DETAILED ACTION
This action is in response to the amendment filed 3/11/2026. Claims 1-20 are pending. Claims 2-4, 10-11, 13-17 and 20 have been amended.
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 Amendment
In response to the amendment filed 3/11/2026: Applicant has amended the specification, and the corresponding objections have been withdrawn.
Applicant has amended the claims, and the corresponding rejections have been altered to address the amended language.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 3/11/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues with regards to claim:
“However, Chen fails to disclose or suggest an activator node which is caused to "transmit at least a first activation signal of a plurality of activation signals to the at least one device based on the repetition information, the first activation signal causing the at least one device to transmit a responsive signal to at least one reader node," (emphases added) as required by original claim 1. In the Office Action, the Examiner alleges that the terminal device of Chen is the equivalent of the "activator node" of claim 1, and the access network device of Chen is the equivalent of the "device" of claim 1. However, the Examiner fails to identify any component of Chen which is the equivalent of the "reader node," of claim 1. Applicants further submit that Chen fails to disclose or suggest a reader node, and as clearly shown in at least Fig. 2A of Chen (reproduced above), the method in Chen only consists of two devices communicating with each other, the terminal device and the access network device. Chen does not disclose or suggest that the terminal device transmits a first activation signal to the access network device, which causes the access network device to transmit the responsive signal to a node different from the terminal device. Instead, Chen clearly discloses that the access network device transmits its responsive message directly to the terminal device. Accordingly, Chen fails to disclose or suggest at least the above features of claim 1.”
Examiner respectfully disagrees. In response to applicant's argument that the references fail to show certain features of the invention, it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., “different” nodes) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993). Examiner is relying upon the terminal device of Chen to show both the activator node and the reader node. As shown in the rejections of claims 1, 12 and 19, the terminal device of Chen performs the required functionality of both the activator node and the reader node, and there is no requirement in the limitations of the claims that prevent the activator node and reader node being taught by the same device.
All other arguments presented by Applicant either repeat or rely upon the issues addressed above, and are also not persuasive for the reasons given above.
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.
Claims 1, 12 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Chen (US 2022/0159458 A1), published May 19, 2022.
As to claim 1, Chen discloses an activator node (Chen Fig. 2B terminal device), comprising: a memory storing computer readable instructions (Chen Fig. 5 item 502 memory; [0191] memory storing software program); and processing circuitry configured to execute the computer readable instructions (Chen Fig. 5 item 501; [0191] execution by processor) to cause the activator node to, obtain an authentication configuration associated with at least one device (Chen Fig. 2B access network device; Fig. 2B item 203 first time window information; [0129]-[0130] obtained from decoding response message), the authentication configuration including repetition information, the repetition information including at least one of a repetition number parameter and a repetition delay parameter (Chen Fig. 2B item 203 first time window information; [0131] time window within which to expect a response from access network device); and transmit at least a first activation signal of a plurality of activation signals (Chen Fig. 2B item 201, 206) to the at least one device based on the repetition information (Chen Fig. 2B item 206; [0163] prompt to send second authentication request response due to response being outside of window), the first activation signal causing the at least one device to transmit a responsive signal to at least one reader node (Chen Fig. 2B item 207; [0164] terminal receives second authentication request response).
As to claim 12, Chen discloses a reader node (Chen Fig. 2B terminal device), comprising: a memory storing computer readable instructions (Chen Fig. 5 item 502 memory; [0191] memory storing software program); and processing circuitry configured to execute the computer readable instructions Chen Fig. 5 item 501; [0191] execution by processor) to cause the reader node to, obtain authentication configuration associated with at least one device (Chen Fig. 2B access network device; Fig. 2B item 203 first time window information; [0129]-[0130] obtained from decoding response message), the authentication configuration including at least one of a repetition number parameter and a repetition delay parameter (Chen Fig. 2B item 203 first time window information; [0131] time window within which to expect a response from access network device); determine whether at least one responsive signal is received from the at least one device in response to a first activation signal transmitted to the at least one device by an activator node (Chen Fig. 2B item 206; [0163] prompt to send second authentication request response due to response being outside of window; Fig. 2B item 207; [0164] terminal receives second authentication request response); and determine whether the at least one device is authentic based on results of the determination of whether the at least one responsive signal was received and the authentication configuration (Chen Fig. 2B items 209-210; [0170]-[0172] terminal determines if response falls within defined time window, if so, access device is legal).
As to claim 19, Chen discloses a method (Chen [Abstract]) of operating an activator node comprising: obtaining authentication configuration associated with at least one device, the authentication configuration including repetition information (Chen Fig. 2B access network device; Fig. 2B item 203 first time window information; [0129]-[0130] obtained from decoding response message), the repetition information including at least one of a repetition number parameter and a repetition delay parameter (Chen Fig. 2B item 203 first time window information; [0131] time window within which to expect a response from access network device); and transmitting at least a first activation signal of a plurality of activation signals (Chen Fig. 2B item 201, 206) to the at least one device based on the repetition information (Chen Fig. 2B item 206; [0163] prompt to send second authentication request response due to response being outside of window), the first activation signal causing the at least one device to transmit a responsive signal to at least one reader node (Chen Fig. 2B item 207; [0164] terminal receives second authentication request response).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 of this title, 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.
Claim 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen (US 2022/0159458 A1), published May 19, 2022, in view of Lei (US 2024/0121772 A1), filed Jan. 29, 2022.
As to claim 10, Chen substantially discloses the invention as claimed as described in claim 1, including transmitting at least one second activation signal (Chen Fig. 2B items 201 and 206). Chen fails to explicitly disclose the authentication configuration includes a set of carrier indexes for transmission of the plurality of activation signals to the at least one device; and the activator node is further caused to transmit at least one signal to the at least one device according to the set of carrier indexes. Lei describes cross-carrier channel repetition transmission methods. With this in mind, Lei disclose a set of carrier indexes for transmission of the plurality of activation signals to the at least one device (Lei [0039] having UE determine carrier based on carrier index bit and perform repetition transmissions); and the activator node is further caused to transmit at least one signal to the at least one device according to the set of carrier indexes (Lei [0039] having UE determine carrier based on carrier index bit and perform repetition transmissions). It would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains to combine the carrier switching of Lei with the authentication repetition transmission of Chen, such that prior to authentication request transmission a device determines the appropriate carrier, as it would advantageously allow for IoT devices to perform carrier switching to maintain connectivity instead of unsupported satellite beam switching (Lei [0003]-[0004]).
Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen (US 2022/0159458 A1), published May 19, 2022, in view of Gitlin et al. (US 2019/0313225 A1), published Oct. 10, 2019.
As to claim 11, Chen substantially discloses the invention as claimed as described in claim 1, including transmitting at least one second activation signal (Chen Fig. 2B items 201 and 206). Chen fails to explicitly disclose the authentication configuration includes a set of transmission power levels for transmission of the plurality of activation signals to the at least one device; and the activator node is further caused to transmit at least one signal to the at least one device according to the set of transmission power levels. Gitlin describes an IoT gateway servicing multiple IoT devices. With this in mind, Gitlin discloses a set of transmission power levels for transmission of the plurality of activation signals to the at least one device (Gitlin [0008] receive number of optimum power levels at IoT devices); and the activator node is further caused to transmit at least one signal to the at least one device according to the set of transmission power levels (Gitlin [0008] IoT devices proceed to transmit using selected optimum power level). It would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains to combine the power level selection of Gitlin with the authentication repetition transmission of Chen, such that an optimum power level configuration is provided/selected for transmission, as it would advantageously assist in connection amongst a large number of IoT devices (Gitlin [0004]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-9, 13-14 and 20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claim 2, the prior art of record fails to disclose or fairly suggest, in combination, an activator node obtaining an authentication repetition configuration for a device, the configuration having a repetition number parameter or a repetition delay parameter, and transmitting an activation signal of a plurality of activation signals to the device based on the repetition configuration causing the device to transmit a responsive signal to a reader node, as described in claim 1, wherein the repetition information is required to have a repetition number parameter that is a fixed number of repetitions, in the specific manner and combination as recited in claim 2.
Regarding claim 3, the prior art of record fails to disclose or fairly suggest, in combination, an activator node obtaining an authentication repetition configuration for a device, the configuration having a repetition number parameter or a repetition delay parameter, and transmitting an activation signal of a plurality of activation signals to the device based on the repetition configuration causing the device to transmit a responsive signal to a reader node, as described in claim 1, wherein the repetition information is required to have a repetition number parameter that is a pseudo-random number of repetitions, in the specific manner and combination as recited in claim 3.
Regarding claim 4, the prior art of record fails to disclose or fairly suggest, in combination, an activator node obtaining an authentication repetition configuration for a device, the configuration having a repetition number parameter or a repetition delay parameter, and transmitting an activation signal of a plurality of activation signals to the device based on the repetition configuration causing the device to transmit a responsive signal to a reader node, as described in claim 1, wherein the repetition information is required to have a repetition number parameter that is a seed value for determining a pseudo-random number of repetitions, in the specific manner and combination as recited in claim 4.
Regarding claim 5, the prior art of record fails to disclose or fairly suggest, in combination, an activator node obtaining an authentication repetition configuration for a device, the configuration having a repetition number parameter or a repetition delay parameter, and transmitting an activation signal of a plurality of activation signals to the device based on the repetition configuration causing the device to transmit a responsive signal to a reader node, as described in claim 1, wherein the device is one of multiple IoT devices and a different pseudo-random number of repetitions are determined for each device, in the specific manner and combination as recited in claim 5.
Regarding claim 6, the prior art of record fails to disclose or fairly suggest, in combination, an activator node obtaining an authentication repetition configuration for a device, the configuration having a repetition number parameter or a repetition delay parameter, and transmitting an activation signal of a plurality of activation signals to the device based on the repetition configuration causing the device to transmit a responsive signal to a reader node, as described in claim 1, wherein the repetition information is required to have a repetition delay parameter that is a fixed delay period between transmissions of the plurality of activation signals sent to the device, in the specific manner and combination as recited in claim 6.
Regarding claim 7, the prior art of record fails to disclose or fairly suggest, in combination, an activator node obtaining an authentication repetition configuration for a device, the configuration having a repetition number parameter or a repetition delay parameter, and transmitting an activation signal of a plurality of activation signals to the device based on the repetition configuration causing the device to transmit a responsive signal to a reader node, as described in claim 1, wherein the repetition information is required to have a repetition delay parameter that is a pseudo-random delay period between transmissions of the plurality of activation signals sent to the device, in the specific manner and combination as recited in claim 7.
Regarding claim 8, the prior art of record fails to disclose or fairly suggest, in combination, an activator node obtaining an authentication repetition configuration for a device, the configuration having a repetition number parameter or a repetition delay parameter, and transmitting an activation signal of a plurality of activation signals to the device based on the repetition configuration causing the device to transmit a responsive signal to a reader node, as described in claim 1, wherein the repetition information is required to have a repetition delay parameter that is a seed value for determining a pseudo-random delay period between transmissions of the plurality of activation signals sent to the device, in the specific manner and combination as recited in claim 8.
Regarding claim 9, the prior art of record fails to disclose or fairly suggest, in combination, an activator node obtaining an authentication repetition configuration for a device, the configuration having a repetition number parameter or a repetition delay parameter, and transmitting an activation signal of a plurality of activation signals to the device based on the repetition configuration causing the device to transmit a responsive signal to a reader node, as described in claim 1, wherein the activator node receives from a reader node an indication that the device is not authenticated and disables transmissions to the device in response, in the specific manner and combination as recited in claim 9.
Regarding claim 13, the prior art of record fails to disclose or fairly suggest, in combination, a reader node obtaining an authentication repetition configuration for a device, the configuration having a repetition number parameter or a repetition delay parameter, determining if a response signal is received form the device in response to an activation signal transmitted to the device from an activator node, and whether the device is authentic based on the authentication repetition configuration and the response signal, as described in claim 1, wherein the repetition information is required to have a repetition number parameter that defines a number of repetitions for transmission of activation signals, and the reader node determines whether the device is authentic based on the number of response signals matching the number of repetitions in the authentication repetition configuration, in the specific manner and combination as recited in claim 13.
Regarding claim 14, the prior art of record fails to disclose or fairly suggest, in combination, a reader node obtaining an authentication repetition configuration for a device, the configuration having a repetition number parameter or a repetition delay parameter, determining if a response signal is received form the device in response to an activation signal transmitted to the device from an activator node, and whether the device is authentic based on the authentication repetition configuration and the response signal, as described in claim 1, wherein the repetition information is required to have a repetition delay parameter that defines a delay period between transmissions of activation signals, and the reader node determines whether the device is authentic based on the elapsed time between each response signal matching the delay period of repetitions in the authentication repetition configuration, in the specific manner and combination as recited in claim 14.
Regarding claim 15, the prior art of record fails to disclose or fairly suggest, in combination, a reader node obtaining an authentication repetition configuration for a device, the configuration having a repetition number parameter or a repetition delay parameter, determining if a response signal is received form the device in response to an activation signal transmitted to the device from an activator node, and whether the device is authentic based on the authentication repetition configuration and the response signal, as described in claim 1, wherein the repetition information is required to have a fixed or pseudo-random repetition delay parameter that defines a delay period between transmissions of activation signals, in the specific manner and combination as recited in claim 15.
Regarding claim 16, the prior art of record fails to disclose or fairly suggest, in combination, a reader node obtaining an authentication repetition configuration for a device, the configuration having a repetition number parameter or a repetition delay parameter, determining if a response signal is received form the device in response to an activation signal transmitted to the device from an activator node, and whether the device is authentic based on the authentication repetition configuration and the response signal, as described in claim 1, wherein the authentication repetition configuration includes a set of carrier indexes, and the reader node determines whether the device is authentic based on the carrier indexes of the response signals and the set of carrier indexes, in the specific manner and combination as recited in claim 16.
Regarding claim 17, the prior art of record fails to disclose or fairly suggest, in combination, a reader node obtaining an authentication repetition configuration for a device, the configuration having a repetition number parameter or a repetition delay parameter, determining if a response signal is received form the device in response to an activation signal transmitted to the device from an activator node, and whether the device is authentic based on the authentication repetition configuration and the response signal, as described in claim 1, wherein the authentication repetition configuration includes a set of transmission power levels, and the reader node determines whether the device is authentic based on the reception power level of the response signals and the set of power levels, in the specific manner and combination as recited in claim 17.
Regarding claim 18, the prior art of record fails to disclose or fairly suggest, in combination, a reader node obtaining an authentication repetition configuration for a device, the configuration having a repetition number parameter or a repetition delay parameter, determining if a response signal is received form the device in response to an activation signal transmitted to the device from an activator node, and whether the device is authentic based on the authentication repetition configuration and the response signal, as described in claim 1, including where the reader node transmits an authentication message to the activator node indicating authentication results, in the specific manner and combination as recited in claim 18.
Regarding claim 20, the prior art of record fails to disclose or fairly suggest, in combination, a method of operating an activator node by obtaining an authentication repetition configuration for a device, the configuration having a repetition number parameter or a repetition delay parameter, and transmitting an activation signal of a plurality of activation signals to the device based on the repetition configuration causing the device to transmit a responsive signal to a reader node, as described in claim 19, wherein the repetition information is required to have a repetition number parameter that is a number of repetitions for transmission of the activation signal, and the repetition information is required to have the repetition delay parameter which defines a delay period between transmissions, in the specific manner and combination as recited in claim 20.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Burgess et al. (US 2023/0057574 A1) is related to IoT continuous real-time authentication.
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 ERIC W SHEPPERD whose telephone number is (571)270-5654. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday, Alt. Friday, 7:30AM - 5:00PM, EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Rupal Dharia can be reached at (571)272-3880. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ERIC W SHEPPERD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2492
ERIC W. SHEPPERD
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2492
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