. .
`.,..
`
`.
`
`.
`
`'
`
`..
`
`!
`
`. '
`
`r,,
`
`•
`
`,,.
`
`t
`
`to.
`
`•
`
`',, .
`
`•i.
`
`~
`
`- ~··- ... '
`
`Examiner: Dao L. Phan
`
`Serial No.: 09/194,367
`
`Issue Batch No.: 130
`
`Filed: November 24, 1998
`
`Atty. File No.: 1003-PUS
`
`For:
`
`"LOCATION OF A MOBILE
`STATION"
`
`AMENDMENT AFTER NOTICE OF
`ALLOW ABILITY
`
`CERTIFICATE OF MAILING
`
`I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS CORRESPONDENCE IS BEING
`DEPOSITED WITH THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE AS
`FIRST CLASS MAIL IN AN ENVELOPE ADDRESSED TO
`ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR P TENTS, WASHINGTON,
`DC 20231 ON THIS __l'±:_ DAY OF
`'
`,2001.
`
`Dear sir:
`
`~,/"' •: •• ( ~\. 1
`
`Chasl C. Ross urn
`
`Assistant Commissioner for Patents
`· . .. ;l
`Washington, D.C. 20231
`,..
`. ~/
`Bv:0 .
`,\ . ,, ,,. -~_\,. <
`In the(;)o~identified patent application, formal drawings necessitated that Fig. 9 as
`originally filed has now become Figs. 9A and 9B. Accordingly it is requested that the following
`
`changes to the specification be entered to reflect these changes, and reconsideration of the
`
`application is requested.
`
`Please amend the above-identified patent application as follows:
`
`IN THE SPECIFICATION:
`
`Please amend the paragraph beginning on page 22, line 14 as follows:
`
`Figs. 9A and 98 are high level data structure diagrams describing the fields of a
`location hypothesis object generated by the first order models 1224 of the location
`center.
`
`Please amend the paragraph beginning on page 79, line 26 as follows:
`
`Input:
`
`hypothesis;
`hypothesis: MS locati
`collection of measured location signatures ("Joe
`measured_loc_sig_bag:
`from the MS (the data structure here is an
`sigs" for short) obtaine
`rray or list). Note, it is assumed that there is at
`aggregation such as an
`most one loc sig here pe Base Station in this collection. Additionally,
`note that the input data st cture here may be a location signature
`cluster such as the "loc si cluster" field of a location hypothesis (cf.
`Figs. 9A and 98). Note-that ariations in input data structures may be
`
`,
`
`-
`
`0/o\
`
`Apple, Inc. Exhibit 1021 Page 1
`
`

`
`•
`
`•
`
`•
`
`,4_eplication No. 09/194,367
`~-::::1
`J.j12.cument: "AMENDMENT AFTER ALLOWAN~
`
`accepted here by utilization of flag or tag bits as one skilled in the art will
`appreciate;
`search_criteria: The criteria for arching the verified location signature data
`base for various categories o loc sigs. The only limitation on the types of
`categories that may be provid d here is that, to be useful, each category
`should have meaningful numb of loc sigs in the location signature data
`base. The following categories i eluded here are illustrative, but others
`are contemplated:
`(a) "USE ALL LOG SIGS IN D "(the default),
`(b) "USE ONLY REPEATABL LOC SIGS",
`(c) "USE ONLY LOG SIGS WI
`SIMILAR TIME OF DAY".
`Further categories of loc sigs close to the MS estimate of "hypothesis"
`contemplated are: all loc sigs for the same season and same time of
`day, allloc sigs during a specific weather condition (e.g., snowing) and
`at the same time of day, as well as other limitations for other
`environmental conditions such as traffic patterns. Note, if this parameter
`is NIL, then (a) is assumed.
`
`Please amend the paragraph beginning on page 85, line 5 as follows:
`
`This function creates a new list of I cation hypotheses from the input list,
`"loc_hyp_list", wherein the location hyp theses on the new list are modified versions of
`those on the input list. For each locatio hypothesis on the input list, one or more
`corresponding location hypotheses will b on the output list. Such corresponding output
`location hypotheses will differ from their a ociated input location hypothesis by one or
`more of the following: (a) the "image_area' field (see Figs. 9A and 98) may be
`assigned an area indicative of where the tar et MS is estimated to be, (b) if
`-r---~ "image_area" is assigned, then the "confiden e" field will be the confidence that the
`target MS is located in the area for "image_arJ~"· (c) if there are not sufficient "nearby"
`verified location signature clusters in the locatio signature data base 1320 to entirely
`rely on a computed confidence using such verifi d location signature clusters, then two
`location hypotheses (having reduced confidence will be returned, one having a
`reduced computed confidence (for "image_area") sing the verified clusters in the
`Location Signature data base, and one being subst. ntially the same as the associated
`input location hypothesis except that the confidence for the field "area_est") is reduced
`to reflect the confidence in its paired location hypothe~·s having a computed confidence
`for "image_area". Note also, in some cases, the locat1 n hypotheses on the input list,
`may have no change to its confidence or the area tow 'ch the confidence applies.
`
`-2-
`
`Apple, Inc. Exhibit 1021 Page 2
`
`

`
`•
`
`Application No. 091194,367
`Document: "AMENDMENT AFTER ALLOWANCE"
`
`'
`
`Please amend the paragraph beginning on page 89, line 18 as follows:
`
`(35.5} A location extrapolator module 143 for use in updating previous location estimates
`for a target MS when a more recent I cation hypothesis is provided to the location
`hypothesis analyzer 1332. That is, a ume that the control module 1400 receives a
`new location hypothesis for a target M
`for which there are also one or more previous
`location hypotheses that either have b n recently processed (i.e., they reside in the
`MS status repository 1338, as shown b st in Fig. 6), or are currently being processed
`(i.e., they reside in the run-time location ypothesis storage area 1410). Accordingly, if
`the active_timestamp (see Figs. 9A and B regarding location hypothesis data fields)
`of the newly received location hypothesis
`sufficiently more recent than the
`active_timestamp of one of these previous location hypotheses, then an extrapolation
`may be performed by the location extrapol tor module 1432 on such previous location
`hypotheses so that all target MS location hy otheses being concurrently analyzed are
`presumed to include target MS location esti ates for substantially the same point in
`time. Thus, initial location estimates generate by the FOMs using different wireless
`signal measurements, from different signal tra smission time intervals, may have their
`corresponding dependent location hypotheses
`tilized simultaneously for determining
`a most likely target MS location estimate. Note hat this module may also be daemon
`or expert system rule base.
`
`Please amend the paragraph beginning on page 89, line 18 as follows:
`
`Y. u for a target MS when a more recent location hypothesis is provided to the location
`
`/
`
`(35.5) A location extrapolator module 1432 for use in updating previous location estimates
`
`Jf
`V J1
`hypothesis analyzer 1332. That is, assume that the control module 1400 receives a
`t-o-;f! '-, ~ new location hypothesis for a target MS for which there are also one or more previous
`( 7 V::\S'·
`location hypotheses that either have been recently processed (i.e., they reside in the
`V
`V'
`MS status repository 1338, as shown best in Fig. 6), or are currently being processed
`(i.e., they reside in the run-time location hypothesis storage area 1410). Accordingly, if
`the active_timestamp (see Figs. 9A and 98 regarding location hypothesis data fields)
`of the newly received location hypothesis is sufficiently more recent than the
`active_timestamp of one of these previous location hypotheses, then an extrapolation
`may be performed by the location extrapolator module 1432 on such previous location
`hypotheses so that all target MS location hypotheses being concurrently analyzed are
`presumed to include target MS location estimates for substantially the same point in
`time. Thus, initial location estimates generated by the FOMs using different wireless
`signal measurements, from different signal transmission time intervals, may have their
`corresponding dependent location hypotheses utilized simultaneously for determining
`a most likely target MS location estimate. Note that this module may also be daemon
`
`-3-
`
`Apple, Inc. Exhibit 1021 Page 3
`
`

`
`•
`
`•
`
`Application No. 09/194,367
`Document: "AMENDMENT AFTER ALLOWANCE"
`
`or expert system rule base.
`
`Please amend the paragraph beginning on page 143, line 13 as follows:
`
`hypothesis: MS location hypothesis;
`Input:
`~. k
`-measured_loc_sig_b g: A collection of measured location signatures ("loc
`l:>~ "/,.~ sigs" for short) obtai ed from the MS (the data structure here is an
`')..~
`aggregation such as
`array or list). Note, it is assumed that there is at
`r Base Station in this collection. Additionally,
`most one loc sig here
`note that the input data tructure here may be a location signature
`cluster such as the "loc_s ~cluster" field of a location hypothesis (cf.
`Figs. 9A and 98). Note th variations in input data structures may be
`accepted here by utilization
`f flag or tag bits as one skilled in the art will
`appre\iate;
`search_ criteria: The criteria for searching the verified location signature
`data base for various categories of loc sigs. The only limitation on the
`types of categories that may be provided here is that, to be useful, each
`category should have meaningful number of lac sigs in the location
`signature data base. The following categories included here are
`illustrative, but others are contemplated:
`(a) "USE ALL LOC SIGS IN DB" (the default),
`(b) "USE ONLY REPEATABLE LOC SIGS",
`(c) "USE ONLY LOG SIGS WITH SIMILAR TIME OF DAY".
`Further categories of loc sigs close to the MS estimate of "hypothesis"
`contemplated are: all loc sigs for the same season and same time of
`day, allloc sigs during a specific weather condition (e.g., snowing) and
`at the same time of day, as well as other limitations for other
`environmental conditions such as traffic patterns. Note, if this parameter
`is NIL, then (a) is assumed.
`
`Please amend the paragraph beginning on page 161, line 9 as follows:
`
`This function creates a new list of lo ation hypotheses from the input list,
`"loc_hyp_list", wherein the location hypo eses on the new list are modified versions of
`those on the input list. For each location ypothesis on the input list, one or more
`corresponding location hypotheses will be n the output list. Such corresponding output
`location hypotheses will differ from their ass ciated input location hypothesis by one or
`more of the following: (a) the "image_area" eld (see Figs. 9A and 9B) may be
`assigned an area indicative of where the targ t MS is estimated to be, (b) if
`"image_area" is assigned, then the "confidenc "field will be the confidence that the
`target MS is located in the area for "image_are ", (c) if there are not sufficient "nearby"
`
`-4-
`
`Apple, Inc. Exhibit 1021 Page 4
`
`

`
`,
`
`•
`
`~plication No. 09/194,367
`,,..~J
`L£ocument: "AMENDMENT AFTER ALLOWAN§!j
`
`in the location signature data base to entirely rely on
`verified location signature cluste
`verified location signature clusters, then two
`a computed confidence using su
`location hypotheses (having reduc d confidences) will be returned, one having a
`reduced computed confidence (for 'image_area") using the verified clusters in the
`Location Signature DB, and one bei g substantially the same as the associated input
`location hypothesis except that the c nfidence (for the field "area_est") is reduced to
`reflect the confidence in its paired loc tion hypothesis having a computed confidence for
`"image_area". Note also, in some cas s, the location hypotheses on the input list, may
`have no change to its confidence or the area to which the confidence applies. Note that
`the steps herein are also provided in flo chart form in Figs. 25a and 25b.
`
`Please amend the paragraph beginning on page 162, line 10 as follows:
`
`else I* the location hypothesis n (and will) be modified; in particular, an
`"image_area" may be assi ned, the "confidence" changed to reflect a
`confidence in the target MS eing in the "image_area". Additionally, in
`some cases, more than one 1~cation hypothesis may be generated from
`"loc_hyp[i]". See the com men~ son FIGS. 9A and 98 and the comments for
`for a description of the terms here. *I
`"get_adjusted_loc_hyp_list_fo
`
`-5-
`
`Apple, Inc. Exhibit 1021 Page 5
`
`

`
`•
`
`•
`
`Application No. 09/194,367
`Document: "AMENDMENT AFTER ALLOWANCE"
`
`REMARKS/ARGUMENTS
`
`Attached hereto is a marked up version of the changes made to the specification and
`
`claims by the current amendment. The attached page is captioned "Version With Markin~:s to
`
`Show Chan~:es Made."
`
`It is believed that no fees are due with the present transmittal. However, in the event that
`
`such fees are due, Applicants request a telephone call to the Applicant listed hereinbelow.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`P, y
`o. 46,
`Registratio
`1801 Belvedere Street
`Golden, Colorado 80401
`(303) 863-2975
`
`-6-
`
`Apple, Inc. Exhibit 1021 Page 6
`
`

`
`•
`
`•
`
`Application No. 091194,367
`Document: "AMENDMENT AFTER ALLOWANCE"
`
`VERSION WITH MARKINGS TO SHOW CHANGES MADE
`
`In the Specification:
`
`The paragraph beginning on page 22, line 14 has been amended as follows:
`
`Figs. 9A and 98 [Fig. 9 is a] are high level data structure diagram§ describing the
`fields of a location hypothesis object generated by the first order models 1224 of the
`location center.
`
`The paragraph beginning on page 79, line 266 has been amended as follows:
`
`Input:
`
`hypothesis: MS location hypothesis;
`measured_loc_sig_bag: A collection of measured location signatures ("lac
`sigs" for short) obtained from the MS (the data structure here is an
`aggregation such as an array or list). Note, it is assumed that there is at
`most one lac sig here per Base Station in this collection. Additionally,
`note that the input data structure here may be a location signature
`cluster such as the "loc_sig_cluster'' field of a location hypothesis (cf.
`Fig§. 9A and 9B). Note that variations in input data structures may be
`accepted here by utilization of flag or tag bits as one skilled in the art will
`appreciate;
`search_ criteria: The criteria for searching the verified location signature data
`base for various categories of loc sigs. The only limitation on the types of
`categories that may be provided here is that, to be useful, each category
`should have meaningful number of Joe sigs in the location signature data
`base. The following categories included here are illustrative, but others
`are contemplated:
`(a) "USE ALL LOC SIGS IN DB" (the default),
`(b) "USE ONLY REPEATABLE LOC SIGS",
`(c) "USE ONLY LOC SIGS WITH SIMILAR TIME OF DAY".
`Further categories of loc sigs close to the MS estimate of "hypothesis"
`contemplated are: allloc sigs for the same season and same time of
`day, allloc sigs during a specific weather condition (e.g., snowing) and
`at the same time of day, as well as other limitations for other
`environmental conditions such as traffic patterns. Note, if this parameter
`is NIL, then (a) is assumed.
`
`The paragraph beginning on page 85, line 5 has been amended as follows:
`This function creates a new list of location hypotheses from the input list,
`"loc_hyp_list", wherein the location hypotheses on the new list are modified versions of
`
`-7-
`
`Apple, Inc. Exhibit 1021 Page 7
`
`

`
`•
`
`•
`
`Application No. 091194,367
`Document: "AMENDMENT AFTER ALLOWANCE"
`
`those on the input list. For each location hypothesis on the input list, one or more
`corresponding location hypotheses will be on the output list. Such corresponding output
`location hypotheses will differ from their associated input location hypothesis by one or
`more of the following: (a) the "image_area" field (see Fig§. 9A and 98) may be
`assigned an area indicative of where the target MS is estimated to be, (b) if
`"image_area" is assigned, then the "confidence" field will be the confidence that the
`target MS is located in the area for "image_area", (c) if there are not sufficient "nearby"
`verified location signature clusters in the location signature data base 1320 to entirely
`rely on a computed confidence using such verified location signature clusters, then two
`location hypotheses (having reduced confidences) will be returned, one having a
`reduced computed confidence (for "image_area") using the verified clusters in the
`Location Signature data base, and one being substantially the same as the associated
`input location hypothesis except that the confidence (for the field "area_est") is reduced
`to reflect the confidence in its paired location hypothesis having a computed confidence
`for "image_area". Note also, in some cases, the location hypotheses on the input list,
`may have no change to its confidence or the area to which the confidence applies.
`
`The paragraph beginning on page 89, line 18 has been amended as follows:
`
`(35.5) A location extrapolator module 1432 for use in updating previous location estimates
`for a target MS when a more recent location hypothesis is provided to the location
`hypothesis analyzer 1332. That is, assume that the control module 1400 receives a
`new location hypothesis for a target MS for which there are also one or more previous
`location hypotheses that either have been recently processed (i.e., they reside in the
`MS status repository 1338, as shown best in Fig. 6), or are currently being processed
`(i.e., they reside in the run-time location hypothesis storage area 1410). Accordingly, if
`the active_timestamp (see Fig§. 9A and 98 regarding location hypothesis data fields)
`of the newly received location hypothesis is sufficiently more recent than the
`active_timestamp of one of these previous location hypotheses, then an extrapolation
`may be performed by the location extrapolator module 1432 on such previous location
`hypotheses so that all target MS location hypotheses being concurrently analyzed are
`presumed to include target MS location estimates for substantially the same point in
`time. Thus, initial location estimates generated by the FOMs using different wireless
`signal measurements, from different signal transmission time intervals, may have their
`corresponding dependent location hypotheses utilized simultaneously for determining
`a most likely target MS location estimate. Note that this module may also be daemon
`or expert system rule base.
`
`The paragraph beginning on page 143, line 13 has been amended as follows:
`
`Input:
`
`hypothesis: MS location hypothesis;
`measured_loc_sig_bag: A collection of measured location signatures ("loc
`
`-8-
`
`Apple, Inc. Exhibit 1021 Page 8
`
`

`
`•
`
`Application No. 091194,367
`Document: "AMENDMENT AFTER ALLOWANCE"
`
`•
`
`·./
`
`sigs" for short) obtained from the MS (the data structure here is an
`aggregation such as an array or list). Note, it is assumed that there is at
`most one loc sig here per Base Station in this collection. Additionally,
`note that the input data structure here may be a location signature
`cluster such as the "loc_sig_cluster" field of a location hypothesis (cf.
`Fig§. 9A and 98). Note that variations in input data structures may be
`accepted here by utilization of flag or tag bits as one skilled in the art will
`appreciate;
`search_ criteria: The criteria for searching the verified location signature
`data base for various categories of loc sigs. The only limitation on the
`types of categories that may be provided here is that, to be useful, each
`category should have meaningful number of loc sigs in the location
`signature data base. The following categories included here are
`illustrative, but others are contemplated:
`(a) "USE ALL LOC SIGS IN DB" (the default),
`(b) "USE ONLY REPEATABLE LOC SIGS",
`(c) "USE ONLY LOC SIGS WITH SIMILAR TIME OF DAY".
`Further categories of loc sigs close to the MS estimate of "hypothesis"
`contemplated are: allloc sigs for the same season and same time of
`day, allloc sigs during a specific weather condition (e.g., snowing) and
`at the same time of day, as well as other limitations for other
`environmental conditions such as traffic patterns. Note, if this parameter
`is NIL, then (a) is assumed.
`
`The paragraph beginning on page 161, line 8 has been amended as follows:
`
`This function creates a new list of location hypotheses from the input list,
`"loc_hyp_list", wherein the location hypotheses on the new list are modified versions of
`those on the input list. For each location hypothesis on the input list, one or more
`corresponding location hypotheses will be on the output list. Such corresponding output
`location hypotheses will differ from their associated input location hypothesis by one or
`more of the following: (a) the "image_area" field (see Fig§. 9A and 9B) may be
`assigned an area indicative of where the target MS is estimated to be, (b) if
`"image_area" is assigned, then the "confidence" field will be the confidence that the
`target MS is located in the area for "image_area", (c) if there are not sufficient "nearby"
`verified location signature clusters in the location signature data base to entirely rely on
`a computed confidence using such verified location signature clusters, then two
`location hypotheses (having reduced confidences) will be returned, one having a
`reduced computed confidence (for "image_area") using the verified clusters in the
`Location Signature DB, and one being substantially the same as the associated input
`location hypothesis except that the confidence (for the field "area_est") is reduced to
`
`-9-
`
`Apple, Inc. Exhibit 1021 Page 9
`
`

`
`r
`
`•
`
`. '
`
`Application No. 09/194,367
`Document: "AMENDMENT AFTER ALLOWANCE"
`
`reflect the confidence in its paired location hypothesis having a computed confidence for
`"image_area". Note also, in some cases, the location hypotheses on the input list, may
`have no change to its confidence or the area to which the confidence applies. Note that
`the steps herein are also provided in flowchart form in Figs. 25a and 25b.
`
`The paragraph beginning on page 162, line 10 has been amended as follows:
`
`else I* the location hypothesis can {and will) be modified; in particular, an
`"image_area" may be assigned, the "confidence" changed to reflect a
`confidence in the target MS being in the "image_area". Additionally, in
`some cases, more than one location hypothesis may be generated from
`"loc_hyp[i)". See the comments on FIGS. 9A and 98 and the comments for
`"get_adjusted_loc_hyp_list_for" for a description of the terms here. *I
`
`-10-
`
`Apple, Inc. Exhibit 1021 Page 10