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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on January 26, 2026 has been entered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-20 have been considered but are moot due to the new ground of rejection.
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 1-2, 4-5, 8-16, and 18-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bosshart et al. (US 10,454,833 B1) in view of Chang (US 2016/0234097 A1), and further in view of Attig et al. (US 8,443,102 B1).
Regarding claim 1, Bosshart discloses a method, comprising: receiving a packet at a network device (e.g. 300) (abstract; col. 1, lines 34-39; col. 1, line 65-col. 2, line 28; and so on, illustrating packet is received at network element); forwarding the packet to an ingress portion of a first pipeline configured at the network device according to a first pipeline program (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, line 20-col. 4, line 3; col. 15, line 47-col. 16, line 3; col. 16, lines 40-49; col. 16, line 60-col. 17, line 12; and so on, forwarding the received packet to an ingress of the first pipeline of the network element according to process, such as process 1); processing the packet with the ingress portion of the first pipeline (fig. 11; col. 1, line 65-col. 2, line 28; col. 3, lines 30-34; col. 4, line 51-col. 5, line 5; col. 16, lines 4-38; and etc., describing processing the packet at the ingress of the first pipeline); determining, by the ingress portion of the first pipeline, that the packet is to be forwarded to a second pipeline configured at the network device according to a second pipeline program (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, lines 20-54; col. 4, line 4-col. 5, line 5; col. 15, line 47-col. 16, line 49; col. 16, line 60-col. 17, line 12; col. 17, line 66-col. 18, line 15; col. 18, line 63-col. 19, line 44; col. 19, line 58-col. 20, line 14; and so on, determining to forward the packet to a second pipeline as egress pipeline of the first pipeline), wherein the second pipeline is associated with a second recirculation port and packets received at the second recirculation port are forwarded to an ingress portion of the second pipeline (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, lines 31-54; col. 4, line 4-16; col. 15, line 60-col. 16, line 38; col. 16, line 50-col. 17, line 3; col. 18, lines 16-27; and so on, explaining the second pipeline is associated with a port related to loopback so that the packet will loopback to the ingress part of the first pipeline); forwarding, by the ingress portion of the first pipeline, the packet to the second pipeline (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, lines 20-54; col. 4, line 4-col. 5, line 5; col. 15, line 47-col. 16, line 49; col. 16, line 60-col. 17, line 12; col. 17, line 66-col. 18, line 15; col. 18, line 63-col. 19, line 44; col. 19, line 58-col. 20, line 14; and so on, illustrating forwarding the packet to the second pipeline from the ingress of the first pipeline); and processing the packet by the second pipeline (fig. 11; col 15, line 60-col. 16, line 59; col. 1, line 65-col. line 28; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 16; and so on, describing processing the packet by the second pipeline).
Bosshart doesn’t explicitly disclose the forwarding, by the ingress portion of the first pipeline, the packet is directly to the second pipeline, and the first and second configured is at a packet processor.
Chang teaches the forwarding, by the ingress portion of the first pipeline, the packet is directly to the second pipeline (figs. 1-8; paragraph [0017]-[0022]; [0026]-[0033]; [0035]-[0048]; [0055]-[0072]; [0075]-[0083]; and so on).
Chang doesn’t explicitly disclose the first and second configured is a packet processor.
Attig teaches the first and second configured is at a packet processor (figs. 4-6; col. 11, line 9-col. 12, line 2).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use the forwarding, by the ingress portion of the first pipeline, the packet is directly to the second pipeline, and the first and second configured is at a packet processor as taught by Chang and Attig into Bosshart in order to decrease dropping of packets, and to improve efficiency and quality of communication.
Regarding claim 2, Bosshart discloses wherein processing the packet by the second pipeline comprises processing the packet by an egress portion of the second pipeline (e.g. fig. 11; col 15, line 60-col. 16, line 59; col. 1, line 65-col. line 28; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 16; and so on).
Regarding claim 4, Bosshart discloses wherein forwarding the packet to the second pipeline comprises forwarding the packet to the second recirculation port associated with the second pipeline so the packet is forwarded from the second recirculation port to the ingress portion of the second pipeline for processing by the ingress portion of the second pipeline (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, lines 31-54; col. 4, line 4-16; col. 15, line 60-col. 16, line 38; col. 16, line 50-col. 17, line 3; col. 18, lines 16-27; col 15, line 60-col. 16, line 59; col. 1, line 65-col. line 28; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 16; and so on).
Regarding claim 5, Bosshart further discloses comprising: forwarding, by the ingress portion of the second pipeline, the packet to a first recirculation port associated with the first pipeline, wherein the packet is forwarded from the first recirculation port to the ingress portion of the first pipeline; and processing the packet by the ingress portion of the first pipeline again (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, lines 31-54; col. 4, line 4-16; col. 15, line 60-col. 16, line 38; col. 16, line 50-col. 17, line 3; col. 18, lines 16-27; col 15, line 60-col. 16, line 59; col. 1, line 65-col. line 28; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 16; and so on).
Regarding claim 8, Bosshart discloses wherein the first recirculation port and the second recirculation port are internal recirculation ports and the packet is forwarded internally using the internal recirculation ports (col. 15, line 60-col. 16, line 38; col. 17, line 66-col. 18, line 15; and etc.).
Regarding claim 9, Bosshart further discloses comprising: forwarding, by the second pipeline, the packet directly to an egress port of the network device (col. 2, line 60-col. 3, line 4; col. 14, lines 33-61; and so on).
Regarding claim 10, Bosshart discloses wherein the first program is a standard pipeline program provided with the network device (fig. 11; paragraph col. 16, lines 39-49; and so on).
Regarding claim 11, Bosshart discloses a network device (e.g. 300), comprising: a processor executing multiple pipelines for forwarding packets received at ports of the network device (col. 2, line 60-col. 3, line 4; col. 4, lines 4-16; col. 7, line 59-col. 8, line 11; col. 14, lines 13-47; col. 14, line 62-col. 15, line 23; col. 17, line 66-col. 18, line 15; and etc., explaining multiple pipelines such as first and second pipelines to forward received packet at the network element), the multiple pipelines including: a first pipeline configured according to a first pipeline program, the first pipeline including an ingress portion comprising a match action unit (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, line 20-col. 4, line 3; col. 15, line 47-col. 16, line 3; col. 16, lines 40-49; col. 16, line 60-col. 17, line 12; col. 1, line 65-col. 2, line 42; col. 3, line 55-col. 4, line 3; col. 4,lines 17-27, 38-50; col. 13, line 32-col. 14, line 32; and so on, illustrating the multiple pipeline include ingress and egress parts including match-action unit, MAU); and a second pipeline configured according to a second pipeline program, wherein the second pipeline is associated with a recirculation port and packets received at the recirculation port are forwarded to the second pipeline, and wherein the match action unit of the first pipeline includes a table comprising an entry specifying an action associated with an identifier for the recirculation port associated with the second pipeline (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, lines 31-54; col. 4, line 4-16; col. 15, line 60-col. 16, line 38; col. 16, line 50-col. 17, line 3; col. 18, lines 16-27; col. 1, line 65-col. 2, line 42; col. 3, line 55-col. 4, line 3; col. 4,lines 17-27, 38-50; col. 13, line 32-col. 14, line 32; col. 8, lines 45-54; col. 11, line 66-col. 12, line 7; col. 14, lines 1-32; col. 17, lines 24-44; and so on, explaining the second pipeline configured according to process such as process 2, where the second pipeline is associated with a port related to loopback so that the received packet to the second pipeline as egress pipeline for the first pipeline including MAU and table comprising an entry identifying the port associated to the loopback and the second pipeline); the processor executing the steps: receiving a packet at a port of the network device (col. 1,lines 34-54; col. 1, line 65-col. 2,line 28; col. 2, line 60-col. 3, line 19; col. 7, line 59-col. 8, line 28; col. 12, lines 42-48; and etc., illustrating receiving a packet at a port of the network element); determining packet data associated with the packet (col. 17, lines 50-65; col. 9, lines 32-51; col. 13, lines 32-50; and so on, determining or identifying the packet and header fields); processing the packet with the ingress portion of the first pipeline based on the packet data (col. 1, line 65-col. 2, line 28; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 16; col. 4, line 51-col. 5, line 5; col. 8, lines 12-44; col. 9, lines 18-31, 52-65; and etc., describing processing the packet at the ingress of the first pipeline such as by process 1); determining, by the match action unit of the first pipeline, that the packet is to be forwarded to the second pipeline (col. 1, line 65-col. 2, line 59; col. 3, line 55-col. 4, line 3; col. 4, lines 17-50; col. 10, lines 5-20, 42-49; and so on, determining the MAU forward the packet to the second pipeline), wherein determining that the packet is to be forwarded to the second pipeline comprises forming a key based on the packet data and performing a lookup in the table based on the key to determine the entry (col. 2, line 43-col. 3, line 4 ;col. 4, lines 38-50; col. 8, lines 29-44; col. 10, lines 5-20; col. 11, line 55-col. 12, line 24; col. 13, line 32-col. 14, line 61; and etc., explaining the forwarded packet to the second pipeline includes header vector (PHV) based on the received packet and perform lookup in the table for entry); forwarding, by the ingress portion of the first pipeline, the packet to the second pipeline (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, lines 20-54; col. 4, line 4-col. 5, line 5; col. 15, line 47-col. 16, line 49; col. 16, line 60-col. 17, line 12; col. 17, line 66-col. 18, line 15; col. 18, line 63-col. 19, line 44; col. 19, line 58-col. 20, line 14; and so on, illustrating the forwarding of the packet to the second pipeline); and processing the packet by the second pipeline (fig. 11; col 15, line 60-col. 16, line 59; col. 1, line 65-col. line 28; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 16; and so on, processing the packet at the second pipeline such as by process 2).
Bosshart doesn’t explicitly disclose the forwarding, by the ingress portion of the first pipeline, the packet is directly to the second pipeline, and the configured is a packet processor of a network device and the first and second configured is a on packet processor.
Chang teaches the forwarding, by the ingress portion of the first pipeline, the packet is directly to the second pipeline (figs. 1-8; paragraph [0017]-[0022]; [0026]-[0033]; [0035]-[0048]; [0055]-[0072]; [0075]-[0083]; and so on).
Chang doesn’t explicitly disclose the configured is packet processor of a network device and the first and second configured is a on packet processor.
Attig teaches the configured is packet processor of a network device and the first and second configured is a on packet processor (figs. 4-6; col. 11, line 9-col. 12, line 2).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use the forwarding, by the ingress portion of the first pipeline, the packet is directly to the second pipeline, and the configured is packet processor of a network device and the first and second configured is a on packet processor as taught by Chang and Attig into Bosshart in order to decrease dropping of packets, and to improve efficiency and quality of communication.
Regarding claim 12, Bosshart discloses wherein the processor is adapted for: determining, by a match action unit of the second pipeline, that the packet is to be forwarded to a third pipeline (col. 1, line 65-col. 2, line 59; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 3; col. 4, lines 17-50; col. 10, lines 5-20, 42-49; col. 15, line 60-col. 16, line 3; and so on); and forwarding, by an ingress portion of the second pipeline, the packet to the third pipeline (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 3; col. 15, line 60-col. 16, line 38; and so on).
Regarding claim 13, Bosshart discloses wherein the processor is adapted for: forwarding, by an ingress portion of the third pipeline, the packet to a first recirculation port associated with the first pipeline, wherein the packet is forwarded from the first recirculation port associated with the first pipeline to the ingress portion of the first pipeline (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 3; col. 15, line 60-col. 16, line 38; and so on).
Regarding claim 14, Bosshart discloses wherein processing the packet by the second pipeline comprises processing the packet by an egress portion of the second pipeline (e.g. fig. 11; col 15, line 60-col. 16, line 59; col. 1, line 65-col. line 28; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 16; and so on)
Regarding claim 15, Bosshart discloses wherein forwarding the packet to the second pipeline comprises forwarding the packet to the second recirculation port associated with the second pipeline based on the identifier for the recirculation port specified in the action of the determined entry such that the packet is forwarded from the second recirculation port to an ingress portion of the second pipeline for processing by the ingress portion of the second pipeline (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, lines 31-54; col. 4, line 4-16; col. 15, line 60-col. 16, line 38; col. 16, line 50-col. 17, line 3; col. 18, lines 16-27; col 15, line 60-col. 16, line 59; col. 1, line 65-col. line 28; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 16; and so on).
Regarding claim 16, Bosshart discloses wherein the processor is adapted for: determining, by a match action unit of the ingress portion of the second pipeline, that the packet is to be forwarded to the first pipeline (col. 1, line 65-col. 2,line 59; col. 3, line 55-col. 4, line 3; col. 4, lines 17-50; col. 8, lines 12-54; col. 9, line 32-col. 10, line 20; and so on); and forwarding, by the ingress portion of the second pipeline, the packet to a first recirculation port associated with the first pipeline, wherein the packet is forwarded from the first recirculation port to the ingress portion of the first pipeline (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, lines 31-54; col. 4, line 4-16; col. 15, line 60-col. 16, line 38; col. 16, line 50-col. 17, line 3; col. 18, lines 16-27; col 15, line 60-col. 16, line 59; col. 1, line 65-col. line 28; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 16; and so on).
Regarding claim 18, Bosshart discloses wherein the recirculation port is a loopback port of the network device and the packet is forwarded using the loopback port (col. 3, lines 31-54; col. 16, lines 22-38; and etc.).
Regarding claim 19, Bosshart discloses a network device (e.g. 300), comprising: processor and multiple distinct pipelines, the processor executing the steps of: receiving a packet at an ingress portion of a first pipeline of the multiple distinct pipelines (e.g. fig. 11; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 16; col. 9, lines 1-17; col. 12, lines 25-41; col. 15, line 60-col. 16, line 3; col. 16, lines 22-38; col. 17, lines 13-22; and so on); processing the packet with the ingress portion of the first pipeline (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, lines 31-54; col. 4, line 4-16; col. 15, line 60-col. 16, line 38; col. 16, line 50-col. 17, line 3; col. 18, lines 16-27; col 15, line 60-col. 16, line 59; col. 1, line 65-col. line 28; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 16; and so on); determining that the packet is to be forwarded to a second pipeline of the multiple distinct pipelines (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, lines 20-54; col. 4, line 4-col. 5, line 5; col. 15, line 47-col. 16, line 49; col. 16, line 60-col. 17, line 12; col. 17, line 66-col. 18, line 15; col. 18, line 63-col. 19, line 44; col. 19, line 58-col. 20, line 14; and so on); forwarding the packet from the ingress portion of the first pipeline to the second pipeline (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, lines 20-54; col. 4, line 4-col. 5, line 5; col. 15, line 47-col. 16, line 49; col. 16, line 60-col. 17, line 12; col. 17, line 66-col. 18, line 15; col. 18, line 63-col. 19, line 44; col. 19, line 58-col. 20, line 14; and so on); processing the packet by the second pipeline (fig. 11; col 15, line 60-col. 16, line 59; col. 1, line 65-col. line 28; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 16; and so on); determining that the packet is to be forwarded back to the first pipeline of the multiple distinct pipelines (col. 3,lines 31-54; col. 15, line 60-col. 16, line 38; col. 16, line 50-col. 17, line 3; col. 18, lines 16-27; and etc.); forwarding the packet from an ingress portion of the second pipeline to the first pipeline (col. 3, lines 30-54; col. 4, lines 4-16; col. 15, line 47-col. 16, line 3; col. 16, lines 22-49; col. 16, line 60-col. 17, line 12; and so on); and processing the packet with the first pipeline again (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, lines 31-54; col. 4, line 4-16; col. 15, line 60-col. 16, line 38; col. 16, line 50-col. 17, line 3; col. 18, lines 16-27; col 15, line 60-col. 16, line 59; col. 1, line 65-col. line 28; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 16; and so on).
Bosshart doesn’t explicitly disclose the forwarding, by the ingress portion of the first pipeline, the packet is directly to the second pipeline, and configured with multiple distinct pipelines.
Chang teaches the forwarding, by the ingress portion of the first pipeline, the packet is directly to the second pipeline (figs. 1-8; paragraph [0017]-[0022]; [0026]-[0033]; [0035]-[0048]; [0055]-[0072]; [0075]-[0083]; and so on).
Chang doesn’t explicitly disclose configured with multiple distinct pipelines.
Attig teaches configured with multiple distinct pipelines (figs. 4-6; col. 11, line 9-col. 12, line 2).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use the forwarding, by the ingress portion of the first pipeline, the packet is directly to the second pipeline, and configured with multiple distinct pipelines as taught by Chang and Attig into Bosshart in order to decrease dropping of packets, and to improve efficiency and quality of communication.
Regarding claim 20, Bosshart discloses wherein forwarding the packet from the ingress portion of the second pipeline to the first pipeline comprises forwarding the packet to an egress portion of the first pipeline for forwarding of the packet to a network interface of the network device (e.g. figs. 11-13; and so on).
Claims 3, and 6-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bosshart in view of Mizrahi, and further in view of Kamisetty et al. (US 2023/0117644 A1).
Regarding claim 3, Bosshart discloses wherein forwarding the packet to the second recirculation port (col. 3, lines 31-54; col. 4, lines 4-16; col. 15, line 60-col. 16, line 38; col. 16, line 50-col. 17, line 12; col. 18, lines 28-39). However, Bosshart doesn’t disclose comprises appending a header to the packet, the header identifying an ingress port associated with the packet, a virtual local area network (VLAN) associated with the packet, or a classification tag associated with the packet.
Kamisetty teaches comprises appending a header to the packet, the header identifying an ingress port associated with the packet, a virtual local area network (VLAN) associated with the packet, or a classification tag associated with the packet (paragraph [0086]; [0061]; [0103]; and etc.).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use comprises appending a header to the packet, the header identifying an ingress port associated with the packet, a virtual local area network (VLAN) associated with the packet, or a classification tag associated with the packet as taught by Kamisetty into Bosshart in order to improve performance and scalability.
Regarding claim 6, Bosshart discloses wherein forwarding the packet to the first recirculation port (e.g. figs. 3 and 11; col. 3, lines 31-54; col. 4, line 4-16; col. 15, line 60-col. 16, line 38; col. 16, line 50-col. 17, line 3; col. 18, lines 16-27; col 15, line 60-col. 16, line 59; col. 1, line 65-col. line 28; col. 3, line 31-col. 4, line 16; and so on). Bosshart does not disclose comprises appending a reply header to the packet, the reply header including at least one of a re-run classification indicator or a forwarding domain identifier.
Kamisetty teaches comprises appending a reply header to the packet, the reply header including at least one of a re-run classification indicator or a forwarding domain identifier (paragraph [0053]-[0054]; [0060]; [0076]-[0080]; [0082]-[0086]; [0108]; [0103]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use comprises appending a reply header to the packet, the reply header including at least one of a re-run classification indicator or a forwarding domain identifier as taught by Kamisetty into Bosshart in order to increase security and quality, and reduce dropping of data.
Regarding claim 7, Bosshart discloses wherein the forwarding domain identifier (col. 2, line 43-col. 3, line 19; col. 4, lines 28-50; col. 6, lines 27-51; col. 7, lines 9-41; and so on). Bosshart doesn’t disclose identifier is a VLAN encapsulation tag.
Kamisetty teaches identifier is a VLAN encapsulation tag (paragraph [0037]; [0006]; and etc.).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use identifier is a VLAN encapsulation tag as taught by Kamisetty into Bosshart in order to increase security and quality.
Claim 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bosshart in view of Mizrahi, and further in view of Gajjala et al. (US 2022/0345392 A1).
Regarding claim 17, as applied above, Bosshart discloses wherein the identifier for the recirculation port. However, Bosshart doesn’t disclose comprises a link aggregation group (LAG) identifier associated with the recirculation port.
Gajjala teaches comprises a link aggregation group (LAG) identifier associated with the recirculation port (paragraph [0020]-[0021]; [0048]; [0052]; and so on).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use comprises a link aggregation group (LAG) identifier associated with the recirculation port as taught by Gajjala into Bosshart in order to improve quality of service.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KIBROM T HAILU whose telephone number is (571)270-1209. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
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/KIBROM T HAILU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2461