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 .
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 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more.
Under Step 1, claims 1, 8 and 15 are directed to at least one statutory category, a system, method and non-transitory computer readable medium, respectively.
Under Step 2A, Prong 1, claim 1 or 8 or 15 is directed to an abstract idea of generating custom smart contracts executable to create blocks in: generate a smart contract configured to execute in response to receiving claim data, the smart contract comprising executable instructions configured to process the received claim data, request additional data based upon the received claim data, generate a reporting document, and transmit the reporting document to predesignated nodes of the plurality of nodes; causing a first block to be generated within, the first block including content associated with the smart contract; receive first claim data for a first claim from a node of the plurality of nodes, the first electronic claim submitted on behalf of a member of group; in response to receiving the first claim data, cause the smart contract to be executed to process the first claim data, wherein executing the smart contract comprises: (i) initiating processing of the first electronic claim by creating a new block in, the new block including the first claim data associated with the first electronic claim, (ii) causing a message to be displayed on the node requesting submission of additional data related to the first claim based upon the received first claim data, (iii) enabling the additional data received from the node to be added onto the new block, , wherein a hash of a previous block of the blockchain is calculated to link the new block to the previous block; and (iv) generating a first reporting document from at least one stored template that includes the first claim data and the additional data; distribute processing of the hash over the plurality of nodes; transmitting the new block to the plurality of nodes; transmit the first reporting document, via the smart contract, to the predesignated nodes notifying the corresponding members of the first claim and providing access to the first reporting document of the first claim; receive, from the predesignated nodes, one or more claim decisions for the first claim; and initiating execution of the one or more claim decisions based upon the smart contract. This concept falls under the abstract idea category of certain methods of organizing human activity, specifically commercial or legal interactions as it is directed to sales activities or behaviors.
Under Step 2A, Prong Two, the additional elements recited in claim 1 or 8 or 15 include: a computer system; distributed blockchain ledgers; at least one memory device; at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory device; and at least one communication interface configured to communicate with a plurality of user devices, wherein each of the plurality of user devices (i) is associated with one of a plurality of members of a virtual group associated with a blockchain and (ii) acts as one of a plurality of nodes in a distributed blockchain ledger associated with the blockchain, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: automatically a blockchain; the blockchain; electronic; a computer system that includes at least one memory device, at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory device, and at least one communication interface configured to communicate with a plurality of user devices, wherein each of the plurality of user devices (i) is associated with one of a plurality of members of a virtual group associated with a blockchain and (ii) acts as one of a plurality of nodes in a distributed blockchain ledger associated with the blockchain; electronic the virtual group; electronic; electronic; electronic. These additional limitations do not integrate the judicial exception into a practical application. In particular, the claimed computer components, receiving and transmitting data are amount to no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using a generic computer system, which is not indicative of integration into a practical application; see MPEP 2106.05(f). The additional element amount to no more than merely linking the general technology to the judicial exception without significantly more and, in the alternative, mere insignificant extra-solution activity to gather data used in the claimed system/method/non-transitory computer readable medium.
Under Step 2B, the claimed invention is considered as a whole whether the additional elements individually or as an ordered combination amount to an inventive concept. Upon further determination, the claims do not integration of the abstract idea into a practical application, the additional element of a computer system; distributed blockchain ledgers; at least one memory device; at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory device; and at least one communication interface configured to communicate with a plurality of user devices, wherein each of the plurality of user devices (i) is associated with one of a plurality of members of a virtual group associated with a blockchain and (ii) acts as one of a plurality of nodes in a distributed blockchain ledger associated with the blockchain, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: automatically a blockchain; the blockchain; electronic; a computer system that includes at least one memory device, at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory device, and at least one communication interface configured to communicate with a plurality of user devices, wherein each of the plurality of user devices (i) is associated with one of a plurality of members of a virtual group associated with a blockchain and (ii) acts as one of a plurality of nodes in a distributed blockchain ledger associated with the blockchain; electronic the virtual group; electronic; electronic; electronic is recited at a high-level of generality such that it amounts no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using a generic computer system, and recites the steps of data manipulation. Mere instructions to apply an exception using a generic computer system and/or adding insignificant extra-solution activity to the judicial exception is not indicative of an inventive concept. This is supported by the original disclosure that describes the computer components merely generic components, [0060] and [0070]. Applicant’s specification states that [0060] User computer device 702 may be operated by a user 704 (e.g., a social insurance user). User computer device 702 may receive input from user 704 via an input module 706.User computer device 702 includes a processor 708 for executing instructions. In some embodiments, executable instructions may be stored in a memory area 710. Processor 708 may include one or more processing units (e.g., in a multi-core configuration). Memory area 710 may be any device allowing information such as executable instructions and/or transaction data to be stored and retrieved. Memory area 710 may include one or more computer-readable media and [0070] Processor 805 executes computer-executable instructions. The sending and receiving data over a network have been determined by the courts to be well-known, conventional and routine functions, see MPEP 2106.05(d)(II)(i). Claims 8 and 15 recite similar limitations and are ineligible for similar rational. Therefore, claims 1, 8 and 15 are not patent eligible.
As for dependent claims 2-7, these claims recite limitations that further define the abstract idea noted in claim 1. Even in combination, these additional elements do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application. Further in step 2B, as noted above, this is considered well-understood, routine, conventional activity noting the Symantec, TLI, and OIP Techs court decisions cited in MPEP 2106.05(d)(II) that indicate that mere receipt or transmission of data over a network is a well-understood, routine and conventional function.
As for dependent claims 9-14, these claims recite limitations that further define the abstract idea noted in claim 8. Even in combination, these additional elements do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application. Further in step 2B, as noted above, this is considered well-understood, routine, conventional activity noting the Symantec, TLI, and OIP Techs court decisions cited in MPEP 2106.05(d)(II) that indicate that mere receipt or transmission of data over a network is a well-understood, routine and conventional function.
As for dependent claims 16-20, these claims recite limitations that further define the abstract idea noted in claim 15. Even in combination, these additional elements do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application. Further in step 2B, as noted above, this is considered well-understood, routine, conventional activity noting the Symantec, TLI, and OIP Techs court decisions cited in MPEP 2106.05(d)(II) that indicate that mere receipt or transmission of data over a network is a well-understood, routine and conventional function.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 2/19/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
The applicant amended the claims, the examiner has updated the 35 U.S.C. §101 base on applicant’s amendment.
In response to applicant’s argument that the claims are not directed to abstract idea, the examiner respectfully disagrees. Claims are directed to abstract idea of generating custom smart contracts executable to create blocks in: generate a smart contract configured to execute in response to receiving claim data, the smart contract comprising executable instructions configured to process the received claim data, request additional data based upon the received claim data, generate a reporting document, and transmit the reporting document to predesignated nodes of the plurality of nodes; causing a first block to be generated within, the first block including content associated with the smart contract; receive first claim data for a first claim from a node of the plurality of nodes, the first electronic claim submitted on behalf of a member of group; in response to receiving the first claim data, cause the smart contract to be executed to process the first claim data, wherein executing the smart contract comprises: (i) initiating processing of the first electronic claim by creating a new block in, the new block including the first claim data associated with the first electronic claim, (ii) causing a message to be displayed on the node requesting submission of additional data related to the first claim based upon the received first claim data, (iii) enabling the additional data received from the node to be added onto the new block, , wherein a hash of a previous block of the blockchain is calculated to link the new block to the previous block; and (iv) generating a first reporting document from at least one stored template that includes the first claim data and the additional data; distribute processing of the hash over the plurality of nodes; transmitting the new block to the plurality of nodes; transmit the first reporting document, via the smart contract, to the predesignated nodes notifying the corresponding members of the first claim and providing access to the first reporting document of the first claim; receive, from the predesignated nodes, one or more claim decisions for the first claim; and initiating execution of the one or more claim decisions based upon the smart contract. This concept falls under the abstract idea category of certain methods of organizing human activity, specifically commercial or legal interactions as it is directed to sales activities or behaviors. Therefore, the applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
In response to applicant’s arguments in regard to August 4, 2025 memorandum and 35 § 101 technological improvement, the examiner respectfully disagrees. The applicant’s specification and claims do not describe technological improvements, or a specific improvement to the way computer, memory device, processor and/or distributed blockchain ledger. Rather, Applicant’s specification and claims describe systems and methods for self-managed peer group insurance. The claims do not to improve the performance of computers or any underlying technology; instead, the focus is to use generic computing devices. Therefore, the applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
In response to applicant’s argument that claims are directed to significantly more than abstract idea, the examiner respectfully disagrees. The claimed invention is considered as a whole whether the additional elements individually or as an ordered combination amount to an inventive concept. Upon further determination, the claims do not integration of the abstract idea into a practical application, the additional element of computer system; distributed blockchain ledgers; at least one memory device; at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory device; and at least one communication interface configured to communicate with a plurality of user devices, wherein each of the plurality of user devices (i) is associated with one of a plurality of members of a virtual group associated with a blockchain and (ii) acts as one of a plurality of nodes in a distributed blockchain ledger associated with the blockchain, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: automatically a blockchain; the blockchain; electronic; a computer system that includes at least one memory device, at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory device, and at least one communication interface configured to communicate with a plurality of user devices, wherein each of the plurality of user devices (i) is associated with one of a plurality of members of a virtual group associated with a blockchain and (ii) acts as one of a plurality of nodes in a distributed blockchain ledger associated with the blockchain; electronic the virtual group; electronic; electronic; electronic is recited at a high-level of generality such that it amounts no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using a generic computer system, and recites the steps of data manipulation. Mere instructions to apply an exception using a generic computer system and/or adding insignificant extra-solution activity to the judicial exception is not indicative of an inventive concept. This is supported by the original disclosure that describes the computer components merely generic components, [0060] and [0070]. Applicant’s specification states that [0060] User computer device 702 may be operated by a user 704 (e.g., a social insurance user). User computer device 702 may receive input from user 704 via an input module 706.User computer device 702 includes a processor 708 for executing instructions. In some embodiments, executable instructions may be stored in a memory area 710.Processor 708 may include one or more processing units (e.g., in a multi-core configuration). Memory area 710 may be any device allowing information such as executable instructions and/or transaction data to be stored and retrieved. Memory area 710 may include one or more computer-readable media and [0070] Processor 805 executes computer-executable instructions. The sending and receiving data over a network have been determined by the courts to be well-known, conventional and routine functions, see MPEP 2106.05(d)(II)(i). Therefore, the applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
In response to applicant’s argument in regard to the section 101 Step 2B, the examiner respectfully disagrees. Under Step 2B, the claimed invention is considered as a whole whether the additional elements individually or as an ordered combination amount to an inventive concept. Upon further determination, the claims do not integration of the abstract idea into a practical application, the additional element of computer system; distributed blockchain ledgers; at least one memory device; at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory device; and at least one communication interface configured to communicate with a plurality of user devices, wherein each of the plurality of user devices (i) is associated with one of a plurality of members of a virtual group associated with a blockchain and (ii) acts as one of a plurality of nodes in a distributed blockchain ledger associated with the blockchain, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: automatically a blockchain; the blockchain; electronic; a computer system that includes at least one memory device, at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory device, and at least one communication interface configured to communicate with a plurality of user devices, wherein each of the plurality of user devices (i) is associated with one of a plurality of members of a virtual group associated with a blockchain and (ii) acts as one of a plurality of nodes in a distributed blockchain ledger associated with the blockchain; electronic the virtual group; electronic; electronic; electronic is recited at a high-level of generality such that it amounts no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using a generic computer system, and recites the steps of data manipulation. Mere instructions to apply an exception using a generic computer system and/or adding insignificant extra-solution activity to the judicial exception is not indicative of an inventive concept. This is supported by the original disclosure that describes the computer components merely generic components, [0060] and [0070]. Applicant’s specification states that [0060] User computer device 702 may be operated by a user 704 (e.g., a social insurance user). User computer device 702 may receive input from user 704 via an input module 706.User computer device 702 includes a processor 708 for executing instructions. In some embodiments, executable instructions may be stored in a memory area 710. Processor 708 may include one or more processing units (e.g., in a multi-core configuration). Memory area 710 may be any device allowing information such as executable instructions and/or transaction data to be stored and retrieved. Memory area 710 may include one or more computer-readable media and [0070] Processor 805 executes computer-executable instructions. The sending and receiving data over a network have been determined by the courts to be well-known, conventional and routine functions, see MPEP 2106.05(d)(II)(i). Therefore, the applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to I JUNG LIU whose telephone number is (571)270-1370. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday.
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I JUNG LIU
Examiner
Art Unit 3695
/I JUNG LIU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3695