CTNF 18/805,422 CTNF 85103 Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. DETAILED ACTION This communication is responsive to the application filed on 08/14/2024. Claims 1-20 are presented for examination. References in applicant's IDS form 1449 received on 08/14/2026 and 12/04/2025 have been considered by the examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101 07-04-01 AIA 07-04 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 1–20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. Specifically, claims 1–20 are directed to an abstract idea without additional elements amounting to significantly more than the abstract idea. With respect to Step 2A Prong One of the framework, claim 1 recites an abstract idea. Claim 1 includes elements for “ A store server for managing a plurality of devices in a store via a store network, the store server comprising: a network interface connectable to the store network; a memory that stores: a priority value assigned to each of the devices , and a plurality of indicators for each of the devices indicating frequency of use in a plurality of time periods of a day; and a processor configured to : determine a priority order for the devices based on the priority values assigned to the devices and the indicators for the devices stored in the memory , and control communication with each of the devices via the network interface according to the determined priority order” (List all claims Limitations ) The limitations above recite an abstract idea. More particularly, the elements above recite certain methods of organizing human activity related to managing personal behavior or relationships or interactions between people because the elements describe managing a plurality of devices in a store for priories devices order. Further, the elements above recite mental processes because the elements describe observations or evaluations that could be practically performed in the mind or by using pen and paper. As a result, claim 1 recites an abstract idea under Step 2A Prong One. Claims 8 and 14 include substantially similar limitations to those included with respect to claim 1. As a result, claims 8 and 14 recite an abstract idea under Step 2A Prong One for the same reasons as stated above with respect to claim 1. Claims 2-7, 9-13 and 15-20 further describe the process for selecting and viewing organizational information and further recite certain methods of organizing human activity and/ mental processes for the same reasons as stated above. As a result, claims 2-7, 9-13 and 15-20 recite an abstract idea under Step 2A Prong One. With respect to Step 2A Prong Two of the framework, claim 1 does not include additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application. Claim 1 includes additional elements that do not recite an abstract idea under Step 2A Prong One. The additional elements include servers, a network interface, a memory and processor and a step for gathering information (devices recited in the claim). When considered in view of the claim as a whole, the additional elements do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application because the servers, a network interface, a memory and processor amounts to no more than a general computing component that is used as a tool to perform the recited abstract idea, and the step for gathering information is an insignificant extra solution activity to the recited abstract idea. As a result, claim 1 does not include any additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application under Step 2A Prong Two. As noted above, claims 8 and 14include substantially similar limitations to those included with respect to claim 1. Although claim 8 further includes a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium and a processor, and claim 14 further includes a processor and memory, the additional element, when considered in view of the claim as a whole, do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application because the additional elements amount to no more than general computing components that are used as a tool to perform the recited abstract idea. As a result, claims 8 and 14do not include any additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application under Step 2A Prong Two. Claims 2-7, 9-13 and 15-20 do not include any additional elements beyond those included with respect to the claims from which claims 2-7, 9-13 and 15-20 depend. As a result, claims2-7, 9-13 and 15-20 do not include any additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application under Step 2A Prong Two for the same reasons as stated above. With respect to Step 2B of the framework, claim 1 does not include additional elements amounting to significantly more than the abstract idea. As noted above, claim 1 includes additional elements that do not recite an abstract idea under Step 2A Prong One. The additional elements include servers, a network interface, a memory and processor and a step for gathering information. The additional elements do not amount to significantly more than the recited abstract idea because the additional elements the computing device amounts to no more than a general computing component that is used as a tool to perform the recited abstract idea, and the step for gathering information is a well-understood, routine, and conventional computer function in view of MPEP 2105.06(d)(II). Further, looking at the additional elements as an ordered combination adds nothing that is not already present when considering the additional elements individually. As a result, claim 1 does not include any additional elements that amount to significantly more than the recited abstract idea under Step 2B. As noted above, claims 8 and 14 include substantially similar limitations to those included with respect to claim 1. Although claim 8 further includes a computer program product residing on a computer readable medium and a processor, and claim 15 further includes a processor and memory, the additional elements do not amount to significantly more than the recited abstract idea because the additional elements amount to no more than general computing components that are used as a tool to perform the recited abstract idea. Further, looking at the additional elements as an ordered combination adds nothing that is not already present when considering the additional elements individually. As a result, claims 8 and 15 do not include any additional elements that amount to significantly more than the recited abstract idea under Step 2B. Claims 2-7, 9-13 and 15-20 do not include any additional elements beyond those included with respect to the claims from which claims 2-7, 9-13 and 15-20 depend. As a result, claims 2-7, 9-13 and 15-20 do not include any additional elements that amount to significantly more than the recited abstract idea under Step 2B for the same reasons as stated above. Therefore, the claims are directed to an abstract idea without additional elements amounting to significantly more than the abstract idea. Accordingly, claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as being directed to non-statutory subject matter. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA) 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. 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – 07-15-03-aia AIA Claim s 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Mueller et al. “US 2023/0132095 A1” (Mueller) . Regarding Claim 1: A store server for managing a plurality of devices in a store via a store network, the store server comprising: a network interface connectable to the store network; a memory that stores: a priority value assigned to each of the devices (at least see Mueller Abstract; Fig. 3; [0175]) , and a plurality of indicators for each of the devices indicating frequency of use in a plurality of time periods of a day (at least see Mueller Abstract; Fig. 3; [0077]) ; and a processor configured to: determine a priority order for the devices based on the priority values assigned to the devices and the indicators for the devices stored in the memory (at least see Mueller Abstract; Fig. 2; [0073]) , and control communication with each of the devices via the network interface according to the determined priority order (at least see Mueller Abstract; Fig. 1; [0025]) . Regarding Claim 2: The store server according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control a response time to respond to a request from each of the devices according to the determined priority order (at least see Mueller [0016]) . Regarding Claim 3: The store server according to claim 2, wherein the devices include a point-of-sale (POS) terminal, and the processor determines the priority order such that a response time to respond to a request from the POS terminal is the shortest (at least see Mueller [0099]) . Regarding Claim 4: The store server according to claim 2, wherein the devices include a POS terminal, a camera, and a digital signage terminal, and the processor determines the priority order such that a response time to respond to a request from the digital signage terminal is the longest (at least see Mueller [0017]) . Regarding Claim 5: The store server according to claim 4, wherein the processor determines the priority order such that a response time to respond to a request from the POS terminal is shorter than the camera (at least see Mueller [0026]) . Regarding Claim 6: The store server according to claim 1, wherein the network interface is connectable to an external server via another network, and the processor is configured to: generate sales information based on data received from one or more of the devices via the store network, and control the network interface to transmit the sales information to the external server via said another network (at least see Mueller [0091]) . Regarding Claim 7: The store server according to claim 1, wherein the time periods correspond to business hours of the store (at least see Mueller [0057]) . Regarding Claims 8-20: all limitations as recited have been analyzed and rejected with respect to claims 1-7. Relevant Prior Art The prior art made of record and not relied upon, which is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure, are cited in the Notice of Reference Cited form (PT0-892). Contact Information Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FATEH M OBAID whose telephone number is (571)270-7121. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M to 4:30 P.M. 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, Ryan Zeender can be reached at (571) 272-6790. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. 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If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /FATEH M OBAID/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3627 Application/Control Number: 18/805,422 Page 2 Art Unit: 3627 Application/Control Number: 18/805,422 Page 3 Art Unit: 3627 Application/Control Number: 18/805,422 Page 4 Art Unit: 3627 Application/Control Number: 18/805,422 Page 5 Art Unit: 3627 Application/Control Number: 18/805,422 Page 6 Art Unit: 3627 Application/Control Number: 18/805,422 Page 7 Art Unit: 3627 Application/Control Number: 18/805,422 Page 8 Art Unit: 3627 Application/Control Number: 18/805,422 Page 9 Art Unit: 3627
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