DETAILED ACTION
This application has been examined. Claims 1,3-10 are pending. Claim 2 is cancelled. Claims 8-10 are submitted as new claims.
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 .
Making Final
Applicant's arguments filed 8/21/2026 have been fully considered but they are moot in view of the new grounds for rejection.
The claim amendments regarding -- ‘map the video signal to a frame structure suitable for communication in a form of RGB (Red, Green, Blue) data’ -- and -- ‘data encoding unit configured to convert the RGB data signal generated by the demapping units into a signal of a video signal standard conforming to a signal standard of the UI device connected to the reception device’ -- clearly change the literal scope of the independent and dependent claims and/or the range of equivalents for such claims. The said amendments alter the scope of the claims but do not overcome the disclosure by the prior art as shown below.
The Examiner is presenting new grounds for rejection as necessitated by the claim amendments and is thus making this action FINAL.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 8/21/2026 have been fully considered but they are moot in view of the new grounds for rejection.
Beigert-Tatum disclosed (re. Claim 1) map the video signal to a frame structure suitable for communication in a form of RGB (Red, Green, Blue) data (Tatum-Column 3 Lines 45, video pixels can be encoded in either RGB, YCBCR 4:4:4 or YCBCR 4:2:2 formats) that does not conform to a specific video signal standard as it is
Beigert-Tatum disclosed (re. Claim 1) wherein the reception device further comprises a data encoding unit configured to convert the RGB data signal generated by the demapping units into a signal of a video signal standard conforming to a signal standard of the UI device connected to the reception device.(Tatum-Column 7 Lines 30-35, WDD and ROSA deserializing the electrical serialized data signal back into several TMDS signals depending on the standard used by the digital sink device 320 (e.g. DVI or HDMI) )
Regarding Claim 5
Beigert-Tatum disclosed (re. Claim 5) wherein the information apparatus further processes and transmits an operation signal, and the reception device processes the operation signal transmitted by the information apparatus and outputs the processed signal to the Ul (Tatum- Column 9 Lines 40-45, electrical link 610 may be used to transmit information identifying the manufacturer and model number… include various handshaking, configuration, updating of firmware or software, or control signals.)
Regarding Claim 8
Beigert-Tatum disclosed (re. Claim 8) wherein the frame structure is an OTN (optical transport network).(Beigert Figure 2,Paragraph 51,ONTs 28A and 28B may, in the downstream direction, receive optical signals via optical fiber link 11A, convert the optical signals to electrical signals, convert the electrical signals into MAC layer signals (e.g., frames, cells, packets or other data units), and distribute the MAC layer signals to the appropriate subscriber devices 36.)
Regarding Claim 9
Beigert-Tatum disclosed (re. Claim 9) wherein the multiplexing unit performs ODU (optical-channel data unit) multiplexing processing in the OTN on the signal mapped by the mapping units. (Tatum-Figure 4, Column 7 Lines 60-65,The TOSAs 406 convert the electrical TMDS signals to optical signals and transmit the optical signals to the WDM 407. The WDM 407 receives the optical signals and combines the optical signals from the different transmitters (each at a different wavelength) into a multiplexed optical signal, and transmits the multiplexed optical signal onto a first end 402 of the optical fiber 401.)
Regarding Claim 10
While Beigert substantially disclosed the claimed invention Beigert does not disclose (re. Claim 10) wherein the reception device further comprises a synchronization signal encoding unit, the demapping units generate the RGB data signal and a synchronization signal from the frame structure, output the RGB data signal to the data encoding unit, and output the synchronization signal to the synchronization signal encoding unit, the synchronization signal encoding unit encodes the synchronization signal from the demapping units and outputs the encoded synchronization signal to the data encoding unit, and the data encoding unit generates the signal of the video signal standard using the RGB data signal from the demapping units and the encoded synchronization signal from the synchronization signal encoding unit.
Zhao Figure 2, Paragraph 69 disclosed content synchronization techniques using the embedded timing information with Advanced Television Systems Committee ATSC receivers. The Receiver can obtain the embedded timecodes from the recovered watermarks to enable content synchronization.
Zhao Paragraph 100 disclosed wherein first content and the second content can be delivered to the consumer electronic device through different communication channels.
Zhao disclosed (re. Claim 10) wherein the reception device further comprises a synchronization signal encoding unit, the demapping units generate the RGB data signal (Zhao-Paragraph 64, metadata associated with a video stream that is being provided from an HDMI source to a sink can be indicated using a Video Auxiliary Video Information (AVI) InfoFrame such as (1) Pixel encoding format (RGB or YCbCr) ) and a synchronization signal from the frame structure, (Zhao-Figure 2, Paragraph 69, ATSC receiver can obtain the embedded timecodes from the recovered watermarks to enable content synchronization, Paragraph 100, first content and the second content can be delivered to the consumer electronic device through different communication channels)
output the RGB data signal to the data encoding unit, and output the synchronization signal to the synchronization signal encoding unit, the synchronization signal encoding unit encodes the synchronization signal from the demapping units and outputs the encoded synchronization signal to the data encoding unit, and the data encoding unit generates the signal of the video signal standard using the RGB data signal from the demapping units and the encoded synchronization signal from the synchronization signal encoding unit.(Zhao-Paragraph 101, synchronizing includes using the mapping to convert a third timecode that conforms to the second timing system to a fourth timecode that conforms to the first timing system, and presenting the portion of the second content associated with the third timecode in synchrony with the presentation of the portion of the first content associated with the fourth timecode.)
Beigert and Zhao are analogous art because they present concepts and practices regarding video transmission and reception systems. Before the time of the effective filing date of the claimed invention it would have been obvious to combine Tatum into Beigert. The motivation for the said combination would have been to mitigate the issues that can arise from the loss of content metadata that are carried in separate metadata channels.(Zhao-Paragraph 23)
Priority
This application claims benefits of priority from PCT Application PCT/JP2021/029297 (JAPAN) filed August 6, 2021.
The effective date of the claims described in this application is August 6, 2021.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Claim 3 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Claim 3 recites a limitation for claim dependency on cancelled Claim 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claim(s) 1,3-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Beigert (USPGPUB 20090060531) further in view of Tatum (US Patent 7548675)
Regarding Claim 1
Beigert Figure 2,Paragraph 51 disclosed wherein ONTs 28A and 28B may, in the downstream direction, receive optical signals via optical fiber link 11A, convert the optical signals to electrical signals, convert the electrical signals into MAC layer signals (e.g., frames, cells, packets or other data units), and distribute the MAC layer signals to the appropriate subscriber devices 36.
Beigert disclosed (re. Claim 1) and information processing system comprising: an information apparatus configured to process and transmit a signal; and a reception device configured to process the signal transmitted by the information apparatus and to output the processed signal to a UI device, (Beigert-Figure 2,Paragraph 51,ONTs 28A and 28B may, in the downstream direction, receive optical signals via optical fiber link 11A, convert the optical signals to electrical signals, convert the electrical signals into MAC layer signals (e.g., frames, cells, packets or other data units), and distribute the MAC layer signals to the appropriate subscriber devices 36)
wherein the information apparatus comprises one or a plurality of mapping units (Beigert-Paragraph 61, Optical MAC unit 52 provides the data units to gateway unit 54, which distributes the data units to the appropriate one of subscriber devices 36 via respective cables 44 ) configured to generate and map a signal having a frame structure suitable for communication with respect to a signal to be transmitted, (Beigert-Figure 2,Paragraph 51,ONTs 28A and 28B may convert the optical signals to electrical signals, convert the electrical signals into MAC layer signals (e.g., frames, cells, packets or other data units), and distribute the MAC layer signals to the appropriate subscriber devices 36)
a multiplexing unit configured to multiplex the signal mapped by the mapping units through a predetermined method, (Beigert-Paragraph 42, Multiple ONTs 28 may transmit upstream to OLT 12 over a common optical fiber link 11 using time division multiplexing techniques, and rely on downstream grant packets for assignment of upstream time slots to individual ONTs.)
and a transmission unit configured to transmit the signal multiplexed by the multiplexing unit to the reception device, (Beigert-Paragraph 42, Multiple ONTs 28 may transmit upstream to OLT 12 over a common optical fiber link 11 using time division multiplexing techniques, and rely on downstream grant packets for assignment of upstream time slots to individual ONTs.)
and the reception device comprises a reception unit configured to receive the multiplexed signal transmitted by the information apparatus, (Beigert-Paragraph 61, gateway unit 54, which distributes the data units to the appropriate one of subscriber devices 36 via respective cables 44 )
a separation unit configured to separate the multiplexed signal received by the reception unit, (Beigert-Paragraph 142, RF video distribution circuit 126 and UPS 128 may extract IP packets from the MAC layer signals and inspect IP destination addresses)
While Beigert substantially disclosed the claimed invention Beigert does not disclose (re. Claim 1) one or a plurality of demapping units configured to generate a data signal from the frame structure.
Tatum Figure 4,Column 7 Lines 45-50 disclosed a wavelength-division demultiplexer ("WDD") 408 and a plurality of ROSAs (or receiver chips) 409. The WDD 408 separates a multiplexed beam into separate beams of light of different wavelengths.
Tatum disclosed (re. Claim 1) one or a plurality of demapping units configured to generate a data signal from the frame structure.( Tatum-Figure 4,Column 7 Lines 45-50, wavelength-division demultiplexer ("WDD") 408 and a plurality of ROSAs (or receiver chips) 409. The WDD 408 separates a multiplexed beam into separate beams of light of different wavelengths.)
Beigert and Tatum are analogous art because they present concepts and practices regarding video transmission and reception systems. Before the time of the effective filing date of the claimed invention it would have been obvious to combine Tatum into Beigert. The motivation for the said combination would have been to enable deserializing the electrical serialized data signal back into several TMDS signals depending on the standard used by the digital sink device 320 (e.g. DVI or HDMI) (Tatum-Column 7 Lines 30-35)
Beigert-Tatum disclosed (re. Claim 1) map the video signal to a frame structure suitable for communication in a form of RGB (Red, Green, Blue) data (Tatum-Column 3 Lines 45, video pixels can be encoded in either RGB, YCBCR 4:4:4 or YCBCR 4:2:2 formats) that does not conform to a specific video signal standard as it is
Beigert-Tatum disclosed (re. Claim 1) wherein the reception device further comprises a data encoding unit configured to convert the RGB data signal generated by the demapping units into a signal of a video signal standard conforming to a signal standard of the UI device connected to the reception device.(Tatum-Column 7 Lines 30-35, WDD and ROSA deserializing the electrical serialized data signal back into several TMDS signals depending on the standard used by the digital sink device 320 (e.g. DVI or HDMI) )
Regarding Claim 6
Claim 6 (re. method) recites substantially similar claim limitations as Claim 1. Claim 6 is rejected on the same basis as Claim 1.
Regarding Claim 7
Claim 7 (re. non-transitory computer-readable storage medium) recites substantially similar claim limitations as Claim 1. Claim 7 is rejected on the same basis as Claim 1.
Regarding Claim 3
Beigert-Tatum disclosed (re. Claim 3) wherein the signal is a video signal, the mapping units map the video signal to a frame structure for communication in the form of RGB data, (Tatum-Column 3 Lines 45, video pixels can be encoded in either RGB, YCBCR 4:4:4 or YCBCR 4:2:2 formats) and the data encoding unit outputs a signal of a specific video signal standard on the basis of data generated by the demapping units.(Tatum-Column 7 Lines 30-35, WDD and ROSA deserializing the electrical serialized data signal back into several TMDS signals depending on the standard used by the digital sink device 320 (e.g. DVI or HDMI) )
Regarding Claim 4
Beigert-Tatum disclosed (re. Claim 4) wherein the information apparatus and the reception device are connected via a network,( (Beigert-Figure 2,Paragraph 51,ONTs 28A and 28B may, in the downstream direction, receive optical signals via optical fiber link 11A, convert the optical signals to electrical signals, convert the electrical signals into MAC layer signals (e.g., frames, cells, packets or other data units), and distribute the MAC layer signals to the appropriate subscriber devices 36) and the network includes at least one of an electrical cross-connect or an optical cross-connect. (Beigert-Paragraph 38, OLT 12 receives the voice, data and/or video information, and distributes the information along optical fiber links 11 in the form of optical signals to groups 26A and 26B)
Regarding Claim 5
Beigert-Tatum disclosed (re. Claim 5) wherein the information apparatus further processes and transmits an operation signal, and the reception device processes the operation signal transmitted by the information apparatus and outputs the processed signal to the Ul (Tatum- Column 9 Lines 40-45, electrical link 610 may be used to transmit information identifying the manufacturer and model number… include various handshaking, configuration, updating of firmware or software, or control signals.)
Regarding Claim 8
Beigert-Tatum disclosed (re. Claim 8) wherein the frame structure is an OTN (optical transport network).(Beigert Figure 2,Paragraph 51,ONTs 28A and 28B may, in the downstream direction, receive optical signals via optical fiber link 11A, convert the optical signals to electrical signals, convert the electrical signals into MAC layer signals (e.g., frames, cells, packets or other data units), and distribute the MAC layer signals to the appropriate subscriber devices 36.)
Regarding Claim 9
Beigert-Tatum disclosed (re. Claim 9) wherein the multiplexing unit performs ODU (optical-channel data unit) multiplexing processing in the OTN on the signal mapped by the mapping units. (Tatum-Figure 4, Column 7 Lines 60-65,The TOSAs 406 convert the electrical TMDS signals to optical signals and transmit the optical signals to the WDM 407. The WDM 407 receives the optical signals and combines the optical signals from the different transmitters (each at a different wavelength) into a multiplexed optical signal, and transmits the multiplexed optical signal onto a first end 402 of the optical fiber 401.)
Claim(s) 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Beigert (USPGPUB 20090060531) further in view of Tatum (US Patent 7548675) further in view of Zhao (USPGPUB 2016/0057317)
Regarding Claim 10
While Beigert-Tatum substantially disclosed the claimed invention Beigert-Tatum does not disclose (re. Claim 10) wherein the reception device further comprises a synchronization signal encoding unit, the demapping units generate the RGB data signal and a synchronization signal from the frame structure, output the RGB data signal to the data encoding unit, and output the synchronization signal to the synchronization signal encoding unit, the synchronization signal encoding unit encodes the synchronization signal from the demapping units and outputs the encoded synchronization signal to the data encoding unit, and the data encoding unit generates the signal of the video signal standard using the RGB data signal from the demapping units and the encoded synchronization signal from the synchronization signal encoding unit.
Zhao Figure 2, Paragraph 69 disclosed content synchronization techniques using the embedded timing information with Advanced Television Systems Committee ATSC receivers. The Receiver can obtain the embedded timecodes from the recovered watermarks to enable content synchronization.
Zhao Paragraph 100 disclosed wherein first content and the second content can be delivered to the consumer electronic device through different communication channels.
Zhao disclosed (re. Claim 10) wherein the reception device further comprises a synchronization signal encoding unit, the demapping units generate the RGB data signal (Zhao-Paragraph 64, metadata associated with a video stream that is being provided from an HDMI source to a sink can be indicated using a Video Auxiliary Video Information (AVI) InfoFrame such as (1) Pixel encoding format (RGB or YCbCr) ) and a synchronization signal from the frame structure, (Zhao-Figure 2, Paragraph 69, ATSC receiver can obtain the embedded timecodes from the recovered watermarks to enable content synchronization, Paragraph 100, first content and the second content can be delivered to the consumer electronic device through different communication channels)
output the RGB data signal to the data encoding unit, and output the synchronization signal to the synchronization signal encoding unit, the synchronization signal encoding unit encodes the synchronization signal from the demapping units and outputs the encoded synchronization signal to the data encoding unit, and the data encoding unit generates the signal of the video signal standard using the RGB data signal from the demapping units and the encoded synchronization signal from the synchronization signal encoding unit.(Zhao-Paragraph 101, synchronizing includes using the mapping to convert a third timecode that conforms to the second timing system to a fourth timecode that conforms to the first timing system, and presenting the portion of the second content associated with the third timecode in synchrony with the presentation of the portion of the first content associated with the fourth timecode.)
Beigert and Zhao are analogous art because they present concepts and practices regarding video transmission and reception systems. Before the time of the effective filing date of the claimed invention it would have been obvious to combine Tatum into Beigert. The motivation for the said combination would have been to mitigate the issues that can arise from the loss of content metadata that are carried in separate metadata channels.(Zhao-Paragraph 23)
Conclusion
Examiner’s Note: In the case of amending the claimed invention, Applicant is respectfully requested to indicate the portion(s) of the specification which dictate(s) the structure relied on for proper interpretation and also to verify and ascertain the metes and bounds of the claimed invention.
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GREG C BENGZON whose telephone number is (571)272-3944. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Friday 8 AM - 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, John Follansbee can be reached on (571) 272-3964. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/GREG C BENGZON/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2444
Prosecution Insights