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 .
This action is in response to the application filed on May 6, 2025. Claims 1-20
are pending. Claims 1-20 represent SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UTILIZATION OF FIREWALL POLICIES FOR NETWORK SECURITY.
Double Patenting
A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” type finds its support in the language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process... may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, the term “same invention,” in this context, means an invention drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA 1957).
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the claims at issue are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); and In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP §§ 706.02(l)(1) - 706.02(l)(3) for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/forms/. The filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
19/200,580
12,401,621
12,095,735
1. A method comprising: encoding a firewall ruleset into a plurality of arrays each comprising a string of bits, wherein each bit of the plurality of arrays corresponds to one processing rule of the firewall ruleset, the encoding comprising utilizing at least one target address based on a determine mapping value; combining the plurality of arrays into a new array comprising a string of bits; obtaining, utilizing a first portion of a network address included in a received communication packet, the new array from a data structure; determining a bit value from the new array based on a second portion of the network address; and processing the received communication packet based on the bit value from the new array.
1. A method for providing a firewall service, the method comprising: encoding a firewall ruleset into a plurality of arrays each comprising a string of bits, wherein each bit of the plurality of arrays corresponds to one processing rule of the firewall ruleset; combining the plurality of arrays into a new array comprising a string of bits; obtaining, utilizing a first portion of a network address included in a received communication packet, the new array from a data structure; determining a bit value from the new array based on a second portion of the network address; and processing the received communication packet based on the bit value from the new array.
1. A method for providing a firewall service, the method comprising: encoding a firewall ruleset into one or more arrays comprising a string of bits, wherein each bit of the one or more arrays corresponds to one processing rule of the firewall ruleset; obtaining, utilizing a first portion of a network address included in a received communication packet, the one or more arrays from a data structure; determining a bit value from the one or more arrays based on a second portion of the network address; and processing the received communication packet based on the bit value from the one or more arrays.
2. Claims 1-20 of the instant application are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No(s). 12,401,621 and 12,095,735, issued to Whelton. Although the conflicting set of claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because a comparison between the two set of claims shows that the instant claims 1-20 are anticipated by claims 1-20 of ‘621 and ‘735.
Conclusion
3. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EL HADJI SALL whose telephone number is (571)272-4010. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday 8:00-8:30 (flexible).
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/EL HADJI M SALL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2457
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