Detailed Action
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
2. The amendment filed 12/4/25 has been entered. Claims 2, 12, and 14 have been cancelled. Claims 1, 3-7, 9-11, 13, and 15-20 are pending.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Claim(s) 1, 5-7, 9-11, 13, and 17-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gauglitz et al “Gauglitz” (US 2022/0239987 A1) and Zhu (CN 114610423 B) and Malia et al “Malia” (CN 112639970).
(Please see the attached copy of Malia and the previously attached copy of Zhu that number paragraphs in the same format as that used in this Action).
6. Regarding claim 1, Gauglitz shows a media content display method, comprising: receiving a display operation for a first media content (para 13 shows displaying a photo on an interface); and displaying, in response to the display operation and in a media content display page, the first media content, wherein the first media content comprises at least two sub-media contents (para 13-14, Figure 1 show displaying several sub-photo content associated with the same event and first photo), a current processing control corresponding to a current processing mode is also displayed within the media content display page (para 13, 39, 49 show an editing mode to edit the photo(s)), the current processing mode is a media content processing mode adopted by a current sub-media content of the first media content that is currently displayed within the media content display page (para 29, 49, 50 for example show the editing mode is used by the particular sub-photo in the story and that is currently displayed) and the current processing control is configured to trigger the display of a processing effect of the current processing mode (para 39, 49, 50 show controls to perform the editing effect on the photo on the display). Gauglitz does not explicitly show the media content display page is for displaying published media content per se such that sub-media content currently displayed has been published and the display of the processing effect of the current processing mode is displayed even after the current sub-media content has been published. However, Zhu shows the media content display page is for displaying published media content per se such that sub-media content currently displayed has been published and the display of the processing effect of the current processing mode is displayed even after the current sub-media content has been published (para 117, 129 show a media content display page for displaying an already published piece of content – aka sub-content - from the APP2. The content editing interface then is displayed in the current mode for editing the published content). It would have been obvious to a person with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to have this in Gauglitz, because it would provide a convenient and efficient way to trigger the display of a processing (editing) effect of the current processing (editing) mode so that the user can edit stories and photos that have been published. The user would then be able to edit the published content directly. Gauglitz shows switching the current processing control from a first processing control to a second processing control in response to the current sub-media content being switched from a first sub-media content to a second sub-media content (para 39, 49, 50 show when switching to a new sub-photo in the story, the editing mode switches back to regular display mode), wherein the first processing control corresponds to a first processing mode adopted by the first sub-media content, and the second processing control corresponds to a second processing mode adopted by the second sub-media content (para 49, 50, the editing mode was for one sub-photo and the regular display mode is for the other sub-photo). Furthermore, Gauglitz shows current processing mode comprises at least one of a template, filter, and an effect (note the alternative recitation - Gauglitz para 39, 46, 103 shows the mode may include an effect). Note Gauglitz para 52, 53, 55 show screen shots comparing the effects of different cameras or moving the anchor within the EventStory, and Gauglitz para 75, 96-97 show the effect used by the publisher when the new item is inserted, but Gauglitz (and Zhu) do not explicitly show the effect is the one adopted by a publisher of the first media content when processing the current sub-media content of the first media content per se, such that the first processing control indicates the effect adopted by the first sub-media content, and the second processing control indicates an effect that has been adopted by the second sub-media content. Malia however does show an effect adopted by a publisher of a first media content when processing a current sub-media content of the first media content, such that a first processing control indicates the effect adopted by the first sub-media content, and a second processing control indicates an effect that has been adopted by the second sub-media content (para 111-113 show a first effect control indicated as being applied to a first image content, and when switching to the next image, the effect control changes to indicate the one applied to that next image). It would have been obvious to a person with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to have this in Gauglitz, especially as modified by Zhu, because it would provide a convenient and efficient way to help the user decide which effect if any to use based on what was already applied, and to directly process the added effect accordingly.
7. Regarding claim 5, switching the current processing control from the first processing control to the second processing control comprises: in response to the existence of the first processing mode and the second processing mode, switching the current processing control from the first processing control to the second processing control (Gauglitz para 39, 40 show the regular mode can be switched to the editing mode when selected).
8. Regarding claim 6, in response to the inexistence of the first processing mode and the existence of the second processing mode, additionally displaying the second processing control in a preset area of the media content display page (Gauglitz para 65 shows the editing in the EventStory can be displayed in one area of the display, and para 72 shows the edits to certain media elements persist between screens).
9. Regarding claim 7, please note the alternative recitation. Gauglitz shows additionally displaying the second processing control in the preset area of the media content display page comprises: in response to the display of a target control in addition to the second processing control in the preset area, keeping the display of the target control and displaying the second processing control at a preset display position of the preset area, and adjusting a display position of the target control in the preset area based on the preset display position (Gauglitz para 65, 67 shows editing within the EventStory in the preset area on the display may cause a new thumbnail or other occurrence which shifts the display of the EventStory, para 72 shows how the user may edit some photos and change the ordering).
10. Regarding claim 9, after displaying an effect display window of the current processing mode, the method further comprises:
in response to a trigger operation for performing media content processing using the current processing mode, displaying an album page of the user, wherein the album page is configured for selecting a first media content to be processed by the user (Gauglitz para 69, 86, 103 show grouping the photo thumbnails together as a group or page for selection); and in response to a selection completion operation on the album page, obtaining a first target media content by using the current processing mode to process the first media content to be processed that the user selects on the album page (para 69, 86, 103 show that a photo may be selected from the group for display or editing, also para 57 shows that the EventStory can be represented by the first frame).
11. Regarding claim 10, after displaying the first media content on the media content display page, the method further comprises: in response to a third trigger operation for the current processing control, displaying a shooting page, and displaying a preview effect of the current processing mode on the shooting page (Gauglitz para 39, 51, 55 show the recording mode with ability to preview a selected camera or anchor or effect, and para 73 shows a preview icon); and in response to a shooting operation on the shooting page, obtaining a second target media content by using the current processing mode to process a second media content to be processed that is obtained through shooting (Gauglitz para 54-56 show that a second photo can be edited from the same effect used during recording).
12. Regarding claim 11, in response to a media content generation operation, generating a second media content using a target media content, wherein the target media content comprises at least one of the first target media content and the second target media content (Gauglitz para 72 shows how a second photo may be inserted or used to replace a first photo in the EventStory).
13. Claims 13 shows the same features as claims 1 and is rejected for the same reasons. Additionally regarding claim 13: note that Gauglitz para 45 shows the memory in communication with the server and/or device processor(s) and storing the computer program executed by the processor(s) to carry out the method. Gauglitz does not explicitly show the current processing mode displayed on the current processing control. Zhu however does show the current processing mode displayed on the current processing control (para 117, 121, 129 shows the current editing processing mode displayed on the display control interface). It would have been obvious to a person with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to have this in Gauglitz, because it would provide a convenient and efficient way to edit the published content directly.
14. Claims 17-19 show the same features as claims 5-7 respectively and are rejected for the same reasons.
15. Claim 20 shows the same features as claim 1 and is rejected for the same reasons. Additionally, Gauglitz para 45 shows the non-transitory computer readable storage medium (tangible computer readable memory) storing computer instructions executed by a processor to carry out the method.
16. Claim(s) 3-4 and 15-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gauglitz and Zhu and Malia and Sepulveda et al “Sepulveda” (US 2022/0342443 A1).
17. Regarding claim 3, please note the alternative recitation. Gauglitz and Zhu and Malia do not explicitly show switching the current processing control from the first processing control to the second processing control comprises: canceling the display of the first processing control and displaying the second processing control. Sepulveda does however show switching the current processing control from the first processing control to the second processing control comprises: canceling the display of the first processing control and displaying the second processing control (para 551 shows canceling the changes/edits and reverting back to the original mode). It would have been obvious to a person with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to have this in Gauglitz, especially as modified by Zhu and Malia, because it would provide an efficient way to return to the regular EventStory display mode when deciding to not do an edit.
18. Regarding claim 4, in addition to that mentioned for claim 3, the current associated content comprises a type identification and a processing mode identification of the current processing mode (Gauglitz para 35, 36, 48, 57 show identifying the type of media and event). Furthermore, note the alternative recitation regarding switching the current associated content displayed in the current processing control from the first associated content to the second associated content. Gauglitz and Zhu and Malia do not explicitly show in response to the first type identification of the first processing mode being different from the second type identification of the second processing mode, canceling the display of the first associated content in the current processing control, and displaying the second associated content in the current processing control. Sepulveda however does show in response to the first type identification of the first processing mode being different from the second type identification of the second processing mode, canceling the display of the first associated content in the current processing control, and displaying the second associated content in the current processing control (para 510, 551 shows when the focus selector is on a primary display mode, which is different than the overlay display mode, the first content associated with the overlay display mode is cancelled and the content changes to second content associated with the primary display mode). It would have been obvious to a person with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to have this in Gauglitz, especially as modified by Zhu and Malia, because it would provide an efficient way to return to the regular EventStory display mode when deciding to not do an edit presented in an overlay display.
19. Claims 15-16 show the same features as claims 3-4 respectively and are rejected for the same reasons.
Response to Arguments
20. Applicant's arguments filed 6/27/25 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that Gauglitz, Zhu, Wood, and Sepulveda, and Wood do not show the amended features of the independent claims. However, Malia is brought in to show these features including indicating the effect.
Conclusion
21. 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.
22. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
a) Van OS (US 2018/0088795 A1) shows an interface for editing photos and creating albums.
b) Chaudhri (EP 4113268 A1) shows an editing mode interface for applying edits to photos.
C) Xie (CN 115857769 A) shows an interface that allows re-editing of published content.
d) Leguin (CA 2788922 A1) displays an edited content window and a window with the original content for comparison.
23. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEVEN PAUL SAX whose telephone number is (571)272-4072. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 9:30 - 6:00 Est.
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/STEVEN P SAX/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2146
Prosecution Insights