Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Objections
2. Claims 1-2 are objected to because of the following informalities:
a) Claims 1-2 are using “in a case that” statement which is a conditional language and will not be given a patentable weight. Examiner is suggesting to replace “in a case that” with “when”;
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
3. 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) Claims 1-2 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by WATFA (US 2021/0368339 A1).
As per claim 1, WATFA discloses a User Equipment (UE) (¶165, UE) comprising: a controller (¶165, controller); and a storage unit (¶165, storage device), wherein in a case that the UE successfully registers with a new Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) not included in a list of equivalent PLMNs (¶135 and table 5, UE successfully registers with a new PLMN) different from current PLMN and any equivalent PLMNs (therefore not in the list)), and that the UE is not registered with a current PLMN over another access type (¶135 and table 5, and the UE is not registered with the current PLMN over another access), the controller deletes, from the storage unit, pending Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (NSSAI) for the current PLMN and pending NSSAI for equivalent PLMNs of the current PLMN (¶135 and table 5, the pending NSSAI for the current PLMN and equivalent PLMNs shall be deleted).
As per claim 2, WATFA discloses a communication control method performed by a User Equipment (UE), the communication control method (table 5, communication method performed by the UE) comprising: in a case that the UE successfully registers with a new Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) not included in a list of equivalent PLMNs (¶135 and table 5, UE successfully registers with a new PLMN) different from current PLMN and any equivalent PLMNs (therefore not in the list)), and that the UE is not registered with a current PLMN over another access type (¶135 and table 5, and the UE is not registered with the current PLMN over another access), deleting, from the UE, pending Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (NSSAI) for the current PLMN and pending NSSAI for equivalent PLMNs of the current PLMN (¶135 and table 5, the pending NSSAI for the current PLMN and equivalent PLMNs shall be deleted from the UE).
B) Claims 1-2 are also rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by
MediaTek Inc., "Removal of pending NSSAI if NSSAA not successfully completed", C1-216641, 3GPP TSG-CT WG1 Meeting #133-e E-meeting, 11-19 November 2021, hereinafter 3GPP.
As per claim 1, 3GPP discloses a User Equipment (UE) (page 6, UE) comprising: a controller (page 6, UE has processor or controller); and a storage unit (page 6, UE has memory or storage), wherein in a case that the UE successfully registers with a new Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) not included in a list of equivalent PLMNs (page 6, UE successfully registers with a new PLMN) different from current PLMN and any equivalent PLMNs (therefore not in the list)), and that the UE is not registered with a current PLMN over another access type (page 6, and the UE is not registered with the current PLMN over another access), the controller deletes, from the storage unit, pending Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (NSSAI) for the current PLMN and pending NSSAI for equivalent PLMNs of the current PLMN (page 6, the rejected NSSAI for the current PLMN and the rejected NSSAI for the failed or revoked NSSAA shall be deleted and the UE shall delete the stored pending NSSAI, if any, for this PLMN or SNPN and its equivalent PLMN(s)).
As per claim 2, 3GPP discloses a communication control method performed by a User Equipment (UE), the communication control method (page 6, method performed by the UE) comprising: in a case that the UE successfully registers with a new Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) not included in a list of equivalent PLMNs (page 6, UE successfully registers with a new PLMN) different from current PLMN and any equivalent PLMNs (therefore not in the list)), and that the UE is not registered with a current PLMN over another access type (page 6, and the UE is not registered with the current PLMN over another access), deleting, from the UE, pending Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (NSSAI) for the current PLMN and pending NSSAI for equivalent PLMNs of the current PLMN (page 6, the rejected NSSAI for the current PLMN and the rejected NSSAI for the failed or revoked NSSAA shall be deleted and the UE shall delete the stored pending NSSAI, if any, for this PLMN or SNPN and its equivalent PLMN(s)).
Conclusion
4. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FARIDEH MADANI whose telephone number is (571)272-1249. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday; 9 AM to 5 PM EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, JINSONG HU can be reached at 5712723965. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/FARIDEH MADANI/Examiner, Art Unit 2643
/JINSONG HU/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2643