DETAILED ACTION
1. This Office Action for U.S. Patent Application No. 03/06/2026 is responsive to communications filed on 06/08/2026, in reply to the Non-Final Rejection mailed on 03/06/2026. Currently, claims and 1-3 are pending.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
2. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . 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 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.
Priority
3. Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed.
Double Patenting
4. 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).
5. 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 §§ 706.02(l)(1) - 706.02(l)(3) 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).
6. 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.
7. Claims 1-3 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-3 of U.S. Patent No. 12,262,001. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other: Table 1 shows comparison between the instant claims and the U.S. Patent 12,262,001 B1 claims.
Application: 19/059,251
1. An image encoding method performed by an image encoding apparatus, the method comprising: generating geometric transform parameters based on geometric transform information; generating a predicted block of a current block based on a reference picture and the geometric transform parameters; generating a residual block of the current block based on the predicted block; and encoding information indicating whether the geometric transform parameters are present for the reference picture or not, wherein, the geometric transform information comprises at least one of transfer modification information, size modification information and rotation modification information, and the generating the geometric transform parameters comprises: in response to the geometric transform information comprising the transfer modification information, determining movement parameters of the geometric transform parameters based on the transfer modification information, and in response to the geometric transform information comprising the size modification information and the rotation modification information, determining zooming and rotation parameters of the geometric transform parameters based on the size modification information and the rotation modification information, and wherein, a predicted pixel in the predicted block is generated by determining a reference pixel in the reference picture, the reference pixel is determined based on a current location of the current block and the geometric transform parameters, when a location of the reference pixel is within the reference picture, the reference pixel is used for generating the predicted pixel, and when the location the reference pixel is not within the reference picture, a pixel within the reference picture that is closest to the reference pixel is used for generating the predicted pixel.
Patent No.:12,262,001
1. An image encoding method performed by an image encoding apparatus, the method comprising: generating geometric transform parameters based on geometric transform information; generating a predicted block of a current block based on a reference picture and the geometric transform parameters; and encoding information indicating whether the geometric transform parameters are present for the reference picture or not, wherein, the geometric transform information comprises at least one of transfer modification information, size modification information and rotation modification information, and the generating the geometric transform parameters comprises: in response to the geometric transform information comprising the transfer modification information, determining movement parameters of the geometric transform parameters based on the transfer modification information, and in response to the geometric transform information comprising the size modification information and the rotation modification information, determining zooming and rotation parameters of the geometric transform parameters based on the size modification information and the rotation modification information, and wherein, a predicted pixel in the predicted block is generated by determining a reference pixel in the reference picture, the reference pixel is determined based on a current location of the current block and the geometric transform parameters, when a location of the reference pixel is within the reference picture, the reference pixel is used for generating the predicted pixel, and when the location the reference pixel is not within the reference picture, a pixel within the reference picture that is closest to the reference pixel is used for generating the predicted pixel.
2. An image decoding method performed by an image decoding apparatus, the method comprising: determining, based on information decoded from a bitstream, whether geometric transform parameters are present for a reference picture; obtaining the geometric transform parameters based on geometric transform information; obtaining a predicted block of a current block based on the reference picture and the geometric transform parameters; and obtaining a reconstructed block of the current block based on the predicted block, wherein, the geometric transform information comprises at least one of transfer modification information, size modification information and rotation modification information, and the generating the geometric transform parameters comprises: in response to the geometric transform information comprising the transfer modification information, determining movement parameters of the geometric transform parameters based on the transfer modification information, and in response to the geometric transform information comprising the size modification information and the rotation modification information, determining zooming and rotation parameters of the geometric transform parameters based on the size modification information and the rotation modification information, and wherein, a predicted pixel in the predicted block is generated by determining a reference pixel in the reference picture, the reference pixel is determined based on a current location of the current block and the geometric transform parameters, when a location of the reference pixel is within the reference picture, the reference pixel is used for obtaining the predicted pixel, and when the location the reference pixel is not within the reference picture, a pixel within the reference picture that is closest to the reference pixel is used for obtaining the predicted pixel.
2. An image decoding method performed by an image decoding apparatus, the method comprising: determining, based on information decoded from a bitstream, whether geometric transform parameters are present for a reference picture; obtaining the geometric transform parameters based on geometric transform information; and obtaining a predicted block of a current block based on the reference picture and the geometric transform parameters, wherein, the geometric transform information comprises at least one of transfer modification information, size modification information and rotation modification information, and the generating the geometric transform parameters comprises: in response to the geometric transform information comprising the transfer modification information, determining movement parameters of the geometric transform parameters based on the transfer modification information, and in response to the geometric transform information comprising the size modification information and the rotation modification information, determining zooming and rotation parameters of the geometric transform parameters based on the size modification information and the rotation modification information, and wherein, a predicted pixel in the predicted block is generated by determining a reference pixel in the reference picture, the reference pixel is determined based on a current location of the current block and the geometric transform parameters, when a location of the reference pixel is within the reference picture, the reference pixel is used for obtaining the predicted pixel, and when the location the reference pixel is not within the reference picture, a pixel within the reference picture that is closest to the reference pixel is used for obtaining the predicted pixel.
3. A non-transitory readable medium storing a bitstream formed by an image encoding method, the image encoding method including: generating geometric transform parameters based on geometric transform information; generating a predicted block of a current block based on a reference picture and the geometric transform parameters; generating a residual block of the current block based on the predicted block; and encoding information indicating whether the geometric transform parameters are present for the reference picture or not, wherein, the geometric transform information comprises at least one of transfer modification information, size modification information and rotation modification information, and the generating the geometric transform parameters comprises: in response to the geometric transform information comprising the transfer modification information, determining movement parameters of the geometric transform parameters based on the transfer modification information, and in response to the geometric transform information comprising the size modification information and the rotation modification information, determining zooming and rotation parameters of the geometric transform parameters based on the size modification information and the rotation modification information, and wherein, a predicted pixel in the predicted block is generated by determining a reference pixel in the reference picture, the reference pixel is determined based on a current location of the current block and the geometric transform parameters, when a location of the reference pixel is within the reference picture, the reference pixel is used for generating the predicted pixel, and when the location the reference pixel is not within the reference picture, a pixel within the reference picture that is closest to the reference pixel is used for generating the predicted pixel.
3. A non-transitory readable medium storing a bitstream formed by an image encoding method, the image encoding method including: generating geometric transform parameters based on geometric transform information; generating a predicted block of a current block based on a reference picture and the geometric transform parameters; and encoding information indicating whether the geometric transform parameters are present for the reference picture or not, wherein, the geometric transform information comprises at least one of transfer modification information, size modification information and rotation modification information, and the generating the geometric transform parameters comprises: in response to the geometric transform information comprising the transfer modification information, determining movement parameters of the geometric transform parameters based on the transfer modification information, and in response to the geometric transform information comprising the size modification information and the rotation modification information, determining zooming and rotation parameters of the geometric transform parameters based on the size modification information and the rotation modification information, and wherein, a predicted pixel in the predicted block is generated by determining a reference pixel in the reference picture, the reference pixel is determined based on a current location of the current block and the geometric transform parameters, when a location of the reference pixel is within the reference picture, the reference pixel is used for generating the predicted pixel, and when the location the reference pixel is not within the reference picture, a pixel within the reference picture that is closest to the reference pixel is used for generating the predicted pixel.
Allowable Subject Matter
7. Claims 1-3 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 HOWARD D BROWN JR whose telephone number is (571)272-4371. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 7:30AM - 5:00PM EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Sathyanarayanan Perungavoor can be reached at 5712727455. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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HOWARD D. BROWN JR
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2488
/HOWARD D BROWN JR/Examiner, Art Unit 2488
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