CTNF 18/847,411 CTNF 78695 07-03-fti AIA The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions. DETAILED ACTION Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 9/16/2024 is noted. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. 07-15-aia AIA Claim(s) 36-37,42-43,45-49 and 55-61 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a)(1) as being anticipated by Vandenhought ( US 2003/0147356 A1) . Re claims 36, 47, 57 e.g. (since the elements of claim 47 are represented for the most part in claims 36 and 57) Vandenhought disclosedAn optical network comprising: a plurality of optical network nodes; and a first optical fiber coupled to each of the plurality of optical network nodes; wherein each of the plurality of optical network nodes comprises: a first optical add-drop multiplexer (OADM) coupled to the first optical fiber; a transceiver comprising a receiver and a transmitter; and an optical configuration unit coupled between the transceiver and the first OADM, wherein the optical configuration unit is operable to selectively couple the receiver to the first OADM so as to receive a first optical signal dropped from the first optical fiber or to selectively couple the transmitter to the first OADM SO as to add a second optical signal to the first optical fiber.( see e.g. Figures 2 and 3, Par. [0026], [0027], [0029] and [0036] ). Re claims 37, 42, 43, 45, 46, 48, 49, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60 and 61 Vandenhought disclosed the aforementioned claims. For example The first optical network node of claim 36, wherein the first OADM comprises a first channel port coupled to the first optical fiber, wherein the optical configuration unit is operable to selectively couple the receiver to the first channel port so as to receive the first optical signal dropped from the first optical fiber, and wherein the optical configuration unit is operable to selectively couple the transmitter to the first channel port so as to add the second optical signal to the first optical fiber. .( see e.g. Figures 2 and 3, Par. [0026], [0027], [0029] and [0036] ). It is noted that any citations to specific, pages, columns, lines, or figures in the prior art references and any interpretation of the reference should not be considered to be limiting in any way. A reference is relevant for all it contains and may be relied upon for all that it would have reasonably suggested to one having ordinary skill in the art. See MPEP 2123 . Allowable Subject Matter 12-151-08 AIA 07-43 12-51-08 Claim s 36-37,42-43,45-49 and 55-61 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. Conclusion 07-96 AIA The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure : Fujita (US 2006/0269284 A1) . Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to David C Payne whose telephone number is (571)272-3024. The examiner can normally be reached M-W Teleworking 6:30a -2:30p. 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. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /DAVID C PAYNE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2635 Application/Control Number: 18/847,411 Page 2 Art Unit: 2635 Application/Control Number: 18/847,411 Page 3 Art Unit: 2635
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