Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 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 text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
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.
Claims 1-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being anticipated by Ianev et al. (2025/0056665), hereinafter Ianev in view of Sugawara, Yasuo (2025/0097873), hereinafter Sugawara.
Re. Claim 5, Ianev teaches an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity (¶0432 - the NSACF 7701 may send, to the AMF 70, a message indicating a network slice (e.g. a network slice identified by S-NSSAI-3) is not used. & ¶0433-0434 - The AMF 70 may follow one of the following behaviours below: The AMF 70 may deregister the UE 3 from the network slice which the UE 3 has not used for some time) comprising: a transceiver; and at least one processor (Fig 18. & ¶0680 - It will be understood that each block of the block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer) configured to perform a method consisting of: a notification indicating, based on inactivity (¶0260 (AMF has a message with an “inactivity control timer”)), a release of at least one protocol data unit (PDU) session associated with a network slice for a user equipment (UE) (¶0411-0412 - the UE 3 request to release the PDU session identified by the PDU-Id activated on the network slice identified by S-NSSAI-3. The NSACF 7702 receives, from other network node (e.g. the SMF 71), notification that the PDU session which is identified by the PDU-Id and which is activated on the network slice identified by S-NSSAI-3 is released), identifying whether there is a PDU session associated with the network slice over a corresponding access type (¶0627 (take access type into account). See Also: ¶0619 (AMF message includes Access Type), ¶0641 (SMF message includes Access Type)) of the released at least one PDU session (Fig. 4, ¶0447 - FIG. 4 discloses a mechanism which enables a network to release PDU session(s) that is associated with a network slice via an NSACF 77 if there is no user plane activity for a long time) over a corresponding access type of the released at least one PDU session; and deregistering the UE from the network slice for the corresponding access type (¶0627 (take access type into account). See Also: ¶0619 (AMF message includes Access Type), ¶0641 (SMF message includes Access Type)), in case that the network slice is not used by the PDU session associated with the network slice over the corresponding access type (¶0250 - the First Aspect discloses a mechanism which enables the network to deregister the UE from a network slice if there is no PDU sessions established by the UE on the network slice for a duration of time defined by the network operator).
However, Ianev does not explicitly teach receiving, from a session management function (SMF) entity, a notification.
Yet, Sugawara expressly teaches receiving, from a session management function (SMF) entity, a notification (¶0089 - The SMF has a Session Management function such as establishment, modification, and release of a PDU session, a function of IP address allocation to the UE and management thereof, a function of selection and control of the UPF, a function of configuring the UPF for routing traffic to an appropriate destination (transmission destination), a function of transmitting and/or receiving an SM part of a NAS message, a function of issuing a notification about arrival of downlink data (Downlink Data Notification), a function of providing SM information specific to the AN (for each AN) that is transmitted to the AN through the AMF over the N2 interface).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to add the teaching of Sugawara to the teaching of Ianev. The motivation for such would be as Sugawara provides a SMF sending a notification to the AMF (¶0089, Sugawara). All of the claimed elements were known in the prior art and one skilled in the art could have combined the elements, as claimed by known methods, and the combination would have yielded predictable results to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention.
Re. Claim 13, Ianev teaches a session management function (SMF) entity, comprising: a transceiver; and at least one processor (Fig 18. & ¶0680 - It will be understood that each block of the block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer) configured to perform a method consisting of: determine to release at least one protocol data unit (PDU) session associated with a network slice for a user equipment (UE) (¶0412 - The NSACF 7702 receives, from other network node (e.g. the SMF 71), notification that the PDU session which is identified by the PDU-Id and which is activated on the network slice identified by S-NSSAI-3 is released), and a notification indicating, based on the inactivity (¶0260 (AMF has a message with an “inactivity control timer”)), a release of the at least one PDU session, wherein the UE is deregistered from the network slice for a corresponding access type (¶0627 (take access type into account). See Also: ¶0619 (AMF message includes Access Type), ¶0641 (SMF message includes Access Type)) of the released at least one PDU session (¶0411-0412 - the UE 3 request to release the PDU session identified by the PDU-Id activated on the network slice identified by S-NSSAI-3. The NSACF 7702 receives, from other network node (e.g. the SMF 71), notification that the PDU session which is identified by the PDU-Id and which is activated on the network slice identified by S-NSSAI-3 is released), in case that the network slice is not used by the PDU session associated with the network slice (¶0250 - the First Aspect discloses a mechanism which enables the network to deregister the UE from a network slice if there is no PDU sessions established by the UE on the network slice for a duration of time defined by the network operator) over the corresponding access type (¶0627 (take access type into account). See Also: ¶0619 (AMF message includes Access Type), ¶0641 (SMF message includes Access Type)).
However, Ianev does not explicitly teach transmitting, to an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity via the transceiver, a notification.
Yet, Sugawara expressly teaches transmitting, to an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity via the transceiver, a notification (¶0089 - The SMF has a Session Management function such as establishment, modification, and release of a PDU session, a function of IP address allocation to the UE and management thereof, a function of selection and control of the UPF, a function of configuring the UPF for routing traffic to an appropriate destination (transmission destination), a function of transmitting and/or receiving an SM part of a NAS message, a function of issuing a notification about arrival of downlink data (Downlink Data Notification), a function of providing SM information specific to the AN (for each AN) that is transmitted to the AN through the AMF over the N2 interface).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to add the teaching of Sugawara to the teaching of Ianev. The motivation for such would be as Sugawara provides a SMF sending a notification to the AMF (¶0089, Sugawara). All of the claimed elements were known in the prior art and one skilled in the art could have combined the elements, as claimed by known methods, and the combination would have yielded predictable results to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention.
Re. Claims 1 and 9, Claims 1 and 9 are the method claims corresponding to Claims 5 and 13, as such these claims are rejected under the same basis as Claims 5 and 13 as outlined above.
Re. Claims 2, 6, 10, and 14, Ianev and Sugawara teaches Claims 1, 5, 9, and 13
Additionally, Ianev further teaches removing the network slice from allowed network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI) associated with the UE (¶0434 - The AMF 70 may deregister the UE 3 from the network slice which the UE 3 has not used for some time, e.g. S-NSSAI-3 by removing S-NSSAI-3 from the Allowed NSSAI for the UE 3 and adding S-NSSAI-3 to the Rejected NSSAI).
Re. Claims 3, 7, 11, and 15, Ianev and Sugawara teaches Claims 1, 5, 9, and 13
Additionally, Ianev further teaches wherein, in case that no data is transferred for the at least one PDU session during a certain period of time, the at least one PDU session is determined to be released because of inactivity (Fig. 3, & ¶0382 - FIG. 3 discloses a mechanism which enables a network to deregister a UE 3 from a network slice or put the network slice in inactive state when the UE 3 registrations are controlled by an NSACF 7701 and the UE 3's PDU session(s) is controlled by an NSACF 7702, if the network slice is not used for a long time, e.g. no PDU sessions are established by the UE 3 on the network slice for certain duration of time or the PDU session are not active for certain duration of time)
Re. Claims 4, 8, 12, and 17, Ianev and Sugawara teaches Claims 1, 5, 9, and 13
Additionally, Ianev further teaches determining that the network slice is not deregistered, in case that there is any other PDU session associated with the network slice (Fig 3 & ¶0382 - FIG. 3 discloses a mechanism which enables a network to deregister a UE 3 from a network slice or put the network slice in inactive state when the UE 3 registrations are controlled by an NSACF 7701 and the UE 3's PDU session(s) is controlled by an NSACF 7702, if the network slice is not used for a long time, e.g. no PDU sessions are established by the UE 3 on the network slice for certain duration of time or the PDU session are not active for certain duration of time).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-16 have been considered but are not considered persuasive. Applicant argues on Page 10 that Ianev does not distinguish whether the released PDU session is connected to a specific access type and deregistering only for the corresponding access type. To this end, Examiner refers to ¶0619, ¶0627, and ¶0641, each of which disclose that access type is considered within the process disclosed to determine whether the UE should be released or maintained. As such, Examiner interprets that the access type is a material part of the Ianev’s process of determining to release a PDU and upholds the rejection of the claims as amended under 35 U.S.C. § 103.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Basu et al. (WO 2022018700 A2) – Fig. 2, ¶0094, ¶0112-0113, & ¶0169;
Casati et al. (WO 2022008179 A2) - ¶0068, & ¶0169;
Stefano et al. (2018/0324577) – Figs. 9, 10, 11, ¶0009-0026,¶0060-0066, ¶0167-0186
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) 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 mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NOAH JAMES SUGDEN whose telephone number is (571)270-7406. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thurs 9:00-6:00 ET, Fri 9:00-1:00 ET.
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/N.J.S./Examiner, Art Unit 2475
/KHALED M KASSIM/supervisory patent examiner, Art Unit 2475
