DETAILED ACTION
1. This office action is in response to U.S. Patent Application No.: 18/259,452 filed on 7/3/2025 with effective filing date 12/30/2019. Claims 1-7 are pending.
Double Patenting
2. 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.
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3. Claims 1-7 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-8 of U.S. Patent No. 12382022, claims 1-7 of U.S. Patent No. 12003705 & claims 1-8 of U.S. Patent No. 11695923. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
Current Application
US 12382022
1. An image decoding apparatus comprising: a memory; and at least one processor connected to the memory, the at least one processor configured to:
obtain image information including Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB) parameter syntax structures and an Output Layer Set (OLS) DPB parameter index for a target OLS; derive DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS based on the OLS DPB parameter index; perform a picture management process for pictures of a DPB based on the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS;
construct a reference picture list for a current picture based on the pictures of the DPB; and perform inter prediction for a block in the current picture based on the reference picture list, wherein the OLS DPB parameter index specifies the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS among the DPB parameter syntax structures, wherein an OLS DPB parameter flag for whether the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS is present in a Video Parameter Set (VPS) syntax is obtained, wherein the OLS DPB parameter syntax structure is obtained in the VPS syntax based on a value of the OLS DPB parameter flag, and wherein the OLS DPB parameter flag is obtained based on a number of layers.
1. An image decoding method performed by a decoding apparatus, the method comprising:
obtaining image information including Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB) parameter syntax structures and an Output Layer Set (OLS) DPB parameter index for a target OLS; deriving DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS based on the OLS DPB parameter index; performing a picture management process for pictures of a DPB based on the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS;
constructing a reference picture list for a current picture based on the pictures of the DPB; and performing inter prediction for a block in the current picture based on the reference picture list, wherein the OLS DPB parameter index specifies the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS among the DPB parameter syntax structures, wherein an OLS DPB parameter flag for whether the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS is present in a Video Parameter Set (VPS) syntax is obtained, wherein the OLS DPB parameter syntax structure is obtained in the VPS syntax based on a value of the OLS DPB parameter flag, wherein the OLS DPB parameter flag is obtained based on a number of layers.
5. An image encoding apparatus comprising: a memory; and at least one processor connected to the memory, the at least one processor configured to: generate Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB) parameter syntax structures including DPB parameter syntax structure of a target Output Layer Set (OLS); perform a picture management process for pictures of a DPB based on the DPB parameter syntax structure of the target OLS; construct a reference picture list for a current picture based on the pictures of the DPB; perform inter prediction for a block in the current picture based on the reference picture list; generate an OLS DPB parameter index for the DPB parameter syntax structure of the target OLS; and encode image information including the OLS DPB parameter index, the DPB parameter syntax structures and prediction information for the block, wherein the OLS DPB parameter index specifies the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS among the DPB parameter syntax structures, wherein an OLS DPB parameter flag for whether the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS is present in a Video Parameter Set (VPS) syntax is encoded, wherein the OLS DPB parameter syntax structure is signaled in the VPS syntax based on a value of the OLS DPB parameter flag, and wherein the OLS DPB parameter flag is encoded based on a number of layers.
5. An image encoding method performed by an encoding apparatus, the method comprising: generating Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB) parameter syntax structures including DPB parameter syntax structure of a target Output Layer Set (OLS); performing a picture management process for pictures of a DPB based on the DPB parameter syntax structure of the target OLS; constructing a reference picture list for a current picture based on the pictures of the DPB; performing inter prediction for a block in the current picture based on the reference picture list; generating an OLS DPB parameter index for the DPB parameter syntax structure of the target OLS; and encoding image information including the OLS DPB parameter index, the DPB parameter syntax structures and prediction information for the block, wherein the OLS DPB parameter index specifies the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS among the DPB parameter syntax structures, wherein an OLS DPB parameter flag for whether the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS is present in a Video Parameter Set (VPS) syntax is encoded, wherein the OLS DPB parameter syntax structure is signaled in the VPS syntax based on a value of the OLS DPB parameter flag, wherein the OLS DPB parameter flag is encoded based on a number of layers.
7. An apparatus for transmitting a bitstream for an image, the apparatus comprising: at least one processor configured to obtain the bitstream generated by an encoding apparatus; and a transmitter configured to transmit the bitstream; the bitstream is generated by:
generating Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB) parameter syntax structures including DPB parameter syntax structure of a target Output Layer Set (OLS); performing a picture management process for pictures of a DPB based on the DPB parameter syntax structure of the target OLS; constructing a reference picture list for a current picture based on the pictures of the DPB; performing inter prediction for a block in the current picture based on the reference picture list; generating an OLS DPB parameter index for the DPB parameter syntax structure of the target OLS; and encoding image information including the OLS DPB parameter index, the DPB parameter syntax structures and prediction information for the block,
wherein the OLS DPB parameter index specifies the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS among the DPB parameter syntax structures, wherein an OLS DPB parameter flag for whether the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS is present in a Video Parameter Set (VPS) syntax is encoded, wherein the OLS DPB parameter syntax structure is signaled in the VPS syntax based on a value of the OLS DPB parameter flag, and wherein the OLS DPB parameter flag is encoded based on a number of layers.
8. A transmission method of data for image, the method comprising:
obtaining a bitstream of image information including Decoded Picture Buffer (DPB) parameter syntax structures and an Output Layer Set (OLS) DPB parameter index for a target OLS; and transmitting the data including the bitstream of the image information including the DPB parameter syntax structures and the OLS DPB parameter index, wherein DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS is derived based on the OLS DPB parameter index, and a picture management process for pictures of a DPB is performed based on the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS,
wherein the OLS DPB parameter index specifies the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS among the DPB parameter syntax structures, wherein an OLS DPB parameter flag for whether the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS is present in a Video Parameter Set (VPS) syntax is obtained, wherein the OLS DPB parameter syntax structure is obtained in the VPS syntax based on a value of the OLS DPB parameter flag, wherein the OLS DPB parameter flag is obtained based on a number of layers.
Allowable Subject Matter
After analyzing the current application examiner concluded that the novelty of the current application involves obtaining image information including decoded picture buffer (DPB) parameter information and an OLS DPB parameter index for a target output layer set (OLS). The DPB parameter information for the target OLS based on the OLS DPB parameter index is derived. A picture management process for pictures of a DPB based on the DPB parameter information for the target OLS is performed. A reference picture list for a current picture based on the pictures of the DPB is constructed. Inter prediction on a block in the current picture based on the reference picture list is performed.
The prior art of record Wang US 2022/0217385 A1 in view Ramasubramonian et al. US 2015/0103884 A1 (hereinafter Ram) does not disclose, with respect to claim 1, construct a reference picture list for a current picture based on the pictures of the DPB; and perform inter prediction for a block in the current picture based on the reference picture list, wherein the OLS DPB parameter index specifies the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS among the DPB parameter syntax structures, wherein an OLS DPB parameter flag for whether the DPB parameter syntax structure for the target OLS is present in a Video Parameter Set (VPS) syntax is obtained, wherein the OLS DPB parameter syntax structure is obtained in the VPS syntax based on a value of the OLS DPB parameter flag, and wherein the OLS DPB parameter flag is obtained based on a number of layers as claimed.
Rather, Wang discloses the method involves receiving a video bitstream including layers, a VPS specifying OLS with layer from the layer and a sequence parameter set (SPS) comprises a set of decoded picture buffer (DPB) parameters for each layer only once when layer is included in more than one OLS. A picture is decoded from one of the layer to obtain a decoded picture. An output layer is selected from one of the layers prior to the decoding. The picture is selected from the output layer after the output layer has been selected. The first DPB size corresponds to an output layer from the layers and the second DPB size corresponds to a non-output layer from the layers. The decoded picture is displayed on a display of an electronic device.
Similarly, Ram discloses The method involves receiving an encoded video bitstream with pictures. The pictures are stored in the sub-decoded picture buffers (DPBs). A respective set of sub-DPB parameters are received for a respective operation point of the encoded video bitstream. The respective set of sub-DPB parameters is applied to all layers of an output layer set for a respective operation point. A sub-DPB management process is performed on the sub-DPBs in accordance with received respective single sets of sub-DPB parameters. The intra-coding relies on spatial prediction to reduce or remove spatial redundancy in video in a given video frame or picture. The intra-prediction processing unit calculates the ratios from the distortions and rates for the various encoded blocks to determine which intra-prediction mode exhibits the best rate-distortion value for the block. The loop filters are used to smooth pixel transitions to improve the video quality.
The same reasoning applies to claim 5 & 7 mutatis mutandis.
Conclusion
5. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Wang et al. US 2021/0044827 A1, e.g. techniques are described related to output and removal of decoded pictures from a decoded picture buffer (DPB). The example techniques may remove a decoded picture from the DPB prior to coding a current picture. For instance, the example techniques may remove the decoded picture if that decoded picture is not identified in the reference picture set of the current picture.
Nishi et al. US 2022/0312023 A1, e.g. an encoder includes circuitry and memory coupled to the circuitry. In operation, the circuitry determines whether a determined relationship between a total number of one or more layer groups and a total number of one or more parameters is satisfied. The one or more layer groups each include at least one output layer, and the one or more parameters each indicate a performance requirement for a decoder.
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/Irfan Habib/Examiner, Art Unit 2485
