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 .
Examiner finds no 35 USC 101 rejections in the current claim language.
Examiner finds no credible double patenting rejections in the current claim language.
Claim Objections
Claims 1 – 20 are objected to because of the following informalities:
The phrase “look up” (claim 1, line 6; claim 6, line 2; claim 7, line 1; claim 11, line 5; claim 16, line 8) should be “lookup” for consistency in the claim language.
Claim 16 recites the limitation "circuitry" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Examiner recommends the language “the circuitry”;
Claim 16 recites the limitation "a network interface device" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Examiner recommends the language “the network interface device”.
Examiner recommends a thorough review of the claim language in order to correct other possible antecedent basis concerns.
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.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 11 – 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
There is no clear statement in independent claims 11 and 16 as to the purpose of these independent claims, namely performing a route lookup for a packet.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 – 10 are allowed.
For future email communications (including interview agendas), Applicant should file the appropriate PTO form (PTO/SB/439) or file an air interview request.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KENNETH R COULTER whose telephone number is (571)272-3879. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 9am-5pm (EST).
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Oscar Louie can be reached at M-H, 7:30am-2:30pm (EST) (571-270-1684). The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KENNETH R COULTER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2445
/KRC/
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