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 .
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 22-37 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. Step 1: The claims are directed to a method and a system which falls within one of the statutory categories of invention. Step 2A, Prong One: 101 SME rejection for the claims needed as “tracking data corresponding to a person” falls within the mental process enumerated grouping of abstract ideas. The additional elements “graphical user interface (GUI)” is a conventional element performing their generic functions. The claim does not include sufficient additional limitations as an inventive concept to transform the abstract idea into patent eligible application, given the steps and components are generic. When looked at individually and as a whole, the claim limitations are determined to be an abstract idea without “significantly more” and thus not patent eligible.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KESHA FRISBY whose telephone number is (571)272-8774. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 730AM-4PM.
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/KESHA FRISBY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3715