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 .
DETAILED ACTION
1. This Office Action is in response to the preliminary amendment filed on 04/10/2025.
Claims 2, 7, 8, 9 and 10 have been amended.
Claims 1 and 3-6 have been canceled.
Claims 12-25 have been added.
Claims 2 and 7-25 are pending.
Priority
2. This application is a Continuation of 18/504,058 (Patent US 12,282,458), which was filed on 11/07/2023, was acknowledged and considered.
Information Disclosure Statement
3. The information disclosure statement (IDS) filed on 01/17/2025 and 01/17/2025 comply with the provisions of M.P.E.P. 609. The examiner has considered it.
Double Patenting
4. The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the "right to exclude" ranted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Omum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); and In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the conflicting application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement.
Effective January 1, 1994, a registered attorney or agent of record may sign a terminal disclaimer. A terminal disclaimer signed by the assignee must fully comply with 37 CFR 3.73(b).
5. Claims 2 and 7-25 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 12,282,458. Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
Instant Application 19028839
Patent Us 12,282,458
Claim 12:
A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving, by an application platform of a database system from a client device coupled to a network, a natural language user input indicative of a new functionality to be added to an instance of an application provided by the application platform:
identifying custom schema at the database system associated with an identifier associated with a user of the client device;
determining, by the application platform of the database system, a solution for achieving the new functionality within the instance of the application based at least in part on the custom schema;
providing, by the application platform of the database system, a graphical indication of the solution and a selectable graphical user interface element associated with the solution at the client device; and
in response to selection of the selectable graphical user interface element, updating the database system to implement the solution within the instance of the application provided by the application platform.
Claim 1:
A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving, at a server, user input defining an objective from a client device coupled to a network, wherein the user input is indicative of a new functionality to be added to a virtual application;
obtaining, at the server, metadata associated with an identifier associated with the virtual application from a database system;
analyzing, at the server, the objective and the metadata to identify a solution for achieving the new functionality within the virtual application;
providing, by the server, a graphical user interface display including a graphical indication of the solution; and
in response to selection of the graphical indication of the solution within the graphical user interface display, updating the database system to implement the solution.
Claim 25:
At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that provides instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, are configurable to cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving, from a client device coupled to a network, a natural language user input indicative of a new functionality to be added to an instance of an application provided by an application platform of a database system:
identifying custom schema at the database system associated with an identifier associated with a user of the client device;
determining a solution for achieving the new functionality within the instance of the application based at least in part on the custom schema;
providing a graphical indication of the solution and a selectable graphical user interface element associated with the solution at the client device; and
updating the database system to implement the solution within the instance of the application provided by the application platform in response to selection of the selectable graphical user interface element.
Claim 16:
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that provides instructions that, when executed by a processor, are configurable to cause said processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving user input defining an objective from a client device coupled to a network, wherein the user input is indicative of a new functionality to be added to a virtual application;
obtaining metadata associated with an identifier associated with the virtual application from a database system;
analyzing the objective and the metadata to identify a solution for achieving the new functionality within the virtual application;
providing a graphical user interface display including a graphical indication of the solution; and
in response to selection of the graphical indication of the solution within the graphical user interface display, updating the database system to implement the solution.
Zhang, US 20110004499, suggests receiving, by an application platform of a database system from a client device coupled to a network, a natural language user input indicative of a new functionality to be added to an instance of an application provided by the application platform [Paragraph 38 (“a connection for user input through a keyboard, a mouse, and/or some other suitable input device”)].
Zhang, US 20110004499, suggests identifying custom schema at the database system associated with an identifier associated with a user of the client device [Paragraphs 5 and 58 (“allows the user to transform a business goal artifact into a set of aligned candidate service artifacts “ AND “Solution design pattern rules for the set of architectural artifacts are derived, wherein the solution design pattern rules define transformation relationships among the set of architectural artifacts and define the attributes and business constraints of the set of architectural artifacts”, i.e., “architectural artifacts” are custom schemas)].
Zhang, US 20110004499, suggests determining, by the application platform of the database system, a solution for achieving the new functionality within the instance of the application based at least in part on the custom schema [Paragraph 48 (“provide a systematic way to allow architects that are designing a solution to a business problem to generate and apply this reusable design knowledge to selected architectural artifacts or models. The reusable design knowledge is captured as solution patterns that are used as a guide to determine and configure the architectural artifacts and models that comply with industry standards or best practices”)] [Paragraph 49 (“The solution patterns are implemented as software components that facilitate required actions based on pre-defined specifications and rules.”, i.e., determining a solution for achieving the new functionality)].
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
6. 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.
7. Claims 2 and 7-25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter.
Claims 2 and 7-25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more.
Independent claims 12 and 25 recite:
A computer-implemented method comprising:
receiving, by an application platform of a database system from a client device coupled to a network, a natural language user input indicative of a new functionality to be added to an instance of an application provided by the application platform:
identifying custom schema at the database system associated with an identifier associated with a user of the client device;
determining, by the application platform of the database system, a solution for achieving the new functionality within the instance of the application based at least in part on the custom schema;
providing, by the application platform of the database system, a graphical indication of the solution and a selectable graphical user interface element associated with the solution at the client device; and
in response to selection of the selectable graphical user interface element, updating the database system to implement the solution within the instance of the application provided by the application platform.
Step 2A Prong One:
The limitations of receiving user input, identifying custom schema, determining a solution based on the custom schema, providing a solution and selectable elements and updating the database that, under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers performance of the limitation in the mind, but for the recitation of generic computer components. That is ,other than reciting, “computer method’; nothing in the claim element precludes the step from practically being performed in a human mind. Note that the limitations are done by the generically recited computer components under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers performance of the limitation in the mind but for the recitation of generic computer components, then it falls within the “Mental Processes’ grouping of abstract ideas (concepts performed in the human mind including an observation, evaluation, judgment, and opinion).
Step 2A Prong Two:
The judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application. Claims 12 and 25 recite the additional element, such as “providing a graphical indication of the solution and a selectable graphical user interface element .”, is a mere generic transmission and presentation of collected and analyzed data (MPEP 2106.05(g)). The limitations amount to a data gathering step and a mere generic transmission and presentation of collected and analyzed data which is considered to be insignificant extra solution activity (see MPEP 2106.05(g)).
Step 2B:
The claims do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception. The limitation “providing solution”, are recognized by the courts as well-understood, routine , and conventional activities when they are claimed in a merely generic manner (see MPEP 2106.05(qd)/(II) (iv) transferring and/or displaying information, Versata Dev. Group Inc.
Dependent Claims 2, 7-11 and 13-24
The limitations as recited in dependent claim 2 recites “wherein the graphical indication comprises a selectable card….”, which further describes the concepts performed in the human mind including an observation, evaluation, judgment, and opinion, in step 2A prong one. Claim 2 is rejected with similar rationale.
Claim 7 recites, “wherein the custom schema”, which further describes the concepts performed in the human mind including an observation, evaluation, judgment, and opinion, in step 2A prong one. Claim 7 is rejected with similar rationale.
Claim 8 recites, “determining the solution” and “providing the graphical indication”, which further describes the concepts performed in the human mind including an observation, evaluation, judgment, and opinion, in step 2A prong one. Claim 8 is rejected with similar rationale.
Claim 9 recites, “wherein the identifier comprises a tenant identifier”, which further describes the concepts performed in the human mind including an observation, evaluation, judgment, and opinion, in step 2A prong one. Claim 9 is rejected with similar rationale.
Claim 10 recites, “updating the database system”, which further describes the concepts performed in the human mind including an observation, evaluation, judgment, and opinion, in step 2A prong one. Claim 10 is rejected with similar rationale.
Claim 11 recites, “wherein the custom schema comprising existing customization”, which further describes the concepts performed in the human mind including an observation, evaluation, judgment, and opinion, in step 2A prong one. Claim 11 is rejected with similar rationale.
Claim 13 recites, providing … input”, which further describes the concept is merely input providing under prong 2 (insignificant extra solution activity— MPEP 2106.06g) and WURC under 2b (using gather data - MPEP 2106.05d).
Claim 14 and claim 19 recite, “wherein the natural language input comprises a conversational string”, which further describes the concept is merely input providing under prong 2 (insignificant extra solution activity— MPEP 2106.06g) and WURC under 2b (using gather data - MPEP 2106.05d).
Claim 15, claims 16-18 and claim 21 recite, “providing … a conversational ouput”, which further describes the concept is merely providing output under prong 2 (insignificant extra solution activity— MPEP 2106.06g) and WURC under 2b (using gather data - MPEP 2106.05d).
Claim 20 recites, “wherein the artificial intelligence model is trained using previous customizations”, which further describes the concepts performed in the human mind including an observation, evaluation, judgment, and opinion, in step 2A prong one. Claim 20 is rejected with similar rationale.
Claim 22 recites, “identifying the custom schema”, which further describes the concepts performed in the human mind including an observation, evaluation, judgment, and opinion, in step 2A prong one. Claim 22 is rejected with similar rationale.
Claim 23 recites, “identifying the existing custom objects” and “determining the solution …”, which further describes the concepts performed in the human mind including an observation, evaluation, judgment, and opinion, in step 2A prong one. Claim 23 is rejected with similar rationale.
Claim 24 recites, “updating a workflow table” , which further describes the concepts performed in the human mind including an observation, evaluation, judgment, and opinion, in step 2A prong one. Claim 24 is rejected with similar rationale.
Examiner’s Note
8. Functionality (According to paragraph 29 of the instant specification): “The user input may be analyzed to identify any words (or variants) that match or otherwise correspond to fields, objects, actions and/or other functionality that may be supported by the application platform 124. For example, the desired functionality could be a new piece of data that the user would like to track, a relationship between different data object that the user would like to monitor, a new graphical user interface display or layout, or the like.”
Identifying a custom schema at the database system (According to Google): “"Identifying a custom schema at the database system" refers to the process of either defining a specific, user-designed blueprint for data organization (the typical use in data modeling) or specifying which existing schema a particular application or user should use within a database instance.
Defining a Custom Schema
In the context of database design, a database schema is a logical blueprint that defines how data is organized and the relationships between data elements. A "custom" schema is a user-created version of this blueprint tailored to specific application or business needs, rather than a default system schema.”
Functionality within an application (According to Google): “Functionality within an application refers to the set of capabilities and operations it can perform to help users accomplish specific tasks. It encompasses all the core features, user interactions, and processes that allow an application to do what it was designed for, such as transferring money in a banking app or logging in with a password.”
Zhang et al, US 20110004499, [Paragraph 48 (“provide a systematic way to allow architects that are designing a solution to a business problem to generate and apply this reusable design knowledge to selected architectural artifacts or models. The reusable design knowledge is captured as solution patterns that are used as a guide to determine and configure the architectural artifacts and models that comply with industry standards or best practices”)] [Paragraph 49 (“The solution patterns are implemented as software components that facilitate required actions based on pre-defined specifications and rules.”, i.e., determining a solution for achieving the new functionality)] [Paragraphs 5 and 58 (“allows the user to transform a business goal artifact into a set of aligned candidate service artifacts “ AND “Solution design pattern rules for the set of architectural artifacts are derived, wherein the solution design pattern rules define transformation relationships among the set of architectural artifacts and define the attributes and business constraints of the set of architectural artifacts”, i.e., “architectural artifacts” are custom schemas)] [Paragraph 38 (“a connection for user input through a keyboard, a mouse, and/or some other suitable input device”)].
Cook et al, US 20180121519, [Abstract and paragraph 5(“The data file is read and a column is filtered from the data file to generate the output data file in response to the preselected schema excluding the column” AND “Reading the data file may also comprise executing a first query against the data file to generate a first schema, and registering the first schema in a temporary table. The system may create a formatted and ordered string containing content in response to the reading the data file”)].
Darji et al, US 20230418524, [Abstract and paragraphs 253 and 317 (“A solution for the issue is determined based on at least one of information associated with the storage system or information associated with one or more other storage systems. A response including a description of the solution for the issue is generated” AND “The generative AI model may generate a response to the sender of the original content that describes the solution to the issue. For example, the generative AI model may generate a response that includes a text description of the solution, a video describing the solution, or one or more illustrations of the solution”)] [Paragraph 316 (“AI model may include audio and visual recognition capabilities as well as natural language processing that enables the generative AI to identify the issue that is described within the content”)].
Li et al, US 20150066994, [Abstract and paragraphs 7-8 (“A free storage capacity of the super schema is evaluated according to holes not occupied by any table in the super schema. A sharing relationship of the plurality of tables is determined according to the free storage capacity of the super schema. The sharing relationship of a large number of tables in a database can be managed effectively, so as to design or optimize the sharing solution among the tables”)].
Ahmed et al, US 20120191650, [Abstract and paragraphs 2-3 (“A solution authoring tool that includes an authoring environment that allows for the authoring of multiple projects of a solution including a database project that has a schema and a partner project that has a reference to the schema. When the database project is built and deployed, the database schema is made ready for runtime”)].
Allen et al, US 20060163338, [Paragraph 8 (“A supply chain visibility solution is disclosed that combines RFID technology … The gathered data and attributes are stored in a data store according to a customizable schema and published for consumption by one or more business processes”)] [Paragraph 40 (“The user can manually input data into some of the fields (e.g., input text, choose from a menu).”)].
Chen et al, US 20130104134, [Abstract and paragraph 10 (“An approach for composing an analytic solution is provided. After associating descriptive schemas with web services and web-based applets, a set of input data sources is enumerated for selection. A desired output type is received. Based on the descriptive schemas that specify required inputs and outputs of the web services and web-based applets, combinations of web services and web-based applets are generated. The generated combinations achieve a result of the desired output type from one of the enumerated input data sources. Each combination is derived from available web services and web-based applets. The combinations include one or more workflows that provide an analytic solution. A workflow whose result satisfies the business objective may be saved. Steps in a workflow may be iteratively refined to generate a workflow whose result satisfies the business objective”)].
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
9. 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 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.
10. 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 –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
11. Claims 2, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Zhang et al (US 20110004499).
Claim 2:
Zhang suggests wherein the graphical indication comprises a selectable card including implementation information associated with a respective database modification [Paragraph 49 (“Transformation enablers may comprise menu items in a graphical user interface environment and are applied as actions to specific architectural artifacts in order to facilitate the transformations between architectural artifacts in order to build an architecture model”)] [Paragraph 14 (“the database system is automatically modified or updated to implement or otherwise support that solution”)].
Claim 7:
Zhang suggests wherein identifying the custom schema wherein determining the solution [Paragraph 63 (“To facilitate the model-pattern matching process, a model-pattern look up table is maintained in enablement history repository 508 to allow validation module 506 to determine which patterns are applicable to which models”)] [Paragraph 66 (“The process begins with the solution design environment detecting that the architect has selected a model or artifact (step 602). Upon selection of a model or artifact, a transformation enabler is used to trigger the pattern selection process for selecting and applying patterns to the selected model or artifact. The validation module accesses the model-pattern or artifact-pattern matching lookup table in the enablement history repository to determine whether a pattern is valid with respect to the selected model or artifact (step 604). A pattern is valid with respect to the selected model or artifact if a relationship between the pattern and the selected model or artifact exists in the model-pattern or artifact-pattern matching lookup table to indicate that the pattern is applicable to the selected model or artifact”)].
Claim 9:
Zhang suggests wherein the user identifier comprises a tenant identifier or an organization identifier [Paragraph 57 (“A business constraint is an external factor that forces or prevents an organization from pursuing particular approaches to meet its goals”)] [Paragraph 31 (“Clients 110, 112, and 114 may be, for example, personal computers or network computers”)].
Claim 11:
Zhang suggests wherein the custom schema [Paragraphs 5 and 58 (“allows the user to transform a business goal artifact into a set of aligned candidate service artifacts “ AND “Solution design pattern rules for the set of architectural artifacts are derived, wherein the solution design pattern rules define transformation relationships among the set of architectural artifacts and define the attributes and business constraints of the set of architectural artifacts”, i.e., “architectural artifacts” are custom schemas)].
Claim 12:
Zhang suggests a computer-implemented method comprising: receiving, by an application platform of a database system from a client device coupled to a network, a natural language user input indicative of a new functionality to be added to an instance of an application provided by the application platform [Paragraph 38 (“a connection for user input through a keyboard, a mouse, and/or some other suitable input device”)]. Zhang suggests identifying custom schema at the database system associated with an identifier associated with a user of the client device [Paragraphs 5 and 58 (“allows the user to transform a business goal artifact into a set of aligned candidate service artifacts “ AND “Solution design pattern rules for the set of architectural artifacts are derived, wherein the solution design pattern rules define transformation relationships among the set of architectural artifacts and define the attributes and business constraints of the set of architectural artifacts”, i.e., “architectural artifacts” are custom schemas)]. Zhang suggests determining, by the application platform of the database system, a solution for achieving the new functionality within the instance of the application based at least in part on the custom schema [Paragraph 48 (“provide a systematic way to allow architects that are designing a solution to a business problem to generate and apply this reusable design knowledge to selected architectural artifacts or models. The reusable design knowledge is captured as solution patterns that are used as a guide to determine and configure the architectural artifacts and models that comply with industry standards or best practices”)] [Paragraph 49 (“The solution patterns are implemented as software components that facilitate required actions based on pre-defined specifications and rules.”, i.e., determining a solution for achieving the new functionality)]. Zhang suggests providing, by the application platform of the database system, a graphical indication of the solution and a selectable graphical user interface element associated with the solution at the client device [Paragraph 81 and Figures 13-15 (“An SOA solution design may be represented as a graph with nodes presenting architecture building blocks and edges (or links) representing relationships among nodes.”)]. Zhang suggests in response to selection of the selectable graphical user interface element, updating the database system to implement the solution within the instance of the application provided by the application platform [Paragraph 81 and Figures 13-15 (“An SOA solution design may be represented as a graph with nodes presenting architecture building blocks and edges (or links) representing relationships among nodes.”)].
Claim 13:
Zhang suggests providing, by the application platform of the database system, a graphical user interface (GUI) display on the client device that prompts the user to indicate what the user would like to accomplish prior to receiving the natural language user input [Paragraph 38 (“a connection for user input through a keyboard, a mouse, and/or some other suitable input device”)].
Claim 14:
Zhang suggests wherein the natural language user input comprises a conversational string of words provided via the GUI display [Paragraph 38 (“a connection for user input through a keyboard, a mouse, and/or some other suitable input device”)].
Claim 15:
Zhang suggests providing, by the application platform of the database system, a conversational output at the client device in response to the conversational string of words [Paragraph 48 (“The message types include input and output message types, the sources may be local files (e.g., XML schema files) or URLs (e.g., an industry standard-based XML schema files hosted on Web sites); the message formats may be of a string, integer, or complex type. In this case, the message specification is a typical solution pattern that can provide a predefined template for a service to use when defining industry standard compliant messages.”)].
Claim 25:
Claim 25 is essentially the same as claim 1 except that it sets forth the claimed invention as a program product rather than a method and rejected under the same reasons as applied above.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
12. 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 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.
13. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 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.
14. Claims 8, 10, 16 and 18-24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang et al (US 20110004499), in view of Palla et al (US 20180321997).
Claim 8:
The combined teachings of Zhang and Palla suggest wherein: determining the solution indication [Palla: Paragraphs 57, 60 and 69 (“the model or machine learning system can adapt to provide better indications of problem-specific data, based on various problems.”)].
Both references (Zhang and Palla) taught features that were directed to analogous art and they were directed to the same field of endeavor, such as providing solutions. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made, having the teachings of Zhang and Palla before him/her, to modify the system of Zhang with the teaching of Palla in order to utilize machine learning models to solve problem-specific data [Palla: Paragraphs 57 and 60].
Claim 10:
The combined teachings of Zhang and Palla suggest wherein updating the database system comprises creating [[the]] additional metadata associated with the [Palla: Paragraphs 32 (“one or more problem-specific analyzers and a diagnostic system that runs those analyzers to generate additional diagnostic information”)].
Both references (Zhang and Palla) taught features that were directed to analogous art and they were directed to the same field of endeavor, such as providing solutions. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made, having the teachings of Zhang and Palla before him/her, to modify the system of Zhang with the teaching of Palla in order to generate additional data or metadata [Palla: Paragraph 32].
Claim 16:
The combined teachings of Zhang and Palla suggest wherein the GUI display comprises a text box and the conversational string of words is provided by the user via the text box [Palla: Abstract (“A problem with a computing system is detected, a root cause is identified and a solution is also identified.”)] [Palla: Paragraphs 44 and 55 (“the user may provide a textual input in a text box, or the user may select a particular problem from a drop down menu,”)].
Both references (Zhang and Palla) taught features that were directed to analogous art and they were directed to the same field of endeavor, such as providing solutions. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made, having the teachings of Zhang and Palla before him/her, to modify the system of Zhang with the teaching of Palla in order to provide text box input [Palla: Paragraphs 44 and 55].
Claim 18:
The combined teachings of Zhang and Palla suggest wherein providing the GUI display comprises providing the GUI display in response to the user selecting a GUI element for a digital assistant supported by the application platform [Palla: Abstract (“A problem with a computing system is detected, a root cause is identified and a solution is also identified.”)] [Palla: Paragraph 129 (“personal digital assistants, etc”)].
Both references (Zhang and Palla) taught features that were directed to analogous art and they were directed to the same field of endeavor, such as providing solutions. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made, having the teachings of Zhang and Palla before him/her, to modify the system of Zhang with the teaching of Palla in order to provide digital assistant [Palla: Paragraph 129].
Claim 19:
The combined teachings of Zhang and Palla suggest wherein determining the solution comprises inputting the custom schema and the new functionality to an artificial intelligence model configured to output the solution for achieving the new functionality [Palla: Paragraphs 57, 60 and 69 (“the model or machine learning system can adapt to provide better indications of problem-specific data, based on various problems.”)].
Both references (Zhang and Palla) taught features that were directed to analogous art and they were directed to the same field of endeavor, such as providing solutions. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made, having the teachings of Zhang and Palla before him/her, to modify the system of Zhang with the teaching of Palla in order to utilize machine learning models to solve problem-specific data [Palla: Paragraphs 57 and 60 ].
Claim 20:
The combined teachings of Zhang and Palla suggest wherein the artificial intelligence model is trained using previous customizations such that the solution output by the artificial intelligence model reflects at least one of existing customizations associated with the user and the previous customizations for implementing functionality similar to the new functionality [Palla: Paragraphs 57, 60 and 69 (“the model or machine learning system can adapt to provide better indications of problem-specific data, based on various problems.”)].
Both references (Zhang and Palla) taught features that were directed to analogous art and they were directed to the same field of endeavor, such as providing solutions. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made, having the teachings of Zhang and Palla before him/her, to modify the system of Zhang with the teaching of Palla in order to utilize machine learning models to solve problem-specific data [Palla: Paragraphs 57 and 60 ].
Claim 21:
The combined teachings of Zhang and Palla suggest wherein providing the graphical indication comprises a digital assistant supported by the application platform of the database system providing a conversational output comprising one or more potential solutions for achieving the new functionality at the client device [Palla: Abstract (“A problem with a computing system is detected, a root cause is identified and a solution is also identified.”)] [Palla: Paragraph 129 (“personal digital assistants, etc”)].
Both references (Zhang and Palla) taught features that were directed to analogous art and they were directed to the same field of endeavor, such as providing solutions. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made, having the teachings of Zhang and Palla before him/her, to modify the system of Zhang with the teaching of Palla in order to provide digital assistant [Palla: Paragraph 129].
Claim 22:
The combined teachings of Zhang and Palla suggest wherein: identifying the custom schema at the database system comprises identifying existing custom objects associated with the identifier associated with the user of the client device [Zhang: Paragraphs 5 and 58 (“allows the user to transform a business goal artifact into a set of aligned candidate service artifacts “ AND “Solution design pattern rules for the set of architectural artifacts are derived, wherein the solution design pattern rules define transformation relationships among the set of architectural artifacts and define the attributes and business constraints of the set of architectural artifacts”, i.e., “architectural artifacts” are custom schemas)].; and determining the solution comprises a digital assistant supported by the application platform utilizing an artificial intelligence model configured to output the solution for achieving the new functionality based at least in part on the existing custom objects [Palla: Paragraphs 57, 60 and 69 (“the model or machine learning system can adapt to provide better indications of problem-specific data, based on various problems.”)] [Palla: Abstract (“A problem with a computing system is detected, a root cause is identified and a solution is also identified.”)] [Palla: Paragraph 129 (“personal digital assistants, etc”)].
Both references (Zhang and Palla) taught features that were directed to analogous art and they were directed to the same field of endeavor, such as providing solutions. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made, having the teachings of Zhang and Palla before him/her, to modify the system of Zhang with the teaching of Palla in order to utilize machine learning models to solve problem-specific data [Palla: Paragraphs 57 and 60 ].
Claim 23:
The combined teachings of Zhang and Palla suggest wherein: identifying the existing custom objects comprises identifying object tables at the database system associated with the identifier associated with the user of the client device [Zhang: Paragraph 66 (“The process begins with the solution design environment detecting that the architect has selected a model or artifact (step 602). Upon selection of a model or artifact, a transformation enabler is used to trigger the pattern selection process for selecting and applying patterns to the selected model or artifact. The validation module accesses the model-pattern or artifact-pattern matching lookup table in the enablement history repository to determine whether a pattern is valid with respect to the selected model or artifact (step 604). A pattern is valid with respect to the selected model or artifact if a relationship between the pattern and the selected model or artifact exists in the model-pattern or artifact-pattern matching lookup table to indicate that the pattern is applicable to the selected model or artifact”)]; and determining the solution comprises the digital assistant supported by the application platform utilizing the artificial intelligence model configured to output the solution for achieving the new functionality based at least in part on the object tables [Palla: Paragraphs 57, 60 and 69 (“the model or machine learning system can adapt to provide better indications of problem-specific data, based on various problems.”)] [Palla: Abstract (“A problem with a computing system is detected, a root cause is identified and a solution is also identified.”)] [Palla: Paragraph 129 (“personal digital assistants, etc”)].
Both references (Zhang and Palla) taught features that were directed to analogous art and they were directed to the same field of endeavor, such as providing solutions. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made, having the teachings of Zhang and Palla before him/her, to modify the system of Zhang with the teaching of Palla in order to utilize machine learning models to solve problem-specific data [Palla: Paragraphs 57 and 60 ].
Claim 24:
The combined teachings of Zhang and Palla suggest wherein updating the database system to implement the solution within the instance of the application provided by the application platform comprises updating a workflow table to include a new workflow rule that references a custom field of a custom object [Palla: Paragraph 3 (“Users often attempt to address the problem, themselves, by navigating their way through a help or troubleshooting flow in the application.”)] [Palla: Paragraphs 44 and 55 (“the user may provide a textual input in a text box, or the user may select a particular problem from a drop down menu,”)].
Both references (Zhang and Palla) taught features that were directed to analogous art and they were directed to the same field of endeavor, such as providing solutions. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made, having the teachings of Zhang and Palla before him/her, to modify the system of Zhang with the teaching of Palla in order to provide text box input [Palla: Paragraphs 44 and 55].
15. Claim 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang et al (US 20110004499), in view of Raymond (US 20200193366).
Claim 17:
The combined teachings of Zhang and Raymond suggest wherein the GUI display comprises a window overlay and the conversational string of words is provided by the user via the window overlay [Raymond: Abstract (“he production planner further models configurations and constraints as a production planning problem, solves a production plan for automobiles, and displays an automobile production solution of the production planning problem.”)] [Raymond: Paragrap 86 and Figure 7 (“an objectives button 710 opens an objectives window 720 that overlays a portion of the automobile production solution … objectives window 720 overlays a portion of the automobile production solution”)].
Both references (Zhang and Raymond) taught features that were directed to analogous art and they were directed to the same field of endeavor, such as providing solutions. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made, having the teachings of Zhang and Raymond before him/her, to modify the system of Zhang with the teaching of Raymond in order to provide overlaying window display [Raymond: Paragraph 86].
16. Claim 24 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang et al (US 20110004499), in view of Freedy et al (US 7,321,883).
Claim 24:
The combined teachings of Zhang and Freedy suggest wherein updating the database system to implement the solution within the instance of the application provided by the application platform comprises updating a workflow table to include a new workflow rule that references a custom field of a custom object [Freedy: Abstract (“models for problem solving; and …, and provides a best solution based upon the updates which indicates a sensitivity of the solution to changes in parameters of the story matrix”)] [Column 13, lines 30-42 (“Automated Facilitator 410 is controlled by rules encoded in a workflow model or models using Modified Petri Net (MPN) formalism according to an aspect of the invention. The shown MPN models are included in the workflow manager 416. The MPN models provide the following benefits, among others. The MPN models provide rich expressive capability for codifying workflow rules using a directed graph representation of activities (places) and transitions”)].
Both references (Zhang and Freedy) taught features that were directed to analogous art and they were directed to the same field of endeavor, such as providing solutions. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made, having the teachings of Zhang and Freedy before him/her, to modify the system of Zhang with the teaching of Freedy in order to provide workflow and workflow rules [Freedy: Column 13, lines 30-42].
17. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to [Hung D. Le], whose telephone number is [571-270-1404]. The examiner can normally be communicated on [Monday to Friday: 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.].
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Apu Mofiz can be reached on [571-272-4080]. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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Hung Le
11/24/2025
/HUNG D LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2161