Eric Liu et al.Download PDFPatent Trials and Appeals BoardMar 30, 202013310104 - (D) (P.T.A.B. Mar. 30, 2020) Copy Citation UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Patent and Trademark Office Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450 www.uspto.gov APPLICATION NO. FILING DATE FIRST NAMED INVENTOR ATTORNEY DOCKET NO. CONFIRMATION NO. 13/310,104 12/02/2011 Eric Liu 141996 (899484) 4141 15093 7590 03/30/2020 Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton/Qualcomm Mailstop: IP Docketing - 22 1100 Peachtree Street Suite 2800 Atlanta, GA 30309 EXAMINER FLETCHER, JERRY-DARYL ART UNIT PAPER NUMBER 3715 NOTIFICATION DATE DELIVERY MODE 03/30/2020 ELECTRONIC Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding. The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication. Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above-indicated "Notification Date" to the following e-mail address(es): ipefiling@kilpatricktownsend.com ocpat_uspto@qualcomm.com qcominst@kilpatricktownsend.com PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07) UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE ____________ BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD ____________ Ex parte ERIC LIU and STEFAN J. MARTI ____________ Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 Technology Center 3700 ____________ Before JOHN A. EVANS, BETH Z. SHAW, and STEPHEN E. BELISLE, Administrative Patent Judges. EVANS, Administrative Patent Judge. DECISION ON APPEAL Appellant seeks our review under 35 U.S.C. § 134(a) of the Examiner’s Non-Final Rejection of claims 17–20, 22–25, 29–31, 35–37, and 41–46, all pending claims.1 Appeal Br. 1; see also Non-Final Act. 2. We have jurisdiction under 35 U.S.C. § 6(b). We AFFIRM.2 1 We use the word “Appellant” to refer to “Applicant” as defined in 37 C.F.R. § 1.42. Appellant states the real party in interest is Qualcomm Incorporated. Appeal Br. 2. 2 Rather than reiterate the arguments of Appellant and the Examiner, we refer to the Appeal Brief filed October 26, 2017 (“Appeal Br.”); the Reply Brief filed February 8, 2018 (“Reply Br.”); the Examiner’s Answer mailed Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 2 STATEMENT OF THE CASE The claims relate to a method of determining an emotional state of a person. See Abstract. Invention Claims 17, 23, 29, and 35 are independent. Appeal Br. 21–26, Claims App. An understanding of the invention can be derived from a reading of claim 17, which is reproduced below in Table I. Rejections3 Claims 17–20, 22–25, 29–31, 35–37, and 41–46 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 101 as directed to a judicial exception without significantly more. Non-Final Act. 2–5. ANALYSIS We have reviewed the rejections of claims 17–20, 22–25, 29–31, 35– 37, and 41–46 in light of Appellant’s arguments that the Examiner erred. We have considered in this Decision only those arguments Appellant actually raised in the Briefs. Any other arguments which Appellant could have made but chose not to make in the Briefs are deemed to be waived. See 37 C.F.R. December 11, 2017 (“Ans.”); the Non-Final Action mailed June 1, 2017 (“Non-Final Act.”); and the Specification filed December 2, 2011 (“Spec.”) for their respective details. 3 The present application was examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions. Non-Final Act. 2. Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 3 § 41.37(c)(1)(iv). We consider Appellant’s arguments as they are presented in the Appeal Brief, pages 6–19. CLAIMS 17–20, 22–25, 29–31, 35–37, AND 41–46: INELIGIBLE SUBJECT MATTER Appellant argues these claims as a group in view of the recitations of claim 17. App. Br. 19. Therefore, we decide the appeal of the 35 U.S.C. § 101 rejection on the basis of representative claim 17 and refer to the rejected claims collectively herein as “the claims.” See 37 C.F.R. § 41.37(c)(1)(iv); see also In re King, 801 F.2d 1324, 1325 (Fed. Cir. 1986). The Rejection and Appellant’s Contentions. The Examiner finds the claims are directed to capturing data, i.e., user biometric information and content items, analyzing the data, i.e., associating values to content, determining current emotional state, determining whether a metric is within a threshold, and displaying results of the analysis. Non- Final Act. 3–4. The Examiner finds the Federal Circuit has held the capture, analysis, and display of the results of the analysis is an abstract idea. Id. at 4 (citing Electric Power Group).4 The Examiner finds the remaining elements perform routine, conventional, and well-understood industry practices. Id. Appellant contends the claims are not “directed to any fundamental economic practice, method of organizing human activity, idea of itself, or mathematical formula.” App. Br. 8. Appellant argues, in analogy to DDR Holdings, the invention embodied in the claims is necessarily rooted in 4 Electric Power Group, LLC v. Alstom S.A., 830 F.3d 1350 (2016). Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 4 computer technology to overcome a problem arising specifically in the realm of computer systems and networks.5 Id. at 10. Specifically, Appellant contends “[m]anufacturers of computing devices are challenged with providing positive user experiences so that users enjoy using their computing devices. As described in detail below, various example embodiments relate to techniques of determining, modifying, and/or tracking a user’s emotional state. In addition, various example embodiments relate to techniques of reacting to and influencing the user’s emotional state through the presentation of media, other content items, and the like. As a result, a more positive user experience may be achieved.” Id. We review the record de novo. SiRF Tech., Inc. v. Int’l Trade Commission, 601 F.3d 1319, 1331 (Fed. Cir. 2010) (“Whether a claim is drawn to patent-eligible subject matter is an issue of law that we review de novo.”). Based upon our review of the record in light of recent policy guidance with respect to patent-eligible subject matter rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 101, we affirm the rejection of claims 17–20, 22–25, 29–31, 35– 37, and 41–46 for the specific reasons discussed below.6 35 U.S.C. § 101 Section 101 provides that a patent may be obtained for “any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof.” See 35 U.S.C. § 101. The Supreme Court 5 DDR Holdings, LLC v. Hotels.com, L.P., 773 F.3d 1245 (Fed. Cir. 2014). 6 See 2019 Revised Patent Subject Matter Eligibility Guidance, 84 Fed. Reg. 50 (Jan. 7, 2019) (“Revised Guidance, 84 Fed. Reg.”). Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 5 has long recognized, however, that 35 U.S.C. § 101 implicitly excludes “[l]aws of nature, natural phenomena, and abstract ideas” from the realm of patent-eligible subject matter, as monopolization of these “basic tools of scientific and technological work” would stifle the very innovation that the patent system aims to promote. Alice Corp. Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank Int’l, 573 U.S. 208, 216 (2014) (quoting Ass’n for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc., 569 U.S. 576, 589 (2013)); see also Mayo Collaborative Servs. v. Prometheus Labs., Inc., 566 U.S. 66, 72–78 (2012); and Diamond v. Diehr, 450 U.S. 175, 185 (1981). Under the mandatory Revised Guidance, we reconsider whether Appellant’s claims recite: 1. any judicial exceptions, including certain groupings of abstract ideas (i.e., mathematical concepts, certain methods of organizing human interactions such as a fundamental economic practice, or mental processes), and 2. additional elements that integrate the judicial exception into a practical application (see MPEP § 2106.05(a)–(c), (e)–(h)). Only if a claim, (1) recites a judicial exception, and (2) does not integrate that exception into a practical application, do we then reach the issue of whether the claim: 3. adds a specific limitation beyond the judicial exception that is not “well-understood, routine, conventional” in the field (see MPEP § 2106.05(d)); or 4. simply appends well-understood, routine, conventional activities previously known to the industry, specified at a high level of Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 6 generality, to the judicial exception. A. Whether the claims recite a judicial exception. The Revised Guidance extracts and synthesizes key concepts identified by the courts as abstract ideas to explain that the abstract-idea exception includes the following groupings of subject matter, when recited as such in a claim limitation(s) (that is, when recited on their own or per se): (a) mathematical concepts,7 i.e., mathematical relationships, mathematical formulas, equations,8 and mathematical calculations;9 (b) 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 7 Bilski v. Kappos, 561 U.S. 593, 611 (2010) (“The concept of hedging . . . reduced to a mathematical formula . . . is an unpatentable abstract idea.”). 8 Diehr, 450 U.S. at 191 (“A mathematical formula as such is not accorded the protection of our patent laws.”); Parker v. Flook, 437 U.S. 584, 594 (1978) (“[T]he discovery of [a mathematical formula] cannot support a patent unless there is some other inventive concept in its application.”). 9 SAP Am., Inc. v. InvestPic, LLC, 898 F.3d 1161, 1163 (Fed. Cir. 2018) (holding that claims to a “series of mathematical calculations based on selected information” are directed to abstract ideas). Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 7 instructions);10 and (c) mental processes—concepts performed in the human mind (including observation, evaluation, judgment, opinion).11 The preamble of independent claim 17 recites: “[a] first computing device comprising.” The limitations recited in the body of the claim are analyzed in Table I against the categories of abstract ideas as set forth in the Revised Guidance. Claim 1 Revised Guidance, p. 52 [a] a memory;12 A mechanical limitation not encompassed by the Guidance. [b] one or more sensors; A mechanical limitation not encompassed by the Guidance. [c] a processor coupled to the memory and the one or more sensors, the processor configured to: A mechanical limitation not encompassed by the Guidance. [d] obtain real-time biometric information corresponding to a user using the one or more sensors; Insignificant extra-solution activity, mere data-gathering. Revised Guidance, 84 Fed. Reg. 52, n. 31. 10 Alice, 573 U.S. at 219–20 (concluding that use of a third party to mediate settlement risk is a “fundamental economic practice” and thus an abstract idea); see Revised Guidance, 84 Fed. Reg. 52 n.13 for a more extensive listing of “certain methods of organizing human activity” that have been found to be abstract ideas. 11 Mayo, 566 U.S. at 71 (“[M]ental processes[ ] and abstract intellectual concepts are not patentable, as they are the basic tools of scientific and technological work.”) (quoting Gottschalk v. Benson, 409 U.S. 63, 67 (1972)). 12 Step designators, e.g., “[a],” were added to facilitate discussion. Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 8 [e] determine a first metric corresponding to a current emotional state of the user based at least on the obtained biometric information; Mental processes, i.e., concepts performed in the human mind including observation, evaluation, judgment, opinion. Revised Guidance, 84 Fed. Reg. 52. [f] receive a first content item from a second computing device; Insignificant extra-solution activity, mere data-gathering. Revised Guidance, 84 Fed. Reg. 52, n. 31. [g] parse one or more words associated with the first content item; Mental processes, i.e., concepts performed in the human mind including observation, evaluation, judgment, opinion. Revised Guidance, 84 Fed. Reg. 52. [h] determine a first emotional tag, the first emotional tag including at least on one or more values associated with the one or more words, the one or more values indicating a predicted emotional state impact from presenting the first content item to a person; Mental processes, i.e., concepts performed in the human mind including observation, evaluation, judgment, opinion. Revised Guidance, 84 Fed. Reg. 52. [i] determine a second metric based on the first metric and the one or more values of the first emotional tag; Mental processes, i.e., concepts performed in the human mind including observation, evaluation, judgment, opinion. Revised Guidance, 84 Fed. Reg. 52. [j] determine whether the second metric is within a predetermined range, the predetermined range indicating a desired emotional state of the user; and Mental processes, i.e., concepts performed in the human mind including observation, evaluation, judgment, opinion. Revised Guidance, 84 Fed. Reg. 52. Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 9 [k] in response to determining that the second metric is within the predetermined range, display the first content item to the user. Insignificant extra-solution activity, mere data-gathering.13 Revised Guidance, 84 Fed. Reg. 52, n. 31. In view of Table I, we find limitations [e] and [g]–[j] of independent claim 17 recite abstract ideas, i.e., mental processes. Thus, claim 17 recites a judicial exception, per se. Step 2A(ii): Judicial Exception Integrated into a Practical Application? Appellant contends claim 17 “is not directed to any fundamental economic practice, method of organizing human activity, idea of itself, or mathematical formula.” Appeal Br. 8. Under the Revised Guidance, Appellant’s “directed to” contention is addressed at Step 2A(ii). If the claims recite a patent-ineligible concept, as we conclude above, we proceed to the “practical application” Step 2A(ii) wherein we determine whether the recited judicial exception is integrated into a practical application of that exception by: (a) identifying whether there are any 13 “The notion that [extra]-solution activity, no matter how conventional or obvious in itself, can transform an unpatentable principle into a patentable process exalts form over substance. A competent draftsman could attach some form of post-solution activity to almost any mathematical formula.” Parker v. Flook, 437 U.S. 584, 590 (1978) (Holding that step of adjusting an alarm limit variable to a figure computed according to a mathematical formula was “post-solution activity.”). Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 10 additional elements recited in the claim beyond the judicial exception(s); and (b) evaluating those additional elements individually and in combination to determine whether they integrate the exception into a practical application. For the reasons which follow, we conclude that Appellant’s claims do not integrate the judicial exception into a practical application. MPEP § 2106.05(a) “Improvements to the Functioning of a Computer or to Any Other Technology or Technical Field.” “In determining patent eligibility, examiners should consider whether the claim ‘purport(s) to improve the functioning of the computer itself’” or “any other technology or technical field.” MPEP § 2106.05(a). With respect to technological improvements, Appellant analogizes to DDR Holdings and contends: [m]anufacturers of computing devices are challenged with providing positive user experiences so that users enjoy using their computing devices. As described in detail below, various example embodiments relate to techniques of determining, modifying, and/or tracking a user’s emotional state. In addition, various example embodiments relate to techniques of reacting to and influencing the user’s emotional state through the presentation of media, other content items, and the like. As a result, a more positive user experience may be achieved. Appeal Br. 10 (quoting Spec. ¶ 10). Appellant further argues: [in] particular, an emotionally intelligent computing device that can adjust to the emotional state of a user is desirable. Whereas people can often determine the emotional state of a colleague or friend and adjust their actions accordingly, computers generally cannot determine a user’s emotional state and alter its actions in light of that emotional state. Id. (quoting Spec. ¶ 11). Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 11 However, Appellant’s own words indicate the claims focus on organizing human activity. Appellant argues “[i]n addition, various example embodiments relate to techniques of reacting to and influencing the user’s emotional state through the presentation of media, other content items, and the like.” Appeal Br. 10 (quoting Spec. ¶ 10). “[I]nfluencing the user’s emotional state” is a means of “managing personal behavior.” See Revised Guidance, 84 Fed. Reg. 52.; see also Elec. Power, 830 F.3d at 1354 (Recognizing “that merely presenting the results of abstract processes of collecting and analyzing information, without more (such as identifying a particular tool for presentation), is abstract as an ancillary part of such collection and analysis.”) and Electric Power, 830 F.3d at 1355 (Explaining that “selecting information, by content or source, for collection analysis, and display does nothing significant to differentiate a process from ordinary mental processes.”). At limitation [k], “in response to determining that the second metric” [i.e., a user’s emotional state] is within the predetermined range,” Appellant’s claims “display the first content item to the user.” App. Br. 17, Claims App. Appellant fails to direct our attention to an improvement in the functioning of a computer. “[R]eceiving transmitted data over a network and displaying it to a user merely implicates purely conventional activities that are the ‘most basic functions of a computer.’” Intellectual Ventures I LLC v. Erie Indemnity Co., 850 F.3d 1315, 1331 (Fed. Cir. 2017); see also Bancorp Servs., L.L.C. v. Sun Life Assur. Co. of Can., 771 F.Supp.2d 1054, 1065 (E.D. Mo. 2011) aff’d, 687 F.3d 1266 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (Explaining that “storing, retrieving, and providing data . . . are inconsequential data Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 12 gathering and insignificant post solution activity.”). The claims collect data, recognize certain data within the collected data set, and present the data for display, which the courts have recognized as abstract. See Content Extraction & Transmission LLC v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 776 F.3d 1343, 1347 (Fed. Cir. 2014). MPEP § 2106.05(b) Particular Machine. The Bilski machine-or-transformation test is only applicable to method (process) claims on appeal in the present application. Appellant discloses generic computer devices: Emotional impact determination module 222 can determine a predicted emotional impact of a presented content item based on a keyword associated with the presented content item. For instance, if the content item is an email, emotional impact determination module 222 can parse the words in the email and compare the parsed words to keywords stored in a database. The stored keywords can be stored in association with an affective meaning, represented by scores along one or more dimensions. The stored keywords and associated affective meaning can be part of a preexisting database stored on the computer for purposes of emotional impact determination. Spec. ¶ 35. There is no indication that comparing scanned words to those stored in a database is anything other than a conventional computer function. Nor do we find disclosure of anything other than generic computer hardware or software. MPEP § 2106.05(c) Particular Transformation. Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 13 This section of the MPEP guides: “Another consideration when determining whether a claim recites significantly more is whether the claim effects a transformation or reduction of a particular article to a different state or thing.” “Transformation and reduction of an article to a different state or thing is the clue to the patentability of a process claim that does not include particular machines.” Bilski, 561 U.S. at 658 (quoting Benson, 409 U.S. at 70). The claims select and analyze certain electronic data. The selection of electronic data is not a “transformation or reduction of an article into a different state or thing constituting patent-eligible subject matter.” See In re Bilski, 545 F.3d 943, 962 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (emphasis added); see also CyberSource Corp. v. Retail Decisions, Inc., 654 F.3d 1366, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (“The mere manipulation or reorganization of data . . . does not satisfy the transformation prong.”). Applying this guidance here, we conclude Appellant’s method claims fail to satisfy the transformation prong of the Bilski machine-or-transformation test. MPEP § 2106.05(e) Other Meaningful Limitations. This section of the MPEP guides: Diamond v. Diehr provides an example of a claim that recited meaningful limitations beyond generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment. 450 U.S. 175 . . . (1981). In Diehr, the claim was directed to the use of the Arrhenius equation (an abstract idea or law of nature) in an automated process for operating a rubber-molding press. 450 U.S. at 177-78. . . . The Court evaluated additional elements such as the steps of installing rubber in a press, closing the mold, constantly measuring the temperature in the mold, and automatically opening the press at the proper time, Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 14 and found them to be meaningful because they sufficiently limited the use of the mathematical equation to the practical application of molding rubber products. 450 U.S. at 184, 187. . . . In contrast, the claims in Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International did not meaningfully limit the abstract idea of mitigating settlement risk. 573 U.S. . . . . In particular, the Court concluded that the additional elements such as the data processing system and communications controllers recited in the system claims did not meaningfully limit the abstract idea because they merely linked the use of the abstract idea to a particular technological environment (i.e., “implementation via computers”) or were well-understood, routine, conventional activity. MPEP § 2106.05(e). “[T]he relevant question is whether the claims here do more than simply instruct the practitioner to implement the abstract idea . . . on a generic computer.” Alice, 573 U.S. at 225. Similarly as in Alice, we find that “[t]aking the claim elements separately, the function performed by the computer at each step of the process is ‘[p]urely conventional.’” Id. “In short, each step does no more than require a generic computer to perform generic computer functions.” Id. We find that Appellant’s claims do not add meaningful limitations beyond generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment. MPEP § 2106.05(f) Mere Instructions to Apply an Exception. Appellant does not persuasively argue that the claims do any more than to merely invoke generic computer components as a tool in which the computer instructions apply the judicial exception. MPEP § 2106.05(g) Insignificant Extra-Solution Activity. Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 15 The claims acquire and display data, which are classic examples of insignificant extra-solution activity. See, e.g., Bilski, 545 F.3d at 963 (en banc), aff’d sub nom, Bilski, 561 U.S. 593. MPEP § 2106.05(h) Field of Use and Technological Environment. [T]he Supreme Court has stated that, even if a claim does not wholly pre-empt an abstract idea, it still will not be limited meaningfully if it contains only insignificant or token pre- or post-solution activity—such as identifying a relevant audience, a category of use, field of use, or technological environment. Ultramercial, Inc. v. Hulu, LLC, 722 F.3d 1335, 1346 (Fed. Cir. 2013). We find the claims manipulate “prescription information for a patient,” which is simply a field of use that attempts to limit the abstract idea to a particular technological environment. We do not find Appellant’s arguments to be persuasive because “[t]he courts have also identified examples in which a judicial exception has not been integrated into a practical application.” Revised Guidance, 84 Fed. Reg. 55. The claims fail to recite a practical application where the additional element does more than generally link the use of a judicial exception to a particular technological environment or field of use. Id. The mere application of an abstract idea in a particular field is not sufficient to integrate the judicial exception into a practical application. See id. at 55 n.32. In view of the foregoing, we conclude the claims are “directed to” a judicial exception. 3. Well-understood, routine, conventional. Because the claims recite a judicial exception and do not integrate that exception into a practical application, we must then reach the issue of whether the claim adds a specific limitation beyond the judicial exception Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 16 that is not “well-understood, routine, conventional” in the field. Revised Guidance, 84 Fed. Reg. 56. The written description describes the claimed computer system consistent with its being well-understood, routine, and conventional: Computing device 100 may include a controller 120 having an emotional state determination module 122. Controller 120 may include a processor and a memory for implementing emotional state determination module 122. The processor may include at least one central processing unit (CPU), at least one semiconductor-based microprocessor, at least one digital signal processor (DSP) such as a digital image processing unit, other hardware devices or processing elements suitable to retrieve and execute instructions stored in memory, or combinations thereof. The processor can include single or multiple cores on a chip, multiple cores across multiple chips, multiple cores across multiple devices, or combinations thereof. The processor may fetch, decode, and execute instructions from memory to perform various functions, such as generating, processing, and transmitting image data. Spec. ¶ 17. The machine-readable storage medium may be any electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical storage device that contains or stores executable instructions. Spec. ¶ 18. Emotional impact determination module 222 can determine a predicted emotional impact of a presented content item based on a keyword associated with the presented content item. For instance, if the content item is an email, emotional impact determination module 222 can parse the words in the email and compare the parsed words to keywords stored in a database. Spec. ¶ 18. 4. Specified at a high level of generality. Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 17 It is indicative of the absence of an inventive concept where the claims simply append well-understood, routine, conventional activities previously known to the industry, specified at a high level of generality, to the judicial exception. Revised Guidance, 84 Fed. Reg. 56. The claims fail to recite any specific steps of an algorithm, nor does Appellant cite any Specification disclosure for the required specificity. We find the limitations are specified at such a high level of generality consistent with the absence of an inventive concept. Considering the claim limitations as an ordered combination adds nothing to the abstract idea that is not already present when the limitations are considered separately. See Mayo, 566 U.S. at 79. The ordered combination of limitations amounts to nothing more than certain mental processes implemented with generic computer components that operate “in a conventional way.” See also Alice, 573 U.S. at 225–26. Therefore, we conclude that none of the claim limitations, viewed “both individually and as an ordered combination,” amount to significantly more than the judicial exception in order to sufficiently transform the nature of the claims into patent-eligible subject matter. See Alice, 573 U.S. at 217 (quotations omitted) (quoting Mayo, 566 U.S. at 79). In view of the foregoing, we sustain the rejection of claims 17–20, 22–25, 29–31, 35–37, and 41–46 under 35 U.S.C. § 101. CONCLUSION In summary: Appeal 2018-003395 Application 13/310,104 18 Claims Rejected 35 U.S.C. § Reference(s)/Basis Affirmed Reversed 17–20, 22– 25, 29–31, 35–37, and 41–46 101 Eligibility 17–20, 22– 25, 29–31, 35–37, and 41–46 No time period for taking any subsequent action in connection with this appeal may be extended under 37 C.F.R. § 1.136(a)(1)(iv). See 37 C.F.R. § 41.50(f). AFFIRMED Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation