Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 19/022,973

BIDIRECTIONAL INTER PREDICTION METHOD AND APPARATUS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jan 15, 2025
Priority
Mar 29, 2018 — CN 201810274457.X +4 more
Examiner
FINDLEY, CHRISTOPHER G
Art Unit
2482
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 5m
Est. Remaining
89%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allowance Rate
593 granted / 765 resolved
+19.5% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+11.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
22 currently pending
Career history
795
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
§103
74.9%
+34.9% vs TC avg
§102
13.7%
-26.3% vs TC avg
§112
0.6%
-39.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 765 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Claim Interpretation Patentable weight is given to data stored on a computer-readable medium when there exists a functional relationship between the data and its associated substrate. MPEP 2111.05 III. For example, if a claim is drawn to a computer-readable medium containing programming, a functional relationship exists if the programming “performs some function with respect to the computer with which it is associated.” Id. However, if the claim recites that the computer-readable medium merely serves as a support for information or data, no functional relationship exists and the information or data is not given patentable weight. Id. Claims 9 and 10 are directed to a digital storage medium comprising a bitstream (claim 9) and a non-transitory storage medium having an encoded bitstream for a video signal stored therein (claim 10). The associated encoding elements listed in claims 9 and 10 are not performed by an intended computer, and the bitstream is not a form of programming that causes functions to be performed by an intended computer. This shows that the computer-readable medium merely serves as support for the bitstream and provides no functional relationship between the steps/elements that describe the generation of the bitstream and intended computer system. Therefore, those claim elements are not given patentable weight. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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 the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 9 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Karczewicz et al. (US 20180278949 A1). Re claim 9, Karczewicz discloses an apparatus configured to decode video data from an encoded video bitstream, the apparatus comprising a memory configured to store the video data (Karczewicz: paragraph [0009]). Re claim 10, Karczewicz discloses an apparatus configured to decode video data from an encoded video bitstream, the apparatus comprising a memory configured to store the video data (Karczewicz: paragraph [0009]). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-8 are allowed. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The prior art of record fails to teach the method of independent claim 1, the apparatus of independent claim 4, the method of independent claim 7, and the non-transitory computer-readable medium of independent claim 8. The prior art is particularly deficient regarding obtaining indication information by parsing a bitstream, wherein the indication information includes a first identifier; when the first identifier is 1: parsing first motion information; and determining second motion information based on the first motion information; when the first identifier is 0: parsing a second identifier, and when the second identifier is 1: parsing the second motion information; and determining the first motion information based on the second motion information; when a value of the first identifier and a value of the second identifier are 0, parsing the first motion information and the second motion information; and determining prediction samples of the current picture block based on the first motion information and the second motion information; wherein the first motion information is motion information of a current picture block in a first direction, and the second motion information is motion information of the current picture block in a second direction, as recited in claims 1, 4, and 8. The prior art is particularly deficient regarding, when a first identifier is 1: obtaining first motion information; determining second motion information based on the first motion information; and encoding the first identifier to a bitstream; when the first identifier is 0: obtaining a second identifier, and when the second identifier is 1: obtaining the second motion information; determining the first motion information based on the second motion information; and encoding the first identifier and the second identifier to the bitstream; when a value of the first identifier and a value of the second identifier are 0: obtaining the first motion information and the second motion information independently; and encoding the first identifier and the second identifier to the bitstream; and determining prediction samples of the current picture block based on the first motion information and the second motion information; wherein the first motion information is motion information of a current picture block in a first direction, and the second motion information is motion information of the current picture block in a second direction, as recited in claim 7. Claims 2-3 and 5-6 are dependent upon claims 1 and 4, and therefore are also allowed. Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.” Contact Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER G FINDLEY whose telephone number is (571)270-1199. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9AM-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, Chris Kelley can be reached at (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. /CHRISTOPHER G FINDLEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2482
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Prosecution Timeline

Jan 15, 2025
Application Filed
May 20, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12676983
IMAGE ENCODING/DECODING METHOD AND DEVICE, AND RECORDING MEDIUM IN WHICH BITSTREAM IS STORED
2y 1m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12676966
TMVP DERIVATION
1y 5m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12666033
METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR DECODING AND ENCODING POINT CLOUD DATA
1y 8m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Patent 12659503
VIDEO SIGNAL ENCODING AND DECODING METHOD, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
1y 9m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
Patent 12652400
CODING OF INSTANTANEOUS DECODING REFRESH SUBPICTURES
2y 6m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
78%
Grant Probability
89%
With Interview (+11.6%)
2y 11m (~1y 5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 765 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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