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 .
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.
Claim(s) 3-4 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 (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
With regard to claim 3, the claim recites, in part:
“wherein the determining is based on at least one of the following criteria”
The office notes that claim 3 depends on claim 1, and claim 1 recites, in part:
“determining that a multicast and broadcast service (MBS) session is to remain active”
Thus, the claim lacks antecedent basis because the “the determining” is unclear. The claim should be amended to recite “wherein the determining that the MBS service session to remain active”.
Regarding claim 4, the claim recites, in part:
“wherein the at least one MBS session create request”
The independent claim does not recite “at least one MBS session create request”, thus, the recitation of “wherein the at least one MBS session create request” is improper. The office recommends amending the claim to recite, in part “wherein an at least one MBS session create request” or “wherein the MBS session create request”, to make the claim clear.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim(s) 1-2 and 5-22 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Instant invention relates to techniques for Multicast Broadcast Service (MBS) wherein a MBS session may be created with an inactivity timer indication included in a Create Session Request for creating an MBS session. Each of the Independent claims 1, 14, and 22, contains features which, when combined with other features in the claims, the prior art of record failed to anticipate or render obvious before the effective filing date of the instant application:
The prior art generally discloses the MBS or MBMS, wherein a first node will transmit a create request to a second node to allow for the creation with a state of a session of an MBS session. For example, the prior art reference Xiong et al. (US 2023/0077191 A1) describes transmitting a first MBS session create request to the MB-SMF, wherein the create request message comprises the MBS session identity, par.[0045]. While the prior art generally describes the transmission of the Create-Request it does not disclose and/or render obvious each and every limitation of the claims. For example, the prior art does not disclose the determining that a MBS session is to remain active and providing in an MBS session request an indication that the MBS session is not to be deactivated in the event that incoming packets are not detected for a period of time.
Additional prior art reference Jung et al. (US 2006/0063531 A1) describe providing a Broadcasting Multicasting Services (BCMCS) deactivation timer when a registration request received at the UE for soft combining is transmitted, see fig.6 and abstract of the disclosure. With regard to the activation timer, the timer keeps the BCMCS session active for the duration of the timer and when the UE receives broadcasting messaging associated with the session. While the disclosure of Jung teaches a BCMCS deactivation timer, it does not disclose and/or render obvious each and every limitation of the claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Xiong (US 2023/0077191 A1) “Method for Implementing Multicast Broadcast Service Handover and Related Device”
Latheef et al. (US 2023/0300938 A1) “Methods and Systems for Managing MBS Service Continuity for a UE”, par.[0047]
Kim et al. (US 2023/0389049 A1) “Method and Device for Supporting Multicast/Broadcast Service in Mobile Communication System”
Fujishiro (US 2023/0261970 A1) “Communication Control Method”
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMAAL HENSON whose telephone number is (571)272-5339. The examiner can normally be reached M-Thu: 7:30 am - 6:30 pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Derrick Ferris can be reached at (571)272-3123. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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JAMAAL HENSON
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2411
/JAMAAL HENSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2411