IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`Application No.
`Filed
`Confirmation No.
`
`17/726,133
`>
`> April 21, 2022
`:
`1500
`
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`
`: TsionB. OWENS
`:
`2487
`
`Docket No.
`> 735256.442C4
`First Named Inventor : Kiyofumi ABE
`Title
`: ENCODER, DECODER, ENCODING METHOD, AND DECODING
`METHOD
`
`Date
`
`: November 29, 2023
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
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`TRANSMITTAL LETTER OF
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`
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`INFORMATIONSTATEMENTDISCLOSURE
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`Commissionerfor Patents:
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`In accordance with 37 CFR §§ 1.56, 1.97 and 1.98, Applicant wishes to make known to
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`the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) the reference(s) set forth on the attached
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`Information Disclosure Statement (IDS). Please acknowledge receipt by initialing and returning
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`a copy of the IDS and kindly make the cited reference(s) of record in the above-identified
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`application.
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`As copies of cited U.S. patents and published patent applications are not required, they
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`have not been provided. Copies of cited unpublished U.S. patent applications are not provided
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`based upon the goodfaith belief that such applications are available in the USPTO’s ImageFile
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`Wrapper system. Copiesofall other reference(s) are provided except as noted.
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`The Director is authorized to charge any other fees due by way ofthis filing, or credit any
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`overpayment to Deposit Account No. 19-1090.
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`

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`Application No. 17/726,133
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`Applicant submits that the attached IDS should be considered because:
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`L]
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`I. This IDS is being submitted pursuant to 37 CFR § 1.97(b).
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`This IDS is filed during one of the following time periods:
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`Within three months of the filing date of a national application other than a
`Continued Prosecution Application under 37 CFR § 1.53(d); Within three months
`of the date of entry of the national stage as set forth in 37 CFR § 1.491 in an
`international application; Before the mailing of a first Office Action on the merits;
`Before the mailing of a first Office Action after the filing of a Request for
`Continued Examination under 37 CFR § 1.114; or Within three months of the date
`of publication of the international registration under Hague Agreement Article
`10(3) in an international design application.
`
`L]
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`IL. This IDS is being submitted pursuant to 37 CFR § 1.97(c).
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`This IDS is filed after the period specified in 37 CFR § 1.97(b), but before the mailing date of a
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`final Office Action under 37 CFR § 1.113, a Notice of Allowance under 37 CFR § 1.311, or any
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`other action that closes prosecution in the application. Furthermore, this IDS is accompanied by
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`one of the following:
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`L] A. Thefee set forth in 37 CFR § 1.17(p); or
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`L] B. The statement specified in 37 CFR § 1.97(e):
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`1. Each item of information contained in the IDS wasfirst cited in any
`L]
`communication from a foreign patent office in a counterpart foreign application not more than
`three monthsprior to the filing of the IDS.
`
`L] 2. No item of information contained in the IDS wascited in a communication
`
`from a foreign patent office in a counterpart foreign application, and, to the knowledge of the
`person signingthis certification after making reasonable inquiry, no item of information contained
`in the IDS was knownto any individual designated in 37 CFR § 1.56(c) more than three months
`prior to the filing of the IDS.
`
`XX!
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`IL. This IDS is being submitted pursuant to 37 CFR § 1.97(d).
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`This IDS is filed after the period specified in 37 CFR § 1.97(c), but on or before the payment of
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`the issue fee. Furthermore, this IDS is accompaniedby both:
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`e The fee set forth in 37 CFR § 1.17(p); and
`e The statement specified in 37 CFR § 1.97(e):
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`

`

`Application No. 17/726,133
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`1. Each item of information contained in the IDS wasfirst cited in any
`L]
`communication from a foreign patent office in a counterpart foreign application not more than
`three monthsprior to the filing of the IDS.
`
`XX 2. No item of information contained in the IDS wascited in a communication
`
`from a foreign patent office in a counterpart foreign application, and, to the knowledge of the
`person signingthis certification after making reasonable inquiry, no item of information contained
`in the IDS was knownto any individual designated in 37 CFR § 1.56(c) more than three months
`prior to the filing of the IDS.
`
`L]
`
`In accordance with 37 CFR § 1.704(d), a Patent Term Adjustment Statement
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`PTA CERTIFICATION
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`(PTO/SB/133) is included with this submission.
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`This IDS is not to be construed as a representation that a search has been made or an
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`admission that any cited reference is consideredto be prior art under 35 U.S.C. §§ 101, 102 or 103,
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`or material to patentability under 37 CFR § 1.56. Notwithstanding the fact that the reference(s)
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`being cited in this IDS are being made knownto the USPTO in compliance with Applicant’s duty
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`to disclose, Applicant believes that their invention is patentable.
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`Respectfully submitted,
`
`Seed Intellectual Property Law Group LLP
`
`/Timothy L. Boller/
`Timothy L. Boller
`Registration No. 47,435
`
`Attachment(s):
`Information Disclosure Statement
`Reference(s) (3)
`
`701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, Washington 98104
`Phone: (206) 622-4900 | Fax: (206) 682-6031
`
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