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 .
Claims 1-18 are pending for examination.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 01/16/2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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 filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
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Claims 1-18 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-18 of U.S. Patent No. 12289455. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because instant claims 1-18 recite an corresponding chroma block prediction method implemented by a decoder, instead of encoder, including classifying the four luma values into two smaller luma values and two larger luma values by sorting the four luma values; grouping the two smaller luma values into a first luma set, and grouping the two larger luma values into a second luma set; grouping chroma values of chroma samples corresponding to luma samples associated with luma values in the first luma set into a first chroma set, and grouping chroma values of chroma samples corresponding to luma samples associated with luma values in the second luma set into a second chroma set.
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for chroma block prediction.
The combination of the prior art does not teach or suggest a specific implementation with the following distinct properties that include:
classifying the four luma values into two smaller luma values and two larger luma values by sorting the four luma values;
grouping the two smaller luma values into a first luma set, and grouping the two larger luma values into a second luma set;
grouping chroma values of chroma samples corresponding to luma samples associated with luma values in the first luma set into a first chroma set, and grouping chroma values of chroma samples corresponding to luma samples associated with luma values in the second luma set into a second chroma set;
determining a scaling coefficient in a linear model corresponding to the chroma block based on an average value of the luma values in the first luma set, an average value of the luma values in the second luma set, an average value of the chroma values in the first chroma set, and an average value of the chroma values in the second chroma set;
determining, based on the scaling coefficient, an offset factor in the linear model corresponding to the chroma block; and
determining a prediction block of the chroma block based on the scaling coefficient, the offset factor, and luma reconstruction information corresponding to the chroma block, wherein the luma reconstruction information comprises downsampling information of a luma reconstructed block corresponding to the chroma block.
Closest prior art listed below either singularly or in combination, fail to anticipate or render the above limitations obvious.
Lin (CN103096057A) teaches a chromaticity intra-frame prediction method that includes down- sampling is performed for left adjacent brightness pixel points according to brightness values of the left adjacent brightness pixel points and a one dimensional (1d) 4-tap down-sampling filter in the perpendicular direction, and brightness values of left adjacent down-sampling points.
Chen (CN104871537A) teaches a method for cross-color Intra prediction using the LM Intra mode using multi-row or multi-column neighboring reconstructed pixels for LM parameter derivation or using only top pixels or left pixels of neighboring pixels.
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.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HESHAM K ABOUZAHRA whose telephone number is (571)270-0425. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jamie Atala can be reached at 57127227384. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/HESHAM K ABOUZAHRA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2486