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 .
Status of Claims
This action is responsive to Applicant’s claims filed 07/10/2026.
Claims 1-18 are currently pending and have been examined here.
Claims 1-2, 6-11, and 13-18 have been amended.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments, see pages 10-13 of Applicant’s response filed 07/10/2026, with respect to the 35 U.S.C. 101 rejections have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues, on pages 12-13, that the implementation of claim elements “automatically” and “in real time” directs the claim to patent eligible subject matter. Examiner respectfully disagrees. The broadest reasonable interpretation of the requirement to “automatically” implement limitations represents mere instructions to implement the abstract idea on a generic computer used as a tool in its ordinary capacity; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere general linking of the abstract idea to a particular computer environment or field of use. Regarding the requirement to perform steps characterized as abstract ideas in “real time,” a human could indeed implement steps in real-time. To the extent that the claims require complexity or speed which could not be performed by a human mentally (a fact not conceded here) the mere speeding up of a process which could be performed mentally using the capabilities of a general purpose computer does not amount to a technical improvement and does not direct the claims to patent eligible subject matter under 35 U.S.C. 101. Applicant’s arguments are therefore unpersuasive.
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 1-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 101. The claims are drawn to ineligible patent subject matter, because the claims are directed to a recited judicial exception to patentability (an abstract idea), without claiming something significantly more than the judicial exception itself.
Claims are ineligible for patent protection if they are drawn to subject matter which is not within one of the four statutory categories, or, if the subject matter claimed does fall into one of the four statutory categories, the claims are ineligible if they recite a judicial exception, are directed to that judicial exception, and do not recite additional elements which amount to significantly more than the judicial exception itself. Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Int'l, 375 U.S. ___ (2014). Accordingly, claims are first analyzed to determine whether they fall into one of the four statutory categories of patent eligible subject matter. Then, if the claims fall within one of the four statutory categories, it must be determined whether the claims are directed to a judicial exception to patentability (i.e., a law of nature, a natural phenomenon, or an abstract idea). In determining whether a claim is directed to a judicial exception, the claim is first analyzed to determine whether the claim recites a judicial exception. If the claim does not recite one of these exceptions, the claim is directed to patent eligible subject matter under 35 U.S.C. 101. If the claim recites one of these exceptions, the claim is then analyzed to determine whether the claim recites additional elements that integrate the exception into a practical application of that exception. Claims which integrate the exception into a practical application of that exception are directed to patent eligible subject matter under 35 U.S.C. 101. If the claim fails to integrate the exception into a practical application of that exception, the claim is directed to an abstract idea. Finally, if the claims are directed to a judicial exception to patentability, the claims are then analyzed determine whether the claims are directed to patent eligible subject matter by reciting meaningful limitations which transform the judicial exception into something significantly more than the judicial exception itself. If they do not, the claims are not directed towards eligible subject matter under 35 U.S.C. § 101.
Regarding independent claim 1 the claim is directed to one of the four statutory categories (a process). The claimed invention of independent claim 1 is directed to a judicial exception to patentability, an abstract idea. The claims include limitations which recite elements which can be properly characterized under at least one of the following groupings of subject matter recognized as abstract ideas by MPEP 2106.04(a):
Mathematical Concepts: mathematical relationships, mathematical formulas or equations, and mathematical calculations;
Certain methods of organizing human activity: fundamental economic principles or practices (including hedging, insurance, mitigating risk); commercial or legal interactions (including agreements in the form of contracts; legal obligations; advertising, marketing or sales activities or behaviors; business relations); managing personal behavior or relationships or interactions between people (including social activities, teaching, and following rules or instructions); and
Mental processes: concepts performed in the human mind (including an observation, evaluation, judgment, opinion)
Claim 1, as a whole, recites the following limitations:
receiving. . . a request for service during performing the agricultural process, the request for service including a problem description regarding a technical problem of the agricultural working machine that requires provision of the technical service to the agricultural working machine; (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could receive this type of request; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers)
. . . accessing a database. . . wherein the database comprises information regarding the agricultural process, location of the agricultural working machine, one or more locations of spare parts for the agricultural working machine, information about one or more transport devices including part runners for transport of the spare parts and service vehicles comprising tools for servicing the agricultural working machine, and information about one or more service technicians, wherein the spare parts are located in the service vehicles or at one or more central storages; (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could access a database of this type to glean this information; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers)
. . . deriving. . . using the database and based on the request for service, at least one service event, wherein the at least one service event includes one or more services in order to fix the technical problem of the agricultural working machine, the one or more service technicians to fix the technical problem, one or more tools used by the one or more service technicians to fix the technical problem, and one or more spare parts used by the one or more service technicians to fix the technical problem; (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could derive a service event from a service request in this manner; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers)
generating. . . for the at least one service event, a plurality of target performance criteria comprises one or more of target reaction time, target quality level, or target costs; (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could generate target performance criteria of this type; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers)
. . . generating and implementing. . . for the at least one service event, one or more potential routes of at least one transport device of the one or more transport devices for transporting the one or more spare parts, the one or more tools and the one or more service technicians; (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could generate and implement routes of this type; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers)
. . . planning and implementing. . . for the at least one service event, availability of the one or more spare parts in the one or more central storages or in one or more of the service vehicles; (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could plan and implement availability of spart parts in this manner; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers)
. . . planning and implementing. . . for the at least one service event, availability of the one or more service technicians; (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could plan and implement technician availability; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers)
and . . . coordinating. . . for the at least one service event, the route management system, the spare parts management system and the technician management system for planning and implementing the at least one service event based on a strategy, wherein the strategy comprises a multi-target strategy based on the plurality of target performance criteria as weighted optimization criteria in order to increase probability of successfully performing the agricultural process; (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could coordinate various systems based on a strategy of this type using weighted optimization criteria; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers; furthermore the use of weighted optimization criteria amounts to the recitation of mathematical concepts since weighting criteria for optimization sets forth and describes mathematical operations (multiplying variables by weights and using them in optimization))
wherein after receipt of the request for service. . . coordinates each of the route management system, the spare parts management system and the technician management system based on an optimization strategy by: (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could coordinate systems based on an optimization strategy; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers)
in an optimization cycle based on the optimization strategy, . . . identifying one or more instances of the one or more service technicians needed and desired relocation requirements for at least part of the one or more instances and the one or more potential routes for at least one transport device and . . . generating a time schedule for the implementation; (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could identify instances of needed technicians and relocation requirements and generate a time schedule for their implementation; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers)
in an implementation cycle, . . . forwarding implementation requests including the one or more instances, the one or more potential routes for at least one transport device and the time schedule. . . (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could forward implementation requests including instances routes, and a time schedule; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers)
based on the implementation requests, the technician management system, the spare parts management system and the route management system . . . implementing the time schedule by sending one or more execution requests to the one or more instances of the one or more service technicians needed, of the tools needed, of the one or more locations of spare parts and to the at least one transport device assigned to the one or more potential routes; (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could send execution requests to technicians including these instances; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers)
. . . analyzing real-time implementation of the optimization strategy; (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could analyze real-time implementation of optimization strategy; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers)
responsive to . . . analyzing the real-time implementation of the optimization strategy: . . . switching back to the optimization cycle in order to generate an updated implementation; (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could switch back to an optimization cycle in order to generate an updated implementation; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers)
and . . . using the updated implementation in the implementation cycle; (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could use an updated implementation in an implementation cycle; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers)
wherein the optimization strategy is a multi-target optimization strategy based on the weighted optimization criteria; (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could use a multi-target optimization strategy based on weighted optimization criteria; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers; furthermore the use of weighted optimization criteria amounts to the recitation of mathematical concepts since weighting criteria for optimization sets forth and describes mathematical operations (multiplying variables by weights and using them in optimization)))
and wherein the success guarantee management system uses the plurality of target performance criteria as the weighted optimization criteria. (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could use a multi-target optimization strategy based on weighted optimization criteria; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers; furthermore the use of weighted optimization criteria amounts to the recitation of mathematical concepts since weighting criteria for optimization sets forth and describes mathematical operations (multiplying variables by weights and using them in optimization)))
The above elements, as a whole, recite mental processes since, but for the requirement to implement the above set of steps on a set of generic computer components, the entirety of the above set of steps could be performed by a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment. Furthermore, the broadest reasonable interpretation of the above limitations, as a whole, recite certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since they outline a process for coordinating service events for agricultural vehicles, a business process and commercial sales activity.
Moving forward, the above recited abstract idea is not integrated into a practical application.
The added limitations do not represent an integration of the abstract idea into a practical application because:
the claims represent mere instructions to implement an abstract idea on a computer, and merely use a computer as a tool to perform an abstract idea. See MPEP 2106.05(f).
the claims merely add insignificant extra-solution activity to the judicial exception (activity which can be characterized as incidental to the primary purpose or product that is merely a nominal or tangential addition to the claim). See MPEP 2106.05(g) and/or
the claims represent mere general linking of the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment or field of use. See MPEP 2016.05(h)
Beyond those limitations which recite the abstract idea, the following limitations are added:
A computer-implemented method for performing an agricultural process by operating an agricultural working machine, the method comprising: (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere instructions to implement the abstract idea on a generic computer used as a tool in its ordinary capacity; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere general linking of the abstract idea to a particular computer environment or field of use)
. . . automatically. . . (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere instructions to implement the abstract idea on a generic computer used as a tool in its ordinary capacity; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere general linking of the abstract idea to a particular computer environment or field of use)
. . . accessing a database of the server. . . (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere instructions to implement the abstract idea on a generic computer used as a tool in its ordinary capacity; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere general linking of the abstract idea to a particular computer environment or field of use)
. . . by a digital service module hosted on at least one server for coordinating a technical service. . . (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere instructions to implement the abstract idea on a generic computer used as a tool in its ordinary capacity; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere general linking of the abstract idea to a particular computer environment or field of use)
. . . using a data analytics system of the digital service module. . . (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere instructions to implement the abstract idea on a generic computer used as a tool in its ordinary capacity; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere general linking of the abstract idea to a particular computer environment or field of use)
. . . using a success guarantee management system of the digital service module hosted on the at least one server. . . (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere instructions to implement the abstract idea on a generic computer used as a tool in its ordinary capacity; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere general linking of the abstract idea to a particular computer environment or field of use)
. . . using a route management system of the digital service module. . . (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere instructions to implement the abstract idea on a generic computer used as a tool in its ordinary capacity; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere general linking of the abstract idea to a particular computer environment or field of use)
. . . using a spare parts management system of the digital service module. . . (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere instructions to implement the abstract idea on a generic computer used as a tool in its ordinary capacity; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere general linking of the abstract idea to a particular computer environment or field of use)
. . . using a technician management system of the digital service module. . . (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere instructions to implement the abstract idea on a generic computer used as a tool in its ordinary capacity; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere general linking of the abstract idea to a particular computer environment or field of use)
. . . using a central management system of the digital service module. . . (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere instructions to implement the abstract idea on a generic computer used as a tool in its ordinary capacity; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere general linking of the abstract idea to a particular computer environment or field of use)
forwarding requests. . . to the technician management system, the spare parts management system and the route management system; (claim 1; the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere instructions to implement the abstract idea on a generic computer used as a tool in its ordinary capacity; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation represents mere general linking of the abstract idea to a particular computer environment or field of use)
The claims, as a whole, are directed to the abstract idea(s) which they recite. The claim limitations do not present improvements to another technological field, nor do they improve the functioning of a computer or another technology. Nor do the claim limitations apply the judicial exception with, or by use of a particular machine. The claims do not effect a transformation or reduction of a particular article to a different state or thing. See MPEP 2106.05(c). None of the hardware in the claims "offers a meaningful limitation beyond generally linking 'the use of the [method] to a particular technological environment' that is, implementation via computers” such that the claim as a whole is more than a drafting effort designed to monopolize the exception. See MPEP 2106.05(e); Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Int’l (citing Bilski v. Kappos, 561 U.S. 610, 611 (U.S. 2010)). Therefore, because the claims recite a judicial exception (an abstract idea) and do not integrate the judicial exception into a practical application, the claims, as a whole, are directed to the judicial exception.
Turning to the final prong of the test (Step 2B), independent claim 1 does not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception, because there are no meaningful limitations which transform the exception into a patent eligible application.
As outlined above, the claim limitations do not present improvements to another technological field, nor do they improve the functioning of a computer or another technology. Nor do the claim limitations apply the judicial exception with, or by use of a particular machine. The claims do not effect a transformation or reduction of a particular article to a different state or thing. See MPEP 2106.05(c). None of the hardware in the claims "offers a meaningful limitation beyond generally linking 'the use of the [method] to a particular technological environment' that is, implementation via computers” such that the claim as a whole is more than a drafting effort designed to monopolize the exception. See MPEP 2106.05(e); Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Int’l (citing Bilski v. Kappos, 561 U.S. 610, 611 (U.S. 2010)).
Furthermore, no specific limitations are added which represent something other than what is well-understood, routine, and conventional activity in the field. See MPEP 2106.05(d). Besides performing the abstract idea itself, the generic computer components only serve to perform the court-recognized well-understood computer functions of receiving or transmitting data over a network, performing repetitive calculations, electronic record keeping, and storing and retrieving information in memory. See MPEP 2106.05(d). Looking at the limitations as an ordered combination adds nothing that is not already present when looking at the elements taken individually. Their collective functions merely provide conventional computer implementation. The specification details any combination of a generic computer system program to perform the method. Generically recited computer elements do not add a meaningful limitation to the abstract idea because they would be routine in any computer implementation and because the Alice decision noted that generic structures that merely apply the abstract ideas are not significantly more than the abstract ideas. Therefore, independent claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. §101 as being directed to ineligible subject matter.
Claims 2-18, recite the same abstract idea as their respective independent claims.
The following additional features are added in the dependent claims:
Claim 2:
wherein the plurality of target performance criteria comprise: reduction in reaction time between service request and starting time of the service event; reduction in cost for the service event; increase in quality level of the service; and reduction in waiting time of a respective service technician for spare parts at the agricultural working machine.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of the above limitation merely alters the performance criteria used in the abstract idea above and therefore further recites one or more abstract ideas for the reasons outlined above.
Claim 3:
wherein the plurality of target performance criteria are transmitted to a customer for approval; and wherein, responsive to receiving approval by the customer, using the plurality of target performance criteria as the weighted optimization criteria within the optimization strategy.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could send performance criteria to a customer for approval, receive approval, and use them as weighted criteria; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers.
Claim 4:
wherein the plurality of target performance criteria are estimated based on one or more characteristics of the service event and on the information in the database.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could estimate criteria based on characteristics of a service event and information in a database; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers.
Claim 5:
wherein the plurality of target performance criteria are estimated based on the information about the agricultural process stored in the database, including the information about work progress of the agricultural process and the information about weather conditions.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could estimate performance criteria based on this information; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers.
Claim 6:
wherein after completion of the service event, the success guarantee management system automatically checks whether the plurality of target performance criteria have been met and automatically evaluate completion of the service event as being successful or not successful based on whether the plurality of target performance criteria have been met.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could check whether criteria have been met, and evaluate a service as successful or not based on whether the criteria were met; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers.
Claim 7:
wherein after the receipt of the request for service, the central management system automatically coordinates each of the route management system, the spare parts management system and the technician management system based on the optimization strategy by: in an information cycle, automatically sending one or more information requests to the technician management system, the spare parts management system and the route management system to automatically retrieve information about locations and availability of one or more instances of the one or more service technician needed, of the tools needed and of the spare parts needed, and to automatically retrieve information about the one or more potential routes for at least one transport device to directly or indirectly transport the one or more instances to the location of the service event.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could, but for the requirement to implement the steps on a set of generic computer components, perform each of the above steps; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers.
Claim 8:
automatically estimating the plurality of target performance criteria at least partly during the optimization cycle.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could estimate criteria during an optimization cycle; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers.
Claim 9:
wherein a multi-target optimization strategy comprises automatic coordination of the service event with prior service events, which are currently being implemented or that will be implemented, such that time schedule collisions are automatically prevented and that redundant routes are automatically being combined.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of the above limitation merely alters the strategy used in the abstract idea above and therefore further recites one or more abstract ideas for the reasons outlined above.
Claim 10:
wherein after the optimization cycle is performed, each of the technician management system, the spare parts management system and the route management system, for implementation of the request for service, each automatically perform detailed planning cycles with a predetermined freedom to deviate from the implementation of the request for service, taking into account the multi-target strategy.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could perform detailed planning cycles of this type; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers.
Claim 11:
wherein the route management system automatically generates an estimation of a starting time for the service event at the agricultural working machine;
wherein the central management system automatically forwards the estimation of the starting time to a customer;
and wherein the multi-target strategy comprises minimizing delay of the starting time for the service event with respect to the estimation of the starting time.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could generate an estimated starting time, forwarded it to a customer, and develop a strategy which minimizes delay with respect to this time; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers.
Claim 12:
wherein the central management system automatically derives an urgency indication from one or both of a customer or from the information about the agricultural process indicative of increasing wear of other aggregates of the agricultural working machine induced by the technical problem to be solved by the service event;
and wherein the plurality of target performance criteria comprise one or both of urgency level set by the customer; or urgency level set from within the agricultural process.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could derive an urgency indication of this type; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers.
Claim 13:
wherein each of the plurality of target performance criteria is weighted within the multi-target strategy such that each of the plurality of target performance criteria is assigned a priority value, which is dynamically changed during implementation of the service event based on one or both of a customer request or a change of the agricultural process.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could weight criteria in this fashion; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers.
Claim 14:
wherein the digital service module further comprises a prediction management system that automatically generates one or both of: prediction information regarding one or more of regional cultivation and harvesting characteristics, regional climate/weather characteristics, or regional soil characteristics; or regional technical failure expectations based on regional data, weather data, seasonal data, and local and global live information;
and wherein the prediction information is automatically taken into account during the optimization cycle.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could generate prediction information and or failure expectations of this type; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers.
Claim 15:
wherein the route management system, responsive to receiving an implementation request, automatically generates the one or more potential routes of the at least one transport device to orchestrate the transport of the one or more instances of the one or more service technicians needed and the spare parts needed to the agricultural working machine to be serviced and automatically transmits one or more requests for execution to the at least one transport device, taking into account the plurality of target performance criteria of: minimizing reaction time between the request for service and starting time of the at least one service event; and minimizing waiting time of a respective service technician for spare parts at the agricultural working machine.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could generate routes of this type in this fashion; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers.
Claim 16:
wherein the route management system automatically and dynamically monitors actual execution of the one or more potential routes of the at least one transport device and automatically identifies in real-time deviations from a time schedule;
and depending on a degree of deviation, wherein the route management system automatically:
modifies the one or more potential routes to generate one or more new routes in order to meet the time schedule and automatically transmits a request for execution of the one or more new routes by respective transport devices;
and sends a change request to the central management system to perform the optimization cycle to generate a new implementation request.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could monitor execution of routes for deviation, modify them, and send change requests to generate new implementation requests; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers.
Claim 17:
wherein the spare parts management system automatically:
monitors the one or more locations and availability of instances of the spare parts and automatically saves the one or more locations and the availability of the instances of the spare parts into the database;
organizes a predetermined inventory of the spare parts in one or more warehouses by transmitting transport requests to the route management system;
responsive to an implementation request by the central management system, organizes the availability of certain instances of spare parts by automatically transmitting a transport request to the route management system;
and responsive to an implementation request by the central management system, organizes a handover of the certain instances of spare parts at a predefined location.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could, but for the requirement to implement the steps using a generic computer component, perform each of the above steps; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers.
Claim 18:
wherein the technician management system automatically:
monitors locations and availability of the one or more instances of the one or more service technicians and respective qualification and automatically saves the locations and the availability of the one or more instances of the one or more service technicians and the respective qualification into the database;
organizes a predetermined distribution of qualification of the one or more service technicians by automatically transmitting transport requests to one or both of the route management system or the one or more instances of the one or more service technicians;
and responsive to an implementation request by the central management system, organizes the availability of certain instances of the one or more service technicians by automatically transmitting a transport request to one or both of the route management system or a respective instance of a respective service technician.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites mental processes since a human using their mind, pen and paper, and simple observation, evaluation, and judgment could, but for the requirement to implement the steps using a generic computer component, perform each of the above steps; alternatively, the broadest reasonable interpretation of this limitation recites certain methods of organizing human activity in the form of commercial interactions such as business relations and sales activities since commercial repair companies would perform this step in repairing agricultural machines and since commercial agricultural companies would perform this step in performing services for their customers.
The above limitations do not represent a practical application of the recited abstract idea. The claim limitations do not present improvements to another technological field, nor do they improve the functioning of a computer or another technology. Nor do the claim limitations apply the judicial exception with, or by use of a particular machine. The claims do not effect a transformation or reduction of a particular article to a different state or thing. See MPEP 2106.05(c). None of the hardware in the claims "offers a meaningful limitation beyond generally linking 'the use of the [method] to a particular technological environment' that is, implementation via computers” such that the claim as a whole is more than a drafting effort designed to monopolize the exception. See MPEP 2106.05(e); Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Int’l (citing Bilski v. Kappos, 561 U.S. 610, 611 (U.S. 2010)). Therefore, because the claims recite a judicial exception (an abstract idea) and do not integrate the judicial exception into a practical application, the claims are also directed to the judicial exception.
Furthermore, the added limitations do not direct the claim to significantly more than the abstract idea. No specific limitations are added which represent something other than what is well-understood, routine, and conventional activity in the field. See MPEP 2106.05(d). Accordingly, none of the dependent claims 2-18, individually, or as an ordered combination, are directed to patent eligible subject matter under 35 U.S.C. 101.
Please see MPEP §2106.05(d)(II) for a discussion of elements that the Courts have recognized as well-understood, routine, conventional, activity in particular fields.
Please see MPEP §2106 for examination guidelines regarding patent subject matter eligibility.
Novelty/Non-obviousness
Regarding the novelty/non-obviousness of claim 1, the prior art does not appear to explicitly teach, in the context of the systems and methods recited for providing agricultural processes, the ordered combination of a receipt of a request during performance of an agricultural process, the request including a problem description, accessing a database, wherein the database comprises information regarding the agricultural process, location of the agricultural working machine, one or more locations of spare parts for the agricultural working machine, information about one or more transport devices for transport of the spare parts, information about one or more service vehicles comprising tools for servicing the agricultural working machine, and information about one or more service technicians, . . . deriving at least one service event, wherein the at least one service event includes one or more services in order to fix the technical problem of the agricultural working machine, one or more service technicians to fix the technical problem, one or more tools used by the one or more service technicians to fix the technical problem, and one or more spare parts used by the one or more service technicians to fix the technical problem, generating target performance criteria, generating and implementing routes, planning and implementing the availability of spare parts, and coordinating the service event. While each of these elements is taught or suggested individually in the prior art, no reasonable combination of references could be made such that one of ordinary skill in the art would have found it obvious to combine such references and would have been motivated to do so.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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/EMMETT K. WALSH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3628
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