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 .
Claim Interpretation
Patentable weight is given to data stored on a computer-readable medium when there exists a functional relationship between the data and its associated substrate. MPEP 2111.05 III. For example, if a claim is drawn to a computer-readable medium containing programming, a functional relationship exists if the programming “performs some function with respect to the computer with which it is associated.” Id. However, if the claim recites that the computer-readable medium merely serves as a support for information or data, no functional relationship exists and the information or data is not given patentable weight. Id.
Claims 11-13 are directed to anon transitory computer readable storage medium storing an encoded bitstream (i.e. content of information) and the body of the claim recites steps/elements that describe bitstream. These steps are not performed by an intended computer, and the video is not a form of programming that causes functions to be performed by an intended computer. This shows that the computer-readable medium merely serves as support for the video information and provides no functional relationship between the steps/elements that describe the bitstream and intended computer system. Therefore, those claim limitations are afforded very little patentable weight.
See rejection below
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-10 and 14-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claims 1 (and corresponding dependent claims 2-10) and 14 (and corresponding dependent claims 15-20 recite “obtaining a display order hint value for the current frame, wherein obtaining the display order hint value for the current frame includes, in response to determining that the show frame value is the first defined show frame value, obtaining, as the display order hint value for the current frame, the current display order hint value, wherein an order hint value for the current frame is absent from the encoded bitstream.” It is unclear the scope of current display order hint value versus a display order hint value from current frame is. It is unclear as this obtaining step incudes in response to the….obtaining as the display order hint the current display order hint value.
Claim 2 and 15 recites “obtaining the current display order hint value includes determining whether the show frame value is the first defined show frame value.” The claims are unclear as claim 1 and 14 limitation “determining that the show frame value is the first defined show frame value” and claims 2 and 15 now state whether (or not) the show frame value is the first defined show frame value.”
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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
Claims 11-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being 102(a)(1) by Chen et al (US 2013/0107953 and hereafter referred to as “Chen”).
Regarding Claim 11, Chen discloses transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon an encoded bitstream (Page 3-4, paragraph 0034) comprising:
a first frame header for a first frame of a sequence of frames, wherein:
the first frame header includes a first show frame value for the first frame that has a first defined show frame value; and
an order hint value for the first frame is absent from the encoded bitstream; and
a second frame header for a second frame of the sequence of frames, wherein the second frame header includes:
a second show frame value for the second frame that has a second defined show frame value; and
a second order hint value for the second frame.
See claim interpretation paragraph above.
Regarding Claims 12-13, Chen discloses the required limitation taught in claim 11. The remaining claim limitations are afforded very little patentable weight. See claim interpretation paragraph above.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-10 and 14-20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Conclusion
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/FARZANA HOSSAIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2482
September 28, 2026
