DETAILED ACTION
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 .
This Office Action is in response to Application filed on September 12, 2024 in which claims 1-15 are presented for examination.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on September 12, 2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-15 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-15 of U.S. Patent No.12,120,734. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-15 of the present application are being anticipated by claims 1-15 of the US Patent No 12,120, 734.
Application No. 18/883,361
US Patent No. 12,120,734 B2
1. A method for accessing a communication network, implemented by a terminal, comprising: receiving system information broadcast by said network, the system information comprising an identification of at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a piece of information relative to a unique terminal identifier; transmitting to said network an access request, said access request carrying a first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal, transmitted on at least one of said time-frequency resources, called specific resource; and authorizing access to said network in the case of reception of a response to said access request carrying a second piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal, wherein said access request also carries a useful message transmitted on said specific resource or on at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a useful message.
2. The method according to claim 1, according to which, since said system information identifies at least two time-frequency resources capable of carrying the useful message, said method comprises selecting at least one of said time-frequency resources while taking into account a size of said useful message.
3. The method according to claim 1, according to which, the unique identifier of said terminal is an integer, and said transmission also transmits a reference signal obtained by applying a cyclical offset to a predefined base sequence, determined according to the unique identifier of said terminal.
4. The method according to claim 3, according to which, when the unique identifier of said terminal is greater than a maximum number of cyclical offsets, said first piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal comprises a whole part of a ratio between the unique identifier and the maximum number of cyclical offsets.
5. The method according to claim 1, according to which said access request also carries at least one indicator indicating a return to standby mode of said terminal after the authorization of access to said network.
6. The method according to claim 1, according to which said access request also carries a preamble selected from a plurality of preambles, transmitted on said specific resource or on a time-frequency resource capable of carrying the preamble, according to which the authorization of access to said network is granted when said response to the access request carries the second piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal and a piece of information representative of said selected preamble and according to which, in the case of reception of a response to said access request not carrying a second piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal, said method comprises retransmitting said access request, said first piece of information representative of the unique identifier of the terminal being transmitted on a new specific time-frequency resource identified in said response.
7. The method according to claim 1, according to which said useful message is an instant message.
8. The method according to claim 1, according to which said first piece of information and/or said useful message are transmitted to said network while taking into account a piece of information on modulation and coding associated with the corresponding time-frequency resource.
9. A method for attachment of a terminal to a communication network, comprising: broadcasting system information by said network, the system information comprising an identification of at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a piece of information relative to a unique terminal identifier; verifying reception, on at least one of said time-frequency resources, called specific resource, of a first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal, carried by a request for access to said network; and in response to said first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal being received, transmitting to said terminal a response to said access request, carrying a second piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal, wherein said verifying also verifies reception, on said specific resource or on at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a useful message, of a useful message, and wherein the method comprises transmitting said useful message in response to said first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal and said useful message being received.
10. The method according to claim 9, also comprising: verifying reception, on said specific resource or on at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a preamble, a preamble carried by said access request, if said preamble is received, and said first piece of information representative of an identifier of said terminal is not received, transmitting to said terminal a response to said access request carrying a piece of information representative of said preamble and identifying a new specific time- frequency resource.
11. A terminal comprising: at least one processing unit configured to: receive system information broadcast by a communication network that the terminal desires to access, the system information comprising an identification of at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a piece of information relative to a unique terminal identifier; transmit to said network a request for access to said network, said access request carrying a first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal, transmitted on at least one of said time-frequency resources, called specific resource; and receive a response to said access request, the access of the terminal to said network being authorized in the case of reception of a response to said access request carrying a second piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal, wherein said access request also carries a useful message transmitted on said specific resource or on at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a useful message.
12. A base station of a communication network, comprising: at least one processing unit configured to: broadcast system information comprising an identification of at least one time- frequency resource capable of carrying a piece of information relative to a unique terminal identifier; verify the reception, on at least one of said time-frequency resources, called specific resource, of a first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal, carried by a request for access to said network; transmit to said terminal a response to said access request carrying a second piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal, if said first piece of information representative of an identifier of said terminal is received; verify a reception, on said specific resource or on at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a useful message, of a useful message; and transmit said useful message in response to said first piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal and said useful message being received.
13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a computer program stored thereon including instructions for implementing a method for accessing a communication network when this program is executed by a processor of a terminal, wherein the method comprises: receiving system information broadcast by said network, the system information comprising an identification of at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a piece of information relative to a unique terminal identifier; transmitting to said network an access request, said access request carrying a first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal, transmitted on at least one of said time-frequency resources, called specific resource; and authorizing access to said network in the case of reception of a response to said access request carrying a second piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal, wherein said access request also carries a useful message transmitted on said specific resource or on at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a useful message.
14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a computer program stored thereon including instructions for implementing a method for attachment of a terminal to a communication network when the program is executed by a processor, wherein the method comprises: broadcasting system information by said network, the system information comprising an identification of at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a piece of information relative to a unique terminal identifier; verifying reception, on at least one of said time-frequency resources identified on the basis of said system information, called specific resource, of a first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal, carried by a request for access to said network; and in response to said first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal being received, transmitting to said terminal a response to said access request, carrying a second piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal, wherein said verifying also verifies reception, on said specific resource or on at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a useful message, of a useful message, and wherein the method comprises transmitting said useful message in response to said first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal and said useful message being received.
15. The method as claimed in claim, wherein said useful message is intended to be transmitted to at least one other terminal.
1. A method for accessing a communication network, implemented by a terminal, comprising: receiving system information broadcast by said network, the system information comprising an identification of at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a piece of information relative to a unique terminal identifier; transmitting to said network an access request, said access request carrying a first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal, transmitted on at least one of said time-frequency resources identified on the basis of said system information, called specific resource; and authorizing access to said network in the case of reception of a response to said access request carrying a second piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal, wherein said access request also carries a useful message transmitted on said specific resource or on at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a useful message, identified on the basis of said system information.
2. The method according to claim 1, according to which, since said system information identifies at least two time-frequency resources capable of carrying the useful message, said method comprises selecting at least one of said time-frequency resources while taking into account a size of said useful message.
3.The method according to claim 1, according to which, the unique identifier of said terminal is an integer, and said transmission also transmits a reference signal obtained by applying a cyclical offset to a predefined base sequence, determined according to the unique identifier of said terminal.
4. The method according to claim 3, according to which, when the unique identifier of said terminal is greater than a maximum number of cyclical offsets, said first piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal comprises a whole part of a ratio between the unique identifier and the maximum number of cyclical offsets, the maximum number of cyclical offsets being obtained on the basis of said system information.
5. The method according to claim 1, according to which said access request also carries at least one indicator indicating a return to standby mode of said terminal after the authorization of access to said network.
6. The method according to claim 1, according to which said access request also carries a preamble selected from a plurality of preambles, transmitted on said specific resource or on a time-frequency resource capable of carrying the preamble, identified on the basis of said system information, according to which the authorization of access to said network is granted when said response to the access request carries the second piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal and a piece of information representative of said selected preamble and according to which, in the case of reception of a response to said access request not carrying a second piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal, said method comprises retransmitting said access request, said first piece of information representative of the unique identifier of the terminal being transmitted on a new specific time-frequency resource identified in said response.
7. The method according to claim 1, according to which said useful message is an instant message.
8. The method according to claim 1, according to which said first piece of information and/or said useful message are transmitted to said network while taking into account a piece of information on modulation and coding associated with the corresponding time-frequency resource, said piece of information on modulation and coding being obtained on the basis of said system information.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said useful message is intended to be transmitted to at least one other terminal.
10. A method for attachment of a terminal to a communication network, comprising: broadcasting system information by said network, the system information comprising an identification of at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a piece of information relative to a unique terminal identifier; verifying reception, on at least one of said time-frequency resources identified on the basis of said system information, called specific resource, of a first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal, carried by a request for access to said network; and in response to said first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal being received, transmitting to said terminal a response to said access request, carrying a second piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal, wherein said verifying also verifies reception, on said specific resource or on at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a useful message, identified on the basis of said system information, of a useful message, and wherein the method comprises transmitting said useful message in response to said first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal and said useful message being received.
11. The method according to claim 10, also comprising: verifying reception, on said specific resource or on at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a preamble, identified on the basis of said system information, a preamble carried by said access request, if said preamble is received, and said first piece of information representative of an identifier of said terminal is not received, transmitting to said terminal a response to said access request carrying a piece of information representative of said preamble and identifying a new specific time-frequency resource.
12. A terminal comprising: at least one processing unit configured to: receive system information broadcast by a communication network that the terminal desires to access, the system information comprising an identification of at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a piece of information relative to a unique terminal identifier; transmit to said network a request for access to said network, said access request carrying a first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal, transmitted on at least one of said time-frequency resources identified on the basis of said system information, called specific resource; and receive a response to said access request, the access of the terminal to said network being authorized in the case of reception of a response to said access request carrying a second piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal, wherein said access request also carries a useful message transmitted on said specific resource or on at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a useful message, identified on the basis of said system information.
13. A base station of a communication network, comprising: at least one processing unit configured to: broadcast system information comprising an identification of at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a piece of information relative to a unique terminal identifier; verify the reception, on at least one of said time-frequency resources identified on the basis of said system information, called specific resource, of a first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal, carried by a request for access to said network; transmit to said terminal a response to said access request carrying a second piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal, if said first piece of information representative of an identifier of said terminal is received; verify a reception, on said specific resource or on at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a useful message, identified on the basis of said system information, of a useful message; and transmit said useful message in response to said first piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal and said useful message being received.
14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a computer program stored thereon including instructions for implementing a method for accessing a communication network when this program is executed by a processor of a terminal, wherein the method comprises: receiving system information broadcast by said network, the system information comprising an identification of at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a piece of information relative to a unique terminal identifier; transmitting to said network an access request, said access request carrying a first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal, transmitted on at least one of said time-frequency resources identified on the basis of said system information, called specific resource; and authorizing access to said network in the case of reception of a response to said access request carrying a second piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal, wherein said access request also carries a useful message transmitted on said specific resource or on at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a useful message, identified on the basis of said system information.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a computer program stored thereon including instructions for implementing a method for attachment of a terminal to a communication network when the program is executed by a processor, wherein the method comprises: broadcasting system information by said network, the system information comprising an identification of at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a piece of information relative to a unique terminal identifier; verifying reception, on at least one of said time-frequency resources identified on the basis of said system information, called specific resource, of a first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal, carried by a request for access to said network; and in response to said first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal being received, transmitting to said terminal a response to said access request, carrying a second piece of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal, wherein said verifying also verifies reception, on said specific resource or on at least one time-frequency resource capable of carrying a useful message, identified on the basis of said system information, of a useful message, and wherein the method comprises transmitting said useful message in response to said first piece of information representative of a unique identifier of said terminal and said useful message being received.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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.
Claim(s) 1-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CN 108 076 532 A (BEIJING XINWEI TELECOM TECH INC ET AL.).
With regard to independent claim 1, CN 108 076 532 A (BEIJING XINWEI TELECOM TECH INC ET AL.) discloses (the references between parentheses relate to said document): A method for accessing a communication network, which method is implemented by a terminal and comprises: receiving system information broadcast by said network (§28), the system information comprising an identification of at least one time-frequency resource (§31, 47), which is able to carry an item of information
relating to a unique terminal identifier (§31, 47; "UE ID code length included in the channel resources"),- transmitting an access request to said network, said access request carrying a first item of information, which is representative of a unique identifier of said terminal (§29, 31, 38-39) and is transmitted on at least one of said time-frequency resources identified on the basis of said system information, known as the specific resource (§29, 31, 41-42), - authorizing access to said network if a response to said access request (§30-31) that carries a second item of information representative of the unique identifier of said terminal (§50) is received.
As per claims 9 and 11-14, the reasoning set out in paragraph above applies, mutatis mutandis, to the subject matter of the corresponding independent claims, claims 9, and 11-14. Therefore, claims 9 and 11-14 are rejected for the same reason set forth in paragraph above.
As per claims 2-8, 10 and 15, CN 108 076 532 A (BEIJING XINWEI TELECOM TECH INC ET AL.) discloses all the features which, in combination with the features of any claim to which they refer (See CN 108 076 532 A (BEIJING XINWEI TELECOM TECH INC ET AL.) more specifically: §50.
Conclusion
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/FRANTZ COBY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2459
July 22, 2026
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