DETAILED ACTION
This communication is in response to the request for continued examination filed 17 March 2026.
Claims 1, 9, and 10 have been amended.
Claims 1-20 are currently pending.
Claims 3-7, 12-16, and 18-20 are rejected.
Claims 1, 2, 8-11, and 17 are allowed.
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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 17 March 2026 has been entered.
Response to Amendment/Remarks
The arguments relating to 35 USC § 101 have been fully considered and are persuasive. As indicated in the Examiner Interview Summary (02/13/2026), Examiner was looking for support in the specification for a conclusion that the claims present a technical solution to a technical problem. Applicant has provided the support in the Remarks at page 12 which indicates the synchronization of the usable portion of the digital coupons among the plurality of user accounts to indicate a remaining balance available for use is indeed a technical solution to a technical problem. The support is found in the specification at [0086]. Accordingly, the rejections are withdrawn.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Claim 3-7, 12-16, and 18-20 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, regards as the invention.
Claim 3 recites “a first user account” and “a second user account.” Both of these entities are also introduced in claim 1. It is unclear if the first user account and the second user account introduced in claim 3 are the same first user account and second user account or a different first user account and second user account than the ones introduced in claim 1. Claim 3 is indefinite.
Claim 4 recites “a first user account,” “a primary user account,” “a second user account,” and “a secondary user account.” All of these entities are also introduced in claim 1. It is unclear if the first, primary, second, and secondary user accounts introduced in claim 4 are the same or different than the first, primary, second, and secondary user accounts introduced in claim 1. Claim 4 is indefinite.
Claim 5 recites “a secondary user account.” A secondary user account is introduced in claim 1. It is unclear if the secondary user account introduced in claim 5 is the same secondary user account or a different secondary user account than the one introduced in claim 1. Claim 5 is indefinite.
Claim 6 recites “a primary user account” and “a secondary user account.” A primary user account and a secondary user account are both introduced in claim 1. It is unclear if the primary user account and the secondary user account introduced in claim 6 are the same primary user account and secondary user account or different primary user account and secondary user account than the ones introduced in claim 1. Claim 6 is indefinite.
Claim 7 is rejected due to its dependence upon a rejected claim.
Claim 12 recites “a first user account” and “a second user account.” Both of these entities are also introduced in claim 10. It is unclear if the first user account and the second user account introduced in claim 12 are the same first user account and second user account or a different first user account and second user account than the ones introduced in claim 10. Claim 12 is indefinite.
Claim 13 recites “a first user account,” “a primary user account,” “a second user account,” and “a secondary user account.” All of these entities are also introduced in claim 10. It is unclear if the first, primary, second, and secondary user accounts introduced in claim 13 are the same or different than the first, primary, second, and secondary user accounts introduced in claim 10. Claim 13 is indefinite.
Claim 14 recites “a secondary user account.” A secondary user account is introduced in claim 10. It is unclear if the secondary user account introduced in claim 14 is the same secondary user account or a different secondary user account than the one introduced in claim 10. Claim 14 is indefinite.
Claim 15 recites “a primary user account” and “a secondary user account.” A primary user account and a secondary user account are both introduced in claim 10. It is unclear if the primary user account and the secondary user account introduced in claim 15 are the same primary user account and secondary user account or different primary user account and secondary user account than the ones introduced in claim 10. Claim 15 is indefinite.
Claim 16 is rejected due to its dependence upon a rejected claim.
Claim 18 recites “a first user account,” “a primary user account,” “a second user account,” and “a secondary user account.” All of these entities are also introduced in claim 9. It is unclear if the first, primary, second, and secondary user accounts introduced in claim 18 are the same or different than the first, primary, second, and secondary user accounts introduced in claim 9. Claim 18 is indefinite.
Claim 19 recites “a secondary user account.” A secondary user account is introduced in claim 9. It is unclear if the secondary user account introduced in claim 19 is the same secondary user account or a different secondary user account than the one introduced in claim 9. Claim 19 is indefinite.
Claim 20 recites “a primary user account” and “a secondary user account.” A primary user account and a secondary user account are both introduced in claim 9. It is unclear if the primary user account and the secondary user account introduced in claim 20 are the same primary user account and secondary user account or different primary user account and secondary user account than the ones introduced in claim 9. Claim 20 is indefinite.
Claims 4, 13, and 18 recite the limitation “the sharing request” in lines 3-4 of each claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claims. While a “sharing request” was previously recited in each independent claim, this limitation has been replaced with “a delivery request;” thus no antecedent basis remains for “the sharing request.”
Examiner’s suggestion for amendment: Examiner suggests canceling claims 4, 13, and 18 as they are essentially redundant steps. Examiner suggests changing “a” to “the” for the affected entities in claims 3-6, 12-15, and 18-20.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 2, 8-11, and 17 are allowed.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MEREDITH A LONG whose telephone number is (571)272-3196. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 9:30 - 6.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ilana Spar can be reached on 571-270-7537. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/MEREDITH A LONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3622