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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 06/03/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
In the instant application publication, figure 29, figure 44, paragraphs [0408]-[0417], applicant discloses that the intra prediction of the displacement of the subdivided vertex is performed by predicting displacement of subdivision point from displacements of vertices of both ends (figure 44 step S6). In the instant application publication, paragraphs [0418]-[0423], applicant discloses predicting the displacement of the subdivided vertex using a normal vector for the subdivided vertex calculated from normal vectors of the end points on the base mesh.
TOKUMO teaches (figure 11, [0124], [126], figure 16, [0146], [0070]) that three vectors (including a normal vector) at a vertex on a subdivided mesh is calculated using three vectors at each of vertexes of both ends on a base mesh. The calculated three vectors are used as the intra prediction of three vectors at a vertex on a deformed mesh corresponding to the vertex on the subdivided mesh. Then the calculated three vectors are added by the mesh displacements to obtain the vertex on the deformed mesh.
TOKUMO’s teaching is consistent with the application specification. See detailed rejection.
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.
Claims 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by TOKUMO et al. (US 20240054684 A1).
Regarding claim 1. TOKUMO discloses A mesh decoding device comprising a circuit (abstract, A 3D data decoding apparatus for decoding 3D coded data includes an image decoder configured to decode the 3D coded data into a mesh displacement image) that:
outputs a base mesh (figure 3 unit 303, figure 4),
outputs an intra prediction residual ([0126] The mesh deformation unit 3072 receives the mesh displacement input; [0147] The mesh displacement derivation unit derives and outputs, based on the mesh and the subdivided mesh, displacements d4, d5, and d6, as mesh displacements, of the vertices v4, v5, and v6 for vertices v4′, v 5′, and v6′ (FIG. 16(d)) (corresponding encoding)), and
decodes a displacement by performing intra prediction of a displacement of a subdivided vertex based on the outputted base mesh to calculate an intra prediction value based on a normal vector calculated for the subdivided vertex (figure 11, [0124] v1, v2, and v3 are three-dimensional vectors. The mesh subdivision unit 3071 adds new vertices v12, v13, and v23 to intermediates of respective sides of the triangle to generate and output a subdivided mesh (FIG. 11(b)). v12=(v1+v2)/2, v13=(v1+v3)/2, v23=(v2+v3)/2; figure 16, [0146] The mesh subdivision unit 1152 subdivides the base mesh to generate a subdivided mesh like the mesh subdivision unit 3071 (FIG. 16(c)). v4′=(v1+v2)/2, v5′=(v1+v3)/2, v6′=(v2+v3)/2; [0070] Local coordinate system: an orthogonal coordinate system defined per region or vertex in the 3D space. Specifically, this is an orthogonal coordinate system consisting of a first axis (D), a second axis (U), and a third axis (V), the first axis (D) being indicated by a normal vector n_vec at a vertex (or a surface including a vertex). n_vec, t_vec, and b_vec are three-dimensional vectors), and adding the calculated intra prediction value and the outputted intra prediction residual ([0126] The mesh deformation unit 3072 receives the subdivided mesh and the mesh displacement input and adds mesh displacements d12, d13, and d23 to generate and output a deformed mesh (FIG. 11(c)). v12′=v12+d12, v13′=v13+d13, v23′=v23+d23).
Regarding claim 2. TOKUMO discloses The mesh decoding device according to claim 1, wherein
the circuit decodes the displacement based on normal vectors of points at both ends of the subdivided vertex (figure 11, [0124] v1, v2, and v3 are three-dimensional vectors. The mesh subdivision unit 3071 adds new vertices v12, v13, and v23 to intermediates of respective sides of the triangle to generate and output a subdivided mesh (FIG. 11(b)). v12=(v1+v2)/2, v13=(v1+v3)/2, v23=(v2+v3)/2; figure 16, [0146] The mesh subdivision unit 1152 subdivides the base mesh to generate a subdivided mesh like the mesh subdivision unit 3071 (FIG. 16(c)). v4′=(v1+v2)/2, v5′=(v1+v3)/2, v6′=(v2+v3)/2; [0070] Local coordinate system: an orthogonal coordinate system defined per region or vertex in the 3D space. Specifically, this is an orthogonal coordinate system consisting of a first axis (D), a second axis (U), and a third axis (V), the first axis (D) being indicated by a normal vector n_vec at a vertex (or a surface including a vertex). n_vec, t_vec, and b_vec are three-dimensional vectors; [0126] The mesh deformation unit 3072 receives the subdivided mesh and the mesh displacement input and adds mesh displacements d12, d13, and d23 to generate and output a deformed mesh (FIG. 11(c)). v12′=v12+d12, v13′=v13+d13, v23′=v23+d23).
Regarding claim 3. TOKUMO discloses The mesh decoding device according to claim 1, wherein
the circuit decodes the displacement based on a decoded displacement of the subdivided vertex ([0126] The mesh deformation unit 3072 receives the subdivided mesh and the mesh displacement input and adds mesh displacements d12, d13, and d23 to generate and output a deformed mesh (FIG. 11(c)). v12′=v12+d12, v13′=v13+d13, v23′=v23+d23).
Regarding claim 4. The same analysis has been stated in claim 1.
Furthermore, TOKUMO discloses
performing inverse quantization on a quantized intra prediction residual (figure 3 unit 305, figure 5, [0066] the mesh displacement decoder 305 may further include an image decoder 3051; [0100] The image decoder 3051 decodes the mesh displacement image coding stream coded in VVC, HEVC, or the like, and outputs a decoded image having pixel values of quantized mesh displacement (mesh displacement image, mesh displacement array); [0120] In the image decoder 3051, typically, an intra-prediction method or an inter-prediction method is used (inherently, an intra-prediction residual of mesh displacement image is first inverse quantized and then added to an intra prediction value to obtain the displacement within the image decoder 3051 when an intra-prediction method is used)).
Regarding claim 5. The same analysis has been stated in claim 1.
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 XIAOLAN XU whose telephone number is (571)270-7580. The examiner can normally be reached Mon. to Fri. 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, SATH V. PERUNGAVOOR can be reached at (571) 272-7455. 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.
/XIAOLAN XU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2488
Prosecution Insights