DETAILED ACTION
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 1-10 in the reply filed on 01/06/2026 is 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 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. The claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter because the claim(s) as a whole, considering all claim elements both individually and in combination, do not amount to significantly more than an abstract idea. As summarized in the 2019 Revised Patent Subject Matter Eligibility Guidance, examiners must perform a Two-Part Analysis for Judicial Exceptions.
Step 1
In Step 1, it must be determined whether the claimed invention is directed to a process, machine, manufacture or composition of matter. The instant invention encompasses a method and the associated apparatus in claims 1-10 (i.e., a process) All claims are directed to one of the four statutory categories and meet the requirements of step 1.
Step 2A
Prong One
The claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. The instant invention is broadly directed to generating a segmentation map. Claim 1 recites the following:
A method of generating a segmentation map for an input image, comprising: generating an anomaly map based on an input image; determining a deformation prediction based on the anomaly map; and generating a segmentation map based on the anomaly map and the deformation prediction.
Claim 1 encompass the abstract idea, which is also encompassed by the dependent claims 2-10.
Claim 1 recites the steps for generating a segmentation map for an input image comprising: generating an anomaly map based on an input image; determining a deformation prediction based on the anomaly map; and generating a segmentation map based on the anomaly map and the deformation prediction. This can be performed in a mental process using a pen and paper, which is abstract idea.
Prong Two
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because mere instruction to implement on a computer (i.e. unit here in claim 1) or a computer model (trained networks here in claims 3-6), or merely using a computer or computer model as a tool to perform the abstract idea, adding insignificant extra solution activity, and/or generally linking the use of the abstract idea to a technological environment or field of use is not considered integration into a practical application. claims 3-6 recite using training data to train networks. Using training data to train a neural network model is a generic feature of neural network, which does not represent a technological improvement. The using of the computer and the neural network model does not add improvement to the functioning of a computer or to any other technology field, which failed to enable the abstract idea to integrate into a practical application. Dependent claims 2, 7-10 recite limitations about mere generating a segmentation map for an input image without specific process, which can be performed by a mental process using pen and paper, which is abstract idea. The claims do not include additional elements that are sufficient to enable the abstract idea to integrate into a practical application.
Step 2B
Step 2B in the analysis requires us to determine whether the claims do significantly more than simply describe that abstract method. Mayo, 132 S. Ct. at 1297. We must examine the limitations of the claims to determine whether the claims contain an "inventive concept" to "transform" the claimed abstract idea into patent-eligible subject matter. Alice, 134 S. Ct. at 2357 (quoting Mayo, 132 S. Ct. at 1294, 1298). The transformation of an abstract idea into patent-eligible subject matter "requires 'more than simply stat[ing] the [abstract idea] while adding the words 'apply it."' Id. (quoting Mayo, 132 S. Ct. at 1294) (alterations in original). "A claim that recites an abstract idea must include 'additional features' to ensure 'that the [claim] is more than a drafting effort designed to monopolize the [abstract idea].'" Id. (quoting Mayo, 132 S. Ct. at 1297) (alterations in original). Those "additional features" must be more than "well-understood, routine, conventional activity." Mayo, 132 S. Ct. at 1298.
The present claims include the additional elements other than the abstract idea which include a computer system (i.e. claim 10) or neural network (i.e. claims 3-6). These additional elements are merely conventional computer and computer model. Any potentially technical aspects of the claims are well-known generic computer components performing conventional functions (e.g., a processor performing a mental process). The present claims have been analyzed both individually and in combination and, the instant claims do not provide any improvement of the functioning of the computer or improvement to computer technology or any other technical field. There do not appear to be any meaningful limitations other than those that are well-understood, routine and conventional in the field. Thus, the present claims do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception. Thus, the claims 1-10 are not patent eligible.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim(s) 1-10 is/are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
The invention creates A method of generating a segmentation map for an input image, comprising: generating an anomaly map based on an input image; determining a deformation prediction based on the anomaly map; and generating a segmentation map based on the anomaly map and the deformation prediction.
US 20230281959 to HOSHEN et al. teaches “[0170] FIGS. 9A-9B show an evaluation of the present method on detecting anomalies between flowers with or without insects, and bird varieties. FIGS. 9A-9B shows an anomalous image (A), the retrieved top normal neighbor image (B), the mask detected by the present method (C), and the predicted anomalous image pixels (D). FIG. 9C shows a red spot of an anomalous woodpecker (A), the retrieved top normal neighbor image (B), the mask detected by the present method (C), and the predicted anomalous image pixels (D)”.
US 20160063726 to Wenzel et al. teaches “[0021] providing model data defining a deformable model for segmenting a type of anatomical structure; [0022] performing a model-based segmentation of the anatomical structure by adapting the deformable model to the anatomical structure in the medical image using an adaptation technique”.
Independent claim 1 is/are distinguished from HOSHEN in view of Wenzel because of the combination of all the limitations in the independent claim, particularly the limitations “determining a deformation prediction based on the anomaly map; and generating a segmentation map based on the anomaly map and the deformation prediction”. None of the prior arts on the record or any of the prior arts searched, alone or in combination, renders the above claimed invention obvious.
Conclusion
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/GRACE Q LI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2618 3/6/2026
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