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 .
Claims 1-14 are presented for examination.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
Claim 1-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. The claim recites processing a provider and consumer model and exchange data with other devices.
The limitations of processing a provider and consumer model, as drafted, are processes that, under their broadest reasonable interpretation, cover performance of the limitations in the mind but for the recitation of generic computer components. That is, other than reciting “building equipment” and “devices,” nothing in the claim elements precludes the steps from practically being performed in the mind. For example, but for the “processing” language, “exchanging” in the context of this claim encompass a user reviewing provider and consumer model describing data-points and then pass processed modelling data to devices of the building equipment. If a claim limitation, under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers performance of the limitation in the mind but for the recitation of generic computer components, then it falls within the “Mental Processes” grouping of abstract ideas. Accordingly, the claim recites an abstract idea.
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application. In particular, the claim only recites additional elements of building equipment devices to perform processing of provider and consumer model. The building equipment devices are recited at a high level of generality (i.e., as generic computer components performing generic computer functions of processing and exchanging information) such that they amount to no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using generic computer components. Accordingly, these additional elements do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application because they do not impose any meaningful limits on practicing the abstract idea. The claim is directed to an 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 additional element of building equipment devices to perform the processing and exchanging steps amount to no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using generic computer components. Mere instructions to apply an exception using a generic computer component cannot provide an inventive concept. The claim is not patent eligible.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Strathman et al. U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2021/0055885 A1. Processing data to generate more accurate models for better insights (see section [0168]). Producer/consumer model for evaluate lifecycle of work.
Froehner et al. U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2017/0256948 A1. Model data of energy producers and consumers (see section [0077]).
Yao et al. U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2023/0368077 A1. Machine Learning training for management service (MnS) consumers and management services (MnS) producers (see section [0019]). Peripheral devices such as sensors (see section [0180]).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALAN S CHOU whose telephone number is (571)272-5779. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00 EST.
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/ALAN S CHOU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2451
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