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 . The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions. 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 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.
Response to Remarks/Arguments
This communication is considered fully responsive to the Amendment filed on has ni.
The 35 USC § 102 rejection(s) of claim(s) 1, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 16, 18, and 19 is/are maintained.
Applicant’s arguments, see Remarks, filed 29 April 2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 16, 18, and 19 under 35 USC § 102 have been fully considered and are not persuasive. See below for detailed rejection.
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) 1, 12, 18, and 21is/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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Claim(s) 1, 12, 18, and 21 recite(s) the limitation "the first authentication server function”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12, 16, 18 and 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by U.S. Pre-Grant Publication US-20220408249-A1 to ZAMORA et al. (“ZAMORA”).
As to claim 1, ZAMORA disclose(s) an authentication method, comprising:
determining, by a first network function, first information from a third network function; (ZAMORA; Fig. 2 step 3 and 4 notifications using Authentication notification function; that requests authentication of a Communication device 400; [0049]; AUSF informs the UDM about authentication using function; [0041])
determining, by the first network function, a first mobility management function based on the first information; (ZAMORA; Fig. 2 step 5 discloses an authentication procedure based on the notification of step 3 and 4; [0051])
and sending, by the first network function, a first request to the first mobility management function, wherein the first network function and the third network function belong to a home network of user equipment, the first mobility management function belongs to a first serving network with which the user equipment is registered, and the first request requests the first mobility management function to perform a first authentication procedure on the user equipment.; (ZAMORA; Fig. 2 discloses home network; [0014]; and step 5 discloses an authentication; [0051] and is registered in the UDM; [0049])
and the third network function is at least one of: the first authentication server function, an authentication and key management for applications anchor function, or a third-party application function. (ZAMORA; authentication [0041])
As to claim 3, ZAMORA disclose(s) the method according to claim 1, wherein the first network function is a unified data management function. (ZAMORA; Fig. 2; UDM functions; [0040];[0041])
As to claim 5, ZAMORA disclose(s) the method according to claim 1, wherein after the sending, by the first network function, a the first request to the first mobility management function, the method further comprises:
receiving, by the first network function, third information from the first mobility management function, wherein the third information indicates that the first mobility management function has terminated or suspended the first authentication procedure initiated by the first network function. (ZAMORA; Fig. 2 step 6 results of procedure in operation 206, which indicate unsuccessful, i.e. terminated authentication; [0052])
As to claim 7, ZAMORA disclose(s) the method according to claim 1, wherein the first request carries an identifier of a first authentication server function, and the identifier of the first authentication server function is used by the first mobility management function to determine a second network function. (ZAMORA; Fig. 1 subscriber permanent identifier SUPI; [0041])
As to claim 9, ZAMORA disclose(s) the method according to claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, by the first mobility management function, the first request from the first network function; (ZAMORA; Fig. 2 step 3 and 4 notification using Authentication notification function; that requests authentication of a Communication device 400; [0049])
and determining, by the first mobility management function, a second network function after receiving the first request. (ZAMORA; Fig. 2 step 5 discloses an authentication procedure based on the notification of step 3 and 4; [0051])
As to claim 10, ZAMORA disclose(s) the method according to claim 9, wherein the first request carries an identifier of a first authentication server function, and the second network function is the first authentication server function. (ZAMORA; Fig. 1 subscriber permanent identifier SUPI; [0041]) (ZAMORA; Fig. 2 step 5 discloses an authentication procedure based on the notification of step 3 and 4; [0051])
As to claim 12, ZAMORA disclose(s) an apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor;
and at least one memory configured to store computer readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:
receive first information from a third network function;
determine a first mobility management function based on the first information, wherein the first mobility management function belongs to a first serving network with which user equipment is registered, and the third network function belongs to a home network of the user equipment;
and send a first request to the first mobility management function, wherein the first request requests the first mobility management function to perform a first authentication procedure on the user equipment, and the third network function is at least one of: the first authentication server function, an authentication and key management for applications anchor function, or a third-party application function.
See similar rejection to claim 1.
As to claim 16, ZAMORA disclose(s) the apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus is further caused to:
after sending the first request to the first mobility management function, receive third information from the first mobility management function, wherein the third information indicates that the first mobility management function has terminated or suspended the first authentication procedure initiated by the apparatus.
See similar rejection to claim 5.
As to claim 18, ZAMORA disclose(s) a communication apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor;
and at least one memory configured to store computer readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the communication apparatus to:
determine first information, wherein the first information is used to indicate a first network function to perform authentication on a user equipment; and send the first information to the first network function, wherein the first network function and the communication apparatus belong to a home network of the user equipment, and the communication apparatus is at least one of: the first authentication server function, an authentication and key management for applications anchor function, or a third-party application function (ZAMORA; Fig. 2 step 3 and 4 notification using Authentication notification function; that requests authentication of a Communication device 400; [0049] and Fig. 2 discloses home network; [0014]) (ZAMORA; Fig. 2 step 5 discloses an authentication procedure based on the notification of step 3 and 4; [0051])
See similar rejection to claim 1.
As to claim 19, ZAMORA disclose(s) the apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first network function is a unified data management function(ZAMORA; Fig. 2; UDM functions; [0040];[0041])
As to claim 21, ZAMORA disclose(s) a communication method, comprising: determining, by a third network function, first information, wherein the first information is used to indicate a first network function to perform authentication on a user equipment; and (ZAMORA; Fig. 2 step 3 and 4 notifications using Authentication notification function; that requests authentication of a Communication device 400; [0049]; AUSF informs the UDM about authentication using function; [0041])
sending, by the third network function, the first information to the first network function, wherein the first network function and the third network function belong to a home network of the user equipment, and (ZAMORA; Fig. 2 discloses home network; [0014]; and step 5 discloses an authentication; [0051] and is registered in the UDM; [0049])
the third network function is at least one of: the first authentication server function, an authentication and key management for applications anchor function, or a third-party application function. (ZAMORA; authentication [0041])
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 extension fee 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 BRYAN LEE whose telephone number is (571)270-5606. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.
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/BRYAN Y LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2445
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