Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 19/229,399

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENTROPY-ENCODING AND ENTROPY-DECODING VIDEO SIGNAL

Non-Final OA §DOUBLEPATENT§DP
Filed
Jun 05, 2025
Priority
Sep 07, 2017 — provisional 62/555,053 +5 more
Examiner
AYNALEM, NATHNAEL B
Art Unit
2482
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Nokia Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
76%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 4m
Est. Remaining
89%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 76% — above average
76%
Career Allowance Rate
517 granted / 679 resolved
+18.1% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+13.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
24 currently pending
Career history
711
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.9%
-34.1% vs TC avg
§103
43.5%
+3.5% vs TC avg
§102
20.0%
-20.0% vs TC avg
§112
21.7%
-18.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 679 resolved cases

Office Action

§DOUBLEPATENT §DP
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status This is in response to application no.19/229,399 filed on 06/05/2025. 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 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 § 2146 et seq. 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 filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13. The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual 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/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer. Claims 1-9 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-9 of U.S. Patent No. 12356021. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the current claims 1-9 are anticipated by the claims 1-9 of pat. ‘021. Table 1 below shows the comparison between the current claims and the claims of pat. ‘021. TABLE 1 Current claims Pat. No. US 12356021 claims 1. An image decoding method performed by a decoding apparatus, the method comprising: deriving affine coding information of a left block and a top block of the current block, wherein the affine coding information includes an affine flag indicating whether an affine motion prediction has been performed, determining a context index of the affine flag of the current block based on the affine coding information of the left block and the top block, entropy-decoding the affine flag of the current block based on the context index, parsing an affine parameter flag representing whether 4 parameters or 6 parameters are used for an affine motion model based on the affine flag of the current block, obtaining a motion vector predictor based on the 4 parameters or the 6 parameters being used for the affine motion model, and performing a prediction for the current block based on the motion vector predictor, wherein the context index of the affine flag of the current block is determined based on a sum of a value determined based on the affine flag of the left block and a value determined based on the affine flag of the top block. 1. An apparatus of decoding a video signal including a current block, the apparatus comprising: a processor configured to derive affine coding information of a left block and a top block of the current block, wherein the affine coding information includes an affine flag indicating whether an affine motion prediction has been performed, determine a context index of the affine flag of the current block based on the affine coding information of the left block and the top block, entropy-decode the affine flag of the current block based on the context index, parse an affine parameter flag representing whether 4 parameters or 6 parameters are used for an affine motion model based on the affine flag of the current block, obtain a motion vector predictor based on the 4 parameters or the 6 parameters being used for the affine motion model, and perform a prediction for the current block based on the motion vector predictor, wherein the context index of the affine flag of the current block is determined based on a sum of a value determined based on the affine flag of the left block and a value determined based on the affine flag of the top block. 2. The method of The method of wherein the affine parameter flag is obtained based on a merge flag representing that the motion parameters are not inferred from the neighboring block. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the affine parameter flag is obtained based on a merge flag representing that the motion parameters are not inferred from the neighboring block. 3. The method of The method of wherein the affine flag is obtained based on a width and a height of the current block are equal or greater than a predetermined value. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the affine flag is obtained based on a width and a height of the current block are equal or greater than a predetermined value. 4. The method of The method of wherein a context index of the affine parameter flag is determined based on a sum of a first value determined by the affine flag and affine prediction mode information of the left block and a second value determined by the affine flag and affine prediction mode information of the top block. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a context index of the affine parameter flag is determined based on a sum of a first value determined by the affine flag and affine prediction mode information of the left block and a second value determined by the affine flag and affine prediction mode information of the top block. 5. An image encoding method performed by a encoding apparatus, the method comprising: generating a motion vector predictor based on 4 parameters or 6 parameters being used for an affine motion model, performing a prediction for the current block based on the motion vector predictor, generating an affine flag indicating whether an affine motion prediction has been performed, generating an affine parameter flag representing whether the 4 parameters or the 6 parameters are used for the affine motion model, deriving affine coding information of a left block and a top block of the current block, wherein the affine coding information includes the affine flag, determining a context index of the affine flag of the current block based on the affine coding information of the left block and the top block, and entropy-encoding the affine flag of the current block based on the context index, wherein the context index of the affine flag of the current block is determined based on a sum of a value determined based on the affine flag of the left block and a value determined based on the affine flag of the top block. 5. An apparatus of encoding a video signal including a current block, the apparatus comprising: a processor configured to generate a motion vector predictor based on 4 parameters or 6 parameters being used for an affine motion model, perform a prediction for the current block based on the motion vector predictor, generate an affine flag indicating whether an affine motion prediction has been performed, generate an affine parameter flag representing whether the 4 parameters or the 6 parameters are used for the affine motion model, derive affine coding information of a left block and a top block of the current block, wherein the affine coding information includes the affine flag, determine a context index of the affine flag of the current block based on the affine coding information of the left block and the top block, and entropy-encode the affine flag of the current block based on the context index, wherein the context index of the affine flag of the current block is determined based on a sum of a value determined based on the affine flag of the left block and a value determined based on the affine flag of the top block. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the affine parameter flag is generated based on a merge flag representing that the motion parameters are not inferred from the neighboring block. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the affine parameter flag is generated based on a merge flag representing that the motion parameters are not inferred from the neighboring block. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the affine flag is generated based on a width and a height of the current block are equal or greater than a predetermined value. 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the affine flag is generated based on a width and a height of the current block are equal or greater than a predetermined value. 8. The method of claim 5, wherein a context index of the affine parameter flag is determined based on a sum of a first value determined by the affine flag and affine prediction mode information of the left block and a second value determined by the affine flag and affine prediction mode information of the top block. 8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a context index of the affine parameter flag is determined based on a sum of a first value determined by the affine flag and affine prediction mode information of the left block and a second value determined by the affine flag and affine prediction mode information of the top block. 9. A method of transmitting data for an image, the method comprising: obtaining a bitstream for the image based on generating a motion vector predictor based on 4 parameters or 6 parameters being used for an affine motion model, performing a prediction for the current block based on the motion vector predictor, generating an affine flag representing whether an affine motion prediction has been performed, generating an affine parameter flag representing whether the 4 parameters or the 6 parameters are used for the affine motion model, deriving affine coding information of a left block and a top block of the current block, wherein the affine coding information includes the affine flag, determining a context index of the affine flag of the current block based on the affine coding information of the left block and the top block, and entropy-encoding the affine flag of the current block based on the context index, and transmitting the data comprising the bitstream, wherein the context index of the affine flag of the current block is determined based on a sum of a value determined based on the affine flag of the left block and a value determined based on the affine flag of the top block. 9. An apparatus of transmitting data for an image, comprising: at least one processor configured to obtain a bitstream for the image; and a transmitter configured to transmit the data comprising the bitstream, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: generate a motion vector predictor based on 4 parameters or 6 parameters being used for an affine motion model, perform a prediction for the current block based on the motion vector predictor, generate an affine flag representing whether an affine motion prediction has been performed, generate an affine parameter flag representing whether the 4 parameters or the 6 parameters are used for the affine motion model, derive affine coding information of a left block and a top block of the current block, wherein the affine coding information includes the affine flag, determine a context index of the affine flag of the current block based on the affine coding information of the left block and the top block, and entropy-encode the affine flag of the current block based on the context index, wherein the context index of the affine flag of the current block is determined based on a sum of a value determined based on the affine flag of the left block and a value determined based on the affine flag of the top block. Claims 1-9 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-9 of U.S. Patent No. 11700398. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the current claims 1-9 are anticipated by the claims 1-9 of pat. ‘398. Table 2 below shows the comparison between the current claims and the claims of pat. ‘398. TABLE 2 Current claims Pat. No. US 11700398 claims 1. An image decoding method performed by a decoding apparatus, the method comprising: deriving affine coding information of a left block and a top block of the current block, wherein the affine coding information includes an affine flag indicating whether an affine motion prediction has been performed, determining a context index of the affine flag of the current block based on the affine coding information of the left block and the top block, entropy-decoding the affine flag of the current block based on the context index, parsing an affine parameter flag representing whether 4 parameters or 6 parameters are used for an affine motion model based on the affine flag of the current block, obtaining a motion vector predictor based on the 4 parameters or the 6 parameters being used for the affine motion model, and performing a prediction for the current block based on the motion vector predictor, wherein the context index of the affine flag of the current block is determined based on a sum of a value determined based on the affine flag of the left block and a value determined based on the affine flag of the top block. 1. An apparatus of decoding a video signal including a current block, the apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory connected to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, perform operations comprising: deriving affine coding information of a left block and/or a top block of the current block, wherein the affine coding information includes an affine flag indicating whether an affine motion prediction has been performed, determining a context index of the affine flag of the current block based on the affine coding information of at least one of the left block and/or the top block, entropy decoding the affine flag of the current block based on the context index, parsing an affine parameter flag representing whether 4 parameters or 6 parameters are used for an affine motion model based on the affine flag of the current block, obtaining a motion vector predictor based on the 4 parameters or the 6 parameters being used for the affine motion model, and performing a prediction for the current block based on the motion vector predictor, wherein the context index of the affine flag of the current block is determined based on a sum of the affine coding information of the left block and the affine coding information of the top block. 2. The method of The method of wherein the affine parameter flag is obtained based on a merge flag representing that the motion parameters are not inferred from the neighboring block. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the affine parameter flag is obtained based on a merge flag representing that motion parameters are not inferred from a neighboring block. 3. The method of The method of wherein the affine flag is obtained based on a width and a height of the current block are equal or greater than a predetermined value. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the affine flag is obtained based on a width and a height of the current block are equal or greater than a predetermined value. 4. The method of The method of wherein a context index of the affine parameter flag is determined based on a sum of a first value determined by the affine flag and affine prediction mode information of the left block and a second value determined by the affine flag and affine prediction mode information of the top block. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a context index of the affine parameter flag is determined based on a sum of a first value determined by the affine coding information and affine prediction mode information of the left block and a second value determined by the affine coding information and affine prediction mode information of the top block. 5. An image encoding method performed by a encoding apparatus, the method comprising: generating a motion vector predictor based on 4 parameters or 6 parameters being used for an affine motion model, performing a prediction for the current block based on the motion vector predictor, generating an affine flag indicating whether an affine motion prediction has been performed, generating an affine parameter flag representing whether the 4 parameters or the 6 parameters are used for the affine motion model, deriving affine coding information of a left block and a top block of the current block, wherein the affine coding information includes the affine flag, determining a context index of the affine flag of the current block based on the affine coding information of the left block and the top block, and entropy-encoding the affine flag of the current block based on the context index, wherein the context index of the affine flag of the current block is determined based on a sum of a value determined based on the affine flag of the left block and a value determined based on the affine flag of the top block. 5. An apparatus of encoding a video signal including a current block, the apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory connected to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, perform operations comprising: generating a motion vector predictor based on 4 parameters or 6 parameters being used for an affine motion model, performing a prediction for the current block based on the motion vector predictor, generating an affine flag representing whether an affine motion prediction has been performed, generating an affine parameter flag representing whether the 4 parameters or the 6 parameters are used for the affine motion model, deriving affine coding information of a left block and/or a top block of the current block, wherein the affine coding information includes the affine flag, determining a context index of the affine flag of the current block based on the affine coding information of at least one of the left block and/or the top block, and entropy encoding the affine flag of the current block based on the context index, wherein the context index of the affine flag of the current block is determined based on a sum of the affine coding information of the left block and the affine coding information of the top block. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the affine parameter flag is generated based on a merge flag representing that the motion parameters are not inferred from the neighboring block. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the affine parameter flag is generated based on a merge flag representing that motion parameters are not inferred from a neighboring block. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the affine flag is generated based on a width and a height of the current block are equal or greater than a predetermined value. 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the affine flag is generated based on a width and a height of the current block are equal or greater than a predetermined value. 8. The method of claim 5, wherein a context index of the affine parameter flag is determined based on a sum of a first value determined by the affine flag and affine prediction mode information of the left block and a second value determined by the affine flag and affine prediction mode information of the top block. 8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a context index of the affine parameter flag is determined based on a sum of a first value determined by the affine coding information and affine prediction mode information of the left block and a second value determined by the affine coding information and affine prediction mode information of the top block. 9. A method of transmitting data for an image, the method comprising: obtaining a bitstream for the image based on generating a motion vector predictor based on 4 parameters or 6 parameters being used for an affine motion model, performing a prediction for the current block based on the motion vector predictor, generating an affine flag representing whether an affine motion prediction has been performed, generating an affine parameter flag representing whether the 4 parameters or the 6 parameters are used for the affine motion model, deriving affine coding information of a left block and a top block of the current block, wherein the affine coding information includes the affine flag, determining a context index of the affine flag of the current block based on the affine coding information of the left block and the top block, and entropy-encoding the affine flag of the current block based on the context index, and transmitting the data comprising the bitstream, wherein the context index of the affine flag of the current block is determined based on a sum of a value determined based on the affine flag of the left block and a value determined based on the affine flag of the top block. 9. An apparatus of transmitting data for an image, comprising: a transmitter; at least one processor; and at least one memory connected to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, perform operations comprising: obtaining a bitstream for the image; and transmitting, via the transmitter, the data comprising the bitstream, wherein the operations further comprise: generating a motion vector predictor based on 4 parameters or 6 parameters being used for an affine motion model, performing a prediction for the current block based on the motion vector predictor, generating an affine flag representing whether an affine motion prediction has been performed, generating an affine parameter flag representing whether the 4 parameters or the 6 parameters are used for the affine motion model, deriving affine coding information of a left block and/or a top block of the current block, wherein the affine coding information includes the affine flag, determining a context index of the affine flag of the current block based on the affine coding information of at least one of the left block and/or the top block, and entropy encoding the affine flag of the current block based on the context index, wherein the context index of the affine flag of the current block is determined based on a sum of the affine coding information of the left block and the affine coding information of the top block. Claims 1-4 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1 of U.S. Patent No. 11082721 . Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the current claims 1 is anticipated by the claim 1 of pat. ‘721. Table 3 below shows the comparison between the current claim and the claim of pat. ‘721. Dependent claims 2-4 are rejected based on their dependency from the rejected claim 1. TABLE 3 Current claims Pat. No. US 11082721 claims 1. An image decoding method performed by a decoding apparatus, the method comprising: deriving affine coding information of a left block and a top block of the current block, wherein the affine coding information includes an affine flag indicating whether an affine motion prediction has been performed, determining a context index of the affine flag of the current block based on the affine coding information of the left block and the top block, entropy-decoding the affine flag of the current block based on the context index, parsing an affine parameter flag representing whether 4 parameters or 6 parameters are used for an affine motion model based on the affine flag of the current block, obtaining a motion vector predictor based on the 4 parameters or the 6 parameters being used for the affine motion model, and performing a prediction for the current block based on the motion vector predictor, wherein the context index of the affine flag of the current block is determined based on a sum of a value determined based on the affine flag of the left block and a value determined based on the affine flag of the top block. 1. A method of performing entropy decoding on a video signal including a current block, the method comprising: checking whether a left block and top block neighboring the current block are available; deriving affine coding information and/or affine prediction mode information of the left block and/or the top block based on at least one of the left block and/or the top block being available; determining a context index of an affine prediction-related syntax element of the current block based on at least one of the affine coding information and/or affine prediction mode information of the left block and/or the top block; and entropy-decoding an affine prediction-related syntax element of the current block based on the context index, wherein the affine coding information includes information indicating whether an affine motion prediction has been performed, wherein the affine prediction mode information includes information indicating whether the affine motion prediction is performed based on a 4-parameter affine mode or 6-parameter affine mode, wherein the 4-parameter affine mode indicates that an affine motion prediction is performed by four parameters, wherein the 6-parameter affine mode indicates that an affine motion prediction is performed by six parameters, wherein, based on the affine prediction-related syntax element including an affine flag, a context index of the affine flag is determined based on a sum of the affine coding information of the left block and the affine coding information of the top block, and wherein the affine flag indicates whether an affine motion prediction has been performed. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-9 would be allowable if a timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) is 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. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Regarding the independent claims 1, 5 and 9, the claims contain limitations that are analogous to claims 1, 5 and 9 of the patent application 18/201,473 (Pat. No. 12356021), its prosecution history is incorporated by reference. Accordingly, the prior arts of record fail to teach the feature of: “…determining a context index of the affine flag of the current block based on the affine coding information of the left block and the top block, entropy-decoding the affine flag of the current block based on the context index…wherein the context index of the affine flag of the current block is determined based on a sum of a value determined based on the affine flag of the left block and a value determined based on the affine flag of the top block,” as recited in claim 1 and analogously recited in claims 5 and 9. Dependent claims 2-4 and 6-8 would be allowable based on their dependency from the independent claims 1 and 5. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NATHNAEL AYNALEM whose telephone number is (571)270-1482. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9AM-5:30 PM ET. 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 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. /NATHNAEL AYNALEM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2488
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Prosecution Timeline

Jun 05, 2025
Application Filed
May 15, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §DOUBLEPATENT, §DP (current)

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