Appeal No. 2002-1383
Application No. 08/868,972
BACKGROUND
The invention relates to communication systems and, in particular, to the
creation, maintenance, use, and deletion of virtual channels in a network environment.
We will discuss “virtual channels” (or “virtual circuits”) and “a virtual bunch” in the claim
interpretation section of this opinion. Claims 1 and 11, representative of the invention,
are reproduced below.
1. A switching node, comprising:
a. a switching matrix; and
b. a controller to control said switching matrix, said controller
configured to set up at least one group of virtual circuits to respective one
or more destinations as a virtual circuit bunch.
11. In a digital switching network having a plurality of interconnected
nodes, a method of allocating virtual circuits, comprising the step of:
a. providing an element for performing the step of establishing a
plurality of virtual circuits from one node to at least one other node as a
virtual circuit bunch in response to a single request.
The examiner relies on the following references:
Suzuki 4,884,263 Nov. 28, 1989
Fisk 5,274,643 Dec. 28, 1993
Hiller et al. (Hiller) 5,345,445 Sep. 6, 1994
Subramanian et al. (Subramanian) 5,519,707 May 21, 1996
Claims 1, 2, 6, 7, 10, 11, 16, 19, 21, and 22 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102
as being anticipated by Subramanian.
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