DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-29 are pending.
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 .
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.
Claim(s) 1, 3-6, 8, 10-13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 22, 24, 26, 27 and 29 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Russell et al. (US 2019/0037518 A1) in view of Shan et al. (US 2014/0325078 A1).
With respect to claim 1, Russell discloses: a method of exchanging media data, the method comprising:
executing, by a tethering user equipment (UE) device (i.e., devices including processor, communication interfaces, memory and executable program logic in Russell, ¶00433-0435),
a Web Real-time Communication Protocol (WebRTC) Endpoint Support Function to access WebRTC signaling functions of a WebRTC operator network (i.e., relay UE providing IMS connection and acting as a media gateway acting as relay to remote UE in Russell, ¶0133, ¶0136)
and to receive media data of a WebRTC communication session from the WebRTC operator network (i.e., routing media session/streams or calls to the remote UE from the relay UE in Russell, ¶0133, ¶0406),
wherein the tethering UE device is tethered to a tethered device that executes a WebRTC Endpoint Application; and (i.e., local connection being wired, wireless, bluetooth, 892.11; UE and relay coupled by the local connection in Russell, ¶0033, Table 1, ¶0140)
sending, by the tethering UE device, the received media data of the WebRTC communication session to the tethered device (i.e., relay UE as a media gateway that converts media streams and relays to the remote UE in Russell, ¶0133)
to cause the tethered device to present the media data (i.e., call routed to remote UE; corresponding display and characteristics like screen resolution and framerate in Russell, ¶0325, ¶0402).
Russell discloses relay UE providing IMS connection and acting as a media gateway acting as relay to remote UE (¶0133, ¶0136). Russell do(es) not explicitly disclose the following. Shan, in order to improve accessibility by allowing network facing webRTC capabilities to be adapted to IMS core for a webRTC UE (¶0035), discloses: WebRTC support, sessions, and endpoints (i.e., WebRTC protocol for establishing media sessions between clients, WebRTC client, access gateway on the signaling path between the WebRTC client and the network core in Shan, ¶0003, ¶0034-0036).
Based on Russell in view of Shan, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to utilize the teachings of Shan to improve upon those of Russell in order to improve accessibility by allowing network facing webRTC capabilities to be adapted to IMS core for a webRTC UE.
With respect to claim 3, Russell discloses: the method of claim 1, further comprising:
establishing, by the tethering UE device, a tethering link with the tethered device (i.e., establishing a local connection between the relay and remote UE in Russell, ¶0033, ¶0140);
establishing, by the tethering UE device, a communication channel with the tethered device (i.e., remote UE coupled to relay UE; relay UE relay UE providing SIP sessions to remote UE in Russell, ¶0107, ¶0112);
retrieving, by the tethering UE device, configuration information from one or more Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE) servers (i.e., application servers act as STUN, TURN servers; ip address of STUN TURN servers provided in response to request from relay UE in Russell, ¶0086, ¶0266-0267, ¶0271); and
sending, by the tethering UE device, the configuration information to the tethered device (i.e., relay UE sends message including response to STUN binding response to the remote UE in Russell, ¶0413-0414).
With respect to claim 4, Russell discloses: the method of claim 3, wherein establishing the WebRTC communication session comprises establishing the WebRTC communication session using Session Description Protocol (SDP) (i.e., session description protocol conveying information on media streams and sessions helping participants join sessions in Russell, ¶0075-0076).
With respect to claim 5, Russell discloses: the method of claim 1, further comprising establishing, by the tethering UE device, a communication channel with the tethered device via an Rt-u interface (i.e., the local connection for media relaying between the remote UE and the relay UE in Russell, ¶0033, ¶0140).
With respect to claim 6, Russell discloses: the method of claim 1, further comprising establishing, by the tethering UE device, a Wi-Fi communication connection with the tethered device. (i.e., the local connection includes a wireless connection including 802.11 in Russell, ¶0033, ¶0140, Table 1).
With respect to claim 8, the limitation(s) of claim 8 are similar to those of claim(s) 1. Therefore, claim 8 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 1.
With respect to claim 10, the limitation(s) of claim 10 are similar to those of claim(s) 3. Therefore, claim 10 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 3.
With respect to claim 11, the limitation(s) of claim 11 are similar to those of claim(s) 4. Therefore, claim 11 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 4.
With respect to claim 12, the limitation(s) of claim 12 are similar to those of claim(s) 5. Therefore, claim 12 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 5.
With respect to claim 13, the limitation(s) of claim 13 are similar to those of claim(s) 6. Therefore, claim 13 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 6.
With respect to claim 15, the limitation(s) of claim 15 are similar to those of claim(s) 1+. Therefore, claim 15 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 1.
With respect to claim 17, the limitation(s) of claim 17 are similar to those of claim(s) 3+. Therefore, claim 17 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 3.
Russell further discloses: the method of claim 15, further comprising:
receiving, by the tethered device, a list of pre-configured ICE functions; (i.e., provisioning STUN and TURN server addresses in Russell, ¶0411, ¶0417)
discovering, by the tethered device, ICE candidates from the list of pre-configured ICE functions (i.e., discover candidate pair of IP addresses for media exchange, remote UE knows the TURN ip addresses and ports in Russell, ¶0086, ¶0420);
establishing, by the tethered device, the WebRTC communication session with a remote UE using the ICE candidates (i.e., remote UE provides SIP invite corresponding to the TURN server in Russell, ¶0086, ¶0422-0424).
Russell discloses relay UE providing IMS connection and acting as a media gateway acting as relay to remote UE (¶0133, ¶0136). Russell do(es) not explicitly disclose the following. Shan, in order to improve accessibility by allowing network facing webRTC capabilities to be adapted to IMS core for a webRTC UE (¶0035), discloses:
executing, by the tethered device, the WebRTC Endpoint Application to participate in the WebRTC communication session. (i.e., a WebRTC client on an application, registering and participating in session setup in Shan, ¶0016, ¶0037-0038).
Based on Russell in view of Shan, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to utilize the teachings of Shan to improve upon those of Russell in order to improve accessibility by allowing network facing webRTC capabilities to be adapted to IMS core for a webRTC UE.
With respect to claim 19, the limitation(s) of claim 19 are similar to those of claim(s) 5. Therefore, claim 19 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 5.
With respect to claim 20, the limitation(s) of claim 20 are similar to those of claim(s) 6. Therefore, claim 20 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 6.
With respect to claim 22, the limitation(s) of claim 22 are similar to those of claim(s) 15. Therefore, claim 22 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 15.
With respect to claim 24, the limitation(s) of claim 24 are similar to those of claim(s) 17. Therefore, claim 24 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 17.
With respect to claim 26, the limitation(s) of claim 26 are similar to those of claim(s) 19. Therefore, claim 26 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 19.
With respect to claim 27, the limitation(s) of claim 27 are similar to those of claim(s) 20. Therefore, claim 27 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 20.
With respect to claim 29, the limitation(s) of claim 29 are similar to those of claim(s) 8 and 22. Therefore, claim 29 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 8 and 22.
Claim(s) 2, 9, 16, 18, 23, and 25 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Russell et al. (US 2019/0037518 A1) in view of Shan et al. (US 2014/0325078 A1), and further in view of Shi et al. (US 2020/0162766 A1).
With respect to claim 2, Russell discloses: the method of claim 1, wherein the tethering UE device comprises a cellular phone (i.e., relay UE and remote UE architecture; electronic devices contemplated include cellular telephones and mobile user equipment in Russell, ¶0133, ¶0432).
Russell discloses relay UE providing IMS connection and acting as a media gateway acting as relay to remote UE (¶0133, ¶0136). Russell and Shan do(es) not explicitly disclose the following. Shi, in order to improve immersion by changing viewpoint of a panorama image based on user's viewpoint (¶0002), discloses: and the tethered device comprises augmented reality (AR) glasses (i.e., wearable devices, virtual reality headsets to detect head movement and viewpoint in Shi, ¶0025-0026, ¶0030).
Based on Russell in view of Shan, and further in view of Shi, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to utilize the teachings of Shi to improve upon those of Russell in order to improve immersion by changing viewpoint of a panorama image based on user's viewpoint.
With respect to claim 9, the limitation(s) of claim 9 are similar to those of claim(s) 2. Therefore, claim 9 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 2.
With respect to claim 16, the limitation(s) of claim 16 are similar to those of claim(s) 2. Therefore, claim 16 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 2.
With respect to claim 18, Russell discloses relay UE providing IMS connection and acting as a media gateway acting as relay to remote UE (¶0133, ¶0136). Russell and Shan do(es) not explicitly disclose the following. Shi, in order to improve immersion by changing viewpoint of a panorama image based on user's viewpoint (¶0002), discloses: the method of claim 17, wherein executing the WebRTC Endpoint Application to participate in the WebRTC communication session comprises executing the WebRTC Endpoint Application to collect user movement data and to send the user movement data to the tethering UE device to cause the tethering UE device to send the user movement data as part of the WebRTC communication session (i.e., WebRTC and modifying protocol to include user head movement viewpoint data and corresponding video frame data in the streaming protocol in Shi, ¶0025-0026, ¶0030).
Based on Russell in view of Shan, and further in view of Shi, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to utilize the teachings of Shi to improve upon those of Russell in order to improve immersion by changing viewpoint of a panorama image based on user's viewpoint.
With respect to claim 23, the limitation(s) of claim 23 are similar to those of claim(s) 16. Therefore, claim 23 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 16.
With respect to claim 25, the limitation(s) of claim 25 are similar to those of claim(s) 18. Therefore, claim 25 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 18.
Claim(s) 7, 14, 21, and 28 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Russell et al. (US 2019/0037518 A1) in view of Shan et al. (US 2014/0325078 A1), and further in view of Sodagar (US 2022/0182435 A1).
With respect to claim 7, Russell discloses: the method of claim 1, wherein executing the WebRTC Endpoint Support Function (i.e., relay UE provides visibility to IMS data allowing quality of service/experience to be applied; relay services sessions; relay provides indications of capability to remote UE for remote UE to decide where to terminate media received in Russell, ¶0136, ¶0277)
Russell discloses relay UE providing IMS connection and acting as a media gateway acting as relay to remote UE (¶0133, ¶0136). Russell and Shan do(es) not explicitly disclose the following. Sodagar, in order to improve adaptability by providing streaming delivery assistant functions (¶0089), discloses: comprises
executing the WebRTC Endpoint Support Function to collect quality of experience (QoE) metrics (i.e., collecting QoE metrics in Sodagar, ¶0087-0089)
and providing a media configuration recommendation to the WebRTC Endpoint Application of the tethered device (i.e., bit rate recommendation/throughput estimates in Sodagar, ¶0087-0089).
Based on Russell in view of Shan, and further in view of Sodagar, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to utilize the teachings of Sodagar to improve upon those of Russell in order to improve adaptability by providing streaming delivery assistant functions.
With respect to claim 14, the limitation(s) of claim 14 are similar to those of claim(s) 7. Therefore, claim 14 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 7.
With respect to claim 21, Russell discloses relay UE providing IMS connection and acting as a media gateway acting as relay to remote UE (¶0133, ¶0136). Russell and Shan do(es) not explicitly disclose the following. Sodagar, in order to improve adaptability by providing streaming delivery assistant functions (¶0089), discloses: the method of claim 15, wherein executing the WebRTC Endpoint Application comprises executing the WebRTC Endpoint Application to encode and decode media data of the WebRTC communication session (i.e., input formats and transcoding formats capabilities for media session in Sodagar, ¶0118-0119),
perform bitrate control (i.e., bit rate recommendations and adjustments in Sodagar, ¶0089), and
perform network congestion control. (i.e., media handling for predictable media quality and flexibility in service offerings including packet-loss handling, packet loss rate and delay in Sodagar, ¶0089, ¶0107, ¶0108).
Based on Russell in view of Shan, and further in view of Sodagar, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to utilize the teachings of Sodagar to improve upon those of Russell in order to improve adaptability by providing streaming delivery assistant functions.
With respect to claim 28, the limitation(s) of claim 28 are similar to those of claim(s) 21. Therefore, claim 28 is rejected with the same reasoning as claim(s) 21.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHERMAN L LIN whose telephone number is (571)270-7446. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Eastern).
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, Joon Hwang can be reached at 571-272-4036. 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. 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 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.
Sherman Lin
4/2/2026
/S. L./Examiner, Art Unit 2447
/JOON H HWANG/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2447
Prosecution Insights