Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 19/021,910

Methods and Apparatus for Harmonic Source Enhancement

Non-Final OA §DP
Filed
Jan 15, 2025
Priority
Apr 16, 2020 — continuation of 11/574,618 +2 more
Examiner
MONIKANG, GEORGE C
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Gracenote Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
75%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 4m
Est. Remaining
82%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 75% — above average
75%
Career Allowance Rate
739 granted / 981 resolved
+15.3% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+7.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
1004
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.2%
-35.8% vs TC avg
§103
65.0%
+25.0% vs TC avg
§102
21.4%
-18.6% vs TC avg
§112
3.6%
-36.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 981 resolved cases

Office Action

§DP
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . 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 USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The 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/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp. Claim 1 of 19/021,910 A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform a set of operations comprising: determining an audio spectrogram corresponding to a media signal; based on the determined audio spectrogram, enhancing a harmonic source of the media signal; comparing the enhanced harmonic source media signal with one or more reference media signals to determine an audio characteristic corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; and based on the determined audio characteristic, identifying at least one of a song, an advertisement, a show, and a video game. Claim 1 of 11574618 A system comprising: an audio analyzer to: determine a magnitude spectrogram of audio corresponding to a media signal; generate a time-frequency mask based on the magnitude spectrogram; and apply the time-frequency mask to the magnitude spectrogram to enhance a harmonic source of the media signal; and an audio determiner to: compare the media signal having the enhanced harmonic source with reference media signals to determine an instrument corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; and identify a genre corresponding to the media signal based on the identified instrument. Claim 10 of 19/021,910 A computer-implemented method comprising: determining an audio spectrogram corresponding to a media signal; based on the determined audio spectrogram, enhancing a harmonic source of the media signal; comparing the enhanced harmonic source media signal with one or more reference media signals to determine an audio characteristic corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; and based on the determined audio characteristic, identifying at least one of a song, an advertisement, a show, and a video game. Claim 10 of 11574618 A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to at least: determine a magnitude spectrogram of audio corresponding to a media signal; generate a time-frequency mask based on the magnitude spectrogram; apply the time-frequency mask to the magnitude spectrogram to enhance a harmonic source of the media signal; compare the media signal having the enhanced harmonic source with reference media signals to determine an instrument corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; and identify a genre corresponding to the media signal based on the identified instrument. Claim 19 of 19/021,910 A computing device comprising: one or more processors; and a tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform a set of operations comprising: determining an audio spectrogram corresponding to a media signal; based on the determined audio spectrogram, enhancing a harmonic source of the media signal; comparing the enhanced harmonic source media signal with one or more reference media signals to determine an audio characteristic corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; and based on the determined audio characteristic, identifying at least one of a song, an advertisement, a show, and a video game. Claim 16 of 11574618 A method comprising: determining, by executing an instruction with one or more processors, a magnitude spectrogram of audio corresponding to a media signal; generating, by executing an instruction with the one or more processors, a time-frequency mask based on the magnitude spectrogram; applying, by executing an instruction with the one or more processors, the time-frequency mask to the magnitude spectrogram to enhance a harmonic source of the media signal; comparing, by executing an instruction with the one or more processors, the media signal having the enhanced harmonic source with reference media signals to determine an instrument corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; and classifying, by executing an instruction with the one or more processors, a genre corresponding to the media signal based on the identified instrument. Claim 21 of 11574618 A system comprising: at least one memory; instructions; and one or more processors to execute the instructions to: determine a magnitude spectrogram of audio corresponding to a media signal; generate a time-frequency mask based on the magnitude spectrogram; apply the time-frequency mask to the magnitude spectrogram to enhance a harmonic source of the media signal; compare the media signal having the enhanced harmonic source with reference media signals to determine an instrument corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; and identify at least one of a song, an advertisement, a show, or a video game based on the identified instrument. Claims 1, 10, & 19 of US application number 19/021,910 (hereinafter referred to as ‘910) are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 10, 16 & 21 of U.S. Patent No. 11574618 (hereinafter referred to as ‘618). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because ‘910 claims 1, 10 & 19 are broader recitations of ‘618 claims 1, 10, 16 & 21. Therefore, ‘618 claims 1, 10, 16 & 21 are encompassed by ‘910 claims 1, 10 & 19. Claim 1 of 19/021,910 A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform a set of operations comprising: determining an audio spectrogram corresponding to a media signal; based on the determined audio spectrogram, enhancing a harmonic source of the media signal; comparing the enhanced harmonic source media signal with one or more reference media signals to determine an audio characteristic corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; and based on the determined audio characteristic, identifying at least one of a song, an advertisement, a show, and a video game. Claim 1 of 11847998 A system comprising: at least one memory; instructions; and one or more processors to execute the instructions to: determine a magnitude spectrogram of audio corresponding to a media signal; based on the determined magnitude spectrogram, enhance a harmonic source of the media signal; compare the media signal having the enhanced harmonic source with reference media signals to determine an audio characteristic corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; identify an audio classification corresponding to the media signal based on the determined audio characteristic; and identify at least one of a song, an advertisement, a show, or a video game based on the determined audio characteristic. Claim 10 of 19/021,910 A computer-implemented method comprising: determining an audio spectrogram corresponding to a media signal; based on the determined audio spectrogram, enhancing a harmonic source of the media signal; comparing the enhanced harmonic source media signal with one or more reference media signals to determine an audio characteristic corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; and based on the determined audio characteristic, identifying at least one of a song, an advertisement, a show, and a video game. Claim 9 of 11847998 A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to at least: determine a magnitude spectrogram of audio corresponding to a media signal; based on the determined magnitude spectrogram, enhance a harmonic source of the media signal; compare the media signal having the enhanced harmonic source with reference media signals to determine an audio characteristic corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; identify an audio classification corresponding to the media signal based on the determined audio characteristic; and identify at least one of a song, an advertisement, a show, or a video game based on the determined audio characteristic. Claim 19 of 19/021,910 A computing device comprising: one or more processors; and a tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform a set of operations comprising: determining an audio spectrogram corresponding to a media signal; based on the determined audio spectrogram, enhancing a harmonic source of the media signal; comparing the enhanced harmonic source media signal with one or more reference media signals to determine an audio characteristic corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; and based on the determined audio characteristic, identifying at least one of a song, an advertisement, a show, and a video game. Claim 17 of 11847998 A method comprising: determining, by executing an instruction with one or more processors, a magnitude spectrogram of audio corresponding to a media signal; based on the determined magnitude spectrogram, enhancing, by executing an instruction with one or more processors, an enhanced harmonic source of the media signal; comparing, by executing an instruction with one or more processors, the media signal having the enhanced harmonic source with reference media signals to determine an audio characteristic corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; identifying, by executing an instruction with one or more processors, an audio classification corresponding to the media signal based on the determined audio characteristic and identify at least one of a song, an advertisement, a show, or a video game based on the determined audio characteristic. Claims 1, 10, & 19 of US application number 19/021,910 (hereinafter referred to as ‘910) are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 9, 17 of U.S. Patent No. 11847998 (hereinafter referred to as ‘998). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because ‘910 claims 1, 10 & 19 are broader recitations of ‘998 claims 1, 9, 17. Therefore, ‘998 claims 1, 9, 17 are encompassed by ‘910 claims 1, 10 & 19. Claim 1 of 19/021,910 A tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform a set of operations comprising: determining an audio spectrogram corresponding to a media signal; based on the determined audio spectrogram, enhancing a harmonic source of the media signal; comparing the enhanced harmonic source media signal with one or more reference media signals to determine an audio characteristic corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; and based on the determined audio characteristic, identifying at least one of a song, an advertisement, a show, and a video game. Claim 1 of 12236931 A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform a set of operations comprising: determining an audio spectrogram corresponding to a media signal; based on the determined audio spectrogram, enhancing a harmonic source of the media signal; comparing the enhanced harmonic source media signal with one or more reference media signals to determine an audio characteristic corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; and identifying an audio classification corresponding to the media signal based on the determined audio characteristic, wherein the audio classification comprises a genre of the media signal. Claim 10 of 19/021,910 A computer-implemented method comprising: determining an audio spectrogram corresponding to a media signal; based on the determined audio spectrogram, enhancing a harmonic source of the media signal; comparing the enhanced harmonic source media signal with one or more reference media signals to determine an audio characteristic corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; and based on the determined audio characteristic, identifying at least one of a song, an advertisement, a show, and a video game. Claim 11 of 12236931 A computer-implemented method comprising: determining an audio spectrogram corresponding to a media signal; based on the determined audio spectrogram, enhancing a harmonic source of the media signal; comparing the enhanced harmonic source media signal with one or more reference media signals to determine an audio characteristic corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; and identifying an audio classification corresponding to the media signal based on the determined audio characteristic, wherein the audio classification comprises a genre of the media signal. Claim 19 of 19/021,910 A computing device comprising: one or more processors; and a tangible, non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform a set of operations comprising: determining an audio spectrogram corresponding to a media signal; based on the determined audio spectrogram, enhancing a harmonic source of the media signal; comparing the enhanced harmonic source media signal with one or more reference media signals to determine an audio characteristic corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; and based on the determined audio characteristic, identifying at least one of a song, an advertisement, a show, and a video game. Claim 19 of 12236931 A device comprising: one or more processors; and a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to perform a set of operations comprising: determining an audio spectrogram corresponding to a media signal; based on the determined audio spectrogram, enhancing a harmonic source of the media signal; comparing the enhanced harmonic source media signal with one or more reference media signals to determine an audio characteristic corresponding to the enhanced harmonic source; and identifying an audio classification corresponding to the media signal based on the determined audio characteristic, wherein the audio classification comprises a genre of the media signal. Claims 1, 10, & 19 of US application number 19/021,910 (hereinafter referred to as ‘910) are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 11, 19 of U.S. Patent No. 12236931 (hereinafter referred to as ‘931). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because ‘910 claims 1, 10 & 19 are obvious various wordings of ‘931 claims 1, 11, 19. Claims 1-20 would be allowable once double patenting rejection is overcome. Contact Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GEORGE C MONIKANG whose telephone number is (571)270-1190. The examiner can normally be reached Mon. - Fri., 9AM-5PM, ALT. Fridays off. 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, Carolyn R Edwards can be reached at 571-270-7136. 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. /GEORGE C MONIKANG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2692 09/03/2026
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Prosecution Timeline

Jan 15, 2025
Application Filed
Sep 09, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §DP (current)

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
75%
Grant Probability
82%
With Interview (+7.1%)
3y 0m (~1y 4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 981 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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