UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`16/222,104
`
`12/17/2018
`
`Virginie DRUGEON
`
`2018-2193A
`
`4687
`
`12/12/2019
`- 759°
`”5044
`Wenderoth, L1nd & Ponack, L.L.P.
`1025 Connecticut Avenue, NW
`Suite 500
`
`Washington DC 20036
`
`JOISIL' BERTEAU
`
`2487
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`12/12/2019
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
`
`following e—mail address(es):
`eoa @ wenderoth. com
`kmiller @ wenderothcom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`017/09 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`16/222,104
`Examiner
`BERTEAU JOISIL
`
`Applicant(s)
`DRUGEON etal.
`Art Unit
`AIA (FITF) Status
`2487
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 the correspondence address -
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE g MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing
`date of this communication.
`|f NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, even if timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 12/17/2018.
`CI A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2a)[:] This action is FINAL.
`
`2b)
`
`This action is non-final.
`
`3)[:] An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`
`4):] Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Expade Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`5)
`
`Claim(s) fl is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above Claim(s)
`
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`
`
`[:1 Claim(ss)
`
`is/are allowed.
`
`8)
`Claim(s 112Is/are rejected
`
`D Claim(ss_) is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`S)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[:1 Claim(s
`* If any claims have been determined aflowable. you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPeredback@uspto.gov.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)|:l The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11). The drawing(s) filed on 03/06/2019 is/are: a). accepted or b)(j objected to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`
`12)D Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a)I:i All
`
`b)C] Some**
`
`c)C] None of the:
`
`1.[:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`2C] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`
`SD Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`
`** See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/OBa and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date 12/17/2018.
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) E] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20191127
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/222,104
`Art Unit: 2487
`
`Page 2
`
`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.
`
`2.
`
`This office Action is in response to an application filed on 12/17/2018, in which
`
`claims 1
`
`- 12 are pending and presented for examination. The application claims Priority
`
`from Provisional Application 62607060, filed 12/18/2017
`
`Information Disclosure Statement
`
`3.
`
`The Examiner has considered the references listed on the Information Disclosure
`
`Statements (IDS) submitted on 12/17/2018 based on the provisions of 37 CFR § 1.97.
`
`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 of this title, 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 set forth in Graham v. John Deere C0,, 383 US. 1, 148 USPQ
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/222,104
`Art Unit: 2487
`
`Page 3
`
`459 (1966), that are applied 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.
`
`This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the
`
`claims under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a), the examiner presumes that the subject matter of
`
`the various claims was commonly owned at the time any inventions covered therein were
`
`made absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37
`
`CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and invention dates of each claim that was not
`
`commonly owned at the time a later invention was made in order for the examiner to
`
`consider the applicability of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(c) and potential pre-AIA 35 U.S.C.
`
`102(e), (f) or (g) prior art under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a).
`
`8.
`
`Claims 1, 5, 6, 10 — 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable
`
`over Karczewicz (US 20030231795 A1), in view of Kirchhoffer et al. (US 20130034158
`
`A1), hereinafter “Kirchhoffer.”
`
`In regard to claim 1, Karczewicz discloses: an enceder, (See Karczewicz, Abstract,
`
`lines 1 — 2: device for coding a digital image using intra-mode block prediction) comprising:
`
`circuitry; (Par. 01017: processor) and
`
`memory. (Par. 01017: memory)
`
`wherein, using the memery. (Par. 01017: using memory) the circuitry performs:
`
`deriving a piuraiity of reference samples pesiiioneri on a first iine for infra predictien; (See
`
`Karczewicz, Par. {194i}: bieeks L3 and L; - preeessing circuitry refers; is either a piuraiity ef
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/222,104
`Art Unit: 2487
`
`Page 4
`
`pixels leeated on a tett at a current bteek (gee Per. £1040: bieek 33) id be predicted or a
`
`pluraiity e? pixels lecated above the current block to be predicted, as a piuraiity e?
`
`reierence samples. (See Par. €934.53: block (3)) and
`
`generating a prediction image using tne pluraiity et reference earnplee= (See
`
`Karczewicz, Par. 0020: intra-prediction; - i.e., generating a prediction image of the current
`
`block to be predicted by performing intra prediction using the pixel value of the current
`
`reference sample to be processed)
`
`ifiiareewiez dees uct explicitly discleee: the deriving includes interpoiating a value on a
`
`second line perpendicular to tne first line using vaiuee of encoded pixeis on the second line to
`
`generate an interpolated value, and deriving one of the plurality of reference sarnpies by
`
`prejeetlng tne lnterpelated vaiue onto the r’iret line.
`
`However, Kirchhoffer teaches: the deriving inciudee interpolating a vaiue en a secend line
`
`perpendicular to the first line using values of encoded pixeis on the second line to generate an
`
`interpoiated value, (See Kirchhoffer, Figs. 3 and 4 and Pars. 0012, 0016, 0023 and 0081: i.e.,
`
`determining prediction value for a predetermined image sample from the reconstructed
`
`values of neighboring image samples by performing an interpolation between the
`
`reconstructed values of the neighboring image samples at an intersection of vertical and
`
`horizontal crossing lines; FIG. 3 shows a block to be predicted together with its
`
`neighboring reconstructed samples) and deriving one of the plurality of reference samples by
`
`projecting the interpolated value onto the first line. (See again Kirchhoffer, Abstract, Fig. 3 and
`
`Par. 0038: obtain reconstructed samples which may be used as reference samples for a
`
`block, which has to be predicted; See further Pars. 0044 and 0048: reference sample for
`
`the intra prediction scheme; Par. 0054: prediction line 410 used in interpolation operations
`
`for interpolated values at crossing point; See also Fig. 4)
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention, having both the references of Karczewicz and
`
`Kirchhoffer before him/her, to modify the spatial prediction based intraccding eli Karcewicz witn
`
`tne teacning cf the apparatus ier in‘lra predictlen and reeeraeirueticn ell hicek of Kirchhoffer in
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/222,104
`Art Unit: 2487
`
`Page 5
`
`order to irriprove coding efficiency by generating a prediction image using a plurality of reference
`
`samples, derived by interpolating generated interpolated values, and deriving reference samples
`
`by projecting the interpolated value onto crossing lines of pixels of a block to be predicted. (See
`
`Kirchhoffer, Figs. 3 and 4 and Pars. 0012, 0016, 0023 and 0081; Pars. 0044, 0048 and 0054)
`
`In regard to claim 5, Karczewicz in combination with Kirchhoffer discloses: tne encoder
`
`according to eieim 1, wherein tne generating includes interpolating, using the piureiitti et
`
`(‘3
`ref -renee sarnples, (See ratienete in reiestien ef Stain“: 1 on the basis {if Karczewicz} e
`
`(‘3
`m
`ref renee sarnple et a pesltion on the first iine dependent on e directional prediction mede Li ed,
`
`te generate an interpolated reference sempie, (See again retienete in rejection «of Claim 1 en
`
`tire basis of Karczewicz) and generating the prediction image using tne interpelated reference
`
`sample, (See again rationete in reieetien ei Ctaim 1 en the basis {it Karczewicz} and the
`
`reference sarnple is interpolated using the piureiity oi reterenee eernpies regardiess of whether
`
`tne pesitien on the :iist line, (See again ratieneie in regeetien rot {Sieim “i on the basis to?
`
`Karczewicz} which is dependent on the directional prediction mede used, talis en an integer
`
`position or a nen—integer pesitien. (fiee again Karczewicz as evoked, mutatis mutandis, in
`
`rejection pf metre "ii
`
`In regard to claim 6, Karczewicz in combination with Kirchhoffer discloses: a deeeder,
`
`eemprieing: circuitry; and memery, wnerein, using the memory, tne Circuitry performs:
`
`deriving a plurality of reference samples poeitidned on a i--srt line, for intra predictien; and
`
`generating a prediction image urging the piurality of reference sampiee, and
`
`the deriving ineltr 'ee interpoieting a value on a seoend iine perpendieuler to the first line
`
`using vaiues oi decoded pixels en the seoend tine to generate an interpdlated value, end deriving
`
`ene ell tire pturaiity ei retereride sernpies by protecting the interpoieted value onto the first line.
`
`{The decoder is the serinterpart of the enseder et Giaim t; -= See ratienaie in refraction er
`
`Claim 1 en the beets et Karczewicz and Kirchhoffer; - (Karczewicz teaches encoding and
`
`decoding stages (Pars. 0005 and 0046; and Figs. 7 and 8: codec; See also Kirchhoffer, Fig.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/222,104
`Art Unit: 2487
`
`Page 6
`
`2: video decoder; Pars. 0038, 0042 and 0089: operations of decoder 200 including
`
`interpolating in performing intra prediction))
`
`In regard to claim 10, the claim discloses: the decoder according to claim 5., wherein the
`
`generating inciudes interneiating using the pluralily ef reference sernples, a reference sernple at
`
`a pesitien en the first iine dependent on e directienei predictien rnode use-cl, te generate an
`
`interpolated reference sample. and generating the prediction image using the interpeiated
`
`U)
`reference ample= and
`
`the reference sample is intereelated using the eiureiity of reference sanipies regardless of
`
`whether the eesitien on the first line. which is dependent en the directienei predictien rnede Lise-cl,
`
`ialis en an integer positien er a ncn~integer position. {See retienaie in reiectien ct Qieini d as
`
`anaivzed sleeve in regard is the deceder and reticnaie stickied abeve fer Cieim 5 en the
`
`basis ct Karczewicz and Kirchhoffer)
`
`In regard to claim 11, the Claim discloses: an encoding method, comprising:
`
`deriving a pltrreiity of reference samples positioned on a first tine, for intre prediction; and
`
`generating a prediction image using the pluraiity of reference samples, wherein the deriving
`
`incitides interpolating a vaiue en a seccnd line perpendicuier to the first iine using vaiuee of
`
`encoded pixels on the seccnd line to generate an interpolated vaiue, end deriving ene of the
`
`plureiiiy cf relere ice samples by prcjecting the internciated vaiue onto the lirsl iine. (Sires
`
`ratieneie in retention cf Claim 1 en the haste ct Karczewicz and Kirchhoffer)
`
`In regard to claim 12, the Claim discloses: a detoding rnethod, comprising:
`
`deriving a plureiiiy cf relerence samples pesiiioned on a first iine, icr intra predictien; and
`
`generating a predictien image using lhe pluraiity cl reference samples, wherein the deriving
`
`incitides interpolating a vaiue on e secend line perpendicnier in the first iine using values ci
`
`decoded pixels en the secdnd line in generele an inierpcleled vaine, and deriving ene cf the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/222,104
`Art Unit: 2487
`
`Page 7
`
`plurality oi reference sarrzpies by projecting the interpolated value onto the first line. (See
`
`retioneie in regection of Cieim 5 en the basis of Karczewicz and Kirchhoffer)
`
`Siaims 2 - 4, and 3’ - 9 are rejeetet;i under ’35 USC. 103 as being unpatentabie ever
`
`Kareewicz in view of Kirchhoffer, and further in view at Karcewiez et. at, (£333 20185332441? A1},
`
`hereii'iaiter Karcewiez{2).
`
`In regard to claim 2, Karczewicz in combination with Kirchhoffer discloses: the encoder
`
`according to claim 1, without reacting on the aficiitionat limitation to Claim 1.
`
`However, Karcewicztfi) teaches the limitation: wherein the interpolating includes using a
`
`one—dia‘nensienat spatiai biiinear interpolation filter. (See Karczewicz(2), Pars. 0078 and 0081:
`
`bi-linear filter)
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention, having the references of Karczewicz, Kirchhoffer and
`
`Karczewicz(2) before him/her, to modify the spatiei prediction based intra—cooing of Karczewicz
`
`with the teaching of he apparatus for intra prediction and reconstruction of block of Kirchhoffer in
`
`order to improve coding efficiency. By adding Karczewicz(2) to the combination, the encoder will
`
`also include a bi-linear filter. (See Karczewicz(2), Par. 0081 : bi-linear filter))
`
`In regard to claim 3, Karczewicz in combination with Kirchhoffer discloses: the encoder
`
`accortting to claim 1, wherein the interpoiating inciudes using a one~dimensional spatial 4~tap
`
`interpoiation iiiter, (See Karczewicz(2), Pars. 0078, 0081, 0083 and 0112: 3-tap [1 ,2,1], 5-Tap
`
`[1 ,4,6,4,1] or 7-tap [1 ,6,15,20,15,6,1], reference filters may be applied on unfiltered
`
`references to generate the filtered references; - (Karczewicz(2) does not cite in specific
`
`terms 4-tap bi-linear filter but suggests the use of the kind of filter)
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/222,104
`Art Unit: 2487
`
`Page 8
`
`In regard to claim 4, Karczewicz in combination with Kirchhoffer discloses: the eneeder
`
`accerriing te eieini i , wherein the deriving fiiriher ineiudee srneetning the plurality et reierenee
`
`sempiee that are derived, (See Karczewicz(2), Pars. 0005: disclosure describes techniques
`
`for applying a bilateral filter for mode-dependent intra smoothing (MDIS) or intra reference
`
`sample smoothing; See further Pars. 0030, 0031, 0079 and 0083) and the generating includes
`
`generating the eredictien irnege using the pleraiity of reference samples smoothed in the deriving,
`
`(See Karczewicz, Par. 0020: intra—prediction; - i.e., generating a prediction image of
`
`the current block to be predicted by performing intra prediction using the pixel value of
`
`the current reference sample to be processed; - (i.e., generating a eredietien image using
`
`the eiuraiity 0? reference sampiesi)
`
`In regard to claim 7, Karczewicz in combination with Kirchhoffer discloses the decoder
`
`according to claim 6, wherein the intereeiating inciudee using a one~dimensienal spatiet bilinear
`
`interpoiatieh filter, {3ee ratienaie in regeetien e? Cieim 2 and Stein“: 5)
`
`In regard to claim 8, the claim discloses the decoder according to eiairn 6, wherein
`
`the interweietin ineiudee ueinr e eneeiineneienai e atiei 4—ta
`i
`Q
`
`inter elation tiiter. {fiee ratieneie
`
`in rejeetiera et main“: 3 and Ciaim 5}
`
`In regard to claim 9, the claim discloses the deceder awarding ie eiairn 6, wherein
`
`the deriving further ineiudes smoothing the pluraiity of reference serripiee that are derived, and
`
`the generating includes generating the predictien image using the piurelity er“ reference eameiee
`
`srrieeihed in the deriving, {See retienaie in regeetien at Cieim 4 and meirn 6)
`
`References considered but not cited
`
`12.
`
`The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to
`
`Applicant’s disclosure.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/222,104
`Art Unit: 2487
`
`Page 9
`
`o
`
`HEO (US 20190320200) teaches IMAGE DECODING METHOD AND
`
`APPARATUS RELYING ON INTRA PREDICTION IN IMAGE CODING SYSTEM.
`
`.
`
`Suzuki et al. (US 10110918 B2) teaches Video prediction encoding
`
`device, video prediction encoding method, video prediction decoding device and
`
`video prediction decoding method.
`
`0
`
`JEONG et al. (US 20150350640 A1) teaches VIDEO ENCODING AND
`
`DECODING METHOD.
`
`0
`
`LEE et al. (US 20190238841 A1) teaches VIDEO ENCODING/DECODING
`
`METHOD AND APPARATUS, AND RECORDING MEDIUM IN WHICH BIT
`
`STREAM IS STORED.
`
`o
`
`JANG et al. (US 20190306511 A1) teaches INTRA-PREDICTION
`
`METHOD AND APPARATUS |N IMAGE CODING SYSTEM.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to BERTEAU JOISIL whose telephone number is (571)270-
`
`7492. The examiner can normally be reached on 7:30 am to 5:00 pm.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Dave Czekaj can be reached on 571 -272-3963. The fax phone number for the
`
`organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/222,104
`Art Unit: 2487
`
`Page 10
`
`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 -272-1 000.
`
`/Berteau Joisil/
`
`Examiner, Art Unit 2487
`
`/Dave Czekaj/
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2487
`
`