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disembodied mathematical concept which may be characterized as an 'abstract idea,' 
but rather a specific machine to produce a useful, concrete, and tangible result."); see 
also AT&T, 172 F.3d at 1357 ("Because the claimed process applies the Boolean 
principle to produce a useful, concrete, tangible result without pre-empting other uses of 
the mathematical principle, on its face the claimed process comfortably falls within the 
scope of § 101.").  The basis for this language in State Street and Alappat was that the 
Supreme Court has explained that "certain types of mathematical subject matter, 
standing alone, represent nothing more than abstract ideas until reduced to some type 
of practical application."  Alappat, 33 F.3d at 1543; see also State St., 149 F.3d at 1373.  
To be sure, a process tied to a particular machine, or transforming or reducing a 
particular article into a different state or thing, will generally produce a "concrete" and 
"tangible" result as those terms were used in our prior decisions.  But while looking for 
"a useful, concrete and tangible result" may in many instances provide useful 
indications of whether a claim is drawn to a fundamental principle or a practical 
application of such a principle, that inquiry is insufficient to determine whether a claim is 
patent-eligible under § 101.  And it was certainly never intended to supplant the 
Supreme Court's test.  Therefore, we also conclude that the "useful, concrete and 
tangible result" inquiry is inadequate and reaffirm that the machine-or-transformation 
test outlined by the Supreme Court is the proper test to apply.
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elements of the claims on appeal all corresponded to supporting structures disclosed in 
the written description). 
 
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As a result, those portions of our opinions in State Street and AT&T 
relying solely on a "useful, concrete and tangible result" analysis should no longer be 
relied on. 
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