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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 08/01/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly the IDS has been considered by the examiner.
Status of Claims
This Office action is in reply to filing by applicant on 08/01/2024.
Claim 1 has been cancelled.
Claims 2 – 21 are pending and have been examined.
THIS ACTION IS MADE NON-FINAL
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 2 – 21 are rejected pursuant to 35 USC 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more.
Claims 2 – 9 are directed to a method (process), claims 10 – 17 are directed to a system (with memories/processors), and claims 18 – 21 are directed to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (composition). The claims are therefore an eligible statutory category of an invention. (Step 1: YES).
Independent claim 2 (and mirrored independent claims 10 and 18) recites the limitations of:
A computer-implemented method (including a system with non-transitory memory; processors, and a computer-readable storage medium), comprising: receiving, at a first user interface of a display, a contribution amount to a guaranteed income portfolio comprising guaranteed income assets, wherein the guaranteed income assets are convertible to a guaranteed income stream, and wherein a guaranteed income asset in the guaranteed income assets comprises a transactable price component and a guaranteed income component, wherein the transactable price component is based on a survival variable, a nominal cash flow, and a discount factor, and wherein the guaranteed income component corresponds to a portion of the guaranteed income stream upon a redemption window; transmitting the contribution amount to a remote server, whereby the remote server adds the guaranteed income assets to the guaranteed income portfolio based on the contribution amount; receiving a value of the guaranteed income portfolio comprising guaranteed income assets; and displaying, on a second user interface of a display, the value of a guaranteed income in a visual fund ring, wherein a size of a portion of the visual fund ring allocated to the guaranteed income portfolio corresponds to the value.
The claims recite the abstract idea of:
displaying … the value of a guaranteed income in a visual fund ring, wherein a size of a portion of the visual fund ring allocated to the guaranteed income portfolio corresponds to the value.
The above abstract idea recites a fundamental economic practice and/or commercial interaction, i.e, displaying one’s asset portfolio. Moreover, the same also constitutes the abstract idea of a mental process, namely, a process that one easily keeps in the mind. That noted, this analysis proceeds forward primarily on the fundamental economic practice and/or commercial interaction components the above noted abstract idea.
The above limitations, under their broadest reasonable interpretation, cover performance of the limitation as certain methods of organizing human activity.
If a claim limitation, under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers performance of the limitation as a fundamental economic practice and/or commercial interaction, then it falls within the “Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity” grouping of abstract ideas. Accordingly, independent claim 2 (and 10 / 18) recites an abstract idea.
The above bolded terms of claim 2 recite a computer-implemented method, system with non-transitory memory, processors, computer-readable storage medium, user interface of a display, redemption window, and remote server. Said bolded independent claim terms are just applying generic computer components / computer driven systems to perform the above noted abstract idea limitations. The recitation of generic computer components in a claim does not necessarily preclude that claim from reciting an abstract idea. Any other potential computer related generic components claimed only serve to generally link the abstract idea herein to them, without more. (Step 2A-Prong 1: YES. The claims recite an abstract idea).
As to the dependent claims 3 – 9, 11 – 17, and 19 – 21, they further refine the above noted abstract idea set forth by the independent claims as follows:
The method of claim 2, further comprising: displaying, on the second user interface, a value of a stock or a bond portfolio and the value of the guaranteed income portfolio. (claims 3, 11,19); The method of claim 3, further comprising: redisplaying, the visual fund ring with portions of the ring corresponding to allocations to the guaranteed income portfolio and the stock or the bond portfolio, wherein sizes of different portions of the visual fund ring correspond to the value of the guaranteed income portfolio and the value of the stock or the bond portfolio. (claims 4, 12,20), The method of claim 4, wherein the guaranteed income portfolio and the stock or the bond portfolio comprise an investment fund; and further comprising displaying, using the second user interface, a value of the investment fund. (claims 5, 13); The method of claim 2, wherein the guaranteed income component of the guaranteed income asset is immutable upon addition of the guaranteed income asset to the guaranteed income portfolio.(claims 6, 14, 21); The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining the redemption window for the guaranteed income assets; and converting the guaranteed income assets into the guaranteed income stream based on guaranteed income components in the guaranteed income assets. (claims 7, 15); The method of claim 7, wherein the converting further comprising: during the redemption window, generating messages comprising instructions to purchase the guaranteed income assets at transactable prices in transactable price components to generate the guaranteed income stream based on guaranteed income prices in the guaranteed income components. (claims 8,16); The method of claim 2, further comprising: converting the guaranteed income assets into a lump sum payment based on guaranteed income components in the guaranteed income assets, wherein the converting further comprises: generating messages comprising instructions to purchase the guaranteed income assets at transactable prices in transactable price components to generate the lump sum payment based on guaranteed income prices in the guaranteed income components of the guaranteed income assets. (claims 9, 17).
Examiner notes that the above bolded computer / computer driven terms set forth in the dependent claims: user interface and redemption window are also being applied as tools to the abstract idea, without more. They are also additional elements but they only generally link the abstract idea herein to generic computer technology, without more.
The computer hardware/software above bolded are recited at a high-level of generality (i.e., generic processors, computer systems, and memories all performing generic computer functions), and the same amounts to no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using a generic computer component(s). Accordingly, these additional elements, when considered separately and as an ordered combination, do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application because they do not impose any meaningful limits on practicing the abstract idea and are at a high level of generality. That said, the claims are directed to an abstract idea without a practical application. (Step 2A-Prong 2: NO. The additionally claimed elements in the claims do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application).
All claims above reviewed also do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception. When considered separately and as an ordered combination, the claims do not add significantly more (also known as an “inventive concept”) to the exception. As discussed above with respect to integration of the abstract idea into a practical application, the additional element of using a computer hardware amounts to no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using a generic computer component. Mere instructions to perform a judicial exception by applying generic computer components and thereby automating the process cannot provide an inventive concept.
This Application's lack of providing significantly more than the judicial exception is also referred to as its claims lacking an “inventive concept. See MPEP 2106.05(f) where applying a computer as a tool to the abstract idea is not indicative of significantly more. The above detailed non-computer related elements do not change the outcome of the analysis, as they simply further limit ways which the abstract idea may be performed. (Step 2B: NO. The claims do not provide significantly more than the judicial exception).
In summary, the claim set reviewed as above does not include any additional elements that integrate its abstract idea into a practical application, or that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception when considered both individually and as an ordered combination.
Claims 2 – 21 are not patent-eligible pursuant to 35 USC 101.
Claim Rejections – 35 USC 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 USC 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.
The following is a quotation of 35 USC 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office Action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 USC 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating
obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 2 – 21 are rejected pursuant to 35 USC 103 as being unpatentable over
Stiff (US20060085338A1) in view of Anliker (US20170011462A1) and in further view of Maggioncalda (US20080154792A1).
Claim 1 is cancelled
Regarding claims 2, 10 and 18:
Stiff discloses:
receiving, at a first user interface of a display, a contribution amount to a guaranteed income portfolio comprising guaranteed income assets, (“and at least one designated defined benefit investment option module for: (1) receiving at least one investment payment from the defined contribution module, the investment payment comprising at least one of the sponsor contribution, the participant contribution, and/or the accumulated value, or any portion(s) thereof, (2) for paying out a guaranteed minimum income payment after the accumulation period of time, the guaranteed minimum income payment being based on a retirement income factor,”, [018]) and (“Although any network may be used for the system 200, for the purpose of illustration, the users 21 and the company site 20 may be connected to the Internet 23. The users 21 may be connected to the ISPs 22 through client computer systems having resident therein at least one user interface (UI) application module.”, [065]);
wherein the guaranteed income assets are convertible to a guaranteed income stream, and (“When a user purchases an annuity, also known as a long-term investment contract, the user typically pays an insurer an initial sum of money (called a premium or principal) and the insurer invests that principal in an investment type of financial product to earn a return on that principal. In return for the initial sum of money, or premium payment, and the use of that initial sum of money, the insurer guarantees the user either a steady stream of income payments with no upside earnings potential or a stream of income payments adjusted for market performance (but generally not both) beginning at a specified date in the future and lasting for a specified period of time.”, [043]) and (“In one embodiment of a process according to the present invention, an insurer is able to combine favorable features of each of the above-described annuities into a single retirement annuity product, i.e., a guaranteed payment stream in a manner similar to a fixed immediate annuity;”, [050]);
whereby the remote server adds the guaranteed income assets to the guaranteed income portfolio based on the contribution amount; (“The guaranteed income payment may be based on a retirement income factor which is quoted to the employee when contributions to the defined benefit account begin.”, [0112]) and (“The system comprises a defined contribution module for periodically receiving at least one of a sponsor contribution and a participant contribution and for accumulating value over a period of time by investing at least one of the sponsor contribution and the participant contribution or any portion(s) thereof in any number of select investment option(s), the accumulated value, or any portion(s) thereof”, [018]) and (“Next, at step 925, the $25,000 in contributions invested in the defined benefit account may increase in value throughout the accumulation phase 932. In some embodiments, the increase in value is achieved by investing the contributions in various investment products, such as a pension type balanced portfolio,”, [0114]), guaranteed assets are added to the portfolio based on contributions;
receiving a value of the guaranteed income portfolio comprising guaranteed income assets; and (“According to one embodiment of the invention, a system is provided for providing a user with a defined benefit within a qualified or non-qualified defined contribution plan, based on a factor that indicates the exact guaranteed minimum periodic income that the user will receive no matter how long the user lives and the potential for an increase in the periodic income based on excess investment performance over the formula of the designated defined benefit investment options.”, [018]), and see [0114] directly above;
Stiff does not expressly disclose, but Anliker teaches:
wherein a guaranteed income asset in the guaranteed income assets comprises a transactable price component and a guaranteed income component, (“Guaranteed income provides a new diversification option for retirement plan participants. As participants near retirement, they can begin converting their savings to income by purchasing slices of guaranteed income for life. Using this process, plan participants can turn their savings into a pension that comprises income payments guaranteed for life, where a participant can choose their income start date, the form of the annuity, and the payment frequency, including for example by receiving monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annual payments.”, [032]) and (“The operations include calculating and displaying at least one pension glide path option or scenario comprising a representation of how the financial portfolio will be managed over time based at least in part on at least one of the financial models. The operations include receiving at least a target date input from a user through the local or consumer device. The operations include calculating and displaying purchase cost options based on the target date input. The operations include receiving at least one purchase selection, storing the received purchase selection in a data repository, and calculating a guaranteed income pension based at least in part on at least one of the financial models, the target date, and the at least one purchase selection.”, [013]), guaranteed prices and incomes as claimed are disclosed;
wherein the transactable price component is based on a survival variable, a nominal cash flow, and a discount factor, and (“In some embodiments, a participant can elect a guaranteed income payment adjustment based on a fixed percentage. In some embodiments, the fixed percentage on which the adjustment can be based can be elected by the participant, and can be a whole percent ranging from about one to about five percent. In some embodiments, once elected, the fixed percentage is set and may not be changed. In some embodiments, if a participant elects this feature, on each anniversary of the income start date, the guaranteed income payment can increase by the fixed percentage elected.”, [0122]) and (“and b) annuity form, including changes as a result of the assumed or corrected marital status (for example, an election of a joint and survivor annuity will result in lower guaranteed income payment amounts than a single life annuity with a ten year certain period), and c) annuity payment frequency (a change to less frequent annuity payments will result in an increase to guaranteed income payment amounts)”, [0123]), price components are a function of a survival variable, cash flow, and discount factors;
wherein the guaranteed income component corresponds to a portion of the guaranteed income stream upon a redemption window; (“Some embodiments comprise providing an option to redeem at least a portion of a pension. Further, in some embodiments, upon a redemption, the at least one pension glide path of the pension is recalculated based at least in part on the at least one purchase selection and a redeemed portion of the pension. In some embodiments, a redemption can trigger a redemption surcharge based at least in part on one or more rules of the pension.”, [007]), income and payment streams correspond;
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of this application to have modified Stiff to incorporate the teachings of Anliker because Stiff would be more efficient by detailing how price is a function of survivor benefits as done in Anliker (“Further, the consent of the participant to a benefit that is immediately distributable can be made after the date the participant is provided with the notice of the ability to defer the distribution, and such consent can be in writing. Further, spousal consent can be required if the form of annuity elected by the participant is not a joint and survivor annuity with the spouse designated as the contingent annuitant.”, [0120] of Anliker), noting that the importance of survivorship was emphasized in Anliker.
The combination of Stiff and Anliker does not expressly disclose, but Maggioncalda teaches:
transmitting the contribution amount to a remote server, (“A communication device 225 is also coupled to bus 201 for accessing remote servers,”, [055]);
displaying, on a second user interface of a display, the value of a guaranteed income in a visual fund ring, wherein a size of a portion of the visual fund ring allocated to the guaranteed income portfolio corresponds to the value. (“FIG. 9 illustrates an advice summary screen according to one embodiment of the present invention.”, [025]) and see Fig 9 itself wherein values are displayed as a function of sizes.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of this application to have modified Stiff to incorporate the teachings of Maggioncalda because Stiff would be more efficient by illustrating (say, on a mobile device) the variables involved with the investment product as done in Maggioncalda (“In view of the foregoing, what is needed is a financial advisory system that employs advanced financial techniques to provide financial advice to individuals on how to reach specific financial goals, focuses individuals on the financial decisions they must make today, recommends one or more specific financial products given these decisions, and illustrates the chance that the financial decisions combined with the recommended financial products will meet their needs in the future.”, see [010] of Maggioncalda).
Regarding claims 3, 11, and 19:
The combination of Stiff, Anliker, and Maggioncalda disclose the limitations of claims 2, 10, and 18, respectively:
Maggioncalda further teaches:
displaying, on the second user interface, a value of a stock or a bond portfolio and the value of the guaranteed income portfolio.
See Maggioncalda, Fig. 9 as above.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of this application to have modified Stiff to incorporate the teachings of Maggioncalda because Stiff would be more efficient by illustrating (say, on a mobile device) the variables involved with the investment product as done in Maggioncalda (“In view of the foregoing, what is needed is a financial advisory system that employs advanced financial techniques to provide financial advice to individuals on how to reach specific financial goals, focuses individuals on the financial decisions they must make today, recommends one or more specific financial products given these decisions, and illustrates the chance that the financial decisions combined with the recommended financial products will meet their needs in the future.”, see [010] of Maggioncalda).
Regarding claims 4, 12, and 20:
The combination of Stiff, Anliker, and Maggioncalda disclose the limitations of claims 3, 11, and 19, respectively:
Maggioncalda further teaches:
redisplaying, the visual fund ring with portions of the ring corresponding to allocations to the guaranteed income portfolio and the stock or the bond portfolio, wherein sizes of different portions of the visual fund ring correspond to the value of the guaranteed income portfolio and the value of the stock or the bond portfolio. Interpreted broadly this includes the meaning that displayed fund rings may be shown more than once, for example, when updating profiles / portfolios which are there represented, … (“Assuming the user increases the risk, FIG. 17B represents an exemplary state of screen 1700 subsequent to receipt of a new decision variable value from the risk slider bar 1710 and after the screen 1700 has been updated with the new optimal allocation provided by the portfolio optimization module 340. The risk slider bar 1710 now has a volatility measure of 1.25× and the bar chart 1730 indicates the recommended financial product allocation corresponding to the updated risk tolerance value.”, [0254]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of this application to have modified Stiff to incorporate the teachings of Maggioncalda because Stiff would be more efficient by illustrating (say, on a mobile device) the variables involved with the investment product as done in Maggioncalda (“In view of the foregoing, what is needed is a financial advisory system that employs advanced financial techniques to provide financial advice to individuals on how to reach specific financial goals, focuses individuals on the financial decisions they must make today, recommends one or more specific financial products given these decisions, and illustrates the chance that the financial decisions combined with the recommended financial products will meet their needs in the future.”, see [010] of Maggioncalda).
Regarding claims 5 and 13:
The combination of Stiff, Anliker, and Maggioncalda disclose the limitations of claims 4 and 12, respectively:
Stiff further teaches:
wherein the guaranteed income portfolio and the stock or the bond portfolio comprise an investment fund; and further comprising displaying, using the second user interface, a value of the investment fund. This claim includes displaying values of portfolio / investment fund (“The quote may be presented to the user as a web page or another similar type of user interface.”, [056]) and ("A variable annuity account value reflects the performance of the investment funds selected.”, [072]).
Regarding claims 6, 14, and 21:
The combination of Stiff, Anliker, and Maggioncalda disclose the limitations of claims 1, 10 and 18, respectively:
Stiff further teaches:
wherein the guaranteed income component of the guaranteed income asset is immutable upon addition of the guaranteed income asset to the guaranteed income portfolio. Examiner notes that this is synonymous with the stream of payments remaining uninterrupted / constant over time ... (“A fixed annuity is an annuity where the insurer guarantees the user the invested principal value and a payment of a fixed rate of return for a stated period of time on the premium payment invested during the accumulation period and a guaranteed income for life if the user “annuitizes” or converts the annuity into a stream of regular income payments.”, [044]).
Regarding claims 7 and 15:
The combination of Stiff, Anliker, and Maggioncalda disclose the limitations of claims 1 and 10, respectively:
Stiff further teaches:
determining the redemption window for the guaranteed income assets; and converting the guaranteed income assets into the guaranteed income stream based on guaranteed income components in the guaranteed income assets.
(“A fixed annuity is an annuity where the insurer guarantees the user the invested principal value and a payment of a fixed rate of return for a stated period of time on the premium payment invested during the accumulation period and a guaranteed income for life if the user “annuitizes” or converts the annuity into a stream of regular income payments.”, [044]).
Regarding claims 8 and 16:
The combination of Stiff, Anliker, and Maggioncalda disclose the limitations of claims 7 and 15, respectively:
Stiff further teaches:
during the redemption window, generating messages comprising instructions to purchase the guaranteed income assets at transactable prices in transactable price components to generate the guaranteed income stream based on guaranteed income prices in the guaranteed income components. This is interpreted broadly to include the meaning that any message or notice in connection with buying a guaranteed income stream asset suffices, … (“In this embodiment, the company 20 may notify the user 21 when the user 21 must make new arrangements to make the monthly premium payments.”, [081])
Regarding claims 9 and 17:
The combination of Stiff, Anliker, and Maggioncalda disclose the limitations of claims 1 and 10, respectively:
Stiff further teaches:
converting the guaranteed income assets into a lump sum payment based on guaranteed income components in the guaranteed income assets, wherein the converting further comprises: generating messages comprising instructions to purchase the guaranteed income assets at transactable prices in transactable price components to generate the lump sum payment based on guaranteed income prices in the guaranteed income components of the guaranteed income assets. (“Upon selecting the defined benefit account, the employee may be asked several questions, such as: (1) age, (2) gender, (3) expected or desired retirement date, (4) type of payout plan desired for the guaranteed retirement income (e.g. lump sum, periodic payments, annuity payout, etc.), and (5) marital status, for example.”, [0113]).
CONCLUSION
The following prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Please see attached form 892.
Volpert (US20100153296A1) - An investment fund that offers shares to investors, which shares provide to their holders a predictable stream of payments over some period. Each payment in the stream of payments is scheduled to be made according to a targeted payment schedule that is established by the investment fund at the time of its creation. The investment fund receives purchase requests and funds from interested investors and invests the funds in securities that provide payments that are used to meet or approximate the targeted payment schedule. A preferred form of the investment fund invests the received funds in Treasuries whose interest or coupon payments and/or principal payments or maturities approximately map to the targeted payment schedule. Principal (or maturity) and interest (or coupon) payments made by the Treasuries are used to provide payments to the investors when such payments become due according to the targeted payment schedule.
Greenshields (US10223749B2) – Retirement planning methods and systems for use with an individual investor having a retirement plan comprising assets and future liabilities. One or more computing devices perform the methods. Embodiments of the methods include determining a net present value of the assets and a net present value of the future liabilities. A funded ratio is calculated as a function of the net present value of the assets and the net present value of the future liabilities. If the funded ratio is less than a predetermined threshold value, the retirement plan is at risk of being underfunded. If the funded ratio is greater than the predetermined threshold value, the retirement plan is not at risk of being underfunded. An indication may be displayed indicating whether the retirement plan is at risk of being underfunded.
Williams (US7249077B2) - A method of issuing and managing investment instruments called “Pension Shares” which preferably take the form of securities that represents a claim against and is secured by an investment fund. A Pension Share entitles its holder to receive, at a specified maturity date, either a lump sum payment amount or, at the option of said holder, to receive a sequence of annuity payments. The Pension Share issuer creates and manages the investment fund such that its net asset value at the maturity date will be adequate to make the lump sum payment or provide the holder with the annuity. A preferred form of Pension Share provides an annuity option of one dollar per for the life of the holder, or his or her survivor, both of whom are at a predetermined age at the maturity date. A Pension Share may be redeemed on demand in advance of the maturity date so that it may be exchanged for a Pension Share having a different maturity date if the holder's plans change.
Roscoe (US20100299160A1) - A computer system for administering a retirement income guarantee contract includes a communications module for receiving and transmitting data, and an administration module. The administration module has: an account initiation module for storing contract data including: an initial premium amount paid on which an accumulation balance is initially based; a target payout commencement date and a payout commencement date range including the target payout commencement date; payout rates fixed at the time of payment of the initial premium amount for determining income payments for payouts commencing at dates within the range; and one or more crediting rates fixed at the time of payment of the initial premium amount for determining increases in accumulation balance until the payout date. A payout administration module determines a payout amount based on the accumulation balance at the payout date and the fixed payout rate applicable to the payout date.
Legare (US20150066811A1) - A computer-implemented method, including executing a plurality of simulations on a retirement account in a retirement plan to produce a plurality of potential retirement account balances at a retirement age and associated confidence levels specifying a predicted level of accuracy of corresponding account balances; selecting, from the range, a particular potential account balance that has a confidence level that exceeds a confidence level threshold; and calculating, by one or more processing devices, a constant periodic withdrawal amount of funds from the retirement account.
Feinschreiber (US20150178846A1) - The Deferred Income Annuity Structure Planning Tool Apparatuses, Methods and Systems (“DIA-PT”) transforms individual profile input (e.g., see 206 in FIG. 2, etc.) and user annuity expectation input (e.g., see 207 in FIG. 2, etc.) inputs via DIA-PT components into DIA purchasing records (e.g., see 212 in FIG. 2, etc.) outputs. The disclosed deferred income annuity generation and management matching apparatus, includes: a memory; and a component collection in the memory, including: a historical data collector component, an individual parameter collector component, an income replacement assessment component, a deferred income annuity purchasing component, a deferred income annuity portfolio rebalancing component; and a deferred income annuity pricing component; a processor disposed in communication with the memory, and configured to issue a plurality of processing instructions from the component collection stored in the memory, to: receive individual profile inputs, receive user expectation inputs from a user, determine a target annuity pay-out amount based on the obtained individual parameters, determine a deferred income annuity purchasing plan based on the obtained individual parameters and the determined target annuity pay-out amount, determine a purchasing price for the deferred income annuity purchasing plan, periodically execute a purchase transaction of deferred income annuity instrument based on the determined deferred income annuity purchasing plan and the determined purchasing price, rebalance an asset allocation of the participant's portfolio upon the purchase transaction of deferred income annuity instrument, obtain an indication that the participant has reached a retirement age, and generate a pay-out amount to the participant based on the deferred income annuity instrument.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MATTHEW COBB whose telephone number is (571) 272-3850. The examiner can normally be reached 9 - 5, M - F.
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 call examiner Cobb as above, or 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, Peter Nolan, can be reached at (571) 270-7016. 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.
/MATTHEW COBB/Examiner, Art Unit 3661
/PETER D NOLAN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3661