DETAILED ACTION
This is in response to the application filed on December 17, 2024 where Claims 1 – 20, of which Claims 1, 9, and 17 are in independent form, are presented for examination.
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 § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
1. Claims 1, 9 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, because the specification, while being enabling for “encrypt[ing] association and reassociation from based on the derived TK,” does not reasonably provide enablement for encrypting association and reassociation frames based on the derived TK and KEK as claimed. The specification does not enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to use the invention commensurate in scope with these claims. The Applicant’s specification does not describe the use of both the TK and KEK to encrypt association/reassociation frames. The specification states that the TK is a KEK [Para. 0062] and the key used in the encryption is the TK [Para. 0058-59, 0064, 0071]. Even if assuming that the is a different key than the TK used, the specification does not disclose of using both a TK and KEK.
2. Regarding Claims 2 – 8, 10 – 16, and 18 – 20, the claims are rejected based on their dependency of Claims 1, 9, and 17 and under the same rationale as a above.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claim(s) 1 – 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by PGPub. 2021/0368322 (hereinafter “Seok”).
3. Regarding Claims 1, 9, and 17, Seok discloses a device, the device comprising processing circuitry coupled to storage (Claim 9) [Fig. 11; Para. 0089, 0094], the processing circuitry configured to:
derive a Transient Key (TK) and Key Encryption Key (KEK) using a pre-association security negotiation (PASN) exchange [Para. 0048-52];
use ephemeral keys generated during the PASN exchange to secure authentication frames [Para. 0040]; and
encrypt association and reassociation frames based on the derived TK and KEK [Para. 0063-64, 0078-79];
utilize the TK as an initial TK during association [Para. 0063-64, 0078-79].
4. Regarding Claims 2, 10, and 18, Seok discloses the limitations of Claims 1, 9, and 17. Seok further discloses that the processing circuitry is further configured to derive the TK and KEK based on a Base key management negotiated during the PASN exchange [Para. 0048-52].
5. Regarding Claims 3, 11, and 19, Seok discloses the limitations of Claims 1, 9, and 17. Seok further discloses that the processing circuitry is further configured to utilize message integrity code (MIC) for authentication frames during the PASN exchange [Para. 0071].
6. Regarding Claims 4, 12, and 20, Seok discloses the limitations of Claims 1, 9, and 17. Seok further discloses that the processing circuitry is further configured to include Robust Security Network Element (RSNE) parameters during the PASN exchange to indicate a capability of creating robust security network associations (RSNAs) [Para. 0082-83].
7. Regarding Claims 5 and 13, Seok discloses the limitations of Claims 1 and 9. Seok further discloses that the processing circuitry is further configured to use a Protected Master Key Identifier (PMKID) derived during the PASN exchange to enable secure reassociation [Para. 0038-40].
8. Regarding Claims 6 and 14, Seok discloses the limitations of Claims 1 and 9. Seok further discloses that the processing circuitry is further configured to use the TK derived during the PASN exchange as the initial TK during reassociation [Para. 0048-52, 0063-64, 0078-79].
9. Regarding Claims 7 and 15, Seok discloses the limitations of Claims 1 and 9. Seok further discloses that the processing circuitry is further configured to select a base key management during the PASN exchange [Para. 0048-52].
10. Regarding Claims 8 and 16, Seok discloses the limitations of Claims 1 and 9. Seok further discloses that the processing circuitry is further configured to determine whether a valid Pairwise Master Key Security Association (PMKSA) exists, and to treat the PASN exchange as a non-RSNA protocol if no PMKSA or corresponding base key management is available [Para. 0038-40].
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. PGPub. 2021/0282007; PGPub. 2022/0377554.
Contacts
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TAE K KIM whose telephone number is (571)270-1979. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:30-5:30.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jorge Ortiz-Criado can be reached at 5712727642. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/TAE K KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2496
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