CTNF 19/217,961 CTNF 90212 Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Detailed Action This office Action is in response to an application filed on 05/23/2025 is a CON of 18/390,896 12/20/2023 PAT 12335541, which is a CON of 17/198,961 03/11/2021 PAT 11968407, which is a CON of PCT/US2019/051149 09/13/2019, which has PRO 62/731,696 09/14/2018, in which claims 1-20 are pending and are being examined. Information Disclosure Statement This information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 07/23/2025 and 04/17/2026. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Double Patenting 08-33 AIA 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. Claims 1, 8, 15 and similar dependent claims are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of Conflicting Patent PAT US 9,280,711 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the subject matter claimed in the instant application is anticipated by the Conflicting Patent and is covered by the Patent since the Patent and the application are claiming common subject matter, below is a list of limitations that perform the same function, however, different terminology may be used in both sets to describe the limitations, as follows, Claim 1 is used as an example to analyze the common subject matter: Conflicting Patent No. US 11,968,407 B2 Instant Application:-19/217,961 1. A method implemented by a decoder, the method comprising: receiving a bitstream including picture data coded in a plurality of slices and a slice header containing a slice type, wherein the slice type is set to zero when the slices are bidirectional inter-prediction (B) slices, wherein the slice type is set to one when the slices are unidirectional inter-prediction (P) slices, wherein the slice type is set to two when the slices are intra-prediction (I) slices, wherein each of the slices contains a plurality of tiles, and wherein each of the tiles contains one or more coding tree units (CTUs) containing coded picture data, and wherein addresses of the CTUs are assigned based on tile indices of corresponding tiles; determining a top left tile index associated with a first slice; determining a position of the first slice and a boundary of the first slice based on the top left tile index when the first slice is a rectangular slice, wherein determining the position of the first slice includes determining the addresses of all the CTUs in the first slice based on the top left tile index; and decoding the first slice to generate a reconstructed picture based on the boundary of the first slice and the slice type. 1. (New) A method for generating a bitstream, comprising: partitioning a picture into a plurality of slices; partitioning each of the plurality of slices into a plurality of tiles, wherein each of the tiles contains one or more coding tree units (CTUs) containing coded picture data, and wherein addresses of the CTUs are assigned based on tile indices of corresponding tiles; determining a top left tile index associated with a first slice; encoding the top left tile index to indicate a position of the first slice and a boundary of the first slice when the first slice is a rectangular slice, wherein the position of the first slice is determined by assigning the addresses of all the CTUs in the first slice based on the top left tile index; encoding a slice header containing a slice type, wherein the slice type is set to zero when the slices are bidirectional inter-prediction (B) slices, wherein the slice type is set to one when the slices are unidirectional inter-prediction (P) slices, and wherein the slice type is set to two when the slices are intra-prediction (I) slices; and generating the bitstream carrying data of the encoded top left tile index and slice header. As demonstrated, the claim of US patent US 11,968,407 B2 anticipate the features of the claim of instant application 19/217,961. Similar rejection can be presented for US 12,335,541 B2. A nonstatutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can be overcome by amending the conflicting claims so they are no longer coextensive in scope or filing of a terminal disclaimer. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MOHAMMAD J RAHMAN whose telephone number is (571)270-7190. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 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, David Czekaj can be reached at (571) 272-7327. 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. /Mohammad J Rahman/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2487 Application/Control Number: 19/217,961 Page 2 Art Unit: 2487 Application/Control Number: 19/217,961 Page 3 Art Unit: 2487 Application/Control Number: 19/217,961 Page 4 Art Unit: 2487 Application/Control Number: 19/217,961 Page 5 Art Unit: 2487 Application/Control Number: 19/217,961 Page 6 Art Unit: 2487 Application/Control Number: 19/217,961 Page 7 Art Unit: 2487
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