DETAILED ACTION
Acknowledgements
This Office Action is in response to Applicant’s correspondence filed on 9/8/26.
The Examiner notes that citations to United States Patent Application Publication paragraphs are formatted as [####], #### representing the paragraph number.
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.
Status of Claims
Claims 1-20 are currently pending.
Claims 1-20 are rejected as set forth below.
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 .
Response to Arguments
Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. § 103
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-20 have been considered but are moot because the arguments do not apply to any of the references being used in the current rejection.
Applicant contends Snoddy fails to teach or suggest the cloud game client performing the number-assignment function. In response to applicant's arguments against the references individually, one cannot show nonobviousness by attacking references individually where the rejections are based on combinations of references. See In re Keller, 642 F.2d 413, 208 USPQ 871 (CCPA 1981); In re Merck & Co., 800 F.2d 1091, 231 USPQ 375 (Fed. Cir. 1986). Specifically, under KSR, the known invention of the cloud game client in Miura is modified to include the known technique of determining a device management number for the handheld device that is successfully registered in Snoddy. See Paragraph 12 of the 35 USC 103 rejection.
Applicant contends the combination of Miura and Snoddy is improper. The Examiner respectfully disagrees. In response to applicant’s argument that there is no teaching, suggestion, or motivation to combine the references, the examiner recognizes that obviousness may be established by combining or modifying the teachings of the prior art to produce the claimed invention where there is some teaching, suggestion, or motivation to do so found either in the references themselves or in the knowledge generally available to one of ordinary skill in the art. See In re Fine, 837 F.2d 1071, 5 USPQ2d 1596 (Fed. Cir. 1988), In re Jones, 958 F.2d 347, 21 USPQ2d 1941 (Fed. Cir. 1992), and KSR International Co. v. Teleflex, Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 82 USPQ2d 1385 (2007). In this case, one of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to relocate the number-assignment function to the cloud game client because it is a trusted cloud game client running on a local terminal device, and relocating the number-assignment function away from a remote server reduces the possibility of spoofed or cloned identifiers that may occur from compromised remote servers or man-in-the-middle attacks, thus improving the overall security of the invention.
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 1-3, 5, 7-10, 12, 14-17, 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over United States Patent Application Publication No. 20190270019 to Miura in view of United States Patent Application Publication No. 20100267448 to Snoddy and United States Patent Application Publication No. 20060190458 to Mishina.
As per claim(s) 1, 8, 15, Miura teaches:
A method of cloud game control, implemented at a cloud game client, comprising: obtaining predetermined device information of a corresponding handheld device in response to obtaining a handle connection event each time; interacting with a target cloud game server to register the handheld device based on the predetermined device information; (Fig 2A, [0080], “FIG. 2A illustrates a system for cloud gaming, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown, a user 200 operates a controller 202 to provide input to a cloud-based video game. The controller 202 can communicate wirelessly with a thin game client 204.”; [0084]-[0085], “In one embodiment, the cloud gaming system is configured to detect the type of client device associated with the user, and also a type of controller available for the user to provide input to the cloud-based video game. For example, at the time of login, the client device may send information to the cloud gaming server identifying itself as well as a connected controller device (e.g. in response to a request from the cloud gaming server).”)
obtaining a handle operation event, and forwarding the handle operation event to the target cloud game server based on a device management number associated with the handle operation event, to implement corresponding cloud game operation control. ([0088], “In some embodiments, the client device serves as the connection point for a controller device. That is, the controller device communicates via a wireless or wired connection with the client device to transmit inputs from the controller device to the client device. The client device may in turn process these inputs and then transmit input data to the cloud gaming server via a network (e.g. accessed via a local networking device such as a router.”; [0085], “For example, at the time of login, the client device may send information to the cloud gaming server identifying itself as well as a connected controller device (e.g. in response to a request from the cloud gaming server). Based on this information, the cloud gaming server may determine an appropriate video game output configuration and input parameter configuration to provide a gaming experience optimized for the user's client device and controller device.”)
Miura does not explicitly teach, but Snoddy teaches:
determining a device management number for a handheld device; ([0259], Table 7, “The game server 110 and handheld game controllers 135 (or 1335) communicate with each other to facilitate team formation and to govern and track progress of the game during play. Example algorithms performed by game server 110 are illustrated in Table 7 below in pseudocode. In Table 7, the term "node" refers to a handheld game controller manipulated by a player who has registered to play the game: NewNodeThread(node # ) { //assign a new node number to the controller InitNode( );”)
One of ordinary skill in the art would have recognized that applying the known technique of Snoddy to the known invention of Miura would have yielded predictable results and resulted in an improved invention. It would have been recognized that the application of the technique would have yielded predictable results because the level of ordinary skill in the art demonstrated by the references applied shows the ability to incorporate such device registration features into a similar invention. Further, it would have been recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifying the cloud game client to determine a device management number for the handheld device that is successfully registered results in an improved invention because applying said technique ensures that the handheld devices can be managed by using device management numbers that are generated and managed by the trusted cloud game client, thus ensuring that identifiers are not spoofed or cloned and thus improving the overall security of the invention.
Miura as modified does not explicitly teach, but Mishina teaches:
receiving, from a server, feedback information indicating that the local device is successfully registered; in response to receiving the feedback information, determining, by an intermediary device, a device management number for the local device; (Fig 1, [0059], “FIG. 1 shows an overall construction of a sensor network system according to the first embodiment of the invention. The sensor network system includes a plurality of sensor nodes (100, 101, 102), gateways (110, 111), a network (120), a name server (130) and a task server (140).”, The sensor node maps to the local device, the gateway maps to the intermediary device, and the name server maps to the server.; [0150], “The sensor node processing flow of the gateway will be first explained with reference to FIG. 28. The gateway starts the registration processing (step 2700). The gateway receives the registration request from the sensor node (step 2701) and transmits the sensor node registration request to the local name server (step 2702). The gateway thereafter waits for the reception of the sensor node registration response (step 2703). After receiving the sensor node registration response, the gateway generates the relay service and registers the ID of the relay service so generated to the sensor node relay table (2274).”; [0088], “Receiving the sensor node registration request (1106), the gateway (110) generates the sensor node local ID (SN_LC_ID="01") to be allocated to the sensor node (1107). Next, it generates a gateway relay service (MD_ID="10000") that provides a virtual IP network interface relating to this sensor node (1108).”)
One of ordinary skill in the art would have recognized that applying the known technique of Mishina to the known invention of Miura as modified would have yielded predictable results and resulted in an improved invention. It would have been recognized that the application of the technique would have yielded predictable results because the level of ordinary skill in the art demonstrated by the references applied shows the ability to incorporate such device registration features into a similar invention. Further, it would have been recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifying the cloud game client to include the steps of receiving, from a server, i.e. the target cloud game server, feedback information indicating that the local device, i.e. the handheld device, is successfully registered, and in response to receiving the feedback information, determining a device management number for the local device, i.e. the handheld device, results in an improved invention because applying said technique ensures that device management numbers are only assigned to handheld devices when the handheld devices are confirmed to be successfully registered, thus ensuring that identifiers are only securely assigned to valid registered handheld devices and thus improving the overall security of the invention.
As per claim(s) 2, 9, 16, Miura teaches:
establishing a signaling channel with the target cloud game server for the handheld device that is successfully registered, and storing a mapping relationship between the device management number of the handheld device that is successfully registered and the signaling channel; ([0085]-[0086], “For example, at the time of login, the client device may send information to the cloud gaming server identifying itself as well as a connected controller device (e.g. in response to a request from the cloud gaming server). Based on this information, the cloud gaming server may determine an appropriate video game output configuration and input parameter configuration to provide a gaming experience optimized for the user's client device and controller device. In one embodiment, a look-up table is employed to determine video game configuration and input parameter configuration based on a detected client device and a detected controller device. It should be appreciated that a given video game may be developed for a specific platform and a specific associated controller device. However, when such a game is made available via a cloud gaming system as presented herein, the user may be accessing the video game with a different controller device. In such a scenario, the input parameter configuration can define a mapping from inputs which can be generated by the user's available controller device (in this case, a keyboard and mouse) to inputs which are acceptable for the execution of the video game.”)
As per claim(s) 3, 10, 17, Miura teaches:
wherein forwarding the handle operation event to the target cloud game server based on the device management number associated with the handle operation event comprises: determining, based on the device management number associated with the handle operation event and the mapping relationship, a target signaling channel for forwarding the handle operation event; and forwarding the handle operation event to the target cloud game server through the target signaling channel; ([0085]-[0086])
As per claim(s) 5, 12, 19, Miura teaches:
wherein obtaining the handle connection event comprises: obtaining the handle connection event in response to a device connection signal of a predetermined physical interface; or obtaining the handle connection event in response to a virtual handle creation operation instruction; ([0084]-[0085])
As per claim(s) 7, 14, Miura teaches:
wherein forwarding the handle operation event to the target cloud game server to implement the corresponding cloud game operation control comprises: forwarding the handle operation event to the target cloud game server, to cause the target cloud game server to parse the handle operation event based on a predetermined protocol rule, and adding a control instruction corresponding to a parsing result to a corresponding cloud game process, to implement a cloud game operation control process; ([0081]-[0083], “The cloud gaming service 210 includes resources for providing an environment in which a video game can be executed. In other words, the host 214 may operate over one or more server computing devices, handling the allocation and usage of the resources defined by the server computing devices, while presenting a unified platform upon which virtual machines 216 can be instantiated. The executing video game communicates with the game client 204 to provide an interactive gaming experience for the user 200. More specifically, the executing videogame application 218 receives input data from the client 204 over the network 208. The application 218 processes the input data to update the game state of the executing application. As the game state changes, the application 218 outputs video data that is sent to the client 204 for rendering on the display 206.”)
Claims 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over United States Patent Application Publication No. 20190270019 to Miura in view of United States Patent Application Publication No. 20100267448 to Snoddy and United States Patent Application Publication No. 20060190458 to Mishina, and further in view of United States Patent Application Publication No. 20210113927 to Zimgring.
As per claim(s) 4, 11, 18, Miura as modified does not explicitly teach, but Zimgring teaches:
wherein before forwarding the handle operation event, the method further comprises: verifying a registration connection state of the handheld device associated with the handle operation event. ([0076], “Thus, the game controller 102 can be linked to (associated with) its device identification, client certificate, users and their credentials. In some implementations, in response to a request to start a gaming session, the game controller sends information about the device identification, client certificate and/or user credentials for verification by the authentication service 126 against information stored in the authentication storage 128.”)
One of ordinary skill in the art would have recognized that applying the known technique of Zimgring to the known invention of Miura as modified would have yielded predictable results and resulted in an improved invention. It would have been recognized that the application of the technique would have yielded predictable results because the level of ordinary skill in the art demonstrated by the references applied shows the ability to incorporate such device registration features into a similar invention. Further, it would have been recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifying the cloud game client to verify a registration connection state of the handheld device associated with the handle operation event results in an improved invention because applying said technique ensures that the handheld device is successfully and securely registered before allowing the handheld device to participate in the video game at the cloud game server, thus improving the overall security of the invention.
As per claim(s) 6, 13, 20, Miura as modified does not explicitly teach, but Zimgring teaches:
obtaining registration cancellation information of any of handheld devices; and canceling interception of the handle operation event of the handheld device and removing registration information of the handheld device based on the device management number associated with the registration cancellation information. ([0220]-[0221], “In some implementations, the application 612 further includes options to edit and/or delete the profile of an existing user of the game controller 102. Additionally, in some implementations, the cloud stores, for each user, user information settings, display settings, and the game controller(s) associated with the user.”)
One of ordinary skill in the art would have recognized that applying the known technique of Zimgring to the known invention of Miura as modified would have yielded predictable results and resulted in an improved invention. It would have been recognized that the application of the technique would have yielded predictable results because the level of ordinary skill in the art demonstrated by the references applied shows the ability to incorporate such device cancellation features into a similar invention. Further, it would have been recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifying the cloud game client to obtain registration cancellation information of any of handheld devices, cancel interception of the handle operation event of the handheld device, and remove registration information of the handheld device based on the device management number associated with the registration cancellation information results in an improved invention because applying said technique ensures that the handheld device is successfully and securely removed and prevented from connecting to the cloud game server, thus improving the overall security of the invention.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
United States Patent Application Publication No. 20210291045 to Chai discloses a method for remote control of computer game by a gamepad, including: remotely accessing, by the client-side, the virtual cloud desktop provided by the server-side, and sending message to the server-side when detecting gamepads; creating or enabling by the virtual cloud desktop server-side, a corresponding number of virtual game devices; capturing, by the client-side, the operation instruction data of the gamepads, and sending the operation instruction data to the server-side; causing each virtual game device to output a KeyCode value corresponding to each operation instruction data by the server-side, such that the virtual cloud desktop server runs the computer game according to each KeyCode value and the relative movement value of the joystick; sending the data of the running results of the computer game on the virtual cloud desktop to the client-side for display.
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 JAY HUANG whose telephone number is (408)918-9799. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00a - 5:30p PT.
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/JAY HUANG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3619
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