Appeal 2007-2223
Application 09/975,168
Appellants have invented a method of transmitting optical signals
over a multi-mode network bus in a closed-loop optical network system
utilizing wavelength division multiplexing of signals (Specification 2).
Claim 1, which is representative of the claims on appeal, reads as
follows:
1. A closed-loop optical network system comprising:
a multi-mode network bus for transmitting a plurality of optical
signals;
a multiplexer capable of wavelength division multiplexing a plurality
of input optical signals for transmission via the network bus, wherein the
plurality of input optical signals have a plurality of predetermined optical
wavelengths;
a plurality of remote devices optically connected to the network bus,
wherein said plurality of remote devices are capable of reading optical
signals having respective predefined optical wavelengths off of the network
bus, and wherein said plurality of remote devices are further capable of
writing optical signals having respective predefined optical wavelengths
onto the network bus; and
a demultiplexer capable of receiving optical signals having at least
one of the plurality of predetermined optical wavelengths from the network
bus and thereafter wavelength division demultiplexing the optical signals
into a plurality of output optical signals.
The prior art relied upon by the Examiner in rejecting the claims on
appeal is:
Polczynski US 4,089,584 May 16, 1978
Sharma US 5,717,795 Feb. 10, 1998
Stamatios V. Kartalopoulos (hereinafter Kartalopoulos), “Introduction to
DWDM Technology: Data in a Rainbow,” IEEE Press, pp. 37, 41, 42, and
194, 2000.
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