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
This Action is in response to the Amendment filed March 16, 2026. Claims 1, 3, 13 17 and 19 are amended. Claim 12 is canceled. Claims 1, 3-5, 7, 9-11 and 13-20 are pending and have been examined in this application. The Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) filed on June 24, 2026 has been acknowledged.
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, 3-5, 7, 9-11 and 13-20 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.
Claims 1, 3-5, 7, 9-11 and 13-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. Specifically, claims 1, 3-5, 7, 9-11 and 13-20 are directed toward at least one abstract idea without significantly more. In accordance with MPEP § 2106, the rationale for this determination is explained below.
Representative claim 1 is directed towards a method, claim 17 is directed towards a device, claim 19 is directed towards a non-transitory medium, which are statutory categories of invention.
Although, claim 1 is directed toward a statutory category of invention, the claim however, is directed towards a judicial exception namely an abstract idea. The limitations that set forth the abstract idea recites: displaying a media content collection to be unlocked in response to an interactive operation on a link control, the link control corresponds to the media content collection, and the link control further corresponds to another function control, wherein a title of the media content collection pointed is displayed on the link control, and a number is displayed after the title on the link control, wherein the number indicates the number of linked contents to which the link control points; and displaying the media content collection unlocked in response to an unlocking operation for an access right to the media content collection to be unlocked; displaying, an unlocking message in an inbox control of a user, the unlocking message comprising information on the media content collection unlocked; and displaying, the media content collection unlocked in response to an interactive operation on the unlocking message. These limitations, comprise commercial interactions including, marketing or sales activities; business relations; and managing personal behavior including following rules or instructions. As such, the limitations are directed towards the abstract grouping of Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity in prong one of step 2A of the Alice/Mayo test (see MPEP 2106.04(a)(2) II).
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because, when analyzed as a whole under prong two of step 2A of the Alice/Mayo test (see MPEP 2106.04(d)), the additional elements provided by the claim amount to merely using a computer as a tool to apply an abstract idea, and/or generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment. In particular the claim recites the additional elements: via a graphical user interface (GUI) of an electronic device, in the GUI of the electronic device, wherein the GUI is configured to display a first media content in a feed; via the GUI of the electronic device; via the GUI of the electronic device; via the GUI of the electronic device; on the GUI, in the GUI, which are recited at a high level of generality and are the mere use of a computer as a tool to perform the abstract ideas, see MPEP 2106.05(f). Simply applying the abstract idea by a computer is not a practical application of the abstract idea.
The claim does not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception. As discussed above with respect to integration of the abstract idea into a practical application, the claim recites the additional limitations of a user interface, an electronic device, media content in a feed, a memory and processor (claim 17), which do not constitute significantly more because they are simply an attempt to limit the abstract idea to a particular technological environment1. Viewing these limitations as a combination, the additional elements amount to no more than merely applying the exception using generic computer components, executing the basic functions of a computer. Merely applying an exception using generic computer components cannot provide an inventive concept. See TLI Communications LLC v. AV Automotive LLC, 823 F.3d 607, 613, 118 USPQ2d 1744, 1748 (Fed. Cir. 2016) (mere recitation of concrete or tangible components is not an inventive concept). Therefore, the limitations of the claim as a whole, when viewed individually and as an ordered combination, do not amount to significantly more than the abstract idea.
A review of dependent claims 3-5, 7, 9-11, 13-16, likewise, do not recite any limitations that would remedy the deficiencies outlined above. The claims only further add to the abstract idea, with no elements which integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or constitute significantly more. Further still, claims 17-20 suffer from substantially the same deficiencies as outlined with respect to claims 1, 3-5, 7, 9-11, 13-16 and are also rejected accordingly.
Examiner's Comments
The claims employ language that does not serve to differentiate the claims from the prior art.
Claims 1, 17 and 19 recite “wherein a title of the media content collection pointed is displayed on the link control, and a number is displayed after the title on the link control, wherein the number indicates the number of linked contents to which the link control points.” These clauses describe title/data displayed on a link control. However, the claims do not positively recite any steps or functions that use or process the particular data on the control. Therefore, the limitations recite nonfunctional descriptive material and are not given patentable weight. When descriptive material is not functionally related to the substrate, the descriptive material will not distinguish the invention from prior art in terms of patentability. Accordingly, it has been held that the nonfunctional descriptive material will not distinguish the invention from the prior art in terms of patentability. (In re Ngal 367 F.3d 1336, 1339, 70 USPQ2d 1862 (Fed. Cir. 2004); Ex parte Nehls 88 USPQ2d 1883, 1888-1889 (BPAI 2008); In re Lowry, 32 USPQ2d 1031 (Fed. Cir. 1994); MPEP § 2111.05; Cf. In re Gulack 703 F.2d 1381,1385, 217 USPQ401,404 (Fed. Cir. 1983)).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1, 4, 7, 12, 14 and 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ansari (US Publication 2022/0208319) in view of Green (US Publication 2017/0366498).
A. In regards to Claims 1, 17 and 19, Ansari teaches method, system and non-transitory medium, comprising:
a memory; Ansari [0051];
and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the memory has instructions stored therein which, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to: Ansari [0051];
displaying, via a graphical user interface (GUI) of an electronic device, a media content collection to be unlocked in response to an interactive operation on a link control in the GUI of the electronic device, wherein the GUI is configured to display a first media content in a feed, the link control corresponds to the media content collection, and the link control further corresponds to another function control; Ansari [0065: movies may be downloaded and stored at the service center's partitioned side beyond the demarcation point as requested by a user via a user interface through a device connected to the appliance. This user interface, enabled via the user partition of the gateway appliance, is accessed through a PC, a TV, and cell phone; 0141: content from different internet-based media feeds may be aggregated and automatically downloaded to the gateway appliance 0066: via a GUI established for the endpoint device when connected with the gateway, when authenticated, files may be unlocked so the customer may locally manipulate services before and after demarcation point; 0161: notifications for each feature (media content) are displayed as an animated icon; when the user clicks on the notification icon, that feature page will be loaded to display the detailed notification information; 0160: further link is provided to change the user preferences. For example, when the user clicks on the preferences link, a dialog box will be displayed that will allow the user to change the user preferences];
and displaying via the GUI of the electronic device, the media content collection unlocked in response to an unlocking operation for an access right to the media content collection to be unlocked; Ansari [0065: unless and until the user has purchased the movies for playback via an authentication process, that user will be prevented from accessing the content. Otherwise, the user may initiate streaming of the content directly to a digital endpoint device, or will be granted permissions to download and play the movie];
displaying, via the GUI of the electronic device, an unlocking message in an inbox control of a user, the unlocking message comprising information on the media content collection unlocked; Ansari [0043: Some of the in-home endpoint device processing duties performed by the appliance include: decrypting and securely streaming DRM'd (Digital Rights Management) media; delivering notifications to the endpoint device; 0058: provide a standard for initiating, modifying or terminating interactive user sessions that involve one or more multimedia elements that can include instant messaging, etc., by providing access to dialog functionality from the transaction interface];
and displaying, via the GUI of the electronic device, the media content collection unlocked in response to an interactive operation on the unlocking message. Ansari [0161: when the user clicks on the notification icon, that feature page will be loaded to display the detailed notification information; 0218: parent receives notification with all the information about the movie and the cost; parent can then indicate whether the movie can be watched. The gateway appliance may have a web server to allow the parent to remotely specify permission by hosting a web page, which can be accessed by a browser on a mobile phone; 0223: read the message and then select from a list of options how to respond; if the response was to allow the movie to be watched, the RHC may remove the lock on the movie];
wherein the displaying of the media content collection to be unlocked in response to the interactive operation on the GUI comprises: displaying the media content collection to be unlocked in response to an interactive operation on a link control in the GUI, wherein the link control corresponds to the media content collection; Ansari [0161: notifications for each feature (media content) are displayed as an animated icon; when the user clicks on the notification icon, that feature page will be loaded to display the detailed notification information];
and the method further comprises: maintaining an access right to the media content collection unlocked for a user corresponding to the media content collection unlocked in a case where the link control is removed; Ansari [0161: when the user clicks on the notification icon, that feature page will be loaded to display the detailed notification information; if the feature represented by the icon is not available, then the icon will be grayed and a tooltip will be provided to display an explanation; 0065: if the user has purchased the movie, the movies may be transferred physically to the user storage portion of the partition. Otherwise, the content may be temporarily copied for local storage by the user at the user accessible portion of the demarcation point for playback at the user endpoint device; 0145: gateway appliance, in one embodiment, maintains directories of access and sharing and which services are involved to access and transfer content];
Ansari does not specifically disclose, displaying, via the GUI of the electronic device, an unlocking message in an inbox control of a user. This is disclosed by Green, FIG. 7 [0145: an example user interface may be displayed when the potential responder selects an item from the request inbox, such as that illustrated in FIG. 6. The user interface may display the full content request text and optionally other content request criteria].
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the invention for one of ordinary skill in the art to have modified the teachings of Ansari with the teachings from Green with the motivation to provide an application programming interface enabling third party systems to gain access to some or all of the services provided by a content distribution facilitation system, where the operator of the third system may pay a licensing fee for such access. Green [0025].
wherein a title of the media content collection pointed is displayed on the link control, and a number is displayed after the title on the link control, wherein the number indicates the number of linked contents to which the link control points. These clauses employ language that do not serve to differentiate the claims from the prior art, therefore they have no patentable weight.
B. In regards to Claims 4, 18 and 20, Ansari discloses, wherein the displaying of the media content collection unlocked in response to the unlocking operation for the access right to the media content collection to be unlocked comprises: displaying the media content collection unlocked in response to unlocking the access right to the media content collection to be unlocked using an exchange resource. Ansari [0065: user select and prioritize movies to purchase].
C. In regards to Claim 7, Ansari discloses, further comprising: displaying the media content collection unlocked in response to an interactive operation on a first collection control in a creator home page. Ansari [0147: allowing users to share widgets, RSS feeds, and tabs on their personal page with family and friends or the like, allowing users to create slideshow with media and share it with family and friends or the like; 0148: file sharing may be invoked with minimum user interaction, for instance, as one-click function].
D. In regards to Claim 14, Ansari discloses, wherein: the first media content comprises a video; Ansari [0008: video retrieval module operable to retrieve and capture video activity of at least one media display device as a video activity stream];
and the media content collection comprises a video collection. Ansari [0143: file sharing service of the present disclosure in an exemplary embodiment allows users to share files, for example, videos; 0145: movie list (collection) sharing can be a managed by the community or network of gateway appliances. The gateway appliance, in one embodiment, maintains directories of access and sharing and which services are involved to access and transfer content].
Claims 3, 5, 9-11, 13 and 15-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ansari (US Publication 2022/0208319) in view of Green (US Publication 2017/0366498) in further view of Wang (US Publication 2021/0359969).
A. In regards to Claim 3, Ansari does not specifically disclose, wherein the displaying of the media content collection to be unlocked in response to the interactive operation on link control in the GUI comprises: displaying a creator home page in response to an interactive operation on a control of the creator home page in the GUI, wherein the creator home page comprises a first collection control; this is disclosed by Wang [0052: user may select a control provided by the content sharing component; 0028: system provides a thumbnail associated with the collection on a profile page of the first user account; responsive to receiving a selection of the thumbnail from a second user account, the social networking system provides the collection to be viewed by the second user account. In this way, users can access the collections shared by a particular user account from the profile page];
and displaying the media content collection to be unlocked in response to an interactive operation on the first collection control. This is disclosed by Wang [0053: responsive to receiving a selection of an individual content post, the collection component directs the social network application on the device to the selected content post, whether the selected content post was originally shared by the user].
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the invention for one of ordinary skill in the art to have modified the teachings of Ansari with the teachings from Wang with the motivation to allow users to share content posts of different types (e.g., product posts and place/location posts) without the restrictions associated with the product post collection type and/or the place post collection type. Wang [0087].
B. In regards to Claim 5, Ansari does not specifically disclose, further comprising: displaying a second collection control in response to an interactive operation on a setting option control in a user home page; this is disclosed by Wang [0076: the user interface may be presented in response to selection of a control in the user interface to create a new collection, and/or a similar control presented in a user interface associated with posts the user has saved, posts the user has previously shared, posts displayed to the user as a result of a search, and so forth; 0086: selection of the control may also cause the collection to be displayed on a profile page of a user account associated with the user];
it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the invention for one of ordinary skill in the art to have modified the teachings of Ansari with the teachings from Wang with the motivation to provide a user interface to correspond to what is displayed when one of the users selects to view a profile page (home page) of the user and selects a control that corresponds to collections created by the user account associated with the user. Wang [0088].
Ansari discloses, and displaying the media content collection unlocked in response to an interactive operation on the collection control. Ansari [0065: user select and prioritize movies to purchase; the user may initiate streaming of the content directly to a digital endpoint device, or will be granted permissions to download and play the movie].
C. In regards to Claim 9, Ansari does not specifically disclose, further comprising: displaying an evaluation result of a user on the media content collection. This is disclosed by Wang [0099: the user interface may include an indicator that displays a number of user accounts that have “liked” the collection, and an indicator of a number of comments that have been provided on the collection]. The motivation being the same as set forth in claim 3.
D. In regards to Claim 10, Ansari does not specifically disclose, wherein the displaying of the evaluation result of the user on the media content collection comprises: displaying an evaluation window in response to an interactive operation on an evaluation control on a page on which the media content collection is located; this is disclosed by Wang [0054: content sharing component may provide a selectable control in a user interface on the computing devices that, when selected, enables the users to provide feedback on the collection];
and displaying the evaluation result of the user on the media content collection in response to an evaluation operation of the user on the media content collection on the evaluation window. This is disclosed by Wang [0094: the user interface may include an indicator that displays a number of user accounts that have “liked” the collection, and/or an indicator of a number of comments that have been provided on the collection]. The motivation being the same as set forth in claim 3.
E. In regards to Claim 11, Ansari does not specifically disclose, wherein the displaying of the evaluation result of the user on the media content collection comprises: displaying an evaluation window in a case where at least a portion of media content in the media content collection is played; this is disclosed by Wang [0098: some cases, the descriptor may change based on inputs provided by the user about the second content post associated with the item. The indicator may remain the same in response to the gesture in the first direction, thus providing the user with an indication that the second content post is associated with the same location as the first content post; 0099: user interface may include a control that, when selected, provides a mechanism for the user to comment on the collection];
and displaying the evaluation result of the user on the media content collection in response to an evaluation operation of the user on the media content collection on the evaluation window. This is disclosed by Wang [0094: the user interface may include an indicator that displays a number of user accounts that have “liked” the collection, and/or an indicator of a number of comments that have been provided on the collection]. The motivation being the same as set forth in claim 3.
F. In regards to Claim 13, Ansari discloses, further comprising: obtaining the first media content to be published; Ansari [0216: a background service may record all desktop activity as a video and distribute it to the gateway appliance to be stored on a hard drive; the video may be published on the local network]
Ansari does not specifically disclose, generating a link control associated with the first media content, wherein the link control points to the media content collection to be unlocked; this is disclosed by Wang [0070: for particular objects or information having privacy settings specifying that they are ephemeral, the social networking system may be restricted in its access, or use of the objects or information; 0052: the user may select a control provided by the content sharing component to share a link to the collection as an ephemeral content item];
and publishing the first media content with the link control to the feed. This is disclosed by Wang [0108: the collection component may share a link to the collection in a feed of followers of the user account of the user]. The motivation being the same as set forth in claim 3.
G. In regards to Claim 15, Ansari does not specifically disclose, wherein the media content collection comprises one or more second media contents. This is disclosed by Wang [0034: the collection may be organized such that each item in the collection is associated with a different location; 0064: in particular examples, different objects of the same type associated with a user may have different privacy settings]. The motivation being the same as set forth in claim 3.
H. In regards to Claim 16, Ansari does not specifically disclose, wherein the first media content is different from the one or more second media contents. This is disclosed by Wang [0034: the collection may be organized such that each item in the collection is associated with a different location; 0071: example, if the user changes privacy settings and then shares a second image, the second image may be visible only to the first user group]. The motivation being the same as set forth in claim 3.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's other filed arguments have been fully considered but have not been found persuasive.
A. Regarding the 35 U.S.C. § 101 rejection Applicant submits that the amended independent claim 1 does not recite abstract ideas because it is directed to accessing media content comprising a plurality of steps which do not comprise commercial interactions, business relations and managing personal interactions. The Examiner respectfully disagrees. The claims are directed to the abstract concept grouped under Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity with no additional elements that integrate the abstract concept into a practical application or significantly more. The claim provides for accessing and displaying content that a user has unlocked/purchased, to improve the user experience, which is an abstract idea in and of itself. Accordingly, the claims improve upon an abstract idea and not a technology. And applying the abstract idea via a GUI by having a user clicking on a link control does not remove the claim from being directed to the abstract idea. See at least, TLI Communications LLC v. AV Automotive LLC, 823 F.3d 607, 613, 118 USPQ2d 1744, 1748 (Fed. Cir. 2016) (“It is well-settled that mere recitation of concrete, tangible components is insufficient to confer patent eligibility to an otherwise abstract idea”).
That the amendment recites link control corresponding to media content collection, and the link control further corresponds to another function control, wherein a title of the media content collection pointed is displayed on the link control, and a number is displayed after the title on the link control, wherein the number indicates the number of linked contents to which the link control points, only adds to the abstract idea. The link control provides no technical improvement, rather it merely provides an interaction mean for the user of the GUI.
Furthermore, the title and number displayed on the link control does nothing to improve the GUI, computer, or any other technology. They merely describe what’s written on the control. Moreover, the specification does not provide any technical evidence/technical support as to how the title and number written on a control improves information pushing efficiency of an electronic device
As such, the claims as a whole, in view of Alice, do not connote an improvement to another technology or technical field; the claims do not amount to an improvement to the functioning of a computer itself; and the claims do not move beyond a general link of the use of the abstract idea to a particular technological environment. Therefore, the Applicant does not overcome the current 35 U.S.C. § 101 rejection.
Applicant argument in regards to the 35 U.S.C. § 103 rejection that Ansari does not disclose, “a title of the media content collection pointed to is displayed on the link control, and a number is displayed after the title on the link control, wherein the number indicates the number of linked contents to which the link control points.” The Examiner respectfully disagrees. The limitations do not serve to differentiate the claims from the prior art, as the claims do not positively recite any steps or functions that use or process the particular data and number labelled on the control. Therefore, the limitations recite nonfunctional descriptive material and are not given patentable weight. When descriptive material is not functionally related to the substrate, the descriptive material will not distinguish the invention from prior art in terms of patentability. Accordingly, it has been held that the nonfunctional descriptive material will not distinguish the invention from the prior art in terms of patentability. (In re Ngal 367 F.3d 1336, 1339, 70 USPQ2d 1862 (Fed. Cir. 2004); Ex parte Nehls 88 USPQ2d 1883, 1888-1889 (BPAI 2008); In re Lowry, 32 USPQ2d 1031 (Fed. Cir. 1994); MPEP § 2111.05; Cf. In re Gulack 703 F.2d 1381,1385, 217 USPQ401,404 (Fed. Cir. 1983)).
Conclusion
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 extension fee 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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Errol CARVALHO whose telephone number is (571)272-9987. The Examiner can normally be reached on M-F 9:30-7:00 Alt Fri
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ilana Spar can be reached on 571- 270-7537. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/E CARVALHO/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3622
1 See, Alice Corp. Pty Ltd. v. CLS Bank lnt'l, 134 S. Ct. 2347, 2360 (2014) (noting that none of the hardware recited “offers a meaningful limitation beyond generally linking ‘the use of the [method] to a particular technological environment,’ that is, implementation via computers” (citing Bilski v. Kappos, 561 U.S. 593, 610-11 (2010))).
