Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/984,662

SKIP CONVOLUTIONS FOR EFFICIENT VIDEO PROCESSING

Non-Final OA §DP
Filed
Dec 17, 2024
Examiner
SUN, YULIN
Art Unit
2485
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Qualcomm Incorporated
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 11m
To Grant
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allow Rate
266 granted / 330 resolved
+22.6% vs TC avg
Strong +15% interview lift
Without
With
+15.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
11 currently pending
Career history
341
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
8.7%
-31.3% vs TC avg
§103
54.6%
+14.6% vs TC avg
§102
21.8%
-18.2% vs TC avg
§112
5.4%
-34.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 330 resolved cases

Office Action

§DP
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions. Priority CONTINUING DATA This application is a CON of 17/527,659 11/16/2021 PAT 12206869 17/527,659 has PRO 63/114,348 11/16/2020 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 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting a s being unpatentable over claims 1-3 0 of Patent No. 12,206,869. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other. Instant U.S. Application No. 18/984,662 Patent No. 12,206,869 1. A method for video processing with an artificial neural network (ANN), comprising: receiving a video stream as an input at the artificial neural network; computing a residual based on a difference between a first feature of a current frame of the video stream and a second feature of a previous frame of the video stream; and determining to perform processing, associated with a convolutional layer of the artificial neural network, of one or more portions of the current frame of the video stream based on of the residual. 1. A method for video processing with an artificial neural network (ANN), comprising: receiving a video stream as an input at the artificial neural network; computing a residual based on a difference between a first feature of a current frame of the video stream and a second feature of a previous frame of the video stream; and determining whether to perform processing, associated with a convolutional layer of the artificial neural network, of one or more portions of the current frame of the video stream based on of the residual . As illustrated above, the subject matter of pending claims 1-20 of the instant application are rejected under nonstatutory double patenting over patented claims 1-3 0 of Patent No. 12, 206,869 . Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other . Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Doyle (US 2022/0051466 A1), discloses compressing ray tracing acceleration structure build data; Valensi (US 2021/0223424 A1), discloses generating an image of a subsurface of an area of interest from seismic data; Goldhor (US 2020/0152224 A1), discloses using images and residues of reference signals to deflate data signals. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT YULIN SUN whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)270-1043 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT 10AM - 6PM . If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Jay Patel can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT 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. /YULIN SUN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2485
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 17, 2024
Application Filed
Mar 27, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §DP (current)

Precedent Cases

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

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
81%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+15.2%)
2y 11m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 330 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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