Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 25, 2026
Application No. 18/900,038

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VIDEO CODING USING ADAPTIVE MULTIPLE TRANSFORM SELECTION

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Sep 27, 2024
Priority
Mar 28, 2022 — RE 10-2022-0037971 +2 more
Examiner
BECK, LERON
Art Unit
2487
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Ewha University - Industry Collaboration Foundation
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
6m
Est. Remaining
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allowance Rate
717 granted / 893 resolved
+22.3% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+10.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
38 currently pending
Career history
950
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
8.8%
-31.2% vs TC avg
§103
52.3%
+12.3% vs TC avg
§102
12.5%
-27.5% vs TC avg
§112
12.3%
-27.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 893 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114 A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 8/3/2026 has been entered. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments have been considered but are moot in view of new grounds of rejections. 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. Claim(s) 1-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 20200304791 A1-Koo et al (Hereinafter referred to as “Koo”), in view of US 20190387241 A1-Kim et al (Hereinafter referred to as “Kim”). Regarding claim 1, Koo discloses a method performed by a video decoding device for decoding a current block (Fig. 2), the method comprising: obtaining a multiple-transform-selection index from a bitstream ([0141]; [0151]) and obtaining inverse-quantized residual signals of the current block from the bitstream ([0075-0076]); composing a plurality of multiple-transform-selection groups for the current block (Fig 8 shows multiple groups), wherein each of multiple-transform-selection groups comprises one or more transforms (Fig. 8 shows at least one transform in each group); selecting a multiple-transform-selection group from the multiple-transform- selection groups ([0129], wherein group may be determined; [0131, wherein groups may be selected); deriving a transform kernel from the multiple-transform-selection group by using the multiple-transform-selection index ([0134-0135]; [0149]); and generating inverse-transformed residual signals by inversely transforming the inverse-quantized residual signals by using the transform kernel ([0075-0076]; [0248]). wherein deriving the transform kernel is performed based on selecting one transform kernel among a predetermined number of transform candidates included in the selected multiple-transform-selection group (Fig 8, [0133-0136]), wherein the predetermined number is determined based on a value of the inverse-quantized residual signals ([0153-0154]). Koo fails to disclose wherein the predetermined number is determined based on a magnitude of the inverse-quantized residual signals However, in the same field of endeavor, Kim discloses wherein the predetermined number is determined based on a magnitude of the inverse-quantized residual signals (According to instant applicant’s Specification [0154], [0154] as described above, when the residual signals are small in magnitude and few in number, the coding efficiency can be improved by reducing the number of MTS candidates to reduce the overhead for MTS signaling. Furthermore, when the residual signals are large in magnitude and there are a large number of the residual signals, the coding efficiency may be improved by utilizing a larger number of MTS candidates to cope with the diversity of the more complex signals. Accordingly, different groups of MTSs may be utilized depending on the following conditions and combinations of one or more conditions. Therefore, to be consistent with applicant’s spec, Kim teaches this concepts in [0138-0139]) Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method disclosed by Koo to disclose wherein the predetermined number is determined based on a magnitude of the inverse-quantized residual signals as taught by Kim, to improving complexity by applying the primary transform only to a predefined region. The complexity may increase when combinations of various transforms (or transform kernels) (e.g., DCT2, DST7, DCT8, DST1, DCT5, etc.) such as MTS is optionally applied to the primary transform. In particular, as the size of the coding block (or transform block) increases, various transforms need to be considered, thereby remarkably increasing the complexity ([0365], Kim) . Regarding claim 2, Koo discloses the method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the inverse-quantized residual signals comprises: decoding quantized residual signals from the bitstream ([0270], decoding inverse quantization); and generating the inverse-quantized residual signals inversely quantizing the quantized residual signals ([0276]). Regarding claim 3, Koo discloses the method of claim 1, wherein each of the multiple-transform-selection groups comprises a primary transform ([0098-0099]). Regarding claim 4, Koo discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the one or more transforms correspond to a fixed transform kernel ([0171, preset is interpreted as fixed)). Regarding claim 5, Koo discloses the method of claim 1, wherein each of the multiple-transform-selection groups comprises at least one or more adaptive transform kernels0141], transform kernels, wherein composing the multiple-transform-selection groups comprises: decoding, from the bitstream, at least one index indicating the at least one or more adaptive transform kernels ([0202], wherein index as to which transform is to be applied). Regarding claim 6, Koo discloses the method of claim 3, wherein each of the multiple-transform-selection groups comprises a fixed transform kernel for the primary transform ([0217]), and further comprises at least one or more adaptive transform kernels (Fig 8), wherein composing the multiple-transform-selection groups comprises: decoding, from the bitstream, at least one index indicating the at least one or more adaptive transform kernels ([0141] adaptive index). Regarding claim 7, Koo discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the multiple-transform-selection groups comprise: some multiple-transform-selection groups that comprise at least one or more fixed transform kernels ([0171]); and other remaining multiple-transform-selection groups that comprise at least one or more adaptive transform kernels (Fig 8). Regarding claim 8, Koo discloses the method of claim 1, wherein selecting the multiple-transform-selection group comprises: selecting a different multiple-transform-selection group based on whether the current block is an intra block or I block or a predictive/bi-predictive block or P/B block ([0129], [0161], Fig 8). Regarding claim 9, Koo discloses the method of claim 1, wherein selecting the multiple-transform-selection group comprises: selecting a different multiple-transform-selection group based on a magnitude of a quantization parameter of the current block, a current frame, or a current sequence ([0075]). Regarding claim 10, Koo discloses the method of claim 1, wherein selecting the multiple-transform-selection group comprises: selecting a different multiple-transform-selection group based on an intra- prediction mode of the current block (Fig 8). Regarding claim 11, Koo discloses the method of claim 1, wherein selecting the multiple-transform-selection group comprises: selecting a different multiple-transform-selection group based on a width, height, or size of the current block ([0188]). Regarding claim 12, analyses are analogous to those presented for claim 1 and are applicable for claim 12, wherein encoding performs the opposite od decoding (fig.1, encoding) Regarding claim 13, analyses are analogous to those presented for claim 2 and are applicable for claim 13, quantization is the opposite of inverse quantization) Regarding claim 14, analyses are analogous to those presented for claim 1 and are applicable for claim 14. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LERON BECK whose telephone number is (571)270-1175. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 am-5pm. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, David Czekaj can be reached at (571) 272-7327. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. LERON . BECK Examiner Art Unit 2487 /LERON BECK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2487
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Prosecution Timeline

Sep 27, 2024
Application Filed
Nov 03, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Feb 02, 2026
Response Filed
May 05, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jul 06, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Aug 03, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Aug 09, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 05, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
80%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+10.8%)
2y 7m (~6m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 893 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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