Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 18, 2026
Application No. 18/937,366

Extended Taps Using Different Sources for Adaptive Loop Filter in Video Coding

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Nov 05, 2024
Priority
May 05, 2022 — CN PCT/CN2022/090925 +1 more
Examiner
HUANG, FRANK F
Art Unit
2485
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Bytedance Inc.
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
76%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
9m
Est. Remaining
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 76% — above average
76%
Career Allowance Rate
541 granted / 716 resolved
+17.6% vs TC avg
Strong +16% interview lift
Without
With
+15.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
18 currently pending
Career history
735
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.9%
-35.1% vs TC avg
§103
76.0%
+36.0% vs TC avg
§102
4.9%
-35.1% vs TC avg
§112
6.9%
-33.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 716 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 . 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, 4, 6, 18-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Boyce et al (US Pub. No.: 20120230431, “Boyce”), In view of Yin et al. "Adaptive Filter Shape Switch for ALF" 1-53 Joint Video Experts Team (JVET) of ITU-TSG 16 WP3 and ISOAEC JTC1/SC 29 26th Meeting, JVET-Z0149-v1, 14 April 2022 (2022-04-14) (IDS). Regarding claim 1, Boyce discloses a method for processing video data (BOYCE, Abstract, System and methods for video decoding include receiving at least one Dependency Parameter Set (DPS); and determining at least one inter-layer dependency based on the received DPS. Systems and methods for video encoding include selecting a layering structure; encoding at least one Dependency Parameter Set (DPS) including a representation of the layering structure in a binary format; and including the encoded DPS in a bitstream or sending the encoded DPS out of band) comprising: receiving a video bitstream (i.e. video decoding after receiving as cited above); extracting a video syntax (i.e. Fig. 6, syntax element) from the video bitstream. It is noted that BOYCE is silent about as determining one or more extended taps for use in an adaptive loop filter (ALF); and performing a conversion between a visual media data and a bitstream based on the extended taps in the ALF as claimed. However, YIN discloses determining one or more extended taps (as cited below, i.e. The number of coefficients that need to be trained and signaled for a luma filter is 22 for both the filter shapes. Please note that these 22 taps, see BOYCE, pg. 1-2) for use in an adaptive loop filter (ALF) (as cited below, i.e. luma filters in ALF); and performing a conversion between a visual media data and a bitstream based on the extended taps in the ALF (With AFSS, two candidate filter shapes: a diamond shape as shown in YIN, Figure2-1,which is currently applied in ECM and a cross shape as shown in Figure2-2, which is newly introduced, can be adaptively selected by the luma filters in ALF. The number of coefficients that need to be trained and signaled for a luma filter is 22 for both the filter shapes. Please note that these 22 taps are constituted with 20 spatial taps and 2 offline-trained-filters based taps in both of the filter shapes. In each APS, a shape index for the online trained luma filters is signaled to decoder. Each APS contains the luma filters that are associated with the filter shape index. For each CTB, an APS index is signaled to indicate which luma filter shape is used to filter the current CTB. When filtering a luma sample, the coefficients and clip indices are also rearranged according to the corresponding filter shape. It should be noted that all the sample positions of spatial taps in the newly introduced filtering shape may also be accessed by an existing fixed filter in the current ALF.). Both BOYCE and YIN teach systems with video encoder and decoder, and those systems are comparable to that of the instant application. Because the two cited references are analogous to the instant application, it 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, to include in the BOYCE disclosure, filtering design, as taught by BOYCE. Such inclusion would have increased the usefulness of the system by improving the video processing efficient, and would have been consistent with the rationale of combining prior art elements according to known methods to yield predictable results to show a prima facie case of obviousness (MPEP 2143(I)(A)) under KSR International Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 127 S. Ct. 1727, 82 USPQ2d 1385, 1395-97 (2007). Regarding claim 4, BOYCE/YIN, for the same motivation of combination, further discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the ALF applies the extended taps and spatial taps to a luma component and all chroma components (YIN, pg. 1 and 2, citing both luma and chroma components). Regarding claim 6, BOYCE/YIN, for the same motivation of combination, further discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the extended taps are applied in a diamond shape or a cross shape (see rejection of claim 1, YIN, pg. 1 and 2, citing Diamond shape). Regarding claim 18, BOYCE/YIN, for the same motivation of combination, discloses an apparatus for processing video data comprising: a processor; and a non-transitory memory with instructions thereon, wherein the instructions upon execution by the processor, cause the processor to: determine one or more extended taps for use in an adaptive loop filter (ALF) (see rejection of claim 1); and perform a conversion between a visual media data and a bitstream based on the extended taps in the ALF (see rejection of claim 1). Regarding claim 19, BOYCE/YIN, for the same motivation of combination, discloses a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions that cause a processor to: determine one or more extended taps for use in an adaptive loop filter (ALF) (see rejection of claim 1); and perform a conversion between a visual media data and a bitstream based on the extended taps in the ALF (see rejection of claim 1). Regarding claim 20, BOYCE/YIN, for the same motivation of combination, discloses a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a bitstream of a video which is generated by a method performed by a video processing apparatus, wherein the method comprises: determining one or more extended taps for use in an adaptive loop filter (ALF); and generating the bitstream based on the determining (see rejection of claim 1). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 2-3, 5, and 7-17 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: US 20200366891 A1 MULTIPLE ADAPTIVE LOOP FILTER SETS FOR VIDEO CODING US 20200344494 A1 ADAPTIVE LOOP FILTER SET INDEX SIGNALING US 10708622 B2 Adaptive loop filtering (ALF) for video coding Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FRANK F HUANG whose telephone number is (571)272-0701. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:30 am - 6:00 pm (Eastern Time), Federal Alternative First Friday Off. 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, Jay Patel can be reached at (571)272-2988.. 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. /FRANK F HUANG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2485
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 05, 2024
Application Filed
Oct 02, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jan 02, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 07, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Jul 13, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Aug 11, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12705881
USE OF ONE OR MORE OBSERVATION SATELLITES FOR TARGET IDENTIFICATION
1y 11m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12707098
FILTER SHAPE SWITCH FOR ADAPTIVE LOOP FILTER IN VIDEO CODING
1y 9m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12702615
PROVIDING ENHANCED IMAGES FOR NAVIGATION
1y 9m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12707089
ENCODING/DECODING METHOD FOR VIDEO SIGNAL AND DEVICE THEREFOR
1y 8m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12705904
VEHICULAR MULTI-SENSOR SYSTEM
1y 8m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
76%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+15.5%)
2y 7m (~9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 716 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month