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 6/3/2025 was filed after the mailing date of the application on 6/3/2025. 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.
1. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. The claim recites perform an XOR operation on plaintext data based on one of a plurality of round key data to obtain a first calculation output, and perform a column transformation operation on the third calculation output using the SBOX and a transformation box (TBOX) that is implemented based on a second corrected lookup table converted from a second standard lookup table, to obtain a fourth calculation output. The limitation of XOR operation on plaintext data based on one of a plurality of round key data to obtain a first calculation output, as drafted, is a process 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 “by a processor,” nothing in the claim element precludes the step from practically being performed in the mind. For example, but for the “by a processor” language, “performing” in the context of this claim encompasses the user manually performing an XOR operation on plaintext. Similarly, the limitation of perform a column transformation operation on the third calculation output using the SBOX and a transformation box (TBOX), as drafted, is a process that, under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers performance of the limitation in the mind but for the recitation of generic computer components. For example, but for the “by a processor” language, “performing” in the context of this claim encompasses the user thinking that the user is manually performing a column transformation operation on the third calculation output using the SBOX and a transformation box (TBOX). If a claim limitation, 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. Accordingly, the claim recites an abstract idea. This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application. In particular, the claim only recites one additional element – using a processor to perform both performing steps. The processor in both steps is recited at a high-level of generality (i.e., as a generic processor performing a generic computer function of ranking information based on a determined amount of use) such that it amounts no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using a generic computer component. Accordingly, this additional element does not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application because it does not impose any meaningful limits on practicing the abstract idea. The claim is directed to an abstract idea. The claim does not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception. As discussed above with respect to integration of the abstract idea into a practical application, the additional element of using a processor to perform both performing steps amounts to no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using a generic computer component. Mere instructions to apply an exception using a generic computer component cannot provide an inventive concept. The claim is not patent eligible.
Relevant Prior Art References
The following prior art is cited as being of interest to the claimed invention but has not been applied in any of the current rejections.
Leveque et al.- US Patent Publication 20240064002- the prior art teaches techniques for enabling a secure execution of a sensitive operation.
Brumley et al.- US Patent Pub. 2016/0105276 - the prior art teaches techniques for rotation-based cipher.
Nikovet al.- US Patent Pub. 2025/0184113 - the prior art teaches techniques for protection of sbox.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANTHONY D BROWN whose telephone number is (571)270-1472. The examiner can normally be reached 730-330pm.
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/ANTHONY D BROWN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2408
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