CTNF 19/268,361 CTNF 68930 DETAILED ACTION This action is in response to the application filed on 7/14/2025. Claims 1-20 are pending. Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority. All of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received. 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. Information Disclosure Statement The references listed on the Information Disclosure Statement submitted on 10/23/2023 have been considered by the examiner (see attached PTO-1449). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101 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 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of patent Nos. 11496730, 11812013, 12388981 (hereinafter reference patents). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because: Claims of the present application are clearly anticipated by the reference patent i.e., the present claims are the same as the original claims of the reference patents before the addition of further limitation in the reference patents. Claim Mapping Notation In this office action, following notations are being used to refer to the paragraph numbers or column number and lines of portions of the cited reference. “[0027]…” (Paragraph number 0027) “[4:3-15]…” (Column 4 Lines 3-15) Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-06 AIA 15-10-15 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – 07-08-aia AIA (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. 07-12-aia AIA (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. 07-15 AIA Claim s 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102( a2 ) as being anticipated by He et al. (US2021/0297655 A1; hereinafter He) 1. A decoding method, comprising: acquiring information about a target picture from a bitstream; and “[0023] In some instances, the video encoder also calculates residual data by comparing the prediction block to the original block. Thus, the residual data represents a difference between samples of the prediction block and samples of the original block. To reduce the number of bits needed to signal the residual data, the video encoder transforms and quantizes the residual data and signals the transformed and quantized residual data in the encoded bitstream.” performing decoding on the target picture using the information about the target picture, “[0022] Video coding (e.g., video encoding and/or video decoding) typically involves predicting a block of video data from either an already coded block of video data in the same picture (e.g., intra prediction) or an already coded block of video data in a different picture (e.g., inter prediction). To perform inter prediction, a video encoder and video decoder are configured to maintain, e.g., construct, update, and/or store, reference picture lists (RPLs). RPLs include listings of already coded pictures that are available for the coding of pictures currently being coded.” wherein the decoding comprises a determination of a reference picture list for the target picture and a prediction based on the reference picture list, and “[0089] Aspects of IDR reference picture list presentation will now be discussed. The semantic of sps_idr_rpl_present_flag is specified as follows. [0090] sps_idr_rpl_present_flag equal to 1 specifies that reference picture list syntax elements are present in slice headers of IDR pictures. sps_idr_rpl_present_flag equal to 0 specifies that reference picture list syntax elements are not present in slice headers of IDR pictures.” “[0023] In some instances, the video encoder also calculates residual data by comparing the prediction block to the original block. Thus, the residual data represents a difference between samples of the prediction block and samples of the original block. To reduce the number of bits needed to signal the residual data, the video encoder transforms and quantizes the residual data and signals the transformed and quantized residual data in the encoded bitstream.” wherein the information about the target picture includes a slice header for a slice of the target picture. “[0089] Aspects of IDR reference picture list presentation will now be discussed. The semantic of sps_idr_rpl_present_flag is specified as follows. [0090] sps_idr_rpl_present_flag equal to 1 specifies that reference picture list syntax elements are present in slice headers of IDR pictures. sps_idr_rpl_present_flag equal to 0 specifies that reference picture list syntax elements are not present in slice headers of IDR pictures.” 2. The decoding method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the reference picture list in the slice header is performed when a Network Abstraction Layer (NAL) unit type of the slice is not a specific type. “[0091] As an IDR picture is defined as an IRAPpicture for which each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to IDR_ W RADL or IDR_N_LP, this definition may not apply to a picture with mixed IDR and non-TRAP NAL unit types.” 3. The decoding method of claim 1, wherein: the bitstream includes a picture header for the target picture, and “[0067] Video encoder 200 may further generate syntax data, such as block-based syntax data, picture-based syntax data, and sequence-based syntax data, to video decoder 300, e.g., in a picture header, a block header, a slice header, or other syntax data, such as a sequence parameter set (SPS), picture parameter set (PPS), or video parameter set (VPS). Video decoder 300 may likewise decode such syntax data to determine how to decode corresponding video data.” the determination of the reference picture list in the slice header is performed when information related to the reference picture list is not present in the picture header for the target picture. “[0089] Aspects of IDR reference picture list presentation will now be discussed. The semantic of sps_idr_rpl_present_flag is specified as follows. [0090] sps_idr_rpl_present_flag equal to 1 specifies that reference picture list syntax elements are present in slice headers of IDR pictures. sps_idr_rpl_present_flag equal to 0 specifies that reference picture list syntax elements are not present in slice headers of IDR pictures.” 4. The decoding method of claim 1, wherein: the bitstream includes first information, “[0089] Aspects of IDR reference picture list presentation will now be discussed. The semantic of sps_idr_rpl_present_flag is specified as follows. [0090] sps_idr_rpl_present_flag equal to 1 specifies that reference picture list syntax elements are present in slice headers of IDR pictures. sps_idr_rpl_present_flag equal to 0 specifies that reference picture list syntax elements are not present in slice headers of IDR pictures.” the decoding includes a determination of whether an override is to be performedon a number of activated reference indexes in the slice header, “[0091] As an IDR picture is defined as an IRAPpicture for which each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to IDR_ W RADL or IDR_N_LP, this definition may not apply to a picture with mixed IDR and non-TRAP NAL unit types.” the determination of whether the override is to be performed is performed regardless of a value of the first information, and “[0091] As an IDR picture is defined as an IRAPpicture for which each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to IDR_ W RADL or IDR_N_LP, this definition may not apply to a picture with mixed IDR and non-TRAP NAL unit types.” the first information is information indicating whether reference picture list syntax elements are capable of being present in slice headers of slices for which a NAL unit type is a specific type. “[0089] Aspects of IDR reference picture list presentation will now be discussed. The semantic of sps_idr_rpl_present_flag is specified as follows. [0090] sps_idr_rpl_present_flag equal to 1 specifies that reference picture list syntax elements are present in slice headers of IDR pictures. sps_idr_rpl_present_flag equal to 0 specifies that reference picture list syntax elements are not present in slice headers of IDR pictures.” “[0091] As an IDR picture is defined as an IRAPpicture for which each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to IDR_ W RADL or IDR_N_LP, this definition may not apply to a picture with mixed IDR and non-TRAP NAL unit types.” 5. The decoding method of claim 4, wherein: the bitstream further includes second information, the override includes decoding on the second information, and the second information is information indicating whether an override is to be performed on the number of activated reference indexes for the reference picture list. “[0091] As an IDR picture is defined as an IRAPpicture for which each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to IDR_ W RADL or IDR_N_LP, this definition may not apply to a picture with mixed IDR and non-TRAP NAL unit types.” 6. The decoding method of claim 5, wherein, when the second information indicates that the override is to be performed, the information indicating the number of activated reference indexes for the reference picture list is decoded. “[0091] As an IDR picture is defined as an IRAPpicture for which each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to IDR_ W RADL or IDR_N_LP, this definition may not apply to a picture with mixed IDR and non-TRAP NAL unit types.” 7, The decoding method of claim 6, wherein the specific type is an Instantaneous Decoding Refresh (IDR)_NLP or IDRW Random Access Decodable Leading (RADL) type. “[0091] As an IDR picture is defined as an IRAPpicture for which each VCL NAL unit has nal_unit_type equal to IDR_ W RADL or IDR_N_LP, this definition may not apply to a picture with mixed IDR and non-TRAP NAL unit types.” Regarding the claims 8-20 they recite elements that are at least included in the claims 1-7 above respectively but in a different claim form. Therefore, the same rationale for the rejection of the claims applies. Regarding the computer storage medium in the claims, see also He [0044] Video encoder 200 and video decoder 300 each may be implemented as any of a variety of suitable encoder and/or decoder circuitry, such as one or more microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs ), application specific integrated circuits (AS I Cs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs ), discrete logic, software, hardware, firmware or any combinations thereof. When the techniques are implemented partially in software, a device may store instructions for the software in a suitable, non-transitory computer readable medium and execute the instructions in hardware using one or more processors to perform the techniques of this disclosure.” readable medium and execute the instructions in hardware using one or more processors to perform the techniques of this disclosure.” Conclusion 07-96 AIA The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. RAMASUBRAMONIAN et al. (US 20140003537 A1) and Song et al. (US 20130315311 A1) disclose relevant art related to the subject matter of the present invention . A shortened statutory period for reply to this action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. An extension of time may be obtained under 37 CFR 1.136(a). However, in no event, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAE N NOH whose telephone number is (571)270-0686. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon-Fri 8:30AM-5PM. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, William Vaughn can be reached on (571) 272-3922. 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. /JAE N NOH/ Primary Examiner Art Unit 2481 Application/Control Number: 19/268,361 Page 2 Art Unit: 2481 Application/Control Number: 19/268,361 Page 3 Art Unit: 2481 Application/Control Number: 19/268,361 Page 4 Art Unit: 2481 Application/Control Number: 19/268,361 Page 5 Art Unit: 2481 Application/Control Number: 19/268,361 Page 6 Art Unit: 2481 Application/Control Number: 19/268,361 Page 7 Art Unit: 2481 Application/Control Number: 19/268,361 Page 8 Art Unit: 2481 Application/Control Number: 19/268,361 Page 9 Art Unit: 2481 Application/Control Number: 19/268,361 Page 10 Art Unit: 2481
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