DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
Priority
This application discloses and claims only subject matter disclosed in prior application, and names the inventor or at least one joint inventor named in the prior application. Accordingly, this application may constitute a continuation or divisional. Should applicant desire to claim the benefit of the filing date of the prior application, attention is directed to 35 U.S.C. 120, 37 CFR 1.78, and MPEP § 211 et seq. The presentation of a benefit claim may result in an additional fee under 37 CFR 1.17(w)(1) or (2) being required, if the earliest filing date for which benefit is claimed under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c) and 1.78(d) in the application is more than six years before the actual filing date of the application.
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 06/24/2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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.
Instant Application (US19/248,249)
US12355952
US11889065
Claim 1: A method of decoding an image, comprising: constructing an AMVP candidate list using available motion vector candidates of a left motion vector candidate, an above motion vector candidate and a temporal motion vector candidate; selecting a motion vector predictor among motion vector candidates of the AMVP candidates list using the AMVP index, and generating a motion vector using the motion vector predictor and a differential motion vector, generating a prediction block using the motion vector and a reference picture index; inversely quantizing a quantized block using a quantization parameter to generate a transformed block and inversely transforming the transformed block to generate a residual block; an generating a reconstructed block using the prediction block and the residual block, wherein the quantization parameter is generated per quantization unit, and a minimum size of the quantization unit is adjusted per picture, the quantization parameter is generated using a differential quantization parameter and a quantization parameter predictor, and the quantization parameter predictor is generated using an average of first two available quantization parameters of a left quantization parameter, an above quantization parameter and a previous quantization parameter according to an order of the left quantization parameter, the above quantization parameter and the previous quantization parameter.
Claim 1: A method of decoding an image, comprising: constructing an advanced motion vector prediction (amvp} candidate list using available motion vector candidates of a left motion vector candidate, an above motion vector candidate and a temporal motion vector candidate; selecting a motion vector predictor among motion vector candidates of the amvp candidates list using the amvp index, and generating a motion vector using the motion vector predictor and a differential motion vector; generating a prediction block using the motion vector and a reference picture index; inversely quantizing a quantized block using a quantization parameter to generate a transformed block and inversely transforming the transformed block to generate a residual block; and generating a reconstructed block using the prediction block and the residual block, wherein the quantization parameter is generated per quantization unit, and a minimum size of the quantization unit is adjusted per picture, wherein the quantization parameter is generated using a differential quantization parameter and a quantization parameter predictor, and the quantization parameter predictor is generated using an average of first two available quantization parameters of a left quantization parameter, an above quantization parameter and a previous quantization parameter according to an order of the left quantization parameter, the above quantization parameter and the previous quantization parameter, wherein the previous quantization parameter is set as the quantization parameter predictor when the left and above quantization parameters are unavailable, and wherein the differential quantization parameter is generated by restoring a bin string indicating an absolute value of the differential quantization parameter and a bin indicating a sign of the differential quantization parameter.
Claim 1: A method of decoding an image, comprising: constructing an advanced motion vector predication (AMVP) candidate list using available motion vector candidates of a left motion vector candidate, an above motion vector candidate and a temporal motion vector candidate; selecting a motion vector predictor among motion vector candidates of the AMVP candidates list using an AMVP index, and generating a motion vector using the motion vector predictor and a differential motion vector, generating a prediction block using the motion vector and a reference picture index; inversely quantizing a quantized block using a quantization parameter to generate a transformed block and inversely transforming the transformed block to generate a residual block; and generating a reconstructed block using the prediction block and the residual block, wherein the quantization parameter is generated per quantization unit, and a minimum size of the quantization unit is adjusted per picture, the quantization parameter is generated using a differential quantization parameter and a quantization parameter predictor, and the quantization parameter predictor is generated using two available quantization parameters of a left quantization parameter, an above quantization parameter and a previous quantization parameter according to an order of the left quantization parameter, the above quantization parameter and the previous quantization parameter, and wherein when the left quantization parameter is unavailable, an average of the above and previous quantization parameters is set as the quantization parameter predictor.
Claims 1-8 rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-9 of U.S. Patent No. US11889065 and claims 1-5 and 8 of U.S. Patent No. US12355952. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to incorporate when the left quantization parameter is unavailable, an average of the above and previous quantization parameters is set as the quantization parameter predictor.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-8 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims, including the resolution of any and 35 USC 112, 35 USC 101 and double patenting matters.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TALHA M NAWAZ whose telephone number is (571)270-5439. The examiner can normally be reached Flex, M-R 6:30am-3:30pm; F 8:30am-12:30pm.
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, Joe G Ustaris can be reached at 571-272-7383. 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.
/TALHA M NAWAZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2483
Prosecution Insights