101 Rejection Reference Database – Art Unit 3624
Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, Agriculture, National Security and License & Review
Patent examiner: Choy, Pan
| Patent Assignee | Patent Application |
| IBM | 15/415115 |
Digital wallet payment system and process
Patent Abstract
An embodiment of the invention provides for multiple service classes within a controllable transit system (e.g., a PRT system), by route allocation according to service class priority. Routes are optimized for vehicles needing or entitled to the highest service level, then remaining capacity is used to optimize routes for the next lower service class. Such optimization can be extended indefinitely, through “N” service classes of service. In addition, an embodiment of the invention allows the cataloging of PRT capacity and vehicle types/roles/emissions, as well as related business models. The system provided hereunder provides a means of ensuring that various service classes of system users can be given treatment according to the service class in which they reside. Such prioritization leads to a more flexible system, with higher user satisfaction and a greater number of available business models (e.g., “pay for service class”) permissible within the transit system.
Reason for 101 Rejection | CTNF 6/2/2020
The claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. The current limitations as drafted are directed to concepts for route planning and resource optimization, both fundamental economic principles of organizing human activity. The use of the routing server does not integrate the judicial exception to a practical application beyond through the application of the idea to generic computing components.
Remarks on Overcoming the 101 Rejection | REM 8/25/2020
The claims are directed to a system comprising a plurality of PRT vehicles and a routing server. These elements are physical items and cannot be performed by the human mind. Assuming arguendo there is a judicial exception it is integrated into a practical application. The claimed transit system includes tangible technologies, and executing instructions to make a vehicle travel is certainly a practical application. People need to be able to travel to make society function; this embodiment fulfills a practical need of humanity.
Patent examiner: Choy, Pan
| Patent Assignee | Patent Application |
| Trinity groves restaurant incubator partners | 14/688619 |
Apparatus supporting restaurant incubation and related methods
Patent Abstract
An apparatus includes at least one memory configured to store information identifying performances of multiple restaurants associated with an incubator project. The apparatus also includes at least one processor configured to correlate the performances of the restaurants over time to identify when one restaurant’s performance is dependent upon one or more other restaurants’ performances. The at least one processor could be configured to correlate the performances of the restaurants by correlating peak customer visits to the restaurants over time. The at least one processor could also be configured to correlate the peak customer visits to identify whether a specified one of the restaurants is visited more frequently when others of the restaurants are busier.
Reason for 101 Rejection | CTFR 5/13/2020
The claims are directed to a judicial exception relating to the limitations of the mind. Tracking the movement of a mobile device through the use of a computer processor that do not constitute to significantly more than the judicial exception.
Remarks on Overcoming the 101 Rejection | REM 7/13/2020
The use of at least one processor coupled with the capability to track a device as a whole could not be performed mentally. The claims have been amended to recite that the tracking is based on detection of the device on a wireless network. The human mind cannot perceive wireless connections therefore the tracking operation cannot be observed. Further the application integrates any claimed judicial exceptions into a practical application. The claimed features provide an improvement on computer technology by reducing processing time of different systems by only needing to perform a single communication with the customer bank. The claims also provide an improvement to another technology in the payment processing field by identifying the division of payment to the plurality of restaurants.
Patent examiner: Choy, Pan
| Patent Assignee | Patent Application |
| IQ4 | 13/958524 |
Skilled based, staffing system coordinated with communication based, project management application
Patent Abstract
This dynamically active, skills collaboration system provides a comprehensive, skills-oriented posting and matching environment, an action-oriented engagement framework and an interactive project platform that supports virtual 24×7 connectivity from anywhere in the world with operational audit support.
Reason for 101 Rejection | CTFR 5/13/2020
The claimed concept is directed to managing relationships or interactions between people using generic computing components and is therefore Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity. The additional generic computing elements that do not impose any meaningful limits on the practicing of that idea.
Remarks on Overcoming the 101 Rejection | REM 5/7/2020
Directly goes to step 2A analysis, where even if the claims are deemed within an abstract grouping they are still patent eligible because the current amendments result in a practical application. Citing Example 42 of Patentable Examples issued by the PTO, applicant identifies that the additional elements recite improvements over prior art by allowing remote users to share information in real time, demonstrating the recited claim is not directed to the judicial exception.
Patent examiner: Choy, Pan
| Patent Assignee | Patent Application |
| IBM | 15/833421 |
Detecting user proximity in a physical area and managing physical interactions
Patent Abstract
A system manages physical interactions between users. The system analyzes wireless signals transmitted by a plurality of user devices within a physical area to identify one or more first users within proximity of a second user in the physical area. Actions of the second user are monitored to determine a level of concentration of the second user in performing a task. A probability of a physical interaction of the one or more first users with the second user causing loss of focus by the second user is determined, and physical interactions of the one or more first users with the second user are managed based on the determined probability to maintain focus of the second user on the task. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for managing physical interactions between users in substantially the same manner described above.
Reason for 101 Rejection | CTNF 11/1/2019
Nothing in the claim elements precludes the steps from practically being performed in the human mind. The additional elements of the claims amount to no more than generic computing components meant to apply the abstract idea in a particular technological environment. This does not integrate the abstract idea into practical application, thus the claims are directed to an abstract idea.
Remarks on Overcoming the 101 Rejection | REM 1/24/2020
Monitoring users to establish a wireless communication network to avoid distracting users on the network does not fall into any of the subject matter groupings of abstract ideas and are therefore not directed to a judicial exception. This system improves monitoring systems by being able to determine locations of users and anticipate their interactions to improve on the functioning of a computer or other technology. The improvement demonstrates the integration of any alleged judicial exception into practical application.
Patent examiner: Choy, Pan
| Patent Assignee | Patent Application |
| IBM | 14/079691 |
Implementing an end-of-life purchase
Patent Abstract
A system and method of implementing an end-of-life purchase of an item used in manufacturing. A method includes comparing a supply of an article to a demand for the article. The method also includes securing an amount of the article when the supply does not exceed the demand by a predetermined threshold, and waiting a predetermined period of time before repeating the comparing when the supply exceeds the demand by the predetermined threshold.
Reason for 101 Rejection | CTFR 1/3/2018
The claimed elements are directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. There is no inventive concept, and the limitations of the claims do not yield an improvement to computers or any other kind of technology or technical field.
Remarks on Overcoming the 101 Rejection | ADPR 12/6/2019
Even if the claims are regarded as pertaining to an abstract idea the actual manufacturing step of integrating the article with components required to manufacture a chip can most certainly not be performed entirely in the human mind. Thus the manufacturing limitation is physical rather than a conceptual one. The 101 rejection is not sustained because the examiner did not establish a prima facie case of ineligibility.
Examiner: Bains, Sarjit
| Patent Assignee | Patent Application |
| Career analytics network, inc. | 14/637331 |
Computer implemented method for personal attribute valuation and matching with occupations and organizations
Patent Abstract
This patent discloses a method of a personal attribute valuation system to assess a users organizational and occupational fitness. The system uses an assessment to convert users attributes into scores that can be used by the computer to generate the user-occupation fit score.
Reason for 101 Rejection | CTFR 3/6/2019
The claims are directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. The correlation of user value scores by an user-occupation matching module is directed to an abstract idea of certain methods of organizing human activity, particularly fundamental economic principles. The additional elements fail to apply the judicial exception in a meaningful way that provides an inventive concept so as to transform the claims into patent eligible subject matter. The dependent claims when considered individually or in combination are merely extensions of the abstract idea and are nothing more than insignificant extra solution activity.
Remarks on Overcoming the 101 Rejection | REM 6/28/2019
The claims do not recite any of the defined abstract ideas from the 2019 Revised Patent Subject Matter Eligibility Guidance, and anything outside of those grouping should not be treated as too abstract. The claims additionally integrate any potential abstract ideas into a practical application. The applicants specification describes the conventional technology of the field and additionally the applicants improvement to the technology and the technical field. The applicants system provides an objective measure of the user to provide a meaningful means of measuring a user in relation to a plurality of occupations.
Examiner: Bains, Sarjit
| Patent Assignee | Patent Application |
| Hitachi | 14/963502 |
Method and apparatus for work quality control
Patent Abstract
This patent discloses a method of monitoring quality control of a worker performing a repetitive operation. Using image data to process a workers position data the system creates a prediction model of the expected work quality from the worker. Through analysis of past user quality data and past position data the system can determine whether a worker is in a usual or unusual position while performing their work.
Reason for 101 Rejection | CTFR 6/28/2019
To determine whether the path of the target worker is a usual or unusual path is modeling and therefore an abstract idea of mental processes performed by the human mind. The judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application. The claims do not apply the claims in some meaningful way beyond linking the judicial exception to a particular technological environment such to monopolize the exception.
Remarks on Overcoming the 101 Rejection | REM 7/23/2019
Just because an abstract idea can be found in the claims does not mean the claims are directed as a whole to the patent-ineligible concept. The independent claims are directed toward technical improvements over prior art as demonstrated in the specification. Specifically the independent claims recite a technological solution to the technical problem in the prior art of how to automatically determine whether a worker status is a usual or unusual one. The claims are directed to non abstract improvement in computer functionality, rather than the abstract idea of information collection, analysis, and calculation.
Examiner: Bains, Sarjit
| Patent Assignee | Patent Application |
| SAP | 14/963262 |
Optimal demand-based allocation
Patent Abstract
This patent discloses a system to optimally deploy vehicles to service a particular region of interest. The system receives real-time vehicle data streams and converts the data into trip data by segmenting the plurality of data using the passenger status of the vehicle. The system then uses the trip data to determine the optimal deployment of vehicles in the future to ensure there are enough vehicles in a region of service.
Reason for 101 Rejection | CTFR 12/19/2019
Although the claims are drawn towards a statutory category they are directed to a judicial exception of certain methods of organizing human activity. The judicial exception is not integrated into practical application because the claims are not an improvement to a computer or technology. The judicial exception is not used in some other meaningful way beyond generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular field of use.
Remarks on Overcoming the 101 Rejection | REM 1/10/2020
The claimed subject matter is directed to issues regarding optimizing the deployment of transportation resources in a specific area. The system demonstrates a clear improvement to the in that it can decrease waiting times of individuals for a vehicle but also reduce the amount of time drivers have to wait for passengers. While the system may involve a mathematical concept the claims do not recite a mathematical concept, therefore the claims are directed to eligible subject matter.
Examiner: Gunn, Jeremy
| Patent Assignee | Patent Application |
| Fujifilm Business Innovation Corp | 16/246,792 |
Optimized parts pickup list and routes for efficient manufacturing using frequent pattern mining and visualization
Patent Abstract
Example implementations described herein are directed to an interface for a worker dispatch system configured to dispatch routes and schedules for workers on a manufacturing floor. Example implementations can involve a system configured to execute a lot ordering and route optimization for each of a plurality of workers; determine rack placement of the plurality of racks and total travel distance for each worker; generate a deployment plan for each worker from the lot ordering, the route optimization, the rack placement, and the total travel distance, the deployment plan involving a pick-up route and a schedule for each worker; provide the deployment plan to an interface configured to receive modifications to the deployment plan; and upon receiving instructions to deploy the deployment plan through the interface, provide the deployment plan to a device of each worker.
Reason for 101 Rejection
The claims recite a series of steps for executing a lot ordering and route optimization for workers on a manufacturing floor directed towards certain methods of organizing human activity. The claims do not recite any additional elements that demonstrate a practical application of the identified abstract idea and do not demonstrate an improvement to the technical field because generic computer components could perform the claims. Therefore, the claims do not transform the abstract idea into a patent eligible application.
Remarks on Overcoming the 101 Rejection
The amended claims recite additional elements that provide a display and update the display based on how the route changes on the manufacturing floor in response to updates to item orders, route optimization, rack placement, and total travel distance. Accordingly, the claims recite a practical application of the identified abstract idea to demonstrate a practical application of the judicial exception.
Examiner: Gunn, Jeremy
| Patent Assignee | Patent Application |
| International Business Machines Corp | 16/263,601 |
Searching and detecting interpretable changes within a hierarchical healthcare data structure in a systematic automated manner
Patent Abstract
Computer-implemented methods, systems, and computer readable media are provided for identifying and optimizing performance drivers of a healthcare related system. Healthcare related data may be analyzed to produce performance information pertaining to performance indicators for performance drivers of the healthcare related system. From the performance information, changes in the sets of performance indicators over time for the performance drivers may be determined and performance drivers with determined changes satisfying a threshold may be identified. An impact of the determined changes in the performance indicators to the identified performance drivers and contributions to the determined impact from one or more factors may be identified. Factors of the identified performance drivers with opposing utilization trends may be identified and an impact of the identified factors on the performance drivers may be determined. The identified performance drivers may be ranked and use of the performance drivers may be adjusted based on the ranking.
Reason for 101 Rejection
The claims recite a series of steps for identifying and optimizing performance drivers of a healthcare related system that could be performed by a generic computer component such that it falls into the abstract idea of certain methods of organizing human activity. Additionally, the claims do not impose any meaningful limitation on the abstract idea or demonstrate and improvement to the technological field.
Remarks on Overcoming the 101 Rejection
The claims were amended to recite an improvement in the technological field because the claims now recite adjusting the threshold of the identified performance drivers and using the updated threshold to determine a modified ranking of the corresponding actions. Accordingly, the claims recite limitations that incorporate the abstract idea into a practical application to demonstrate an improvement to the technological field.
