Patent Application 18331512 - CONFIGURABLE SERVICES FOR A PAYMENT INSTRUMENT - Rejection
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Patent Application 18331512 - CONFIGURABLE SERVICES FOR A PAYMENT INSTRUMENT
Title: CONFIGURABLE SERVICES FOR A PAYMENT INSTRUMENT
Application Information
- Invention Title: CONFIGURABLE SERVICES FOR A PAYMENT INSTRUMENT
- Application Number: 18331512
- Submission Date: 2025-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Effective Filing Date: 2023-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Filing Date: 2023-06-08T00:00:00.000Z
- National Class: 705
- National Sub-Class: 027100
- Examiner Employee Number: 93237
- Art Unit: 3688
- Tech Center: 3600
Rejection Summary
- 102 Rejections: 1
- 103 Rejections: 0
Cited Patents
No patents were cited in this rejection.
Office Action Text
DETAILED ACTION This rejection is in response to Response to Election/Restriction filed 04/30/2025. Claims 1-15 have been elected. Claims 1-15 and 21-25 are currently pending and have been examined. Claims 21-25 are new. 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 . 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 1-15 and 21-25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to a judicial exception (an abstract idea) without significantly more. Under Step 1 of the Subject Matter Eligibility Test, it must be considered whether the claims are directed to one of the four statutory classes of invention. See MPEP § 2106. In the instant case, claims 1-7 are directed to a system, claims 8-15 are directed towards a method, and claims 21-25 are directed to non-transitory computer-readable medium which falls within one of the four statutory categories of invention(process/apparatus). Accordingly, the claims will be further analyzed under revised step 2: Under step 2A (prong 1) of the Subject Matter Eligibility Test, it must be considered whether the claims recite a judicial exception if so, then determine in Prong Two if the recited judicial exception is integrated into a practical application of that exception. If the claim recites a judicial exception (i.e., an abstract idea), the claim requires further analysis in Prong Two. One of the enumerated groupings of abstract ideas is defined as certain methods of organizing human activity that includes 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). See MPEP § 2106.04(a)(2). Regarding representative independent claim 1, recites the abstract idea of: …modify a services configuration for a payment instrument associated with a user identifier…the services configuration indicating a plurality of benefit services that are applied to a respective transaction; receive a modification of the services configuration…; …a charge for the services configuration based at least in part on the modification of the services configuration; receive an acceptance of the charge…; and update the services configuration … The above-recited limitations amounts to certain methods of organizing human activity as it relates to sales activities and commercial interactions because the claims involve modifying a service configuration for a payment instrument with benefit services for a transaction, accepting a charge, and updating the service configuration . Accordingly, the claim recites an abstract idea. See MPEP § 2106. The Step 2A (prong 2) of the Subject Matter Eligibility Test, is the next step in the eligibility analyses and looks at whether the abstract idea is integrated into a practical application. This requires an additional element or combination of additional elements in the claims to apply, rely on, or use the judicial exception in a manner that imposes a meaningful limit on the judicial exception, such that the claim is more than a drafting effort designed to monopolize the exception. See MPEP § 2106. In this instance, the claims recite the additional elements such as: A system, comprising: a computing device comprising a processor and a memory; and machine-readable instructions stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to at least: (Claim 1); display a user interface that is configured to…, from the user interface; display an updated user interface that includes…;… from the updated user interface…; by storing the services configuration in association with the user identifier at a database based at least in part on the acceptance of the charge (Claims 1, 8, and 21 ); wherein the machine-readable instructions stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to at least: … from the user interface with a remote computing device (Claims 2 and 22); wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the computing device to at least…(Claim 3 and 23); wherein the updated user interface displays (Claim 5, 12, and 25); displaying the updated user interface further causes the computing device to at least: (Claims 6 and 13); by a client device, …by the client device…; …by the client device…; …by the client device…; …by the client device…; …by the client device… (Claim 8); by the client device, …from the user interface (Claim 9); by the client device… (Claim 10); wherein the user interface includes …the user interface comprises ...(Claim 15); A non-transitory, computer-readable medium, comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to at least: (Claim 21). However, these elements do not amount to an improvement in the functioning of a computer or any other technology or technical field, apply the judicial exception with, or by use of, a particular machine, or apply or use the judicial exception in some other meaningful way beyond generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment, such that the claim as a whole is more than a drafting effort designed to monopolize the exception. Independent claims and dependent claims also fail to recite elements which amount to an improvement in the functioning of a computer or any other technology or technical field, apply the judicial exception with, or by use of, a particular machine, or apply or use the judicial exception in some other meaningful way beyond generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment, such that the claim as a whole is more than a drafting effort designed to monopolize the exception. For example, independent claims and dependent claims are directed to the abstract idea itself and do not amount to an integration according to any one of the considerations above. Step 2B is the next step in the eligibility analyses and evaluates whether the claims recite additional elements that amount to an inventive concept (i.e., “significantly more”) than the recited judicial exception. According to Office procedure, revised Step 2A overlaps with Step 2B, and thus, many of the considerations need not be re-evaluated in Step 2B because the answer will be the same. See MPEP § 2106. In Step 2A, several additional elements were identified as additional limitations: A system, comprising: a computing device comprising a processor and a memory; and machine-readable instructions stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to at least: (Claim 1); display a user interface that is configured to…, from the user interface; display an updated user interface that includes…;… from the updated user interface…; by storing the services configuration in association with the user identifier at a database based at least in part on the acceptance of the charge (Claims 1, 8, and 21 ); wherein the machine-readable instructions stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to at least: … from the user interface with a remote computing device (Claims 2 and 22); wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the computing device to at least…(Claim 3 and 23); wherein the updated user interface displays (Claim 5, 12, and 25); displaying the updated user interface further causes the computing device to at least: (Claims 6 and 13); by a client device, …by the client device…; …by the client device…; …by the client device…; …by the client device…; …by the client device… (Claim 8); by the client device, …from the user interface (Claim 9); by the client device… (Claim 10); wherein the user interface includes …the user interface comprises ...(Claim 15); A non-transitory, computer-readable medium, comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to at least: (Claim 21). These additional limitations, including the limitations in the independent claims and dependent claims, do not amount to an inventive concept because the recitations above do not amount to an improvement in the functioning of a computer or any other technology or technical field, apply the judicial exception with, or by use of, a particular machine, or apply or use the judicial exception in some other meaningful way beyond generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment, such that the claim as a whole is more than a drafting effort designed to monopolize the exception. In addition, they were already analyzed under Step 2A and did not amount to a practical application of the abstract idea. For these reasons, the claims are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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 the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1-15 and 21-25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Brill et al. (US Pub. No. 20150348083 A1, hereinafter “Brill”). Regarding claims 1, 8, and 21 Brill discloses a system, comprising: a computing device comprising a processor and a memory; and machine-readable instructions stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to at least (Brill, [0413]: processor and memory; [0419]: computing device): display a user interface that is configured to modify a services configuration for a payment instrument associated with a user identifier, the services configuration indicating a plurality of benefit services that are applied to a respective transaction (Brill, [0023]: presenting a graphical user interface where a user's financial transaction data are presented, wherein the financial transaction data were obtained from a financial institution that maintains a financial account on behalf of the user, and presenting a savings opportunity, in proximity to the financial transaction data, wherein the savings opportunity relates to the financial transaction data); receive a modification of the services configuration from the user interface (Brill, [0023]: saving opportunity including alternative offers; [0024]: presenting via user interface an opportunity to assess alternative offerings related to a financial transaction from a user's financial account, wherein the financial transaction is related to a presently selected offering; [0025]: and in response to the selection of the opportunity, redirecting the user to an alternative offering graphical user interface adapted to present the user with alternative offerings; [0398]: adjusting at least one parameter of the at least one reward, offer, or incentive); display an updated user interface that includes a charge for the services configuration based at least in part on the modification of the services configuration (Brill, [0025]: and if the alternative offering presents an improvement in comparison to the presently selected offering, the alternative offering may be presented in the alternative offering graphical user interface. The bill details may include a transaction amount and user name; [0398]: adjusting at least one parameter of the at least one reward, offer, or incentive); receive an acceptance of the charge from the updated user interface (Brill, [0043]: A response to the savings opportunity is tracked in order to receive an indication of whether or not the savings opportunity has been accepted; [0023]: saving opportunity including alternative offers; [0048]: accepting a response from the user to the presentation of the savings opportunity; [0165]: The user may be given the option to proceed to acceptance of terms and conditions as well as payment for services; [0280]: the like-dislike button may provide the user with the option to select an offer or not, that is, to accept as liking the offer); and update the services configuration by storing the services configuration in association with the user identifier at a database based at least in part on the acceptance of the charge (Brill, [0165]: user may accept and pay for service and tracking criteria , determine on an updated basis which alternative service, and output may be stored in the tracking database). Regarding claims 2, 9, and 22 Brill discloses the system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable instructions stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to at least: identify the user identifier of the payment instrument based at least in part on authenticating a credential received from the user interface with a remote computing device (Brill, [0025]: extract bill details including user name and financial account includes credit card account; [0059]: authorization via remote computer; [0165]: logging in to a user's service account after obtaining authorization from the user for release of such information; [0405]: receive authorization from user interface). Regarding claims 3, 10, and 23 Brills discloses the system of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable instructions further cause the computing device to at least: generate a hybrid list of services by comparing a first list of benefit parameters for a first payment instrument to a second list of benefit parameters for a second payment instrument (Brill, [0183]: when the service offering is a credit card service, the service usage data and data related to the alternative service offering may include rewards; [0184]: rewards includes cash or points and comparing and ranking credit card offerings; [0185]: comparing a plurality of credit card datasets; [0246]: display available rewards listings; [0194]: The ranking facility 128 may compare datasets based on rewards associated with a credit card offering). Regarding claims 4, 11, and 24 Brill discloses the system of claim 3, wherein the hybrid list of services comprises a higher benefit parameter for each category from a comparison of the first list of benefit parameters and the second list of benefit parameters (Brill, FIG. 4, [0185]: A comparison of the alternative credit card datasets with the normalized credit card usage dataset may reveal if an alternative credit card is better than the user's current credit card 418. Comparing may include ranking the alternative credit cards according to an aggregate score; [0194]: The ranking facility 128 may compare datasets based on rewards associated with a credit card offering; [0175]: best score). Regarding claims 5, 12, and 25 Brill discloses the system of claim 4, wherein the updated user interface displays the hybrid list of services and includes an indicator to highlight the higher benefit parameter originated from the first list of benefit parameters or the second list of benefit parameters (Brill, [0245]: update rewards based on new transactions; [0166]: determine on an updated basis which alternative service offering is better than the user's current service 214; [0180]: The user may be alerted when an alternative service offering that is better than the user's current service is available; FIG. 4, [0185]: A comparison of the alternative credit card datasets with the normalized credit card usage dataset may reveal if an alternative credit card is better than the user's current credit card 418. Comparing may include ranking the alternative credit cards according to an aggregate score; [0194]: The ranking facility 128 may compare datasets based on rewards associated with a credit card offering; [0175]: best score). Regarding claims 6 and 13 Brill discloses the system of claim 1, wherein the payment instrument is a first payment instrument, and displaying the updated user interface further causes the computing device to at least: determine the charge for the modification of the services configuration based at least in part on a change in the services configuration from an initial services configuration and a weightage-based rule associated with the change in the services configuration (Brill, [0185]: an aggregate score for each of the plurality of alternative credit card normalized datasets may be calculated, where the score may be used for ranking. As described previously, users may specify which components of the dataset or terms & conditions to include in the calculation for the aggregate score and with what weighting to include them; [0194]: The ranking facility 128 may optionally consider weights of certain dataset factors in comparing datasets; [0025]: and if the alternative offering presents an improvement in comparison to the presently selected offering, the alternative offering may be presented in the alternative offering graphical user interface. The bill details may include a transaction amount and user name; [0398]: adjusting at least one parameter of the at least one reward, offer, or incentive; [0184]: weighting may be used to rank credit card offerings). Regarding claim 7 and 14 Brill discloses the system of claim 6, wherein the change in the services configuration is determined by comparing the initial services configuration for the payment instrument to an updated services configuration for the payment instrument (Brill, [0165]: obtaining and normalizing alternative service offering data and comparing it to the user's needs and preferences to determine on an updated basis which alternative service offering best fits the user's needs and preferences; [0055]: providing offers to dynamically change offer parameters; FIG. 4, [0185]: A comparison of the alternative credit card datasets with the normalized credit card usage dataset may reveal if an alternative credit card is better than the user's current credit card 418. Comparing may include ranking the alternative credit cards according to an aggregate score; [0194]: The ranking facility 128 may compare datasets based on rewards associated with a credit card offering). Regarding claim 15 Brill discloses the method of claim 8, wherein the user interface includes an indicator for the payment instrument, and the user interface comprises an array of selectable payment instruments (Brill, [0021]: user's financial account may be a credit card account and a bank account; [0022]: displaying a link may be provided in a graphical user interface to the user's financial account; [0185]: plurality of credit cards and provide option to select credit card; [0241]: button to click savings opportunity for transaction). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure is cited as Shah et al. (US Pub. No. 20160225011 A1) related to tracking purchases and rewards for users of credit cards, Chandran et al. (US Pub. No. 20080059317 A1) related to prescreened credit card offers, and non-patent literature, “Automatic Card Selection System for Maximum Cash Back,” related to a payment system that selects the best credit card with which to make a purchase in order to earn the maximum rewards from the credit card provider. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LATASHA DEVI RAMPHAL whose telephone number is (571)272-2644. The examiner can normally be reached 11 AM - 7:30 PM (EST). 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, Jeffrey A. Smith can be reached at 5712726763. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /LATASHA D RAMPHAL/Examiner, Art Unit 3688 /Jeffrey A. Smith/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3688