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 1/17/2025 was filed. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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, 4, 5, 7-11, and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. The claim(s) recite(s):
1. A method for generating a graphical user interface, the method comprising:
receiving an event identification comprising an event type, an event start date, and an event end date;
receiving a recurrence for the event identification, wherein the recurrence repeats the event identification at a recurrence interval;
receiving an occurrence for the event identification within a single recurrence interval, wherein the occurrence comprises a first time slot for the event identification within the single recurrence interval and a second time slot for the event identification within the single recurrence interval, wherein the first time slot and the second time slot are discontinuous;
determining pairings between the event identification and one or more controllable identifications;
generating a schedule comprising the occurrence of the event identification repeated at the recurrence interval starting at the event start date and based on the pairings; and
displaying the schedule on the graphical user interface.
11. A system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory operably coupled to the at least one processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions executable by the at least one processor to:
receive an event identification comprising an event type, an event start date, and an event end date;
receive a recurrence for the event identification, wherein the recurrence repeats the event identification at a recurrence interval;
receive an occurrence for the event identification within a single recurrence interval, wherein the occurrence comprises a first time slot for the event identification within the single recurrence interval and a second time slot for the event identification within the single recurrence interval, wherein the first time slot and the second time slot are discontinuous;
determine pairings between the event identification and one or more controllable identifications;
generate a schedule comprising the occurrence of the event identification repeated at the recurrence interval starting at the event start date and based on the pairings; and
display the schedule on a graphical user interface.
Step 1: The claims recite a method and system which are a process and manufacturer or machine. Thus, the claims are statutory categories of invention.
Step 2A, Prong One: The limitations of “determining pairings between the event identification and one or more controllable identifications” falls into the “mental process” group of abstract ideas, because the pairing determination could practically be performed in the human mind. Further, the limitation of “generating a schedule comprising the occurrence of the event identification repeated at the recurrence interval starting at the event start date and based on the pairings” also falls into the “mental process” group of abstract ideas, because the generation of the schedule could practically be performed in the human mind. Note that even if most humans would use a physical aid (e.g., pen and paper) to help them complete the task, the use of such physical aid does not negate the mental nature of these limitations.
Step 2A, Prong Two: Besides the abstract ideas, the claims recite “receiving an event identification..”, “receiving a recurrence…”, and “receiving an occurrence…”. These additional elements represent mere data gathering that is necessary for use of the recited judicial exceptions and are recited at a high level of generality. The claims also recite “displaying the schedule on the graphical user interface”. This limitation merely displays results of the recited judicial exception and is thus insignificant extra-solution activity. Even when viewed in combination, these additional elements do not integrate the recited judicial exceptions into a practical application and the claims are directed to the judicial exceptions.
Step 2B: The claims as a whole do not amount to significantly more than the recited exception. The additional elements, as explained previously are extra-solution activities, which for the purposes of Step 2A Prong Two was considered insignificant. Even when considered in combination, these additional elements represent mere instructions to apply an exception and insignificant extra-solution activity, which do not provide an inventive concept. The claims are not eligible.
Note: Dependent claims 4, 5, 7-10 and 14 fail to introduce language which is significantly more than the recited abstract ideas. Accordingly, claims 4, 5, 7-10 and 14 are also ineligible and rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-15 are allowable over the prior art.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Prior art, for example Kaiser (US PGPub 2009/0287630), discloses receiving an event identification comprising an event type, an event start date, and an event end date; and receiving a recurrence for the event identification (see paragraph 0046, lines 5-12).
Also prior art, for example Okamura (US PGPub 2019/0278258), discloses generating and displaying a schedule of related events (see paragraph 0009, lines 1-9 and paragraph 0029, lines 9-11).
However, Kaiser and Okamura, individually or in combination, fail to specifically disclose a method for generating a graphical user interface (claim 1) or a system comprising at least one processor (claim 11) comprising:
receiving an occurrence for the event identification within a single recurrence interval, wherein the occurrence comprises a first time slot for the event identification within the single recurrence interval and a second time slot for the event identification within the single recurrence interval, wherein the first time slot and the second time slot are discontinuous;
determining pairings between the event identification and one or more controllable identifications; and
generating a schedule comprising the occurrence of the event identification repeated at the recurrence interval starting at the event start date and based on the pairings.
Accordingly, independent claims 1, 11, and the claims which depend upon them are allowable over the prior art. With resolution to the above 35 U.S.C. 101 rejection the instant patent application would be in condition for allowance.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Michael J. Brown whose telephone number is (571)272-5932. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday from 5:30am-4:00pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kamini Shah can be reached at (571)272-2279. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Michael J Brown/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2115
Prosecution Insights