DETAILED ACTION
This action is in response to the RCE filed on 3/9/2026.
Claims 1-12 and 14-15 are pending.
Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority. All of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
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 .
Bitstream Claim interpretation
Claim 14 and 15 are directed to a computer readable medium that stores or method of transmitting generated bitstream.
The bitstream is being treated as a product that is the result of the process (method). The steps are not required elements of claims 14 and 15, so they only limit the invention in terms of how they define the contents of the information in the bitstream. MPEP §2113
The contents of the bitstream, defined by how the bitstream was generated, only describes the content of the information in the bitstream and as result are descriptive language. See MPEP §2111.05. The bitstream has no functional relationship with the claimed non-transitory computer-readable recording medium.
Response to Arguments
Claim Rejections 35 USC §102 & 103
Applicant's amendment filed 2/18/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant states:
1. Page 5
“Wang does not disclose or suggest that an SDI SEI message includes such layer identifier information. Instead, Wang merely discloses in paragraphs [0116]-[0119], the concept of "syntax elements" indicating "layer ID values." Referring to paragraphs [0116] and [0117], Wang clearly explains that the "layer ID values" are signaled through an "auxiliary information SEI message", any emphasis not shown.
Examiner’s response:
Additional mapping is shown below.
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 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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-12 and 14-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a2) as being anticipated by Wang et al. (US 20240040135 A1).
1. An image decoding method performed by an image decoding apparatus, the image decoding method comprising:
receiving a scalability dimension information (SDI) supplemental enhancement information (SEI) message including information about one or more layers included in a bitstream;
“[0066] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a video bitstream 300. As used herein the video bitstream 300 may also be referred to as a coded video bitstream, a bitstream, or variations thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, the bitstream 300 comprises one or more of the following: decoding capability information (DCI) 302, a video parameter set (VPS) 304, a sequence parameter set (SPS) 306, a picture parameter set (PPS) 308, a picture header (PH) 312, a picture 314, and an SEI message 322.”
“[0118] ii. In one example, the one or more syntax elements may indicate layer ID values of the associated layers. [0119] 1. In one example, the layer IDs indicated by the syntax elements may be required to be less than or equal to the maximum layer ID value, i.e., vps_layer_id[vps_max_layers_minus1] or vps_layer_id[sdi_max_layers_minus1].”
“[0095] a. In one example, one or more syntax elements indicating the associated layers for each auxiliary layer may be signaled in the scalability dimension information SEI message. [0096] i. In one example, the associated layers are specified by layer IDs. [0097] ii. In another example, the associated layers are specified by layer indices. [0098] iii. In another example, the indication whether the auxiliary layer is applied to one or more associated layers may be specified by one or more syntax elements for the associated layers. [0099] 1. In one example, a syntax element may be used to indicate whether the auxiliary layer is applied to all the associated layers. [0100] 2. In one example, a syntax element may be used to indicate whether the auxiliary layer is applied to a specific associated layer. [0101] a. In one example, one or more primary layers are indicated by the syntax elements.”
obtaining the information about the one or more layers based on the received SDI SEI message; and reconstructing an image in the bitstream based on the obtained information about the one or more layers,
“[0118] ii. In one example, the one or more syntax elements may indicate layer ID values of the associated layers. [0119] 1. In one example, the layer IDs indicated by the syntax elements may be required to be less than or equal to the maximum layer ID value, i.e., vps_layer_id[vps_max_layers_minus1] or vps_layer_id[sdi_max_layers_minus1].”
wherein the received SDI SEI message comprises layer identifier information of the one or more layers included in the bitstream.
“[0118] ii. In one example, the one or more syntax elements may indicate layer ID values of the associated layers. [0119] 1. In one example, the layer IDs indicated by the syntax elements may be required to be less than or equal to the maximum layer ID value, i.e., vps_layer_id[vps_max_layers_minus1] or vps_layer_id[sdi_max_layers_minus1].”
“[0095] a. In one example, one or more syntax elements indicating the associated layers for each auxiliary layer may be signaled in the scalability dimension information SEI message. [0096] i. In one example, the associated layers are specified by layer IDs. [0097] ii. In another example, the associated layers are specified by layer indices. [0098] iii. In another example, the indication whether the auxiliary layer is applied to one or more associated layers may be specified by one or more syntax elements for the associated layers. [0099] 1. In one example, a syntax element may be used to indicate whether the auxiliary layer is applied to all the associated layers. [0100] 2. In one example, a syntax element may be used to indicate whether the auxiliary layer is applied to a specific associated layer. [0101] a. In one example, one or more primary layers are indicated by the syntax elements.”
2. The image decoding method of claim 1, wherein the layer identifier information is obtained by a maximum number of layers in the bitstream.
“[0147] The bitstreamInScope is the sequence of AUs that consists, in decoding order, of the AU containing the current scalability dimension SEI message, followed by zero or more AUs, including all subsequent AUs up to but not including any subsequent AU that contains a scalability dimension SEI message. [0148] sdi_max_layers_minus1 plus 1 indicates the maximum number of layers in bitstreamInScope.”
3. The image decoding method of claim 2, wherein information about the maximum number of layers in the bitstream is obtained from the SDI SEI message.
“[0147] The bitstreamInScope is the sequence of AUs that consists, in decoding order, of the AU containing the current scalability dimension SEI message, followed by zero or more AUs, including all subsequent AUs up to but not including any subsequent AU that contains a scalability dimension SEI message. [0148] sdi_max_layers_minus1 plus 1 indicates the maximum number of layers in bitstreamInScope.”
4. The image decoding method of claim 1, wherein the SDI SEI message comprises information about a layer other than the one or more layers included in the bitstream.
“[0149] sdi_multiview_info_flag equal to 1 indicates that bitstreamInScope may be a multiview bitstream and the sdi_view_id_val[ ] syntax elements are present in the scalability dimension SEI message. sdi_multiview_flag equal to 0 indicates that bitstreamInScope is not a multiview bitstream and the sdi_view_id_val[ ] syntax elements are not present in the scalability dimension SEI message.”
5. The image decoding method of claim 2, wherein the maximum number of layers in the bitstream is not constrained by the number of one or more layers in the bitstream.
“[0149] sdi_multiview_info_flag equal to 1 indicates that bitstreamInScope may be a multiview bitstream and the sdi_view_id_val[ ] syntax elements are present in the scalability dimension SEI message. sdi_multiview_flag equal to 0 indicates that bitstreamInScope is not a multiview bitstream and the sdi_view_id_val[ ] syntax elements are not present in the scalability dimension SEI message.”
6. The image decoding method of claim 2, wherein the maximum number of layers in the bitstream is constrained not to have a value less than the number of one or more layers in the bitstream.
“[0121] 1. In one example, the layer indices indicated by the syntax elements may be required to be less than the maximum number of layers in the bitstream (e.g., sdi_max_layers_minus1 plus 1 or vps_max_layers_minus1 plus 1).”
7. The image decoding method of claim 1, wherein the layer identifier information is signaled for each of a view id or an auxiliary id.
“[0118] ii. In one example, the one or more syntax elements may indicate layer ID values of the associated layers.”
“[0151] sdi_view_id_len_minus1 plus 1 specifies the length, in bits, of the sdi_view_id_val[i] syntax element. [0152] sdi_view_id_val[i] specifies the view ID of the i-th layer in bitstreamInScope.”
8. The image decoding method of claim 1, wherein the layer identifier information is included in the SDI SEI message in ascending order of layer identifier values such that a layer identifier of an i-th layer has a larger value than a layer identifier of an (i-1)-th layer.
“[0151] sdi_view_id_len_minus1 plus 1 specifies the length, in bits, of the sdi_view_id_val[i] syntax element. [0152] sdi_view_id_val[i] specifies the view ID of the i-th layer in bitstreamInScope.”
9. The image decoding method of claim 1, wherein the layer identifier information is included in the SDI SEI message in descending order of layer identifier values such that a layer identifier of an i-th layer has a smaller value than a layer identifier of an (i-1)-th layer.
“[0151] sdi_view_id_len_minus1 plus 1 specifies the length, in bits, of the sdi_view_id_val[i] syntax element. [0152] sdi_view_id_val[i] specifies the view ID of the i-th layer in bitstreamInScope.”
Regarding the claims 10-12 and 15 they recite elements that are at least included in the claims 1-3 above but in a different claim form. Therefore, the same rationale for the rejection of the claims 1-3 and 1 applies.
14. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing the bitstream generated by the image encoding method of claim 10.
“[0806] Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random-access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for performing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto optical disks, or optical disks. However, a computer need not have such devices. Computer readable media suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto optical disks; and compact disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Denoual et al. (US 20160330255 A1) and Wang et al. (US 20140086333 A1) disclose relevant art related to the subject matter of the present invention.
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/JAE N NOH/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2481
Prosecution Insights