DETAILED ACTION
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 the claim(s) 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.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-6, 8-14, 23-28, 30-36 are allowed.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 38, 40, and 42-43 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) or (a)(2) as being anticipated by Venkataraman et al. (2023/0180169) hereinafter “Venkataraman”.
As to claim 38, Venkataraman discloses (currently amended): A User Equipment (UE) comprising one or more memories (inherent to UE, see Figs 3/4) storing instructions and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to:
send, to a first Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) via Radio Access Network (RAN), a first Registration Request message (step “1902”, see Fig 19, [0113]); and
receive, from a second AMF selected based on the Requested NSSAI, a registration accept message based on second registration request message in clear text sent from the first AMF to the second AMF (step (“1928”, see Fig 19, [0113]).
It is noted that the broadest reasonable interpretation of the claim is merely a UE configured to send a registration request and receive a registration accept message. The contents of the messages and anything performed by an AMF are outside the scope of the claim since the contents of the messages are nonfunctional descriptive limitations not carrying patentable weight because they do not interact with any step and any actions by any AMF are intended uses. The UE is patentably defined by its structure.
As to claim 40, (currently amended), Venkataraman discloses The UE according to claim 38 wherein the first Registration Request message sent by the RAN to the first AMF apparatus is included in an Uplink Non-Access Stratum (NAS) Transport message (implied by the use of NAS signaling, as shown in [0060]-[0062],[0146],[0159]). Further this limitation is an intended use not carrying patentable weight to the UE.
As to claim 42. (currently amended), Venkataraman discloses The UE according to claim 38 wherein a Registration procedure is continued by the second AMF apparatus after receiving the second Registration Request message. See Fig 19.
As to claim 43, (previously presented), Venkataraman discloses The UE according to claims 42, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the instructions to receive, from the second AMF apparatus, a Registration Accept message in the Registration procedure. See Fig 19.
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.
Claim(s) 39 and 41 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Venkataraman and Qiao (12/167,292).
As to claim 39, (previously presented), Venkataraman discloses The UE according to claim 38, Venkataraman discloses wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the instructions to receive, from the second AMF apparatus, a Registration Accept message including a [[5G-GUTI]] and an Allowed NSSAI (see [0113]). In an analogous art, Qiao discloses wherein it was known to include a 5G-GUTI in a registration accept message (col 17 line 35 – col 18 line 30). Before the effective filing date of the instant application it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Venkataraman such that a 5G-GUTI is received in the registration accept message for the purpose of useful identification.
As to claim 41, (currently amended), Venkataraman discloses The UE according to claim 38, is silent to yet in an analogous art Qiao discloses wherein the second Registration Request message sent by the first AMF apparatus to the second AMF apparatus is included in NamfCommunication_N1MessageNotify. See col 14 lines 32-63. Before the effective filing date of the instant application it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Venkataraman such that the second Registration Request message sent by the first AMF apparatus to the second AMF apparatus is included in NamfCommunication_N1MessageNotify for the purpose of using recognized messaging to improve compatibility.
Claim(s) 16-21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Venkataraman, Qiao, and Hedman et al. (2022/0322080), hereinafter “Hedman”.
Claims 16-21 correspond to claims 38-43 and additionally recite sending with non-clear text information and receiving based on a message in clear text.
Qiao further disclose sending may include SUCI (col 12 line 63-col 13, line 55) and in an analogous Hedman discloses AMF messaging in clear text ([0057]-[0069]). Before the effective filing date of the instant application it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Venkataraman such that sending with non-clear text information (as taught by Qiao) and receiving based on a message in clear text (as taught by Hedman) for the purpose of using encryption for safety, when necessary for security.
As above, it is noted that the limitations to the contents of the message and basis of the message received do not carry weight as they recite nonfunctional limitations and/or intended uses. Art has been applied for compact prosecution.
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 LESTER KINCAID whose telephone number is (571)272-7922. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th: 7-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Yuwen Pan can be reached at 571-272-7855. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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LESTER G. KINCAID
Primary Patent Examiner
Art Unit 2649
/LESTER G KINCAID/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2649
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