DETAILED ACTION
Status of Application
This action is a Non-Final Rejection. This action is in response to the request for continued examination filed on May 12, 2026.
Claims 1, 6, 7, 12, 15, 20, 21, 26, and 29 have been amended.
Claims 2-5, 10, 11, 16-19, 24, and 25 have been canceled.
Claims 30-32 have been added.
Claims 1, 6-9, 12-15, 20-23, and 26-32 are pending and rejected.
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
Response to Arguments
Regarding the rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 101, Applicant argues “that the Claims do not recite any abstract ideas.” Remarks at 9. Applicant asserts that redacting spoilers “is not an abstract idea, but rather a technical problem in machine learning that requires a technical solution. Conventionally, spoilers must be manually redacted by humans, such as moderators on respective Reddit pages. Automating this cumbersome manual process is a technical problem in natural language processing an machine learning disciplines.” Id. at 8-9. However, MPEP 2106.04(a)(2).II.C. provides examples of the subgrouping of “managing personal behavior or relationships or interactions between people.” For example, “filtering content” in BASCOM was an abstract idea (managing personal behavior). Additionally, in Interval Licensing, providing additional information to someone without disrupting the ongoing provision of other information was an abstract idea. Similarly, redacting information is a longstanding practice that is an abstract idea.
Applicant further argues that “the claims provide a technical improvement to automating spoiler detection and redaction through the claimed additional elements using machine learning. The claims as a whole automate redaction of spoilers in data from different sources (application feature information, user-generated comments). Due to the technical improvement of automating spoiler detection provided by the claims, a system does not need to provide a user interface and receive manual user input to redact the spoilers from these varied sources one by one, resulting in time savings and an expansion in available content types.” Remarks at 10. However, Applicant is describing an alleged improvement to the abstract idea. Although a computer is being used to implement the abstract idea, the computer or other technology is not being improved.
Applicant further argues that “[t]he claims as amended do not present ‘a generic computer’ because a machine-learned neural network is a special purpose computer.” Remarks at 10. However, Applicant’s Specification does not describe a particular machine. Rather, the claimed invention, including applying a neural network, could be performed by a programmed general purpose computer. See MPEP 2106.05(b)I (“It is important to note that a general purpose computer that applies a judicial exception, such as an abstract idea, by use of conventional computer functions does not qualify as a particular machine. Ultramercial, Inc. v. Hulu, LLC, 772 F.3d 709, 716-17, 112 USPQ2d 1750, 1755-56 (Fed. Cir. 2014). See also 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); Eon Corp. IP Holdings LLC v. AT&T Mobility LLC, 785 F.3d 616, 623, 114 USPQ2d 1711, 1715 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (noting that Alappat’s rationale that an otherwise ineligible algorithm or software could be made patent-eligible by merely adding a generic computer to the claim was superseded by the Supreme Court’s Bilski and Alice Corp. decisions). If applicant amends a claim to add a generic computer or generic computer components and asserts that the claim recites significantly more because the generic computer is 'specially programmed' (as in Alappat, now considered superseded) or is a 'particular machine' (as in Bilski), the examiner should look at whether the added elements integrate the exception into a practical application or provide significantly more than the judicial exception. Merely adding a generic computer, generic computer components, or a programmed computer to perform generic computer functions does not automatically overcome an eligibility rejection. Alice Corp. Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank Int’l, 573 U.S. 208, 223-24, 110 USPQ2d 1976, 1983-84 (2014). See In re Alappat, 33 F.3d 1526, 1545, 31 USPQ2d 1545, 1558 (Fed. Cir. 1994); In re Bilski, 545 F.3d 943, 88 USPQ2d 1385 (Fed. Cir. 2008)”).
Applicant further argues that “previously it was not possible to apply control to social networking content without integrating the entire social networking application (e.g., databases).” Remarks at 10. Applicant further asserts that “the data from different sources (application feature information, user-generated comments) can be automatically scanned by the neural network and presented for display in a redacted format in real-time or near real time.” Id. at 11. However, Applicant is describing a problem related to the abstract idea and not related to technology. Technology is being used to solve the business problem.
Applicant further argues that the additional elements of claim 1 “present an inventive step that is non-generic and non-conventional arrangement of elements that provide an inventive concept of automating spoiler detection and redaction using machine learning.” Remarks at 11. Because the rejection does not allege that the claimed additional elements are well-understood, routine, or conventional, evidence per Berkheimer has not been provided.
As such the rejection under 35 U.S.C. 101 is maintained.
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, 6-9, 12-15, 20-23, and 26-32 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 101 as being directed to non-statutory subject matter because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more.
Step 1: Does the Claim Fall within a Statutory Category? (see MPEP 2106.03)
Yes, with respect to claims 1, 6-9, 12-14, and 30-32 which recite a method and, therefore, are directed to the statutory class of process.
Yes, with respect to claims 15, 20-23, and 26-28, which recite a system and, therefore, are directed to the statutory class of machine or manufacture.
Yes, with respect to claim 29, which recites a non-transitory computer readable medium and, therefore, is directed to the statutory class of manufacture.
Step 2A, Prong One: Is a Judicial Exception Recited? (see MPEP 2106.04(a))
The following claims identify the limitations that recite the abstract idea in regular text and that recite additional elements in bold:
1. A method comprising:
generating, by a device, a feature page comprising a feature of an application with application data on the device;
determining, by the device, using the application data, a current progression point of a user in the application;
determining, by a neural network trained with a machine learning algorithm to detect words or phrases associated with progress points not achieved by the user, a portion of feature information that contains a spoiler based on the current progression point;
updating, by the device, the feature page to further comprise feature information about the feature, the portion of the feature information that contains the spoiler being in a redacted format;
receiving, by the device, user comment data;
determining, by the neural network, a comment of the user comment data that contains the spoiler based on the current progression point;
updating, by the device, the feature page with the user comment data, the user comment data comprising user comments from one or more users having a defined relation type to the user of the device, the defined relation type being one of a plurality of defined relation types, the comment of the user comment data that contains the spoiler being in the redacted format; and
causing display, on a display screen of the device, the feature page including the feature information and multiple tabs including a tab associated with the defined relation type providing display of the user comment data comprising the user comments from the one or more users having the defined relation type to the user of the device.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the feature information tracks progression points not achieved by the user.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the application data tracks progression points not yet achieved by the user.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein updating the feature page with feature information includes receiving one or more videos associated with the feature information.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein updating the feature page with feature information includes requesting the feature information from a feature information database.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving user comment data includes receiving at least one of video and images associated with the feature of the application.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of defined relation types includes friends, social group members, and experts.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the user comment data is stored in a memory on the device after being received.
15. A system comprising:
a processor;
a memory coupled to the processor;
non-transitory instructions embodied in the memory that when executed by the processor cause the processor to carry out the method comprising:
generate a feature page comprising a feature of an application with application data on a device;
determine using the application data, a current progression point of a user in the application;
determine, by a neural network trained with a machine learning algorithm to detect words or phrases associated with progress points not achieved by the user, a portion of feature information that contains a spoiler based on the current progression point;
update the feature page to further comprise feature information about the feature, the portion of the feature information that contains the spoiler being in a redacted format;
receive user comment data;
determine, by the neural network, a comment of the user comment data that contains the spoiler based on the current progression point;
updating the feature page with the user comment data, the user comment data comprising user comments from one or more users having a defined relation type to the user of the device, the defined relation type being one of a plurality of defined relation types, the comment of the user comment data that contains the spoiler being in the redacted format; and
cause display, on a display screen of the device, the feature page including the feature information and multiple tabs including a tab associated with the defined relation type providing display of the user comment data comprising the user comments from the one or more users having the defined relation type to the user of the device.
20. The system of claim 15 wherein the feature information tracks progression points not achieved by the user.
21. The system of claim 15 wherein the application data tracks progression points not achieved by the user.
22. The system of claim 15 wherein updating the feature page with feature information includes receiving one or more videos associated with the feature information.
23. The system of claim 15 wherein updating the feature page with feature information includes requesting the feature information from a feature information database.
26. The system of claim 15 wherein receiving user comment data includes receiving at least one of video and images associated with the feature of the application.
27. The system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of defined relation types includes friends, social group members, and experts.
28. The system of claim 15 wherein the user comment data is stored in the memory after being received.
29. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executable instructions embodied thereon, the instructions when executed cause the computer to carry out a method comprising:
generate a feature page comprising a feature of an application with application data on a device;
determine using the application data, a current progression point of a user in the application;
determine, by a neural network trained with a machine learning algorithm to detect words or phrases associated with progress points not achieved by the user, a portion of feature information that contains a spoiler based on the current progression point;
update the feature page to further comprise feature information about the feature, the portion of the feature information that contains the spoiler being in a redacted format;
receive user comment data;
determine, by the neural network, a comment of the user comment data that contains the spoiler based on the current progression point;
updating the feature page with the user comment data, the user comment data comprising user comments from one or more users having a defined relation type to the user of the device, the defined relation type being one of a plurality of defined relation types, the comment of the user comment data that contains the spoiler being in the redacted format; and
cause display, on a display screen of the device, the feature page including the feature information and multiple tabs including a tab associated with the defined relation type providing display of the user comment data comprising the user comments from the one or more users having the defined relation type to the user of the device.
30. The method of claim 1, wherein the redacted format includes a bar hiding redacted content.
31. The method of claim 30, further comprising: responsive to the bar being selected, removing the bar revealing the redacted content.
32. The method of claim 1, wherein the redacted format is not displayed.
Yes. But for the recited additional elements as shown above in bold, the remaining limitations of the claims recite certain methods of organizing human activity. The claims are directed to receiving and displaying comment data related to content such as a video game and redacting comments that include spoilers. This type of method of organizing human activity is managing personal behavior or relationships or interactions between people because it includes social activities and following rules or instructions. Thus, the claims recite an abstract idea.
Step 2A, Prong Two: Is the Abstract Idea Integrated into a Practical Application? (see MPEP 2106.04(d))
No. The claims as a whole merely use a computer as a tool to perform the abstract idea. The computing components (i.e., additional elements that are in bold above) are recited at a high level of generality and are merely invoked as a tool to implement the steps. For example, only a programmed general purpose computing device (i.e., claimed processor/device) is needed to implement the claimed process. Simply implementing the abstract idea on a generic computer is not a practical application of the abstract idea. Additionally, there is no improvement to the functioning of a computer or technology. Therefore, the abstract idea is not integrated into a practical application.
Step 2B: Does the Claim Provide an Inventive Concept? (see MPEP 2106.05)
No. As discussed with respect to Step 2A, Prong two, the additional elements in the claims, both individually and in combination, amount to no more than tools to perform the abstract idea. Merely performing the abstract idea using a computer cannot provide an inventive concept. Therefore, the claims do not provide an inventive concept.
As such, the claims are not patent eligible.
Relevant Prior Art
The following references are relevant to Applicant’s invention:
Guo et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2024/0033626 A1. This reference teaches interactions in games that include avoiding game plot spoilers.
Zhu et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2023/0005497 A1. This reference teaches a system for generating trailers for audio content. Filters may remove segments that include spoilers. See paragraph 0071.
“Tabbed Interfaces” https://inclusive-components.design/tabbed-interfaces/ (Oct. 05, 2017). This reference teaches tabbed interfaces.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ELIZABETH H ROSEN whose telephone number is (571) 270-1850 and email address is elizabeth.rosen@uspto.gov. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 10 AM ET - 7 PM ET.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Michael Anderson, can be reached at 571-270-0508. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ELIZABETH H ROSEN/Primary Examiner, 3693
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