DETAILED ACTION
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 3/23/2026 has been entered.
Notice to Applicant
This action is in reply to the filed on 3/23/2026.
Claims 1-7, 11,3,8-19 and 21-22 have been amended.
Claims 8-10, 12,4-17 and 20 have been cancelled.
Claim 1-7, 11,3,8-19 and 21-22 currently pending and have been examined.
Response to Amendments
The Applicant’s amendments, and cancellation, of the claims as currently submitted have been noted by the Examiner. Said amendments, and cancellation(s), are not sufficient to overcome the rejections previously set forth under 35 U.S.C. §101. As such, said rejections are herein maintained for reasons set forth below.
The Applicant’s amendments, and cancellation, of the claims as currently submitted have been noted by the Examiner. Said amendments, and cancellation(s), are not sufficient to overcome the Examiner’s claim objections. As such, said rejections are herein maintained for reasons set forth below.
Subject Matter Free of Prior Art
Xiao et al. (US 2008/0077019) and Watson et al. (US 2015/0036138) teach a medical report generation method. Xiao et al. and Watson et al. do not teach “wherein the content block only contains information with high degree of attention and excludes information with low degree of attention which has a lower degree of relevance with the analysis result than the information with high degree of attention...,” etc. Therefore, the Applicant has successfully overcome the Examiner’s 35 USC 103 rejection and Examiner withdraws his 35 USC 103 rejection.
Claim Objections
Improper Dependent Claim
Claims 18 is objected to under 37 CFR 1.75(c) as being in improper form because a multiple dependent claim should refer to other claims in the alternative only and/or cannot depend form any other multiple depending claim. See MPEP § 608.01(n). Accordingly, the claims have not been further treated on the merits. Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Human Interactions Organized
Applicant discloses (Applicant’s Specification, [0002]) that doctors do not have the freedom to automatically select and adjust, the arrangement of medical reports. So a need exists to organize these human interactions by/through universally generating medical reports using the steps of “analyzing and processing data, presenting analysis display interfaces, extracting content blocks, presenting report interfacing interfaces,” etc. Applicant’s system/computer readable medium/apparatus is therefore a certain method of organizing the human activities as described and disclosed by Applicant.
Rejection
Claim(s) 1-7, 11,3,8-19 and 21-22 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more.
Claim(s) 1, 18, 19 and 20 is/are directed to the abstract idea of “universally generating medical reports,” etc. (Applicant’s Specification, Abstract, paragraph(s) [0001]-[0002]), etc., as explained in detail below, and thus grouped as a certain method of organizing human interactions. The claims do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the additional computer elements, which are recited at a high level of generality, provide conventional computer functions that do not add meaningful limits to practicing the abstract idea. Accordingly, claims 1-7, 11,3,8-19 and 21-22 recite an abstract idea.
Step 2A Prong 1 – The Judicial Exception
The claim(s) recite(s) in part, system/computer readable medium/apparatus for performing the steps of “analyzing and processing data, presenting analysis display interfaces, extracting content blocks, presenting report interfacing interfaces,” etc., that is “universally generating medical reports,” etc. which is a method of managing personal behavior or relationships or interactions between people (social activities, teaching, following rules, instructions) and thus grouped as a certain method of organizing human interactions. Accordingly, claims 1-7, 11,3,8-19 and 21-22 recite an abstract idea.
Step 2A Prong 2 – Integration of the Judicial Exception into a Practical Application
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because the generically recited additional computer elements (i.e. display interfaces, functional near-infrared spectroscopy system, medical report generation apparatus, processor, content block, box to be filled, image arrangement module, filling block (Applicant’s Specification [0003], [0012]-[0013], [0015], [0027]-[0028]), etc.) to perform steps of “analyzing and processing data, presenting analysis display interfaces, extracting content blocks, presenting report interfacing interfaces,” etc. do not add a meaningful limitation to the abstract idea because they amount to simply implementing the abstract idea on a computer and this is nothing more than an attempt to generally link the product of nature to a particular technological environment. Accordingly, this additional element does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application because it does not impose any meaningful limit on practicing the abstract idea. Accordingly, the claims are directed to an abstract idea.
Insignificant extra-solution activity
Claim(s) 1-7, 11,3,8-19 and 21-22 recites storing data steps, retrieving data steps, providing data steps, output steps (Bilski v. Kappos, 561 U.S. 593, 610-12 (2010), Bancorp Servs., L.L.C. v. Sun Life Assur. Co. of Can., 771 F.Supp.2d 1054, 1066 (E.D. Mo. 2011), aff’d, 687 F.3d at 1266), and/or transmitting data step (buySAFE, Inc. v. Google, Inc., 765 F.3d 1350, 1355 (Fed. Cir. 2014), Apple, Inc. v. Ameranth, Inc., 842 F.3d 1299, 1241-42 (Fed. Cir. 2016)) that is/are insignificant extra-solution activity. Extra-solution activity limitations are insufficient to transform judicially excepted subject matter into a patent-eligible application (MPEP §2106.05(g)).
Step 2B – Search for an Inventive Concept/Significantly More
The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because as discussed above with respect to integration into a practical application, the additional elements (i.e. display interfaces, functional near-infrared spectroscopy system, medical report generation apparatus, processor, content block, box to be filled, image arrangement module, filling block, etc.) are recited at a high level of generality, and the written description indicates that these elements are generic computer components. Using generic computer components to perform abstract ideas does not provide a necessary inventive concept (Alice, 573 U.S. at 223 (“mere recitation of a generic computer cannot transform a patent-ineligible abstract idea into a patent-eligible invention.”)). Accordingly, the claims are not patent eligible.
Individually and in Combination
The additional elements when considered both individually and as an ordered combination do not amount to significantly more than the abstract idea. The additional elements amount to no more than generic computer components that serve to merely link the abstract idea to a particular technological environment (i.e. display interfaces, functional near-infrared spectroscopy system, medical report generation apparatus, processor, content block, box to be filled, image arrangement module, filling block, etc.). At paragraph(s) [0003], [0012]-[0013], [0015], [0027]-[0028], Applicant’s specification describes generic computer hardware for implementing the above described functions including “display interfaces, functional near-infrared spectroscopy system, medical report generation apparatus, processor, content block, box to be filled, image arrangement module, filling block,” etc. to perform the functions of “analyzing and processing data, presenting analysis display interfaces, extracting content blocks, presenting report interfacing interfaces,” etc. The recited “display interfaces, functional near-infrared spectroscopy system, medical report generation apparatus, processor, content block, box to be filled, image arrangement module, filling block,” etc. does/do not add meaningful limitations to the idea of beyond generally linking the system to a particular technological environment, that is, implementation via computers. Thus, taken alone, the additional elements do not amount to significantly more than the above-identified judicial exception (the abstract idea). Looking at the limitations as an ordered combination adds nothing that is not already present when looking at the elements taken individually. There is no indication that the combination of elements improves the functioning of a computer, or improves any other technology, or improves a technical field, or provides a technical improvement to a technical problem. Their collective functions merely provide generic computer implementation. Therefore, claims 1-7, 11,3,8-19 and 21-22 do not amount to significantly more than the underlying abstract idea of “an idea of itself” (Alice).
Dependent Claims
Dependent claim(s) 2-7, 11, 13 and 21-22 include(s) all the limitations of the parent claims and are directed to the same abstract idea as discussed above and incorporated herein.
Although dependent claims 2-7, 11, 13 and 21-22 add additional limitations, they only serve to further limit the abstract idea by reciting limitations on what the information is and how it is received and used. Dependent claims 2-7, 11, 13 and 21-22 merely describe physical structures to implement the abstract idea. These information and physical characteristics do not change the fundamental analogy to the abstract idea grouping of certain method of organizing human interactions, and when viewed individually or as a whole, they do not add anything substantial beyond the abstract idea. Furthermore, the combination of elements does not indicate a significant improvement to the functioning of a computer or any other technology. Therefore, the claims when taken as a whole are ineligible for the same reasons as independent claim 1.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments filed 3/23/2026 with respect to claims 1-7, 11,3,8-19 and 21-22 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant’s arguments will be addressed herein below in the order in which they appear in the response filed 3/23/2026.
Applicant’s arguments filed on 3/23/2026 with respect to claims 1-7, 11,3,8-19 and 21-22 have been fully considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection.
Applicant argues that (A) the Applicant’s claimed invention is directed to statutory matter.
101 Responses
As per Applicant’s argument (A), Applicant’s remarks with regard to the statutory nature of Applicant’s claimed invention are addressed above in the Office Action.
Rehash
Applicant's remarks and arguments merely rehash issues addressed in the Office Action mailed 1/22/2026 and incorporated herein.
“fnirs” Data
Applicant makes reference to “fnirs data” in Applicants Remarks dated 3/23/2026 however the Examiner cannot find any reference to “fnirs data” in Applicant’s Specification. The Examiner requests clarity on the two (2) reference to “fnirs data.”
Applicant’s Amendments
Applicant amended claims recite “analyzing and processing the near-infrared data collected from a brain of a subject, obtaining an analysis result including images and tables, and storing the analysis result in a storage, “presenting, on a display, an analysis display interface, so that at least one display area, which is used for displaying content blocks of the analysis result and information with lower degree of attention of a user compared to information in the content blocks is distributed on the analysis display interface, “extracting the respective content blocks from storage and presenting prominently the content blocks in one-to-one correspondence with the display areas on the analysis display interface,” and “presenting a report editing interface and identifying a display type of the analysis result contained in each selected content block, and in case that the display type is a table type, acquiring a table object corresponding to the content block from the storage for generating an analysis report of the near-infrared data.” These are information processing steps that are part of Applicant’s abstract idea and /do not move Applicant’s invention into eligible subject matter. Applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
Data Processing Step
Applicant’s amended steps of “analyzing and processing the near-infrared data collected from a brain of a subject, obtaining an analysis result including images and tables, and storing the analysis result in a storage, “presenting, on a display, an analysis display interface, so that at least one display area, which is used for displaying content blocks of the analysis result and information with lower degree of attention of a user compared to information in the content blocks is distributed on the analysis display interface, “extracting the respective content blocks from storage and presenting prominently the content blocks in one-to-one correspondence with the display areas on the analysis display interface,” and “presenting a report editing interface and identifying a display type of the analysis result contained in each selected content block, and in case that the display type is a table type, acquiring a table object corresponding to the content block from the storage for generating an analysis report of the near-infrared data,” are abstract compurational steps that are part of Applicant’s abstract idea. In Electric Power Group the collection, manipulation and display of data has been found to be an abstract process. When claims, such as Applicant’s claims, are “directed to an abstract idea” and “merely requir[e] generic computer implementation,” they “do[] not move into [§] 101 eligibility territory.” buySAFE, Inc. v. Google, Inc., 765 F.3d 1350, 1354 (Fed. Cir. 2014). Further, analysis of information by steps people go through in their minds, or by mathematical algorithms, without more, is essentially a mental processes within the abstract-idea category (Electric Power Group, 830 F.3d at 1354). Further, Applicant appears to be claiming generic computer implementation of a certain method of organsing human interaction. Therefore, Applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
Applicant’s Display Interfaces, Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy System, Medical Report Generation Apparatus, Processor, Content Block, Box to be Filled, Image Arrangement Module, Filling Block
Despite recitation of display interfaces, functional near-infrared spectroscopy system, medical report generation apparatus, processor, content block, box to be filled, image arrangement module, filling block, Applicant’s claims are, at bottom, directed to the collection, organization, grouping and storage of data. The display interfaces, functional near-infrared spectroscopy system, medical report generation apparatus, processor, content block, box to be filled, image arrangement module, filling block recited in Applicant’s claims are merely tools used for organizing human activity. Applicant’s claims elements either individually or as an ordered combination do not transform Applicant’s claims into a patent eligible application of the abstract idea. Applicant’s claims do not impose any meaningful limit on the method of collection, organization, grouping and storage of data. Rather the display interfaces, functional near-infrared spectroscopy system, medical report generation apparatus, processor, content block, box to be filled, image arrangement module, filling block elements recite generic technology for implementing the claimed abstract idea. Improvements –
Advantageous over Previous Methods
The test for patent-eligible subject matter is not whether the claims are advantageous over previous methods. Even if Applicant’s claims provide advantages over generating structured results structured results (images and tables); persistently storing structured data objects (not screenshots); direct extraction of content blocks from storage (not pixel-based capture); display-type-aware processing, including identifying whether data is image-type or table-type; and selectively retrieving table objects (structured data), Applicant’s claims no technological improvement beyond improvement beyond the use of generic computer components/a generic computer network. Applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
Applicant claims the improvement of “improving processor efficiency,” “decreasing computation load and display latency,” and “improving clearness and integrity of displaying,” etc. It has been held that it is not enough to merely improve a fundamental practices or abstract process by invoking a computer merely as a tool (Affinity Labs. of Texas, LLC v. DIRECTV, LLC, In re TLI Communications LLC Patent Litigation). In Intellectual Ventures I LLC v. Capital One Bank (USA), it was held that “claiming the improved speed or efficiency inherent with applying the abstract idea on a computer” was insufficient to render the claims patent eligible. In SAP America, Inc. v InvestPic, LLC it was held that patent directed to “selecting certain information, analyzing it using mathematical techniques, and reporting or displaying results,” are ineligible, and claims focused on an improvement in wholly abstract ideas are ineligible. Further, invocation of “already-available computers that are not themselves plausibly asserted to be in advance…amounts to a recitation of what is well-understood, routine, and conventional” (SAP America, Inc. v InvestPic, LLC). Accordingly, Applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
Step 2A, Prong 2, Abstract Idea Cannot Supply the Inventive Concept
Applicant’s reliance on “improving processor efficiency,” “decreasing computation load and display latency,” and “improving clearness and integrity of displaying,” etc. is misplaced because “the abstract idea itself cannot supply the invention concept, no matter how groundbreaking the advance” (Trading Technologies International, Inc. v IBG LLC). Thus, the claims do not integrate the recited abstract idea into a practical application. Accordingly, Applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
User Interface
Applicant’s user interface is generically claimed with no distinguishable patentable features. Applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
Ex Parte Desjardin
The Office has updated MPEP §2100 to incorporate the nonprecedential Desjardins decision and directed patent examiners to consider Enfish when evaluating claims directed to improvements to the functioning of a computer or other technology or technical field. The subject matter of the decision itself was directed to an innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is not the claimed subject matter of Applicant’s claimed invention. The Examiner maintains that the Examiner’s rejection of Applicant’s claims under 35 USC 101 is proper and consistent with Office patent examination procedures. Accordingly, Applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
Integration into a Practical Application
Integration into a practical application requires additional elements or a combination of additional elements in the claims to apply, rely on, or use the judicial exception in a manner that imposes a meaningful limit on the judicial exception, such that it is more than a drafting effort designed to monopolize the exception (e.g. Enfish, McRO and Vanda) (2019 PEG).
Applicant’s “display interfaces, functional near-infrared spectroscopy system, medical report generation apparatus, processor, content block, box to be filled, image arrangement module, filling block” is/are not an additional element(s) that reflects in the an improvement in the functioning of a computer, is/are not an additional element(s) that applies or uses the judicial exception to effect a particular treatment or prophylaxis, is/are not an additional element(s) that effects a transformation or reduction of a particular article to a different state or things, and is/are not an additional element(s) that applies or uses the judicial exception beyond generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment for the reasons explained in the 101 rejection above. Applicant’s “display interfaces, functional near-infrared spectroscopy system, medical report generation apparatus, processor, content block, box to be filled, image arrangement module, filling block” is/are merely tools used by Applicant to implement data processing. Data processing is an abstract idea. Applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
Enfish
Further, the claims in Enfish, LLC v. Microsoft Corp. provide a technical solution to a problem rooted in computer technology (i.e. database software designed as a “self-referential” database). Simply adding a generic computing device that performs routine and conventional functions or presenting abstract claims that are directed to generalized steps to be performed on a computer using conventional computer activity (i.e. analyzing and processing data, presenting analysis display interfaces, extracting content blocks, presenting report interfacing interfaces, etc.) is not equivalent or similar to addressing a database challenge as is the case in Enfish, LLC v. Microsoft Corp. While the claims are directed to a process that is performed on a computer, they are not directed to a business challenge that is particular to databases. In fact, the claims are not directed to the use “self-referential” databases at all or functions that are particular to “self-referential” databases as is the case in the claims of Enfish, LLC v. Microsoft Corp. Therefore, because the claims fail to provide a technical solution to any database challenges, the ordered combination of limitations do not amount to significantly more than a certain method of organizing human interactions. Accordingly, the claims recite an abstract idea. As explained above, this judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application. Further, as explained above, the claims do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception. Accordingly, the claims are not patent eligible. Applicant’s argument is not persuasive.
Conclusion
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/C. P. C./
Examiner, Art Unit 3683
/ROBERT W MORGAN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3683
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