DETAILED ACTION
This communication is in response to Application No. 18/330,343 filed on 6/6/2023. The amendment presented on 5/11/2026, which amends claims 1, 21, and 28, is hereby acknowledged. Claims 1-11 and 21-29 have been examined.
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 Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1, 21, and 28 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claims 1-2, 4, 6, 21-22, and 28 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li et al. (hereinafter Li ‘479)(US 2021/0400479) in view of Li et al. (hereinafter Li ‘007)(US 2022/0330007).
Regarding claims 1, 21, and 28, Li ‘479 teaches as follows:
An apparatus (interpreted as the mobile wireless device 102 in figure 2) comprising memory (106 in figure 2) communicatively coupled to one or more processors (104 in figure 2), the memory storing instructions to configure the one or more processors to (the processor(s) 104, in conjunction with memory 106, can implement a main operating system (OS) 202 that is configured to execute applications 204, see, ¶ [0026] and figure 2):
mark an electronic subscriber identity module (eSIM) profile in a user-accessible cellular settings as activating or inactive (a diagram 500 of an exemplary monitor mode state machine for initial activation of an eSIM 208 for a secondary mobile wireless device 102B. At 502, an eSIM 208 is installed and activated for a first time on a secondary mobile wireless device 102B, see, ¶ [0031] and figure 5);
initiate an eSIM activation monitoring mode after enabling the eSIM profile (at 504, the secondary mobile wireless device 102B initiates the monitor mode state machine and configures one or more timers after the eSIM was installed at 502, see, ¶ [0031] and figure 5);
while in the eSIM activation monitoring mode:
determine whether one or more eSIM activation criteria for a mobile network operator (MNO) associated with the eSIM profile are satisfied (at 506, the secondary mobile wireless device 102B monitors registration status (equivalent to applicant’s determining eSIM activation criteria) for the secondary mobile wireless device 102B to determine whether the secondary mobile wireless device 102B has successfully attached to a cellular wireless network of the MNO 114 associated with the newly installed eSIM 208, see, ¶ [0031] and figure 5); and
after the one or more eSIM activation criteria for the MNO associated with the eSIM profile are satisfied exiting the eSIM activation monitoring mode (at 506, the secondary mobile wireless device 102B can attempt to attach to an access portion of the cellular wireless network of the MNO 114. Successful attachment to the cellular wireless network of the MNO 114, indicated at 522, causes the secondary mobile wireless device 102B to exit the monitor mode with an attachment success indication at 524, see, ¶ [0031] and figure 5).
Li ‘479 does not explicitly teach marking or updating a user-readable cellular setting status of the eSIM profile in the user-accessible cellular settings.
Li ‘007 teaches as follows:
The card 2 settings interface 701 further includes an “eSIM module setting” option 703, which is used by the user to perform related settings on the eSIM module. For example, the user may tap a button 703-1 included in the “eSIM module setting” option 703. As shown in FIG. 7(b), in response to the tap operation on the button 703-1, the mobile phone displays an eSIM module settings interface 704. The eSIM module settings interface 704 may be used by the user to perform related settings on the eSIM module. For example, the user may perform a tap operation on a button 705 included on the eSIM module settings interface 704, to enable or disable the eSIM module (see, ¶ [0140] and figure 7(a)-7(b)).
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Li ‘479 with Li ‘007 to include the eSIM module settings interface as taught by Li ‘007 in order for users to efficiently change activation status of the eSIM profile.
Regarding claim 2, Li ‘479 teaches as follows:
Wherein the one or more eSIM activation criteria for the MNO are satisfied when the wireless device successfully attaches to a cellular wireless access network of the MNO using the eSIM profile (successful attachment to the cellular wireless network of the MNO 114, indicated at 522, causes the secondary mobile wireless device 102B to exit the monitor mode with an attachment success indication at 524, see, ¶ [0031] and figure 5).
Regarding claim 4, Li ‘479 teaches as follows:
Wherein the one or more eSIM activation criteria for the MNO are satisfied when the wireless device receives a response message from an MNO entitlement server indicating an activated status for a cellular wireless service subscription account (the secondary mobile wireless device 102B can obtain information from an entitlement server 702 of an MNO 114, e.g., using a get SIM status (GSS) query and/or a PSAS query, see, ¶ [0034] and figure 7).
Regarding claims 6 and 22, Li ‘479 teaches the eSIM activation monitoring mode as presented above.
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Li ‘479 in view of Li ‘007 to include preventing internet data connection via the eSIM profile during the eSIM activation monitoring mode because the eSIM activation was not completed before the eSIM activation monitoring mode in order to protect the wireless network from unauthorized eSIMs.
Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li et al. (hereinafter Li ‘479)(US 2021/0400479) in view of Li et al. (hereinafter Li ‘007)(US 2022/0330007), and further in view of Chen et al. (hereinafter Chen)(US 2021/0400479).
Regarding claim 3, Li ‘479 in view of Li ‘007 teaches all limitations as presented above except for the attach success message.
Chen teaches as follows:
The SIM of the user device 105 may transmit a request to attach to the network, and the network may transmit a response (equivalent to applicant’s attach success message) indicating whether the request to attach to the network is granted, see, ¶ [0035] and figure 2).
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Li ‘479 in view of Li ‘007 with Chen to include transmitting a response message as taught by Chen in order to efficiently acknowledge successful attachment.
Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li et al. (hereinafter Li ‘479)(US 2021/0400479) in view of Li et al. (hereinafter Li ‘007)(US 2022/0330007), and further in view of Ellison et al. (hereinafter Ellison)(US 2017/0012844).
Regarding claim 5, Li ‘479 in view of Li ‘007 teaches all limitations as presented above except for the socket connection.
Ellison teaches as follows:
The method includes one or more computer processors receiving a request to create a network socket to transfer data (see, ¶ [0004]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Li ‘479 in view of Li ‘007 with Ellison to include the socket connection as taught by Ellison in order to efficiently transfer data between two endpoints.
Claims 7-10, 23-26, and 29 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li et al. (hereinafter Li ‘479)(US 2021/0400479) in view of Li et al. (hereinafter Li ‘007)(US 2022/0330007), and further in view of Avula et al. (hereinafter Avula)(US 2021/0051478).
Regarding claims 7-8, 23-24, and 29, Li ‘479 teaches as follows:
The eUICC OS 206 can also be configured to manage eSIMs 208 that are stored by the eUICC 108, e.g., by downloading, installing, deleting, enabling, disabling, modifying, or otherwise performing management of the eSIMs 208 within the eUICC 108 and to provide baseband wireless circuitry 110 with access to the eSIMs 208 to provide access to wireless services for the mobile wireless device 102 (see, ¶ [0026] and figure 2).
Therefore, Li ‘479 in view of Li ‘007 teaches all limitations as presented above except for a data-only eSIM profile.
Avula teaches as follows:
Techniques may be described herein for detection of unregistered UEs in CBRS deployments and provisioning of those UEs with an eSIM profile that provides Li ‘479mited services/access (see, ¶ [0036]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Li ‘479 in view of Li ‘007 with Avula to include the eSIM profile with limited service of data in order to efficiently manage access control based on each eSIM profile.
Regarding claims 9 and 25, Li ‘479 in view of Li ‘007 teaches all limitations as presented above except for the attach rejection message.
Avula teaches as follows:
UE 105 may provide to private wireless network 115 (via wireless AP 110) a request to join private wireless network 115 (e.g., an attach request message). Private wireless network 115 may determine that UE 105 is unregistered with private wireless network 115, and wireless AP 110 may obtain, from private wireless network 115, an indication that UE 105 is unregistered with private wireless network 115 (e.g., an attach reject message)(see, ¶ [0014]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Li ‘479 in view of Li ‘007 with Avula to include the attach reject message as taught by Avula in order to efficiently respond to the attach request message.
Regarding claims 10 and 26, Li ‘479 in view of Li ‘007 teaches all limitations as presented above except for the subscription status message indicating a depleted data allocation (interpreted as the eSIM with expired subscription period).
Avula teaches as follows:
HSS 140 may send an API push to the SM-DS interface which in turn performs an API call for eSIM operations for loading the Li ‘479mited network access eSIM profile on eSIM 165. Wireless AP 110 may also specify a time Li ‘479mit for the guest access (e.g., the profile may define time expiry). That is, the configured profile may have Li ‘479mited time availability from a service point of view (see, ¶ [0018]); and
techniques may be described herein for detection of unregistered UEs in CBRS deployments and provisioning of those UEs with an eSIM profile that provides Li ‘479mited services/access. This guest-like workflow may be used in CBRS implementations in enterprise deployments. UEs may be identified by a wireless AP or MME in the private wireless network (e.g., private LTE network) by intercepting attach procedure messages and identifying a specified rejection cause (see, ¶ [0036]).
Therefore, Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Li ‘479 in view of Li ‘007 with Avula to include the specified rejection cause of expired subscription in order to efficiently manage network connectivity based on current eSIM profile.
Claims 11 and 27 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li et al. (hereinafter Li ‘479)(US 2021/0400479) in view of Li et al. (hereinafter Li ‘007)(US 2022/0330007) and Avula et al. (hereinafter Avula)(US 2021/0051478), and further in view of Ellison et al. (hereinafter Ellison)(US 2017/0012844).
Regarding claims 11 and 27, Li ‘479 in view of Li ‘007 and Avula teaches all limitations as presented above except for detecting failure to read data via a socket connection.
Ellison teaches as follows:
The method includes one or more computer processors receiving a request to create a network socket to transfer data (see, ¶ [0004]); and
network socket morphing program 300 determines whether a failure was detected during the transfer of data between client endpoint 115 and server endpoint 122 (see, ¶ [0050] and figure 3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Li ‘479 in view of Li ‘007 and Avula with Ellison to include the network socket morphing program as taught by Ellison in order to efficiently detect a failure during the transfer of data via the network socket.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS 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 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 Jeong S Park whose telephone number is (571)270-1597. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday 8:00-4:30 ET.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Glenton B Burgess can be reached at 571-272-3949. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JEONG S PARK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2454
June 26, 2026
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