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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDSs) submitted on 10/4/25, 8/12/25, 7/21/25, 4/3/25, 10/17/24. The submissions are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner.
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.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kahn et al (us 2023/0147094) (hereinafter Kahn) in view of Liu et al (us 2023/0370345) (hereinafter Liu).
As regarding claim 1, Kahn discloses receiving, by a first network element, a first message and a second message, wherein the first message is usable to subscribe to first data, and the second message is usable to subscribe to second data (see Kahn 0040-0042, 0048, DCCF receive data requests from data consumers, requests comprising first and second request, also see 0050, second request from second consumer); subscribing to, by the first network element, the first data from a second network element based on the first message (see Kahn DCCF send data subscription/request to the data source); determining, by the first network element, whether the second data can be obtained based on the first data (see Kahn 0040, 0050, determine that the requested data is already being collected from the source).
determining, by the first network element based on a determining result, whether to subscribe to third data from the second network element (see Kahn 0040, 0050, determine DCCF should send a subscription for data for the consumer 2).
Kahn is silent to the concept of the third data comprises all or a part of the second data.
Liu teaches the concept of the third data comprises all or a part of the second data (see Liu 0169, request second portion of data if only have the first portion of data for the request.
It would have been obvious to one with an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the teaching of Liu to Kahn because they're analogous art. A person would have been motivated to modify Kahn with Liu’s teaching for the purpose of efficiently satisfying and serving the request.
As regarding claim 2, Kahn-Liu discloses the receiving the first message includes receiving a first association identifier, and the subscribing to, by the first network element, the first data from a second network element includes: sending, by the first network element, a third message to the second network element, wherein the third message is usable to subscribe to the first data, and the third message includes a third association identifier (see Kahn 0040-0042, 0048); and the method further comprises: receiving, by the first network element, a first notification message from the second network element, wherein the first notification message includes the first data and the third association identifier (see Kahn 0050); determining, by the first network element based on a first relationship, that the third association identifier in the first notification message corresponds to the first association identifier, wherein the first relationship is a correspondence between the first association identifier and the third association identifier and sending, by the first network element, the first data based on the first association identifier (see Kahn 0050, 0063).
As regarding claim 3, Kahn-Liu discloses the determining based on the determining result includes determining is that the second data can be obtained based on the first data, the second message includes a second association identifier, and the method further comprises: determining, by the first network element, a first manner in which the second data is obtained based on the first data (see Kahn 0040, determine if data is currently being produce); determining, by the first network element based on a second relationship, that the third association identifier in the first notification message corresponds to the second association identifier and the first manner, wherein the second relationship is a correspondence between the second association identifier, the third association identifier, and the first manner and obtaining, by the first network element, the second data based on the first manner and the first data; and sending, by the first network element, the second data based on the second association identifier (see Kahn 0050, send data to second consumer).
As regarding claim 4, Kahn-Liu discloses the receiving the second message includes receiving a second association identifier, the second data includes a first part of data and a second part of data, and the determining based on the determining result includes determining that the first part of data can be obtained based on the first data, but the second part of data cannot be obtained based on the first data (see Kahn 0040, data not being currently collected); and the method further comprises: determining, by the first network element, a second manner in which the first part of data is obtained based on the first data; sending, by the first network element, a fourth message to the second network element, wherein the fourth message is usable to subscribe to the second part of data, and the fourth message includes a fourth association identifier (see Kahn 0040-0042, send second subscription request to the producer); determining, by the first network element based on a third relationship, that the fourth association identifier in the first notification message corresponds to the second association identifier, wherein the first notification message further includes the second part of data and the fourth association identifier, and the third relationship is a correspondence between the second association identifier and the fourth association identifier (see Kahn 0040-0042,0048,0050); determining, by the first network element based on a fourth relationship, that the third association identifier in the first notification message corresponds to the second association identifier and the second manner, wherein the fourth relationship is a correspondence between the second association identifier, the third association identifier, and the second manner (see Kahn 0040-0042,0048,0050); obtaining, by the first network element, the first part of data based on the second manner and the first data and sending, by the first network element, the first part of data and the second part of data based on the second association identifier (see Liu 0169, first portion and second portion of data send to requester). The same motivation was utilized in claim 1 applied equally well to claim 4.
As regarding claim 5, Kahn-Liu discloses the receiving the second message includes receiving a second association identifier, the second data includes a first part of data and a second part of data, and the determining based on the determining result includes determining that the first part of data can be obtained based on the first data, but the second part of data cannot be obtained based on the first data (see Kahn 0040, data not being currently collected); and the method further comprises: sending, by the first network element, a fifth message to the second network element based on the second message, wherein the fifth message is usable to subscribe to the second data from the second network element, and the fifth message included a fourth association identifier (see Kahn 0040-0042,0048,0050); determining, by the first network element, a second manner in which the first part of data is obtained based on the first data; determining, by the first network element based on a third relationship, that the fourth association identifier in the first notification message corresponds to the second association identifier, wherein the first notification message further include the second part of data and the fourth association identifier, and the third relationship is a correspondence between the second association identifier and the fourth association identifier (see Kahn 0040-0042,0048,0050); determining, by the first network element based on a fourth relationship, that the third association identifier in the first notification message corresponds to the second association identifier and the second manner, wherein the fourth relationship is a correspondence between the second association identifier, the third association identifier, and the second manner (see Kahn 0040-0042,0048,0050); obtaining, by the first network element, the first part of data based on the second manner and the first data and sending, by the first network element, the first part of data and the second part of data based on the second association identifier (see Liu 0169, first portion and second portion of data send to requester). The same motivation was utilized in claim 1 applied equally well to claim 5.
As regarding claim 6, Kahn-Liu discloses sending, by the first network element, the third message includes using the third message to unsubscribe from the first part of data from the second network element (see Kahn 0040, cancelled data collection).
As regarding claim 7, Kahn-Liu discloses the receiving the first message includes receiving a first association identifier, and the subscribing to, by the first network element, the first data from a second network element includes: sending, by the first network element, a third message to the second network element, wherein the third message is usable to subscribe to the first data from the second network element, and the third message includes a third association identifier and an identifier of a third network element; and the method further comprises: sending, by the first network element, a first relationship to the third network element, wherein the first relationship is a correspondence between the first association identifier and the third association identifier (see Kahn 0040-0042,0048,0050,0063).
As regarding claim 8, Kahn-Liu discloses the receiving the second message receiving a second association identifier, and the determining based on the determining includes determining that the second data can be obtained based on the first data, and the method further comprises: determining, by the first network element, a first manner in which the second data is obtained based on the first data; and sending, by the first network element, a second relationship to the third network element, wherein the second relationship is a correspondence between the second association identifier, the third association identifier, and the first manner (see Kahn 0040-0042, 0048, 0050, 0063).
As regarding claim 9, Kahn-Liu discloses the receiving the second message includes receiving a second association identifier, the second data includes a first part of data and a second part of data, and the determining based on the determining result includes determining that the first part of data can be obtained based on the first data, but the second part of data cannot be obtained based on the first data; and the method further comprises (see Kahn 0040, data not being currently collected): determining, by the first network element, a second manner in which the first part of data is obtained based on the first data; sending, by the first network element, a fourth message to the second network element, wherein the fourth message is usable to subscribe to the second part of data, and the fourth message includes a fourth association identifier; and sending, by the first network element, a third relationship and a fourth relationship to the third network element, wherein the third relationship is a correspondence between the second association identifier and the fourth association identifier, and the fourth relationship is a correspondence between the second association identifier, the third association identifier, and the second manner (see Kahn 0040-0042,0048,0050,0063).
As regarding claim 10, Kahn-Liu discloses receiving the second message includes receiving a second association identifier, the second data includes a first part of data and a second part of data, and the determining based on the determining result includes determining that the first part of data can be obtained based on the first data, but the second part of data cannot be obtained based on the first data; and the method further comprises (see Liu 0169, request second portion of data if only have the first portion of data for the request): sending, by the first network element, a fifth message to the second network element based on the second message, wherein the fifth message is usable to subscribe to the second data from the second network element, and the fifth message includes a fourth association identifier; determining, by the first network element, a second manner in which the first part of data is obtained based on the first data; and sending, by the first network element, a third relationship and a fourth relationship to the third network element, wherein the third relationship is a correspondence between the second association identifier and the fourth association identifier, and the fourth relationship is a correspondence between the second association identifier, the third association identifier, and the second manner (see Liu 0169, request second portion of data if only have the first portion of data for the request). The same motivation was utilized in claim 1 applied equally well to claim 10.
As regarding claim 11, Kahn-Liu discloses the sending the third message includes using the third message to unsubscribe from the first part of data from the second network element (see Kahn 0040, cancelled data collection).
As regarding claim 12, Kahn-Liu discloses the method further comprises: sending, by the first network element, a fifth message to the second network element based on the second message, wherein the fifth message is usable to subscribe to the second data from the second network element, and the fifth message includes a fourth association identifier and the third message is usable to unsubscribe from the second data from the second network element (see Kahn 0040, cancelled data collection).
As regarding claim 13, Kahn-Liu discloses the receiving the first message further includes receiving a plurality of data types associated with the first data, a plurality of reporting conditions, and a logical relationship between the plurality of reporting conditions, and the plurality of data types are in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of reporting conditions and the method further comprises: in response to the logical relationship being met, receiving, by the first network element, the first data from the second network element (see Kahn 0040-0042,0048,0050).
As regarding claim 14, Kahn-Liu discloses the receiving the first network element includes receiving a data collection coordination function network element, the second network element is a user plane function network element, and the third network element is a messaging framework adaptor function network element and the receiving, by a first network element, the first message and the second message includes: receiving, by the first network element, the first message from a first network data analytics function network element, and receiving the second message from a second network data analytics function network element (see Kahn 0040-0042,0048,0050).
As regarding claim 15, Kahn-Liu discloses the subscribing to the first data includes subscribing to the first data having a data granularity less than a data granularity of the second data (see Kahn 0078).
As regarding claims 16-20, limitations of claims 16-20 are similar to limitations of rejected claim 1-15 above, therefore rejected for the same rationale.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DUYEN MY DOAN whose telephone number is (571)272-4226. The examiner can normally be reached (571)272-4226.
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, Tonia Dollinger can be reached at (571)272-4170. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/DUYEN M DOAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2459