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 .
Response to Amendment
This Action is in response to Applicant’s amendment filed on 07/14/2026. Claims 1-5, 7-10, 12, 14, 16-19, 21-22 and 28-29 are still pending in the present application. This Action is made FINAL.
Response to Arguments
2. Applicant's arguments with respect to claim 6 have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
17. Claims 1-5, 7-10, 12, 14, 16-19, 21-22 and 28-29 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being un-patentable over Baek et al Patent Application No. :( US 2022/0053455 A1) hereinafter referred as Baek, in view of LI Patent Application No. :( US 2023/0164521 A1) hereinafter referred as LI.
For claim 1, Baek comprises a method for providing Multicast Broadcast (MB) service in a local service area, the method comprising:
a) determining that a terminal device is out of the local service area (Paragraph [0132], lines 1-5 discloses the local Multicast Broadcast (MBS) service moves out of the local MBS area (operation 315), the UE 30 may no longer receive the local MBS service) and;
c) notifying the terminal device that the MB session is unavailable (Paragraph [0176], lines 1-7). However, Baek disclose all the subject matter of the claimed invention with the exemption of the “as a result of determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area, removing the terminal device from an MB session” as recited in claim 1.
Li from the same or analogous art teaches the as a result of determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area, removing the terminal device from an MB session (Paragraph [0015], lines 4-17). Therefore, it would have been obvious for the person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filling to use the as a result of determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area, removing the terminal device from an MB session as taught by Li into the method and device for providing local MBS in wireless communication system of Baek.
The as a result of determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area, removing the terminal device from an MB session can be modify/implemented by combining the as a result of determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area, removing the terminal device from an MB session with the device. This process is implemented as a hardware solution or as firmware solutions of Li into the method and device for providing local MBS in wireless communication system of Baek. As disclosed in Li, the motivation for the combination would be to use the remove the terminal device from an MB session when the terminal device is out of the local service that will help to manage the communication more efficiently.
For claim 2, Baek comprises the method, wherein the step
a) comprises:
comparing a location of the terminal device with location-related criteria for the local service area to determine whether the terminal device is out of the local service area (Paragraph [0132], lines 1-5).
For claim 3, Baek comprises the method, further comprising: as a result of determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area, notifying a Radio Access Network (RAN) node that the terminal device is out of the local service area or the terminal device shall be removed from the MB session (Paragraph [0136]-[0138], lines 1-6).
For claim 4, Baek comprises the method, wherein the step
a) comprises: sending to a RAN node a request for setting up MB session resource, the request for setting up MB session resource including location-related criteria for the local service area (see 215 fig 2b) (Paragraph [0106], lines 1-8); and receiving from the RAN node a message that the terminal device is out of the local service area or the terminal device shall be removed from the MB session (see 222d, 222f, 223a and 223f fig 2b) and (Paragraph [0121], lines 1-10).
For claim 5, Baek comprises the method, wherein the step
a) comprises: during a handover from a source RAN node to a target RAN node, in response to a MB Session Command from the target RAN node (Paragraph [0132], lines 1-5), comparing a location of the terminal device with location-related criteria for the local service area to determine whether the terminal device is out of the local service area (Paragraph [0121], lines 1-10).
For claim 7, Baek comprises the method, wherein the step
a) comprises: before a handover from a source RAN node to a target RAN node, receiving from the source RAN node a message that the terminal device is out of the local service area or the terminal device shall be removed from the MB session (Paragraph [0132], lines 1-5) and (Paragraph [0138], lines 1-6).
For claim 8, Baek disclose all the subject matter of the claimed invention with the exemption of the a) comprises: during a handover from a source RAN node to a target RAN node, sending to the target RAN node a request for setting up MB session resource, the request for setting up MB session resource including location-related criteria for the local service area; and receiving from the target RAN node a message that the terminal device is out of the local service area or the terminal device shall be removed from the MB session as recited in claim 8.
Li from the same or analogous art teaches the a) comprises: during a handover from a source RAN node to a target RAN node, sending to the target RAN node a request for setting up MB session resource (see figure 14 S1402-S1404) (paragraphs [0515]-[0517], line 1), the request for setting up MB session resource including location-related criteria for the local service area (paragraphs [0518]-[0521]; and receiving from the target RAN node a message that the terminal device is out of the local service area or the terminal device shall be removed from the MB session (paragraphs [0375] and [0539], lines 1-8). Therefore, it would have been obvious for the person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filling to use the a) comprises: during a handover from a source RAN node to a target RAN node, sending to the target RAN node a request for setting up MB session resource, the request for setting up MB session resource including location-related criteria for the local service area; and receiving from the target RAN node a message that the terminal device is out of the local service area or the terminal device shall be removed from the MB session as taught by Li into the method and device for providing local MBS in wireless communication system of Baek.
The a) comprises: during a handover from a source RAN node to a target RAN node, sending to the target RAN node a request for setting up MB session resource, the request for setting up MB session resource including location-related criteria for the local service area; and receiving from the target RAN node a message that the terminal device is out of the local service area or the terminal device shall be removed from the MB session can be modify/implemented by combining the a) comprises: during a handover from a source RAN node to a target RAN node, sending to the target RAN node a request for setting up MB session resource, the request for setting up MB session resource including location-related criteria for the local service area; and receiving from the target RAN node a message that the terminal device is out of the local service area or the terminal device shall be removed from the MB session with the device. This process is implemented as a hardware solution or as firmware solutions of Li into the method and device for providing local MBS in wireless communication system of Baek. As disclosed in Li, the motivation for the combination would be to use the handover that includes location-related criteria for the local service area when the terminal device is out of the local service area from the MB session becoming more efficient and reliable for a better communication.
For claim 9, Baek comprises the method, wherein the step
a) comprises: during a handover from a source RAN node to a target RAN node, comparing a location of the terminal device with location-related criteria for the local service area to determine whether the terminal device is out of the local service area (Paragraph [0138]-[0139], lines 1-5).
For claim 10, Baek comprises the method, wherein at the step
c), the notifying is performed by requesting a target node configured to manage access and mobility to notify the terminal device that the MB session is unavailable after the handover or upon determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area, or the notifying is performed by sending to the terminal device a message that the MB session is unavailable (Paragraphs [0046] and [0166], lines 1-7).
For claim 12, Baek comprises the method, wherein the location-related criteria is derived from local service area information included in an MB Session announcement or an Allocate Temporary Mobile Group Identity (TMGI) Request sent from an Application Function (AF) node to a Network Exposure Function/MB Service Function (NEF/MBSF) node, and the local service area information is represented as one of the following lists or the combination thereof: a cell Id list, a Gnode BId list, a tracking area list, a geographic area list, a civic address list, or a service area list (Paragraphs [0134]-[0136], lines 1-8).
For claim 14, Baek comprises an apparatus for providing Multicast Broadcast (MB) service in a local service area, the apparatus in comprising: a storage device configured to store a computer program comprising computer instructions; and a processor coupled to the storage device and configured to execute the computer instructions to perform the method of claim1 (Paragraph [0151], lines 1-8).
For claim 16, Baek comprises a method for providing Multicast Broadcast (MB) service in a local service area, the method comprising:
a) determining whether a terminal device is out of the local service area (Paragraph [0132], lines 1-5 discloses the local MBS service moves out of the local MBS area (operation 315), the UE 30 may no longer receive the local MBS service ); and
c) notifying a node configured to manage access and mobility that the terminal device is out of the local service area or the terminal device shall be removed from the MB session (Paragraph [0176], lines 1-7). However, Baek disclose all the subject matter of the claimed invention with the exemption of the “as a result of determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area, removing the terminal device from an MB session” as recited in claim 16.
Li from the same or analogous art teaches the as a result of determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area, removing the terminal device from an MB session (Paragraph [0015], lines 4-17). Therefore, it would have been obvious for the person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filling to use the as a result of determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area, removing the terminal device from an MB session as taught by Li into the method and device for providing local MBS in wireless communication system of Baek.
The as a result of determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area, removing the terminal device from an MB session can be modify/implemented by combining the as a result of determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area, removing the terminal device from an MB session with the device. This process is implemented as a hardware solution or as firmware solutions of Li into the method and device for providing local MBS in wireless communication system of Baek. As disclosed in Li, the motivation for the combination would be to use the remove the terminal device from an MB session when the terminal device is out of the local service that will help to manage the communication more efficiently.
For claim 17, Baek comprises the method, wherein the step
a) comprises: receiving a request for setting up MB session resource from the node configured to manage access and mobility, the request for setting up MB session resource including location-related criteria for the local service area (see 215 fig 2b) (Paragraph [0106], lines 1-8); comparing a location of the terminal device with the location-related criteria to determine whether the terminal device is out of the local service area (see 222d, 222f, 223a and 223f fig 2b) and (Paragraph [0121], lines 1-10).
For claim 18, Baek comprises the method, wherein the step
a) comprises: before or during a handover from the RAN node to a target RAN node, determining whether the terminal device will be out of the local service area after the handover, wherein the node configured to manage access and mobility is a source RAN node (Paragraph [0138]-[0139], lines 1-5).
For claim 19, Baek comprises the method, wherein the location-related criteria is derived from local service area information included in an MB Session announcement or an Allocate Temporary Mobile Group Identity (TMGI) Request sent from an Application Function (AF) node to a Network Exposure Function/MB Service Function (NEF/MBSF) node, and the local service area information is represented as one of the following lists or the combination thereof: a cell Id list, a gnode BId list, a tracking area list, a geographic area list, a civic address list, or a service area list (Paragraphs [0134]-[0136], lines 1-8).
For claim 21, Baek comprises a method for providing Multicast Broadcast (MB) service in a local service area, the method comprising:
a) receiving from a node configured to manage access and mobility a message (Paragraph [00012], lines 1-10) and (Paragraph [0018], lines 1-5)
b) determining, based on information included in the message, that the terminal device is out of the local service area or the terminal device shall be removed from an MB session (Paragraph [0132], lines 1-5 discloses the local MBS service moves out of the local MBS area (operation 315), the UE 30 may no longer receive the local MBS service ). However, Baek disclose all the subject matter of the claimed invention with the exemption of the “as a result of determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area or the terminal device shall be removed from an MB session, removing the terminal device from the MB session” as recited in claim 21.
Li from the same or analogous art teaches the as a result of determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area or the terminal device shall be removed from an MB session, removing the terminal device from the MB session (Paragraph [0015], lines 4-17). Therefore, it would have been obvious for the person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filling to use the as a result of determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area or the terminal device shall be removed from an MB session, removing the terminal device from the MB session as taught by Li into the method and device for providing local MBS in wireless communication system of Baek.
The as a result of determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area or the terminal device shall be removed from an MB session, removing the terminal device from the MB session can be modify/implemented by combining the as a result of determining that the terminal device is out of the local service area or the terminal device shall be removed from an MB session, removing the terminal device from the MB session with the device. This process is implemented as a hardware solution or as firmware solutions of Li into the method and device for providing local MBS in wireless communication system of Baek. As disclosed in Li, the motivation for the combination would be to use the remove the terminal device from an MB session when the terminal device is out of the local service that will help to manage the communication more efficiently.
For claim 22, Baek comprises an apparatus for providing Multicast Broadcast (MB) service in a local service area, be characterized in comprising: a storage device configured to store a computer program comprising computer instructions; and a processor coupled to the storage device and configured to execute the computer instructions to perform (Claims 22 has been analyzed and rejected with the same rationale as claim 16 applied above).
For claim 28, Baek comprises an apparatus for providing Multicast Broadcast (MB) service in a local service area, be characterized in comprising: a storage device configured to store a computer program comprising computer instructions; and a processor coupled to the storage device and configured to execute the computer instructions (Paragraph [0151], lines 1-8).
For claim 29, Baek discloses the method, wherein the method is performed by an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), and removing the terminal device from the MB session comprises removing an association between the terminal device and an MB session context. (Paragraph [0136], lines 1-8).
Claim 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being un-patentable over Baek et al Patent Application No. :( US 2022/0053455 A1) hereinafter referred as Baek, in view of LI Patent Application No. :( US 2023/0164521 A1) he1reinafter referred as LI, in further view of Augustyniak Patent Application No. :( US 2020/0120577 A1) hereinafter referred as Augustyniak.
For claim 6, Baek discloses all the subject matter of the claimed invention with the exemption of the removing the terminal device from the MB session comprises prohibiting the terminal device from joining the MB session by refraining from sending a MB Session Join message to a target RAN node as recited in claim 6.
Augustyniak from the same or analogous art teaches the removing the terminal device from the MB session comprises prohibiting the terminal device from joining the MB session by refraining from sending a MB Session Join message to a target RAN node (Paragraph [0017], lines 1-16). Therefore, it would have been obvious for the person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filling to use the removing the terminal device from the MB session comprises prohibiting the terminal device from joining the MB session by refraining from sending a MB Session Join message to a target RAN node as taught by Augustyniak into the method and device for providing local MBS in wireless communication system of Baek.
The removing the terminal device from the MB session comprises prohibiting the terminal device from joining the MB session by refraining from sending a MB Session Join message to a target RAN node can be modify/implemented by combining the removing the terminal device from the MB session comprises prohibiting the terminal device from joining the MB session by refraining from sending a MB Session Join message to a target RAN node with the device. This process is implemented as a hardware solution or as firmware solutions of Augustyniak into the method and device for providing local MBS in wireless communication system of Baek. As disclosed in Li, the motivation for the combination would be to use the prohibiting the terminal device from joining the MB session by blocking the communication. One skilled in the art know that if a block communication is generated any communication message is delivered, helping to manage the communication more efficiently.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed on 07/14/2026, with respect to claims 1, 16 and 21 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
In response to applicant’s argument that there is no teaching, suggestion, or motivation to combine the references, the examiner recognizes that obviousness may be established by combining or modifying the teachings of the prior art to produce the claimed invention where there is some teaching, suggestion, or motivation to do so found either in the references themselves or in the knowledge generally available to one of ordinary skill in the art. See In re Fine, 837 F.2d 1071, 5 USPQ2d 1596 (Fed. Cir. 1988), In re Jones, 958 F.2d 347, 21 USPQ2d 1941 (Fed. Cir. 1992), and KSR International Co. v. Teleflex, Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 82 USPQ2d 1385 (2007). In this case, Baek et al Patent Application No. :( US 2022/0053455 A1) hereinafter referred as Baek, in view of LI Patent Application No. :( US 2023/0164521 A1) hereinafter referred as LI. Baek teaches the receiving a multicast service by a UE in a wireless communication system comprises receiving, from an application function (AF), a multicast service announcement message including first information related to a local multicast and broadcast service (MBS), identifying that the UE is located in a local MBS area. LI discloses the
location of the terminal device. The location of the terminal device is used by the first session management network element to determine, whether the terminal device is located in a service area of the broadcast service. The location of the terminal device may include but is not limited to a coordinate value, a geo-fence, a cell identifier, a tracking area identifier, a server identifier.
The prior art should be considered as a whole. See also MPEP § 2141.02 [R-5] Paragraph VI. Claims must be given the broadest reasonable interpretation during examination and limitations appearing in the specification but not recited in the claim are not read into the claim (See M.P.E.P. 2111 [R-l]).
Conclusion
ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSEPH AREVALO whose telephone number is (571)270-3121. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 8:30-5:00 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, Rafael Perez-Gutierrez can be reached on (571)272-7915. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JOSEPH AREVALO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2642
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