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 § 112 - Indefinite
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 1-20 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.
Claim 1, lines 4-5 recites:
determining whether a network parameter configuration message broadcasted by the OLT is received in a standby state;
This element introduces a “network parameter configuration message broadcasted by the OLT” and “received in a standby state” within the functionality of the “determining” step. In other words, these elements are inferentially claimed and it is not clear if they are required steps in the claimed method. If they are required, then the Examiner suggests affirmatively claiming them to avoid confusion. For example:
1. A registration method of an optical network unit (ONU), the ONU being in communication with an optical line termination (OLT), the registration method comprising the following processes:
receiving, while the ONU is in a standby state, a network parameter configuration message broadcast by the OLT;
determining whether [[a]] the network parameter configuration message broadcast [[is]] was received [[in a]] while the ONU was in the standby state;
...
On the other hand, if these elements are not required then it is not clear how to interpret the “determining” step (i.e., it is not clear how the determination can be made without these elements being performed/required in the method).
Claim 1, lines 4-5 recites:
determining whether a network parameter configuration message broadcasted by the OLT is received in a standby state;
The term “broadcasted” appears to be a typographical error. If it is consistent with Applicant’s intentions, then the Examiner suggests “broadcast”.
Claim 1, lines 4-5 recites:
determining whether a network parameter configuration message broadcasted by the OLT is received in a standby state;
It is not clear what is “in a standby state”. Based on the Examiner’s understanding of the teachings of the application, it seems most likely that it is the ONU that should be in the standby state. However, this language does not reference the ONU and the “in a standby state” appears to be modifying the message or the “receiving” language (which may or may not be a required element of the claim, as discussed above). As a result, it is not clear how to interpret this element of the claim. See the sample claim amendment above for an example of how to clarify this aspect of the claim.
Claim 1, lines 4-5 recites:
in response to determining that the network parameter configuration message is received, entering a serial number state, and generating a timing duration;
It is not clear if this means that the “determining” step in lines 4-5 has determined that the message is received, or if this language means “if” it was determined that the message was received. In the latter case, this element seems to be optional (i.e., only required “if” it was determined that the message is received), and it is not clear how to interpret this as an optional element in light of the other elements of the claim.
Claim 1, lines 6-8 recites:
in response to determining that the network parameter configuration message is received, entering a serial number state, and generating a timing duration;
This is not the same as the “determining” step in lines 4-5. In particular, the determining step in lines 6-8 does not require that it is received “in a standby state”. Therefore, it is not clear if this is a reference to the same determining step (in which case the Examiner suggests making the language more consistent) or a different determining step (in which case it is not clear if this new “determining” step is a required limitation, and it is not clear how to interpret this new “determining” language).
Claim 1, lines 4-5 recites:
in response to determining that the network parameter configuration message is received, entering a serial number state, and generating a timing duration;
It is not clear what scope to give “timing duration” or how it is generated. The written description uses this term (e.g., see [0037], [0045], [0047], [0048], [0049]), but does not describe it in more detail.
Claim 1, lines 9-10 recites:
receiving at least one serial number request message from the OLT in the serial number state;
It is not clear if “in the serial number state” is the state of the ONU (see line 7) or if it is the state of the OLT. If it is the ONU, then the Examiner suggests:
receiving, while the ONU is in the serial number state, at least one serial number request message from the OLT ;
If this is the state of the OLT, then it appears to lack antecedent basis because line 7 appears to be with reference to the ONU.
Claim 1, lines 11-12 recites:
transmitting a serial number response message to the OLT upon each receipt of the serial number request message in the serial number state
It is not clear if “in the serial number state” is the state of the ONU (see line 7) or if it is a characteristic of the serial number request message. If it is a state of the ONU, then the Examiner suggests:
transmitting, while the ONU is in the serial number state, a serial number response message to the OLT upon each receipt of the serial number request message
If it is a characteristic of the serial number request message, then it appears to lack antecedent basis because line 7 appears to be with reference to the ONU.
Claim 1, last paragraph recites:
in response to determining that the identifier allocation message is received while the timing duration does not exceed the discovery time, entering a ranging state
This step is “in response to determining ...”, but the claim does not recite performing the particular determination. Line 14 recites:
determining whether an identifier allocation message is received
But line 14 does not recite the other determination criteria recited in the last paragraph. Therefore, it is not clear how to interpret the last paragraph.
Claim 3 recites “the at least one sequence number request message”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation. See claim 1, line 16 which recites “two” sequence request messages.
Claim 4 recites “the time characteristic”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation. It may be that this claim should depend from claim 2.
Claim 6 recites “the transmission cycle”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation.
Claim 7 recites “the corresponding ONU”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation. Also, this language suggests that there is more than one ONU, but the claim language only appears to recite one ONU.
Claims 2-9 are rejected because they depend from one or more of the rejected claims and they fail to further limit the scope in a manner to overcome the rejections.
Claim 10 is an ONU configured to perform functionality consistent with method claim 1. Claim 10 is rejected for the reasons discussed in claim 1.
Claim 14 recites “the plurality of serial number request message”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation. See claim 10, line 10 which recites “at least one” serial number request messages.
Claim 16 recites “the transmission cycle”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation.
Claims 11-20 are rejected because they depend from one or more of the rejected claims and they fail to further limit the scope in a manner to overcome the rejections.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 2022/0123837 (Kim; cited by Applicant) at FIG. 5 illustrates an ONU activation process.
PNG
media_image1.png
452
790
media_image1.png
Greyscale
See:
[0052] Referring to FIG. 5, when an ONU activation process event occurs periodically, the OLT may transmit a ranging notification to the CU/DU device. When the OLT receives scheduling information for RU service from the CU/DU device, the ONU activation process may be performed in accordance with the 125 μs downstream cycle.
[0053] For example, the OLT may open the 250 μs quiet zone in a first 125 μs upstream cycle after transmitting a “serial_number request” (SN Req) map to the ONU. When the ONU receives the “serial_number request” (SN Req) map, the ONU may transmit an “acknowledgement” (SN Res) PLOAM message to the OLT after a minimum ONU response time of 34 μs, a start time of 77 μs, and a random delay between 0 μs and 48 μs. This response message may arrive at the OLT, with a variation being between 0 μs and 48 μs by the random delay used in the ONU. For example, when registration of an ONU present at a distance of 20 km is performed, the response message may arrive at the OLT after an optical fiber delay time of 200 μs.
[0054] When the OLT receives the “serial_number response” (SN Res) PLOAM message, the OLT may transmit an “Assign_ONUID” (ONUID assign) PLOAM message in accordance with a 125 μs downstream cycle, transmit a “ranging request” (RN Req) map to the ONU in a next 125 μs downstream cycle, and then open the 250 μs quiet zone again in a next 125 μs upstream cycle.
[0055] When the ONU receives the “ranging request” (RN Req) map, the ONU may transmit the “acknowledgement” (RN Res) PLOAM message after the minimum ONU response time of 34 μs and the start time of 77 μs. In a case of an ONU present at a distance of 0 km, it may arrive at a start time of a 125 μs upstream cycle. In a case of an ONU present at a distance of 20 km, it may arrive after a 200 μs upstream cycle. When the distance measurement is completed, the OLT may transmit to the ONU an equalized delay (EqD) through an “Assign_EqD” PLOAM.
This teaches a registration process including
US 2014/0178072 (Yoo) at FIG. 2 illustrates a method for registering ONTs in a PON.
PNG
media_image2.png
652
448
media_image2.png
Greyscale
See also:
[0022] FIG. 2 is a signal flow chart illustrating a registration operation of the optical network terminals having overlapping serial numbers in a passive optical network system in accordance with some example embodiments of the inventive concept.
[0025] If the quiet zone is opened, the OLT 100 transmits a serial number request message requesting a serial number in the form of broadcast (S103).
[0026] The first ONT 210 which received a serial number request message transmits a serial number response message including a serial number and a random delay value to the OLT 100 (S105). The serial number response message is a kind of control message and includes a serial number and a random delay value. The first ONT 210 may store a random delay value in an internal memory.
[0028] The OLT 100 transmits an ONU_ID allocation message which allocated the ONU_ID to the first ONT 210 (S107). If the first ONT 210 is allocated the ONU-ID, it completes a serial registration operation. After that, the OLT 100 and the first ONT 210 may perform a ranging operation.
In other words, this teaches a method of registering ONTs in a PON in which particular messages are sent between the devices.
US 2009/0208227 (Yoshida) at FIG. 4 illustrates a registration process starting with the OLT sending a serial number request and the ONU sending an ack. Then the OLT sends an assignONUID message and a ranging request, after which the ONU sends an ack. Then the ranging distance is measured, after which the OLT sends an “Assign EqD” message. At this point the ONU is registered.
PNG
media_image3.png
666
482
media_image3.png
Greyscale
In particular, step S4 teaches “Transmit permission for issuing signal light to unregistered ONU;
Step S7 teaches: “Decrease and set gain … and register gain as ‘necessary gain information’”; and Step S9 teaches “Receive ‘confirmation of registration notification’ from ONU. See also:
[0047] In operation S8, as same as in the case of the normal discovery process, after identification information (LLID) is assigned to the unregistered ONU, a downward signal light that indicates a "registration notification" is transmitted to the ONU and the ONU transmits a downward signal light that indicates "permission for issuing upward signal light". In the ONU that has received the "registration notification" and the "permission for issuing upward signal light" from the OLT 1, transmits an upward signal light that indicates a "confirmation of the registration notification" is transmitted. In operation S9, when the OLT 1 receives the "confirmation of the registration notification", and the discovery process ends.
FIG. 2 illustrates a PON including an OLT 1 and plural ONUs 2.
PNG
media_image4.png
320
602
media_image4.png
Greyscale
FIG. 8 illustrates the PON at a high level, and FIGS. 1 and 5 illustrate details of the OLT, and
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DARREN WOLF whose telephone number is (571)270-3378. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
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, KENNETH can be reached at 571-272-3078. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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.
/DARREN E WOLF/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2634
