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
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) 1 and 6-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Sato, US Patent, US Patent No. 6,477,288.
Regarding claim 1, Sato teaches an optical line switching system comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring transmission path information indicating a configuration of a network that transmits an optical signal via a plurality of relay nodes and a transmission path of the optical signal transmitted by the network (see col. 7, line 60 to col. 8, line 22, col. 12 line 1+); and a determination step of determining arrangement of optical amplifiers in the network by grouping a plurality of optical fibers passing through the same relay node based on the transmission path information, and determining whether optical amplification is required in each of the relay nodes for each group of the optical fibers ( see Fig. 1A-1B; embodiment 1 in the specification, the above node arrangement enhances network reliability and reduces network cost by decreasing the number of system components that are required to implement the optical network protection schemes; particularly, the number of optical switches and optical amplifiers are minimized relative to the conventional system.
Regarding claim 6, Sato teaches an optical line switching system comprising: an acquire configured to acquire transmission path information indicating a configuration of a network that transmits an optical signal via a plurality of relay nodes and a transmission path of the optical signal transmitted by the network (see col. 7, line 60 to col. 8, line 22, col. 12 line 1+); and a determine configured to determine arrangement of optical amplifiers in the network by grouping a plurality of optical fibers passing through the same relay node based on the transmission path information, and to determine whether optical amplification is required in each of the relay nodes for each group of the optical fibers ( see Fig. 1A-1B; embodiment 1 in the specification, the above node arrangement enhances network reliability and reduces network cost by decreasing the number of system components that are required to implement the optical network protection schemes; particularly, the number of optical switches and optical amplifiers are minimized relative to the conventional system.
Regarding claim 7, Sato teaches an optical line switching system comprising: an acquire configured to acquire transmission path information indicating a configuration of a network that transmits an optical signal via a plurality of relay devices and a transmission path of the optical signal transmitted by the network (see col. 7, line 60 to col. 8, line 22, col. 12 line 1+); and a determine configured to determine arrangement of optical amplifiers in the network by grouping a plurality of optical fibers passing through this device itself or a plurality of optical fibers passing through the same relay device other than this device, based on the transmission path information, and to determine whether optical amplification is required in each of the relay devices for each group of the optical fibers ( see Fig. 1A-1B; embodiment 1 in the specification, the above node arrangement enhances network reliability and reduces network cost by decreasing the number of system components that are required to implement the optical network protection schemes; particularly, the number of optical switches and optical amplifiers are minimized relative to the conventional system.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-5 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The applicant teaches an optical amplifier arrangement method which includes setting up a transmission path information indicating a configuration of a network that transmits an optical signal via a plurality of relay nodes and a transmission path of the optical signal transmitted by the network, positioning optical amplifiers in the network by grouping a plurality of optical fibers passing through the same relay node based on the transmission path information, wherein when the number of optical fibers grouped in the relay node is M and the number of optical amplifiers per relay node of each group is N, transmission of the optical signal is simulated for possible patterns made by combinations of M and N values to determine the arrangement of the optical amplifiers. These limitations in conjunction with other limitations in the claims were not shown by the prior art of record.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 09/21/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. See examiner remarks.
Remarks:
In response to the applicant’s argument regarding claim 1, the examiner respectfully disagrees. The prior art arranges the optical amplifiers with a specific configuration as shown in figures 1A and 1B, at some point a determination was made to configure the network in such a manner and a number of optical amplifiers was included in the network, this is an indication that it was determined that it was necessary to have the specific number optical amplifiers. With respect to the optical fibers, it is shown in the figures that the optical fibers are positioned or grouped according to a specific arrangement, this is also an indication that it was determined to position the optical fibers in such a manner. It appears that the applicant’s arguments are more comprehensive than the claim’s language. The claim does not recite varying the number or arrangement of the optical fibers. The applicant’ argument is not persuasive. Refer to the rejection above.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL ST CYR whose telephone number is (571)272-2407. The examiner can normally be reached M to F 8:00-8:00.
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, Pham Thomas can be reached at 571-272-3689. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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DANIEL ST CYR
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2876
/DANIEL ST CYR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876
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