Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 15, 2026
Application No. 19/021,580

IMAGE DECODING METHOD, IMAGE CODING METHOD, IMAGE DECODING APPARATUS, IMAGE CODING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE CODING AND DECODING APPARATUS

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Jan 15, 2025
Priority
Sep 26, 2012 — provisional 61/705,891 +8 more
Examiner
CHIO, TAT CHI
Art Unit
2486
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Sun Patent Trust
OA Round
2 (Final)
73%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
1y 8m
Est. Remaining
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 73% — above average
73%
Career Allowance Rate
624 granted / 856 resolved
+14.9% vs TC avg
Strong +17% interview lift
Without
With
+17.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 3m
Avg Prosecution
34 currently pending
Career history
897
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
9.7%
-30.3% vs TC avg
§103
55.2%
+15.2% vs TC avg
§102
18.8%
-21.2% vs TC avg
§112
5.5%
-34.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 856 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 with respect to claim(s) 2 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Terminal Disclaimer The terminal disclaimer filed on 6/1/2026 disclaiming the terminal portion of any patent granted on this application which would extend beyond the expiration date of US 12457349 B2 has been reviewed and is accepted. The terminal disclaimer has been recorded. The terminal disclaimer filed on 6/1/2026 disclaiming the terminal portion of any patent granted on this application which would extend beyond the expiration date of US 11871019 B2 has been reviewed and is accepted. The terminal disclaimer has been recorded. The terminal disclaimer filed on 6/1/2026 disclaiming the terminal portion of any patent granted on this application which would extend beyond the expiration date of US 10992944 B2 has been reviewed and is accepted. The terminal disclaimer has been recorded. The terminal disclaimer filed on 6/1/2026 disclaiming the terminal portion of any patent granted on this application which would extend beyond the expiration date of US 10397593 B2 has been reviewed and is accepted. The terminal disclaimer has been recorded. The terminal disclaimer filed on 6/1/2026 disclaiming the terminal portion of any patent granted on this application which would extend beyond the expiration date of US 9948942 B2 has been reviewed and is accepted. The terminal disclaimer has been recorded. The terminal disclaimer filed on 6/1/2026 disclaiming the terminal portion of any patent granted on this application which would extend beyond the expiration date of US 9602825 B2 has been reviewed and is accepted. The terminal disclaimer has been recorded. The terminal disclaimer filed on 6/1/2026 disclaiming the terminal portion of any patent granted on this application which would extend beyond the expiration date of US 9277229 B2 has been reviewed and is accepted. The terminal disclaimer has been recorded. The terminal disclaimer filed on 6/1/2026 disclaiming the terminal portion of any patent granted on this application which would extend beyond the expiration date of US 9036697 B2 has been reviewed and is accepted. The terminal disclaimer has been recorded. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. The claim scope is indefinite. The metes and bounds of the claim are unclear because the preamble of claim 2 recites a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing therein a computer program, which when execute by a processor, causes the processor to transmit a bitstream. However, the body of the claim comprises no transmission and generation of the bitstream. It only recites description of the bitstream. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 1 is allowed. 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 TAT CHI CHIO whose telephone number is (571)272-9563. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 10am-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, JAMIE J ATALA can be reached at 571-272-7384. 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. /TAT C CHIO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2486
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 15, 2025
Application Filed
Mar 09, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jun 01, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 06, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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VIRTUAL REALITY FILM HYBRIDIZATION
3y 9m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
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Patent 12701230
RESIDUAL CODING METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SAME
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Patent 12695908
ADAPTIVE LINEAR LIFTING TRANSFORM
2y 0m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12684199
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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
73%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+17.4%)
3y 3m (~1y 8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 856 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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