Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
DETAILED ACTION
This office action is in response to a continuation application filed in which claims 21-25 are pending and ready for examination as of the preliminary amendment filed on 01/07/2025.
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 obviousness-type 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); and 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 a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the conflicting application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement.
Effective January 1, 1994, a registered attorney or agent of record may sign a terminal disclaimer. A terminal disclaimer signed by the assignee must fully comply with 37 CFR 3.73(b).
Claims 21-25 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting over claims 1-7 of U.S. Patent No. 12,192,640. The subject matter claimed in the instant application is fully disclosed in the patent and is covered by the patent since the patent and the application are claiming common subject matter, as follows: Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-7 of U.S. Patent No. 12,192,640, either singularly or in combination, contain each and every element and/or render each and every element of claims 21-25 of the instant application obvious. The claims of the instant application therefore are not patently distinct from the issued patent claims and as such are unpatentable over obvious-type double patenting.
More specifically, claim 1 of U.S. Patent Number 12,192,640 discloses all the elements and steps of claim 21 of the instant application and, as such, anticipates each and feature of claim 21 of the instant application.
Allowable Subject Matter
The closest prior art made of record in regards to applicant’s claimed invention is as follows:
Chen (US 2001/0010546) discloses a method and apparatus for creating and rendering multiple-view images. A camera includes an image sensor to receive images, sampling logic to digitize the images and a processor programmed to combine the images based upon a spatial relationship between the images (abstract).
Mancuso et al. (US 6,677,981) discloses a system for play-back of a still image comprising an image generator for generating a panoramic image by stitching together a plurality of images; memory space allocated for storing the panaoramic image generated by the image generator; and motion playback device (MPB) coupled to the memory space by address and data lines. The MPB comprises an input for receiving parameters for generating addresses to read the image for simulating the panning motion is a video camera scanning the image represented by the panoramic image along at least a first direction (abstract).
Molnar et al. (US 6,687,387) discloses a method and apparatus for dewarping images. According to one aspect of the present invention, rotational motion of a scene is taken into account for purposes for performing image dewarping. The image is extracted from the scene by selecting pixel values from an environment map that correspond to a viewing plane. Velocity information associated with rotational motion of the scene is determined. Then, based upon the velocity information, a velocity-dependent transformation is determined. Finally, a perspective image is created by applying the velocity-dependent transformation to the image. In this manner, when the images is presented to a user, the appearance of visible and objectionable distortion may be reduced while maintaining the perceived geometric accuracy of the image. For example, when the scene is rotating at a high angular velocity, little or no dewarping may be performed and the image extracted therefrom may be presented essentially uncorrected. In contrast, when the scene is not rotating, the image may be fully corrected. Between these extremes of high angular velocity and no angular velocity, the amount of dewarping may be modulated to intermediate values (abstract).
Driscoll et al. (US 2003/0193606) discloses a camera device that captures a 360-degree panoramic image and display systems for displaying the panoramic image captured by the camera device. Most camera systems only record an image from a limited viewing angle. A new panoramic camera apparatus is disclosed that instantaneously captures a 360-degree panoramic image. In the camera device, virtually all of the light that converges on a point in space is captured. Specifically, in the camera of the present invention, light striking this point in space is captured if it comes from any direction, 360 degrees around the point and from angles 50 degrees or more above and below the horizon. The panoramic image is recorded as a two-dimensional annular image. Furthermore, various different systems for displaying the panoramic images and distributing the panoramic images. Specifically, methods and apparatus for digitally performing a geometric transformation of the two-dimensional annular image into rectangular projections such that the panoramic image can be displayed using conventional methods such as printed images and televised images (abstract).
The closest prior art of record, considered individually or in combination, fails to teach or reasonably suggest all the claimed features of claim 21, structurally and functionally interconnected with other limitations in the manner as cited in the claim and dependent claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ZHIHAN ZHOU whose telephone number is (571)270-7284. The examiner can normally be reached Mondays-Fridays 8:30am-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, Christopher Kelley can be reached on 571-272-7331. 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.
/ZHIHAN ZHOU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2482