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 .
Prior arts Cited in this office action:
Surti et al. (US 20180308211 A1, hereinafter “Surti”)
Harris (US 5394523, hereinafter “Harris”)
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed on 04/17/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant Arguments/Remarks: Surti does not teach, suggest, or disclose the features of "encoding a metadata with a location identifier configured to describe the locations of the image color data of the portion of the image within the portion of the memory in the interleaved format" as recited in independent claim 1 above.
Examiner’s Response: examiner disagrees with applicant assertion above that the combination of the cited prior arts does not teach or suggest applicant invention as claimed. Surtis plainly discloses that the compression metadata (or the identifier) is used to indicate whether the color is encoded and the encoded data and the location of the color information in the encoded data similar to applicant’s claim. Surti teaches “compression metadata 902 for the MSAA render target 912 is stored in memory to indicate the compression status for one or more portions (e.g., tiles) of the MSAA render target 912”… ‘the compression metadata 902 can also be used to map stored color data to multiple samples of a pixel”. Accompanying compressed data is compression metadata which maintains a compression status for a given cache line or tile. The compression metadata can include one or more bits per tile, cache line, cache block, etc., to indicate status such as compressed or uncompressed, or to indicate a particular form of compression that is in use (Surti [0131]-[0132], [0143]-[0144]). In other words, the location of the color information in the encoded data is indicated by the metadata information especially when the data is able to being compressed. Furthermore, Harris teaches means responsive to the stored attribute for creating a painter object which modifies pixel data in the selected ones of the plurality of locations in order to change the appearance of the plurality of pixels in a predetermined manner based on the stored attribute. In the preferred embodiment, all subclasses initially have component interleaved memory organization. In the preferred embodiment, TComponentInterleavedPixelBuffer is a subclass of TPixelBuffer. Preferably, all PixelBuffers are derived from TPixelBuffers. FIG. 30 is a class hierarchy diagram which demonstrates the TPixelBuffer class lineage.
Referring now to FIG. 32, in the preferred embodiment, TComponentInterleavedPixelBuffer 500 is a subclass of TPixelBuffer that provides base level support for the specification of a component interleaved or chunky pixelbuffer. additional PixelBuffer subclasses can be created for supporting device specific color models such as CMYK requires new subclasses or for image editors to add component interleaved tiler, or component planar PixelBuffer subclasses to leverage locality of reference. In other words, one can see that the location of the pixel in the interleaved buffet indicates the color of the pixel or how the color should be modified for displaying.
Furthermore, applicant is reminded that the test for obviousness is not whether the features of a secondary reference may be bodily incorporated into the structure of the primary reference; nor is it that the claimed invention must be expressly suggested in any one or all of the references. Rather, the test is what the combined teachings of the references would have suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. See In re Keller, 642 F.2d 413, 208 USPQ 871 (CCPA 1981). In this case, performing compression or interleaving of pixels and storing the pixels according to color information and include the color information corresponding to the location of the pixel in the encoded data such that a receiver or a display can access, decode or deinterleave the encoded bit stream received and render the color accordingly.
Claims 9, 16 and 26 contains similar limitations as claim 1 and are therefore not allowable for the same reason given with regard to claim 1.
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.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 4, 6, 12, 21 and 23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 4 recites “wherein the location identifier is configured to indicate to an image decoder device that a component of the image color data is one of compressed as part of a previous image data block, begins a first sized image data block, begins a second sized image data block, is a first constant value, or is a second constant value” it is not clear to the office what is being claimed here. Applicant seems to claim that the identifier is used to indicate the location of the color data in a compressed (or encoded data) data (such as part of the previous block), or is it to indicate whether the data is compress or not? then it is change as if the identifier is used to indicate the size of the data block. What begins a size of the data block means? Does applicant mean the color data start at the beginning of the current block? What does “begins a second sized image data block” mean? Does it mean the color data is located at the beginning of the next data block? The claims seem to indicate that the identifier is a constant. Does applicant mean that the color data is at a constant position in each block?
A tentative claim amendment (as best understood by the office) should read ““wherein the location identifier is configured to indicate to an image decoder device that a component of the image color data in the encoded data is at one of: part of the previous image data block, at the beginning of the image data block, at the beginning of a second data block, at a first constant position (or location) in the data blocks, or at a second constant (position or location) in the data block”.
Note: this is just a suggestion to give applicant guidance to clarify the claim not the it should be used as it is and proper support needs to be determined by the applicant. appropriate explanation and/or correction is respectfully requested.
Claims 6, 12, 21, and 23 contains similar limitation and are therefore rejected on the same ground as claim 4.
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.
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 1-3, 5,7-11, 13-20, 22, and 24-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Surti et al. (US 20180308211 A1, hereinafter “Surti”) in view of Harris (US 5394523, hereinafter “Harris”).
Regarding claims 1 and 9:
Surti teaches A method performed by a processing system of a computing device for image compression (Surti [0142]-[0143], fig. 9, where Surti teaches in one embodiment the pixel processor 922 can be configured with multisample compression logic such that only unique sample color values are output for a pixel), comprising:
identifying locations of image color data of a portion of an image within a
portion of a memory in an interleaved format (Surti [0012], [0031], [0133],[0136]-[0137], [0142]-[0148], figs 8, where Surti teaches to restrain bandwidth consumption, various forms of compression can be used. When lossless color compression techniques are implemented for a multisample render target, storing the samples in an interleaved manner can increase the efficiency of such techniques in comparison to planar techniques of storing sample data); and
encoding a metadata with a location identifier configured to describe the locations of the image color data of the portion of the image within the portion of the memory in the interleaved format (Surti [0143]-[0144], where, Surti teaches compression metadata 902 for the MSAA render target 912 is stored in memory to indicate the compression status for one or more portions (e.g., tiles) of the MSAA render target 912. In one embodiment if the compression 928 logic can compress a data tile of the MSAA render target 912 without loss of data, the data tile is stored in memory in a compressed format and the compression metadata 902 for the tile is updated to indicate that the tile is compressed. Additionally, the compression metadata 902 can also be used to map stored color data to multiple samples of a pixel).
Harris teaches similar limitations such as A pixel's attributes may describe its color, intensity and location, for example. Thus, to change the color, intensity or location of a pixel, one simply changes the digital values for that particular attribute (Harris col. 1 lines 36-40, col. 8 lines 38-55). there are numerous ways that to organize pixel memory. These include component interleaved, component planar, or bit planar, tiled, and hierarchical versions of the these. The list of possibilities is constantly expanding (col. 23 lines 46-col 24 line 6).
Therefore, taking the teachings of Surti and Harris as a whole, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application, to identify the location of the color in the image in the interleave memory and encode a metadata with the location identifier, in order for the system to be used by general-purpose graphics processing unit.
Regarding claims 2 and 10:
Surti in view of Harris teaches wherein encoding the metadata with the location identifier comprises encoding image data format agnostic metadata (Surti [0012], [0031], [0136]-[0137], [0142]-[0148], figs 8).
Regarding claims 3 and 11:
Surti in view of Harris teaches further comprising generating the location identifier based on the locations of the image color data of the portion of the image within the portion of the memory in the interleaved format (Surti [0012], [0031], [0136]-[0137], [0142]-[0148], figs 8).
Regarding claim 4, 6, 12, 21 and 23:
Surti in view of Harris teaches wherein the location identifier is configured to indicate to an image decoder device that a component of the image color data is one of compressed as part of a previous image data block, begins a first sized image data block, begins a second sized image data block, is a first constant value, or is a second constant value (Surti [0137], [0146]).
Regarding claims 5 and 13:
Surti in view of Harris teaches wherein the location identifier is configured to indicate to an image decoder device that all components of the image color data are a constant value (Surti [0135], [0143], where Surti teaches If a single value is present for all samples, only a single value is stored in a single plane. Before a final image is output, an MSAA resolve operation is performed on the tile in which the color values for each sample of a pixel are combined. If only a single value is stored for a pixel, the resolve operation uses the single value. In one embodiment, if multiple different color values are stored for differing samples for a pixel, the color values may be averaged).
Regarding claims 7 and 14:
Surti in view of Harris teaches wherein the image color data of the portion of the image within the portion of the memory in the interleaved format includes compressed image color data for at least one component of the image color data (Surti [0012], [0031], [0136]-[0137], [0142]-[0148], figs 8).
Regarding claims 8 and 15:
Surti in view of Harris teaches wherein the image color data of the portion of the image within the portion of the memory in the interleaved format includes a plurality of components of the image color data such that each of the plurality of components represents one of a color value or a transparency value (Surti [0012], [0031], [0136]-[0137], [0142]-[0148], figs 8).
Regarding claim 16:
Surti in view of Harris teaches A method performed by a processing system of a computing device for
image decompression, comprising:
decoding a metadata with a location identifier configured to describe
locations of image color data of a portion of an image within a portion of a
memory in an interleaved format; and
identifying the locations of the image color data of the portion of the
image within the portion of the memory in the interleaved format from the
location identifier. (The subject-matter of independent claim 16 corresponds in, terms of an image decompression method, to that of claim 1. The above objections raised in respect of this latter claim therefore also apply, mutatis mutandis, to independent claim 16, see also Surti [0052], [0124]-[0126], fig. 6).
Regarding claim 17-25:
The subject-matter of dependent claim 17 corresponds in, terms of an image
decompression method, to that of claim 2. The subject-matter of dependent claims 18-20 corresponds in, terms of an image decompression method, to that of claim 3, wherein the aspect of multiple components of image color data is disclosed in the cited passages of each of documents D1-D3 (references to red, green and blue components). The subject-matter of dependent claims 21-25 corresponds in, terms of an image decompression method, to that of claims 4-8, respectively. The above objections raised in respect of claims 2-8 therefore also apply, mutatis mutandis, to dependent claims 17-25
Regarding claim 26:
The subject-matter of independent claim 26 corresponds in, terms of a computing device, to that of claim 16. The above objections raised in respect of this latter claim therefore also apply, mutatis mutandis, to independent claim 26. Therefore claim 26 is rejected on the same ground as claim 16
Regarding claims 27-30:
The subject-matter of dependent claim 27, 28, 29 and 30 respectively corresponds in, terms of an image decompression method, to that of claim 18, 19, 20 and 25. The above objections raised in respect of this latter claim Therefore, also apply, mutatis mutandis, to dependent claims 27-30
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 WEDNEL CADEAU whose telephone number is (571)270-7843. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 9:00-5:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Chieh Fan can be reached at 571-272-3042. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/WEDNEL CADEAU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2632 May 15, 2026
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