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 .
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
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Claims 1 and 7 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1 and 6, respectively, of U.S. Patent No. 11,979,823. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because at least one examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s) as shown in the following comparison.
Current Application Claim(s)
Reference Claims (Patent No. 11979823)
1. A method for processing a network slice by a session management function and packet data network gateway control plane (SMF+PGW-C) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
identifying that a network slice admission control is supported in case of evolved packet core (EPC) interworking, wherein the network slice admission control is associated with at least one of a maximum number of user equipments (UEs) per network slice in EPC and a maximum number of protocol data unit (PDU) sessions per network slice in the EPC; and
selecting, by the SMF+PGW-C, a single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) associated with a packet data network (PDN) connection during PDN connection establishment in the EPC, wherein the network slice is identified by the S-NSSAI.
1. A method for processing a network slice by a session management function and packet data network gateway control plane (SMF+PGW-C) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
identifying that a network slice admission control associated with a slice quota is supported, wherein the slice quota includes at least one of a maximum number of user equipments (UEs) per network slice in evolved packet core (EPC) and a maximum number of protocol data unit (PDU) sessions per network slice in the EPC;
selecting, by the SMF+PGW-C, a single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) associated with a packet data network (PDN) connection in the EPC, wherein the network slice is identified by the S-NSSAI; and
transmitting, by the SMF+PGW-C to a network slice control function, a first message to check an availability of the network slice.
7. A session management function and packet data network gateway control plane (SMF+PGW-C) in a wireless communication system, the SMF+PGW-C comprising:
a transceiver; and a processor coupled with the transceiver and configured to control to:
identify that a network slice admission control is supported in case of evolved packet core (EPC) interworking, wherein the network slice admission control is associated with at least one of a maximum number of user equipments (UEs) per network slice in EPC and a maximum number of protocol data unit (PDU) sessions per network slice in the EPC; and
select, by the SMF+PGW-C, a single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) associated with a packet data network (PDN) connection during PDN connection establishment in the EPC, wherein the network slice is identified by the S-NSSAI.
6. A session management function and packet data network gateway control plane (SMF+PGW-C) configured to process a network slice in a wireless communication system, the SMF+PGW-C comprising:
a transceiver; and a processor coupled with the transceiver and configured to control to:
identify that a network slice admission control associated with a slice quota is supported, wherein the slice quota includes at least one of a maximum number of user equipments (UEs) per network slice in evolved packet core (EPC) and a maximum number of protocol data unit (PDU) sessions per network slice in the EPC,
select a single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) associated with a packet data network (PDN) connection in the EPC, wherein the network slice is identified by the S-NSSAI, and
transmit, to a network slice control function, a first message to check an availability of the network slice.
Correction is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-12 are objected to and would be allowable under the condition that the above nonstatutory double patenting rejection needs be addressed and overcome.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The best references teach the followings.
Firstly, Faccin et al. (Pub. No. US 2019/0124561), at best, teaches method and system relate to a mechanism to enable interworking between fifth generation system (5GS) network slicing and evolved packet core (EPC) connectivity. Techniques are provided for existing packet data unit (PDU) sessions that provide connectivity to a network slice from a set of network slices. Connectivity to the network slice is in response to a user equipment (UE), that uses network slices, moving between a 5G network and a 4G network. The existing PDU sessions are connected to a dedicated EPC core network that supports the same services provided by the network slice.
In details, Faccin teaches a wireless communications method that includes enabling UE functionality to maintain a mapping between active packet data network (PDN) connections and corresponding single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) in response to the UE moving to an EPC or in response to new PDN connections being created while the UE is in the EPC; and providing information about the mapping to an access and mobility management function (AMF) during a registration procedure. The method further enables an AMF supporting a connectivity to a variety of network slices to be configured with a mapping between a set of network slices (e.g. each identified by a S-NSSAI) in a list of network slices allowed by the network for the UE (i.e. in an allowed S-NSSAI assigned to UE) to a specific dedicated core network (DCN) in an EPC; and applying the mapping. The method enables a session management function (SMF)-selection functionality to ensure that an AMF selects the SW for establishing a PDU session for a UE corresponding to a network slice (e.g. identified by an S-NSSAI) considering a mapping between a set of network slices (e.g. each identified by the S-NSSAI) and DCNs in the EPC, in order to ensure the SW may continue supporting the connectivity management for the PDU session when the UE moves the PDU session to the EPC and a specific DCN is selected to serve the UE based on the mapping between the network slices and the DCNs; and applying the SW-selection functionality. The method includes augmenting a subscribed UE usage type maintained in a home subscriber server (HSS) with a temporary UE usage type set by an AMF based on an allowed S-NSSAI; providing the temporary UE usage type to the HSS when the allowed S-NSSAI is allocated to the UE; storing, in the HSS, the temporary UE usage type in addition to the subscribed UE usage type; and, when providing the UE usage type to a mobility management entity (MME), if the HSS has a stored temporary UE usage type, the HSS provides the temporary UE usage type.
However, Faccin fails to teach, suggest or disclose the unique features and limitations cited from the independent claims 1 and 7 filed on 04/05/2024, i.e., “A method for processing a network slice by a session management function and packet data network gateway control plane (SMF+PGW-C) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: identifying that a network slice admission control is supported in case of evolved packet core (EPC) interworking, wherein the network slice admission control is associated with at least one of a maximum number of user equipments (UEs) per network slice in EPC and a maximum number of protocol data unit (PDU) sessions per network slice in the EPC; and selecting, by the SMF+PGW-C, a single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) associated with a packet data network (PDN) connection during PDN connection establishment in the EPC, wherein the network slice is identified by the S-NSSAI.”
Secondly, Foti et al. (Pub. No. US 2024/0323708), at best, teaches a method for handling a quota(s) for a network slice that supports interworking between first and second cellular communications systems. The method comprises, at a first Network Function (NF), receiving a message associated to registration or attachment of a User Equipment (UE) with the first cellular communications system for a particular network slice that supports interworking, registration or attachment of the UE with the second cellular communications system for the particular network slice, establishment of a session in the first cellular communications system for the particular network slice, or establishment of a session in the second cellular communications system for the particular network slice. The method further comprises, at the first NF, determining that a quota check is needed and performing a procedure to check the quota for the particular network slice and, if needed, update an associated count.
The quota is a quota for a number of registered UEs for the particular network slice. The first cellular communications system is a Fifth Generation System (5GS), the second cellular communications system is an Evolved Packet System (EPS), and the first NF is a Unified Data Management (UDM) or a combined UDM/Home Subscriber Server (HSS). The method determines that a quota check for the quota is needed for the UE for the particular network slice comprises determining that the network slice supports interworking and is subject to the quota. The method determines that a quota check for the quota is needed for the UE for the particular network slice comprises determining that the UE has not already been counted in a number of UEs registered for the particular network slice. Prior to receiving the message, the UE was handed over from the first cellular communications system to the second cellular communications system or vice versa, and determining that a quota check for the quota is needed for the UE for the particular network slice comprises determining that the UE has not already been counted in a number of UEs registered for the particular network slice prior to being handed over. The associated count is not increased if the UE has already been counted in a number of UEs registered for the particular network slice.
However, Foti does not teach, suggest or disclose the unique features and limitations cited from the independent claims 1 and 7 filed on 04/05/2024.
Lastly, Takakura et al. (Pub. No. US 2022/0104065), at best, teaches the UE comprises at least one of a transmission unit and a reception unit, wherein the at least one of the transmission unit and the reception unit receives, from a core network, a protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment reject message including first identification information, the first identification information indicating behaviors of the UE after a first public land mobile network (PLMN) is changed. A controller does not stop, when the first PLMN is changed, a back-off timer for congestion management based on single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI), the back-off timer being activated in the first PLMN; and determines, based on the first identification information, whether initiation of a procedure for the S-NSSAI in a second PLMN is allowed after the first PLMN is changed.
Takakura does not teach, suggest or disclose the unique features and limitations cited from the independent claims 1 and 7 filed on 04/05/2024.
As such, the above references by taken alone or in combination, does/do not teach, suggest or disclose the unique features and limitations cited from the independent claims 1 and 7 filed on 04/05/2024 (and thus the dependent claims 2-6 and 8-12), i.e., “A method for processing a network slice by a session management function and packet data network gateway control plane (SMF+PGW-C) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: identifying that a network slice admission control is supported in case of evolved packet core (EPC) interworking, wherein the network slice admission control is associated with at least one of a maximum number of user equipments (UEs) per network slice in EPC and a maximum number of protocol data unit (PDU) sessions per network slice in the EPC; and selecting, by the SMF+PGW-C, a single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) associated with a packet data network (PDN) connection during PDN connection establishment in the EPC, wherein the network slice is identified by the S-NSSAI.”
Therefore, claims 1-12 are deemed allowed.
Conclusion
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/HUY C HO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2644