DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
This office action is in response to claims 11/25/2026 in application 17/991,649 filed on 11/21/2022.
The Pre-Grant publication # US20240169852 published on 5/23/2024.
Claims 1-20 are pending.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to a judicial exception (i.e., a law of nature, a natural phenomenon, or an abstract idea) without significantly more. The claimed invention is to a process (claim 1--19) and a computer devices (20) and thus fall within one of the four statutory categories (Step 1: YES).
Claims 1, 9 and 15 are directed to a first chemical structure at least one of a atomic bond indicator, a lone pair indicator, and a functional group indicator for a plurality of selectable start indicators such that a selectable start indicator is respectively associated with each representation of the first chemical structure atomic bond indicator and each representation of an atom having the first chemical structure lone pair indicator
A plurality of selectable endpoint indicators with electron-pushing arrow having first arrow tail associated with a first user start selection and a first arrow head associated with a first user endpoint selection. Claim 1 also recites an accuracy indicator to indicate whether there was proper placement of the first electron-pushing arrow and any additional electron-pushing arrows. All of these involve steps drawn to concept categorized as an actions that are receiving, observing, identifying, evaluating and judging of graphical displays. A concept that are mental processes and by including functional group indicator for a plurality of selectable start indicators in association with each representation of chemical structure atomic bond indicator, the activities falls within the “Mental Processes” and “Certain Method of Organizing Human Activity” groupings of abstract ideas subject to the 2019 Revised Patent Subject Matter Eligibility Guidance. The use of accuracy determination some mathematical calculations are done using some mathematical concepts They are generally categorized as a grouping of an abstract idea (Step 2A: Prong 1 YES).
The independent claims do not include additional elements that are sufficient to be significantly more than the judicial exception because the limitations of “a computer system with interface display”, “a processor’, “a memory’, "network remote storage", "databases of digital content with predetermined plurality of selectable endpoint indicators and electron-pushing arrow or some known chemical structure are merely use of generic computer functions and computer parts.
The amendment for a first chemical structure lone pair indicator, wherein each atom representation without the lone pair indicator is free of the selectable start indicators, and wherein each selectable start indicator of the plurality of selectable start indicators represents a visual representation of a potential starting point of a potential electron-pushing arrow; a plurality of selectable endpoint indicators, wherein each selectable endpoint indicator of the plurality of selectable endpoint indicators represents a visual representation of a potential end- point of the potential electron-pushing arrow are simply selecting process from visual representation portions of functional group indicator from graphical input and determining from storage only a corresponding selective session for evaluation. Hence not indicative of integration of a practical application (Step 2A: Prong 2 No).
The steps in the recited claims that are highlighted are a well-understood, routine, and conventional activities known in art. Fig.3 of the instant specification depict touchable object movements for a hardware/ software in a standard chemical structure with arrows environment with image panel implement the process claimed here. Application on paragraphs 0002 to 0005 of specification indicates that this is a chemistry education maximizing learning potential case using known electron-arrow drawing potential technique and information in storage. As an example in case of Versata Dev. Group, Inc. v. SAP Am., Inc., 793 F.3d 1306, 1334, 115 USPQ2d 1681, 1701 (Fed. Cir. 2015); OIP Techs., 788 F.3d at 1363, 115 USPQ2d at 1092-93, the activities of storing and retrieving of information in a memory of consumer electronic for a field of use purposes are recognized to be computer functions well-understood, routine, and conventional, when they are claimed in a merely generic manner. Similarly in Savvy Dog Systems, LLC vs. Pennsylvania Coin, LLC (23-1073.OPINION.3-21-2024_2289059.pdf) court of Appeals found the case patent ineligible. Further, there found to be no additional elements here in the claim recitation that improves the functioning of a computer itself to overcome the abstract idea rejection (Step 2B: No). Hence independent claims are not patent eligible.
Claims 2-8,10-14,16-20 do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception. Additionally, taking the claimed elements individually yields no difference from taking them in combination because each element simply performs its respective function as discussed above. In other words, these claims merely apply an abstract idea to programmable processor or computer and do not improve the performance of computer itself or provide a technical solution to a problem in a technical field. They do not effect a transformation of a particular article to a different state or thing, the underlying computing elements remain the same. Instead, the additional features merely amount to an instruction to apply the abstract idea using generic, functional, and conventional components well-known in the art. A second chemical structure atomic bond indicator, a lone pair indicator, and functional group indicator associated with a respective selectable start indicator are chemistry learning elements known in art.
Mere instructions to apply an exception using the generic computer components cannot provide an inventive concept. Therefore, for these reasons, it appears that claims 2-8,10-14,16-20 are also not patent-eligible under 35 USC 101.
Response to Arguments/Remarks
Applicant's arguments/amendments filed on November 25, 2025 have been considered.
Upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made as necessitated by amendments changing the scope of the claims.
35USC101
Applying the Mayo test, the claim limitations are found to be directed to an abstract idea as a mental process in terms of collecting data (user inputs in response to providing certain displays), analyzing that data and providing outputs based on that analysis (presenting certain displays based on the user inputs). It is also abstract as a mental process in terms of teaching a human being how to understand chemical bonding. To the extent that they claim elements in addition to their abstract idea like a computer and a display these are well-known, routine, and conventional as evidenced by their limited disclosure in terms of how to make and/or use them.
The display of information on monitoring screens for receiving data inputs from a user with regard to updates on chemical bonds, and then changing the pictures based on those inputs not much different than what was claimed in, e.g., Yousician OY: 19-2399-2020-06-11.pdf.
35USC101 rejection is maintained.
35USC103
The primary prior art Banerjee is directed to a "method for animating chemical mechanisms.". This method discloses generating arrows or "smart arrows" to indicate electron movements. Id.[0079]; see id., Fig. s. 4, 6. The combination of Banerjee and Winter do not disclose the "selectable start indicators" of claim 1. Banerjee, for example, does not disclose any "indicator" that is "visual representation ... of a potential starting point of a potential electron-pushing arrow," as set forth in part in claim 1.
The art on record is not indicating on how the generated arrows disclose "selectable start indicators" are "respectively associated with each representation of the first chemical structure atomic bond indicator and each representation of an atom having the first chemical structure lone pair indicator," as set forth in part in claim 1. No start indicators are shown in the chemical structures of prior art combination. Similarly the selectable start indicators, the Banerjee/Winter combination also does not disclose the "plurality of selectable endpoint indicators" set forth in claim 1. Additionally the Banerjee/Winter combination does not disclose the "first electron-pushing arrow" of claim 1 that is associated with one of the selectable start indicators and one of the selectable endpoint indicators. 35USC103 rejection is withdrawn.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 5008831 A Feldman; Alfred P.
Method for producing high quality chemical structure diagrams
US 5386507 Teig; Steven L. et al.
A Computer graphics system for selectively modelling molecules and investigating the chemical and physical properties thereof
US 20220293012 A1 Weinberg; Justin et al.
METHOD AND APPARATUS OF CHEMISTRY EDUCATION
12347531 B2 to Weinberg; Justin et al. (Weinberg for accuracy Fig.9c).
Method and apparatus of chemistry education.
US 20150254214 A1 Knowledge Initiatives LLC
ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION ENVIRONMENT.
US 20180349566 A1 PerkinElmer Informatics, Inc.
SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING CHEMICAL STRUCTURES USING TOUCH AND GESTURES
US 9535583 B2 Smellie; Andrew et al.
Draw-ahead feature for chemical structure drawing applications
US 10790046 B2 Smith; Robin Young et al.
Systems, methods, and apparatus for drawing and editing chemical structures on a user interface via user gestures
US 20210104302 A1 Bochevarov; Art D. et al.
GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR CHEMICAL TRANSITION STATE CALCULATIONS
US 20180349566 A1 Smith; Robin Young et al.
SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR DRAWING CHEMICAL STRUCTURES USING TOUCH AND GESTURES
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SADARUZ ZAMAN whose telephone number is (571)270-3137. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am to 5pm CST.
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/S.Z/Examiner, Art Unit 3715
March 5, 2026
/XUAN M THAI/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3715