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 .
Status of Claims
This action is in reply to the communications filed on 09/21/2026.
Claim 15 has been amended and is hereby entered.
Claims 15-34 are currently pending and have been examined.
This action is made Non-Final.
Examiner Request
The Applicant is requested to indicate where in the specification there is support for future claim amendments to avoid U.S.C 112(a) issues that can arise. The Examiner thanks the Applicant in advance.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 09/21/2026 has been entered.
Claim Objections
Claims 15 and 30 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 15: lines 22-23 recites the limitation “an optical character recognition (OCR) module configured to recognize text in uploaded images of borrower documents, extract the text from the images.” “Uploaded images” and “images” are interchangeably used. Is the “images” different than the “uploaded images” ? It appears there is a typographical mistake since the specification only points to uploaded images for this interpretation. For compact examination purposes, Examiner interpreted the instances recited in Claim 15: lines 22-23 as “an optical character recognition (OCR) module configured to recognize text in uploaded images of borrower documents, extract the text from the uploaded images.” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 30: line 2-3 recites the limitation: “the mortgage-originating subsystem share one or more server hosts.” “One or more server hosts” is previously and initially recited in Claim 15: line 2. It appears there is a typographical mistake since the specification only points to a single ‘one or more server hosts.’ For compact examination purposes, Examiner interpreted the instance recited in claims 30: lines 2-3 as “the mortgage-originating subsystem share the one or more server hosts.” Appropriate correction is required.
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 15-34 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea of processing loan products and borrower documents, and determining the pricing of loan products; without significantly more.
Claim 15 is directed to a system, which is one of the statutory categories of invention. (Step 1: YES).
Claim 15 is directed to a digital lending platform, comprising: one or more server hosts, each server host of the one or more server hosts comprising a processing unit having one or more processing cores, a system memory, and a system bus coupling the system memory to the processing unit, the one or more server hosts supporting an application stack of the digital lending platform, the application stack comprising: one or more interfaces with a third-party integration; a task manager configured to monitor and prioritize running processes of the digital lending platform; a rules engine configured to implement eligibility rules and decisioning processes for unsecured and secured loan products, wherein the eligibility rules comprise rules for minimum credit scores, maximum loan amounts, and maximum loan-to-value ratios for loan amounts to assets; an administration portal comprising a graphical user interface ("GUI") configured for display on a screen of a lender representative's display; a loan-product database configured to store information for the loan products; a pricing algorithm configured to determine pricing for the loan products; wherein the task manager is configured to (i) monitor running processes of the digital lending platform using one or more assigned process and group identifiers; and (ii) schedule execution priorities for the monitored processes based on the monitoring; an unsecured loan-lending system configured to originate and service unsecured loans; and a secured loan-lending system configured to originate and service secured loans, including an optical character recognition (OCR) module configured to recognize text in uploaded images of borrower documents, extract the text from the images, and provide the extracted text by way of a web server of the application stack for automated filling of borrower-related information; wherein the system memory of each server host of the one or more server hosts stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing unit of that server host, instantiate the application stack on the one or more server hosts. These series of steps describe the abstract idea of processing loan products and borrower documents, and determining the pricing of loan products (with the exception of the italicized and bolded terms above), which is mitigating risk by processing the borrower's loan application and verifying the supporting information, underwriting a potential loan and performing a detailed risk assessment in view of the supporting information, and funding the loan upon approval from underwriting; therefore, corresponding to a fundamental economic principle or practice (including mitigating risk). Hence, a fundamental economic principle or practice (mitigating risk) is a Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity. The abstract idea is also the processing of unsecured and secured loan products and determining of a price for each loan product, which is a commercial interaction. Therefore, a commercial interaction is also a Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity. The system limitations, e.g. a digital lending platform, one or more server hosts, processing unit, one or more processing cores, system memory, system bus, application stack, one or more interfaces, third-party integration, task manager, rules engine, administration portal, graphical user interface ("GUI"), screen, lender representative's display; loan-product database, pricing algorithm, unsecured loan-lending system, secured loan-lending system, optical character recognition (OCR) module, web server, and executable instructions do not necessarily restrict the claim from reciting an abstract idea. Thus, claim 15 recites an abstract idea (Step 2A-Prong 1: YES).
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because the additional limitations of a digital lending platform, one or more server hosts, processing unit, one or more processing cores, system memory, system bus, application stack, one or more interfaces, third-party integration, task manager, rules engine, administration portal, graphical user interface ("GUI"), screen, lender representative's display; loan-product database, pricing algorithm, unsecured loan-lending system, secured loan-lending system, optical character recognition (OCR) module, web server, and executable instructions are no more than simply applying the abstract idea using generic computer elements. The additional elements listed above are all recited at a high level of generality and under their broadest reasonable interpretation comprises a generic computing arrangement. The presence of a generic computer arrangement is nothing more than to implement the claimed invention (MPEP 2106.05(f)). The computer network limitations are a field of use limitations (MPEP 2106.05(h)). Therefore, the recitations of additional elements do not meaningfully apply the abstract idea and hence do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application. Thus, claim 15 does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application (Step 2A-Prong 2: NO).
Claim 15 does not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the additional elements of a digital lending platform, one or more server hosts, processing unit, one or more processing cores, system memory, system bus, application stack, one or more interfaces, third-party integration, task manager, rules engine, administration portal, graphical user interface ("GUI"), screen, lender representative's display; loan-product database, pricing algorithm, unsecured loan-lending system, secured loan-lending system, optical character recognition (OCR) module, web server, and executable instructions, are recited at a high level of generality in that it results in no more than simply applying the abstract idea using generic computer elements. The computer network limitations are a field of use limitations (MPEP 2106.05(h)). The additional elements when considered separately and as an ordered combination do not amount to add significantly more as these limitations provide nothing more than to simply apply the exception in a generic computer environment (Step 2B: NO). Thus, claim 15 is not patent eligible.
Dependent claims 16-34 are directed to a system (currently as recited it is not statutory subject matter), which perform the steps that describe the abstract idea of processing loan products and borrower documents, and determining the pricing of loan products. Specifically, dependent claims 16-34 are directed to a system, which performs the steps: wherein the digital lending platform is configured for information sharing such that at least a potential borrower need not provide duplicative customer information to any systems comprising the digital lending platform; wherein the one or more interfaces comprises one or more Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), one or more web applications, or at least one API and at least one web application; wherein the third-party integration is configured to allow one or more third-parties to at least contribute additional information for the processing of the lending-related information; wherein the digital lending platform is configured for gathering and processing lending-related information for originating loans, servicing loans, or both; wherein the loans are selected from unsecured loans and secured loans; wherein the unsecured loan-lending system includes a personal loan-lending system having a personal loan-originating system and a personal loan-servicing system; wherein the personal loan-originating system is configured for originating personal loans; wherein the personal loan- servicing system is configured for servicing the personal loans; wherein the unsecured loan-lending system is configured to support various types of unsecured loans such as personal lines of credit, student loans, or credit cards; wherein the secured loan-lending system includes a mortgage-lending system having a mortgage-originating system and a mortgage-servicing system; wherein the mortgage-servicing system is configured for servicing the mortgages; the secured loan-lending system is configured to support various types of secured loans such as home equity loans, home equity lines of credit, or automotive loans; wherein the mortgage-originating system is configured for originating mortgages; wherein the mortgage-originating system includes a borrower-oriented system, a lender-oriented system, a mortgage-originating subsystem for at least mortgage-application processing, and the third-party integration supporting mortgage origination; wherein at least the borrower-oriented system, the lender-oriented system, and the mortgage-originating subsystem share one or more server hosts comprising the digital lending platform; wherein any one or more of the borrower-oriented system, the lender-oriented system, and the mortgage-originating subsystem include one or more dedicated server hosts; wherein the mortgage-originating subsystem includes an automatic underwriting module that is configured to perform detailed risk assessments in view of borrower-related information transferred to a database server and stored in one or more databases on a storage device of the one or more dedicated server hosts; the third-party integration includes a fraud-checking module, a credit-checking module, and a verifying module configured for transferring mortgage-related information between the mortgage-originating subsystem and third parties such as fraud-detecting companies (with the exception of the italicized and bolded terms above), which is mitigating risk by processing the borrower's loan application and verifying the supporting information, underwriting a potential loan and performing a detailed risk assessment in view of the supporting information, and funding the loan upon approval from underwriting; therefore, corresponding to a fundamental economic principle or practice (including mitigating risk). Hence, a fundamental economic principle or practice (mitigating risk) is a Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity. The abstract idea is also the processing of unsecured and secured loan products and determining of a price for each loan product, which is a commercial interaction. Therefore, a commercial interaction is also a Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity. Thus, claims 16-34 recite an abstract idea. The additional elements of a digital lending platform, one or more server hosts, processing unit, one or more processing cores, system memory, system bus, application stack, one or more interfaces, third-party integration, task manager, rules engine, administration portal, graphical user interface ("GUI"), screen, lender representative's display; loan-product database, pricing algorithm, unsecured loan-lending system, secured loan-lending system, optical character recognition (OCR) module, web server, executable instructions, one or more Application Programming Interface (API), one or more web applications, personal loan-lending system, personal loan-originating system, personal loan-servicing system, mortgage-lending system, mortgage-originating system, mortgage-servicing system, borrower-oriented system, lender-oriented system, mortgage-originating subsystem, one or more dedicated server hosts, automatic underwriting module, database server, one or more databases, storage device, fraud-checking module, credit-checking module, verifying module, and mortgage-product generator are no more than simply applying the abstract idea using generic computer elements. The presence of a generic computer arrangement is nothing more than to implement the claimed invention (MPEP 2106.05(f)). The computer network limitations are a field of use limitations (MPEP 2106.05(h)). Therefore, the recitations of additional elements do not meaningfully apply the abstract idea and hence do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application. Furthermore, the additional elements: a digital lending platform, one or more server hosts, processing unit, one or more processing cores, system memory, system bus, application stack, one or more interfaces, third-party integration, task manager, rules engine, administration portal, graphical user interface ("GUI"), screen, lender representative's display; loan-product database, pricing algorithm, unsecured loan-lending system, secured loan-lending system, optical character recognition (OCR) module, web server, executable instructions, one or more Application Programming Interface (API), one or more web applications, personal loan-lending system, personal loan-originating system, personal loan-servicing system, mortgage-lending system, mortgage-originating system, mortgage-servicing system, borrower-oriented system, lender-oriented system, mortgage-originating subsystem, one or more dedicated server hosts, automatic underwriting module, database server, one or more databases, storage device, fraud-checking module, credit-checking module, verifying module, and mortgage-product generator are no more than simply applying the abstract idea using generic computer elements, do not amount to add significantly more as these limitations provide nothing more than to simply apply the exception in a generic computer environment.
Dependent claims 16-34 have further defined the abstract idea that is present in their respective independent claim: Claim 15, and thus correspond to Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity, and hence are abstract in nature for the reason presented above. The dependent claims 16-34 do not include any additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception when considered both individually and as an ordered combination. Therefore, claims 16-34 are directed to an abstract idea without significantly more.
Thus, claims 15-34 are not patent-eligible.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed on 09/21/2026 have been fully considered, but are not persuasive due to the following reasons:
With respect to the rejection of claims 15-34 under 35 U.S.C. 101, Applicant arguments are moot in view of the grounds of rejections presented above in this office action. The arguments are addressed to the extent they apply to the amended claims.
Applicant argues that “claim 15 as amended integrates any recited judicial exception into a practical application. Claim 15 recites an "optical character recognition (OCR) module configured to recognize text in uploaded images of borrower documents, extract the text from the images, and provide the extracted text by way of a web server of the application stack for automated filling of borrower-related information." That limitation is not the gathering or outputting of data by a computer used as a tool; it requires a particular transformation of image data into machine-usable text and the automated population of borrower-related information within the platform from that extracted text. …..It is respectfully submitted that this is an improvement to the operation of the claimed platform rather than an improvement to any economic practice, and that it is not a recitation of a generic computing arrangement used merely as a tool.”
Examiner respectfully disagrees.
Under Step 2A: Prong II, as previously discussed in the Final Office Action: dated 03/20/2025, Non-Final Office Action: dated 10/01/2025, and Final Office Action: dated 05/20/2026, Examiner respectfully notes that there is no improved technology in simply monitoring, recognizing, prioritizing, processing, implementing, storing, determining, originating, and servicing data (i.e., decisions, loan product, loan information, loan pricing, unsecured loan, secured loan, and borrower documents data etc.). The disclosed invention simply cannot be equated to improvement to technological practices or computers. There is no technical improvement at all. Instead, Applicant recites “a digital lending platform, comprising: one or more server hosts, each server host of the one or more server hosts comprising a processing unit having one or more processing cores, a system memory, and a system bus coupling the system memory to the processing unit, the one or more server hosts supporting an application stack of the digital lending platform, the application stack comprising: one or more interfaces with a third-party integration; a task manager configured to monitor and prioritize running processes of the digital lending platform; a rules engine configured to implement eligibility rules and decisioning processes for unsecured and secured loan products, wherein the eligibility rules comprise rules for minimum credit scores, maximum loan amounts, and maximum loan-to-value ratios for loan amounts to assets; an administration portal comprising a graphical user interface ("GUI") configured for display on a screen of a lender representative's display; a loan-product database configured to store information for the loan products; a pricing algorithm configured to determine pricing for the loan products; wherein the task manager is configured to (i) monitor running processes of the digital lending platform using one or more assigned process and group identifiers; and (ii) schedule execution priorities for the monitored processes based on the monitoring; an unsecured loan-lending system configured to originate and service unsecured loans; and a secured loan-lending system configured to originate and service secured loans, including an optical character recognition (OCR) module configured to recognize text in uploaded images of borrower documents, extract the text from the images, and provide the extracted text by way of a web server of the application stack for automated filling of borrower-related information; wherein the system memory of each server host of the one or more server hosts stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing unit of that server host, instantiate the application stack on the one or more server hosts.” The recited features in the limitations do not result in computer functionality or technical improvement. As previously discussed, Examiner respectfully notes that Applicant is simply using a computer to input, process, and output data. The recited features in the limitations does not disclose a technical solution to technical problem, but simply a business solution. Specifically, the recited steps, as amended, are merely managing/processing data (MPEP 2106.05(d)(II)) and does not result in computer functionality or technical improvement. Thus, Applicant has simply provided a business method practice of processing data (loan/lending data), and no technical solution or improvement has been disclosed.
Moreover, there is no technology/technical improvement as a result of implementing the abstract idea. The recited features of the “task manager is configured to (i) monitor running processes of the digital lending platform using one or more assigned process and group identifiers; and (ii) schedule execution priorities for the monitored processes based on the monitoring” and “an optical character recognition (OCR) module configured to recognize text in uploaded images of borrower documents, extract the text from the images, and provide the extracted text by way of a web server of the application stack for automated filling of borrower-related information” in amended claim 15 simply amount to the abstract idea of processing loan products and borrower documents; and, there is no computer functionality improvement or technology improvement. The claim does not provide a technical solution to a technical problem. If there is an improvement, it is to the abstract idea and not to technology. Additionally, Examiner notes that it is important to keep in mind that an improvement in the judicial exception itself (e.g., recited fundamental economic principle or practice and/or commercial interaction) is not an improvement in technology (See, MPEP 2106.05(a)(II)).
Additionally, Claim 15, as amended, recites steps at a high level of generality. In addition, all uses of the recited judicial exceptions require such data gathering and outputting, and, as such, these limitations do not impose any meaningful limits on the claim. These limitations amount to necessary data gathering and output. See MPEP 2106.05. The claim simply makes use of a computer as a tool to apply the abstract idea without transforming the abstract idea into a patent eligible subject matter. Furthermore, these steps, as amended, are recited as being performed by a digital lending platform, one or more server hosts, processing unit, one or more processing cores, system memory, system bus, application stack, one or more interfaces, third-party integration, task manager, rules engine, administration portal, graphical user interface ("GUI"), screen, lender representative's display; loan-product database, pricing algorithm, unsecured loan-lending system, secured loan-lending system, optical character recognition (OCR) module, web server, and executable instructions are recited at a high level of generality, and are used as a tool to perform the generic computer function of receiving, processing, and outputting data. See MPEP 2106.05(f). Amended claim 15 recites a digital lending platform, one or more server hosts, processing unit, one or more processing cores, system memory, system bus, application stack, one or more interfaces, third-party integration, task manager, rules engine, administration portal, graphical user interface ("GUI"), screen, lender representative's display; loan-product database, pricing algorithm, unsecured loan-lending system, secured loan-lending system, optical character recognition (OCR) module, web server, and executable instructions, which are simply used to perform an abstract idea, as discussed above in Step 2A, Prong 1 of the 35 U.S.C. 101 rejection, such that it amounts to no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using a generic computer. See MPEP 2106.05(f). Specifically, the recitation of “a digital lending platform, one or more server hosts, processing unit, one or more processing cores, system memory, system bus, application stack, one or more interfaces, third-party integration, task manager, rules engine, administration portal, graphical user interface ("GUI"), screen, lender representative's display; loan-product database, pricing algorithm, unsecured loan-lending system, secured loan-lending system, optical character recognition (OCR) module, web server, and executable instructions” in the limitations merely indicates a field of use or technological environment in which the judicial exception is performed. The claims, as amended, merely confines the use of the abstract idea to a particular technological environment; and thus fails to add an inventive concept to the claims. See MPEP 2106.05(h). Even when viewed in combination, these additional elements do not integrate the recited judicial exception into a practical application, and the claim is directed to the judicial exception. Hence, claim 15, as amended, do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application. Thus, these arguments are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that “the same limitations are also sufficient under Step 2B. Applicant respectfully submits that claim 15 as amended is patent eligible under 35 U.S.C. § 101, that claims 16-34 are eligible at least by virtue of their dependency from claim 15, and that withdrawal of the rejection of Claims 15-34 is respectfully requested.”
Examiner respectfully disagrees.
Under Step 2B, Examiner respectfully notes that all of Applicant's arguments have been reviewed, and the inventive concept cannot be furnished by a judicial exception. The improvements argued are to the abstract idea and not to technology. The technical limitations are simply utilized as a tool to implement the abstract idea without adding significantly more. Thus, the claim is directed to an abstract idea, and hence these arguments are not persuasive. The presence of a computer does not make the claimed solution necessarily rooted in computer technology. As noted above, the claims do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the additional elements of a digital lending platform, one or more server hosts, processing unit, one or more processing cores, system memory, system bus, application stack, one or more interfaces, third-party integration, task manager, rules engine, administration portal, graphical user interface ("GUI"), screen, lender representative's display; loan-product database, pricing algorithm, unsecured loan-lending system, secured loan-lending system, optical character recognition (OCR) module, web server, and executable instructions are recited at a high level of generality in that it results in no more than simply applying the abstract idea using generic computer elements. The additional elements when considered separately and as an ordered combination do not amount to add significantly more as these limitations provide nothing more than to simply apply the exception in a generic computer environment.
Applying the Guidance on Patent Subject Matter Eligibility here, and as explained with respect to Step 2A, Prong 2, the additional elements: a digital lending platform, one or more server hosts, processing unit, one or more processing cores, system memory, system bus, application stack, one or more interfaces, third-party integration, task manager, rules engine, administration portal, graphical user interface ("GUI"), screen, lender representative's display; loan-product database, pricing algorithm, unsecured loan-lending system, secured loan-lending system, optical character recognition (OCR) module, web server, and executable instructions, are at best mere instructions to “apply” the abstract idea, which cannot provide an inventive concept. See MPEP 2106.05(f). As discussed in Step 2A, Prong 2 above, the claims’ limitations are recited at a high level of generality. As discussed in Step 2A, Prong 2 above, the recitation of a computer/processor to perform recited limitations, as amended, amounts to no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using a generic computer component. Even when considered in combination, these additional elements represent mere instructions to implement an abstract idea or other exception on a computer, which do not provide an inventive concept.
Hence, Examiner respectfully declines Applicant’s request to withdraw the 35 U.S.C. 101 rejection of claims 15-34.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure are the following:
Hsieh (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US-20190295107-A1) “Lead Management System and Methods Thereof”
Sundaram (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US-20200372574-A1) “Multi-lender platform that securely stores proprietary information for pre-qualifying an applicant”
Bramlage (U.S. Patent No. US-8666885-B1) “Customized consumer loan product search system and method”
Broadbent (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US- 2001/0047326-A1) “Interface system for a mortgage loan originator compliance engine”
Russell (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US- 2002/0194120-A1) “Consultative decision engine method and system for financial transactions”
Shaden (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US-2007/0271175-A1) “System, method and apparatus for brokering loan applications”
Thomas (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US-2017/0186116-A1) “System and method for enabling IP marketplace APIs”
Poll (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US-2017/0186116-A1) “System and method of monitoring, measuring and reporting of post-closing processes in real estate purchase transactions and delivery of title insurance policies”
Lewis, Jr. (U.S. Patent No. US-8,065,225-B1) “System and method for acquiring a mortgage loan”
Palumbo (U.S. Patent No. US-8,666,879-B1) “Method and system for pricing forward commitments for mortgage loans and for buying committed loans”
Koo (U.S. Patent No. US-10,417,705-B1) “Information decision and display system for use in financial institution, such as bank, brokerage firm and mortgage company, comprises firewall for defining internal portion of system and first database is located in internal portion”
Zalik (U.S. Patent No. US-10,726,477-B1) “Systems and methods for providing closed-end loans”
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MOHAMMED H MUSTAFA whose telephone number is (571)270-7978. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00 - 5:00.
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/MOHAMMED H MUSTAFA/Examiner, Art Unit 3693
/BRUCE I EBERSMAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3693
