Prior art

Analysis of Prior Art for U.S. Patent No. 11,589,142

Patent under Analysis:

• Patent Number: US 11,589,142 B2
• Title: Mutually secure optical data network and method
• Publication Date: February 21, 2023
• Assignee: SPADA Innovations Inc.
• Summary of Invention: The patent describes a method for providing secure communication in a Passive Optical Network (PON). The core of the invention involves using a primary PON interface router to create virtually separated data streams for different users. This is achieved by generating unique virtual routing tables using Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) and then labeling the separated IP data packages with Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS). The MPLS-labeled data is sent to a secondary router, converted back to IP, forwarded to an Optical Line Terminal (OLT), aggregated into a common feed, and then distributed to Optical Network Units (ONUs). Each ONU extracts the data intended for its specific user. This architecture aims to securely isolate traffic for different tenants or users on a shared optical network.

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Prior Art Analysis

The following analysis details the prior art references cited during the prosecution of the '142 patent and assesses their potential for anticipating the patent's claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102. Anticipation requires that a single prior art reference discloses every element of a claimed invention.

1. US 6,693,878 B1

• Full Citation: "Technique and apparatus for using node ID as virtual private network (VPN) identifiers," Cisco Technology, Inc.
• Publication Date: February 17, 2004 (Filed: October 15, 1999)
• Brief Description: This patent discloses a method for creating and managing Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) by using a unique node identifier for each node in a network. It describes encapsulating data packets with a VPN identifier to distinguish traffic for different VPNs, a concept foundational to traffic separation.
• Potential Anticipation: This reference teaches the use of identifiers to create and manage VPNs, which is a form of virtual separation. However, it does not appear to disclose the specific combination of a primary and secondary PON interface router architecture, the use of VRF to generate unique routing tables, and the subsequent use of MPLS for labeling as recited in claim 1 of the '142 patent. While it addresses the general concept of virtual networks, it likely does not anticipate the specific implementation claimed in the '142 patent.

2. US 2002/0141421 A1

• Full Citation: "Virtual ethernet ports with automated router port extension," Jean-Lou Dupont.
• Publication Date: October 3, 2002 (Filed: November 1, 2000)
• Brief Description: This application describes a system for creating virtual Ethernet ports, allowing a single physical port to support multiple logical connections. This is used to extend the capabilities of a router, enabling traffic segregation and management for different virtual networks.
• Potential Anticipation: The reference discloses the concept of virtualizing network resources to separate traffic. However, it does not explicitly teach the application of this concept within a Passive Optical Network (PON), nor the specific method of using VRF and MPLS in a dual-router setup connected to an OLT as claimed. Its focus is on virtual ports in a more general routing context, making a direct anticipation of the detailed steps in claim 1 unlikely.

3. US 2004/0223500 A1

• Full Citation: "Communications network with converged services," Onvoy, Inc.
• Publication Date: November 11, 2004 (Filed: May 8, 2003)
• Brief Description: This document describes a converged communications network that handles various types of data (voice, video, data) over a single infrastructure. It discusses methods for managing and routing these different service types.
• Potential Anticipation: While addressing converged services, which is a feature of the network described in the '142 patent, this reference does not appear to detail the specific security architecture of using VRF and MPLS in a PON to create virtually separated private streams for different users. The focus is on service convergence rather than the granular, secure separation method claimed.

4. US 2007/0092249 A1

• Full Citation: "System and Method for Traffic Distribution in an Optical Network," Yoichi Akasaka.
• Publication Date: April 26, 2007 (Filed: October 20, 2005)
• Brief Description: This application relates to managing and distributing traffic in an optical network. It discusses techniques for allocating bandwidth and routing data streams to different destinations within the network.
• Potential Anticipation: This reference is relevant as it operates in the optical networking space. However, its teachings are focused on traffic distribution and management. It is unlikely to disclose the specific combination of using a primary and secondary PON interface router, VRF for creating unique virtual routing tables, and MPLS for packet labeling to achieve secure data separation as outlined in claim 1.

5. US 2008/0212598 A1

• Full Citation: "System and Method for Transparent Virtual Routing," Tut Systems, Inc.
• Publication Date: September 4, 2008 (Filed: May 16, 2003)
• Brief Description: This patent application discloses a method for providing transparent virtual routing, which allows different user groups to share a network infrastructure while maintaining separate routing domains. This is conceptually similar to the goals of the '142 patent.
• Potential Anticipation: This reference's disclosure of "transparent virtual routing" is highly relevant. It teaches the creation of separate routing domains on a shared infrastructure. However, for anticipation, it would need to disclose the application of this concept in a PON architecture involving a primary/secondary router setup, the explicit use of VRF and MPLS, and the interaction with an OLT and ONUs as claimed. Without these specific elements, it would not anticipate claim 1.

6. US 2008/0273877 A1

• Full Citation: "System and Method for Managing Communication in a Hybrid Passive Optical Network," Paparao Palacharla.
• Publication Date: November 6, 2008 (Filed: May 2, 2007)
• Brief Description: This application describes a hybrid PON system that combines different optical networking technologies. It focuses on methods for managing communications and ensuring quality of service across this hybrid environment.
• Potential Anticipation: The reference is set in the context of a PON. However, its primary focus is on managing communication in a hybrid network. It is unlikely to describe the specific security method of using VRF and MPLS in the claimed dual-router architecture to achieve virtual separation for security purposes.

7. US 2011/0206370 A1

• Full Citation: "Low-Energy Optical Network Architecture," Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
• Publication Date: August 25, 2011 (Filed: February 23, 2010)
• Brief Description: This application proposes an optical network architecture designed for low energy consumption. It details components and configurations of an optical network, including elements similar to those in a PON.
• Potential Anticipation: The focus of this reference is on energy efficiency. While it describes optical network architectures, it does not appear to teach the specific security and data separation techniques using VRF and MPLS as the inventive concept. The motivation and the technical solution are different from those in the '142 patent. Therefore, anticipation is unlikely.

8. US 2012/0014693 A1

• Full Citation: "Passive Optical Network with Adaptive Filters for Upstream Transmission Management," Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
• Publication Date: January 19, 2012 (Filed: July 13, 2010)
• Brief Description: This document focuses on managing upstream transmissions in a PON. It proposes using adaptive filters to improve the efficiency and reliability of data sent from user terminals (ONUs) back to the central office (OLT).
• Potential Anticipation: This reference is specific to the management of upstream traffic in a PON. It does not address the secure, virtual separation of downstream traffic using a dual-router architecture with VRF and MPLS, which is the core of the '142 patent's claims.

9. US 2012/0128349 A1

• Full Citation: "Passive optical network system, station side apparatus and power consumption control method," Hitachi, Ltd.
• Publication Date: May 24, 2012 (Filed: November 19, 2010)
• Brief Description: This reference discloses a PON system with a focus on controlling power consumption. It describes methods for putting parts of the network into a sleep state to save energy.
• Potential Anticipation: The inventive concept here is power management within a PON. The reference is unlikely to disclose the specific multi-step security method involving VRF, MPLS, primary/secondary routers, and an OLT for the purpose of secure data separation.

10. US 2013/0010640 A1

• Full Citation: "Network management system and management computer," Alaxala Networks Corporation.
• Publication Date: January 10, 2013 (Filed: July 4, 2011)
• Brief Description: This application describes a system for managing a network, including features for configuring and monitoring network devices.
• Potential Anticipation: This reference pertains to general network management. It does not appear to teach the specific data communication method claimed in the '142 patent, which details a particular architecture and protocol combination (PON, VRF, MPLS) for achieving secure virtual separation.

11. US 2013/0084063 A1

• Full Citation: "Hitless protection for traffic received from 1+1 protecting line cards in high-speed switching systems," NEC Laboratories America, Inc.
• Publication Date: April 4, 2013 (Filed: September 29, 2011)
• Brief Description: This document describes a method for providing redundancy and protection in high-speed switching systems to prevent traffic loss in case of a component failure.
• Potential Anticipation: The focus of this reference is on network reliability and hitless protection switching, not on the secure separation of user data streams in a multi-user PON environment using VRF and MPLS. The technical problem it solves is different from that addressed by the '142 patent.

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Disclaimer: This analysis is based on a review of the provided patent document and its cited references. A definitive legal opinion on patent validity would require a more exhaustive search and legal analysis.