`ges=tiex
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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARKOFFICE
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`PARIKH, DAKSHESH D
`
`2488
`
`DATE MAILED: 03/15/2022
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`FILING DATE
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKETNO.
`
`CONFIRMATIONNO.
`
`16/417,517
`
`05/20/2019
`
`Chong Soon LIM
`
`735256.410C1
`
`7557
`
`TITLE OF INVENTION: ENCODER, DECODER, ENCODING METHOD, AND DECODING METHOD
`
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`APPLICATION NO.
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`FILING DATE
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`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKETNO.
`
`CONFIRMATIONNO.
`
`16/417,517
`
`05/20/2019
`
`Chong Soon LIM
`
`735256.410C1
`
`7557
`
`TITLE OF INVENTION: ENCODER, DECODER, ENCODING METHOD, AND DECODING METHOD
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`APPLN. TYPE PUBLICATION FEE DUE|PREV. PAID ISSUE FEEENTITY STATUS ISSUE FEE DUE TOTAL FEE(S) DUE DATE DUE
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`EXAMINER
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`ART UNIT
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`CLASS-SUBCLASS
`
`PARIKH, DAKSHESH D
`
`2488
`
`375-240020
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`2. For printing on the patent front page,list
`(1) The namesof up to 3 registered patent attorneys
`1
`or agents OR,alternatively,
`(I Change of correspondence address (or Change of Correspondence
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`Address form PTO/AIA/122 or PTO/SB/122) attached.
`registered attorney or agent) and the names of upto
`=—-_2
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`listed, no namewillbe printed.
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`1. Change of correspondenceaddressor indication of "Fee Address” (37
`CFR 1.363).
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` [I "Fee Address" indication (or "Fee Address" Indication form PTO/
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`PTOL-85 Part B (08-18) Approved for use through 01/31/2020
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`USS. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
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`APPLICATION NO.
`
`FILING DATE
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKETNO.
`
`CONFIRMATIONNO.
`
`16/417,517
`
`05/20/2019
`
`Chong Soon LIM
`
`735256.410C1
`
`7587
`
`125045
`
`7590
`
`03/15/2022
`
`Seed IP Law Group LLP/Panasonic (PIPCA)
`701 5th Avenue, Suite 5400
`
`PARIKH, DAKSHESH D
`
`2488
`
`DATE MAILED: 03/15/2022
`
`Determination of Patent Term Adjustment under 35 U.S.C. 154 (b)
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`The Office has discontinued providing a Patent Term Adjustment (PTA)calculation with the Notice of Allowance.
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`

`

`.
`
`ae
`
`16/417 ,517
`
`LIM etal.
`
`DAKSHESH D PARIKH
`
`2488
`
`Yes
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address--
`All claims being allowable, PROSECUTION ON THE MERITS IS (OR REMAINS) CLOSED in this application. If not included
`herewith (or previously mailed), a Notice of Allowance (PTOL-85) or other appropriate communication will be mailed in due course. THIS
`NOTICE OF ALLOWABILITY IS NOT A GRANTOF PATENTRIGHTS.This application is subject to withdrawal from issue at the initiative
`of the Office or upon petition by the applicant. See 37 CFR 1.313 and MPEP 1308.
`1.{¥] This communication is responsive to 02/09/2022.
`(J A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`.
`
`2._) Anelection was madebythe applicant in responseto a restriction requirementset forth during the interview on
`restriction requirement and election have been incorporatedinto this action.
`
`; the
`
`3.1¥] The allowed claim(s) is/are See Continuation Sheet . As a result of the allowed claim(s), you maybe 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
`PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
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`“ Certified copies not received:
`
`Applicant has THREE MONTHS FROM THE "MAILING DATE"of this communication to file a reply complying with the requirements
`noted below.Failure to timely comply will result in ABANDONMENT ofthis application.
`THIS THREE-MONTH PERIOD IS NOT EXTENDABLE.
`
`5.1) CORRECTED DRAWINGS (as "replacement sheets") must be submitted.
`() including changes required by the attached Examiner's Amendment / Commentor in the Office action of
`Paper No./Mail Date
`.
`Identifying indicia such as the application number (see 37 CFR 1.84(c)) should be written on the drawingsin the front (not the back) of each
`sheet. Replacement sheet(s) should be labeled as such in the header according to 37 CFR 1.121(d).
`
`6.1) DEPOSIT OFand/or INFORMATION aboutthe deposit of BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL must be submitted. Note the
`attached Examiner's comment regarding REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEPOSIT OF BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL.
`
`4.1) Acknowledgmentis made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`c) [4 Noneofthe:
`a) CIAlI
`b) () Some*
`1. 1 Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2. (| Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3. [1 Copiesof the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin this national stage application from the
`International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2488
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1.[¥] Notice of References Cited (PTO-892) 5.(¥|Examiner's Amendment/Comment
`
`2.[¥] Information Disclosure Statements (PTO/SB/08), 6.¥jExaminer's Statement of Reasonsfor Allowance
`Paper No./Mail Date 12/01/2021, 02/09/2022, 02/24/2022.
`3.) Examiner's Comment Regarding Requirementfor Deposit
`of Biological Material
`.
`4.) Interview Summary (PTO-413),
`Paper No./Mail Date. 02/25/2022.
`/DAKSHESH D PARIKH/
`
`7. () Other
`
`.
`
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL-37 (Rev. 08-13)
`
`Notice of Allowability
`
`.
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20220225
`
`

`

`Continuation Sheet (PTOL-37)
`
`Application No. 16/417,517
`
`Continuation of 3. The allowed claim(s) is/are: 1,7,13,19,25,31 and 43
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAIL
`
`Notice ofPre-AIA or AIA Status
`
`[1]
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, 1s being examined underthe first
`
`inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Withdraws Provisional Double-Patenting Rejection
`
`[2]
`
`Applicant has prepared andfiled the terminal disclaimer (TD) to overcome a provisional
`
`rejection based on a non-statutory double patenting ground. The terminal disclaimer (TD) has been
`
`approved on 02/25/2022.
`
`Examiner withdraws the previously made Provisional Double-Patenting Rejection.
`
`EXAMINER’S AMENDMENT
`
`[3]
`
`An examiner’s amendmentto the record appears below. Should the changes and/or
`
`additions be unacceptable to applicant, an amendment maybe filed as provided by 37 CFR 1.312.
`
`To ensure consideration of such an amendment, it MUST be submitted no later than the payment of
`
`the issue fee.
`
`[4]
`
`Authorization for this examiner's amendment was given in a telephone interview with Mr.
`
`Timothy L. Boller (Reg. No. 47,435) on 02/25/2022.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`[5]
`
`The application has been amendedas follows:
`
`Page 3
`
`1) Please replace claims 1, 7, 13, 19, 25 and 31 with the followings:
`
`1.
`
`(Currently Amended) An image encoder, comprising:
`
`circuitry; and
`
`a memory coupledto the circuitry,
`
`wherein the circuitry, 1n operation:
`
`in response to a determined numberof sub blocks ofa block of a picture
`
`being set to four, splits the block into four sub blocks, wherein,
`
`in response to a size of the block of the picture satisfying a block-size
`
`condition, splits the block into four sub blocks along a single direction, wherein the
`
`splitting includes,
`
`in response to the width of the block being larger than the height of the
`
`block and the size of the block being 32x8,splitting the block along a vertical
`
`direction into four 8x8 sub blocks; and
`
`in response to the height of the block being larger than the width of the
`
`block and the size of the block being 8x32, splitting the block along a horizontal
`
`direction into four 8x8 sub blocks; and
`
`in response to the size of the block notsatisfying the block-size condition,
`
`splits the block into four sub blocks along the vertical and horizontal directions,
`
`wherein the splitting includes splitting the block along the vertical and horizontal
`
`directions into four 16x16 sub blocks in response to the width of the block being
`
`equal to the height of the block and the size of the block being 32x32; and
`
`encodes the sub blocks of the block.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`Page 4
`
`7.
`
`(Currently Amended) An image encoder comprising:
`
`a splitter which, in operation, recetves and splits an original picture into
`
`blocks;
`
`a first adder which, in operation, receives the blocks from the splitter and
`
`predictions from a prediction controller, and subtracts each prediction from its
`
`corresponding block to output a residual;
`
`a transformer which, tn operation, performs a transform on the residuals
`
`outputted from the adder to output transform coefficients;
`
`a quantizer which, in operation, quantizes the transform coefficients to
`
`generate quantized transform coefficients;
`
`an entropy encoder which, in operation, encodes the quantized transform
`
`coefficients to generate a bitstream;
`
`an inverse quantizer and transformer which, in operation, inverse quantizes
`
`the quantized transform coefficients to obtain the transform coefficients and inverse
`
`transforms the transform coefficients to obtain the residuals;
`
`a second adder which, in operation, adds the residuals outputted from the
`
`inverse quantizer and transformer and the predictions outputted from the prediction
`
`controller to reconstruct the blocks; and
`
`the prediction controller coupled to an inter predictor, an intra predictor, and
`
`a memory, wherein the inter predictor, in operation, generates a prediction of a
`
`current block based on a reference block 1n an encoded reference picture and the
`
`intra predictor, in operation, generates a prediction of a current block based on an
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`Page 5
`
`encoded reference block in a current picture, wherein the prediction controller, in
`
`operation:
`
`in response to a determined numberof sub blocks of the current block being
`
`set to four, splits the current block into four sub blocks, wherein,
`
`in response to a size of the current block satisfying a block-size condition,
`
`splits the current block into four sub blocks along a single direction, wherein the
`
`splitting includes,
`
`in response to the width of the current block being larger than the height of
`
`the current block and the size of the current block being 32x8, splitting the current
`
`block along a vertical direction into four 8x8 sub blocks; and
`
`in response to the height of the current block being larger than the width of
`
`the current block and the size of the current block being 8x32, splitting the current
`
`block along a horizontal direction into four 8x8 sub blocks; and
`
`in response to the size of the current block notsatisfying the block-size
`
`condition, splits the current block into four sub blocks along the vertical and
`
`horizontal directions, wherein the splitting includes splitting the current block along
`
`the vertical and horizontal directions into four 16x16 sub blocks 1n response to the
`
`width of the current block being equal to the height of the current block and the size
`
`of the current block being 32x32; and
`
`encodes the sub blocks of the current block.
`
`13.
`
`(Currently Amended) An image encoding method, comprising:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
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`Page 6
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`in response to a determined numberof sub blocks ofa block of a picture
`
`being set to four, splits the block into four sub blocks, wherein,
`
`in response to a size of the block satisfying a block-size condition, splits the
`
`block into four sub blocks along a single direction, wherein the splitting includes,
`
`in response to the width of the block being larger than the height of the
`
`block and the size of the block being 32x8,splitting the block along a vertical
`
`direction into four 8x8 sub blocks; and
`
`in response to the height of the block being larger than the width of the
`
`block and the size of the block being 8x32, splitting the block along a horizontal
`
`direction into four 8x8 sub blocks; and
`
`in response to the size of the block notsatisfying the block-size condition,
`
`splits the block into four sub blocks along the vertical and horizontal directions,
`
`wherein the splitting includes splitting the block along the vertical and horizontal
`
`directions into four 16x16 sub blocks in response to the width of the block being
`
`equal to the height of the block and the size of the block being 32x32; and
`
`encoding the sub blocks of the block.
`
`19.
`
`(Currently Amended) An image decoder, comprising:
`
`circuitry; and
`
`a memory coupledto the circuitry,
`
`wherein the circuitry, in operation:
`
`in response to a determined numberof sub blocks ofa block of a picture
`
`being set to four, splits the block into four sub blocks, wherein,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`Page 7
`
`in response to a size of the block satisfying a block-size condition, splits the
`
`block into four sub blocks along a single direction, wherein the splitting includes,
`
`in response to the width of the block being larger than the height of the
`
`block and the size of the block being 32x8,splitting the block along a vertical
`
`direction into four 8x8 sub blocks; and
`
`in response to the height of the block being larger than the width of the
`
`block and the size of the block being 8x32, splitting the block along a horizontal
`
`direction into four 8x8 sub blocks; and
`
`in response to the size of the block not satisfying the block-size condition,
`
`splits the block into four sub blocks along the vertical and horizontal directions,
`
`wherein the splitting includes splitting the block along the vertical and horizontal
`
`directions into four 16x16 sub blocks in response to the width of the block being
`
`equal to the height of the block and the size of the block being 32x32; and
`
`decodes the sub blocks of the block.
`
`25.
`
`(Currently Amended) An image decoder, comprising:
`
`an entropy decoder which, in operation, receives and decodes an encoded
`
`bitstream to obtain quantized transform coefficients;
`
`an inverse quantizer and transformer which, in operation, inverse quantizes
`
`the quantized transform coefficients to obtain transform coefficients and inverse
`
`transforms the transform coefficients to obtain residuals;
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
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`Page 8
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`an adder which, in operation, adds the residuals outputted from the inverse
`
`quantizer and transformer and predictions outputted from a prediction controller to
`
`reconstruct blocks; and
`
`the prediction controller coupled to an inter predictor, an intra predictor, and
`
`a memory, wherein the inter predictor, in operation, generates a prediction of a
`
`current block based on a reference block in an encoded reference picture and the
`
`intra predictor, 1n operation, generates a prediction of a current block based on an
`
`encoded reference block in a current picture, wherein the prediction controller, in
`
`operation:
`
`in response to a determined numberof sub blocks of the current block being
`
`set to four, splits the current block into four sub blocks, wherein,
`
`in response to a size of the current block satisfying a block-size condition,
`
`splits the current block into four sub blocks along a single direction, wherein the
`
`splitting includes,
`
`in response to the width of the current block being larger than the height of
`
`the current block and the size of the current block being 32x8, splitting the current
`
`block along a vertical direction into four 8x8 sub blocks; and
`
`in response to the height of the current block being larger than the width of
`
`the current block and the size of the current block being 8x32, splitting the current
`
`block along a horizontal direction into four 8x8 sub blocks; and
`
`in response to the size of the current block notsatisfying the block-size
`
`condition, splits the current block into four sub blocks along the vertical and
`
`horizontal directions, wherein the splitting includes splitting the current block along
`
`the vertical and horizontal directions into four 16x16 sub blocks in response to the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`Page 9
`
`width of the current block being equal to the height of the current block and the size
`
`of the current block being 32x32; and
`
`decodes the sub blocks of the current block.
`
`31.
`
`(Currently Amended) An image decoding method, comprising:
`
`in response to a determined numberof sub blocks of a block being set to
`
`four, splits the block into four sub blocks, wherein,
`
`in response to a size of the block satisfying a block-size condition, splits the
`
`block into four sub blocks along a single direction, wherein the splitting includes,
`
`in response to the width of the block being larger than the height of the
`
`block and the size of the block being 32x8,splitting the block along a vertical
`
`direction into four 8x8 sub blocks; and
`
`in response to the height of the block being larger than the width of the
`
`block and the size of the block being 8x32, splitting the block along a horizontal
`
`direction into four 8x8 sub blocks; and
`
`in response to the size of the block notsatisfying the block-size condition,
`
`splits the block into four sub blocks along the vertical and horizontal directions,
`
`wherein the splitting includes splitting the block along the vertical and horizontal
`
`directions into four 16x16 sub blocks in response to the width of the block being
`
`equal to the height of the block and the size of the block betng 32x32; and
`
`decoding the sub blocks of the block.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`Page 10
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`REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE
`
`[6]
`
`The following is an examiner's statement of reasons for allowance: The instant invention is
`
`related to SIGNALING OF DEBLOCKING FILTER PARAMETERSIN VIDEO CODING.
`
`[7]
`
`Prior art was found and applied in the previous actions. However, in consideration of the
`
`amendedclaims, applicant uniquely claimed a distinct feature in addition to all of the combined
`
`limitations of the independentclaims in the instant invention, which are not found 1n the priorart,
`
`or where there is not strong motivation or reasoning to combine references to arrive at the claimed
`
`invention, either singularly or 1n combination. The features are
`
`... in response to a size of the block ofthe picture satisfying a block-size
`
`condition, splits the block into four sub blocks along a single direction, wherein the
`
`splitting includes,
`
`in response to the width of the block being larger than the height of the
`
`block and the size of the block being 32x8,splitting the block along a vertical
`
`direction into four 8x8 sub blocks; and
`
`in response to the height of the block being larger than the width of the
`
`block and the size of the block being 8x32, splitting the block along a horizontal
`
`direction into four 8x8 sub blocks; and
`
`in response to the size of the block notsatisfying the block-size condition,
`
`splits the block into four sub blocks along the vertical and horizontal directions,
`
`wherein