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 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to a mathematical concept without significantly more.
An analysis of the independent claims follows:
In analyzing independent claim 1, this claim recites a method comprising:
preparing an initial quantum system (preparation);
preparing a quantum polar code (preparation);
at each recursive level, preparing a set of quantum polar code states (preparation);
applying two qubit Pauli measurement circuits (measurement);
estimating vectors based on measurement outcomes (calculation).
Claim 1 is a method (step 1). Claim 1 is directed to an abstract idea (mathematical concept – step 2A yes). The inventive concept appears to be an improvement to the abstract idea itself (performing quantum polar code preparation using Pauli measurement circuits and estimating vectors using mathematical transforms – mathematical concept). The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements (Step 2B no) that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the preamble here (quantum computing system materializing qubits, quantum gates and quantum circuits) does not positively add limitations to the claimed method, or further modify limitations recited in the body of the claim, and thus does not limit the claim.
The quantum computing system is described in the specification as containing a classical computing system, a classical-quantum interface, a syndrome extractor and a classical decoder which are all described in a general way as generic components and would not amount to 'significantly more' since these terms are recognized as representing known classes of structures that can perform the functions set forth in the claim (MPEP 2106.05(d)). The quantum computing system being loosely described as "comprising different types of quantum gates 3 that are interconnected by wires 5 to form quantum circuits 7 and in particular, Pauli measurement circuits. The wires 5 carry qubits around the circuits, while the quantum gates 3 execute some operations on the qubits to make quantum computations" which were well known and standard components at the time of filing of the present application. The specification further describes that "[v]arious technologies exist for materializing or implementing qubits, quantum gates, quantum circuits and quantum computers. One technology is based on the energy levels of ions trapped in an electric or magnetic field at a temperature near absolute zero using also laser pulses, optical pumping, etc. Another technology may use nuclear magnetic resonance where transformations may be constructed from magnetic field pulses applied to spins in a strong magnetic field, etc. Other technologies use physical systems based on small semiconductors called quantum dots bounding the spin of electrons. Other systems may take advantage of electrons or ions trapped in synthetic diamonds" – all of which were well known and standard technologies at the time of filing of the present application.
Dependent claims 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 recite additional mathematical concepts recited both verbally and with equations which describe the preparation and estimation process and recite no additional elements and there is nothing to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception within the dependent claims.
In analyzing independent claim 11,
A quantum computing system materializing qubits, quantum gates and quantum circuits, for preparation of quantum polar code states, comprising:
a set of single-qubit Pauli measurement circuits configured to prepare an initial quantum system (measurement); and
a set of two-qubit Pauli measurement circuits configured to recursively prepare a quantum polar code (measurement);
at each recursive level, preparing a set of quantum polar code states (preparation);
Each quantum polar code state being prepared by application of two-qubit Pauli measurement circuits (measurement).
In analyzing claim 11, this claim recites an apparatus with measurement circuits configured to perform operations (Step 1 yes) and executing the quantum polar code preparation (mathematical concept) process (Step 2A yes – abstract idea).
The inventive concept appears to be an improvement to the abstract idea itself (performing quantum polar code preparation using Pauli measurement circuits – mathematical concept). The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements (Step 2B no) that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the preamble here (quantum computing system materializing qubits, quantum gates and quantum circuits) does not positively add limitations to the claimed system, or further modify limitations recited in the body of the claim, and thus does not limit the claim.
The quantum computing system is shown in Figure 10 and described in the specification as containing a classical computing system, a classical-quantum interface, a syndrome extractor and a classical decoder which are all described in a general way as generic components and would not amount to 'significantly more' since these terms are recognized as representing known classes of structures that can perform the functions set forth in the claim (MPEP 2106.05(d)). The quantum computing system being loosely described as "comprising different types of quantum gates 3 that are interconnected by wires 5 to form quantum circuits 7 and in particular, Pauli measurement circuits" which were well known and standard components at the time of filing of the present application. The specification further describes that "[v]arious technologies exist for materializing or implementing qubits, quantum gates, quantum circuits and quantum computers" including ion traps, nuclear magnetic resonance, quantum dots, and trapped electrons or ions in synthetic diamonds – all of which were well known and standard technologies at the time of filing of the present application.
Even when viewed in combination, the additional elements in these claims do no more than automate the mathematical calculations of the quantum polar code preparation process using the quantum computing system and measurement circuits as a tool. There is no change to the computers and other technology that are recited in the claim as automating the abstract ideas, and thus this claim cannot improve computer functionality or other technology. These limitations therefore do not amount to significantly more, even when considered in combination, these additional elements represent mere instructions which cause the measurement circuits to perform mathematical calculations which cannot provide an inventive concept (Step 2B). Thus claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 are not eligible.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KAREEM FUAD ALHWAMDEH whose telephone number is (571)272-5501. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 7:30-5:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Albert Decady can be reached at (571) 272-3819. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KAREEM FUAD ALHWAMDEH/Examiner, Art Unit 2112
/ALBERT DECADY/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2112
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