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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 1/16/25 is/are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Specification
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant's cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
Drawings
The drawings were received on 1/16/25. These drawings are acceptable.
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).
Claim 1 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting over claim 3 of U. S. Patent No. 12/262,004 since the claims, if allowed, would improperly extend the "right to exclude" already granted in the patent. Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claim 1 of the present application encompass claim 3 of U.S. Patent No. 12/262,004.
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 in the Table below.
Instant Application
12/262,004
1. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a bitstream, the bitstream including an encoded signal and syntax information according to which a decoder:
parses a first parameter from a sequence parameter set; parses a second parameter from a picture header in response to a value of the first parameter being 1; parses a third parameter from a slice header in response to the value of the first parameter being 1; parses a fourth parameter from a coding tree unit in response to a value of the third parameter being 1, the fourth parameter indicating a filter to be used in a CCALF (cross component adaptive loop filtering) process; generates a first coefficient value by applying the CCALF process to a first reconstructed image sample of a luma component; determines whether the first coefficient value is less than 64; sets the first coefficient value to zero in response to determining the first coefficient value is less than 64;generates a second coefficient value by applying an ALF (adaptive loop filtering) process to a second reconstructed image sample of a chroma component; generates a third coefficient value by adding the first coefficient value to the second coefficient value; and decodes a third reconstructed image sample of the chroma component using the third coefficient value.
3. A decoder, comprising: circuitry; and memory coupled to the circuitry; wherein the circuitry, in operation:
parses a first parameter from a sequence parameter set; parses a second parameter from a picture header in response to a value of the first parameter being 1; parses a third parameter from a slice header in response to the value of the first parameter being 1; parses a fourth parameter from a coding tree unit in response to a value of the third parameter being 1, the fourth parameter indicating a filter to be used in a CCALF (cross component adaptive loop filtering) process; generates a first coefficient value by applying the CCALF process to a first reconstructed image sample of a luma component; determines whether the first coefficient value is less than 64; sets the first coefficient value to zero in response to determining the first coefficient value is less than 64; generates a second coefficient value by applying an ALF (adaptive loop filtering) process to a second reconstructed image sample of a chroma component; generates a third coefficient value by adding the first coefficient value to the second coefficient value; and decodes a third reconstructed image sample of the chroma component using the third coefficient value.
It would have been obvious to one skilled in the art at the time of the invention was made to modify the cited steps as indicated in claim 1 of the instant US application since the omission/addition/alteration of the cited limitations would not have changed the process according to which the process of parsing syntax for proper decoding. Therefore, the ordinary skilled artisan would have been also motivated to modify claim 1 of the cited instant US application by altering the step of incorporating a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a bitstream limitation to patent 12/262,004. The cited altering elements would not interfere with the functionality of the steps previously claimed and would perform the same function. In re Karlson, 136, USPQ 184 (CCPA 1963).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim(s) 1 is/are allowed.
The following is an Examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Claim(s) 1 discloses a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a bitstream, the bitstream including an encoded signal and syntax information according to which a decoder: parses a first parameter from a sequence parameter set; parses a second parameter from a picture header in response to a value of the first parameter being 1; parses a third parameter from a slice header in response to the value of the first parameter being 1; parses a fourth parameter from a coding tree unit in response to a value of the third parameter being 1, the fourth parameter indicating a filter to be used in a CCALF (cross component adaptive loop filtering) process; generates a first coefficient value by applying the CCALF process to a first reconstructed image sample of a luma component; determines whether the first coefficient value is less than 64; sets the first coefficient value to zero in response to determining the first coefficient value is less than 64; generates a second coefficient value by applying an ALF (adaptive loop filtering) process to a second reconstructed image sample of a chroma component; generates a third coefficient value by adding the first coefficient value to the second coefficient value; and decodes a third reconstructed image sample of the chroma component using the third coefficient value.
The closest prior arts Misra et al. (US 2022/0248007) discloses first to fourth syntax parameter (see Table 3; e.g. see ¶ 0186], [0191]) for CCALF and ALF filtering (see 410 and 412 in fig. 11A) but fail to anticipate or render the above underlined limitation obvious.
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.”
Citation of Pertinent Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
1. He et al. (US 2018/0220138), discloses chroma coding using cross component adaptive coding.
2. Li et al. (US 2016/0234492), discloses adaptive loop filtering with writing parameter set of a picture header.
3. Liu et al. (2012/0183081), discloses loop filtering converting and setting coefficient value for filtering.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RICHARD T TORRENTE whose telephone number is (571)270-3702. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 6:45-3:15 pm.
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, Jay Patel can be reached at (571) 272-2988. 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.
/RICHARD T TORRENTE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2485