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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments have been considered but are not persuasive.
First, it should be noted that any arguments regarding the claims being in condition for allowance are moot in view of the newly provided rejections under 112. The claim references an “internal signal” quality with regards to a connection and a first signal in a manner that fails to distinctly point out the claimed subject matter. The claims therefore require appropriate corrections before any other arguments can be found compelling.
Second, Applicant argues that Seo does not teach an Ethernet physical-layer interface device as described by the claims, and Meng would then argues that Meng differs from the recited claims. However, Examiner does not find these compelling as:
(1) Applicant argues that the devices in Meng are not “Ethernet physical-layer interface devices that share signal with each other.” Examiner respectfully disagrees. For example, Meng ¶0132, states “In addition to the metal paths within one or more metal layers that provide electrical signal connections among computing nodes 102” and further stating that they can comprise Ethernet devices as well comprising physical layer (Layer 1) connection as these relate to raw data bits are transmitted and received over a physical medium.
Examiner also notes that “Ethernet physical-layer” is a quality of the interface devices, but has no relation to the signal connections between the interface devices.
(2) Applicant notes that the computing nodes are on separate semiconductor dies connected to the OIIC 104. However, the presence of separate semiconductor dies is irrelevant as Meng ¶0132 clearly indicates these elements are all fabricate disposed on a single large semiconductor substrate, “enable the OIIC 104 to be fabricated on a large substrate (e.g., an entire semiconductor wafer).”
(3) See note from Claim 1. Applicant argues that signals are not received via an Ethernet port. However, the Ethernet language only limits the devices; it does not limit the signal.
Finally, Applicant argues that the combination would be unobvious as Seo and Meng are related to different technologies. However, as Examiner has noted Meng does not teach away from Seo as Seo teaches that the plurality of devices can be embodied onto a single device. Furthermore, Examiner notes that prior art is not prior invention, but rather is prior technological knowledge. As such, the prior art being invoked is limited to that which is necessary to teach the claims, not to the boundaries of the references. Therefore, in order to show that the technological knowledge is incompatible or otherwise an unreasonable, the claims more require that the prior art teach the elements underlying the argument. However, Applicant’s arguments are unrelated to elements being used to teach the claims, as the claim are at present broad enough to not require any deeper citations. As such, when considering the prior technological knowledge being shown as known by the references, Examiner disagrees to there being any such “teaching away” or un-combinability.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Claims 25
are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Claim 25 recites “wherein the first signal is an internal signal of the second interface device” and “wherein the first signal is transmitted from the second interface device to the first interface device via an internal signal connection”. The claim language is unclear as the claim has inadequately describes when the “internal” limitation is required upon the first signal.
First, as the signal is transmitted from the second device, one of ordinary skill in the art would no longer consider this first signal to be an “internal signal of the second interface device,” as the first signal is clearly being transmitted outside the second interface device.
Second, the claim language referring to an “internal signal connection” is also unclear as to whether the “internal signal” quality of the first signal and the “internal signal” quality of the connection are related, because a signal connection between a first interface device and a second interface device intrinsically cannot be internal to one of the two devices. This therefore may suggest that the internal quality of the connection is distinct from the internal quality of the first signal; however, the claim language has made this unclear.
For purposes of compact prosecution, Examiner interprets “an internal signal of the second interface device” merely as being a signal that exists within the second interface device, in some manner, i.e. being received by, transmitted to, or otherwise being stored upon the second interface device. Examiner interprets internal signal connection as reference being internal to the apparatus, rather than being internal to the second interface device.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
3. Claims 25, 27, 29-32, 35-39, 41, and 45-47 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Seo et al. (US 20210153294 A1) in view of Meng et al. (US 20220004029 A1).
Claim 25 Seo teaches an apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of interface devices, (FIG. 5, Electronic Device 101 and External Electronic Device 202, ¶0068) each of the plurality of interface devices including a respective first connection device configured for connecting to a transmission medium, (FIG. 1, ¶0026, wherein the electronic devices comprise devices configured for connecting to a transmission medium, Communication Module 190) wherein a first interface device of the plurality of interface devices is configured to at least temporarily output at least a first signal of a second interface device of the plurality of interface devices via its respective first connection device; (¶0052, wherein the hotspot device is configured to transmit data from connected device) wherein the first signal is an internal signal of the second interface device. (¶0052, wherein the data is from external device 202, i.e. the second interface device)
However, Seo does not explicitly teach wherein the plurality of interface devices are disposed together on a single semiconductor substrate,
wherein the first signal is transmitted from the second interface device to the first interface device via an internal signal connection provided on the single semiconductor substrate; and
wherein the plurality of interface devices are each configured as Ethernet physical-layer interface devices.
From a related technology, Meng teaches a plurality of interface devices are disposed together on a single semiconductor substrate, (FIG. 1, I/O 106, ¶0132, wherein a plurality of interface devices 106 are comprised on a single semiconductor substrate) wherein a first signal is transmitted from a second interface device to a first interface device via an internal signal connection provided on the single semiconductor substrate; (¶0132, wherein signals are transmitted to and from interface devices via signal connections internal to computing platform 100 on the semiconductor substrate) and
wherein the plurality of interface devices are each configured as Ethernet physical-layer interface devices. (¶0132, wherein the interface devices 102 are configured for Ethernet, Examiner notes that this would encompass Layer 1, i.e. physical layer, cover how bits are transmitted over physical media, such as metal paths providing signals amongst the nodes)
It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Seo to incorporate the physical substrate design and configuration taught by Meng in order to more effectively utilize network resources.
Claim 27 Seo in view of Meng teaches Claim 25, and further teaches wherein a first signal connection is provided, via which the first signal can at least temporarily be transmitted from the second interface device to the first interface device, wherein the first signal connection is provided internally in the apparatus on the single semiconductor substrate, (Seo, FIG. 1, ¶0026, wherein the devices can transmit signals via a Communication Module 190) and wherein the first signal connection is distinct from the respective first connection device of the plurality of interface devices. (Seo, FIG. 1, ¶0026, Examiner notes that signal connections are inherently different that connection devices)
Claim 29 Seo in view of Meng teaches Claim 25, and further teaches wherein the first interface device is configured to at least temporarily receive the first signal from the second interface device via a first signal connection. (Seo, FIG. 1, ¶0026, wherein the devices can receive signals via a Communication Module 190)
Claim 30 Seo in view of Meng teaches Claim 25, and further teaches wherein the first interface device includes, as part of the first interface device, a second connection device configured at least for receiving the first signal from the second interface device. (Seo, FIG. 1, ¶0026, wherein the devices can receive signals via a Communication Module 190)
Claim 31 Seo in view of Meng teaches Claim 30, and further teaches wherein the first interface device is configured to at least temporarily output a second signal via the second connection device to at least one further interface device of the plurality of interface devices. (Seo, FIG. 1, ¶0026, wherein the devices can output signals via a Communication Module 190)
Claim 32 Seo in view of Meng teaches Claim 25, and further teaches wherein the first interface device is configured to output the first signal to at least one further interface device of the plurality of interface devices. (Seo, FIG. 1, ¶0026, wherein the devices can ouput signals via a Communication Module 190)
Claim 35 Seo in view of Meng teaches Claim 30, and further teaches wherein the second connection device includes at least one of the following elements:
a) a first input for receiving at least one signal, from the second interface device, (Seo, FIG. 1, ¶0026, wherein the devices can receive signals via a Communication Module 190)
b) a first output for sending and/or forwarding at least one signal to the second interface device,
c) a second input for receiving at least one signal from at least one further interface device,
d) a second output for sending or forwarding at least one signal to the at least one further interface device.
Claim 36 Seo in view of Meng teaches Claim 35, wherein
a) the first input and the first output are disposed on a same first side of the first interface device, (Seo, FIG. 1, ¶0026, wherein the devices can receive and send signals via a Communication Module 190, wherein this would be on the same side of the device)
and/or b) the second input and the second output are disposed on a same second side of the first interface device, wherein the second side is opposite to the first side.
Claim 37 is taught by Seo in view of Meng as described for Claim 1.
Claim 38 is taught by Seo in view of Meng as described for Claim 1.
Claim 39 is taught by Seo in view of Meng as described for Claim 1.
Claim 41 Seo in view of Meng teaches Claim 39, and further teaches at least one of the following steps: a) at least temporarily receiving the first signal from the second interface device, (Seo, FIG. 1, ¶0026, wherein the devices can receive signals via a Communication Module 190)
b) outputting the first signal via the first connection device,
c) forwarding the first signal to at least one further interface device,
d) checking the first signal.
Claim 45 is taught by Seo in view of Meng as described for Claim 1.
Claim 46 Seo teaches method of using an apparatus, the method comprising:
providing an apparatus, (¶0125, wherein multiple element can be provided as a single component, i.e. an apparatus) the apparatus including:
a plurality of interface devices, (FIG. 5, Electronic Device 101 and External Electronic Device 202, ¶0068) each of the plurality of interface devices including a respective first connection device configured for connecting to a transmission medium, (FIG. 1, ¶0026, wherein the electronic devices comprise devices configured for connecting to a transmission medium, Communication Module 190) wherein a first interface device of the plurality of interface devices is configured to at least temporarily output at least a first signal of at least one second interface device of the plurality of interface devices via its respective first connection device (¶0052, wherein the hotspot device is configured to transmit data from connected device) wherein the first signal is an internal signal of the second interface device; (¶0052, wherein the data is from external device 202, i.e. second interface device) and
using the apparatus for at least one of the following:
a) at least temporarily outputting the first signal of the second interface device and/or a signal of at least one further interface device via the first connection device, (¶0052, wherein the hotspot device is configured to transmit data from connected device)
b) forwarding the first signal of the second interface device and/or the signal of at least one further interface device, to a device which is external to the apparatus,
c) at least temporarily using the first connection device to output signals other than useful signals to a device which is external to the apparatus;
d) using the first connection device for at least temporarily outputting useful signals and for at least temporarily outputting test signals to a device which is external to the apparatus;
e) reducing a number of connection elements of the apparatus for connecting to at least one external component;
f) ascertaining at least one property of the first signal and/or at least one further signal of at least one interface device of the plurality of interface devices, wherein the at least one property includes at least one of the following elements: frequency, frequency stability, fluctuation, jitter, without use or presence of a separate test connection for outputting the first signal and/or the at least one further signal of the at least one interface device of the plurality of interface devices;
g) testing an internal signal of the first interface device of the plurality of interface devices using at least one further interface device of the plurality of interface devices.
However, Seo does not explicitly teach wherein the plurality of interface devices are disposed together on a single semiconductor substrate,
wherein the first signal is transmitted from the second interface device to the first interface device via an internal signal connection provided on the single semiconductor substrate; and
wherein the plurality of interface devices are each configured as Ethernet interface devices.
From a related technology, Meng teaches a plurality of interface devices are disposed together on a single semiconductor substrate, (FIG. 1, I/O 106, ¶0132, wherein a plurality of interface devices 106 are comprised on a single semiconductor substrate) wherein a first signal is transmitted from a second interface device to a first interface device via an internal signal connection provided on the single semiconductor substrate; (¶0132, wherein signals are transmitted to and from interface devices via signal connections internal to computing platform 100 on the semiconductor substrate) and wherein the plurality of interface devices are each configured as Ethernet physical layer interface devices. (¶0132, wherein the interface devices 102 are configured for Ethernet, Examiner notes that this would encompass Layer 1, i.e. physical layer, cover how bits are transmitted over physical media, such as metal paths providing signals amongst the nodes)
It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Seo to incorporate the physical substrate design and configuration taught by Meng in order to more effectively utilize network resources.
Claim 47 Seo in view of Meng teaches Claim 25, and further teaches wherein the apparatus is a system on a chip (SoC). (Meng, ¶0003, apparatus comprises a system on a chip, SoC)
4. Claims 28, 33-34, 40, and 42-44 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Seo et al. (US 20210153294 A1) in view of Meng et al. (US 20220004029 A1) and in further view of Taylor et al. (US 5329431 A).
Claim 28 Seo in view of Meng teaches Claim 25 and further teaches wherein the first signal is generated locally in the second interface device of the plurality of interface devices. (Seo, FIG. 1, ¶0026, wherein the devices can generate signals via a Communication Module 190)
However, Seo does not explicitly teach wherein the first signal is a clock signal.
From a related technology, Taylor teaches a clock signal. (Col. 9, Lines 53-62, wherein a first signal comprises a clock signal)
It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Seo to incorporate well-known networking technology in order to more efficiently utilized network resources by taking advantage of well-known technology.
Claim 33 Seo in view of Meng teaches Claim 25 and further teaches wherein the first interface device is configured to at least temporarily supply the first signal to the line driver. (Seo, FIG. 1, ¶0026, wherein the devices can generate signals via a Communication Module 190)
However, Seo does not explicitly teach wherein the first interface device includes a line driver for the first connection device.
From a related technology, Taylor teaches wherein the first interface device includes a line driver for the first connection device. (Col. 12, Lines 30-36, wherein the device includes a line driver 378)
It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Seo to incorporate well-known networking technology in order to more efficiently utilized network resources.
Claim 34 Seo in view of Meng teaches Claim 25 but does not explicitly teach wherein the first interface device includes a multiplexer device via which the first signal or at least one further signal can at least temporarily be supplied to the first connection device and/or to a line driver, selectively.
From a related technology, Taylor teaches wherein the first interface device includes a multiplexer device via which the first signal or at least one further signal can at least temporarily be supplied to the first connection device (Col. 38, Lines 1-5, wherein the device includes a multiplexer) and/or to a line driver, selectively.
It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Seo to incorporate well-known networking technology in order to more efficiently utilized network resources.
Claim 40 Seo in view of Meng teaches Claim 39 but does not explicitly teach providing and/or generating the first signal locally in the second interface device using a clock generator and/or a clock recovery unit.
From a related technology, Taylor teaches providing and/or generating the first signal locally in the second interface device using a clock generator and/or a clock recovery unit. (Col. 9, Lines 53-62, wherein a first signal comprises a clock signal)
It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Seo to incorporate well-known networking technology in order to more efficiently utilized network resources.
Claim 42 Seo in view of Meng teaches Claim 39 but does not explicitly teach wherein the first interface device includes a line driver for the first connection device, and wherein the method further comprises:
at least temporarily supplying the first signal to the line driver; and
outputting the first signal through the line driver to the first connection device.
From a related technology, Taylor teaches wherein the first interface device includes a line driver for the first connection device, (Col. 12, Lines 30-36, wherein the device includes a line driver 378) and wherein the method further comprises:
at least temporarily supplying the first signal to the line driver; (Col. 12, Lines 30-57, wherein the signal is supplied to the line driver) and
outputting the first signal through the line driver to the first connection device. (Col. 12, Lines 30-36, wherein the signal is output from the line driver)
It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Seo to incorporate well-known networking technology in order to more efficiently utilized network resources.
Claim 43 Seo in view of Meng teaches Claim 39 but does not explicitly teach wherein the first interface device includes a multiplexer device, and wherein the method further comprises:
a) at least temporarily supplying, using the multiplexer device, the first signal to the first connection device and/or to a line driver for the first connection device,
b) at least temporarily supplying, using the multiplexer device, at least one further signal to the first connection device and/or to the line driver for the first connection device.
From a related technology, Taylor teaches wherein the first interface device includes a multiplexer device, (Col. 38, Lines 1-5, wherein the device includes a multiplexer) and wherein the method further comprises:
a) at least temporarily supplying, using the multiplexer device, the first signal to the first connection device and/or to a line driver for the first connection device, (Col. 38, Lines 19-37, using a multiplexer to supply a signal to another device)
b) at least temporarily supplying, using the multiplexer device, at least one further signal to the first connection device and/or to the line driver for the first connection device. (Col. 38, Lines 19-37, using a multiplexer to supply a signal to another device)
It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Seo to incorporate well-known networking technology in order to more efficiently utilized network resources.
Claim 44 Seo in view of Meng teaches Claim 39 and further teaches shifting the first interface device into an operating mode (Examiner notes that this would merely be the general operating mode of the device) in which the first interface device is configured to receive the first signal of the second interface device and output the first signal of the second interface device via the first connection device of the first interface device. (Seo, FIG. 1, ¶0026, wherein the devices can generate signals via a Communication Module 190)
However, Seo does not explicitly tech connecting the second interface device to an external interface device, the external device being a link partner, wherein the link partner is configured as a master, and wherein the second interface device is configured as a slave;
connecting a test device to the first connection device of the first interface device; and receiving and/or evaluating the first signal output via the first connection device of the first interface device using the test device.
From a related technology, Taylor teaches connecting the second interface device to an external interface device, the external device being a link partner, wherein the link partner is configured as a master, and wherein the second interface device is configured as a slave; (FIG. 16, Col. 4, Lines 57-59, wherein the device are connected to another device having a master/slave relationship)
connecting a test device to the first connection device of the first interface device; and receiving and/or evaluating the first signal output via the first connection device of the first interface device using the test device. (Col. 25, Lines 28-50, wherein testing is conducted via a connected device and receiving signals using the device)
It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Seo to incorporate well-known networking technology in order to more efficiently utilized network resources.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER PALACA CADORNA whose telephone number is (571)270-0584. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10:00-7:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, John Follansbee can be reached at (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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/CHRISTOPHER P CADORNA/Examiner, Art Unit 2444
/JOHN A FOLLANSBEE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2444
Prosecution Insights