DETAILED ACTION
The following is a final office action in response to the Amendments filed on April 07, 2026.
Claims 1, 6, 11 and 16 have been amended.
Claims 1-20 are pending.
Response to Arguments
35 U.S.C. 102 Rejections
Applicant’s arguments filed in the communications on 04/07/2026 have been fully considered but are moot because the arguments do not apply to the combination of references being used in the current rejection.
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 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Moisand et al. (USPGPub 2015/0092551) in view of Dabbs et al. (USPGPub 2017/0311139).
As per claim 1, Moisand teaches a method implemented by a network traffic management system comprising one or more network traffic management apparatuses, server devices, or client devices, (Moisand, see paragraph [0001], applying network services to subscriber data traffic traversing computer networks) the method comprising:
receiving a network packet from a client device (Moisand, see paragraph [0076], …the gateway router receives subscriber packets (207)
mapping a network address in the network packet to one of a plurality of subscribers in a subscriber database (Moisand, see paragraph [0076], …the gateway router receives subscriber packets (207) and determines (Note: this is the mapping element) whether the packet represents a new subscriber session (208))
identifying the master network address for the one of the subscribers from the plurality of network addresses, associated with the one of the subscribers (Moisand, see paragraph [0077], receives a service profile or other information that defines the services to be applied to the subscriber (Note: this is master network address) or maps the various traffic expected for the subscriber to one or more service flows. Upon detecting a new flow, the gateway router selects the service chain for the flow based on the service profile and traffic type) and
routing the network packet to a determined one of a plurality of processing nodes and processing threads based on the master network address for the one of the subscribers (Moisand, see paragraph [0077], The gateway router assigns to the packet flow a session cookie having a value that uniquely identifies the flow from other flows assigned to the same service chain, even if those flows originate from the same subscriber or different subscribers).
Moisand doesn’t explicitly teach the one of the plurality of subscribers being associated with a plurality of network addresses wherein one of the plurality of the network addresses is a master network address.
In analogous art Dabbs teaches the one of the plurality of subscribers being associated with a plurality of network addresses wherein one of the plurality of the network addresses is a master network address (Dabbs, see paragraph [0028], Each Receiver is assigned one identifying Primary Address (Note: this is the master address) and one or more multiple Group Addresses, and is capable of receiving broadcast alert messages directed to any of its addresses).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to take the teaching of Dabbs and apply them on the teaching of Moisand as doing so would enable the subscribers to receive broadcast messages directed to any of its addresses. (Dabbs, see paragraph [0028]).
As per claim 2, Moisand-Dabbs teaches the method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying a policy action based on the master network address for the identified one of the subscribers; and executing the policy action on the network packet received from the client (Moisand, see paragraph [0045], one or more of service nodes 10 may implement policy and charging control (PCC) functionality for subscriber devices 10. In response to queries 17 issued by any of service nodes 10, policy control server 14 issues responses 19 to provision the requesting service node by a policy interface with one or more policy rules that each specifies a set of information enabling the detection of a service data flow and defining policy control, charging, or application detection parameters for application by network elements of access network 6.)
As per claim 3, Moisand-Dabbs teaches the method of claim 2 wherein the policy action comprises an executable network traffic instruction assigned to the one of the subscribers (Moisand, see paragraph [0011], Each of the tunnel packets encapsulates a subscriber packet and including a session cookie storing a value that uniquely associates the subscriber packet with a collection of packet flows originating from the same subscriber).
As per claim 4, Moisand-Dabbs teaches the method of claim 1, wherein the routing the network packet to the determined one of the plurality of processing nodes and processing threads is further based on a hash of the master network address for the one of the subscribers (Moisand, see paragraph [0047], the load balancer need only apply a hash or other deterministic operation to the session cookies embedded within the tunnel packets so as to ensure that the entire collection of packet flows to the same service node while load balancing multiple collections (sessions) across different service nodes).
As per claim 5, Moisand-Dabbs teaches the method of claim 1, wherein the mapped network address and the at least one other network address associated with the one of the subscribers comprise an Internet Protocol version four (IPv4) address and an Internet Protocol version six (IPv6) address. (Moisand, see paragraph [0021], Packet data network 12 executes one or more packet data protocols (PDPs), such as IP (IPv4 and/or IPv6)).
As per claim 6, Moisand teaches a network traffic management apparatus, (Moisand, see paragraph [0001], applying network services to subscriber data traffic traversing computer networks) comprising memory comprising programmed instructions stored thereon and one or more processors configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
receive a network packet from a client device (Moisand, see paragraph [0076], …the gateway router receives subscriber packets (207)
map a network address in the network packet to one of a plurality of subscribers in a subscriber database (Moisand, see paragraph [0076], …the gateway router receives subscriber packets (207) and determines (Note: this is the mapping element) whether the packet represents a new subscriber session (208))
identify the master network address for the one of the subscribers from the plurality of network addresses, associated with the one of the subscribers (Moisand, see paragraph [0077], receives a service profile or other information that defines the services to be applied to the subscriber (Note: this is master network address) or maps the various traffic expected for the subscriber to one or more service flows. Upon detecting a new flow, the gateway router selects the service chain for the flow based on the service profile and traffic type) and
route the network packet to a determined one of a plurality of processing nodes and processing threads based on the master network address for the one of the subscribers (Moisand, see paragraph [0077], The gateway router assigns to the packet flow a session cookie having a value that uniquely identifies the flow from other flows assigned to the same service chain, even if those flows originate from the same subscriber or different subscribers).
Moisand doesn’t explicitly teach the one of the plurality of subscribers being associated with a plurality of network addresses wherein one of the plurality of the network addresses is a master network address.
In analogous art Dabbs teaches the one of the plurality of subscribers being associated with a plurality of network addresses wherein one of the plurality of the network addresses is a master network address (Dabbs, see paragraph [0028], Each Receiver is assigned one identifying Primary Address (Note: this is the master address) and one or more multiple Group Addresses, and is capable of receiving broadcast alert messages directed to any of its addresses).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to take the teaching of Dabbs and apply them on the teaching of Moisand as doing so would enable the subscribers to receive broadcast messages directed to any of its addresses. (Dabbs, see paragraph [0028]).
As per claim 7, Moisand-Dabbs teaches the network traffic management apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to: identify a policy action based on the master network address for the identified one of the subscribers; and execute the policy action on the network packet received from the client. (Moisand, see paragraph [0045], one or more of service nodes 10 may implement policy and charging control (PCC) functionality for subscriber devices 10. In response to queries 17 issued by any of service nodes 10, policy control server 14 issues responses 19 to provision the requesting service node by a policy interface with one or more policy rules that each specifies a set of information enabling the detection of a service data flow and defining policy control, charging, or application detection parameters for application by network elements of access network 6.)
As per claim 8, Moisand-Dabbs teaches the network traffic management apparatus of claim 7 wherein the policy action comprises an executable network traffic instruction assigned to the one of the subscribers. (Moisand, see paragraph [0011], Each of the tunnel packets encapsulates a subscriber packet and including a session cookie storing a value that uniquely associates the subscriber packet with a collection of packet flows originating from the same subscriber).
As per claim 9, Moisand-Dabbs teaches the network traffic management apparatus of claim 6 wherein the route the network packet to the determined one of the plurality of processing nodes and processing threads is further based on a hash of the master network address for the one of the subscribers. (Moisand, see paragraph [0047], the load balancer need only apply a hash or other deterministic operation to the session cookies embedded within the tunnel packets so as to ensure that the entire collection of packet flows to the same service node while load balancing multiple collections (sessions) across different service nodes).
As per claim 10, Moisand-Dabbs teaches the network traffic management apparatus of claim 6 wherein the mapped network address and the at least one other network address associated with the one of the subscribers comprise an Internet Protocol version four (IPv4) address and an Internet Protocol version six (IPv6) address. (Moisand, see paragraph [0021], Packet data network 12 executes one or more packet data protocols (PDPs), such as IP (IPv4 and/or IPv6)).
As per claim 11, Moisand teaches a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions comprising executable code that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the processors to:
receive a network packet from a client device (Moisand, see paragraph [0076], …the gateway router receives subscriber packets (207)
map a network address in the network packet to one of a plurality of subscribers in a subscriber database (Moisand, see paragraph [0076], …the gateway router receives subscriber packets (207) and determines (Note: this is the mapping element) whether the packet represents a new subscriber session (208))
identify the master network address for the one of the subscribers from the plurality of network addresses, associated with the one of the subscribers (Moisand, see paragraph [0077], receives a service profile or other information that defines the services to be applied to the subscriber (Note: this is master network address) or maps the various traffic expected for the subscriber to one or more service flows. Upon detecting a new flow, the gateway router selects the service chain for the flow based on the service profile and traffic type) and
route the network packet to a determined one of a plurality of processing nodes and processing threads based on the master network address for the one of the subscribers (Moisand, see paragraph [0077], The gateway router assigns to the packet flow a session cookie having a value that uniquely identifies the flow from other flows assigned to the same service chain, even if those flows originate from the same subscriber or different subscribers).
Moisand doesn’t explicitly teach the one of the plurality of subscribers being associated with a plurality of network addresses wherein one of the plurality of the network addresses is a master network address.
In analogous art Dabbs teaches the one of the plurality of subscribers being associated with a plurality of network addresses wherein one of the plurality of the network addresses is a master network address (Dabbs, see paragraph [0028], Each Receiver is assigned one identifying Primary Address (Note: this is the master address) and one or more multiple Group Addresses, and is capable of receiving broadcast alert messages directed to any of its addresses).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to take the teaching of Dabbs and apply them on the teaching of Moisand as doing so would enable the subscribers to receive broadcast messages directed to any of its addresses. (Dabbs, see paragraph [0028]).
As per claim 12, Moisand-Dabbs teaches the computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising executable code that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the processors to: identify a policy action based on the master network address for the identified one of the subscribers; and execute the policy action on the network packet received from the client. (Moisand, see paragraph [0045], one or more of service nodes 10 may implement policy and charging control (PCC) functionality for subscriber devices 10. In response to queries 17 issued by any of service nodes 10, policy control server 14 issues responses 19 to provision the requesting service node by a policy interface with one or more policy rules that each specifies a set of information enabling the detection of a service data flow and defining policy control, charging, or application detection parameters for application by network elements of access network 6.)
As per claim 13, Moisand-Dabbs teaches the computer readable medium of claim 12 wherein the policy action comprises an executable network traffic instruction assigned to the one of the subscribers. (Moisand, see paragraph [0011], Each of the tunnel packets encapsulates a subscriber packet and including a session cookie storing a value that uniquely associates the subscriber packet with a collection of packet flows originating from the same subscriber).
As per claim 14, Moisand-Dabbs teaches the computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the route the network packet to the determined one of the plurality of processing nodes and processing threads is further based on a hash of the master network address for the one of the subscribers. (Moisand, see paragraph [0047], the load balancer need only apply a hash or other deterministic operation to the session cookies embedded within the tunnel packets so as to ensure that the entire collection of packet flows to the same service node while load balancing multiple collections (sessions) across different service nodes).
As per claim 15, Moisand-Dabbs teaches the computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the mapped network address and the at least one other network address associated with the one of the subscribers comprise an Internet Protocol version four (IPv4) address and an Internet Protocol version six (IPv6) address. (Moisand, see paragraph [0021], Packet data network 12 executes one or more packet data protocols (PDPs), such as IP (IPv4 and/or IPv6)).
As per claim 16, Moisand teaches a network traffic management system, comprising one or more network traffic management apparatuses, server devices, or client devices with memory comprising programmed instructions stored thereon and one or more processors (Moisand, see paragraph [0001], applying network services to subscriber data traffic traversing computer networks) configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to:
receive a network packet from a client device (Moisand, see paragraph [0076], …the gateway router receives subscriber packets (207)
map a network address in the network packet to one of a plurality of subscribers in a subscriber database (Moisand, see paragraph [0076], …the gateway router receives subscriber packets (207) and determines (Note: this is the mapping element) whether the packet represents a new subscriber session (208))
identify the master network address for the one of the subscribers from the plurality of network addresses, associated with the one of the subscribers (Moisand, see paragraph [0077], receives a service profile or other information that defines the services to be applied to the subscriber (Note: this is master network address) or maps the various traffic expected for the subscriber to one or more service flows. Upon detecting a new flow, the gateway router selects the service chain for the flow based on the service profile and traffic type) and
route the network packet to a determined one of a plurality of processing nodes and processing threads based on the master network address for the one of the subscribers (Moisand, see paragraph [0077], The gateway router assigns to the packet flow a session cookie having a value that uniquely identifies the flow from other flows assigned to the same service chain, even if those flows originate from the same subscriber or different subscribers).
Moisand doesn’t explicitly teach the one of the plurality of subscribers being associated with a plurality of network addresses wherein one of the plurality of the network addresses is a master network address.
In analogous art Dabbs teaches the one of the plurality of subscribers being associated with a plurality of network addresses wherein one of the plurality of the network addresses is a master network address (Dabbs, see paragraph [0028], Each Receiver is assigned one identifying Primary Address (Note: this is the master address) and one or more multiple Group Addresses, and is capable of receiving broadcast alert messages directed to any of its addresses).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to take the teaching of Dabbs and apply them on the teaching of Moisand as doing so would enable the subscribers to receive broadcast messages directed to any of its addresses. (Dabbs, see paragraph [0028]).
As per claim 17, Moisand-Dabbs teaches the system as set forth in claim 16 wherein the one or more processors are further configured to be capable of executing the stored programmed instructions to: identify a policy action based on the master network address for the identified one of the subscribers; and execute the policy action on the network packet received from the client. (Moisand, see paragraph [0045], one or more of service nodes 10 may implement policy and charging control (PCC) functionality for subscriber devices 10. In response to queries 17 issued by any of service nodes 10, policy control server 14 issues responses 19 to provision the requesting service node by a policy interface with one or more policy rules that each specifies a set of information enabling the detection of a service data flow and defining policy control, charging, or application detection parameters for application by network elements of access network 6.)
As per claim 18, Moisand-Dabbs teaches the system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the policy action comprises an executable network traffic instruction assigned to the one of the subscribers. (Moisand, see paragraph [0011], Each of the tunnel packets encapsulates a subscriber packet and including a session cookie storing a value that uniquely associates the subscriber packet with a collection of packet flows originating from the same subscriber).
As per claim 19, Moisand-Dabbs teaches the system as set forth in claim 16 wherein the route the network packet to the determined one of the plurality of processing nodes and processing threads is further based on a hash of the master network address for the one of the subscribers. (Moisand, see paragraph [0047], the load balancer need only apply a hash or other deterministic operation to the session cookies embedded within the tunnel packets so as to ensure that the entire collection of packet flows to the same service node while load balancing multiple collections (sessions) across different service nodes).
As per claim 20, Moisand-Dabbs teaches the system as set forth in claim 16 wherein the mapped network address and the at least one other network address associated with the one of the subscribers comprise an Internet Protocol version four (IPv4) address and an Internet Protocol version six (IPv6) address. (Moisand, see paragraph [0021], Packet data network 12 executes one or more packet data protocols (PDPs), such as IP (IPv4 and/or IPv6)).
Conclusion
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 HERMON ASRES whose telephone number is (571)272-4257. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday 9AM to 5PM.
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/HERMON ASRES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2449
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