DETAILED ACTION
This application has been examined. Claims 1-2,9-10,15-18 are pending. Claims 3-8, 11-14 are cancelled. Claims 17-18 are submitted as new claims.
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 .
Making Final
Applicant's arguments filed 7/6/2026 have been fully considered but they are moot in view of the new grounds for rejection.
The claim amendments regarding -- ‘requesting, via the network, a list of avatar representation information corresponding to avatar identification information of a user equipment (UE) for avatar communication’ -- and -- ‘a network entity performing an avatar storage related function, based on a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the avatar representation information’ -- clearly change the literal scope of the independent and dependent claims and/or the range of equivalents for such claims. The said amendments alter the scope of the claims but do not overcome the disclosure by the prior art as shown below.
The Examiner is presenting new grounds for rejection as necessitated by the claim amendments and is thus making this action FINAL.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 7/26/2026 have been fully considered but they are moot in view of the new grounds for rejection.
Liu disclosed (re. Claim 1) a data channel signaling function (DCSF) in a network supporting an internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) (Liu-Paragraph 40, the auxiliary data channel and the media stream channel may be established in a same procedure, Figure 9,Figure 15, Paragraph 118, The IMS core controls establishment of an auxiliary data channel and a media stream channel between the IMS AGW having an AR processing capability and a terminal device that has an AR capability.)
Liu-Sarkis disclosed (re. Claim ‘requesting, via the network, (Liu- Figure 7B , Paragraph 137,Paragraph 140, first terminal device may send a first request message to the IMS core network element in a procedure of updating an AR session with the second terminal device…the first request message may be a SIP update invite (update invite) message.) a list of avatar representation information corresponding to avatar identification information of a user equipment (UE) for avatar communication’ (Liu-Paragraph 315, The third-party server receives the request message 1, and obtains, based on the type of the virtual object, a plurality of virtual object identifiers that meet the type of the virtual object…a virtual object list includes the plurality of virtual object identifiers is used, Sarkis-Paragraph 112, storage 415 may store information from devices 405 (e.g., pose information, representation information for virtual representations or avatars of users, such as codes or features related to facial representations, body representations, hand representations ) from a network entity performing an avatar storage related function (Liu-Paragraph 305, the AR media processing network element obtains the target object from a third-party server based on the first AR auxiliary data)
transmitting the list of the avatar representation information to the UE via the network (Liu- Paragraph 305, the AR media processing network element obtains the target object from a third-party server based on the first AR auxiliary data, Paragraph 15, first AR media processing network element sends a plurality of virtual object identifiers of the virtual object type to the first terminal device through the auxiliary data channel)
While Liu-Sarkis substantially disclosed the claimed invention Liu-Sarkis does not disclose (re. Claim 1) a network entity performing an avatar storage related function, based on a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the avatar representation information.
Peshkov Paragraph 44 disclosed wherein intermediary system 102 can provide information enabling a user device to obtain a suitable avatar model. Intermediary system 102 can provide an identifier, an address, or a resource locator for the suitable avatar model. The user device can then obtain the suitable avatar using the identifier, an address, or a resource locator.
Peshkov disclosed (re. Claim 1) a network entity performing an avatar storage related function, based on a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the avatar representation information.( Peshkov-Paragraph 44,intermediary system 102 can provide information enabling a user device to obtain a suitable avatar model. Intermediary system 102 can provide an identifier, an address, or a resource locator for the suitable avatar model. The user device can then obtain the suitable avatar using the identifier, an address, or a resource locator.)
Liu and Peshkov are analogous art because they present concepts and practices regarding avatar processing for UE media sessions. Before the time of the effective filing date of the claimed invention it would have been obvious to combine Peshkov into Liu. The motivation for the said combination would have been to enable intermediary system 102 to register an avatar model for use in system 100. Registration of an avatar model can include associating the avatar model with a user (or a device of a user).(Peshkov-Paragraph 45)
Priority
This application claims benefits of priority from Foreign Application KR10-2024-0004990 (KOREA) filed January 11, 2024.
The effective date of the claims described in this application is January 11, 2024.
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) 1-2,9-10,15-18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Liu (USPGPUB 2024/0022619) further in view of Sarkis (USPGPUB 2024/0259529) further in view of Peshkov (USPGPUB 2024/0135619)
Regarding Claim 1
Liu Figure 9,Figure 15,Paragraph 304 disclosed wherein the first terminal device sends first AR auxiliary data to an AR media processing network element through an auxiliary data channel in a process of AR communication between a first terminal device and a second terminal device.
Liu disclosed (re. Claim 1) a method performed by a data channel signaling function (DCSF) in a network supporting an internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) (Liu-Paragraph 40, the auxiliary data channel and the media stream channel may be established in a same procedure, Figure 9,Figure 15, Paragraph 118, The IMS core controls establishment of an auxiliary data channel and a media stream channel between the IMS AGW having an AR processing capability and a terminal device that has an AR capability), the method comprising:
transmitting a first message, which includes information related to a virtual object of a first user equipment (UE) and information related to an application data channel connection request, to an entity that performs a virtual object storage function; (Liu- Figure 7B , Paragraph 137,Paragraph 140, first terminal device may send a first request message to the IMS core network element in a procedure of updating an AR session with the second terminal device…the first request message may be a SIP update invite (update invite) message.)
receiving a message, from the entity performing the virtual object function, which includes information related to a response to the application data channel connection request; (Liu-Figure 7B,Paragraph 145, first response message carrying second description information )
requesting a list of a virtual object representation information from the entity performing the a virtual object storage function; (Liu-Figure 15, Paragraph 304 step 1501, the first terminal device sends first AR auxiliary data to an AR media processing network element through an auxiliary data channel ) and
receiving the list of a virtual object representation information (Liu-Paragraph 315, The third-party server receives the request message 1, and obtains, based on the type of the virtual object, a plurality of virtual object identifiers that meet the type of the virtual object…a virtual object list includes the plurality of virtual object identifiers is used) from the entity performing the avatar storage function.(Liu-Paragraph 305, the AR media processing network element obtains the target object from a third-party server based on the first AR auxiliary data, Paragraph 15, first AR media processing network element sends a plurality of virtual object identifiers of the virtual object type to the first terminal device through the auxiliary data channel)
transmitting the list of the avatar representation information to the UE via the network (Liu- Paragraph 305, the AR media processing network element obtains the target object from a third-party server based on the first AR auxiliary data, Paragraph 15, first AR media processing network element sends a plurality of virtual object identifiers of the virtual object type to the first terminal device through the auxiliary data channel)
While Liu substantially disclosed the claimed invention Liu does not disclose (re. Claim 1) information related to an avatar and an avatar storage function.
Sarkis Paragraph 112 disclosed wherein storage 415 may store information from devices 405 (e.g., pose information, representation information for virtual representations or avatars of users, such as codes or features related to facial representations, body representations, hand representations, etc., and/or other information). A device 405 and/or the animation and scene rendering system 410 may retrieve the stored data from the storage 415 and/or more send data to the storage 415 via the network 420 using communication links 425.
Sarkis disclosed (re. Claim 1) information related to an avatar and an avatar storage function.(Sarkis-Paragraph 112, storage 415 may store information from devices 405 (e.g., pose information, representation information for virtual representations or avatars of users, such as codes or features related to facial representations, body representations, hand representations )
Liu and Sarkis are analogous art because they present concepts and practices regarding avatar processing for UE media sessions. Before the time of the effective filing date of the claimed invention it would have been obvious to combine Sarkis into Liu. The motivation for the said combination would have been to efficiently generate and animate virtual content in a low-latency manner. (Sarkis-Paragraph 83)
While Liu-Sarkis substantially disclosed the claimed invention Liu-Sarkis does not disclose (re. Claim 1) a network entity performing an avatar storage related function, based on a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the avatar representation information.
Peshkov Paragraph 44 disclosed wherein intermediary system 102 can provide information enabling a user device to obtain a suitable avatar model. Intermediary system 102 can provide an identifier, an address, or a resource locator for the suitable avatar model. The user device can then obtain the suitable avatar using the identifier, an address, or a resource locator.
Peshkov disclosed (re. Claim 1) a network entity performing an avatar storage related function, based on a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the avatar representation information.( Peshkov-Paragraph 44,intermediary system 102 can provide information enabling a user device to obtain a suitable avatar model. Intermediary system 102 can provide an identifier, an address, or a resource locator for the suitable avatar model. The user device can then obtain the suitable avatar using the identifier, an address, or a resource locator.)
Liu and Peshkov are analogous art because they present concepts and practices regarding avatar processing for UE media sessions. Before the time of the effective filing date of the claimed invention it would have been obvious to combine Peshkov into Liu. The motivation for the said combination would have been to enable intermediary system 102 to register an avatar model for use in system 100. Registration of an avatar model can include associating the avatar model with a user (or a device of a user).(Peshkov-Paragraph 45)
Regarding Claim 9
Claim 9 (re. server) recites substantially similar limitations as Claim 1. Claim 9 is rejected on the same basis as Claim 1.
Regarding Claim 15
Claim 15 (re. user equipment) recites substantially similar limitations as Claim 1. Claim 15 is rejected on the same basis as Claim 1.
Regarding Claim 17
Claim 17 (re. method) recites substantially similar limitations as Claim 1. Claim 17 is rejected on the same basis as Claim 1.
Regarding Claim 2,10,18
Liu-Sarkis-Peshkov disclosed (re. Claim 2,10,18) wherein the entity performing the avatar storage function includes at least one of an avatar storage function (ASF), (Sarkis-Paragraph 112, storage 415 may store information from devices 405 (e.g., pose information, representation information for virtual representations or avatars of users, such as codes or features related to facial representations, body representations, hand representations ) a data channel application server (DC AS), a data channel application repository (DC AR), or a base avatar repository (BAR).
Regarding Claim 16
Liu-Sarkis-Peshkov disclosed (re. Claim 16) wherein the avatar representation information includes avatar representation (Sarkis-Paragraph 112,storage 415 may store information from devices 405 (e.g., pose information, representation information for virtual representations or avatars of users, such as codes or features related to facial representations, body representations, hand representations, etc., and/or other information).
Conclusion
Examiner’s Note: In the case of amending the claimed invention, Applicant is respectfully requested to indicate the portion(s) of the specification which dictate(s) the structure relied on for proper interpretation and also to verify and ascertain the metes and bounds of the claimed invention.
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 GREG C BENGZON whose telephone number is (571)272-3944. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Friday 8 AM - 4:30 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, John Follansbee can be reached on (571) 272-3964. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/GREG C BENGZON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2444
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