DETAILED ACTION
Remarks
This office action is issued in response to communication filed on 2/13/2026 . Claims 1-20 are pending in this Office 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 Arguments
Applicant’s arguments filed 2/13/2026 with respect to claims 1-20 rejection under 35 USC 103 have been considered but are moot in view of new ground of rejection.
Applicant’s arguments filed 2/13/2026 with respect to claims 1,9 and 17 double patenting rejection have been considered and are not persuasive. The examiner respectfully maintains the double patenting rejection.
Claim Objections
Claims 1,9 and 17 are objected to because of the following informalities: Claims 1,9 and 17 recite the term "and/or", which is selective language, the examiner suggests using either the "and" term or the "or" term, otherwise the claims should be worded in a clearer fashion to claim both terms. For the purpose of this examination the examiner is selecting the "or" term from this selective language. Appropriate correction is required.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the claims at issue are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); and In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
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Claims 1,9 and 17 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1 and 12 of US Patent 11,797,152 B2 hereinafter “152 patent” . Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because all the elements of the instant application claims 1,9 and 17 are to be found in the claims 1 and 12 of 152 patent.
Instant Application (18/471,202)
US Patent 11,797,152 B2
1. (Currently Amended) A method comprising: obtaining data characterizing action associated with a multi-step analytical process, wherein the multi-step analytical process includes at least one of importing a dataset, building a model using the dataset, and/or deploying the model to operate on data; determining a set of indicators for a first analytical task of the multi-step analytical process based on the obtained data, wherein each indicator among the set of indicators comprises an impact of the first analytical task on the multi-step analytical process; receiving an input for selecting an indicator among the set of indicators; determining a second set of indicators for a second analytical task of the multi-step analytical process based on the received input, wherein each indicator among the second set of indicators comprises a predetermined recommended priority associated with a next step of the multi-step analytical process, wherein the next step of the multi-step analytical process is an analytical task performed subsequently to the first analytical task and the next step comprises at least one of building an analytical model included in the analytical task, or deploying the analytical model to operate on live data; and providing the second set of indicators.
A method comprising: providing, in a first graphical user interface (GUI), a first node having a first location in the first GUI and indicative of a first analytical task, wherein a multi-step analytical process includes the first analytical task; receiving data characterizing a first user input indicative of selection of the first node; displaying, in the first GUI, a first set of nodes, wherein the first set of nodes are adjacent to the first node, and are associated with a next step of the multi-step analytical process; receiving data characterizing a second user input indicative of selection of a second node associated with a second analytical task included in the multi-step analytical process, wherein the second node is among the first set of nodes and is located at a second location in the first GUI; providing, in a second GUI, a second set of nodes indicative of a set of analytical sub-tasks associated with the second analytical tasks wherein the second set of nodes are arranged based on a temporal order in which the second set of nodes are generated; receiving a third user input indicative of addition of a new analytical sub-task to the set of analytical sub-tasks; and generating a new node indicative of the new analytical sub-task, wherein the new node is placed adjacent to a previous node in the second GUI, the previous node indicative of a previous analytical sub-task of the plurality of analytical sub-tasks, wherein the previous node is the last node to be generated in the temporal order prior to the generation of the new node, wherein the multi-step analytical process includes at least one of importing a dataset, building a model using the dataset, and/or deploying the model to operate on live data.
Claims 9 and 17
Claim 12
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, 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 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Vidan et al.( US Patent Application Publication 2020/0241852 A1, hereinafter “Vidan”) and further in view of Duggan et al.(US Patent Application Publication 2017/0178019 A1, hereinafter “Duggan” )
As to claim 1, Vidan teaches method comprising : obtaining data characterizing action associated with a multi-step analytical process, wherein the multi-step analytical process includes at least one of importing a dataset, building a model using the dataset, and/or deploying the model to operate on data (Vidan par [0030] teaches the process of building an analytical workflow, as user begins to select each new block template 112 to instantiate a functional block into analytical workflow, intelligent assistant 102 uses available data 400 to automatically recommend one or more block templates 112);
determining a set of indicators for a first analytical task of the multi-step analytical process based on the obtained data, wherein each indicator among the set of indicators comprises an impact of the first analytical task on the multi-step analytical process; (Vidan Fig.2c and par [0031] teaches the intelligent assistant 102 recommends a set 230 (interprets as set of indicators) of block templates 112 that most likely continues the analytical workflow)
receiving an input for selecting an indicator among the set of indicators; (Vidan par [0033] teaches user selects “Highchart line chart” from the recommendation list 230)
determining a second set of indicators for a second analytical task of the multi- step analytical process based on the received input, wherein each indicator among the second set of indicators comprises a predetermined recommended priority associated with a next step of the multi-step analytical process, wherein the next step in the multi-step analytical process is an analytical task performed subsequently to the first analytical task [and the next step comprises at least one of importing a dataset, building an analytical model included in the analytical task, using the imported dataset, or deploying the analytical model to operate on live data] ;
; and providing the second set of indicators.(Vidan par [0034] teaches as the user fills out the input parameters of the new “Highchart Line Chart” functional block 242, intelligent assistant 102 may suggest 252 (interprets as second set of indicators) two possible inputs that might supply input of data type “series” for one of the inputs to the “Highchart Line Chart” functional block)
Vidan fails to expressly teach the next step comprises at least one of building an analytical model included in the analytical task or deploying the analytical model to operate on live data.
However, in an analogous art directed toward data analytic system, Duggan teaches the next step comprises at least one of building an analytical model included in the analytical task or deploying the analytical model to operate on live data.( Duggan par [0087] teaches a dynamic command button may be provided to perform various functions on or with the analytical model. For example, command button 738 provides the user with an option to deploy the second model 718)
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to combine the teaching of Vidan and Duggan to arrive at the claimed invention. One would have been motivated to make such combination to allow user to quickly and efficiently deploy the analytical model.
As to claim 2, Vidan and Duggan teach the method of claim 1 further comprising: determining the predetermined recommended priority based on historical user activity. (Vidan par [0031] teaches based on data 400 collected form the user’s past interactions )
As to claim 3, Vidan and Duggan teach the method of claim 2, wherein determining the predetermined recommended priority based on historical user activity further comprises monitoring tasks performed by a user. (Vidan par [0031] teaches based on data 400 collected form the user’s past interactions and past interactions of other users)
As to claim 4,Vidan and Duggan teach the method of claim 1, wherein the multi-step analytical process comprises a plurality of analytical tasks, wherein each analytical task among the plurality of analytical tasks comprises one or more analytical sub-tasks. ( Vidan par [0040] teaches intelligent assistant 102 may divide an analytical workflow into phases and classify block templates 112 based on the typical phase )
As to claim 5, Vidan and Duggan teach the method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of analytical tasks are arranged in temporal order. (Vidan par [0040] teaches intelligent assistant 102 may divide an analytical workflow into phases and classify block templates 112 based on the typical phase. These phases are high-level steps in the workflow and can be envisioned as a list of steps followed through for each data source in the workflow)
As to claim 6, Vidan and Duggan teach the method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a second input for selecting a second indicator among the second set of indicators; and determining a third set of indicators for a third analytical task of the multi-step analytical process based on the received second input. (Vidan par [0036] teaches user accepting or rejecting the recommendations to continue building the analytical workflow )
As to claim 7, Vidan and Duggan teach the method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises live data. ( Vidan par [102] teaches additional data may be gathered as input to intelligent assistant 102 based on the actual data being executed)
As to claim 8, Vidan and Duggan teach the method of claim 1 wherein at least one of receiving the input and providing the second set of indicators is displayed in a graphical user interface.( Vidan par [0034] teaches intelligent assistant 102 may suggest 252 (interprets as second set of indicators) two possible inputs that might supply input of data type “series” for one of the inputs to the “Highchart Line Chart” functional block )
Claims 9-16 merely recite a system to perform the method of claims 1-8 respectively. Accordingly, Vidan and Duggan teach every limitation of claims 9-16 as indicates in the above rejection of claims 1-8 respectively.
Claims 17-20 merely recite a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions when executed by a processor, perform the method of claims 1-4 respectively. Accordingly, Vidan and Duggan teach every limitation of claims 17-20 as indicates in the above rejection of claims 1-4 respectively.
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 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.
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/HIEN L DUONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2147