Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 19/270,312

Multi-View Video Codec

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Jul 15, 2025
Priority
Sep 16, 2021 — provisional 63/245,058 +1 more
Examiner
MUNG, ON S
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Apple Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
75%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 6m
Est. Remaining
84%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 75% — above average
75%
Career Allowance Rate
543 granted / 720 resolved
+15.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+8.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
14 currently pending
Career history
733
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.4%
-34.6% vs TC avg
§103
48.1%
+8.1% vs TC avg
§102
27.9%
-12.1% vs TC avg
§112
7.4%
-32.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 720 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Priority 2. This application is a continuation of application No. 17/932,531, filed on 09/15, 2022 (now Pat. No. 12,389,013), which claims priority to U.S provisional Patent Applications No. 63/245,058, filed on 09/16/2021, and is hereby incorporated by references. Information Disclosure Statement 3. The information disclosure statement (IDS) was submitted on 10/16/2025. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR § 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 4. 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. 5. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. 6. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. 7. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen et al. (US 2021/0266571A1) (hereinafter Chen) in view of Li et al., (US 2022/0036635A1) (hereinafter Li). Regarding claim 1, Chen discloses a method for encoding an image stream (e.g., see abstract; Figs. 1-4), comprising: receiving a first encoded media stream of a plurality of copies of an encoded media stream captured by a camera (e.g., see Fig. 1, 3, paragraphs 0019, 0032, 0040: receiving a video image captured by camera 104, received by local processor and memory), wherein each frame of the image stream is comprised of a plurality of regions (e.g., see paragraphs 0019, 0020: video image in the regions of interest; Figs. 2-2B, paragraphs 0048-0051: a plurality of regions), and wherein each of the plurality of copies of the media stream encodes a different first one or more region of the plurality of regions at a first image resolution (e.g., see abstract, paragraphs 0019, 0020, 0034: region of interest with high and low resolutions (first and second resolutions; Figs. 2A-3B, paragraphs 0050, 0067, 0068: first resolution such as low reduced resolution), wherein a second one or more regions of the plurality of regions are encoded at a second image resolution in each of the plurality of copies of the media stream (e.g., see abstract, paragraphs 0019, 0020, 0034: region of interest with high and low resolutions (first and second resolutions; Figs. 2A-3B, paragraphs 0050, 0067, 0068: first resolution such as low reduced resolution); Chen does not explicitly disclose selecting a first UV texture map from a plurality of UV texture maps corresponding to the first media stream, wherein the plurality of UV texture maps each describe a warping function encoding the first one or more regions and the second one or more regions in a corresponding media stream; applying the first UV texture map to the first media stream to obtain a decoded copy of the first media stream; and rendering the decoded copy of the media stream. However, Li discloses selecting a first UV texture map from a plurality of UV texture maps corresponding to the first media stream (e.g., see paragraphs 0029, 0038, 0063: UV texture map; paragraphs 0053, 0057,0064: VU maps corresponding to texture; Figs. 2A-2C), wherein the plurality of UV texture maps each describe a warping function encoding the first one or more regions and the second one or more regions in a corresponding media stream (e.g., see Fig. 2C, paragraphs 0064: warping the canonical keypoint UV map to each individual predicted mesh surface to produce a 3D keypoint); applying the first UV texture map to the first media stream to obtain a decoded copy of the first media stream (e.g., see Figs. 2A-2C, paragraphs 0029, 0038, 0063: UV texture map; paragraphs 0053, 0057,0064: VU maps corresponding to texture; Figs. 1, 1C, paragraphs 0029, 0060, 0036: decoding/decoder and texture decoder 125); and rendering the decoded copy of the media stream (e.g., see paragraphs 0037: rendered image; Fig. 2A-2B, paragraphs 0045-0047, 0054-0056). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the system disclosed by Chen to add the teachings of Li as above, in order to provide systems and methods for three-dimensional (3D) object reconstruction from a video for constructing a 3D object from a video (see paragraph 0001: Li). Regarding claim 2, Chen and Li disclose all the limitations of claim 1, and are analyzed as previously discussed with respect to that claim. Furthermore, Chen discloses wherein the first encoded media stream is received in accordance with the first one or more regions of the first encoded media stream corresponding to an area of interest (e.g., see paragraphs 0019, 0020: video image in the regions of interest; Figs. 2-2B, paragraphs 0048-0051: a plurality of regions), and further comprising: determining an updated area of interest; obtaining a second copy of the media stream having a first one or more regions corresponding to the updated area of interest (e.g., see abstract, paragraphs 0019, 0020, 0034: region of interest with high and low resolutions (first and second resolutions; Figs. 2A-3B, paragraphs 0050, 0067, 0068); and rendering the second copy of the image stream (e.g., see paragraphs 0037: rendered image; Fig. 2A-2B, paragraphs 0045-0047, 0054-0056). Regarding claim 3, Chen and Li disclose all the limitations of claim 2, and are analyzed as previously discussed with respect to that claim. Furthermore, Chen discloses further comprising: blending the first copy and the second copy during a transition period (e.g., see paragraphs 0032, 0040, 0050: blending image to create a gradual transition between high and low resolution; Fig. 4, paragraphs 0068, 0083, 0084). Regarding claim 4, Chen and Li disclose all the limitations of claim 2, and are analyzed as previously discussed with respect to that claim. Furthermore, Chen discloses further comprising: applying a blur to an intermediate region of the image stream during a transition period (e.g., see paragraph 0051: motion blurs). Regarding claim 5, Chen and Li disclose all the limitations of claim 2, and are analyzed as previously discussed with respect to that claim. Furthermore, Chen discloses further comprising: requesting the second copy of the media stream based on the updated area of interest (e.g., see Figs. 2A-2B, paragraphs 0034, 0051, 0068; also see Fig. 4, paragraphs 0072, 0074). Regarding claim 6, Chen and Li disclose all the limitations of claim 2, and are analyzed as previously discussed with respect to that claim. Chen does not explicitly disclose further comprising: selecting a second UV texture map from the plurality of UV texture maps corresponding to the second media stream ; and applying the second UV texture map to the second media stream to obtain a decoded copy of the second media stream. However, Li discloses further comprising: selecting a second UV texture map from the plurality of UV texture maps corresponding to the second media stream (e.g., see paragraphs 0029, 0038, 0063: UV texture map; paragraphs 0053, 0057,0064: VU maps corresponding to texture; Figs. 2A-2C); and applying the second UV texture map to the second media stream to obtain a decoded copy of the second media stream (e.g., see Figs. 2A-2C, paragraphs 0029, 0038, 0063: UV texture map; paragraphs 0053, 0057,0064: VU maps corresponding to texture; Figs. 1, 1C, paragraphs 0029, 0060, 0036: decoding/decoder and texture decoder 125); and It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the system disclosed by Chen to add the teachings of Li as above, in order to provide systems and methods for three-dimensional (3D) object reconstruction from a video for constructing a 3D object from a video (see paragraph 0001: Li). Regarding claim 7, Chen and Li disclose all the limitations of claim 1, and are analyzed as previously discussed with respect to that claim. Furthermore, Chen discloses wherein the area of interest is based on gaze data (e.g., see Fig. 4, paragraphs 0072, 0074, 0075: Gaza tracking data 414; Figs. 2A-2B, paragraphs 0049-0052). Regarding claim 8, this claim is a non-transitory computer readable medium of a method version as applied to claim 1 above, wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium performs the same limitations cited in claim 1, the rejections of which are incorporated herein. Furthermore, Chen discloses a non-transitory computer readable medium, processor, and memory (see Fig. 1; paragraphs 0032-0034) Regarding claim 9, it contains the limitations of claims 2 and 8, and is analyzed as previously discussed with respect to those claims. Regarding claim 10, it contains the limitations of claims 3 and 8, and is analyzed as previously discussed with respect to those claims. Regarding claim 11, it contains the limitations of claims 4 and 8, and is analyzed as previously discussed with respect to those claims. Regarding claim 12, it contains the limitations of claims 5 and 8, and is analyzed as previously discussed with respect to those claims. Regarding claim 13, it contains the limitations of claims 6 and 8, and is analyzed as previously discussed with respect to those claims. Regarding claim 14, it contains the limitations of claims 7 and 8, and is analyzed as previously discussed with respect to those claims. Regarding claim 15, this claim is a system of a method version as applied to claim 1 above, wherein the system performs the same limitations cited in claim 1, the rejections of which are incorporated herein. Furthermore, Chen discloses a non-transitory computer readable medium, processor, and memory (see Fig. 1; paragraphs 0032-0034) Regarding claim 16, it contains the limitations of claims 2 and 15, and is analyzed as previously discussed with respect to those claims. Regarding claim 17, it contains the limitations of claims 3 and 16, and is analyzed as previously discussed with respect to those claims. Regarding claim 18, it contains the limitations of claims 4 and 16, and is analyzed as previously discussed with respect to those claims. Regarding claim 19, it contains the limitations of claims 4 and 16, and is analyzed as previously discussed with respect to those claims. Regarding claim 20, it contains the limitations of claims 5 and 16, and is analyzed as previously discussed with respect to those claims. Conclusion 8. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ON MUNG whose telephone number is (571) 270-7557 and whose direct fax number is (571) 270-8557. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon-Fri 9am - 6pm (ET). If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, JAMIE ATALA can be reached on (571)272-7384. 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. /ON S MUNG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2486
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 15, 2025
Application Filed
Sep 23, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
75%
Grant Probability
84%
With Interview (+8.3%)
2y 9m (~1y 6m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 720 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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