DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present U.S. non-provisional application is being examined under the first-inventor-to-file provisions of the AIA . The present U.S. non-provisional application, filed on July 31, 2024, is the U.S. national stage of an international PCT application, filed on February 14, 2022.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on October 11, 2024 and November 12, 2025 were filed before the mailing date of a first Office action in the present U.S. non-provisional application, in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements have been considered by the examiner.
Response to Amendment
This Office action is responsive to the preliminary amendment under 37 CFR 1.115 on June 31, 2024. Claims 1-40 were canceled. Claims 41-60 were added. Claims 41-60 are pending for consideration in the present U.S. non-provisional application.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 46, 50 and 55 would be considered as allowable if rewritten into independent form to include all of the limitations of the respective base claim and any intervening claims. The claimed invention is neither anticipated by the prior art of record, nor considered as obvious in view thereof to a person having ordinary skill in the art.
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, 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 41-45, 47-49, 51-54 and 56-60 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as unpatentable over Van Oost et al. (US 2023/0284011 A1) in view of Chen et al. (US 2022/0232466 A1).
41. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause (Van Oost, FIG. 3) the apparatus at least to:
obtain, from a terminal device, an address generation mode indication, the address generation mode indication indicative of an address information of the terminal device being generated in a static mode or a dynamic mode (Van Oost, paras. [0019], [0020], “…In one embodiment, if an AP detects that the MAC address of an associated STA is a locally administered one (i.e., if bit 1 of the EUI-48 MAC address has been set to “1”), implying that the STA uses a random or non-static MAC address in the Probe Request frame, the AP may force the STA to send a Probe Request frame by issuing an 802.11k BRM request message in active mode. The Probe Request frame sent by the STA at this time can be identified as originating from the target STA by the receiving AP without using the STA’s MAC address provided in the Probe Request frame. An AP may implement various techniques to identify if the originator of a Probe Request frame is the target STA, such as, but not limited to, by making use of the SSID in the Probe Request frame, the type of Probe Request frame (broadcast or unicast), the arrival timing of the Probe Request frame, and even the capabilities announced in the Probe Request frame as they must at least partially reflect the already known capability information of the STA for which capability discovery is triggered.” emphasis added.);
receive, from the terminal device, a probe request message comprising the address information of the terminal device (Van Oost, paras. [0019], [0020], “…In one embodiment, if an AP detects that the MAC address of an associated STA is a locally administered one (i.e., if bit 1 of the EUI-48 MAC address has been set to “1”), implying that the STA uses a random or non-static MAC address in the Probe Request frame, the AP may force the STA to send a Probe Request frame by issuing an 802.11k BRM request message in active mode. The Probe Request frame sent by the STA at this time can be identified as originating from the target STA by the receiving AP without using the STA’s MAC address provided in the Probe Request frame…” emphasis added. Id.);
determine a service set identifier, SSID, for the terminal device based, at least in part, on the address information (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], “In some embodiments of this application, the wireless communications module sends information such as a probe request frame that carries a device MAC address or a random MAC address of the terminal to the AP, and receives information such as a service set identifier (service set identifier, SSID) and a basic service set identifier (basic service set identifier, BSSID) sent by the AP. […] During active scanning, on each channel, the STA sends a probe request (probe request) frame to request the AP to respond. When the probe request frame is sent, carried information includes a MAC address of the STA. and the like. After receiving the probe request frame, the AP sends a probe response (probe response) frame to give a reply response. The probe response frame includes information such as the SSID and the BSSID of the AP.” emphasis added.); and
associate the SSID with the address information (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], “…During active scanning, on each channel, the STA sends a probe request (probe request) frame to request the AP to respond. When the probe request frame is sent, carried information includes a MAC address of the STA. and the like. After receiving the probe request frame, the AP sends a probe response (probe response) frame to give a reply response. The probe response frame includes information such as the SSID and the BSSID of the AP.” emphasis added. Id.)
Van Oost et al. may not seem to describe the identical claimed invention, however in the same field of endeavor, Chen et al. provides prior art disclosure for the claimed invention, such as determine a service set identifier, SSID, for the terminal device based, at least in part, on the address information (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], Id.) The prior art disclosure and suggestions of Chen et al. are for reasons of resolving the technical problem of tracking the device MAC address (Chen, paras. [0002], [0087], “…According to the foregoing methods, a virtual MAC address is used to replace a device MAC address to identify a terminal device, and the virtual MAC address is different from the device MAC address. This resolves a technical problem that the device MAC address of the terminal can be tracked through a local area network.”) In view of the prior art of record, the claimed invention 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, for reasons of resolving the technical problem of tracking the device MAC address.
42. The apparatus of claim 41, further configured to obtain the address generation mode indication by: negotiating an address generation mode with the terminal device (Van Oost, paras. [0019], [0020], Id.); and determining the address generation mode indication based on the negotiated address generation mode (Van Oost, paras. [0019], [0020], Id.)
43. The apparatus of claim 41, further configured to obtain the address generation mode indication by: receiving capability information from the terminal device (Van Oost, paras. [0019], [0020], Id.); and obtaining the address generation mode indication based on the capability information (Van Oost, paras. [0019], [0020], Id.)
44. The apparatus of claim 41, further configured to determine the SSID for the terminal device based, at least in part, on the address information by: generating the SSID based on the address information and the address generation mode indication (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], Id.)
45. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the address generation mode indication indicates a static mode (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], Id.); and wherein the apparatus is further configured to associate the SSID with the address information by: obtaining a medium access control, MAC, address comprised in the address information (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], Id.); and associating the SSID with the MAC address (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], Id.)
47. The apparatus of claim 41, further configured to determine the SSID for the terminal device at least in part based on the address information by: in accordance with a determination that the probe request message comprises an existing SSID, determining whether the existing SSID is associated with the address information (Chen, paras. [0169], [0206], “…The terminal sends the probe request frame that carries the second random MAC address and the information about the SSID 1 to the AP 1…”); and in accordance with a determination that the existing SSID is associated with the address information, determining the existing SSID as the SSID (Chen, paras. [0169], [0206], Id.)
48. The apparatus of claim 41, further configured to determine the SSID for the terminal device at least in part based on the address information by: determining whether an existing SSID is associated with the address information (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], Id.); and in accordance with a determination that the existing SSID is associated with the address information, determining the existing SSID as the SSID (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], Id.)
49. The apparatus of claim 41, further configured to: store an association between the SSID and the address information at the apparatus (Chen, paras. [0169], [0206], Id.)
51. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause (Van Oost, FIG. 3, Id.) the apparatus at least to:
determine an address generation mode indication to be transmitted to a network device in a network, the address generation mode indication indicative of an address information of the apparatus being generated in a static mode or a dynamic mode (Van Oost, paras. [0019], [0020], Id.);
transmit, to the network device, a probe request message comprising the address information of the apparatus (Van Oost, paras. [0019], [0020], Id. cf. Claim 41); and
receive a probe response message comprising a service set identifier, SSID, the SSID being determined by the network device based, at least in part, on the address information (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], Id.)
Van Oost et al. may not seem to describe the identical claimed invention, however in the same field of endeavor, Chen et al. provides prior art disclosure for the claimed invention, such as receive a probe response message comprising a service set identifier, SSID, the SSID being determined by the network device based, at least in part, on the address information (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], Id.) The prior art disclosure and suggestions of Chen et al. are for reasons of resolving the technical problem of tracking the device MAC address (Chen, paras. [0002], [0087], Id.) In view of the prior art of record, the claimed invention 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, for reasons of resolving the technical problem of tracking the device MAC address.
52. The apparatus of claim 51, further configured to: in response to receiving the probe response message, access the network using the SSID comprised in the probe response message (Chen, paras. [0169], [0206], Id.)
53. The apparatus of claim 51, further configured to determine the address generation mode indication by: negotiating an address generation mode with the network device (Van Oost, paras. [0019], [0020], Id.); and determining the address generation mode indication based on the negotiated address generation mode (Van Oost, paras. [0019], [0020], Id. cf. Claim 42).
54. The apparatus of claim 51, further configured to: transmit capability information to the network device, the capability information comprising the address generation mode indication (Van Oost, paras. [0019], [0020], Id. cf. Claim 43).
56. The apparatus of claim 52, further configured to transmit the probe request message by: transmitting the probe request message comprising a medium access control, MAC, address of the apparatus (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], Id.)
57. The apparatus of claim 52, further configured to transmit the probe request message by: transmitting the probe request message comprising an existing SSID of the apparatus (Chen, paras. [0169], [0206], Id.)
58. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the apparatus is a terminal device (Van Oost, FIG. 3).
59. A method comprising:
obtaining, by a network device and from a terminal device, an address generation mode indication, the address generation mode indication indicating that an address information of the terminal device is generated in a static mode or a dynamic mode (Van Oost, paras. [0019], [0020], Id.);
receiving, from the terminal device, a probe request message comprising the address information of the terminal device (Van Oost, paras. [0019], [0020], Id.);
determining a service set identifier, SSID, for the terminal device based, at least in part, on the address information (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], Id.); and
associating the SSID with the address information (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], Id. cf. Claim 41).
Van Oost et al. may not seem to describe the identical claimed invention, however in the same field of endeavor, Chen et al. provides prior art disclosure for the claimed invention, such as determining a service set identifier, SSID, for the terminal device based, at least in part, on the address information (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], Id.) The prior art disclosure and suggestions of Chen et al. are for reasons of resolving the technical problem of tracking the device MAC address (Chen, paras. [0002], [0087], Id.) In view of the prior art of record, the claimed invention 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, for reasons of resolving the technical problem of tracking the device MAC address.
60. A method comprising:
determining, by a terminal device, an address generation mode indication to be transmitted to a network device in a network, the address generation mode indication indicating that an address information of the apparatus is generated in a static mode or a dynamic mode (Van Oost, paras. [0019], [0020], Id.);
transmitting, to the network device, a probe request message comprising the address information of the terminal device (Van Oost, paras. [0019], [0020], Id.); and
receiving a probe response message comprising a service set identifier, SSID, the SSID being determined by the network device based, at least in part, on the address information (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], Id. cf. Claim 51).
Van Oost et al. may not seem to describe the identical claimed invention, however in the same field of endeavor, Chen et al. provides prior art disclosure for the claimed invention, such as receiving a probe response message comprising a service set identifier, SSID, the SSID being determined by the network device based, at least in part, on the address information (Chen, paras. [0124], [0169], Id.) The prior art disclosure and suggestions of Chen et al. are for reasons of resolving the technical problem of tracking the device MAC address (Chen, paras. [0002], [0087], Id.) In view of the prior art of record, the claimed invention 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, for reasons of resolving the technical problem of tracking the device MAC address.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record (PTO-1449, PTO-892) and not relied upon is considered pertinent to the subject matter of the present U.S. non-provisional application.
Rose et al. (US 2016/0050559 A1) provides prior art disclosure considered as relevant to the subject matter of the claimed invention (Rose, Abstract, “An approach is provided for a wireless mobile device that includes a processor, a wireless adapter, and a memory to connect to an access point using a generated random pseudo-MAC address that reduces address collisions with other devices. The approach generates a dynamic MAC address for the device. The dynamic MAC address includes a static portion that is based on a portion of an actual MAC address of the device and a dynamic portion that is based on a quasi-random value. The device wirelessly connects to an access point using the generated dynamic MAC address.”)
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Timothy J. Weidner whose telephone number is (571) 270-1825. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing by using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, the applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) form provided at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ayaz R. Sheikh can be reached on (571) 272-3795. 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. In order 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 more 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.
/TIMOTHY J WEIDNER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2476
Prosecution Insights