DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is in response to the communication(s) filed on 10/16/2025.
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
With regards to the arguments filed on 10/16/2025, the arguments have been fully considered, but are not considered persuasive. With regards to the argument that the claimed invention achieves improvements to the train operation technical field and the claimed invention applies the judicial exception with, or by use of, a particular programmed machine, it is noted that while the specification claims the invention will achieve this improvement, the claims are merely directed toward an abstract idea implemented on a general purpose computer. A general purpose computer such a computer readable storage medium having a processor to execute the computer program is not a particular programmed machine. With regards to the argument that the claimed invention can effect a transformation of a particular article to a different state or thing and can apply the judicial exception in a meaningful way beyond generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment, the examiner would like to respectfully disagree. The claims at present do not include any transformation or apply the judicial exception in a meaningful way beyond generally linking the abstract idea to the train operations field. The claims merely recites performing analysis, gathering data, comparing data, and assigning values/allocating resources/values (i.e. abstract idea of sequencing and managing rail transit line resources).
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 1-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because 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. The claim(s) is/are directed to the abstract idea for sequencing and managing rail transit line resources. The additional element(s) or combination of elements in the claim(s) other than the abstract idea per se amount(s) to no more than: recitation of generic computer structure and limitations generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment that serves to perform generic computer functions that are well-understood, routine, and conventional activities previously known to the pertinent industry. Recitation of a structure to implement previous routine in the industry is not patentable. There are no meaningful limitations beyond linking the use to a particular technology. Viewed as a whole, these additional claim element(s) do not provide meaningful limitation(s) to transform the abstract idea into a patent eligible application of the abstract idea such that the claim(s) amounts to significantly more than the abstract idea itself. Therefore, the claim(s) are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as being directed to non-statutory subject matter.
Additionally, the claims are merely directed to an abstract idea for sequencing and managing rail transit line resources. The claims do not recite improvements to another technology or technical field, improvements to the functioning of the computer itself, applying a judicial exception with, or by the use of, a particular machine, effecting a transformation or reduction of a particular article to a different state or thing, adding specific limitation other than what is well-understood, routine, and conventional in the field, or adding unconventional steps that confine the claim to a particular useful application, or other meaningful limitations beyond generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment. Therefore, considering the claims as a whole, the abstract idea for sequencing and managing rail transit line resources does not amount to significantly more than the abstract idea.
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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/XIAO EN MO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3747