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 .
Terms
Non-3GPP access network – WIFI, WIMAX, Ethernet, Bluetooth
Network slice – dedicated virtual network for specific application
PLMN – public cellular network operated by MNO
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
Independent Claims
Claim(s) 1, 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over 3GPP TS 23.501 v17.0.0 (2021-03) in view of Salkintzis (WO-2020098954-A1).
As to claim 1, 11: 3GPP teaches a user equipment (UE) for wireless communication, method comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the UE to: determine to connect with a first network slice in a first Public Land Mobile Network (“PLMN’”) via a non-3GPP access network (6.3.12.1, 6.3.12.2 The steps below specify the steps executed by the UE when the UE wants to select and connect to a PLMN over trusted non-3GPP access.); transmit a first request to each non-3GPP access network in a first list of non-3GPP access networks, the first request requesting cellular network information (6.3.12a.2 The N5CW device discovers the PLMN List-4 advertised by all discovered WLAN access networks by sending an ANQP query to each discovered WLAN access network. The ANQP query shall request "3GPP Cellular Network" information. If a WLAN access network supports interworking with one or more PLMNs, the ANQP response received by the N5CW device includes a "3GPP Cellular Network" information element containing one or more of the following lists: PLMN List-1, PLMN List-2, PLMN List-3 and PLMN List-4. The PLMN List-1, PLMN List-2 and PLMN List-3 are defined in clause 6.3.12. The PLMN List-4 includes the PLMNs with which "5G connectivity-without-NAS" is supported); receive a first response from at least one non-3GPP access network in the first list of non-3GPP access networks, each first response comprising a first list of PLMNs (6.3.12a.2) … ; construct a second list of non-3GPP access networks, … (6.312a.2 The N5CW device puts the available WLAN access networks in priority order. The N5CW device constructs this prioritized list by using the WLANSP rules (if they have been received via 3GPP access), or any other implementation specific means); select a first non-3GPP access network from the second list of non-3GPP access networks; … (6.3.12a.2 the N5CW device selects a WLAN access network (e.g. an SSID) to connect to).
3GPP may not explicitly teach and a plurality of supported network slices for each PLMN in the first list of PLMNs … wherein each non-3GPP access network in the second list supports connectivity with the first network slice in the first PLMN … and transmit a registration request to the first PLMN via the first non-3 GPP access network, wherein the registration request indicates that registration with the first network slice is required. However, Salkintzis teaches and a plurality of supported network slices for each PLMN in the first list of PLMNs (fig.7a, [0034, 83, 108, 112] the processor 505 creates the first list of available PLMNs by discovering a plurality of available non-3GPP access networks and determining, for each available non-3GPP access network, a set of PLMNs which are connectable without using the NAS protocol and one or more network slices supported by each PLMN in the set) … wherein each non-3GPP access network in the second list supports connectivity with the first network slice in the first PLMN … and transmit a registration request to the first PLMN via the first non-3 GPP access network, wherein the registration request indicates that registration with the first network slice is required ([0126] the UE 205 sends a request message to the selected SSID that contains the first PLMN and the first S-NSSAI).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to implement network slices for each PLMN, taught by Salkintzis, into the PLMN selection system, taught by 3GPP, in order to implement a well-known feature of a pre-defined protocol and enable user access to specific optimized applications. In addition, it would have been obvious to combine 3GPP and Salkintzis in a known manner to obtain predictable results as the combination would not change the essence, quiddity, or functionality of the prior art references.
Dependent Claims
Claim(s) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over 3GPP 23.501 in view of Salkintzis (WO-2020098954-A1).
As to claim 2, 12: 3GPP teaches the UE of claim 1, wherein to receive the first response, the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to receive a generic container that comprises the first list of PLMNs (6.3.12a.2).
3GPP may not explicitly teach and the plurality of supported network slices. However, Salkintzis teaches and the plurality of supported network slices (fig.7a, [0034, 83, 108, 112]).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to implement network slices for each PLMN, taught by Salkintzis, into the PLMN selection system, taught by 3GPP, in order to implement a well-known feature of a pre-defined protocol and enable user access to specific optimized applications. In addition, it would have been obvious to combine 3GPP and Salkintzis in a known manner to obtain predictable results as the combination would not change the essence, quiddity, or functionality of the prior art references.
As to claim 3, 13: 3GPP teaches the UE of claim 2.
3GPP may not explicitly teach wherein the plurality of supported network slices comprises a Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (“S- NSSAI”) list that identifies a set of network slices for each PLMN in the first list of PLMNs. However, Salkintzis teaches wherein the plurality of supported network slices comprises a Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (“S- NSSAI”) list that identifies a set of network slices for each PLMN in the first list of PLMNs ([0105, 106, 122] the S-NSSAIs supported by the first PLMN may be either provided in the PLMN list 724).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to implement network slices for each PLMN, taught by Salkintzis, into the PLMN selection system, taught by 3GPP, in order to implement a well-known feature of a pre-defined protocol and enable user access to specific optimized applications. In addition, it would have been obvious to combine 3GPP and Salkintzis in a known manner to obtain predictable results as the combination would not change the essence, quiddity, or functionality of the prior art references.
As to claim 4, 14: 3GPP teaches the UE of claim 1.
3GPP may not explicitly teach wherein each PLMN in the first list of PLMNs identifies a respective PLMN with which 5G connectivity is supported by the non-3GPP access network that sent the first list of PLMNs. However, Salkintzis teaches wherein each PLMN in the first list of PLMNs identifies a respective PLMN with which 5G connectivity is supported by the non-3GPP access network that sent the first list of PLMNs ([0068] A PLMN List-3 includes PLMNs with which "5G connectivity" is supported. A non-3GPP access network supports "5G connectivity" with a PLMN when it deploys a TNGL function that can connect with an AML function and an UPL function in this PLMN via N2 and N3 interfaces, respectively (e.g., deploys a Type 2 interworking function)).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to implement network slices for each PLMN, taught by Salkintzis, into the PLMN selection system, taught by 3GPP, in order to implement a well-known feature of a pre-defined protocol and enable user access to 5G services. In addition, it would have been obvious to combine 3GPP and Salkintzis in a known manner to obtain predictable results as the combination would not change the essence, quiddity, or functionality of the prior art references.
As to claim 5, 15: 3GPP teaches the UE of claim 1.
3GPP may not explicitly teach wherein the first list of PLMNs comprises a set of PLMN information elements, and wherein each PLMN information element includes a PLMN identity and a Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (“S-NSSAI’) list. However, Salkintzis teaches wherein the first list of PLMNs comprises a set of PLMN information elements, and wherein each PLMN information element includes a PLMN identity and a Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (“S-NSSAI’) list ([0070, 83, 122] 3GPP cellular network information element).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to implement network slices for each PLMN, taught by Salkintzis, into the PLMN selection system, taught by 3GPP, in order to implement a well-known feature of a pre-defined protocol and enable user access to specific optimized applications. In addition, it would have been obvious to combine 3GPP and Salkintzis in a known manner to obtain predictable results as the combination would not change the essence, quiddity, or functionality of the prior art references.
As to claim 6, 16: 3GPP teaches the UE of claim 5.
3GPP may not explicitly teach wherein each S-NSSAI in the S-NSSAI list comprises a slice service type (“SST”) and further comprises a slice differentiator (“SD”) or a priority value, or both. However, Salkintzis teaches wherein each S-NSSAI in the S-NSSAI list comprises a slice service type (“SST”) and further comprises a slice differentiator (“SD”) or a priority value, or both ([0126] the S-NSSAI is composed of a Slice/Service Type and an optional Slice Differentiator).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to implement network slices for each PLMN, taught by Salkintzis, into the PLMN selection system, taught by 3GPP, in order to implement a well-known feature of a pre-defined protocol and enable user access to specific optimized applications. In addition, it would have been obvious to combine 3GPP and Salkintzis in a known manner to obtain predictable results as the combination would not change the essence, quiddity, or functionality of the prior art references.
As to claim 7, 17: 3GPP teaches the UE of claim 1.
3GPP may not explicitly teach wherein to select the first non-3GPP access network, the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to apply one or more selection policy rules to select a highest priority non-3GPP access network from the second list of non- 3GPP access networks. However, Salkintzis teaches wherein to select the first non-3GPP access network, the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to apply one or more selection policy rules to select a highest priority non-3GPP access network from the second list of non- 3GPP access networks ([0084, 120, 124] from the prioritized list of non-3GPP access networks, the UE 205 selects the highest priority non-3GPP access network that supports 5G connectivity-without-NAS to the first PLMN and with the first S-NSSAI).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to implement network slices for each PLMN, taught by Salkintzis, into the PLMN selection system, taught by 3GPP, in order to implement a well-known feature of a pre-defined protocol and enable user access to specific optimized applications. In addition, it would have been obvious to combine 3GPP and Salkintzis in a known manner to obtain predictable results as the combination would not change the essence, quiddity, or functionality of the prior art references.
As to claim 8, 18: 3GPP teaches the UE of claim 1.
3GPP may not explicitly teach wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to establish a data connection with the first network slice. However, Salkintzis teaches wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to establish a data connection with the first network slice ([0061]).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to implement network slices for each PLMN, taught by Salkintzis, into the PLMN selection system, taught by 3GPP, in order to implement a well-known feature of a pre-defined protocol and enable user access to specific optimized applications. In addition, it would have been obvious to combine 3GPP and Salkintzis in a known manner to obtain predictable results as the combination would not change the essence, quiddity, or functionality of the prior art references.
As to claim 9, 19: 3GPP teaches the UE of claim 8, wherein the first non-3GPP access network comprises a trusted Wireless Local Area Network (“WLAN”) access network, and wherein the data connection with the first network slice comprises a packet data unit (“PDU”) session established via the trusted WLAN ([0039, 57, 60, 66, 103]).
Claim(s) 10, 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over 3GPP 23.501, Salkintzis (WO-2020098954-A1) in view of Karampatsis (US-20210152615).
As to claim 10, 20: 3GPP teaches the UE of claim 1.
3GPP may not explicitly teach wherein a determination to connect with the first network slice occurs in response to a reception of an internal request to establish a data connection with a first network slice, the request generated by one of: a UE application, or a UE Route Selection Policy (“URSP”) rule in the UE, wherein the URSP rule indicates that the data connection with the first network slice should be established over a non-3GPP access network. However, Karampatsis teaches wherein a determination to connect with the first network slice occurs in response to a reception of an internal request to establish a data connection with a first network slice, the request generated by one of: a UE application, or a UE Route Selection Policy (“URSP”) rule in the UE, wherein the URSP rule indicates that the data connection with the first network slice should be established over a non-3GPP access network ([0159] the SDP offer includes the UE IP address of the PDU session established by the UE 205 to connect to the identified network interface (a 5G network slice which may be selected based on the ICSI/IARI to S-NSSAI configuration or URSP rules)).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to implement URSP rules, taught by Karampatsis, into the 3GPP communication system, taught by 3GPP, in order to implement a well-known feature of a pre-defined protocol and enable routing application traffic to the network slice. In addition, it would have been obvious to combine 3GPP and Karampatsis in a known manner to obtain predictable results as the combination would not change the essence, quiddity, or functionality of the prior art references.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANDREW CHUNG SUK OH whose telephone number is (571)270-5273. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 12p-8p.
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/ANDREW C OH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2466