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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1 – 16 are pending.
Claims 4 – 16 are withdrawn from further consideration.
Any references to applicant’s specification are made by way of applicant’s U.S. pre-grant printed patent publication.
This action is in response to the communication filed on 6/30/26.
All objections and rejections not set forth below have been withdrawn.
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)(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.
Claims 1 – 3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Jin et al. (Jin), US 2024/0340751 A1.
Regarding claim 1, Jin discloses:
An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform (e.g. Jin, fig. 13; claim 9)
obtaining at least one secondary node counter list (e.g. Jin, Abstract – sk-counter list; fig. 6:620; fig. 7:720, 730; par. 13, 162, 175, 176, 238 – at least one or more SN configurations, each including a sk-counter list, corresponding to one or more secondary nodes, e.g. 604, 605 and/or 703, 704, 705), wherein each of the at least one secondary node counter list is specific to a respective secondary node (e.g. Jin, par. 13, 15, 161, 162, 231 – 236, 238; fig. 6 – a plurality of secondary nodes 603, 604, 605) of a plurality of secondary nodes (e.g. Jin, fig. 6 – a plurality of secondary nodes 603, 604, 605), and comprises a plurality of secondary node counter values for successive accesses to the respective secondary node (e.g. Jin, par. 14, 15, 155, 156, 219, 238),
obtaining an indication of a secondary node of the plurality of secondary nodes (e.g. Jin, par. 162, 164, 193 – terminal receives a CPC related condition for a specific SN).
generating a secondary node key at least partially based on the at least one obtained secondary node counter list and the indication of the secondary node (e.g. Jin, Abstract; par. 162, 165, 219, 220, 222, 224, 234, 235, 238; fig. 9 – the security key for access to the SN is generated based upon the specific SN’s configuration data, comprising the counter list, and the indication of which SN configuration data to be applied for the identified SN), and
accessing the secondary node using the generated secondary node key (e.g. Jin, Abstract; par. 238; fig. 9).
Regarding claim 2, Jin discloses:
wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: counting a number of accesses of the apparatus to a respective secondary node, wherein generating the secondary key is further based on the counted number of accesses (e.g. Jin, par. 224, 238, 243, 244).
Regarding claim 3, Jin discloses:
wherein at least one of each of the at least one secondary node counter list comprises a non-monotonic sequence of secondary node counter values (e.g. Jin, par. 246, 247, 253 – alternatively to an increasing sequence, the counter values are random or sequenced according to a predetermined rule), or each of the at least one secondary node counter list mutually differ from one another (e.g. Jin, par. 237, 238, 256, 264, 265).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 6/30/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues or alleges essentially that:
…
… Jin's sk-counterList is a single list … rather than providing separate counter lists where each list is specific to a respective different secondary node.
… In contrast, claim 1 recites that "each of the at least one secondary node counter list is specific to a respective secondary node" and comprises counter values "for successive accesses to the respective secondary node." This means each list is dedicated to one particular secondary node and contains counters for accesses to that specific node only. …
…
(Remarks, pg. 6, 7)
Examiner respectfully responds:
The examiner respectfully disagrees.
The claims are broadly limited to only a single list (i.e. “…at least one … list…”). In response to applicant's argument that the references fail to show certain features of the invention, it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., “…separate counter lists…”; “…each list is dedicated to one particular secondary node and contains counters for accesses to that specific node only …”) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
See Notice of References Cited.
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 nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) 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 JEFFERY L WILLIAMS whose telephone number is (571)272-7965. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30 am - 4:00 pm.
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, Farid Homayounmehr can be reached on 571-272-3739. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JEFFERY L WILLIAMS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2495
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