DETAILED ACTION
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see application, filed 07/01/2026, with respect to the majority of the 112 rejections have been fully considered and are persuasive. The majority of the 112 rejections have been withdrawn.
Applicant argues that the parent application (not clear which application applicant is referring to) fails to disclose “a quantization unit configured to quantize transform coefficients in a block in an image, using a first quantization matrix, wherein the block comprises a luma component and chroma components, and the first quantization matrix is a quantization matrix for one of components comprising the luma component and the chroma components, wherein a code amount of information representing that the first mode is used is less than a code amount of information representing that the second mode is used”. The examiner respectfully disagrees. App. ‘566 claims the above limitations in claims 1-2, App. ‘585 claims the above limitations in claims 1-2 & App. ‘615 claims the above limitations in claims 1-2.
Applicant argues that the 112a rejection in regards to para. [0072] merely suggests one possible variation. However, this provides support for additional quantization matrices when the claim is attempting to limit the quantization matrices to “only” three sizes when the block size is equal to or smaller than 8x8.
Applicant’s amendments have overcome the prior 112 rejections but has removed the allowable subject matter from the independent claims. Therefore, the prior art previously cited still applies. Lim disclose the limitations “wherein for a block size which is equal to or smaller than 8x8, only quantization matrices of three sizes are decoded as the second quantization matrices” and “the sizes correspond to 2x2, 4x4 and 8x8” (Lim, para. 0015 and/or 0309, 0619 and 1063-1064). Furthermore, Tanaka discloses encoding the quantization matrices of smallest to largest (Tanaka, para. 0182 and Fig. 13).
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 .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. 17/695,638, filed on 03/30/2022.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-4, 6-9 and 11-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. The limitation “wherein for a block size which is equal to or smaller than 8x8, only quantization matrices of three sizes are decoded as the second quantization matrices” appears to be new subject matter. For example, applicant’s published spec. para. [0072] states in part “the quantization matrices that are generated are, however, not limited thereto, and quantization matrices corresponding to the shape of the subblocks such as 4x8 and 8x4 may be generated”. Therefore, the specification provides support for non-square matrices when the block size is equal to or smaller than 8x8.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-4, 6-9 and 11-12 are provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-3, 5-6 and 8-9 of copending Application No. 18/910,566. This instant application is broader in claim scope and omits a limitation from the co-pending app. ‘566. Additionally, co-pending app. ‘566 claims the luma/chroma details in claim 2.
This is a provisional nonstatutory double patenting rejection.
Claims 1-4, 6-9 and 11-12 are provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-3, 5-6 and 8-9 of copending Application No. 18/910,585. This instant application is broader in claim scope and omits a limitation from the co-pending app. ‘585. Additionally, co-pending app. ‘585 claims the luma/chroma details in claim 2.
This is a provisional nonstatutory double patenting rejection.
Claims 1-4, 6-9 and 11-12 are provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-3, 5-9 and 11-15 of copending Application No. 18/910,615. This instant application is broader in claim scope. Additionally, co-pending app. ‘615 claims the luma/chroma details in claim 2.
This is a provisional nonstatutory double patenting rejection.
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.
Claims 1-4, 6-9 and 11-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lim et al. (herein after will be referred to as Lim) (US 20220321885) in view of Lim et al. (herein after will be referred to as Lim '396) (US 20150334396) and in further view of Tanaka (US 20150063447).
Regarding claim 1, Lim discloses an image encoding apparatus comprising:
a quantization unit configured to quantize transform coefficients in a block in an image, using a first quantization matrix, [See Lim [0024] Quantizing transform coefficients of a current block of a current picture based on the quantization matrix set. Also, see Fig. 1, quantization unit (140).]
wherein the block comprises a luma component and chroma components, and the first quantization matrix is a quantization matrix for one of components comprising the luma component and the chroma components; and [See Lim [0098] Block includes luma and two chroma components. Also, see Figs. 9-17, quantization matrices for luma/chroma.]
an encoding unit configured to encode the first quantization matrix, [See Lim [Fig. 1] Entropy encoding unit (150).]
wherein (a) in a case where a first mode is used to encode the first quantization matrix, the encoding unit encodes, into a scaling list data syntax structure, information indicating that the first quantization matrix is the same as a second quantization matrix to be referenced, and encodes, into the scaling list data syntax structure, information for specifying the second quantization matrix, [See Lim [1045] Quantization matrix copy mode. Also, see 1047. Also, see 1069-1073, syntax elements for flags are Golomb coded. Also, see 0472-0475, scaling_list_pred_mode flag.]
(b) in a case where a second mode is used to encode the first quantization matrix, the encoding unit encodes, into the scaling list data syntax structure, the information for specifying the second quantization matrix, and encodes, into the scaling list data syntax structure, information for deriving a difference between an element of the first quantization matrix and an element of the second quantization matrix, and [See Lim [1046] Inter-quantization matrix prediction mode. Also, see 1047. Also, see 1069-1073, syntax elements for flags are Golomb coded. Also, see 0472-0475, scaling_list_pred_mode flag.]
(c) in a case where a third mode is used to encode the first quantization matrix, the encoding unit encodes a difference between an element and another element within the first quantization matrix, [See Lim [1046] Intra-quantization matrix DPCM mode. Also, see 1047. Also, see 0472-0475, scaling_list_pred_mode flag. Also, see 1069-1073, syntax elements for flags are Golomb coded.]
wherein a size of the second quantization matrix can only be 2x2, 4x4, or 8x8, [See Lim [1063-1064] The embodiments are applicable only when the size of the current block is equal to or less than 8x8. Also, see 0015, Quantization matrix is defined according to a size of a block.]
wherein the second quantization matrix having a size of 2x2 can be applied to chroma blocks, and the second quantization matrix having a size of 2x2 is not applied to luma blocks, and [See Lim [0494-0495] Quantization matrix having size of 2x2 is not used for luma, and quantization matrix having size of 2x2 is used for chroma.]
wherein for a block size which is equal to or smaller than 8x8, only quantization matrices of three sizes are decoded as the second quantization matrices, and [See Lim [1063-1064] The embodiments are applicable only when the size of the current block is equal to or less than 8x8. Also, see 0015, Quantization matrix is defined according to a size of a block. Also, see 0619, quantization matrix having a size of 2x2, 4x4, or 8x8.]
the second quantization matrix having the size of 2x2 [See Lim [1063-1064] The embodiments are applicable only when the size of the current block is equal to or less than 8x8. Also, see 0015, Quantization matrix is defined according to a size of a block. Also, see 0619, quantization matrix having a size of 2x2, 4x4, or 8x8.]
Lim does not explicitly disclose
wherein a code amount of information representing that the first mode is used is less than a code amount of information representing that the second mode is used,
wherein the code amount of information representing that the first mode is used is less than a code amount of information representing that the third mode is used,
wherein the second quantization matrix having the size of 2x2 is encoded first, when encoding the second quantization matrix having the size of 2x2, the second quantization matrix having a size of 4x4, and the second quantization matrix having a size of 8x8.
However, Lim '396 does disclose
wherein a code amount of information representing that the first mode is used is less than a code amount of information representing that the second mode is used, [See Lim '396 [0203] Scaling list pred mode flag is 0 when matrices are identical and copying is used, and scaling list pred mode flag is 1 when prediction is used. Also, see 0049, exp-Golmb coding.]
It would have been obvious to the person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the effective filing date to modify the apparatus by Lim to add the teachings of Lim '396, in order to improve upon coding efficiency [See Lim '386 [0005]].
Lim (modified by Lim '386) do not explicitly disclose
wherein the code amount of information representing that the first mode is used is not greater than a code amount of information representing that the third mode is used,
wherein the second quantization matrix having the size of 2x2 is encoded first, when encoding the second quantization matrix having the size of 2x2, the second quantization matrix having a size of 4x4, and the second quantization matrix having a size of 8x8.
However, Tanaka does disclose
wherein the code amount of information representing that the first mode is used is not greater than a code amount of information representing that the third mode is used, [See Tanaka [0119-0123] 1st mode is 0, 2ⁿᵈ mode is 1 and 3ʳᵈ mode is 2. Also, see 0195, Golomb coding.]
wherein the second quantization matrix having the size of 2x2 is encoded first, when encoding the second quantization matrix having the size of 2x2, the second quantization matrix having a size of 4x4, and the second quantization matrix having a size of 8x8. [See Tanaka [0182] Loops for every size and type of quantization matrix, starting at size 0 (i.e. in view of Lim, 2x2 will be encoded first).]
It would have been obvious to the person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the effective filing date to modify the apparatus by Lim (modified by Lim '396) to add the teachings of Tanaka, in order to improve upon coding efficiency related to quantization matrices [See Tanaka [0009-0010]].
Regarding claim 2, Lim (modified by Lim '396 and Tanaka) disclose the apparatus of claim 1. Furthermore, Lim discloses
wherein the first quantization matrix is for the luma component. [See Lim [Figs. 9-17] quantization matrices for luma/chroma.]
Regarding claim 3, Lim (modified by Lim '396 and Tanaka) disclose the apparatus of claim 1. Furthermore, Lim discloses
wherein the chroma components comprises a Cb component and a Cr component. [See Lim [0018] Cr and Cb components.]
Regarding claim 4, Lim (modified by Lim '396 and Tanaka) disclose the apparatus of claim 1. Furthermore, Lim discloses
wherein the second quantization matrix is a quantization matrix which has already been encoded or a default quantization matrix all elements of which are 16. [See Lim [Fig. 21] Default matrix having values of 16.]
Regarding claim 6, see examiners rejection for claim 1 which is analogous and applicable for the rejection of claim 1.
Regarding claim 7, see examiners rejection for claim 2 which is analogous and applicable for the rejection of claim 7.
Regarding claim 8, see examiners rejection for claim 3 which is analogous and applicable for the rejection of claim 8.
Regarding claim 9, see examiners rejection for claim 4 which is analogous and applicable for the rejection of claim 9.
Regarding claim 11, see examiners rejection for claim 1 which is analogous and applicable for the rejection of claim 11.
Regarding claim 12, see examiners rejection for claim 1 which is analogous and applicable for the rejection of claim 12.
Conclusion
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES T BOYLAN whose telephone number is (571)272-8242. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7am-3pm.
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/JAMES T BOYLAN/Examiner, Art Unit 2486
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