DETAILED ACTION
1. This communication is in response to the latest submission having dated (01/23/2026) in which a three (3) Shortened Statutory Period for Response has been set.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
2. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Status
3. Upon new filing, claims (1 -2, 4 -12, 16-19) remain pending on this application, of which (1, 16 and 19) are the three (3) parallel running independent claims on record, being amended. Claims (13 -15) were cancelled.
Election by Original Presentation
4. The newly submitted list of claims (1 -2, 4 -12, 16-19) are directed to an invention that is independent and distinct from the originally filed one, as asserted in the Applicant’s remarks (see page 7), and for at least the reasons as discussed below:
4.1. Each invention (the “previous/original” and the “newly submitted”), while perhaps related, and enabled in the instant Specs, is/are considered to be distinct from one another, employing completely different sets of prediction tools, and essentially drawn to;
a) The original filed list of claims is/are directed to – (e.g. a video decoding device for predicting a current block, by deriving weights for the first predictor and the second predictor; able to generate a first predictor, (i.e. defined as inter prediction based on the motion information); a second predictor of the current block by using information on adjacent blocks of the current block and the motion information of the current block; wherein determining a representative mode by using the information of the adjacent blocks of the current block and the motion information of the current block;
b) The newly filed list of claims is/are directed to (e.g. a video decoding device for predicting a current block, employing weighted combination of a first prediction, (i.e. defined as an “IBC intra copy” tool); and a second prediction, (i.e. defined as “intra prediction” tool) …wherein determining the representative mode generating the second predictor includes: inferring the representative mode by using the information of the adjacent blocks of the current block;
4.2. Restriction is proper. There is a burden on the Office because the inventions require a new and totally different field of investigation and search strategies (e.g. search for different CPC subclasses and/or new search queries are required moving forward.).
4.3. Since applicant has received an OA action on the merits for the originally presented invention, and one has been constructively elected by original presentation for prosecution on the merits, the new submitted amendments will NOT be entered.
4.4. Since applicant’s representative has received an action on the merits for the originally presented Invention, this invention has been constructively elected by original presentation for prosecution on the merits.
Accordingly, the newly presented claims (1 -2, 4 -12, 16-19) are herein withdrawn from consideration as “non-elected” invention. See MPEP 821.03. & 37 CFR 1.142(b).).
4.5. If the period for reply set forth in the prior Office action has expired, this application will become abandoned unless applicant corrects the deficiency and obtains an extension of time under 37 CFR 1.136(a). The date on which the petition under 37 CFR 1.136(a) and the appropriate extension fee have been filed is the date for purposes of determining the period of extension and the corresponding amount of the fee. In no case may an applicant reply outside the SIX (6) MONTH statutory period or obtain an extension for more than FIVE (5) MONTHS beyond the date for reply set forth in an Office action. A fully responsive reply must be timely filed to avoid abandonment of this application.
Acknowledgements
5. Applicant's arguments received (01/23/2026) have been fully considered but they are not persuasive in view of the discussed above “Election by original presentation”.
5.1. The previously presented rejection under 35 USC 101 is maintained; (see prev. OA on the merits for details).
5.2. The previously presented rejection under 35 USC 103 on claims (1-19) is maintained; (see prev. OA on the merits for details).
Prior Art citation
6. The following List of prior art, made of record and not relied upon, is/are considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
6.1. Patent documentation:
US 10,742,971 B2 Seo; et al. H04N19/139; H04N19/105; H04N19/573;
US 11,109,057 B2 Lin; et al. H04N19/105; H04N19/52; H04N19/159;
US 11,172,203 B2 Chiang; et al. H04N19/105; H04N19/139; H04N19/159;
US 11,516,490 B2 Park; et al. H04N19/105; H04N19/132; H04N19/52;
US 20260129212 A1 Park; et al. H04N19/105; H04N19/159; H04N19/107;
US 20240364904 A1 Kang; et al. H04N19/44; H04N19/159; H04N19/109;
US 20190200011 A1 Yoo; et al. H04N19/176; H04N19/182; H04N19/167;
US 20240406407 A1 Jeon; et al. H04N19/11; H04N19/105; H04N19/52;
6.2. Non Patent Literature:
_ A fast HEVC transcoding based on content modeling and early termination; Peixoto; 2013;
_ Adaptive competition for motion vector prediction in multi-view video coding; Ryu – 2011;
Conclusions
7. In view of the above Examiner’s considerations, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.1 36(a). See also See MPEP 5 706.07(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 extension fee 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 date of this final action.
8. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LUIS PEREZ-FUENTES (luis.perez-fuentes@uspto.gov) whose telephone number is (571) 270 -1168. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, WILLIAM VAUGHN can be reached on (571) 272-3922. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is (571) 272 -3922. 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, 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 system, please call (800) 786 -9199 (USA OR CANADA) or (571) 272 -1000.
/LUIS PEREZ-FUENTES/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2481.
Prosecution Insights