a different station's information.
Similarly, claims 7-18 of the current application correspond to claims 9-18 of USPN 12,341,721. Claims 1-18 of USPN 12,341,721 are directed to a generation and a transmission of a signaling (SIG) field, while claims 1-18 of the current application are directed to a reception and a processing of a SIG field. However, it is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art that a reception of a signal is a reciprocal to a transmission of the signal.
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to implement a receiver to receive the transmission of the generated SIG field. The motivation for doing so would be to enable a receiver to utilize a multi-resource unit (MRU) allocation.
A terminal disclaimer may be effective to overcome a nonstatutory double patenting rejection over a reference patent (37 CFR 1.321(b) and (c)). 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. 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/PatentForms. The filing date of the application will determine what form 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/TerminalDisclaimer.
Claims 1-18 are provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-18 of copending Application No. 19,443,443 (reference application). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-18 of Application No. 19,443,443 are obvious variants of claims 1-18 of the current application.
Current Application
Application Number 19/443,443
Claim 1:
An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
a non-transitory memory configured to store instructions; and
a processor coupled with the non-transitory memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions in the memory to cause the apparatus to:
receive a signaling field (SIG), wherein the SIG includes a resource unit (RU) allocation field useable to indicate a size and a location of an RU or multiple RUs (MRU) in a frequency resource, and one or more user fields, each of the one or more user fields includes a station identifier (STA ID) of a scheduled station (STA);
wherein the MRU is assigned to one or more STAs, and the RU allocation field is useable to indicate a size and a location of each RU comprised in the MRU;
wherein the one or more user fields comprise a single RU user field and an MRU user field; the single RU user field corresponds to another RU which fails to be included in the MRUs; the MRU user field corresponds to the MRU;
process the SIG.
Claim 1:
An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
a memory that stores instructions; and
a processor coupled with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions in the memory to cause the processor to:
generate a signaling field (SIG), wherein the SIG includes a resource unit (RU) allocation field indicating a size and location of an RU or MRU in a frequency resource, and one or more user fields, each of the one or more user fields includes a station identifier (STA ID) of a scheduled station (STA);
wherein the MRU which includes multiple RUs is assigned to one or more STAs, and the RU allocation field indicates size and location of each RU comprised in the MRU;
wherein the one or more user fields comprise a single RU user field and an MRU user field; the single RU user field corresponds to an RU which is not an MRU; the MRU user field corresponds to an MRU;
transmit the SIG.
Claim 2:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the MRU is a small MRU, which includes a combination of 26-RU, 52-RU, or 106-RU in a 20 MHz frequency segment; or the MRU is a large MRU which includes a combination of 242-RU, 484-RU, or 996-RU in a transmission bandwidth.
Claim 2:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the MRU is a small MRU, which includes combination of 26-RU, 52-RU, or 106-RU in a 20 MHz frequency segment; or the MRU is a large MRU which includes combination of 242-RU, 484-RU, or 996-RU in a transmission bandwidth.
Claim 3:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a common field of the SIG includes at least one of: information for a small MRU allocated in a corresponding 20 MHz frequency segment, or information for a number of a large MRU allocated in a bandwidth of the transmission.
Claim 3:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a common field of the SIG includes at least one of information for small MRU allocated in a corresponding 20 MHz frequency segment, and information for a number of a large MRU allocated in a bandwidth of the transmission.
Claim 4:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SIG includes a Common-MRU field useable to indicate at least one which 26-RUs are included in the MRU in a corresponding 20 MHz frequency segment, or which 242-RUs are included in the MRU in a bandwidth of the transmission.
Claim 4:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SIG includes a Common-MRU field indicating at least one of which 26-RUs are included in an MRU in a corresponding 20 MHz frequency segment, and which 242-RUs are included in an MRU in a bandwidth of the transmission.
Claim 5:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SIG includes one or more Common-MRU fields, a Common-MRU field of the one or more Common-MRU fields is useable to indicate which actual allocated RUs are in the MRU.
Claim 5:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SIG includes one or more Common-MRU fields, a Common-MRU field indicating which actual allocated RUs are in an MRU.
Claim 6:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SIG includes: puncturing information useable to indicate a non-contiguous large RU; and one or more user-fields corresponding to the non-contiguous large RU, the one or more user-fields include a different station's information.
Claim 6:
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the SIG includes puncturing information, indicating a non-contiguous large RU and one or more user-fields corresponding to the non-contiguous large RU, the one or more user-fields include a different station’s information.
Similarly, claims 7-18 of the current application correspond to claims 7-18 of Application No. 19/443,443. Claims 1-18 of Application No. 19/443,443 are directed to a generation and a transmission of a signaling (SIG) field, while claims 1-18 of the current application are directed to a reception and a processing of a SIG field. However, it is well known to one of ordinary skill in the art that a reception of a signal is a reciprocal to a transmission of the signal.
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to implement a receiver to receive the transmission of the generated SIG field. The motivation for doing so would be to enable a receiver to utilize a multi-resource unit (MRU) allocation.
This is a provisional nonstatutory double patenting rejection because the patentably indistinct claims have not in fact been patented.
A terminal disclaimer may be effective to overcome a provisional nonstatutory double patenting rejection over a pending application (37 CFR 1.321(b) and (c)). 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. 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/PatentForms. The filing date of the application will determine what form 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/TerminalDisclaimer.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-18 are currently rejected but would be allowable if the Double Patenting rejections, set forth in this Office action, are overcome.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
U.S. Pub. No. 2021/0045151 (Chen et al.) discloses a resource unit (RU) allocation using user specific fields with RU assignments in a EHT-SIG field, where the EHT-SIG field comprises a common field including an RU allocation subfield indicating the RU sizes and the number of users per RU and a plurality of user fields (see at least Fig. 28 and paragraphs 196-197).
U.S. Pub. No. 2022/0264579 (Inohiza) discloses an RU allocation using user specific fields with RU assignments in a EHT-SIG field, where the EHT-SIG-B field comprises a common field including an RU allocation subfield and a plurality of user fields including a station identifier (STA ID), where a plurality of RUs can be allocated to one STA (see at least Fig. 4 and paragraphs 55-62).
U.S. Pub. No. 2022/0353847 (Kim et al.) discloses signaling for multiple RU allocation, where an access point allocates multiple RUs to one STA through a trigger frame including a User Info field, where the User Info field includes resource allocation information and a STA ID (see at least Figs. 27-31 and paragraphs 275-280).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Pawaris Sinkantarakorn whose telephone number is (571)270-1424. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm.
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/PAO SINKANTARAKORN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2409 09/28/2026
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