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 .
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 1-3, 5-6, 8, 10-16, 20-28 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 1 recites “optionally transmitting…” It is not clear as to whether or not the step of transmitting is positively recited. Therefore, the scope of the claim cannot be ascertained.
Claim 10 recites “optionally generating…” It is not clear as to whether or not the step of generating is positively recited. Therefore, the scope of the claim cannot be ascertained.
It is suggested that the term “optionally” be deleted from claims 1 and 10.
Allowable Subject Matter
McGrath et al. (US 2023/0343346 A1, “McGrath) teach a method for encoding an Ambisonics input audio signal, the method comprising providing the input audio signal to a SPAR encoder 101 and an EVS encoder 105 (para. 0058-0060), but does not teach or fairly suggest providing the input audio signal to a DirAC analyzer, and generating an encoder bit stream based on output of the SPAR encoder and based on output of the DirAC analyzer and parameter encoder, as recited in claim 1.
McGrath teaches a method for decoding an encoder bit stream which is indicative of an Ambisonics input audio signal, the method comprising: generating an intermediate Ambisonics signal using a SPAR decoder 106 and an EVS decoder 107, but does not teach or fairly suggest processing the intermediate Ambisonics signals using a DirAC synthesizer, as recited in claim 10.
Fuchs et al. (US 2020/0357421 A1, “Fuchs”) teach a method for encoding an Ambisonics input audio signal, the method comprising: providing the input audio signal to a DirAC analysis 210 and spatial metadata encoder 220 (Fig. 3, para. 0020), but does not teach or fairly suggest providing the input audio signal to a SPAR encoder, and generating an encoder bit stream based on output of the SPAR encoder and based on output of the DirAC analyzer and parameter encoder, as recited in claim 1.
Fuchs teaches a method for decoding an encoder bit stream which is indicative of an Ambisonics input audio signal, the method comprising: generating an intermediate Ambisonics signal using a DirAC synthesizer 800 (Fig. 3), but does not teach or fairly suggest generating the intermediate Ambisonics signals using a SPAR decoder, as recited in claim 10.
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant's reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with. See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Eckert et al. (US 2023/0215445 A1) teach encoding an Ambisonics audio signal using a SPAR encoder. Sen et al. (US 2021/0098004 A1) teach encoding an Ambisonics audios signal.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Stella L Woo whose telephone number is (571)272-7512. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ahmad Matar can be reached at 571-272-7488. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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STELLA L. WOO
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2693
/Stella L. Woo/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2693
Prosecution Insights