DETAILED ACTION
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 § 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.
Claim(s) s 1-14 and 16-17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Shuman et al. (hereinafter “Shuman”, US Pat No. 2022/0060957).
As per claim 1, Shuman disclosed a Multi SIM Multi Active (see fig. 4, OEM SIM 460 and User SIM 462), MSMA, device comprising a housing, comprising at least one wireless network access device, NAD (see 0048, 0086, 0089, and at least 0105-0108); at least one antenna (inherently); and an interface configured to communicatively couple the NAD to at least one external electronic control unit, ECU to provide at least one additional independent network access channel for the ECU (see fig. 4, 0079, 0104-0105).
As per claims 2 and 16, Shuman disclosed the ECU provides a first network access channel, and wherein the ECU is a vehicle ECU (see at least claim 1).
As per claims 3 and 17, Shuman disclosed a first network access channel provided by the ECU, and the at least one additional independent network access channels are configured to provide communication with either original equipment manufacturer, OEM, data or consumer data exclusively (see fig. 3-4, 0037 and at least 0082)
As per claim 4, Shuman disclosed the at least one additional independent network access channel that provides cellular connectivity (see at least claim 1).
As per claim 5, Shuman disclosed the interface comprises a wired interface (see 0265, ethernet port/plug)
As per claim 6, Shuman disclosed the MSMA device is a portable device that is preferably detachably coupled to the vehicle and/or the ECU (see at least claim 1 and fig. 3).
As per claim 7, Shuman disclosed a processor (see fig. 4, 452) and a computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the device to control communication between the NAD and the external ECU (see rejection above in claim 1).
As per claim 8, Shuman disclosed the MSMA device is controlled using a software development kit (inherently), SDK, and an application programming interface (inherently), API.
As per claim 9, Shuman disclosed the processor or the SDK and the API are configured to integrate the at least one additional network access channel into an in-vehicle infotainment, IVI, system (see fig. 4, 454 and 0105).
As per claim 10, Shuman disclosed the at least one antenna (inherently) includes at least one integrated and/or external antenna (see 0256.
As per claim 11, Shuman disclosed a WiFi-Module, included in the NAD, configured to provide Wireless Local Area Network, WLAN, access to the at least one additional independent network access channel.
As per claim 12, Shuman disclosed establishing communication between the MSMA device of claim 1, and an engine control unit, ECU; and managing the communication via an interface (see rejection in claim 1).
As per claim 13, Shuman disclosed the ECU is a telematics control unit, TCU (see 0048 and at least 0105).
As per claim 14, Shuman disclosed assigning original equipment manufacturer, OEM, data and consumer data each to a respective, different, one of the network access device, NAD, of the MSMA device and an external NAD included in the ECU (see 0048, 0086, 0089, and at least 0105-0108).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Pablo Tran whose telephone number is (571)272-7898. The examiner normal hours are 9:30 -5:00 (Monday-Friday). If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Jinsong Hu, can be reached at (571)272-3965. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is (571)273-8300.
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September 30, 2026
/PABLO N TRAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2643
