DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
I. 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
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
II. A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on February 5, 2026 has been entered.
Allowable Subject Matter
III. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The closest prior art found is Kim et al. (WO 2021/257856 A1) and ETSI TS 122 261 5G Service requirements for the 5G system (3GPP TS 22.261 version 16.15.0 Release 16).
Kim teaches determine that an access by the user equipment to a cell served by a base station is required (see paragraph [0211], The UE may determine whether an access attempt is authorized. The access request may be NAS or AS triggered requests. This reads on determine that an access by the user equipment to a cell served by a base station is required); determine that an access barring requirement is met by the user equipment (see paragraphs [0211] & [0212], The may determine whether an access attempt is authorized based on the barring information broadcast. The barring information broadcast may be associated with access categories (emergency”, “mps-priority access” and “mcs priority access). The UE may determine the access attempt being bared based on at last one of an establishment cause for the access attempt being other than an emergency and a RSRP parameter of the system information block comprising a threshold. This reads on determine that an access barring requirement is met by the user equipment); wherein the access barring requirement is based at least in part on a radio frequency conditions threshold of a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold (see paragraph [0212], The UE may determine the access attempt being bared based on at last one of an establishment cause for the access attempt being other than an emergency and a RSRP parameter of the system information block comprising a threshold. This reads on wherein the access barring requirement is based at least in part on a radio frequency conditions threshold of a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold), an access category is one of a plurality of access categories, and the plurality of access categories (“emergency”, “mps-priority access” and “mcs priority access) correspond to different types of access attempts (emergency calls, MPS voice and data) (see paragraph [0211], Access attempts with establishment causes (“emergency”, “mps-priority access” and “mcs priority access) correspond to different type of access attempts (emergency calls, MPS voice and data). This reads on an access category is one of a plurality of access categories, and the plurality of access categories correspond to different types of access attempts); and prevent the access by the user equipment to the cell for a type of access attempt corresponding to the access category (emergency”, “mps-priority access” and “mcs priority access) and based on the access barring requirement being met (see paragraph [0212], The UE may determine the access attempt being barred based on at least one of an establishment cause (e.g., for the access attempt) being other than emergency and the RSRP parameter of the system information block comprising a threshold. This reads on prevent the access by the user equipment to the cell for a type of access attempt corresponding to the access category and based on the access barring requirement being met).
ETSI TS 122 261 5G Service requirements for the 5G system teaches a 5G system preventing UEs form accessing the network using relevant barring parameters that vary depending on Access Identity and Access Category (see pages 30-32 and Table 6.22.2.3-1 Access Categories), the access identities are defined by the combination of conditions related to UE and the type of access attempt (see pages 30-32 and Table 6.22.2.3-1 Access Categories).
Claims 1 and 19-20 may be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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.
IV. Claims 1, 5, and 7-24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor regards as the invention.
Claim 1 recites “determine that an access barring requirement is met by the user equipment, wherein the access barring requirement is based at least in part on a radio frequency conditions threshold of a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold greater than a RSRP threshold for cell selection or reselection or a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) threshold greater than a RSRQ threshold for cell selection or reselection” in lines 7-12.
First, it is unclear whether and/or how the phrase “wherein the access barring requirement is based at least in part on a radio frequency conditions threshold of a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold greater than a RSRP threshold for cell selection or reselection or a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) threshold greater than a RSRQ threshold for cell selection or reselection” relates to the access barring requirement being met. The specification describes the access barring requirement may be met when a radio frequency conditions experienced by the apparatus on the cell is lower (i.e. worse) than the radio frequency conditions threshold; and the reference signal received power threshold or the reference signal received quality threshold is greater than a reference signal received power threshold or the reference signal received quality threshold for cell selection or reselection (see the specification, page 2, lines 9-30 and page 29, lines 5-13).
Second, it is unclear how the term “greater” relates to the “radio frequency conditions threshold of a reference signal received power (RSRP) threshold” and the “RSRP threshold for cell selection or reselection”. The specification describes the access barring requirement may be met when a radio frequency conditions experienced by the apparatus on the cell is lower (i.e. worse) than the radio frequency conditions threshold; and the reference signal received power threshold or the reference signal received quality threshold is greater than a reference signal received power threshold or the reference signal received quality threshold for cell selection or reselection (see the specification, page 2, lines 9-30 and page 29, lines 5-13).
Third, it is unclear how the term “greater” relates to the “reference signal received quality (RSRQ) threshold” and the “RSRQ threshold for cell selection or reselection”. The specification describes the access barring requirement may be met when a radio frequency conditions experienced by the apparatus on the cell is lower (i.e. worse) than the radio frequency conditions threshold; and the reference signal received power threshold or the reference signal received quality threshold is greater than a reference signal received power threshold or the reference signal received quality threshold for cell selection or reselection (see the specification, page 2, lines 9-30 and page 29, lines 5-13).
The limitations render the claim indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor regards as the invention.
Claims 5, 7-18, 21 and 24 are dependent on claim 1 and are rejected for indefiniteness under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) for the same reasons given above regarding claim 1.
Claims 19-20 contain limitations similar to the ones recited above regarding claim 1. Therefore, claims 19-20 are rejected for indefiniteness under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) for the same reasons given above regarding claim 1.
Claims 22-23 are dependent on claims 19-20 and are rejected for indefiniteness under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) for the same reasons given above regarding claims 19-20.
Response to Arguments
V. Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1, 5, 7-24 have been considered but are moot in view of the new grounds of rejection.
Conclusion
VI. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRANDON J MILLER whose telephone number is (571)272-7869. The examiner can normally be reached M-F.
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/BRANDON J MILLER/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2647
March 5, 2026