Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 19/357,004

IMAGE ENCODING METHOD/DEVICE, IMAGE DECODING METHOD/DEVICE, AND RECORDING MEDIUM IN WHICH BITSTREAM IS STORED

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Oct 13, 2025
Priority
Oct 14, 2016 — RE 10-2016-0133754 +9 more
Examiner
SUN, YULIN
Art Unit
2485
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Industry Academy Cooperation Foundation of Sejong University
OA Round
2 (Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2y 4m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allowance Rate
276 granted / 341 resolved
+22.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +15% lift
Without
With
+14.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
7 currently pending
Career history
348
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.0%
-38.0% vs TC avg
§103
83.1%
+43.1% vs TC avg
§102
9.5%
-30.5% vs TC avg
§112
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 341 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Priority Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. CONTINUING DATA This application is a CON of 19/187,903 04/23/2025 19/187,903 is a CON of 18/907,441 10/04/2024 PAT 12341961 18/907,441 is a CON of 17/818,650 08/09/2022 PAT 12177431 17/818,650 is a CON of 17/328,273 05/24/2021 PAT 11659178 17/328,273 is a CON of 16/341,792 04/12/2019 PAT 11057624 16/341,792 is a 371 of PCT/KR2017/011213 10/12/2017 FOREIGN APPLICATIONS KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 10-2016-0133754 10/14/2016 KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 10-2016-0133757 10/14/2016 KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 10-2017-0127942 09/29/2017 KOREA, REPUBLIC OF 10-2017-0127939 09/29/2017 Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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. 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 – (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. Claims 1, 3, 5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Oh (US 2013/0022115 A1). Regarding Claim 1, Oh discloses a video decoding method (e.g. Paragraph [0002]) comprising: deriving prediction information of a current block based on a prediction mode of the current block (e.g. Paragraph [0021, 0022]); generating a prediction block of the current block based on the prediction information (e.g. Paragraph [0021, 0022]); and transforming a difference between the current block and the prediction block by a transform method (e.g. Paragraph [0040], to transform residual signal), wherein the transform method is determined based on the prediction mode of the current block (e.g. Paragraph [0040, 00041],”the size of a transform block may be equal to or less than that of the predictive coding block, but may be set differently in an inter mode. In other words, the size of the transform block may be greater than that of the predictive coding block in the inter mode.” Determining size of the transform block is based on comparison with size of the predictive coding block; and the prediction mode of the current block is defined by different sizes of the predictive coding block, see Fig. 1 and Paragraph [0024] for different sizes/modes of predictive coding block), wherein the current block is included in a current image (e.g. Paragraph [0053]), wherein the current image includes a padded area, and wherein the padded area is constructed by horizontal copying of adjacent pixels in the padded area (e.g. Paragraph [0100]). Regarding Claim 3, Oh discloses a video encoding method (e.g. Paragraph [0002]) comprising: performing a first partitioning on a current image into a plurality of upper blocks (e.g. Paragraph [0065]); performing a second partitioning on the upper block into a plurality of sub-blocks (e.g. Paragraph [0073], divide into subsets), wherein one of the sub-blocks is a current block (e.g. Paragraph [0070]); deriving prediction information of a current block based on a prediction mode of the current block (e.g. Paragraph [0021, 0022]); generating a prediction block of the current block based on the prediction information (e.g. Paragraph [0021, 0022]); and transforming a difference between the current block and the prediction block by a transform method (e.g. Paragraph [0040]), wherein the transform method is determined based on the prediction mode of the current block (e.g. Paragraph [0040, 00041],”the size of a transform block may be equal to or less than that of the predictive coding block, but may be set differently in an inter mode. In other words, the size of the transform block may be greater than that of the predictive coding block in the inter mode.” Determining size of the transform block is based on comparison with size of the predictive coding block; and the prediction mode of the current block is defined by different sizes of the predictive coding block, see Fig. 1 and Paragraph [0024] for different sizes/modes of predictive coding block), wherein the current block is included in a current image (e.g. Paragraph [0053]), wherein the current image includes a padded area, and wherein the padded area is constructed by horizontal copying of adjacent pixels in the padded area (e.g. Paragraph [0100]). Regarding Claim 5, Oh discloses a method of transmitting a bitstream, comprising: generating a bitstream by a video encoding method (e.g. Paragraph [0002]); and transmitting the bitstream Paragraph [0021, 0022]), wherein the video encoding method comprises: performing a first partitioning on a current image into a plurality of upper blocks (e.g. Paragraph [0065]); performing a second partitioning on the upper block into a plurality of sub-blocks (e.g. Paragraph [0073], divide into subsets), wherein one of the sub-blocks is a current block (e.g. Paragraph [0070]); deriving prediction information of a current block based on a prediction mode of the current block (e.g. Paragraph [0021, 0022]); generating a prediction block of the current block based on the prediction information (e.g. Paragraph [0021, 0022]); and transforming a difference between the current block and the prediction block by a transform method (e.g. Paragraph [0040]), wherein the transform method is determined based on the prediction mode of the current block (e.g. Paragraph [0040, 00041],”the size of a transform block may be equal to or less than that of the predictive coding block, but may be set differently in an inter mode. In other words, the size of the transform block may be greater than that of the predictive coding block in the inter mode.” Determining size of the transform block is based on comparison with size of the predictive coding block; and the prediction mode of the current block is defined by different sizes of the predictive coding block, see Fig. 1 and Paragraph [0024] for different sizes/modes of predictive coding block), wherein the current block is included in a current image (e.g. Paragraph [0053]), wherein the current image includes a padded area, and wherein the padded area is constructed by horizontal copying of adjacent pixels in the padded area (e.g. Paragraph [0100]). Allowable Subject Matter Claim 2 is 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. Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 05/21/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant asserts that Oh fails to disclose the transform method is determined based on the prediction mode of the current block; however, Oh teaches the transform method is determined based on the prediction mode of the current block (e.g. Paragraph [0040, 00041], ”the size of a transform block may be equal to or less than that of the predictive coding block, but may be set differently in an inter mode. In other words, the size of the transform block may be greater than that of the predictive coding block in the inter mode.” Determining size of the transform block is based on comparison with size of the predictive coding block; and the prediction mode of the current block is defined by different sizes of the predictive coding block, see Fig. 1 and Paragraph [0024] for different sizes/modes of predictive coding block. Therefore, the arguments are not persuasive. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Helle (US 2013/0287116 A1), discloses block partitioning; Siekmann (US 2013/0034159 A1), discloses method for block partitioning; Tsukuba (US 2017/0142442 A1), discloses recursive partitioning; Hendry (US 2015/0358640 A1), discloses conformance parameters; Lundin (US 8,687,654 B1), discloses a video streaming method. THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to YULIN SUN whose telephone number is (571)270-1043. The examiner can normally be reached 10AM - 6PM. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jay Patel can be reached on 571-272-2988. 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. /YULIN SUN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2485
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 13, 2025
Application Filed
Feb 26, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
May 21, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 22, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCODING/DECODING AN IMAGE
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Patent 12666059
BIT-RATE-BASED VARIABLE ACCURACY LEVEL OF ENCODING
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Patent 12659512
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR END-TO-END LOSSLESS STEREO IMAGE COMPRESSION
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Patent 12621493
VIDEO CODING USING PARAMETER SETS
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Patent 12621488
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECODING VIDEO SIGNAL
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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
81%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+14.6%)
3y 1m (~2y 4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 341 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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