Detailed Action
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
This Office action is in response to Applicant’s amendment filed on August 3, 2026.
Claims 2-16, 20-22 are pending in the application.
Claims 15-16 are withdrawn from consideration.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 August 3, 2026 has been entered.
Response to Arguments/Remarks
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 2-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, regards as the invention. Claims 2, 6, and 7 are rejected because it is not clear which device “the communications device” is referring to as “the communications device.” Claim 2 recites, “a communications device” and “a first communication device” followed by “the communications device.”
Applicant disagrees that this is unclear. Applicant submitted, the "communications device" is the node that established the first data session (e.g., 512a, 512b). In some embodiments, that is "the first communications device" (e.g., 512a) or "the second communications device" (e.g., 512b). Later in the claims, "the first communications device" (e.g., 512a) is specifically involved in some of the steps. (Remarks, p. 7)
In response, the examiner disagrees that the language is clear.
MPEP 217.05(e)
A claim is indefinite when it contains words or phrases whose meaning is unclear. In re Packard, 751 F.3d 1307, 1314, 110 USPQ2d 1785, 1789 (Fed. Cir. 2014). The lack of clarity could arise where a claim refers to "said lever" or "the lever," where the claim contains no earlier recitation or limitation of a lever and where it would be unclear as to what element the limitation was making reference. Similarly, if two different levers are recited earlier in the claim, the recitation of "said lever" in the same or subsequent claim would be unclear where it is uncertain which of the two levers was intended.
The claim recites “a communications device” and “first communication device” followed by “the communication device,” and it would be unclear which of the two communication devices was intended. Applicant submitted that, in some embodiments, “communication device” may refer to the "the first communications device" or “the second communications device.” As such, it is not definite which device is being referred to by “the communications device.”
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
Claims 2, 5, 7, 9-11, 14, and 20 were rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Karampatsis et al. US Patent Publication No. 2021/0152615 (“Karampatsis”) in view of Synnergren et al. US Patent Publication No. 2012/0278384 (“Synnergren”).
Applicant submitted that claim 2 is allowable over the combination of Karampatsis and Synnergren because the combination fails to teach all features of the claim. Specifically, the combination of Karampatsis and Synnergren fails to teach at least "sending an indication to the communications device instructing the first communications device to establish a second data session on a second network slice [] identified by a second identifier is required for the upgrade to handle the second media type to take place."
In response, Karampatsis teaches “sending an indication to the communications device to establish a second data session on a second network slice identified by a second identifier is required for the upgrade to handle the second media type to take place.” Karampatsis does not expressly teach, “instructing the first communications device to establish a second data session on a second network slice.” Therefore, the prior rejection has been withdrawn, and new grounds of rejection are made 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.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 2-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 2, the claim recites, “a communications device” and “a first communication device” followed by “the communications device.” It is not clear which device “the communications device” is referring to as “the communications device” may also refer to the first communication device. Claims 6-7 recite “the communications device” and are rejected for the same reason as claim 2.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claims 2, 5, 7, 9-11, 14, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Karampatsis et al. US Patent Publication No. 2021/0152615 (“Karampatsis”) in view of Synnergren et al. US Patent Publication No. 2012/0278384 (“Synnergren”) and Chen et al. US Patent Publication No. 2023/0300912 (“Chen”).
Regarding claim 2, Karampatsis teaches a method, performed by a multimedia application server, for upgrading a first data session for a first media type to handle a second media type, the method comprising:
receiving, from an application node associated with a communications network, a first identifier (S-NSSAI_la, S-NSSAI_b) of a first network slice (NS la, NS 1b) of the communications network (para. [0186] IMS AS 152 may interface with the 5GS NF 1010 to determine the appropriate network slice for the media flows. 5GS NF 1010 may return mapping information that associates a network slice identifier, such as the S-NSSAI), wherein the first data session is established by a communications device through the first network slice (NS la, NS 1b0 (see fig. 6. UE 205 with session using slice NSSAI-x); para. [0149] UE 205 attaches to a 5G network and is registered over a PDU session… via the default 5G network slice (e.g., the first network slice instance 920));
receiving a request, from a first communications device to handle the second media type, wherein the request comprises session description information corresponding to a data session handling the second media type (para. [0170] media traffic of certain types is to be sent via second network slice. para. [0174] UE 205… sending a SIP INVITE request to the P-CSCF. SIP INVITE request includes… an SDP offer. SDP offer may include a media type. SDP offer with the IP address of the first PDU session (associated with the default network slice)); and
in response to the received request, and based on the first identifier (S-NSSAI_a, S- NSSAI_b) of the first network slice (NSla, NS1b) (para. [0054] IP address for the PDU session identifies the S-NSSAI. para. [0072] each PDU session is distinguishable by… network slice identifier (e.g., S-NSSAI)) and the session description information, sending an indication to the communications device that a second data session on a second network slice (NS2a, NS2b) identified by a second identifier (S-NSSAI_2a, S-NSSAI_2b) is required for the upgrade to handle the second media type to take place (para. [0175] IMS AS 152 determines whether the media traffic for the requested session needs to the sent via a different network slice. IMS AS 152 may base the determination on the media type included in the SDP offer. para. [0170] IMS AS 152 determines whether an IMS service is to use a different network interface (which may be the 5G network slice) … and indicates this to the UE. indication may be done by signaling to the UE 205 that the media flows for the IMS service are to be routed via a different network interface. para. [0173] may indicate that media traffic for an IMS service is to use a different network interface by sending a SIP ‘3xx Redirection’ response).
Karampatsis discloses receiving a request, from the first communications device, for a data session to handle the second media type. Karampatsis does not teach receiving a request to upgrade the first data session to handle the second media type. wherein the request comprises session description information corresponding to an upgraded data session handling the second media type.
Karampatsis does not expressly teach instructing the first communications device to establish a second data session on a second network slice.
Synnergren teaches receiving a request, from a first communications device to upgrade a first data session to handle a second media type, wherein the request comprises session description information corresponding to an upgraded data session handling the second media type (para. [0006] wants to add a video stream to the session by sending another SIP INVITE message, also referred to as a re-INVITE message. in the re-INVITE message the SDP is describing both the speech codec and the video codec. para. [0048] when the user of Client1 requests 401 to make this service change, client1 310 sends a Media Control message 411 to the Application Server 120 with a request to transmit voice and video). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Karampatsis with Synnergren’s disclosure such that the UE of Karampatsis is capable of requesting a change to an existing data session by specifying additional media. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so for benefits of similarly providing a capability for clients to modify existing sessions to include additional media while Karampatsis would still be capable of determining a network slice to handle media traffic specified in the request.
Chen teaches instructing a first communications device to establish a second data session on a second network slice (para. [0061] instructs the terminal to update the PDU session to a target slice corresponding to the S-NSSAI. para. [0077] terminal modifies the attribute of the PDU session based on the session modification command message sent by the SMF, to change the slice identifier associated with the PDU session to the slice identifier included in the session modification command message. para. [0104] instruction message includes the slice identifier and instructs the terminal to modify or re-establish the PDU session or initiate the PDU session establishment process based on the slice identifier. modify or re-establish the PDU session or establish a new PDU session based on the slice identifier indicated by the network-side device, such that the PDU session can be switched to the specified slice). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Karampatsis with Chen’s disclosure such that the device of Karampatsis is instructed to perform an action which includes establishing a second data session on a second network slice. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so for benefits of enabling a network side to control the UE to provide a service for a user through an appropriate slice (para. [0068]).
Regarding claim 11, Karampatsis teaches a method, performed by a communications device, for upgrading a first data session of a first media type to handle a second media type, the method comprising:
establishing a first data session between a first communications device and a second communications device, wherein the communications device is one of the first or the second communications device and wherein the first data session is established by the communications device on a first network slice (NS la, NS lb) of a communications network serving the communications device (para. [0174] UE 205 (e.g., being attached on a first network slice) sending a SIP INVITE request to the PC-CSCF. SIP INVITE request includes… an SDP offer. SDP offer may include a media type and IP address of the PDU session. IP address of the first PDU session (associated with the default network slice)), wherein the first network slice (NS la, NS lb) is identified by a first identifier (S-NSSAI_la, S-NSSAI_1b) (para. [0054] IP address for the PDU session identifies the S-NSSAI. para. [0072] each PDU session is distinguishable by… network slice identifier (e.g., S-NSSAI)); and
receiving, from a multimedia application server associated with the communications network and controlling the first data session, an indication (S-NSSAI_2a, S-NSSAI_2b) that a second data session on a second network slice (NS2a, NS2b) identified by a second identifier (S- NSSAI2a, S-NSSAI_2b) is required to handle the second media type (para. [0175] IMS AS 152 determines whether the media traffic for the requested session needs to the sent via a different network slice. IMS AS 152 may base the determination on the media type included in the SDP offer. para. [0170] IMS AS 152 determines whether an IMS service is to use a different network interface (which may be the 5G network slice) … and indicates this to the UE. indication may be done by signaling to the UE 205 that the media flows for the IMS service are to be routed via a different network interface. para. [0173] may indicate that media traffic for an IMS service is to use a different network interface by sending a SIP ‘3xx Redirection’ response).
Karampatsis discloses a second data session on a second network slice is required to handle the second media type. Karampatsis does not teach upgrading the first data session to handle the second media type.
Karampatsis does not expressly teach instructing the first communications device to establish a second data session on a second network slice.
Synnergren teaches upgrading a first data session to handle second media type (para. [0006] wants to add a video stream to the session by sending another SIP INVITE message, also referred to as a re-INVITE message. in the re-INVITE message the SDP is describing both the speech codec and the video codec. para. [0048] when the user of Client1 requests 401 to make this service change, client1 310 sends a Media Control message 411 to the Application Server 120 with a request to transmit voice and video. application server 120 grants this request with a media control message 412.). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Karampatsis with Synnergren’s disclosure such that the UE of Karampatsis is capable of requesting a change to an existing data session by specifying additional media. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so for benefits of similarly providing a capability for clients to modify existing sessions to include additional media while Karampatsis would still be capable of determining a network slice to handle media traffic specified in the request.
Chen teaches instructing a first communications device to establish a second data session on a second network slice (para. [0061] instructs the terminal to update the PDU session to a target slice corresponding to the S-NSSAI. para. [0077] terminal modifies the attribute of the PDU session based on the session modification command message sent by the SMF, to change the slice identifier associated with the PDU session to the slice identifier included in the session modification command message. para. [0104] instruction message includes the slice identifier and instructs the terminal to modify or re-establish the PDU session or initiate the PDU session establishment process based on the slice identifier. modify or re-establish the PDU session or establish a new PDU session based on the slice identifier indicated by the network-side device, such that the PDU session can be switched to the specified slice). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Karampatsis with Chen’s disclosure such that the device of Karampatsis is instructed to perform an action which includes establishing a second data session on a second network slice. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so for benefits of enabling a network side to control the UE to provide a service for a user through an appropriate slice (para. [0068]).
Regarding claim 20, Karampatsis teaches a multimedia application server associated with a communications network, for upgrading a first data session for a first media type to handle a second media type, wherein the multimedia application server comprises a processor and a memory (fig. 5, para. [0108]), the memory comprises instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the multimedia application server to:
receive from an application node associated with the communications network, a first identifier (S-NSSAI_la, S-NSSAIlb) of a first network slice (NSla, NS1b) of the communications network, wherein the first data session is established by a communications device through the first network slice (NS la, NS lb) (para. [0186] IMS AS 152 may interface with the 5GS NF 1010 to determine the appropriate network slice for the media flows. 5GS NF 1010 may return mapping information that associates a network slice identifier, such as the S-NSSAI);
receive a request, from the communications device to handle a second media type, wherein the request comprises session description information corresponding to a data session handling the second media type (para. [0170] media traffic of certain types is to be sent via second network slice. para. [0174] UE 205… sending a SIP INVITE request to the P-CSCF. SIP INVITE request includes… an SDP offer. SDP offer may include a media type. SDP offer with the IP address of the first PDU session (associated with the default network slice); and
in response to the received request, and based on the first identifier (S-NSSAIla, S- NSSAIlb) of the first network slice (NSla, NSib) and the session description information, send an indication to the communications device that a second data session on a second network slice (NS2a, NS2b) identified by a second identifier (S-NSSAI_2a, S-NSSAI_2b) is required for the upgrade to handle the second media type to take place (para. [0175] IMS AS 152 determines whether the media traffic for the requested session needs to the sent via a different network slice. IMS AS 152 may base the determination on the media type included in the SDP offer. para. [0170] IMS AS 152 determines whether an IMS service is to use a different network interface (which may be the 5G network slice) … and indicates this to the UE. indication may be done by signaling to the UE 205 that the media flows for the IMS service are to be routed via a different network interface. para. [0173] may indicate that media traffic for an IMS service is to use a different network interface by sending a SIP ‘3xx Redirection’ response).
Karampatsis discloses receiving a request, from the first communications device, for a data session to handle the second media type. Karampatsis does not teach receiving a request, from the first communications device to upgrade the first data session to handle the second media type. wherein the request comprises session description information corresponding to an upgraded data session handling the second media type.
Karampatsis does not expressly teach instructing the first communications device to establish a second data session on a second network slice.
Synnergren teaches receiving a request, from a first communications device to upgrade a first data session to handle a second media type, wherein the request comprises session description information corresponding to an upgraded data session handling the second media type (para. [0006] wants to add a video stream to the session by sending another SIP INVITE message, also referred to as a re-INVITE message. in the re-INVITE message the SDP is describing both the speech codec and the video codec. para. [0048] when the user of Client1 requests 401 to make this service change, client1 310 sends a Media Control message 411 to the Application Server 120 with a request to transmit voice and video). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Karampatsis with Synnergren’s disclosure such that the UE of Karampatsis is capable of requesting a change to an existing data session by specifying additional media. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so for benefits of similarly providing a capability for clients to modify existing sessions to include additional media while Karampatsis would still be capable of determining a network slice to handle media traffic specified in the request.
Chen teaches instructing a first communications device to establish a second data session on a second network slice (para. [0061] instructs the terminal to update the PDU session to a target slice corresponding to the S-NSSAI. para. [0077] terminal modifies the attribute of the PDU session based on the session modification command message sent by the SMF, to change the slice identifier associated with the PDU session to the slice identifier included in the session modification command message. para. [0104] instruction message includes the slice identifier and instructs the terminal to modify or re-establish the PDU session or initiate the PDU session establishment process based on the slice identifier. modify or re-establish the PDU session or establish a new PDU session based on the slice identifier indicated by the network-side device, such that the PDU session can be switched to the specified slice). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Karampatsis with Chen’s disclosure such that the device of Karampatsis is instructed to perform an action which includes establishing a second data session on a second network slice. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so for benefits of enabling a network side to control the UE to provide a service for a user through an appropriate slice (para. [0068]).
Regarding claim 5, Karampatsis in view of Synnergren and Chen teach the method according to claim 2, wherein the first and second data sessions each is an IMS session (Karampatsis: para. [0167] allocate resources for the media traffic of the IMS session. para. [0169] IMS session).
Regarding claim 7, Karampatsis in view of Synnergren and Chen teach the method according to claim 2, further comprising: determining, based on the received first identifier (S-NSSAIla, S-NSSAIlb) and the received session description information corresponding to a data session, to instruct the communications device that the second data session on the second network slice (NS2a, NS2b) identified by the second identifier (S-NSSAI_2a, S-NSSAI_2b) is required for the upgrade to the second media type to take place (Karampatsis: para. [0059] SIP INVITE message may include a service identifier and a first SDP offer. SDP offer includes a media type and an IP address of a PDU session. para. [0183] when the UE 205 starts a media session, e.g., SIP INVITE request…, IMS AS 152 may indicate to the UE 205 that the media traffic for the requested session is to be sent via different slice. IMS AS 152 may also provide to the UE 205 assistance information, such as a mapping of ICSI/IARI values to S-NSSAI). Karampatsis does not teach the received session description information corresponding to the upgraded data session.
Synnergren teaches receiving a request, from a first communications device to upgrade a first data session to handle a second media type, wherein the request comprises session description information corresponding to an upgraded data session handling the second media type (para. [0006] wants to add a video stream to the session by sending another SIP INVITE message, also referred to as a re-INVITE message. in the re-INVITE message the SDP is describing both the speech codec and the video codec. para. [0048] when the user of Client1 requests 401 to make this service change, client1 310 sends a Media Control message 411 to the Application Server 120 with a request to transmit voice and video). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Karampatsis with Synnergren’s disclosure of received session description information corresponding to the upgraded data session. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so for benefits of similarly providing a capability for clients to modify existing sessions to include additional media while Karampatsis would still be capable of determining a network slice to handle media traffic.
Regarding claim 9, Karampatsis in view of Synnergren and Chen teach the method according to claim 2, further comprising: saving the first identifier (S-NSSAI_la, S-NSSAI_1b) of the first network slice in a session state associated with the first data session (Karampatsis: para. [0072] each PDU session is distinguishable by a unique combination of Data Network Name (“DNN”), Session and Service Continuity (“SSC”) mode, and/or network slice identifier (e.g., S-NSSAI).).
Regarding claim 10, Karampatsis in view of Synnergren and Chen teach the method according to claim 2, wherein the first identifier (S- NSSAI_la, S-NSSAI_1b) of the first network slice (NSla, NSib) is received during session setup of the first data session from a policy controlling node in NpcfPolicyAuthorisation_Subscribe Response or during a registration procedure of the communications device with the application network (Karampatsis: para. [0149] network procedure 1000 begins as the UE 205 attaches to a 5G network and is registered over a PDU session used for IMS signaling (e.g., the first PDU session 910). sends the mapping of the IMS service to a network interface to the device management server (e.g., of the AS/DM server 1005. network interface may be indicated by an S-NSSAI of the slice).
Regarding claim 14, Karampatsis in view of Synnergren and Chen teach the method according to claim 11, performed by the first communications device. Karampatsis teaches, the method further comprising: sending a request, to the first application network, to handle the second media type (para. [0174] SIP INVITE request includes an ICSI and/or IARI of the requested IMS service and an SDP offer. The SDP offer may include a media type); and wherein the first communications device receives the indication that the second data session on the second network slice (NS2a) is required for the upgrade to handle the second media type to take place (para. [0175] IMS AS 152 determines whether the media traffic for the requested session needs to the sent via a different network slice. para. [0177] Upon receiving the SIP message indicating that media traffic for the IMS session is to use a different network slice). Karampatsis does not teach sending a request, to the first application network, to upgrade the first data session to handle the second media type.
Synnergren teaches sending a request, to the first application network, to upgrade the first data session to handle the second media type (para. [0006] wants to add a video stream to the session by sending another SIP INVITE message, also referred to as a re-INVITE message. in the re-INVITE message the SDP is describing both the speech codec and the video codec. para. [0048] when the user of Client1 requests 401 to make this service change, client1 310 sends a Media Control message 411 to the Application Server 120 with a request to transmit voice and video). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Karampatsis with Synnergren’s disclosure of sending a request, to the first application network, to upgrade the first data session to handle the second media type. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so for benefits of similarly providing a capability for clients to modify existing sessions to include additional media while Karampatsis would still be capable of determining a network slice to handle media traffic.
Claims 3 and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Karampatsis in view of Synnergren, Chen, and Chauhan US Patent Publication No. 2020/0106699 (“Chauhan”).
Regarding claim 3, Karampatsis does not teach the method according to claim 2, wherein the second media type requires a higher bandwidth or higher Quality of Service, QoS, than the first media type.
Chauhan teaches second media type, wherein the second media type requires a higher bandwidth or higher Quality of Service, QoS, than a first media type (para. [0196] determine whether the first traffic type requires higher QoS than the second traffic type. determine that the traffic type of sensitive traffic… requires higher QoS than the traffic type of best-effort traffic). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Karampatsis with Chauhan’s disclosure of a second media type that requires a higher bandwidth or higher QoS than a first media type. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so for a benefit of determining a path based on the required QoS.
Regarding claim 21, Karampatsis does not teach the multimedia application server according to claim 20, wherein the second media type requires a higher bandwidth or higher Quality of Service, QoS, than the first media type.
Chauhan teaches second media type, wherein the second media type requires a higher bandwidth or higher Quality of Service, QoS, than a first media type (para. [0196] determine whether the first traffic type requires higher QoS than the second traffic type. determine that the traffic type of sensitive traffic… requires higher QoS than the traffic type of best-effort traffic). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Karampatsis with Chauhan’s disclosure of a second media type requires a higher bandwidth or higher QoS than a first media type. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so for a benefit of determining a path based on the required QoS.
Claims 4 and 22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Karampatsis in view of Synnergren, Chen, and Wang et al. US Patent Publication No. 2017/0237965 (“Wang”).
Regarding claim 4, Karampatsis does not teach the method according to claim 2, wherein the second media type is any one or more out of: Virtual Reality, VR, Augmented Reality, AR, and Mixed Reality, MR.
Wang teaches second media type, wherein the second media type is any one or more out of: Virtual Reality, VR, Augmented Reality, AR, and Mixed Reality, MR (para. [0139] in a media description in an SDP message. a field can be added or modified in the session description and/or the media description to indicate the presence of virtual reality content in streaming content). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Karampatsis with Wang’s disclosure of Virtual Reality, VR. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so because it would have been desirable to stream different types of content from clients, using SDP, including virtual reality content.
Regarding claim 22, Karampatsis does not teach the multimedia application server according to claim 20, wherein the second media type is any one or more out of: Virtual Reality, VR, Augmented Reality, AR, and Mixed Reality, MR.
Wang teaches second media type, wherein the second media type is any one or more out of: Virtual Reality, VR, Augmented Reality, AR, and Mixed Reality, MR (para. [0139] in a media description in an SDP message. a field can be added or modified in the session description and/or the media description to indicate the presence of virtual reality content in streaming content). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Karampatsis with Wang’s disclosure of Virtual Reality, VR. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so because it would have been desirable to stream different types of content from clients, using SDP, including virtual reality content.
Claim 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Karampatsis in view of Synnergren, Chen, and Lee et al. US Patent Publication No. 2020/0322778 (“Lee”).
Regarding claim 6, Karampatsis in view of Synnergren the method according to claim 2. Karampatsis teaches wherein the indication to the communications device that the second data session on the second network slice (NS2a, NS2b) identified by the second identifier (S-NSSAI_2a, S-NSSAI_2b) is required to handle the second media type to take place is an second identifier (S-NSSAI_2a, S- NSSAI_2b), each associated with a respective second network slice, which are configured in the multimedia application server and support the second media type (para.[0183] IMS AS 152 may also provide to the UE 205 assistance information, such as a mapping of ICSI/IARI values to S-NSSAI). Synnergren teaches upgrading a first data session to handle second media type (para. [0006] wants to add a video stream to the session by sending another SIP INVITE message, also referred to as a re-INVITE message. in the re-INVITE message the SDP is describing both the speech codec and the video codec. para. [0048] when the user of Client1 requests 401 to make this service change, client1 310 sends a Media Control message 411 to the Application Server 120 with a request to transmit voice and video. application server 120 grants this request with a media control message 412.). Karampatsis and Synnergren do not teach the indication is a list of second identifiers (S-NSSAI_2a, S- NSSAI_2b), each associated with a respective second network slice.
Lee discloses providing an indication to a communications device wherein the indication is a list of second identifiers (S-NSSAI_2a, S- NSSAI_2b), each associated with a respective second network slice (para. [0099] slice is described as S-NSSAI. para. [0106] AMF sends to the terminal a registration accept message including the allowed NSSAI that is a list of S-NSSAIs that can be used by the terminal to access the network). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Karampatsis and Synnergren with Lee’s disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so for a similar benefit of receiving a list of allowed NSSAI for selection by the UE.
Claims 12, and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Karampatsis in view of Synnergren, Chen, and Lee et al. US Patent Publication No. 2021/0153268 (“Lee”).
Regarding claim 12, Karampatsis in view of Synnergren teach the method according to claim 11, further comprising: in response to the received indication that the second data session on the second network slice (NS2a, NS2b) is required for the upgrade to the second media type to take place (Karampatsis: para. [0175] IMS AS 152 determines whether the media traffic for the requested session needs to the sent via a different network slice. IMS AS 152 may base the determination on the media type included in the SDP offer. para. [0170] IMS AS 152 determines whether an IMS service is to use a different network interface… and indicates this to the UE). Karampatsis does not teach determining whether or not to upgrade the first data session to the second data session based on the second identifier (S-NSSAI_2a, S-NSSAI_2b) and an access network subscription profile of the communications device
Lee discloses determining whether to establish a session based on a second identifier (S-NSSAI_2a, S-NSSAI_2b) and an access network subscription profile of a communications device (para. [0066] in operation 401, a UE may generate a Registration Request message. Requested NSSAI that the UE is to use may be included in the Registration Request message. para. [0071] AMF may determine Allowed NSSAI based on the UE subscription data received from the UDM in operation 405. when S-NSSAI A and S-NSSAI B are included in Requested NSSAI requested by the UE, and both S-NSSAI A and S-NSSAI B are included in a subscribed slice, both S-NSSAI A and S-NSSAI B requested by the UE may be used). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Karampatsis and Synnergren with Lee’s disclosure of determining whether to establish a session based on an access network subscription profile of a communications device. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so in order to have utilized NSSAI that is allowed for the UE.
Regarding claim 13, Karampatsis in view of Synnergren teach the method according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprises: in response to the received indication, sending, to the multimedia application server a response to the received indication that the second data session on the second network slice (NS2a, NS2b) is required for upgrading the first data session, wherein the response indicates whether or not the second communications device is able to initiate the second data session with the second identifier (S-NSSAI2a, S-NSSAI_2b) for upgrading the first data session to handle the second media type, and wherein the response is based on the received second identifier (S- NSSAI_2b) (Karampatsis: para. [0173] UE 205 may include the IP address of the second network interface (e.g., second network slice. para. [01738] the new SIP INVITE request includes a new SDP offer that indicates the second network slice is to be used to route the media traffic) to convey the media in the SDP offer). Karampatsis does not teach wherein the response is based on an access network subscription profile of the second communications device.
Lee discloses determining whether to establish a session based an access network subscription profile of a communications device (para. [0066] in operation 401, a UE may generate a Registration Request message. Requested NSSAI that the UE is to use may be included in the Registration Request message. para. [0071] AMF may determine Allowed NSSAI based on the UE subscription data received from the UDM in operation 405. when S-NSSAI A and S-NSSAI B are included in Requested NSSAI requested by the UE, and both S-NSSAI A and S-NSSAI B are included in a subscribed slice, both S-NSSAI A and S-NSSAI B requested by the UE may be used). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Karampatsis and Synnergren with Lee’s disclosure of determining whether to establish a session based on an access network subscription profile of a communications device. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so in order to have utilized NSSAI that is allowed for the UE.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 8 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Examiner’s Note
The following prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure.
Godin et al. US Patent Publication No. 2023/0142879 teaches instructing a first communications device to establish a second data session on a second network slice (para. [0048] node triggers the core network to command via an SSC mode 3 or 2 the user terminal to establish a new PDU session to a target slice)
Conclusion
A shortened statutory period for reply to this Office action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action.
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/JOSHUA JOO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2445
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