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
This communication is a non-final action in response to application filed on 05/01/2025. Claims 1-14 are pending.
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed.
Information Disclosure Statement
The IDS filed on 05/01/2025 and 03/11/2026 are considered.
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 1-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because they recite an abstract idea without significantly more.
Step 2A prong 1
As per claim 1, the entire body of the claim recites an abstract idea. Specifically, these limitations recites a mental processes where a series of step can be completely performed mentally by a person making determination and judgement. At most, the steps described can be performed using a map (e.g., see Fig. 7) and corresponding data table (e.g., see Fig. 3) manually using physical aids. Examiner particularly notes claim can use less than 3 meshes demonstrated in Fig. 3 and even more simplified map area than Fig. 7. Furthermore, this also falls into following rules and forming business relationship (see at least dependent claim 3 which further includes calculating expense). Therefore, claim 1 recites an abstract idea.
Step 2A prong 2
The additional element is the information processing apparatus comprising processing circuitry in the preamble that implements the above recited abstract idea. Whether viewed individually or as an ordered combination, this is merely generally linking the abstract idea to particular operating environment. Such additional element would not integrate the abstract idea into practical application. Therefore, claim 1 is directed to an abstract idea.
Step 2B
As noted above in step 2A prong 2, where the analysis is still applicable, the additional element, whether viewed individually or as an ordered combination, are nothing more than generally linking the abstract idea to particular operating environment. This would not provide significantly more either. Therefore, claim 1 is not eligible.
Claims 2-12 merely further limit the same abstract idea by having additional steps that can still be performed manually. Examiner also notes as noted above, claim 2-6, , 8-12 also further limit the business relationship formed as it describe calculate expenses and expense reduction. Further, it’s worth noting that claim 7’s displaying of information can still be mental process as it’s similar to EPG’s displaying information step. Therefore, they would still arrive at the same conclusion of not being eligible.
Claims 13-14 are substantially similar to claim 1 and would be ineligible over similar rationale as set forth above.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-14 would be allowable if the above 101 rejection is overcome.
CN114897233 describes a series of step to calculate optimal method of water treatment planning using regional map on a region to region. It however, does not teach the series of steps describes in the independent claims.
Yoshikawa (US 20190301963) teaches analyzing polygons of population data to determine the likelihood of pipe leaks (0020, 0112). While these are related to sewage penetration, it doesn’t describes making calculation using the series of steps described.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GEORGE CHEN whose telephone number is (571)270-5499. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM -5:00 PM Eastern.
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GEORGE CHEN
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3628
/GEORGE CHEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3628
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