DETAILED ACTION
Notice to Applicant
This action is in reply to the filed on 5/27/2026.
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claims 1, 19 and 20 have been amended.
Claims 8-9, 12 and 15-16 have been cancelled.
Claim 1-7, 10-11, 13-14 and 17-20 currently pending and have been examined.
Response to Amendments
The Applicant’s amendments, and cancellation, of the claims as currently submitted have been noted by the Examiner. Said amendments, and cancellation(s), are not sufficient to overcome the rejection previously set forth under 35 U.S.C. §101. As such, said rejection is herein maintained for reasons set forth below.
Subject Matter Free of Prior Art
Hosoi et al. (US 2018/0102189) teach a medical service support device. Hosoi et al. do not teach “obtain management target information which includes endoscope information, the endoscope information records at least an endoscope identification (ID) corresponding to an information processing apparatus...,” etc. Therefore, the Applicant has successfully overcome the Examiner’s 35 USC 103 rejection and Examiner withdraws his 35 USC 103 rejection.
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.
Human Interactions Organized
Applicant discloses (Applicant’s Specification, [0004]) the need to support efficient performance of endoscope handling. So a need exists to organize these human interactions by/through providing medical service support using the steps of “obtaining information, storing information, specifying data, determining operation times, determining operation rates, deriving operation rates, generating information, transmitting information,” etc. Applicant’s system/method/computer readable medium is therefore a certain method of organizing the human activities as described and disclosed by Applicant.
Rejection
Claims 1-7, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more.
Claim(s) 1, 19 and 20 is/are directed to the abstract idea of “providing medical service support,” etc. (Applicant’s Specification, Abstract, paragraph(s) [0002]), etc., as explained in detail below, and thus grouped as a certain method of organizing human interactions. The claims do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the additional computer elements, which are recited at a high level of generality, provide conventional computer functions that do not add meaningful limits to practicing the abstract idea. Accordingly, claims 1-7, recite an abstract idea.
Step 2A Prong 1 – The Judicial Exception
The claim(s) recite(s) in part, system/method/computer readable medium for performing the steps of “obtaining information, storing information, specifying data, determining operation times, determining operation rates, deriving operation rates, generating information, transmitting information,” etc., that is “providing medical service support,” etc. which is a method of managing personal behavior or relationships or interactions between people (social activities, teaching, following rules, instructions) and thus grouped as a certain method of organizing human interactions. Accordingly, claims 1-7, recite an abstract idea.
Step 2A Prong 2 – Integration of the Judicial Exception into a Practical Application
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because the generically recited additional computer elements (i.e. light source devices, endoscope processing device, barcode readers, information storage, CPUs, memory, communication interfaces, displays, endoscopes, transmission units, imaging part (Applicant’s Specification [0030]-[0051]), etc.) to perform steps of “obtaining information, storing information, specifying data, determining operation times, determining operation rates, deriving operation rates, generating information, transmitting information,” etc. do not add a meaningful limitation to the abstract idea because they amount to simply implementing the abstract idea on a computer and this is nothing more than an attempt to generally link the product of nature to a particular technological environment. Accordingly, this additional element does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application because it does not impose any meaningful limit on practicing the abstract idea. Accordingly, the claims are directed to an abstract idea.
Insignificant extra-solution activity
Claim(s) 1-7, recites storing data steps, retrieving data steps, providing data steps, output steps (Bilski v. Kappos, 561 U.S. 593, 610-12 (2010), Bancorp Servs., L.L.C. v. Sun Life Assur. Co. of Can., 771 F.Supp.2d 1054, 1066 (E.D. Mo. 2011), aff’d, 687 F.3d at 1266), and/or transmitting data step (buySAFE, Inc. v. Google, Inc., 765 F.3d 1350, 1355 (Fed. Cir. 2014), Apple, Inc. v. Ameranth, Inc., 842 F.3d 1299, 1241-42 (Fed. Cir. 2016)) that is/are insignificant extra-solution activity. Extra-solution activity limitations are insufficient to transform judicially excepted subject matter into a patent-eligible application (MPEP §2106.05(g)).
Step 2B – Search for an Inventive Concept/Significantly More
The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because as discussed above with respect to integration into a practical application, the additional elements (i.e. light source devices, endoscope processing device, barcode readers, information storage, CPUs, memory, communication interfaces, displays, endoscopes, transmission units, imaging part, etc.) are recited at a high level of generality, and the written description indicates that these elements are generic computer components. Using generic computer components to perform abstract ideas does not provide a necessary inventive concept (Alice, 573 U.S. at 223 (“mere recitation of a generic computer cannot transform a patent-ineligible abstract idea into a patent-eligible invention.”)). Accordingly, the claims are not patent eligible.
Individually and in Combination
The additional elements when considered both individually and as an ordered combination do not amount to significantly more than the abstract idea. The additional elements amount to no more than generic computer components that serve to merely link the abstract idea to a particular technological environment (i.e. light source devices, endoscope processing device, barcode readers, information storage, CPUs, memory, communication interfaces, displays, endoscopes, transmission units, imaging part, etc.). At paragraph(s) [0030]-[0051], Applicant’s specification describes generic computer hardware for implementing the above described functions including “light source devices, endoscope processing device, barcode readers, information storage, CPUs, memory, communication interfaces, displays, endoscopes, transmission units, imaging part,” etc. to perform the functions of “obtaining information, storing information, specifying data, determining operation times, determining operation rates, deriving operation rates, generating information, transmitting information,” etc. The recited “light source devices, endoscope processing device, barcode readers, information storage, CPUs, memory, communication interfaces, displays, endoscopes, transmission units, imaging part,” etc. does/do not add meaningful limitations to the idea of beyond generally linking the system to a particular technological environment, that is, implementation via computers. Thus, taken alone, the additional elements do not amount to significantly more than the above-identified judicial exception (the abstract idea). Looking at the limitations as an ordered combination adds nothing that is not already present when looking at the elements taken individually. There is no indication that the combination of elements improves the functioning of a computer, or improves any other technology, or improves a technical field, or provides a technical improvement to a technical problem. Their collective functions merely provide generic computer implementation. Therefore, claims 1-7, do not amount to significantly more than the underlying abstract idea of “an idea of itself” (Alice).
Dependent Claims
Dependent claim(s) 2-7, 10-11, 13-14 and 17-18 include(s) all the limitations of the parent claims and are directed to the same abstract idea as discussed above and incorporated herein.
Although dependent claims 2-7, 10-11, 13-14 and 17-18 add additional limitations, they only serve to further limit the abstract idea by reciting limitations on what the information is and how it is received and used. Dependent claims 2-7, 10-11, 13-14 and 17-18 merely describe physical structures to implement the abstract idea. These information and physical characteristics do not change the fundamental analogy to the abstract idea grouping of certain method of organizing human interactions, and when viewed individually or as a whole, they do not add anything substantial beyond the abstract idea. Furthermore, the combination of elements does not indicate a significant improvement to the functioning of a computer or any other technology. Therefore, the claims when taken as a whole are ineligible for the same reasons as independent claim 1.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments filed 5/27/2026 with respect to claims 1-7, 10-11, 13-14 and 17-20 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicants’ arguments will be addressed herein below in the order in which they appear in the response filed 5/27/2026.
Applicant’s arguments filed on 5/27/2026 with respect to claims 1-7, 10-11, 13-14 and 17-20 have been fully considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection.
Applicant argues that (A) the Applicant’s claimed invention is directed to statutory matter.
101 Responses
As per Applicant’s argument (A), Applicant’s remarks with regard to the statutory nature of Applicant’s claimed invention are addressed above in the Office Action.
Rehash
Applicant's remarks and arguments merely rehash issues addressed in the Office Action mailed 3/26/2026 and incorporated herein.
Applicant’s Amendments
Applicant amended claims recite “wherein the endoscope ID is obtained by a barcode reader reading a barcode, and the examination time is time from when an examination start button is turned on to when the examination start button is turned off.” This is an information processing step that is part of Applicant’s abstract idea and does not move Applicant’s invention into eligible subject matter. Applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
Data Processing Step
Applicant’s amended step of “wherein the endoscope ID is obtained by a barcode reader reading a barcode, and the examination time is time from when an examination start button is turned on to when the examination start button is turned off,” is an abstract computational step that are part of Applicant’s abstract idea. In Electric Power Group the collection, manipulation and display of data has been found to be an abstract process. When claims, such as Applicant’s claims, are “directed to an abstract idea” and “merely requir[e] generic computer implementation,” they “do[] not move into [§] 101 eligibility territory.” buySAFE, Inc. v. Google, Inc., 765 F.3d 1350, 1354 (Fed. Cir. 2014). Further, analysis of information by steps people go through in their minds, or by mathematical algorithms, without more, is essentially a mental processes within the abstract-idea category (Electric Power Group, 830 F.3d at 1354). Further, Applicant appears to be claiming generic computer implementation of a certain method of organsing human interaction. Therefore, Applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
Data Gatering Step/Barcode Reader and Hardware Button
The amended step of “wherein the endoscope ID is obtained by a barcode reader reading a barcode, and the examination time is time from when an examination start button is turned on to when the examination start button is turned off,” is a data gathering process performed by Applicant’s claimed “barcode reader” and “hardware button” elements, and does not add a meaningful limitation to Applicant’s method as they are an insignificant extra-solution activity. Such features/arguments (e.g. anchor[ing] the collection of the "management target information" to concrete, physical hardware interactions) do not move Applicant’s intention into eligible subject matter. Applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
BASCOM Global Internet Services and Pre-Emption
Further, the claims in BASCOM Global Internet Services v. AT&T Mobility, LLC provide a technical solution to a problem rooted in computer technology (i.e. filtering Internet content). The claims are directed to the abstract idea of filtering content on the Internet on generic computer components performing conventional activities. However, the claims carve out a specific location for the filtering system (a remote ISP server) and require the filtering system to give users the ability to customize filtering for their individual network accounts, and are thus not pre-emptive. The claims are an improvement over prior art filters that were susceptible to hacking and dependent on local hardware and software or confined to an inflexible on-size-fits-all scheme. Simply adding a generic computing device that performs routine and conventional functions or presenting abstract claims that are directed to generalized steps to be performed on a computer using conventional computer activity (i.e. STEPS, etc.) is not equivalent or similar to addressing the Internet filtering challenge as is the case in BASCOM Global Internet Services v. AT&T Mobility, LLC While the claims are directed to a process that is performed on a computer, they are not directed to an Internet filtering challenge. In fact, the claims are not directed to the filtering Internet content at all or functions that are particular to Internet filtering as is the case in the claims of BASCOM Global Internet Services v. AT&T Mobility, LLC. Therefore, because the claims fail to provide a technical solution to any Internet filtering challenges, the ordered combination of limitations do not amount to significantly more than a method of managing interactions between people and thus grouped as a certain method of organizing human interactions. Accordingly, the claims recite an abstract idea. As explained above, this judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application. Further, as explained above, the claims do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception. Accordingly, the claims are not patent eligible. Applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
Conclusion
Applicant’s amendment necessitated the new ground(s) for 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 for 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 extension free 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 date of this final action.
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/C. P. C./
Examiner, Art Unit 3683
/ROBERT W MORGAN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3683
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