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Patent Application 17876823 - METHODS AND A SYSTEM FOR MANAGING AND - Rejection

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Patent Application 17876823 - METHODS AND A SYSTEM FOR MANAGING AND

Title: METHODS AND A SYSTEM FOR MANAGING AND INTEGRATING NON-FUNGIBLE TOKENS (NFTS)

Application Information

  • Invention Title: METHODS AND A SYSTEM FOR MANAGING AND INTEGRATING NON-FUNGIBLE TOKENS (NFTS)
  • Application Number: 17876823
  • Submission Date: 2025-05-15T00:00:00.000Z
  • Effective Filing Date: 2022-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
  • Filing Date: 2022-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
  • National Class: 705
  • National Sub-Class: 066000
  • Examiner Employee Number: 98082
  • Art Unit: 3698
  • Tech Center: 3600

Rejection Summary

  • 102 Rejections: 0
  • 103 Rejections: 3

Cited Patents

The following patents were cited in the rejection:

Office Action Text



    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 .


	Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
	A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection.  Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.  Applicant's submission filed on March 17, 2025 has been entered.


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 1-12 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention recites and is directed to a judicial exception to patentability (i.e., an abstract idea) and does not provide an integration of the recited abstract idea into a practical application nor include an inventive concept that is “significantly more” than the recited abstract idea to which the claim is directed.  MPEP §2106. 
In determining subject matter eligibility in an Alice rejection under 35 U.S.C. §101, it is first determined as Step 1 whether the claims are directed to one of the four statutory categories of an invention (i.e., a process, a machine, a manufacture, or a composition of matter).  MPEP §2106.03.  
Here, the claims are directed to the statutory category of a process (claims 1-12) and a machine (claim 19). Therefore, we proceed to Step 2A, Prong 1.  MPEP §2106.
Under a Step 2A, Prong 1 analysis, it must be determined whether the claims recite an abstract idea that falls within one or more enumerated categories of patent ineligible subject matter that amounts to a judicial exception to patentability.  MPEP §2106.04.  Independent Claim 1 is selected as being representative of the independent claims in the instant application.  Claim 1 recites:
A method, comprising:
receiving conditions for obtaining an object of value;
creating a blockchain-based media of value for the object of value on a blockchain;
generating instructions for the conditions in a smart contract;
establishing an identifier for referencing the smart contract over the blockchain;
providing control over the blockchain-based media of value to the instructions of the smart contract;
instantiating the smart contract over the blockchain; and
providing the identifier for interacting with the instructions of the smart contract on the blockchain.
notifying an enterprise through an interface that the blockchain-based media of value has been created on the blockchain for an award associated with the object of value; and
receiving the identifier and data relevant to the conditions from a mobile application operated by a user and providing the data and a wallet identifier associated with a custodial wallet of 
the user to the smart contract using the identifier.
wherein the blockchain-based media of value is a non-fungible token (NFT) on an Ethereum blockchain, and wherein the object of value is redeemable by a customer with an enterprise and is selected from the group consisting of: a coupon, loyalty reward points, merchandise, travel awards, game artifacts for a game being offered by the enterprise, cash back, digital art, entertainment award, and a unique experience offered to the customer.
Here, the claims recite an abstract idea, or combination of abstract ideas, of using a contract to provide control over an object of value using an identifier, notifying that the object of value is created and receiving the identifier from a user. This concept/abstract idea, which is identified in the bolded sections seen above, falls within the Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity grouping because it describes commercial or legal interaction (e.g., providing control over an object with a contract, notifying an enterprise and receiving data from user). Accordingly, it is determined that the claims recite an abstract idea since they fall within one or more of the three enumerated categories of patent ineligible subject matter.  MPEP §2106.04. 
Since it is determined that the claim(s) contain a judicial exception, it must then be determined, under Step 2A, Prong 2, whether the judicial exception is integrated into a practical application of the exception.  MPEP §2106.04.  In order to make this determination, the additional element(s) are analyzed to determine if the claim as a whole integrates the recited judicial exception into a practical application of that exception.  Here claim 1 recites the additional element of a blockchain-based media of value,  an interface, a mobile application, a blockchain, instantiating a smart contract and a non-fungible token (NFT) on an Ethereum blockchain. Independent claim 19 recites the additional elements of a system, a server, at least one processor, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, executable instructions, a blockchain-based media of value, a blockchain, instantiating a smart contract and a non-fungible token (NFT) on an Ethereum blockchain. These additional elements are all recited at a high-level of generality such that they amount to no more than mere instructions to apply the exception, or a portion thereof, using a generic computer component.  See MPEP 2106.05. Additionally, Examiner finds no indication in the Specification, that the operations recited in the independent claims require any specialized computer hardware or other inventive computer components, i.e., a particular machine, invoke any allegedly inventive programming, or that the claimed invention is implemented using other than generic computer components to perform generic computer functions.  Furthermore, there is no indication in the claim(s) that the use of a system, a server, at least one processor, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, executable instructions, a blockchain-based media of value (e.g., NFT) a mobile application, and a blockchain (e.g., Ethereum) in combination with the abstract idea leads to an improvement of the processor, memory, another technology, or to a technical field.  Accordingly, the additional elements do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application because they do not impose any meaningful limits on practicing the abstract idea.  Looking at the elements as a combination does not add anything more than the elements analyzed individually.  Examiner further notes that even though the claims may not preempt all forms of the abstraction, this alone, does not make them any less abstract.  
When analyzed under step 2B, the claim(s) does/do 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 generic computing component (e.g., a system, a server, at least one processor, a mobile application, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, executable instructions) to implement the abstract idea 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 or significantly more than the judicial exception.  Considered as an ordered combination, the additional elements recited in the claim(s) add nothing that is not already present when the steps are considered separately.
Therefore, claims 1 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. §101 and are not patent eligible.  Dependent claims 2-12 when analyzed are held to be patent ineligible under 35 U.S.C. §101 because the additional recited limitation(s) fail to establish that the claim(s) is/are not directed to an abstract idea.  
Dependent claim 2 further refine the abstract idea by indicating that the identifier is received and data is received from the user. This claim fail to include any new additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or provide significantly more than the abstract idea.
Dependent claim 3 further refine the abstract idea by transferring the blockchain value to the user’s wallet. This claim fail to include any new additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or provide significantly more than the abstract idea.
Dependent claim 4 further refine the abstract idea by crediting the user’s wallet with the blockchain value. This claim fail to include any new additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or provide significantly more than the abstract idea.
Dependent claim 5 describes an additional abstract idea of crediting an enterprise wallet a blockchain based media of value based on user authorization. This claim fails to include any new additional elements that integrate the abstract idea(s) into a practical application or provide significantly more than the abstract idea(s).
Dependent claim 6 further refine the abstract idea by describing how conditions are received and describing the object of value. This claim fail to include any new additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or provide significantly more than the abstract idea.
Dependent claim 7 further refine the abstract idea by indicting that the enterprise is notified when the blockchain-based media of value is created. This claim fail to include any new additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or provide significantly more than the abstract idea.
Dependent claim 8 further refine the abstract idea by indicating that the smart contract controls the blockchain-based- media of value and includes a wallet identifier. This claim fail to include any new additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or provide significantly more than the abstract idea.
Dependent claims 9-10 further refine the abstract idea by indicating that a wallet for the smart contract is generated and blockchain-based media value is transferred to the wallet which is used for an enterprise. These claims fail to include any new additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or provide significantly more than the abstract idea.
Dependent claims 11-12 further refine the abstract idea by describing how the identifier is provided. These claim fail to include any new additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or provide significantly more than the abstract idea.
In summary, the dependent claims considered both individually and as an ordered combination do not provide meaningful limitations to transform the abstract idea into a patent eligible application of the abstract idea such that the claims amount to significantly more than the abstract ideas itself.  The claims do not recite an improvement to another technology or technical field, an improvement to the functioning of the computer itself, or provide meaningful limitations beyond generally linking an abstract idea to a particular technological environment.  Therefore, the dependent claims are also not patent eligible.  
	Accordingly, it is determined that all claims are directed to non-statutory subject matter under 35 U.S.C. 101 and are ineligible.

Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA  to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.  
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.

The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 1-4, 6-11, and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kaleal et al. (US 2022/0384027 A1) “Kaleal” in view of Haruna et al. (US 20240265375 A1) “Haruna” in view of Dalmia (US 2023/0241514 A1), “Dalmia”.

Regarding claim 1: Wuehler discloses a method, comprising:
receiving conditions for obtaining an object of value; (See at least Kaleal, Fig. 20; [0261]; [0257]; [0285-0286]; where conditions (i.e., conditions and/or definable health and fitness criteria) for obtaining an object of value (i.e., goods and funds or reward) are received.)
creating a blockchain-based media of value for the object of value on a blockchain; (See at least Kaleal, [0257-0258]; [0262]; [0264]; [0271]; [0281]; [0285]; [0293] where a blockchain-based media of value (i.e., NFT) is created for the object of value (i.e., good, fund or reward) on a blockchain. (NFTs) tokens that can represent a variety of digital and real-world assets)
generating instructions for the conditions in a smart contract; (See at least Kaleal, [0261]; [0285]; e.g., when the smart contract is coded.)
providing control over the blockchain-based media of value to the instructions of the smart contract; (See at least Kaleal, [0261-0263]; [0285] the NFT is transferred when conditions within the smart contract are satisfied e.g., the smart contract instructions provide control over the blockchain-based media of value).)
instantiating the smart contract over the blockchain; and (See at least Kaleal, [0261-0263]; the smart contract is encoded on the blockchain network.)
	receiving data relevant to the conditions from a mobile application operated by a user and providing the data and a wallet identifier associated with a wallet of the user to the smart contract. (See at least Kaleal, [0261]; [0285]; Once the contract is created, and the conditions for an exchange are fulfilled, goods and funds (e.g., NFTs) are transferred according to terms of the contract upon satisfaction of the terms based on the verifiable data recorded on the blockchain; the smart contract will self-execute and result in automatically providing the user with the corresponding NFT reward. For example, the user can receive a notification (e.g., generated by the blockchain network 1702 and/or the reward provider) that they have received an NFT reward, information describing the reward and so on, an access their reward at their corresponding blockchain address using their private key and digital wallet.)
wherein the blockchain-based media of value is a non-fungible token (NFT) on a blockchain, and wherein the object of value is redeemable by a customer and is selected from the group consisting of: a coupon, loyalty reward points, merchandise, travel awards, game artifacts for a game being offered by the enterprise, cash back, digital art, entertainment award, and a unique experience offered to the customer. (See at least Kaleal, [0020]; [0257]; [0281-00282] Fig. 17; Fig. 20. where wherein the blockchain-based media of value is a non-fungible token (NFT) (i.e., reward in the form of NFT) on a blockchain (i.e., using blockchain technology) and wherein the object of value is redeemable by a customer (i.e., redeemable by the user) and is selected from the group consisting of: a coupon, loyalty reward points, merchandise, travel awards, game artifacts for a game being offered by the enterprise, cash back, digital art, entertainment award, and a unique experience offered to the customer (i.e., a digital collectible, digital badge, certificate).)
Kaleal discloses for example, the smart contracts can be created by the avatar system, other third-party health and fitness systems that record user health and fitness activity data on the blockchain, and other third-party retailors that provide goods and services that can be represented and gifted as NFTs (e.g., health and fitness merchants and other merchants). Kaleal further discloses receiving that conditions of the smart contract are met. In various embodiments, reward NFTs (and any other type of NFT described herein) can be linked to respective entities to which they are owned (e.g., reward providers prior to distribution, users to which they are provided as rewards, and the like) via digital wallets.) (See at least Kaleal, [0262]; [0283-0285]). However, Kaleal does not explicitly disclose establishing an identifier for referencing the smart contract over the blockchain; receiving and using the identifier; providing the identifier for interacting with the instructions of the smart contract on the blockchain and notifying an enterprise through an interface regarding the blockchain based object of value.
	Haruna, on the other hand, teaches the use of assign in identifier to the smart contact to interact with it an using the smart contract identifier to reference data to interact with the blockchain-based media of value (i.e., NFT) and notify via interface about the generation of the NFT. (See at least Haruna, Fig. 12; [0124]; [0127]; [0181]; [0198]; [0247-0249])
	 It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to combine Kaleal’s system that creates and distributes NFT’s using smart contracts the ability to use a smart contract identifier to facilitate interaction as taught by Haruna since the claimed invention is merely a combination of old elements, and in the combination each element merely would have performed the same function as it did separately, and one of ordinary skill in the art would have recognized that the results of the combination were predictable.
	The combination of Kaleal and Haruna disclose rewards given to customers using NFT. However, the combination does not explicitly disclose using an Ethereum blockchain and the object of value is redeemable by a customer with an enterprise. 
	Dalmia, on the other hand teaches rewards given to customers using NFT. However, the combination does not explicitly disclose using an Ethereum blockchain and the object of value is redeemable by a customer with an enterprise. (See at least Dalmia, [0103]; [0284] For example, a player that wins a gameplay executed by a metaverse gaming device and is thereafter awarded a digital asset (e.g., an NFT) is not able to redeem the digital asset via different gaming entities associated with one or more physical gaming environments and/or via other entities (e.g., product and/or service vendors) associated with one or more other physical, real-world environments; While Bitcoin and Ethereum may be referred to herein for the purpose of convenience and illustration, it should be noted that the disclosure is not limited to use with the Bitcoin or Ethereum blockchains and alternative blockchain implementations and protocols fall within the scope of the present disclosure).
	It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to enable redemption of NFTs using the Ethereum blockchain and further allow such rewards to be redeemable across enterprises or entities as taught by Dalmia, in the system executing the method of Kaleal in view of Haruna. As in Dalmia, it is within the capabilities of one of ordinary skill in the art to implement blockchain-based reward logic redemption functionality using Ethereum and enterprises to the above combination system with the predictable result of enabling interoperable and enterprise-redeemable NFT’s ad needed in Kaleal.
 

 Regarding claim 2: The combination of Kaleal in view of Haruna in view of Dalmia disclose the method of claim 1. Kaleal further discloses: receiving data relevant to the conditions from a mobile application operated by a user; and providing the data and a wallet identifier associated with a custodial wallet of the user to the smart contract using the identifier. (See at least Kaleal, [0263]; [0273] health metrics are received and provided to the smart contract (e.g., when data y sent to blockchain network). Haruna further disclose receiving the identifier from a mobile application (See at least Haruna, [0247-0248]
	It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to combine Kaleal’s system that creates and distributes NFT’s using smart contracts the ability to use a smart contract identifier to facilitate interaction as taught by Haruna since the claimed invention is merely a combination of old elements, and in the combination each element merely would have performed the same function as it did separately, and one of ordinary skill in the art would have recognized that the results of the combination were predictable.

Regarding claim 3: The combination of Kaleal in view of Haruna in view of Dalmia disclose the method of claim 2. The combination further disclose: receiving the blockchain-based media of value in the custodial wallet from the smart contract. (See at least Kaleal, [0126]; [0147]; [0152]; [0285-0286]. Smart Contract controls the provision of NFT reward (e.g., receives the NFT).)

Regarding claim 4: The combination of Kaleal in view of Haruna in view of Dalmia disclose the method of claim 3. The combination further disclose crediting a user wallet associated with the mobile application with the blockchain-based media of value held in the custodial wallet. (See at least Kaleal, Fig. 17; [0261]; [0264]; [0283]; [0285]; [0293].)

Regarding claim 6: The combination of Kaleal in view of Haruna in view of Dalmia disclose the method of claim 1. The combination further disclose wherein receiving further includes receiving the conditions through an interface from an enterprise, wherein the object of value is associated with an award being offered by the enterprise to customers. (See at least Kaleal, [0257-0258]; [0262]; [0264]; [0271]; [0281]; [0285]; [0293] [0303]; where conditions (i.e., terms and conditions) are received through interface and object of value is associated with an award being offered by the enterprise to customers (i.e., reward).)

Regarding claim 7: The combination of Kaleal in view of Haruna in view of Dalmia wherein creating further includes notifying the enterprise through the interface that the blockchain-based media of value has been created on the blockchain for the award. (See at least Kaleal, [0303]; [0389] E.g., when the created smart contract is recorded in Blockchain.)

Regarding claim 8: The combination of Kaleal in view of Haruna in view of Dalmia disclose the method of claim 1. Kaleal further disclose wherein providing control further transferring the blockchain-based media of value to a wallet controlled by the instructions of the smart contract  (See at least Kaleal, [0261-0263]; [0285]; and Haruna further disclose embedding a wallet identifier for the wallet within the instructions. (See at least Haruna, Fig. 19; [0239-0240]).
	It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to combine Kaleal’s system that creates and distributes NFT’s using smart contracts the ability to use embedding a wallet identifier for the wallet within the instructions as taught by Haruna since the claimed invention is merely a combination of old elements, and in the combination each element merely would have performed the same function as it did separately, and one of ordinary skill in the art would have recognized that the results of the combination were predictable.

Regarding claim 9: The combination of Kaleal in view of Haruna in view of Dalmia disclose the method of claim 8. The combination further disclose wherein transferring further includes generating the wallet for the smart contract and transferring the blockchain-based media of value to the wallet. (See at least Haruna, [0102-0104])
	It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to combine Kaleal’s system that creates and transfers NFT’s using smart contracts the ability to generating the wallet for the smart contract and transferring the blockchain-based media of value to the wallet as taught by Haruna since the claimed invention is merely a combination of old elements, and in the combination each element merely would have performed the same function as it did separately, and one of ordinary skill in the art would have recognized that the results of the combination were predictable.Regarding claim 10: The combination of Kaleal in view of Haruna in view of Dalmia disclose the method of claim 9. The combination further disclose wherein transferring further includes using the wallet as a custodial wallet maintained for an enterprise that is providing the object of value in exchange for the blockchain-based media of value. (See at least Haruna, [0126]; [0147]; [0152]; [0102-0104])
	It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to combine Kaleal’s system that creates and transfers NFT’s using smart contracts the ability to transferring further includes using the wallet as a custodial wallet maintained for an enterprise that is providing the object of value in exchange for the blockchain-based media of value as taught by Haruna since the claimed invention is merely a combination of old elements, and in the combination each element merely would have performed the same function as it did separately, and one of ordinary skill in the art would have recognized that the results of the combination were predictable.
	The portion which recites “[…] providing the object of value in exchange for the blockchain-based media of value […]” is an intended use of the custodial wallet, i.e., the wallet is maintained for the use or purpose of an enterprise.
	Additionally, steps being performed by the enterprise are not positively recited as part of the claimed method and therefore not given patentable weight. 
The applicant is reminded that these portions, i.e., intended use/result, do not further limit the scope of the claim as the limitations, or portions thereof, do not claim the functions as being positively recited actions or functions, and/or they do not add any meaning or purpose to the associated manipulative step(s). See MPEP 2103 C and 2111.04. Simply because the limitation recites something as being "for ... [performing a specific functionality]", etc. does not mean that the functions are required to be performed, or are actually performed.

	

Regarding claim 11: The combination of Kaleal and Haruna disclose the method of claim 1. The combination further disclose wherein providing the identifier further includes providing the identifier to an enterprise through an interface, wherein the enterprise providing the object of value in exchange for the blockchain-based media of value. (See at least Haruna, Fig. 12; [0124]; [0127]; [0181]; [0198]; [0247-0249])
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to combine Kaleal’s system that creates and distributes NFT’s using smart contracts the ability to use a smart contract identifier to facilitate interaction as taught by Haruna since the claimed invention is merely a combination of old elements, and in the combination each element merely would have performed the same function as it did separately, and one of ordinary skill in the art would have recognized that the results of the combination were predictable.
The portion which recites “[…] the enterprise providing the object of value in exchange for the blockchain-based media of value […]” is an intended use of the custodial wallet, i.e., the wallet is maintained for the use or purpose of an enterprise.
	Additionally, steps being performed by the enterprise are not positively recited as part of the claimed method and therefore not given patentable weight. 
The applicant is reminded that these portions, i.e., intended use/result, do not further limit the scope of the claim as the limitations, or portions thereof, do not claim the functions as being positively recited actions or functions, and/or they do not add any meaning or purpose to the associated manipulative step(s). See MPEP 2103 C and 2111.04. Simply because the limitation recites something as being "for ... [performing a specific functionality]", etc. does not mean that the functions are required to be performed, or are actually performed.

Regarding claim 19: A system, comprising:
a server comprising at least one processor (Kaleal, [0287]) and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (Kaleal, [0439]) comprises executable instructions; the executable instructions when executed by the at least one processor from the nontransitory computer-readable storage medium cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: 
receiving conditions for obtaining an object of value from an enterprise through an interface; (See at least Kaleal, Fig. 20; [0261]; [0257]; [0285-0286]; where conditions (i.e., conditions and/or definable health and fitness criteria) for obtaining an object of value (i.e., goods and funds or reward) are received.)
generating a blockchain-based media of value for the object of value over a blockchain; (See at least Kaleal, [0257-0258]; [0262]; [0264]; [0271]; [0281]; [0285]; [0293] where a blockchain-based media of value (i.e., NFT) is generated for the object of value (i.e., good, fund or reward) on a blockchain. (NFTs) tokens that can represent a variety of digital and real-world assets)
generating instructions for the smart contract based on the conditions; (See at least Kaleal, [0261]; [0285]; e.g., when the smart contract is coded.)
generating instructions for the smart contract based on the conditions; (See at least Kaleal, [0261]; [0285]; e.g., when the smart contract is coded.)
embedding control over transferring the blockchain-based media of value within the instructions of the smart contract; (See at least Kaleal, [0261-0263]; [0285] the NFT is transferred when conditions within the smart contract are satisfied e.g., the smart contract instructions provide control over the blockchain-based media of value).)
instantiating the smart contract on the blockchain; and (See at least Kaleal, [0261-0263]; the smart contract is encoded on the blockchain network.)
notifying the smart contract was instantiated on the blockchain. (See at least Kaleal, [0303]; [0389] E.g., when the created smart contract is recorded in Blockchain.)
receiving data relevant to the conditions from a mobile application operated by a user and providing the data and a wallet identifier associated with a custodial wallet of the user to the smart contract (See at least Kaleal, [0126]; [0147]; [0152]; [0261]; [0285];  Once the contract is created, and the conditions for an exchange are fulfilled, goods and funds (e.g., NFTs) are transferred according to terms of the contract upon satisfaction of the terms based on the verifiable data recorded on the blockchain; the smart contract will self-execute and result in automatically providing the user with the corresponding NFT reward. For example, the user can receive a notification (e.g., generated by the blockchain network 1702 and/or the reward provider) that they have received an NFT reward, information describing the reward and so on, an access their reward at their corresponding blockchain address using their private key and digital wallet.)
wherein the blockchain-based media of value is a non-fungible token (NFT) on a blockchain, and wherein the object of value is redeemable by a customer and is selected from the group consisting of: a coupon, loyalty reward points, merchandise, travel awards, game artifacts for a game being offered by the enterprise, cash back, digital art, entertainment award, and a unique experience offered to the customer. (See at least Kaleal, [0020]; [0257]; [0281-00282] Fig. 17; Fig. 20. where wherein the blockchain-based media of value is a non-fungible token (NFT) (i.e., reward in the form of NFT) on a blockchain (i.e., using blockchain technology) and wherein the object of value is redeemable by a customer (i.e., redeemable by the user) and is selected from the group consisting of: a coupon, loyalty reward points, merchandise, travel awards, game artifacts for a game being offered by the enterprise, cash back, digital art, entertainment award, and a unique experience offered to the customer (i.e., a digital collectible, digital badge, certificate).)
Kaleal discloses For example, the smart contracts can be created by the avatar system, other third-party health and fitness systems that record user health and fitness activity data on the blockchain, and other third-party retailors that provide goods and services that can be represented and gifted as NFTs (e.g., health and fitness merchants and other merchants). Kaleal further discloses receiving that conditions of the smart contract are met. In various embodiments, reward NFTs (and any other type of NFT described herein) can be linked to respective entities to which they are owned (e.g., reward providers prior to distribution, users to which they are provided as rewards, and the like) via digital wallets.)(See at least Kaleal, [0262]; [0283-0285]). However, Kaleal does not explicitly discloses establishing an identifier for referencing the smart contract over the blockchain; receiving and using the identifier; providing the identifier for interacting with the instructions of the smart contract on the blockchain and notifying an enterprise through an interface regarding the blockchain based object of value.
	Haruna, on the other hand, teaches the use of assign in identifier to the smart contact to interact with it an using the smart contract identifier to reference data to interact with the blockchain-based media of value (i.e., NFT) and notify via interface about the generation of the NFT. (See at least Haruna, Fig. 12; [0124]; [0127]; [0181]; [0198]; [0247-0249])
	 It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to combine Kaleal’s system that creates and distributes NFT’s using smart contracts the ability to use a smart contract identifier to facilitate interaction as taught by Haruna since the claimed invention is merely a combination of old elements, and in the combination each element merely would have performed the same function as it did separately, and one of ordinary skill in the art would have recognized that the results of the combination were predictable.
	The combination of Kaleal and Haruna disclose rewards given to customers using NFT. However, the combination does not explicitly disclose using an Ethereum blockchain and the object of value is redeemable by a customer with an enterprise. 
	Dalmia, on the other hand teaches rewards given to customers using NFT. However, the combination does not explicitly disclose using an Ethereum blockchain and the object of value is redeemable by a customer with an enterprise. (See at least Dalmia, [0103]; [0284] For example, a player that wins a gameplay executed by a metaverse gaming device and is thereafter awarded a digital asset (e.g., an NFT) is not able to redeem the digital asset via different gaming entities associated with one or more physical gaming environments and/or via other entities (e.g., product and/or service vendors) associated with one or more other physical, real-world environments; While Bitcoin and Ethereum may be referred to herein for the purpose of convenience and illustration, it should be noted that the disclosure is not limited to use with the Bitcoin or Ethereum blockchains and alternative blockchain implementations and protocols fall within the scope of the present disclosure).
	It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to enable redemption of NFTs using the Ethereum blockchain and further allow such rewards to be redeemable across enterprises or entities as taught by Dalmia, in the system executing the method of Kaleal in view of Haruna. As in Dalmia, it is within the capabilities of one of ordinary skill in the art to implement blockchain-based reward logic redemption functionality using Ethereum and enterprises to the above combination system with the predictable result of enabling interoperable and enterprise-redeemable NFT’s ad needed in Kaleal.

Claim 5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kaleal, Haruna and Dalmia as applied to claim 4 above, and further in view of Schwartz et al (US 2024/0037615 A1), “Schwartz”
Regarding claim 5: The combination of Kaleal, Haruna and Dalmia disclose the method of claim 4. However, the combination does not specifically disclose receiving an authorization from the user to transfer the blockchain-based media of value to a second custodial wallet associated with an enterprise that is providing the object of value in exchange for the blockchain-based media of value; receiving an authorization from the user to transfer the blockchain-based media of value to a second custodial wallet associated with an enterprise that is providing the object of value in exchange for the blockchain-based media of value; crediting an enterprise wallet with the blockchain-based media of value and debiting the user wallet associated with the mobile application and the custodial wallet of the blockchain-based media of value.
	Schwartz, on the other hand, teaches: receiving an authorization from the user to transfer the blockchain-based media of value to a second custodial wallet associated with an enterprise that is providing the object of value in exchange for the blockchain-based media of value; (See at least Schwartz, [0010]; [0019]; [0028]; [0035]; [0038-0040]; e.g., when the user decides to redeem the NFT with the venue in which earned the NFT.)
transferring the blockchain-based media of value from the custodial wallet to the second custodial wallet based on the authorization; and (See at least Schwartz, [0010]; [0019]; [0028]; [0035]; [0038-0040]; e.g., when the user decides to redeem the NFT with the venue in which earned the NFT.)
crediting an enterprise wallet with the blockchain-based media of value and debiting the user wallet associated with the mobile application and the custodial wallet of the blockchain-based media of value. (See at least Schwartz, [0010]; [0019]; [0028]; [0035]; [0038-0040]; e.g., when the user decides to redeem the NFT with the venue in which earned the NFT.)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to enable authorization-based transfer of blockchain-based media of value from user wallet to a second custodial wallet associated with an enterprise, as taught by Schwartz, in the system executing the method of Kaleal in view of Haruna and Dalmia. As in Schwartz, it is within the capabilities of one of ordinary skill in the art to implement user authorization and wallet transfer functionality, including custodial wallet and enterprise redemption, to the above combination with the predictable result of enterprise-redeemable NFT’s and user engagement as needed in Kaleal.

Claim 12 is e rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kaleal, Haruna and Dalmia as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of GUO JINYI (CN111967862A).
Regarding claim  12: The combination of Kaleal, Haruna and Dalmia disclose the method of claim 1. However, the combination does not explicitly disclose wherein providing the identifier further includes assessing a fee to an account associated with the enterprise for creating the blockchain-based media of value and instantiating the smart contract on the blockchain.
	Guo, on the other hand, taches wherein providing the identifier further includes assessing a fee to an account associated with the enterprise for creating the blockchain-based media of value and instantiating the smart contract on the blockchain. (See at least Guo, p.6 lines 22-34)
	Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the above combination and include to ensure there is profit while offering the service. 

Response to Arguments
The Rejection of Claims Under§ 101
	Applicant argues that the claims are not directed to an abstract idea under Step 2A Prong 1 (Amendment, p. 1). Specifically, applicant argues that claims recite a specific technological implementation involving blockchain technology, smart contracts, and NFTs that improves the integration of blockchain-based assets with enterprise systems. Examiner respectfully disagrees and contends that facilitating a conditional redemption of an object of value (e.g., coupon, reward) is an abstract idea. 
	Applicant argues that if considered abstract, the claims integrate any alleged abstract idea into a practical application under Step 2A Prong 2 (Amendment, p. 1). Specifically, Applicant argues that the amended claims recite specific technical details about implementing NFTs on an Ethereum blockchain for particular types of redeemable objects of value. Examiner respectfully disagrees. The claim use of the blockchain or a specific blockchain (e.g., Ethereum) and Smart Contract to provide control over on object of value (e.g., NFT) do not improve the blockchain itself.
	Applicant argues that the claims recite significantly more under Step 2B because the combination of elements, including creating NFTs on an Ethereum blockchain for specific types of redeemable objects, generating and instantiating smart contracts to control the NF Ts, and enabling enterprise integration, amounts to significantly more than merely implementing an  abstract idea on a computer (Amendment, pp 1-2). Examiner respectfully disagrees. The claims describes the how a smart contract is used with conditions to obtain an object of value and notifying an enterprise that the object of value has been created and providing data related to conditions to a smart contract. While the claims recite generating and instantiating a smart contract to control the NFTs, and the interaction with enterprises, the claimed invention fails to provide what special steps or features, if any, are used to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception. For these reasons, and the reasons specified above, in the 101 rejections section, the claims rejection under 35 U.S.C § 101 are maintained.

The Rejection of Claims Under § 112
	Applicant amendments has corrected the previous identified issues. Accordingly, the claims rejections under 35 USC 112 are withdrawn. 

The Rejection of Claims Under§ 103
Applicant argues (Amendment pp. 2-3):
The amended claims are non-obvious over Kaleal and Haruna for several reasons:
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim rejections under 35 USC 103 (amendment, p. 2) have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection.
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim rejections under 35 USC 103 (amendment, p. 2) have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection. Furthermore, Applicant, specifies that the specification describes a comprehensive system where enterprises can define conditions, create NFTs, and manage customer redemption of specific types of value objects through smart contracts. Examiner reminds applicant that the claims are interpreted in light of the Specification and the rejections are applied to what is actually being claimed. Hence, with respect to the specific functionality relating to the integration of the claimed system with the enterprises, Examiner advise the applicant to bring those concepts into the claims. 
Applicant argues that there is no clear motivation to combine Kaleal's health-focused system with Haruna's general blockchain teachings to arrive at the claimed enterprise NFT integration system Examiner respectfully disagrees. The claimed invention relates to object of value (i.e., NFT’s) that is associated with an award being offered by the enterprise to their customers after certain conditions are met. (See e.g., Specification [0002]; [0047] Yet, companies can and should benefit from the innovation associated with NFTs. Few option are available to large corporations to provide this technology to their customers. Kaleal disclose a system to reward users using blockchain technology and NFTs after conditions (e.g., specific type of workout or exercise ) are fulfilled (Kaleal, [0285]). 
Applicant argues that there is no clear motivation to combine Kaleal's health-focused system with Haruna's general blockchain teachings to arrive at the claimed enterprise NFT integration system and Modifying Kaleal's health-specific implementation to support the claimed variety of redeemable objects would change its principle of operation and render it unsuitable for its intended purpose of health/fitness tracking Examiner respectfully disagrees. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated because the system is capable of rewarding users using blockchain technology and NFT’s based on certain conditions, similar to the functionality of the claimed invention

\

Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. 
Wuehler (US 2017/0140408 A1): Disclose using smart contract logic, determine whether the indicated one or more actions meets a condition of the smart contract, thereby validating the transaction record. In response to determining one or more actions meets the condition (by a nonoriginating node or an originating node), initiate rewarding the user with rewards corresponding to the condition (e.g., depositing the rewards in a digital wallet of the user. (Wuehler Fig. 8; [0039])

Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KARLYANNIE M GARCIA whose telephone number is (571)272-6950. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:30-pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Patrick McAtee can be reached at (571) 272-7575. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/K.G.M/Examiner, Art Unit 3698                                                                                                                                                                                                        
/PATRICK MCATEE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3698                                                                                                                                                                                                        


    
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
        
            
    


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