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 .
Applicant’s response filed on May 22, 2026 has been entered and made of record.
Applicant's arguments filed May 22, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
In reply to Applicant’s remarks with regard to claim 1, see pages 9-10, the examiner would like to offer the following remarks:
With regard to Remark “control signaling from a second network entity” on first paragraph of page 10, it is noted that claim does not specifically define what the second network entity is. In Siddiqui, paragraph [0183], the universal demosaic 1432 receives information from processor 1404 and/or image sensor 1430, demosaics data generated by image sensor 1430, and outputs image onto bus 1420. The received information is the configuration of the image sensor from processor and/or image sensor. Thus, the received information is the so-called control signaling from the second network entity.
With regard to Remarks “control signaling indicating an image mask representing a color filter array that is used to generate mosaic images at the second network entity” on second and third paragraphs of page 10, Siddiqui does teach this claim limitation. For example, in Siddiqui, paragraph [0183], the received information from processor 1404 and/or image sensor 1430 defines the configuration of the image sensor. The configuration data includes data indicating a configuration of image sensor elements of the image sensor 1430 which is illustrated in figures 1-3. In figure 1, for example, it represents a color filter array. In this filter array configuration, there are 50 percent G, 25 percent R, and 25 percent B. Image from this filter configuration is an image mask representing such color filter array. Thus, the received information is the so-called control signal indicating an image mask representing a color filter array that is used to generate mosaic images at the second network entity. The mosaic 1432 demosaics the mosaic images generated by image sensor 1430 based on the received information.
In reply to Applicant’s remarks with regard to other claims, see last four lines of page 10 and page 11, it is noted that Applicant has referred to the remarks with to claim 1. Thus, the advanced statements with regard to claim above are incorporated herein.
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) 1-7, 9-15, 26-28 and 30 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Siddiqui et al. (U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2017/0237951 A1, Art of record IDS filed on 1/15/2025, and referred as Siddiqui hereinafter).
Regarding claim 1 as a representative claim, Siddiqui teaches a first network entity (see figures 14A-14B: housing 1408 comprises two wireless devices depicted at 1402a and 1402b and described in paras. [0171], [0175], [0180] and [0183]; each of 1408, 1420a and/or 1420b includes a transceiver 1414 having a transmitter 1410 and a receiver 1412; thus any one of 1408, 1420a, 1420b or 1414 or in combination thereof is the so-called network entity; this interpretation is consistent with instant spec. paras. [0004], [0156 and [0161], for example), comprising:
one or more memories storing processor-executable code (see memory depicted at 1406a in figure 14A and described in para. [0171] and at 1406b in figure 14B and described in para. [0180]); and
one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the first network entity to (see processor depicted at 1404 in both figures 14A (wireless device 1402a as a first network entity) and 14B (wireless device 1402b as a second network entity) and described in paras. [0171] and [0180]):
receive, at the first network entity, control signaling from a second network entity, the control signaling indicating an image mask representing a color filter array that is used to generate mosaic images at the second network entity (see para. [0183] (receiving information defining a configuration of the image sensor from one or more processors 1404 and the image sensor 1430; such information includes configuration information of the filters that filter light before it reaches the image sensor elements; such filtering is referred as masked per para. [0107]); para. [0052] (information of an image sensor configuration may include a size of each filter element in the CFA (color filter array per para. [0003]), periodicity of filter elements, the size of each filter element, and/or the size of each sensor element));
receive a first image at the first network entity from the second network entity over a wireless communications channel, wherein the first image is a single layer image comprising a mosaic pattern according to the color filter array (see para. [0183] (demosaic data generated by the image sensor 1430)); and
generate, at the first network entity, a second image based at least in part on the first image and the image mask, wherein the second image comprises multiple layers associated with colors of the second image (see paras. [0183] (“.. .Based at least on the received image sensor configuration information, the universal demosaic may demosaic data generated by the image sensor 1430 ....”) and [0060] (“FIG. 7 illustrates demosaicing of the single plane spectral image 500. In this example, the single plane spectral image 500 is processed by a method 1300, discussed with reference to FIG. 13A below, to produce a triple plane RGB image 700 .... “)).
Regarding claim 2, Siddiqui further teaches wherein generating the second image comprises applying, to the first image, a demosaicing filter that corresponds to the image mask to interpolate multiple layers of the second image from the first image (see para. ([0100] (...the sub-lattice parameters may be used to generate one or more modulation frequencies and/or a set of modulation coefficients. One or more of these generated components may be used to demosaic raw image data output by the particular image sensor...)).
Regarding claim 3, Siddiqui further teaches wherein the second image is generated at a physical layer of the first network entity (see para. ([0185] (...The wireless device 1402b may also include a digital signal processor (DSP) 1420 for use in processing signals…)).
Regarding claim 4, Siddiqui further teaches wherein, to receive the control signaling, the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the first network entity to: receive a pattern of colors associated with the color filter array (see para. [0101] (...the spectral components of the CFA pattern)).
Regarding claim 5, Siddiqui further teaches wherein receiving the control signaling indicating the image mask comprises receiving an index associated with the color filter array selected from a plurality of indices associated with a plurality of color filter arrays (see para. [0099] (...information indicative of an image sensor hardware configuration and determine the hardware information by accessing a look-up table or other stored information using the received information…)).
Regarding claim 6, Siddiqui further teaches wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the first network entity to: receive an indication of the plurality of indices associated with the plurality of color filter arrays (see para. [0099] (...one or more parameters defining the image sensor configuration may be hard coded or predetermined and dynamically read (or accessed) from a storage location by an electronic processor performing process 1300)).
Regarding claim 7, Siddiqui further teaches wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the first network entity to: transmit, to the second network entity, the second image or a second mosaic image based on the second image (see figures 14A and 14B: image generated by sensor in wireless device 1402a is sent to wireless device 1402b).
Regarding claim 9, Siddiqui further teaches wherein the control signaling is received in response to establishing a connection between the first network entity and the second network entity (see figures 14A and 14B: each wireless device comprises an antenna 1416 for transmitting and receiving data between themselves so such connection is inherently included).
Regarding claim 10, Siddiqui further teaches wherein the first image is a single layer image (see para. [0094] (...the image data may be any single plane image...]).
Regarding claim 11, Siddiqui further teaches wherein the control signaling is radio resource control (RRC) signaling, uplink control information (UCI) signaling, downlink control information (DCI) signaling, sidelink control information (SCI) signaling, or any combination thereof (see figures 14A and 14B: each wireless device comprises an antenna 1416 for transmitting and receiving data between themselves; para. [0040] (wireless connection); so such signaling is inherently included).
Regarding claim 12, Siddiqui teaches a first network entity (see para. [0171] (wireless device 1402a), comprising:
one or more memories storing processor-executable code (see [0171] (“Memory 1406a, which may include both read-only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM), may provide instructions and data to the processor 1404 ...”); and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the first network entity to (see para. [0171] (“…The processor 1404 typically performs logical and arithmetic operations based on program instructions stored within the memory 1406a ...”):
transmit, from the first network entity to a second network entity, control signaling indicating an image mask representing a color filter array that is used to generate mosaic images at the first network entity (see para. [0183] (information defining a configuration of the image sensor from one or more of the processor 1404 and/or the image sensor 1430); para. [0174] (An image sensor 1430 may capture images)); and
transmit a first image from the first network entity to the second network entity over a wireless communications channel, wherein the first image is a single layer image comprising a mosaic pattern according to the color filter array ([0183] (...data generated by the image sensor 1430 ...); para. [0174] (…The wireless device 1402a may also include a housing 1408 that may include a transmitter 1410 and/or a receiver 1412 to allow transmission and reception of data between the wireless device 1402a and a remote location. The transmitter 1410 and receiver 1412 may be combined into a transceiver 1414…); para. [0094] (...the image data may be any single plane image...)).
Regarding claim 13, Siddiqui further teaches wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the first network entity to: transmit the control signaling indicating the image mask comprises transmitting a pattern of colors associated with the color filter array (see para. [0101] (...the spectral components of the CFA pattern.)).
Regarding claim 14, Siddiqui further teaches wherein transmitting the control signaling indicating the image mask comprises transmitting an index associated with the color filter array selected from a plurality of indices associated with a plurality of color filter arrays (see para. [0099] (... receive information indicative of an image sensor hardware configuration and determine the hardware information by accessing a look-up table or other stored information using the received information ....)).
Regarding claim 15, Siddiqui further teaches wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the first network entity to: transmit an indication of the plurality of indices associated with the plurality of color filter arrays (see para. [0099] (...one or more parameters defining the image sensor configuration may be hard coded or predetermined and dynamically read (or accessed) from a storage location by an electronic processor performing process 1300.)).
Regarding claim 18, it is noted that this claim recites similar claim limitations called for in the counterpart claim 9 and thus is rejected for the same reasons as applied to claim 9 above.
Regarding claim 19, it is noted that this claim recites similar claim limitations called for in the counterpart claim 10 and thus is rejected for the same reasons as applied to claim 10 above.
Regarding claim 20, it is noted that this claim recites similar claim limitations called for in the counterpart claim 11 and thus is rejected for the same reasons as applied to claim 11 above.
Regarding claim 21, it is noted that this claim recites similar claim limitations called for in the counterpart claim 1 and thus is rejected for the same reasons as applied to claim 1 above.
Regarding claim 22, it is noted that this claim recites similar claim limitations called for in the counterpart claim 2 and thus is rejected for the same reasons as applied to claim 2 above.
Regarding claim 23, Siddiqui further teaches receiving the control signaling indicating the image mask comprises receiving a pattern of colors associated with the color filter array (see para. [0107]).
Regarding claim 24, Siddiqui further teaches The method of claim 21, wherein receiving the control signaling indicating the image mask comprises receiving an index associated with the color filter array selected from a plurality of indices associated with a plurality of color filter arrays (see para. [0107]).
Regarding claim 26, it is noted that this claim recites similar claim limitations called for in the counterpart claim 12 and thus is rejected for the same reasons as applied to claim 12 above.
Regarding claim 27, it is noted that this claim recites similar claim limitations called for in the counterpart claim 13 and thus is rejected for the same reasons as applied to claim 13 above.
Regarding claim 28, it is noted that this claim recites similar claim limitations called for in the counterpart claim 14 and thus is rejected for the same reasons as applied to claim 14 above.
Regarding claim 30, it is noted that this claim recites similar claim limitations called for in the counterpart claim 18 and thus is rejected for the same reasons as applied to claim 18 above.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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) 8, 17 and 25 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Siddiqui.
The advanced statements as applied to claims 1-7, 9-15, 26-28 and 30 above are incorporated hereinafter.
Regarding claims 8, 17 and 25, Siddiqui does not specifically teach wherein: the first image is a compressed image; and the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the first network entity to decompress the first image at the first network entity. However, using compression and decompression are well known in the art (Official Notice) in order to reduce data size for transmitting and receiving.
Therefore, before the effective filing date of instant claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to incorporate such compression and decompression in combination with Siddiqui for that reasons.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 16 and 29 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Regarding claims 16 and 29, the cited prior art does not teach or suggest claim limitations “wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the first network entity to: receive a second image from the second network entity, the second image generated based at least in part on the first image and the image mask, and the second image comprising multiple layers associated with colors of the second image or a second mosaic image”.
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 DUY M DANG whose telephone number is (571)272-7389. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday from 7:00AM to 3:00PM.
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DMD
6/2026
/DUY M DANG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2662
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