Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
2. This Office Action is sent in response to Applicant’s Communication received on February 24,2025 for application number 19/061,479. This Office hereby acknowledges receipt of the following and placed of record in file: Specification, Drawings, Abstract, Oath/Declaration, and Claims.
3. Claims 1-3 are presented for examination.
Priority
4. Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. KR 10-2012-0038870, filed on April 16, 2012; Application No. KR 10-2012-0066606, filed on June 21,2012; Application No. KR 10-2012-0067925, filed on June 25, 2012; Application No. KR 10-2012-0071933, filed on July 2, 2012; Application No. KR 10-2012-0077012, filed on July 16, 2012; Application No. KR 10-2012-0108925, filed on September 28, 2012; Application No. KR 10-2012-0112598, filed on October 10, 2012; and Application No. KR 10-2013-0041862, filed on April 16, 2013.
5. Applicant’s claim for the benefit of a prior-filed application No. PCT/KR2013/003204, filed on April 16, 2013, under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) or under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c) is acknowledged.
6. This application discloses and claims only subject matter disclosed in prior application no 14/391,061, filed on October 7, 2014, prior application no. 16/784,714, filed on February 7, 2020, prior application no. 17/144,409, filed on January 8, 2021, prior application no. 17/950,248, filed on September 22, 2022, prior application no. 18/417,415, filed on January 19,2024 and names the inventor or at least one joint inventor named in the prior application. Accordingly, this application may constitute a continuation or division.
Information Disclosure Statement
7. The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on March 24, 2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Interpretation
Nonfunctional Descriptive Material
8. Claim 3 recites “A non-transitory computable-readable medium for storing a bitstream that is decoded by a video decoding method”. There are no recitations of a processor or other element-merely bitstream content (bitstream decoded by the recited method). Under MPEP 2111.05(III), this claim is merely machine-readable media. The Examiner finds that there is no disclosed or claimed functional relationship between the stored bitstream and the medium. Instead, the medium is merely a support or carrier for the bitstream being stored. Therefore, the bitstream stored and the way such bitstream is decoded should not be given patentable weight. See MPEP 2111.05 applying In re Lowry, 32 F.3d 1579, 1583-84, 32 USPQ2d 1031, 1035 (Fed. Cir. 1994); and In re Ngai, 367 F.3d 1336, 70 USPQ2d 1862 (Fed. Cir. 2004). As such, claim 3 is subject to a prior art rejection based on any non-transitory computer readable medium known before the earliest effective filing date of the present application.
Double Patenting
9. 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 §§ 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).
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.
10. Claim 1 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 10,602,160 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claim 1 of the present application is just claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 10,602,160 B2 with minor English language syntax differences. Therefore, claim 1 of the present application is anticipated by claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 10,602,160 B2 because claim 1 is broader than the issued claim. Still further, please refer to the following table for correspondence of claims between the present application and U.S. Patent No. 10,602,160 B2:
Instant Application
U.S. Patent No. 10,602,160 B2
Note: bold means difference
1. A video decoding apparatus, comprising:
a parsing module configured to: parse a slice header of a second picture that is a next picture of a decoded first picture;
wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the decoded first picture is a reference picture,
mark the decoded first picture as a reference picture in a Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB),
determine whether the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture based on the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture,
mark the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture as a non-reference picture when the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture, and
parse a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture,
wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and
wherein the transmission unit header comprises information indicating a temporal identifier of the transmission unit.
1. A video decoding apparatus comprising:
a parsing module configured to parse a slice header of a first picture and a slice header of a second picture that is a next picture of the first picture;
a decoding module configured to
decode the first picture; and
a decoded picture buffer (DPB) configured to
store the decoded first picture,
wherein the decoded first picture is marked as a reference picture in the DPB and the decoded first picture is re-marked as one of a reference picture and a non-reference picture based on reference picture information comprised in the slice header of the second picture after the decoded first picture was marked as a reference picture,
wherein the reference picture information in the slice header of the second picture indicates which of a reference picture or non-reference picture the first picture is,
wherein the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture is re-marked as a non-reference picture in a case where the reference picture information in the slice header of the second picture indicates that the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture,
wherein the parsing module is further configured to parse a network abstraction layer (NAL) unit header of an NAL unit for the first picture, and
the NAL unit header does not comprise 1 bit flag information indicating whether the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and
wherein the NAL unit header comprises layer identification information having 6 bits.
11. Claims 1-2 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1 and 3 of U.S. Patent No. 10,958,919 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-2 of the present application is just claims 1 and 3 of U.S. Patent No. 10,958,919 B2 with minor English language syntax differences.
Claims 1 and 3 of U.S. Patent No. 10,958,919 B2 are much more specific and claims 1-2 of the present application are broader in scope than claims that are already issued. Claim 1 of the present application is anticipated by claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 10,958,919 B2 with the variant of the use of the term “video decoding apparatus” instead of the term “ video decoding method” as used in claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 10,958,919 B2. Claim 2 of the present application is anticipated by claim 3 of U.S. Patent No. 10,958,919 B2 with the variant of the use of the term “video encoding apparatus” instead of the term “ video encoding method” as used in claim 3 of U.S. Patent No. 10,958,919 B2. A double patenting rejection is needed to prevent two claims to the same invention.
Still further, please refer to the following table for correspondence of claims between the present application and U.S. Patent No. 10,958,919 B2:
Instant Application
U.S. Patent No. 10,958,919 B2
Note: bold means difference
1. A video decoding apparatus, comprising:
a parsing module configured to: parse a slice header of a second picture that is a next picture of a decoded first picture;
wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the decoded first picture is a reference picture,
mark the decoded first picture as a reference picture in a Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB),
determine whether the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture based on the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture, mark the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture as a non-reference picture when the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture, and
parse a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture,
wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and
wherein the transmission unit header comprises information indicating a temporal identifier of the transmission unit.
1. A video decoding method comprising:
parsing a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for a first picture;
parsing a header of the first picture and a header of a second picture which is a next picture of the first picture;
decoding the first picture; and
storing the decoded first picture in
a buffer,
wherein the decoded first picture is marked as a reference picture in the buffer and the decoded first picture is re-marked as one of a reference picture and a non-reference picture based on reference picture information comprised in the header of the second picture after the decoded first picture was marked as a reference picture,
wherein the reference picture information in
the header of the second picture indicates whether the first picture is a reference picture or non-reference picture,
wherein the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture is re-marked as a non-reference picture in a case that the reference picture information in the header of the second picture indicates that the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture,
wherein the transmission unit header excludes flag information indicating whether the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and
wherein transmission unit header comprises layer identification information.
2. A video encoding apparatus, comprising:
an encoding module configured to: encode a first picture, a slice header of a second picture that is a next picture of the first picture, and a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture, and
generate a bitstream that includes the encoded first picture and the encoded slice header,
wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the first picture is a reference picture,
wherein the first picture is marked as a reference picture, wherein the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture is encoded based on whether the first picture marked as a reference picture is a reference picture or a non-reference picture,
wherein the first picture marked as a reference picture is marked as a non-reference picture when the reference picture information indicates that the first picture is a non-reference picture;
wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and
wherein the transmission unit header comprises information indicating a temporal identifier of the transmission unit.
3. A video encoding method comprising:
encoding a first picture and a header of a second picture which is a next picture of the first picture; and encoding a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture,
wherein the header of the second picture comprises reference picture information,
wherein the transmission unit header excludes flag information indicating whether the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and wherein transmission unit header comprises layer identification information,
wherein the reference picture information is used for re-marking, after the first picture is decoded and marked as a reference picture, whether the decoded first picture is a reference picture or a non-reference picture, and
wherein the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture is re-marked as a non-reference picture in a case that the reference picture information in the header of the second picture indicates that the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture.
12. Claims 1-3 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-3 of U.S. Patent No. 11,483,578 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-3 of the present application is just claims 1-3 of U.S. Patent No. 11,483,578 B2 with minor English language syntax differences.
Claims 1-3 of U.S. Patent No. 11,483,578 B2 are much more specific and claims 1-3 of the present application are broader in scope than claims that are already issued. A double patenting rejection is needed to prevent two claims to the same invention.
Still further, please refer to the following table for correspondence of claims between the present application and U.S. Patent No. 11,483,578 B2:
Instant Application
U.S. Patent No. 11,483,578 B2
Note: bold means difference
1. A video decoding apparatus, comprising:
a parsing module configured to: parse a slice header of a second picture that is a next picture of a decoded first picture;
wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the decoded first picture is a reference picture,
mark the decoded first picture as a reference picture in a Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB), determine whether the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture based on the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture,
mark the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture as a non-reference picture when the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture, and
parse a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture,
wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and wherein the transmission unit header comprises information indicating a temporal identifier of the transmission unit.
1. A video decoding apparatus, comprising:
a decoding module for decoding a first picture;
a parsing module for parsing a slice header of a second picture which is a next picture of the decoded first picture; and a Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB) for storing the decoded first picture,
wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the decoded first picture is a reference picture,
wherein the decoded first picture is marked as a reference picture in the DPB, and
then whether the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture is a reference picture or a non-reference picture is determined based on the reference picture information, and the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture is marked as a non-reference picture in a case that it is determined that the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture based on the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture,
wherein the parsing module parses a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture, and the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture.
2. A video encoding apparatus, comprising:
an encoding module configured to: encode a first picture, a slice header of a second picture that is a next picture of the first picture, and a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture, and
generate a bitstream that includes the encoded first picture and the encoded slice header, wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the first picture is a reference picture,
wherein the first picture is marked as a reference picture, wherein the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture is encoded based on whether the first picture marked as a reference picture is a reference picture or a non-reference picture,
wherein the first picture marked as a reference picture is marked as a non-reference picture when the reference picture information indicates that the first picture is a non-reference picture;
wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and wherein the transmission unit header comprises information indicating a temporal identifier of the transmission unit.
2. A video encoding apparatus, comprising:
an encoding module for encoding a first picture and a slice header of a second picture which is a next picture of the first picture,
wherein the encoding module is further configured to encode a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture and
generate a bitstream including the encoded first picture and the encoded slice header, wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the first picture is a reference picture,
wherein the first picture is marked as a reference picture, and the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture is encoded based on whether the first picture marked as a reference picture is a reference picture or a non-reference picture,
wherein the first picture marked as a reference picture is marked as a non-reference picture in a case that the reference picture information is determined to indicate that the first picture is determined to be a non-reference picture,
wherein the parsing module parses a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture, and the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture.
3. A non-transitory computable-readable medium for storing a bitstream that is decoded by a video decoding method, the method comprising:
parsing a slice header of a second picture which is a next picture of a decoded first picture,
wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the decoded first picture is a reference picture,
marking the decoded first picture as a reference picture in a Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB), determining whether the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture based on the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture,
marking the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture as a non-reference picture when the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture,
parsing a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture, wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and wherein the transmission unit header comprises information indicating a temporal identifier of the transmission unit.
3. A non-transitory computable-readable medium for storing a bitstream that is decoded by a video decoding method, the method comprising: decoding a first picture; and
parsing a slice header of a second picture which is a next picture of the decoded first picture, wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the decoded first picture is a reference picture,
wherein the decoded first picture is marked as a reference picture in the DPB, and then
whether the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture is a reference picture or a non-reference picture is determined based on the reference picture information, and
the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture is marked as a non-reference picture in a case that it is determined that the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture based on the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture,
wherein the parsing module parses a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture, and the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture.
13. Claims 1-3 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-3 of U.S. Patent No. 12,028,538 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-3 of the present application is just claims 1-3 of U.S. Patent No. 12,028,538 B2 with minor English language syntax differences.
Claims 1-3 of U.S. Patent No. 12,028,538 B2 are much more specific and claims 1-3 of the present application are broader in scope than claims that are already issued. A double patenting rejection is needed to prevent two claims to the same invention.
Still further, please refer to the following table for correspondence of claims between the present application and U.S. Patent No. 12,028,538 B2:
Instant Application
U.S. Patent No. 12,028,538 B2
Note: bold means difference
1. A video decoding apparatus, comprising:
a parsing module configured to: parse a slice header of a second picture that is a next picture of a decoded first picture;
wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the decoded first picture is a reference picture, mark the decoded first picture as a reference picture in a Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB),
determine whether the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture based on the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture,
mark the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture as a non-reference picture when the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture, and
parse a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture, wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and
wherein the transmission unit header comprises information indicating a temporal identifier of the transmission unit.
1. A video decoding apparatus, comprising:
a parsing module configured to: parse a slice header of a second picture that is a next picture of a decoded first picture;
wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the decoded first picture is a reference picture, mark the decoded first picture as a reference picture in a Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB),
determine whether the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture based on the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture,
mark the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture as a non-reference picture when the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture, and
parse a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture, wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and
wherein the transmission unit header comprises information identifying a layer.
2. A video encoding apparatus, comprising:
an encoding module configured to: encode a first picture, a slice header of a second picture that is a next picture of the first picture, and a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture, and
generate a bitstream that includes the encoded first picture and the encoded slice header, wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the first picture is a reference picture,
wherein the first picture is marked as a reference picture, wherein the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture is encoded based on whether the first picture marked as a reference picture is a reference picture or a non-reference picture,
wherein the first picture marked as a reference picture is marked as a non-reference picture when the reference picture information indicates that the first picture is a non-reference picture;
wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and wherein the transmission unit header comprises information indicating a temporal identifier of the transmission unit.
2. A video encoding apparatus, comprising:
an encoding module configured to: encode a first picture, a slice header of a second picture that is a next picture of the first picture, and a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture, and
generate a bitstream that includes the encoded first picture and the encoded slice header, wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the first picture is a reference picture,
wherein the first picture is marked as a reference picture, wherein the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture is encoded based on whether the first picture marked as a reference picture is a reference picture or a non-reference picture,
wherein the first picture marked as a reference picture is marked as a non-reference picture when the reference picture information indicates that the first picture is a non-reference picture;
wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and wherein the transmission unit header comprises information identifying a layer.
3. A non-transitory computable-readable medium for storing a bitstream that is decoded by a video decoding method, the method comprising:
parsing a slice header of a second picture which is a next picture of a decoded first picture, wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the decoded first picture is a reference picture,
marking the decoded first picture as a reference picture in a Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB), determining whether the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture based on the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture,
marking the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture as a non-reference picture when the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture,
parsing a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture, wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and wherein the transmission unit header comprises information indicating a temporal identifier of the transmission unit.
3. A non-transitory computable-readable medium for storing a bitstream that is decoded by a video decoding method, the method comprising:
parsing a slice header of a second picture which is a next picture of a decoded first picture, wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the decoded first picture is a reference picture,
marking the decoded first picture as a reference picture in a Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB), determining whether the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture based on the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture,
marking the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture as a non-reference picture when the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture,
parsing a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture, wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and wherein the transmission unit header comprises information identifying a layer.
14. Claims 1-3 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-2 of U.S. Patent No. 12,267,510 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-3 of the present application is just claims 1-3 of U.S. Patent No. 12,267,510 B2 with minor English language syntax differences.
Claims 1-2 of U.S. Patent No. 12,267,510 B2 are much more specific and claims 1-3 of the present application are broader in scope than claims that are already issued. Claim 3 of the present application is anticipated by claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 12,267,510 B2 with the variant of the use of the terms “non-transitory computable-readable medium for storing a bitstream that is decoded by a video decoding method” instead of the terms “video decoding apparatus” as used in claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 12,267,510 B2. A double patenting rejection is needed to prevent two claims to the same invention.
Still further, please refer to the following table for correspondence of claims between the present application and U.S. Patent No. 12,267,510 B2:
Instant Application
U.S. Patent No. 12,267,510 B2
Note: bold means difference
A video decoding apparatus, comprising:
a parsing module configured to: parse a slice header of a second picture that is a next picture of a decoded first picture;
wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the decoded first picture is a reference picture,
mark the decoded first picture as a reference picture in a Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB), determine whether the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture based on the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture,
mark the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture as a non-reference picture when the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture, and
parse a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture, wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and wherein the transmission unit header comprises information indicating a temporal identifier of the transmission unit.
1. A video decoding apparatus, comprising:
a parsing module configured to: parse a slice header of a second picture that is a next picture of a decoded first picture;
wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the decoded first picture is a reference picture,
mark the decoded first picture as a reference picture in a Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB), determine whether the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture based on the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture,
mark the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture as a non-reference picture when the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture, and
parse a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture, wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and wherein the transmission unit header comprises type information of the transmission unit.
2. A video encoding apparatus, comprising:
an encoding module configured to: encode a first picture, a slice header of a second picture that is a next picture of the first picture, and a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture, and
generate a bitstream that includes the encoded first picture and the encoded slice header, wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the first picture is a reference picture, wherein the first picture is marked as a reference picture,
wherein the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture is encoded based on whether the first picture marked as a reference picture is a reference picture or a non-reference picture,
wherein the first picture marked as a reference picture is marked as a non-reference picture when the reference picture information indicates that the first picture is a non-reference picture,
wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and wherein the transmission unit header comprises information indicating a temporal identifier of the transmission unit.
2. A video encoding apparatus, comprising:
an encoding module configured to: encode a first picture, a slice header of a second picture that is a next picture of the first picture, and a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture, and
generate a bitstream that includes the encoded first picture and the encoded slice header,
wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the first picture is a reference picture, wherein the first picture is marked as a reference picture,
wherein the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture is encoded based on whether the first picture marked as a reference picture is a reference picture or a non-reference picture, and
wherein the first picture marked as a reference picture is marked as a non-reference picture when the reference picture information indicates that the first picture is a non-reference picture;
wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and wherein the transmission unit header comprises type information of the transmission unit.
3. A non-transitory computable-readable medium for storing a bitstream that is decoded by a video decoding method, the method comprising:
parsing a slice header of a second picture which is a next picture of a decoded first picture,
wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the decoded first picture is a reference picture,
marking the decoded first picture as a reference picture in a Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB), determining whether the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture based on the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture,
marking the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture as a non-reference picture when the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture,
parsing a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture,
wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and wherein the transmission unit header comprises information indicating a temporal identifier of the transmission unit.
1. A video decoding apparatus, comprising:
a parsing module configured to:
parse a slice header of a second picture that is a next picture of a decoded first picture;
wherein the slice header of the second picture includes reference picture information indicating whether the decoded first picture is a reference picture,
mark the decoded first picture as a reference picture in a Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB), determine whether the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture based on the reference picture information included in the slice header of the second picture,
mark the decoded first picture marked as a reference picture as a non-reference picture when the decoded first picture is a non-reference picture, and
parse a transmission unit header of a transmission unit for the first picture,
wherein the transmission unit header does not comprise flag information indicating whether the transmission unit for the first picture is a non-reference picture or a reference picture, and wherein the transmission unit header comprises type information of the transmission unit.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
15. The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of pre-AIA 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 –
(e) the invention was described in (1) an application for patent, published under section 122(b), by another filed in the United States before the invention by the applicant for patent or (2) a patent granted on an application for patent by another filed in the United States before the invention by the applicant for patent, except that an international application filed under the treaty defined in section 351(a) shall have the effects for purposes of this subsection of an application filed in the United States only if the international application designated the United States and was published under Article 21(2) of such treaty in the English language.
16. Claim 3 is rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(e) as being anticipated by Chen et al.(US 2013/0182755 A1)(hereinafter Chen).
Claim 3 has been interpreted above as nonfunctional descriptive material under MPEP 2111.05(III) and the case law cited therein because claim 3 recites “A non-transitory computable-readable medium for storing a bitstream that is decoded by a video decoding method”. As such, claim 3 is subject to a prior art rejection based on any non-transitory computer readable medium known before the earliest effective filing date of the present application. In other words, the proper interpretation of claim 3 is merely a machine-readable media in which the media is merely support or carrier for the bitstream being stored wherein the bitstream stored and the way such bitstream is decoded should not be given patentable weight.
Chen which is analogous art discloses a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a bitstream stored thereon [See Chen: at least par. 41, 45, 295,296, 298]. As such, Chen clearly anticipates the non-transitory computable-readable medium for storing a bitstream.
Conclusion
17. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANA J PICON-FELICIANO whose telephone number is (571)272-5252. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00.
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/Ana Picon-Feliciano/Examiner, Art Unit 2482
/CHRISTOPHER S KELLEY/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2482