Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 19/068,977

LOOP FILTERING IMPLEMENTATION METHOD AND APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER STORAGE MEDIUM

Non-Final OA §DP
Filed
Mar 03, 2025
Priority
Mar 07, 2019 — continuation of PCTCN2019077372 +3 more
Examiner
CARTER, RICHARD BRUCE
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
64%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 0m
Est. Remaining
85%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 64% of resolved cases
64%
Career Allowance Rate
296 granted / 460 resolved
+4.3% vs TC avg
Strong +20% interview lift
Without
With
+20.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
12 currently pending
Career history
472
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.1%
-37.9% vs TC avg
§103
81.1%
+41.1% vs TC avg
§102
6.3%
-33.7% vs TC avg
§112
2.7%
-37.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 460 resolved cases

Office Action

§DP
DETAILED ACTION This action is in response to application 19/068,977 filed on 03/03/2025. 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 . Double Patenting 3. 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). 4. Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-10 of U.S. Patent No. 12,278,996 B2 in view of Chen et al. (Chen”) (US Pub. No.: 2013/0215959 A1). Furthermore, although the conflicting claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because U.S. Patent No.: 12,278,996 B2 claims: Instant Application: 19/068,977 Note: bold and underlined fonts means same features between instant application and conflicting appl. Conflicting Application: 18/180,962 → now US Patent No.: 12,278,996 B2 Claim [1]: An in-loop filtering implementation method for video decoding, comprising: performing, based on at least two colour components of a to-be-filtered picture, component processing on the at least two colour components, to obtain at least two colour components after the component processing; performing in-loop filtering processing based on the at least two colour components after the component processing to obtain at least one filtered colour component of the to-be-filtered picture; wherein the to-be-filtered picture is a reconstructed picture or a filtered reconstructed picture by a preset filtering processing; wherein the at least two colour components comprises two of a first colour component, a second colour component and a third colour component of the to-be-filtered picture, and the at least one filtered colour component comprises only one of a filtered first colour component, a filtered second colour component, or a filtered third colour component of the to-be-filtered picture. Claim [1]: An in-loop filtering implementation method, comprising: performing, based on at least two original colour components of a to-be-filtered picture, component processing respectively on each of the at least two original colour components, to obtain at least two colour components after the component processing; performing in-loop filtering processing based on the at least two colour components after the component processing; further comprising: acquiring the to-be-filtered picture, comprising: performing video encoding processing on an original picture, and taking a generated reconstructed picture as the to-be-filtered picture; or performing video encoding processing on the original picture to generate a reconstructed picture; and performing preset filtering processing on the reconstructed picture, and taking the picture after preset filtering as the to-be-filtered picture; wherein the performing in-loop filtering processing based on the at least two colour components after the component processing comprises: inputting the at least two colour components at one time: wherein the at least two colour components comprises two of a first colour component, a second colour component and a third colour component of the to-be-filtered picture, and the at least one filtered colour component comprises only one of a filtered first colour component, a filtered second colour component, or a filtered third colour component of the to-be-filtered picture of the to-be-filtered picture. Claim [3]: The method according to claim 1, wherein before obtaining the at least two colour components after the component processing, the method further comprises: determining first auxiliary information corresponding to each colour component based on the at least two colour components of the to-be-filtered picture, wherein the first auxiliary information at least comprises at least one of block dividing information or quantization parameter information. Claim [2]: The method according to claim 1, wherein before obtaining at least two colour components after the component processing, the method further comprises: determining first auxiliary information corresponding to each original colour component based on the at least two original colour components of the to-be-filtered picture, wherein the first auxiliary information at least comprises block dividing information and/or quantization parameter information. Claim [4]: The method according to claim 3, wherein the performing, based on at least two colour components of a to-be-filtered picture, component processing on the at least two colour components, to obtain at least two colour components after the component processing, comprises: adding, based on the at least two colour components of the to-be-filtered picture, each of the at least two colour components to the first auxiliary information corresponding to the each of the at least two colour components, to obtain the at least two colour components of the to-be-filtered picture. Claim [3]: The method according to claim 2, wherein performing, based on at least two original colour components of a to-be-filtered picture, component processing respectively on each of the at least two original colour components, to obtain at least two colour components after the component processing, comprises: adding, based on the at least two original colour components of the to-be-filtered picture, each of the at least two original colour components to the first auxiliary information corresponding to the each of the at least two original colour components, to obtain the at least two colour components of the to-be-filtered picture. Claim [7]: The method according to claim 3, wherein before performing the component processing on the at least two colour components, to obtain the at least two colour components after the component processing, the method further comprises: determining second auxiliary information corresponding to each colour component based on the at least two colour components of the to-be-filtered picture, wherein the second auxiliary information is different from the first auxiliary information. Claim [4]: The method according to claim 1, wherein before performing component processing respectively on each of the at least two original colour components, to obtain at least two colour components after the component processing, the method further comprises: determining second auxiliary information corresponding to each original colour component based on the at least two original colour components of the to-be-filtered picture, wherein the second auxiliary information is different from the first auxiliary information. Claim [9]: The method according to claim 5, wherein the performing in-loop filtering processing based on the at least two colour components after the component processing to obtain at least one filtered colour component of the to-be-filtered picture comprises: adding, based on the at least two colour components of the to-be-filtered picture, each of the at least two colour components to second auxiliary information corresponding to the each of at least two colour components, to obtain the at least two colour components of the to-be-filtered picture. Claim [5]: The method according to claim 1, wherein performing in-loop filtering processing based on the at least two colour components after the component processing comprises: adding, based on at least two original colour components of the to-be-filtered picture, each of at least two original colour components to second auxiliary information corresponding to the each of at least two original colour components, to obtain the at least two colour components of the to-be-filtered picture. Claim [10]: The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: selecting a low-resolution colour component from the at least two colour components of the to-be-filtered picture; and performing up-sampling processing on the low-resolution colour component. Claim [6]: The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: selecting a low-resolution colour component from the at least two original colour components of the to-be-filtered picture; and performing up-sampling processing on the low-resolution colour component. Claim [11]: An in-loop filtering implementation method for video encoding, comprising: performing, based on at least two colour components of a to-be-filtered picture, component processing on the at least two colour components, to obtain at least two colour components after the component processing; performing in-loop filtering processing based on the at least two colour components after the component processing to obtain at least one filtered colour component of the to-be-filtered picture; wherein the to-be-filtered picture is a reconstructed picture or a filtered reconstructed picture by a preset filtering processing; wherein the at least two colour components comprises two of a first colour component, a second colour component and a third colour component of the to-be-filtered picture, and the at least one filtered colour component comprises only one of a filtered first colour component, a filtered second colour component, or a filtered third colour component of the to-be-filtered picture. Claim [1]: An in-loop filtering implementation method, comprising: performing, based on at least two original colour components of a to-be-filtered picture, component processing respectively on each of the at least two original colour components, to obtain at least two colour components after the component processing; performing in-loop filtering processing based on the at least two colour components after the component processing; further comprising: acquiring the to-be-filtered picture, comprising: performing video encoding processing on an original picture, and taking a generated reconstructed picture as the to-be-filtered picture; or performing video encoding processing on the original picture to generate a reconstructed picture; and performing preset filtering processing on the reconstructed picture, and taking the picture after preset filtering as the to-be-filtered picture; wherein the performing in-loop filtering processing based on the at least two colour components after the component processing comprises: inputting the at least two colour components at one time: wherein the at least two colour components comprises two of a first colour component, a second colour component and a third colour component of the to-be-filtered picture, and the at least one filtered colour component comprises only one of a filtered first colour component, a filtered second colour component, or a filtered third colour component of the to-be-filtered picture of the to-be-filtered picture. Claim [13]: The method according to claim 11, wherein before obtaining the at least two colour components after the component processing, the method further comprises: determining first auxiliary information corresponding to each colour component based on the at least two colour components of the to-be-filtered picture, wherein the first auxiliary information at least comprises at least one of block dividing information or quantization parameter information. Claim [2]: The method according to claim 1, wherein before obtaining at least two colour components after the component processing, the method further comprises: determining first auxiliary information corresponding to each original colour component based on the at least two original colour components of the to-be-filtered picture, wherein the first auxiliary information at least comprises block dividing information and/or quantization parameter information. Claim [14]: The method according to claim 13, wherein the performing, based on at least two colour components of a to-be-filtered picture, component processing on the at least two colour components, to obtain at least two colour components after the component processing, comprises: adding, based on the at least two colour components of the to-be-filtered picture, each of the at least two colour components to the first auxiliary information corresponding to the each of the at least two colour components, to obtain the at least two colour components of the to-be-filtered picture. Claim [3]: The method according to claim 2, wherein performing, based on at least two original colour components of a to-be-filtered picture, component processing respectively on each of the at least two original colour components, to obtain at least two colour components after the component processing, comprises: adding, based on the at least two original colour components of the to-be-filtered picture, each of the at least two original colour components to the first auxiliary information corresponding to the each of the at least two original colour components, to obtain the at least two colour components of the to-be-filtered picture. Claim [18]: A non-transitory computer storage medium having stored thereon an in-loop filtering implementation program and a bitstream, wherein, when the in-loop filtering implementation program is executed by at least one processor, the at least one processor is caused to perform the following operations to generate the bitstream: performing, based on at least two colour components of a to-be-filtered picture, component processing on the at least two colour components, to obtain at least two colour components after the component processing; performing in-loop filtering processing based on the at least two colour components after the component processing to obtain at least one filtered colour component of the to-be-filtered picture; wherein the to-be-filtered picture is a reconstructed picture or a filtered reconstructed picture by a preset filtering processing; wherein the at least two colour components comprises two of a first colour component, a second colour component and a third colour component of the to-be-filtered picture, and the at least one filtered colour component comprises only one of a filtered first colour component, a filtered second colour component, or a filtered third colour component of the to-be-filtered picture. Claim [10]: A non-transitory computer storage medium, on which an in-loop filtering implementation program is stored, wherein, when the in-loop filtering implementation program is executed by at least one processor, the processor is caused to: perform, based on at least two original colour components of a to-be-filtered picture, component processing respectively on each of the at least two original colour components, to obtain at least two colour components after the component processing; perform in-loop filtering processing based on the at least two colour components after the component processing; wherein the processor is configured to acquire the to-be-filtered picture, comprising: performing video encoding processing on an original picture, and taking a generated reconstructed picture as the to-be-filtered picture; or performing video encoding processing on the original picture to generate a reconstructed picture; and performing preset filtering processing on the reconstructed picture, and taking the picture after preset filtering as the to-be-filtered picture: wherein the processor is configured to input the at least two colour components at one time: wherein the at least two colour components comprises two of a first colour component, a second colour component and a third colour component of the to-be-filtered picture, and the at least one filtered colour component comprises only one of a filtered first colour component, a filtered second colour component, or a filtered third colour component of the to-be-filtered picture of the to-be-filtered picture. However, examiner notes that Chen et al. (Chen”) (US Pub. No.: 2013/0215959 A1) teaches the unique limitations in the instant application regarding an in-loop filtering implementation method for decoding and encoding (see title, abstract, paragraph [0005]), and in-loop filtering implementation computer program (see paragraph [0027]) executed by at least one the processor (see paragraph [0027]), the processor (see paragraph [0027]) is caused to: perform, based on at least two colour components (see fig. 6 unit 612 and unit 614, e.g. “Cb and Cr”) of a to-be-filtered picture (see fig. 1A, paragraphs [0021] and [0025], where the in-loop filtering process for a chroma FU may have to wait after information for all luma FUs of the picture has been received), component processing (see fig. 6, paragraphs [0025-0026]) on each of the at least two colour components (see fig. 6 unit 612 and unit 614, e.g. “Cb and Cr”); performing in-loop filtering processing (see abstract, paragraphs [0024-0025) to obtain at least one filtered colour component (see paragraph [0026]) of the to-be-filtered picture (see fig. 1A, paragraphs [0021] and [0025]). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains could recognize the advantage of providing a loop filtering implementation method and apparatus, and computer storage medium by modifying Wan’s teachings in the present US Patent No.: 12,278,996 B2 for the purpose of performing preset filtering processing on the reconstructed picture, and taking the picture after preset filtering as the to-be-filtered picture, thereby improving compression efficiency. Allowable Subject Matter 5. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Claims 1-20 of the instant application would be allowable provided obviousness type double patenting rejection above is overcome. Conclusion 6. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Fu et al. (US Pub. No.: 2012/0294353 A1) discloses apparatus and method of sample adaptive offset for luma and chroma components. Kim et al. (US Pub. No.: 2013/0223542 A1) discloses sample adaptive offset (SAO) parameter signaling. Shih et al. (US Pub. No.: 2020/0213570 A1) discloses method for processing projection-based frame that includes at least one projection face and at least one padding region packed in 360-degree virtual reality projection layout. 7. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Richard Carter whose telephone number is (571)270-1220. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 8:30 am - 5:00 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 on 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 an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /R.B.C/Examiner, Art Unit 2485 /JAYANTI K PATEL/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2485 June 18, 2026
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Prosecution Timeline

Mar 03, 2025
Application Filed
Oct 28, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jun 23, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §DP (current)

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
64%
Grant Probability
85%
With Interview (+20.3%)
3y 4m (~2y 0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 460 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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