DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see 7+ of the Remarks, filed 05/08/2026, with respect to the rejections of claims 1-24 under Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Kim et al. (U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0236162).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
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 1-24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Klappert et al. (U.S. Pub. No. 2011/0161999) in view of Kim et al. (U.S. Pub. No. 2013/0236162).
Regarding claim 1, Klappert et al. discloses a method comprising:
receiving, by a computing device, a content item comprising a video frame (see paragraphs 0025-0026 and fig. 1; media content (including video frames) is received by user equipment and processed by a television widget. System 100 for selectively obscuring portions of media content using a widget);
determining a feature in a portion of the video frame (see paragraphs 0006, 0023, fig. 10 (steps 1040-1060); databases store information about objectionable content, including where and when such content occurs in a video frame); and
obscuring the feature in the portion of the video frame without obscuring another portion of the video frame (see paragraph 0024, fig. 4, fig. 7, fig. 8; overlaying censor objects over objectionable portions of video frames while leaving other portions unobscured. Fig. 4 shows options for “obscure”, “cover”, “completely block”, which apply selectively to portions of the video frame. Fig. 7 illustrates display of media content selectively obscured with obscuring objects).
However, Klappert et al. is silent as to determining, based on image recognition analysis of the video frame, a feature in a portion of the video frame.
Kim et al. discloses determining, based on image recognition analysis of the video frame, a feature in a portion of the video frame (see paragraphs; performing frame-by-frame image analysis, detects features (faces, expressions, scene changes) and identifies their positions within the frame).
It would have been obvious to a skilled artisan before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Klappert et al. with the teachings of Kim et al., the motivation being to increase accuracy and provide real-time detection of objectionable content.
Regarding claim 7, claim 7 is rejected for the same reason set forth in the rejection of claim 1.
Regarding claim 13, claim 13 is rejected for the same reason set forth in the rejection of claim 1.
Regarding claim 19, Klappert et al. discloses a system comprising:
a first computing device configured to:
send a content item comprising a video frame (see paragraphs 0025-0026 and fig. 1; service provider systems and outside provider processors that transmit media content (including video frames) to user equipment. Fig. 1 (service provider 102, outside provider processor 113 sending content to user equipment 108); and
a second computing device configured to:
receive the content item comprising the video frame (see paragraph 0025 and fig. 1; user equipment 108 (including entertainment equipment 104 and internet-enabled equipment 106) receiving media content from service provider 102. Fig. 1 shows user equipment receiving content);
determine a feature in a portion of the video frame (see paragraphs 0006, 0023, fig. 10 (steps 1040-1060); databases store information about objectionable content, including where and when such content occurs in a video frame); and
obscure the feature in the portion of the video frame without obscuring another portion of the video frame (see paragraph 0024, fig. 4, fig. 7, fig. 8; overlaying censor objects over objectionable portions of video frames while leaving other portions unobscured. Fig. 4 shows options for “obscure”, “cover”, “completely block”, which apply selectively to portions of the video frame. Fig. 7 illustrates display of media content selectively obscured with obscuring objects).
However, Klappert et al. is silent as to determining, based on image recognition analysis of the video frame, a feature in a portion of the video frame.
Kim et al. discloses determining, based on image recognition analysis of the video frame, a feature in a portion of the video frame (see paragraphs; performing frame-by-frame image analysis, detects features (faces, expressions, scene changes) and identifies their positions within the frame).
It would have been obvious to a skilled artisan before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Klappert et al. with the teachings of Kim et al., the motivation being to increase accuracy and provide real-time detection of objectionable content.
Regarding claims 2, 8, 14 and 20, Klappert et al. and Kim et al. discloses everything claimed as applied above (see claims 1, 7, 13 and 19). Klappert et al. discloses wherein obscuring the feature in the portion of the video frame comprises one or more of: blurring the feature (see paragraph 0023), pixelating the feature, blacking out the feature (see paragraph 0023 and fig. 4), applying a mask to the feature (see paragraph 0024, fig. 7), or reducing brightness of the feature.
Regarding claims 3, 9, 15 and 21, Klappert et al. and Kim et al. discloses everything claimed as applied above (see claims 1, 7, 13 and 19). Klappert et al. discloses wherein the feature comprises one or more of: blood, violence (see paragraph 0006 and fig. 3; gun violence, knife violence), a shooting, a stabbing, a fist-fight, sexual content, kissing, nudity (see paragraph 0006 and fig. 3; male nudity, female nudity), sexual activity, a presence of a particular person, or a presence of a particular product.
Regarding claims 4, 10, 16 and 22, Klappert et al. and Kim et al. discloses everything claimed as applied above (see claims 1, 7, 13 and 19). Klappert et al. discloses determining a position of the feature in the portion of the video frame (see paragraphs 0006, 0024, fig. 6, fig. 10 (steps 1040-1060); databases may store information pertaining to where and when potentially objectionable visual or audio content occurs within a particular movie, show, song, game, or any other media content).
Regarding claims 5, 11, 17 and 23, Klappert et al. and Kim et al. discloses everything claimed as applied above (see claims 1, 7, 13 and 19). Klappert et al. discloses wherein at least a portion of the feature is moving in the content item (see paragraph 0024 and fig. 8), the method further comprising determining a trajectory of the feature (see paragraphs 0009, 0073 and fig. 6; trajectory angle).
Regarding claims 6, 12, 18 and 24, Klappert et al. and Kim et al. discloses everything claimed as applied above (see claims 1, 7, 13 and 19). Klappert et al. discloses wherein the content item comprises metadata (see paragraph 0006, fig. 5, fig. 10 (step 1040)), wherein determining the feature in the portion of the video frame comprises determining, based on the metadata, the feature in the portion of the video frame (see paragraph 0007, fig. 10 (steps 1040-1060)).
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 NNENNA NGOZI EKPO whose telephone number is (571)270-1663. The examiner can normally be reached M-W 10:00am - 6:30pm, TH-F 8:00am - 4:30pm.
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, Brian Pendleton can be reached at 571-272-7527. 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.
NNENNA EKPO
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2425
/NNENNA N EKPO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2425 May 26, 2026.
Prosecution Insights