DETAILED ACTION
1. The communication is in response to the application received 01/14/2025, wherein claims 1-4 are pending and are examined as follow.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
2. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Objections
3. Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: the claim recites “A decoding apparatus for an image decoding, the decoding apparatus comprising…”. (emphasis added). The phrase “for an image decoding” appears as though it should read as “for performing image decoding” or “for decoding images” or something equivalent. Please check and update accordingly. Appropriate correction is required.
4. Claim 2 is objected to because of the following informalities: the claim recites “An encoding apparatus for an image encoding, the encoding apparatus comprising…”. (emphasis added). The phrase “for an image encoding” appears as though it should read as “for performing image encoding” or “for encoding images” or something equivalent. Please check and update accordingly. Appropriate correction is required.
5. Claim 3 is objected to because of the following informalities: the claim recites “A non-transitory computer-readable digital storage medium storing a bitstream, wherein the bitstream is generated by the apparatus…”. (emphasis added). For clarity, please change “apparatus” to “encoding apparatus”. Appropriate correction is required.
Double Patenting
6. 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 claims at issue 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 1.321I or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the reference 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. A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The USPTO internet Web site contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit http://www.uspto.gov/forms/. The filing date of the application will determine what form 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 http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Claims 1-4 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 8, and 15 of U.S. Patent No. 11,812,056 B2, hereinafter referred to as 056. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the patented claims anticipate those in the instant application. Both claim sets are directed to video coding methods related to signaling Long Term Reference Picture (LTRP) information in the Sequence Parameter Set (SPS). The claim mapping between claim sets is shown in table 1 below for reference.
Claims 1-4 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 8, and 15 of U.S. Patent No. 11,025,954 B2, hereinafter referred to as 954. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the patented claims anticipate those in the instant application. Both claim sets are directed to video coding methods related to signaling Long Term Reference Picture (LTRP) information in the Sequence Parameter Set (SPS). The claim mapping between claim sets is shown in table 2 below for reference.
Claims 1-4 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-3, 7-8, and 10 of U.S. Patent No. 10,440,389 B2, hereinafter referred to as 389. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the patented claims anticipate those in the instant application. Both claim sets are directed to video coding methods related to signaling Long Term Reference Picture (LTRP) information in the Sequence Parameter Set (SPS). The claim mapping between claim sets is shown in table 3 below for reference.
As to Parent Application No. 18/375,866 (now U.S. Patent No. 12,382,093 B2), no double patenting rejection has been made. The patented claims do not disclose the limitations “second LTRP information in a slice header” and “wherein the second LTRP information in the slice header includes LTRP index information specifying an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS” recited in the Instant Claims. The closest art found that addresses these features is Ramasubramonian et al. US 2013/0329787 A1 (PTO 892). See for e.g. abstract and ¶0044 and ¶0058. However, Ramasubramonian’s teachings do not precede the effective filing date of the instant application. For this reason, no double patenting rejection has been made against 18/375,866.
Table 1
**Note: The items below that are BOLD/UNDERLINED in the Instant Application/Co-pending Application, respectively, indicate differences in the claim limitation.
Instant Application 19/020,497
U.S. Patent No. 11,812,056 B2
(17/240,678)
Claim 1
A decoding apparatus for an image decoding, the decoding apparatus comprising: a memory; and at least one processor connected to the memory, the at least one processor configured to: acquire first long term reference picture (LTRP) information in a sequence parameter set (SPS) from a bitstream; acquire second LTRP information in a slice header from the bitstream; configure a reference picture set based on the first LTRP information and the second LTRP information; and perform an inter prediction on a current block in the current picture by using an LTRP in the reference picture set, wherein the LTRP is one of candidate LTRPs specified by the first LTRP information in the SPS, wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the first LTRP information in the SPS includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein based on a value of the long term reference pictures present flag being equal to 1,
the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes an LTRP number syntax element specifying a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and an LTRP picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information specifying an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes used by current picture long term SPS flag information specifying whether each of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS is not used for a reference picture by the current picture, and wherein the second LTRP information in the slice header includes LTRP index information specifying an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS.
Claim 1
A video decoding method, by a decoding apparatus, the method comprising: acquiring long term reference picture (LTRP) information from a bitstream; configuring a reference picture set based on the LTRP information; performing an inter prediction on a current block in a current picture to generate predicted samples based on an LTRP in the reference picture set; and generating reconstructed samples based on the predicted samples, wherein the LTRP information comprises a first LTRP information included in a sequence parameter set (SPS) of the bitstream and a second LTRP information included in a slice header of the bitstream; wherein the LTRP is one of candidate LTRPs specified by the first LTRP information, wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the first LTRP information includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein when a value of the long term reference pictures present flag is equal to 1, the first LTRP information includes an LTRP number syntax element representing a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information representing an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs, wherein the first LTRP information includes used by current picture long term SPS flag information representing whether each of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS is not used for a reference picture by the current picture, and wherein the second LTRP information includes LTRP index information representing an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS.
Claim 2
An encoding apparatus for an image encoding, the encoding apparatus comprising: a memory; and at least one processor connected to the memory, the at least one processor configured to: derive long term reference pictures (LTRPs) for a current picture; generate first LTRP information and second LTRP information used for configuring a reference picture set for the current picture; and encode the first LTRP information in a sequence parameter set (SPS) and the second LTRP information in a slice header, wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the first LTRP information in the SPS includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein based on a value of the long term reference pictures present flag being equal to 1, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes an LTRP number syntax element specifying a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and an LTRP picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information specifying an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes used by current picture long term SPS flag information specifying whether each of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS is not used for a reference picture by the current picture, and wherein the second LTRP information in the slice header includes LTRP index information specifying an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS.
Claim 8
A video encoding method, by an encoding apparatus, the method comprising: performing an inter prediction on a current block in a current picture based on a long term reference picture (LTRP) in a reference picture set; generating LTRP information used for configuring the reference picture set; and encoding image information including the LTRP information, wherein the LTRP information comprises a first LTRP information included in a sequence parameter set (SPS) of the image information and a second LTRP information included in a slice header of the image information; wherein the LTRP is one of candidate LTRPs specified by the first LTRP information, wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the first LTRP information includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein when a value of the long term reference pictures present flag is equal to 1, the first LTRP information includes an LTRP number syntax element representing a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information representing an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs,
wherein the first LTRP information includes used by current picture long term SPS flag information representing whether each of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS is not used for a reference picture by the current picture, and wherein the second LTRP information includes LTRP index information representing an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS.
Claim 3
A non-transitory computer-readable digital storage medium storing a bitstream, wherein the bitstream is generated by the apparatus of claim 2.
Claim 15
A non-transitory decoder-readable storage medium storing encoded image information generated by an video encoding process comprising: performing an inter prediction on a current block in a current picture based on a long term reference picture (LTRP) in a reference picture set, generating LTRP information used for configuring the reference picture set, and encoding image information including the LTRP information, wherein the LTRP information comprises a first LTRP information included in a sequence parameter set (SPS) of the image information and a second LTRP information included in a slice header of the image information; wherein the LTRP is one of candidate LTRPs specified by the first LTRP information, wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the first LTRP information includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein when a value of the long term reference pictures present flag is equal to 1, the first LTRP information includes an LTRP number syntax element representing a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information representing an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs, wherein the first LTRP information includes used by current picture long term SPS flag information representing whether each of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS is not used for a reference picture by the current picture, and wherein the second LTRP information includes LTRP index information representing an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS.
Claim 4
An apparatus for transmitting data for an image, the apparatus comprising: at least one processor configured to obtain a bitstream for the image, wherein the bitstream is generated based on deriving long term reference pictures (LTRPs) for a current picture, generating first LTRP information and second LTRP information used for configuring a reference picture set for the current picture, and encoding the first LTRP information in a sequence parameter set (SPS) and the second LTRP information in a slice header; and a transmitter configured to transmit the data comprising the bitstream, wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the first LTRP information in the SPS includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein based on a value of the long term reference pictures present flag being equal to 1, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes an LTRP number syntax element specifying a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and an LTRP picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information specifying an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes used by current picture long term SPS flag information specifying whether each of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS is not used for a reference picture by the current picture, and wherein the second LTRP information in the slice header includes LTRP index information specifying an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS.
See for e.g. claim 8 of 056
Table 2
**Note: The items below that are BOLD/UNDERLINED in the Instant Application/Co-pending Application, respectively, indicate differences in the claim limitation.
Instant Application 19/020,497
U.S. Patent No. 11,025,954 B2
(16/594,660)
Claim 1
A decoding apparatus for an image decoding, the decoding apparatus comprising: a memory; and at least one processor connected to the memory, the at least one processor configured to: acquire first long term reference picture (LTRP) information in a sequence parameter set (SPS) from a bitstream; acquire second LTRP information in a slice header from the bitstream; configure a reference picture set based on the first LTRP information and the second LTRP information; and perform an inter prediction on a current block in the current picture by using an LTRP in the reference picture set, wherein the LTRP is one of candidate LTRPs specified by the first LTRP information in the SPS, wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the first LTRP information in the SPS includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein based on a value of the long term reference pictures present flag being equal to 1, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes an LTRP number syntax element specifying a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and an LTRP picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information specifying an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes used by current picture long term SPS flag information specifying whether each of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS is not used for a reference picture by the current picture, and wherein the second LTRP information in the slice header includes LTRP index information specifying an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS.
Claim 1
A video decoding method, by a decoding apparatus, the method comprising: acquiring first long term reference picture (LTRP) information in a sequence parameter set (SPS) from a bitstream; acquiring second LTRP information in a slice header from the bitstream; configuring a reference picture set based on the first LTRP information and the second LTRP information; and performing an inter prediction on a current block in the current picture by using an LTRP in the reference picture set, wherein the LTRP is one of candidate LTRPs specified by the first LTRP information in the SPS, wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the first LTRP information in the SPS includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein when a value of the long term reference pictures present flag is equal to 1, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes an LTRP number syntax element specifying a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and an LTRP picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information specifying an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes used by current picture long term SPS flag information specifying whether each of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS is not used for a reference picture by the current picture, and wherein the second LTRP information in the slice header includes LTRP index information specifying an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS.
Claim 2
An encoding apparatus for an image encoding, the encoding apparatus comprising: a memory; and at least one processor connected to the memory, the at least one processor configured to: derive long term reference pictures (LTRPs) for a current picture; generate first LTRP information and second LTRP information used for configuring a reference picture set for the current picture; and encode the first LTRP information in a sequence parameter set (SPS) and the second LTRP information in a slice header, wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the first LTRP information in the SPS includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein based on a value of the long term reference pictures present flag being equal to 1, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes an LTRP number syntax element specifying a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and an LTRP picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information specifying an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes used by current picture long term SPS flag information specifying whether each of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS is not used for a reference picture by the current picture, and wherein the second LTRP information in the slice header includes LTRP index information specifying an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS.
Claim 8
A video encoding method, by an encoding apparatus, the method comprising: deriving long term reference pictures (LTRPs) for a current picture; generating first LTRP information and second LTRP information used for configuring a reference picture set for the current picture; and encoding the first LTRP information in a sequence parameter set (SPS) and the second LTRP information in a slice header, wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the first LTRP information in the SPS includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein when a value of the long term reference pictures present flag is equal to 1, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes an LTRP number syntax element specifying a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and an LTRP picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information specifying an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes used by current picture long term SPS flag information specifying whether each of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS is not used for a reference picture by the current picture, and wherein the second LTRP information in the slice header includes LTRP index information specifying an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS.
Claim 3
A non-transitory computer-readable digital storage medium storing a bitstream, wherein the bitstream is generated by the apparatus of claim 2.
Claim 15
A non-transitory decoder-readable storage medium storing encoded data comprising encoded first LTRP information and encoded second LTRP information generated by an video encoding process comprising: deriving long term reference pictures (LTRPs) for a current picture; generating first LTRP information and second LTRP information used for configuring a reference picture set for the current picture; and encoding the first LTRP information in a sequence parameter set (SPS) and the second LTRP information in a slice header, wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the first LTRP information in the SPS includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein when a value of the long term reference pictures present flag is equal to 1, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes an LTRP number syntax element specifying a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and an LTRP picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information specifying an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes used by current picture long term SPS flag information specifying whether each of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS is not used for a reference picture by the current picture, and wherein the second LTRP information in the slice header includes LTRP index information specifying an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS.
Claim 4
An apparatus for transmitting data for an image, the apparatus comprising: at least one processor configured to obtain a bitstream for the image, wherein the bitstream is generated based on deriving long term reference pictures (LTRPs) for a current picture, generating first LTRP information and second LTRP information used for configuring a reference picture set for the current picture, and encoding the first LTRP information in a sequence parameter set (SPS) and the second LTRP information in a slice header; and a transmitter configured to transmit the data comprising the bitstream, wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the first LTRP information in the SPS includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein based on a value of the long term reference pictures present flag being equal to 1, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes an LTRP number syntax element specifying a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and an LTRP picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information specifying an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes used by current picture long term SPS flag information specifying whether each of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS is not used for a reference picture by the current picture, and wherein the second LTRP information in the slice header includes LTRP index information specifying an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS.
See for e.g. claim 8 of 954
Table 3
**Note: The items below that are BOLD/UNDERLINED in the Instant Application/Co-pending Application, respectively, indicate differences in the claim limitation.
Instant Application 19/020,497
U.S. Patent No. 10,440,389 B2
(14/351,620)
Claim 1
A decoding apparatus for an image decoding, the decoding apparatus comprising: a memory; and at least one processor connected to the memory, the at least one processor configured to: acquire first long term reference picture (LTRP) information in a sequence parameter set (SPS) from a bitstream; acquire second LTRP information in a slice header from the bitstream [See claim 3 of 389 for support regarding first and second LTRPs in the SPS and slice header, respectively]; configure a reference picture set based on the first LTRP information and the second LTRP information; and perform an inter prediction on a current block in the current picture by using an LTRP in the reference picture set,
wherein the LTRP is one of candidate LTRPs specified by the first LTRP information in the SPS, wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the first LTRP information in the SPS includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein based on a value of the long term reference pictures present flag being equal to 1, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes an LTRP number syntax element specifying a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and an LTRP picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information specifying an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes used by current picture long term SPS flag information specifying whether each of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS is not used for a reference picture by the current picture, and wherein the second LTRP information in the slice header includes LTRP index information specifying an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS. [See claim 2 of 389 for support regarding LTRP index information]
Claim 1
A video decoding method, by a decoding apparatus, comprising the steps of: acquiring long term reference picture (LTRP) information in a sequence parameter set (SPS) which is obtained from a received bitstream;
configuring a reference picture set based on the LTRP information; configuring a reference picture list based on the reference picture set; and performing an inter prediction on a current block in the current picture by using an LTRP in the reference picture list,
wherein the LTRP is one of candidate LTRPs specified by the LTRP information in the SPS, wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the LTRP information in the SPS includes a long term reference pictures present flag, and wherein when a value of the long term reference pictures present flag is equal to 1: the LTRP information in the SPS further includes an LTRP number syntax element specifying a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and an LTRP picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information specifying an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs,
and the LTRP information in the SPS further includes a used by current picture long term flag specifying whether a candidate LTRP specified in the SPS is not used for reference by the current picture.
Claim 2
The video decoding method according to claim 1, further comprising: acquiring LTRP index information specifying a LTRP to be configured in the LTRP set among at least one of the candidate LTRPs, through a slice header which is obtained from the received bitstream wherein a POC of the LTRP to be included in the LTRP set is derived based on the POC information in the SPS and the LTRP index information in the slice header.
Claim 3
The video decoding method according to claim 1, further comprising: acquiring, through a slice header, first long-term picture number information specifying a number of first LTRPs in the LTRP set of the current picture and second long-term picture number information specifying a number of second LTRPs in the LTRP set of the current picture, wherein the first LTRPs are derived based on the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS, and the second LTRPs are directly specified by the slice header.
Claim 2
An encoding apparatus for an image encoding, the encoding apparatus comprising: a memory; and at least one processor connected to the memory, the at least one processor configured to: derive long term reference pictures (LTRPs) for a current picture; generate first LTRP information and second LTRP information used for configuring a reference picture set for the current picture; and encode the first LTRP information in a sequence parameter set (SPS) and the second LTRP information in a slice header [See claim 10 of 389 for support regarding first and second LTRPs in the SPS and slice header, respectively], wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the first LTRP information in the SPS includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein based on a value of the long term reference pictures present flag being equal to 1, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes an LTRP number syntax element specifying a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and an LTRP picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information specifying an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes used by current picture long term SPS flag information specifying whether each of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS is not used for a reference picture by the current picture, and wherein the second LTRP information in the slice header includes LTRP index information specifying an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS. [See claim 8 of 389 for support regarding LTRP index information]
Claim 7
A video decoding apparatus, comprising: an entropy decoder configured to acquire long term reference picture (LTRP) information in a sequence parameter set (SPS) which is obtained from a received bitstream; and a predictor configured to configure a reference picture set based on the LTRP information, to configure a reference picture list based on the reference picture set, and to perform an inter prediction on a current block in the current picture by using an LTRP in the reference picture list, wherein the LTRP is one of candidate LTRPs specified by the LTRP information in the SPS, wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the LTRP information in the SPS includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein when a value of the long term reference pictures present flag is equal to 1, the LTRP information in the SPS further includes an LTRP number syntax element specifying a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and LTRP picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information specifying an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs, and the LTRP information in the SPS further includes a used by current picture long term flag specifying whether a candidate LTRP specified in the SPS is not used for reference by the current picture.
Claim 8
The video decoding apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the entropy decoder acquires LTRP index information specifying a LTRP to be configured in the LTRP set among at least one of the candidate LTRPs, through a slice header which is obtained from the received bitstream, and wherein a POC of the LTRP to be included in the LTRP set is derived based on the POC information in the SPS and the LTRP index information in the slice header.
Claim 10
The video decoding apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the entropy decoder acquires, through a slice header, first long-term picture number information specifying a number of first LTRPs in the LTRP set of the current picture and second long-term picture number information specifying a number of second LTRPs in the LTRP set of the current picture, wherein the first LTRPs are derived based on the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS, and the second LTRPs are directly specified by the slice header.
Claim 3
A non-transitory computer-readable digital storage medium storing a bitstream, wherein the bitstream is generated by the apparatus of claim 2.
See for e.g. claim 7 of 389
Claim 4
An apparatus for transmitting data for an image, the apparatus comprising: at least one processor configured to obtain a bitstream for the image, wherein the bitstream is generated based on deriving long term reference pictures (LTRPs) for a current picture, generating first LTRP information and second LTRP information used for configuring a reference picture set for the current picture, and encoding the first LTRP information in a sequence parameter set (SPS) and the second LTRP information in a slice header; [See claim 10 of 389 for support regarding first and second LTRPs in the SPS and slice header, respectively] and a transmitter configured to transmit the data comprising the bitstream, wherein the reference picture set comprises an LTRP set including at least one LTRP, wherein the first LTRP information in the SPS includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein based on a value of the long term reference pictures present flag being equal to 1, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes an LTRP number syntax element specifying a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and an LTRP picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information specifying an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes used by current picture long term SPS flag information specifying whether each of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS is not used for a reference picture by the current picture, and wherein the second LTRP information in the slice header includes LTRP index information specifying an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS. [See claim 8 of 389 for support regarding LTRP index information]
See for e.g. claims 7, 8, and 10 of 389
Examiner’s note
7. After careful consideration of the instant claims, the examiner finds the closest prior art, Wang et al. US 2013/0077687 A1, Sullivan et al. US 2013/0114741 A1, and Deshpande US 2015/0304671 A1, hereinafter referred to as Wang, Sullivan, and Deshpande, respectively, do not reasonably teach and/or suggest, either alone or in combination, all of the disclosed features of the instant claims, given their broadest reasonable interpretation (BRI), before the effective filing date of the instant application. In particular they do not address “wherein the first LTRP information in the SPS includes a long term reference pictures present flag, wherein based on a value of the long term reference pictures present flag being equal to 1, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes an LTRP number syntax element specifying a number of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS and an LTRP picture order count (POC) least significant bit (LSB) information specifying an LSB of a POC of each of the candidate LTRPs, the first LTRP information in the SPS further includes used by current picture long term SPS flag information specifying whether each of the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS is not used for a reference picture by the current picture, and wherein the second LTRP information in the slice header includes LTRP index information specifying an LTRP to be included in the LTRP set among the candidate LTRPs specified in the SPS” as recited for e.g. in claim 1, when considering the claim as a whole. Although Deshpande discusses a long-term reference picture present flag (¶0398-¶0399) as well as a used_by_curr_pic_lt_sps_flag[i] (e.g. ¶0405, ¶0411) as claimed, Deshpande’s teachings do not precede the effective filing date of the instant application. Details can be found in the Notice of Allowance for parent application 14/351,620, now U.S. Patent No. 10,440,389 B2. Searches also yielded the work of Chen et al. US 2013/0077681 A1, He et al. US 2013/0208792 A1, and Ramasubramonian et al. US 2013/0329787 A1 (see PTO 892), which relate to reference picture signaling, however, they do not reasonably address the aforementioned features before the effective filing date of the instant application. For these reasons, no prior art rejections are made for the instant application.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Please see PTO 892 for additional references.
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/RICHARD A HANSELL JR./Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2486