DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Amendment
Claims 1-2 are pending
Claims 1-2 have been amended
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 10/22/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues (remarks, page 7-8) the steps involved from gathering a bridge monitoring acceleration to issuing an alarm based on the image characteristics of the vector images are not directed to abstract ideas. However, according to MPEP 2106.04, the steps involved are still directed to abstract ideas because of the use of mathematical formulas to make determinations throughout the method; all of which can be performed by the human mind or pen and paper. Furthermore, there is not sufficient additional elements that offer significantly more than the abstract idea. Thus, because the claim is still directed to an abstract idea, the U.S.C. 101 rejection is maintained.
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.
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Regarding claim 1, the claim recites a method for real-time online monitoring, perception, and early warning of vortex-induced vibrations of suspension bridges comprising the following steps: Step 1: gathering a bridge monitoring acceleration signal; performing fast Fourier transform FFT of the bridge monitoring acceleration signal to obtain a spectrum: obtaining a first order energy peak of the spectrum: reading horizontal coordinate of the first order energy peak to obtain a first-order nature frequency of the bridge can be obtained by reading the horizontal coordinate … and determine a filter cut-off frequency … where … is a filtering proportion coefficient; Step 2: applying a high-pass filter to eliminate low-frequency noise of the bridge monitoring acceleration signal and selecting a recursive high-pass filter … where … and … are input and output signals, respectively, … is a constant parameter approximating to 1; Step 3: using recursive least-square method for baseline correction using the recursive high-pass filter to filter the low-frequency noise in the bridge monitoring acceleration signal, to obtain bridge vibration displacement data; Step 4: obtaining an analytic signal in complex domain using the displacement data as real part and its Hilbert transform as imaginary part, … where … is the Hilbert transform of time-domain signal … and is the imaginary unit; wherein the Hilbert transform can be expressed as: … where… is the sampling signal … is the length of the sampling signal, and …is a discrete Hilbert transform impulse response operator, … step 5: generating vector images from the real and imaginary parts of the complex domain analytical signal; identifying image features of the vector images and issuing a warning of vortex-induced vibration based on the image features.
Step
Analysis
1: Statutory Category?
Yes. The claim recites a method; therefore, it is a process.
2A - Prong 1: Judicial Exception Recited?
Yes. The claim recites the limitation of performing fast Fourier transform FFT of the bridge monitoring acceleration signal to obtain a spectrum. This limitation, as drafted, is a process that, under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers performance of the limitation in the mind; for example, performing fast Fourier transform FFT can be done by a human or pen and paper.
The limitation of obtaining a first order energy peak of the spectrum is, drafted, is also a process under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers performance of the limitation in the mind; for example, obtaining a first order energy peak of a spectrum can be done by a human or pen and paper.
The limitation of reading horizontal coordinate of the first order energy peak to obtain a first-order nature frequency of the bridge can be obtained by reading the horizontal coordinate is, drafted, is also a process under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers performance of the limitation in the mind; for example, reading horizontal coordinate of the first order energy peak to obtain a first-order nature frequency of the bridge can be obtained by reading the horizontal coordinate can be done by a human or pen and paper.
The limitation of determine a filter cut-off frequency is, drafted, is also a process under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers performance of the limitation in the mind; for example, determining a filter cut-off frequency can be done by a human or pen and paper.
The limitation of using recursive least-square method for baseline correction, drafted, is also a process under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers performance of the limitation in the mind; for example, using recursive least-square method can be done by a human or pen and paper.
The limitation of obtaining an analytic signal in complex domain using the displacement data as real part and its Hilbert transform as imaginary part, as drafted, under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers performance of the limitation in the mind; for example, obtaining an analytic signal in complex domain using the displacement data can be done by a human or pen and paper.
The limitation of generating vector images from the real and imaginary parts of the complex domain analytical signal, as drafted, under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers performance of the limitation in the mind; for example, generating vector images from the real and imaginary parts of the complex domain analytical signal can be done by a human or pen and paper.
The limitation of identifying image features of the vector images, as drafted, under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers performance of the limitation in the mind; for example, identifying image features of the vector images can be done by a human or pen and paper.
2A - Prong 2: Integrated into a Practical Application?
No. the claims recites two additional elements:
A high-pass filter and a recursive high-pass filter.
Applying a high-pass filter and selecting a recursive high-pass filter are well known and routine in the art for filtering low-frequency noise (see references below). Accordingly, this additional element does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application because it does not impose any meaningful limits on practicing the abstract idea.
following additional elements merely adds insignificant extra-solution activity to the abstract idea: gathering a bridge monitoring acceleration signal; issuing a warning of vortex-induced vibration based on the image features.
The claim is directed to the abstract idea.
2B: Claim provides an Inventive Concept?
No. the additional elements do not amount to significantly more than the abstract idea for the same reasons discussed above with respect to the conclusion that the additional elements do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application. The claim is ineligible.
Claim 2 is 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. Claim 2 depends on claim 1, therefore, it has the abstract idea and also has the routine and conventional structure above said claims.
In addition, claim 2 is further recites the element(s) “… wherein the bridge vibration displacement data obtained from the bridge monitoring acceleration signal in Step 3, is used to obtain instantaneous frequency, phase and amplitude of the bridge during vortex-induced vibration; 1) the instantaneous phase: the instantaneous phase, of vortex-induced vibration is given by: … the instantaneous frequency: The instantaneous frequency ft is a first derivative of instantaneous phase with respect to time: fdct=-arctg; 3 ) the real-time amplitude: The real-time amplitude A, of bridge during vortex-induced vibration is a the modulus of the real and imaginary parts of the analytic signal : … for real-time measurement of vortex-induced vibration.”, which is simply more calculations/mental-steps, value numbers, extra solution activities routine and/or conventional structure(s) previously known to the pertinent industry.
Furthermore, Claim 2 does not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because this limitation(s) is simply routine and conventional structures previously known to the pertinent industry that serve to generate the data to be processed by implementing the idea on a computer, and/or recitation of generic computer structure and also serve to perform generic computer functions that are well-understood routine, and conventional activities previously known to the pertinent industry.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure.
US 20100141441 A1; LUO; Huageng et al. is an apparatus and method for identifying a defect and/or operating characteristic of a system.
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 CARL F.R. TCHATCHOUANG whose telephone number is (571)272-3991. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:00am -5:00am.
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/CARL F.R. TCHATCHOUANG/Examiner, Art Unit 2858
/HUY Q PHAN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2858