www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`16/417,517
`
`05/20/2019
`
`Chong Soon LIM
`
`735256.410C1
`
`7557
`
`Seed IP Law Group LLP/Panasonic (PIPCA)
`701 5th Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`PARIKH, DAKSHESH D
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2488
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`12/01/2021
`
`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):
`USPTOeAction @ SeedIP.com
`
`pairlinkdktg @seedip.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/417,517
`LIM etal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`DAKSHESH D PARIKH
`2488
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEofthis communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing
`date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHSfrom 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, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s) filed on 10/08/2021.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`2a)¥) This action is FINAL.
`2b) (J This action is non-final.
`3)02 An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4\0) 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 Exparte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1,7,13,19,25,31 and 43-62 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`C] Claim(s)__ is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1,7,13,19,25,31 and 43-62 is/are rejected.
`(1 Claim(s)__is/are objectedto.
`C} Claim(s)
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible 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.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`Application Papers
`10) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)0) The drawing(s) filedon__ is/are: a)(J accepted or b)() 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)1) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d)or (f).
`Certified copies:
`c)Z None ofthe:
`b)() Some**
`a)C All
`1.2 Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.1.) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin 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)
`
`2) (J Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3)
`
`Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date 10/20/2021,
`4) ( Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20211128
`
`

`

`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.
`
`Applicant(s) Response to OfficialAction
`
`[2]
`
`The responsefiled on 10/08/2021 has been entered and madeofrecord.
`
`Withdraws Objection to the Claim
`
`[3]
`
`The objections to the Claim 62 have been withdrawn because the claim 62 has been
`
`amended to corrects the Minor Informalities for which the claim 62 was objected to.
`
`Examiner withdraws the previously made objection.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 and 35 USC § 103
`
`[4]
`
`Applicant’s presented arguments with regards to independentclaims 1, 7, 13, 19, 25 and 31,
`
`filed 10/08/2021 have been fully considered but are held unpersuasive. Examiner's response to the
`
`presented arguments follows below.
`
`Summary of Arouments:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`Page 3
`
`[5]
`
`Regarding Claims 1, 7, 13, 19, 25 and 31, argues that Chuang, does not appear to disclose “
`
`partition-selection parameters including a horizontal-vertical partition mode parameter which
`
`indicates a single direction, or multiple directions.” [Page 17, Para 001]
`
`Exxaminer’s Response:
`
`Examinerrespectfully disagrees.
`
`[6]
`
`Regarding Claims 1, 7, 13, 19, 25 and 31, Examiner contends that
`
`1) The examinerts given the broadest reasonable interpretation when examining the
`
`claims.
`
`2) Chuang discloses
`
`a) anode in the quadtree may includeasplit flag, indicating whether the CU
`
`corresponding to the node1s split into sub-CUs.; [Para 0038]
`
`b) video encoder 20 maysignal for the various partitioning schemesthat are
`
`possible in the PT-portion of a multi-type tree-partitioned block partitions,
`
`where binary codeword "111" indicates vertical center-side triple tree-based
`
`partitioning, the binary codeword "101" indicates horizontal center-side triple
`
`tree-based partitioning, where left most bin indicating where CU 1s split or not,
`
`0=nosplit, 1=split, second bin represents the PT split direction, 0= horizontal
`
`split, 1= vertical split, and third bin represents the PT split mode , 0= binary tree
`
`and 1 = center-side triple tree); /Fug. 8, Para 0100]
`
`c)
`
`and numberofbits required to signal PT partitioning information 1s according to
`
`the multi-tree-type structure.; /Para 0102/
`
`d) video encoder 20 may signal the codeword selection in various syntax structures
`
`of the bitstream, when different RT or PT splittings are allowed; /Para 0134/
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`Page 4
`
`e) video encoder may signal a one-bit flag, or an index, or multiple flags to enable
`
`video decoder to decide or determine which of the above-mentionedsplitting
`
`schemesshould be tmplemented; /Para 0137]
`
`Therefore, from aboveit 1s clear that Chuang discloses partition-selection parameters(i.e.
`
`flags and/or index) including a horizontal-vertical partition mode parameter which indicates
`
`a single direction, or multiple directions.
`
`Therefore, regarding independent Claims 1, 7, 13, 19, 25 and 31, Chuang, does appearto
`
`disclose “ partition-selection parameters including a horizontal-vertical partition mode
`
`parameter which indicates a single direction, or multiple directions.”.
`
`Accordingly, Examiner maintains the rejection.
`
`Examiner’s Note regarding claim interpretation
`
`[7]
`
`Regarding claims 1, 7, 13, 19, 25, 31, 43-62,the claim limitations regarding “first block-size
`
`condition” and “second block-size condition” are not explicitly disclosed in the specifications as
`
`claimed, but they are implicitly disclosed in the Fig. 38-41 and 44-49 and associated text 1n the
`
`instant application.
`
`Double Patenting
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`Page 5
`
`
`
`[8] The non-statutory double patenting rejection is based onajudicially created doctrine
`
`grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or
`
`improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible
`
`harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting rejection 1s
`
`appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application
`
`claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim 1s
`
`either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg,
`
`140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010
`
`(Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Long?, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686
`
`F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); and
`
`In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
`
`A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be
`
`used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting
`
`ground provided the conflicting application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with
`
`this application, or claims an invention madeasaresult of activities undertaken within the scope of a
`
`joint research agreement.
`
`Effective January 1, 1994, a registered attorney or agent of record may sign a terminal
`
`disclaimer. A terminal disclaimer signed by the assignee must fully comply with 37 CFR 3.73(b).
`
`[9]
`
`Claims 1, 7, 13, 19, 25, 31, 43-62 are provisionally reyected on the ground of nonstatutory
`
`obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1, 8, 14, 20, 27, 33, 39-46 of co-
`
`pending Application No 16/417514,in view of US Publication Chuanget al. (US20180070110A1)
`
`(hereinafter Chuang). Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably
`
`distinct from each other because it is merely in the terminology used tn both sets of claims.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`Page 6
`
`The subject matter claimed tn the instant application 1s fully disclosed in the referenced
`
`patent and would be covered by any patent granted on that patents since the referenced patents and
`
`the instant application are claiming commonsubject matter, as follows:
`
`*Note: Bold indicates the common subject matter
`
`predictor, and a memory, wherein the 8.
`
`Instant Application: 16/417,517
`7.
`(Currently Amended) An image
`encoder comprising:
`a splitter which,
`in operation,
`receives and splits an original
`picture into blocks;
`in operation,
`a first adder which,
`receives the blocks from the
`
`splitter and predictions from a
`prediction controller, and subtracts
`each prediction from its
`corresponding block to output a
`residual;
`in operation,
`a transformer which,
`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;
`in
`an entropy encoder which,
`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;
`in operation,
`a second adder which,
`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
`
`Co-pending Application: 16/417514
`(Currently Amended) An image
`encoder comprising: a splitter
`which,
`in operation, receives 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
`in
`residual; a transformer which,
`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
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`
`Page 7
`
`current block based on a reference
`in operation,
`inter predictor,
`block in an encoded reference
`generates a prediction of a current
`picture and the intra predictor,
`block based on a reference block in
`an encoded reference picture and the|in operation, generates a
`intra predictor,
`in operation,
`prediction of a current block
`generates a prediction of a current
`based on an encoded reference
`block based on an encoded reference
`block in a current picture,
`block in a current picture, wherein
`wherein the prediction controller,
`the prediction controller,
`in
`in operation:
`operation:
`in response to splitting a block
`of a picture into sub blocks along
`a single direction, sets one or
`in response to a size of the current|more partition-selection
`block of the picture satisfying a
`parameters to a set of values,
`the
`first block-size condition, splits
`partition- selection parameters
`
`including a horizontal-vertical
`the current block into sub blocks
`partition mode parameter
`along a single direction, wherein,
`indicating a horizontal or a
`in
`vertical direction, wherein:
`response to splitting the block
`into four sub blocks along the
`single direction using first block
`partitioning information, each of
`
`the sub blocks having a same size,
`
`sets the one or more partition-
`selection parameters to a first
`set of values,
`the first set of
`values including a value for the
`horizontal-vertical partition mode
`otherwise, writes, into a bitstream,|parameter indicating the single
`
`one or more parameters including a
`direction; and
`partition-mode parameter indicating
`
`
`
`the single direction, in response to|in response to splitting the block
`the splitting the block into sub
`into three sub blocks along the
`blocks including sub blocks having
`single direction using second
`different sizes;
`block partitioning information,
`ratios of sizes of the sub blocks
`
`
`in response to the size of the block|being 1:2:1, sets the one or more
`partition-selection parameters to
`not satisfying the first block-size
`condition, writes,
`into the
`a second set of values different
`
`bitstream, one or more parameters
`from the first set of values,
`the
`including a partition-mode parameter|second set of values including the
`indicating two directions,
`value for the horizontal-vertical
`horizontal and vertical directions,
`partition mode parameter
`in response to splitting the block
`indicating the single direction;
`into four sub blocks along vertical
`encodes the sub blocks of the
`and horizontal directions, each of
`block; and writes the one or more
`the four sub blocks having a same
`parameters into the bit stream.
`size;
`and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in response to the size of the
`current block satisfying a second
`block-size condition,
`the splitting
`along the single direction includes
`splitting the current block along a
`shorter side of the current block
`into an even number of sub blocks
`having a same size; and
`
`
`
`
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`
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`encodes the sub blocks of the
`current block.
`
`[10]
`
`Referring to claims 7, although conflicting application 16/417514 do notexplicitly disclose
`
`what’s claimed in instant application 16/417517, “... in responseto a size of the current block of
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`Page 8
`
`the picture satisfying a first block-size condition, splits the current block into sub blocks along a
`
`single direction, wherein, in response to the size of the current block satisfying a second block-size
`
`condition, the splitting along the single direction includes splitting the current block along a shorter
`
`side of the current block into an even numberof sub blocks having a samesize; and otherwise,
`
`writes, into a bitstream, one or more parameters including a partition-mode parameter indicating the
`
`single direction, in response to the splitting the block into sub blocks including sub blocks having
`
`different sizes; 1n response to the size of the block notsatisfying the first block-size condition,
`
`writes, into the bitstream, one or more parameters including a partition-mode parameter indicating
`
`two directions, horizontal and vertical directions, in response to splitting the block into four sub
`
`blocks along vertical and horizontal directions, each of the four sub blocks having a same size; and
`
`However, in the same field of endeavor Chuangdiscloses “... in response to a size of the
`
`current block of the picture satisfying a first block-size condition, splits the current block into sub
`
`blocks along a single direction, wherein, in response to the size of the current block satisfying a
`
`second block-size condition, the splitting along the single direction includessplitting the current
`
`block along a shorter side of the current block into an even number of sub blocks having a same
`
`size; and otherwise, writes, into a bitstream, one or more parameters including a partition-mode
`
`parameter indicating the single direction, in response to the splitting the block into sub blocks
`
`including sub blocks having different sizes; in response to the size of the block not satisfying the
`
`first block-size condition, writes, into the bitstream, one or more parameters including a partition-
`
`mode parameter indicating two directions, horizontal and vertical directions, in response to splitting
`
`the block into four sub blocks along vertical and horizontal directions, each of the four sub blocks
`
`having a same size; and ...” (Chuang: Fig. CA-B, 7A-B, 8, Para 0038, 0085-0088, 0093-0095, 0099,
`
`0100, 101-102, 0137]
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`Page 9
`
`Therefore, tt would have been obvious to the person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of
`
`the invention to modify the system disclosed by conflicting application 16/417,514 add the
`
`teachings of Chuang as above, in order to provide better coding efficiency. /Chuang: Para 0098]
`
`[11]
`
`Claim 1, 13, 19, 25 and 31 are analogues the device claim 7, therefore, at least for this reason
`
`claim 1, 13, 19, 25 and 31 are rejected similarly to claim 7.
`
`[12]
`
`Regarding dependent claims 43-62, Claims 43-62 correspondto claim 1, 8, 14, 20, 27, 33, 39-
`
`46 of conflicting Co-pending Application 16/417514 and obvious over Chuang.
`
`Notcere prior art available under both pre-AIA and AIA
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to ATA 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 groundof rejection if the priorart
`
`relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same undereitherstatus.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`The following 1s 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 mvention 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
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`Page 10
`
`and the prior art are such that the claimed mvention 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.
`
`Thefactual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 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 pertinentart.
`4. Considering objective evidence present tn the application indicating obviousness or
`nonobviousness.
`
`This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims
`the examiner presumesthat the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned
`as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary.
`Applicantis advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and
`effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing
`date of the later invention 1n order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C.
`102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
`
`[13]
`
`Claim 1, 7, 13, 19, 25, 31, 43-62 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over Chuang et al. (US20180070110A1) (hereinafter Chuang).
`
`Regarding Claim 7, Chuang meets the limitations as follows:
`
`An image encoder /Fig. 2, and associated text, Para 0052-0053, 0177, discloses an
`
`image encoder] comprising:
`
`a splitter which, in operation, receives and splits an original picture into
`
`blocks; /48 Fig. 2, and associated text, Para 0055, discloses splittingpicture in LCU]
`
`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; [50 Fig. 2, and associated text, Para 0056,
`
`0059)
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`Page 11
`
`a transformer which, tn operation, performs a transform on the residuals
`
`outputted from the adder to output transform coefficients; 92 Fag. 2, and assocated
`
`text, Para 0053, 0065-0066]
`
`a quantizer which, in operation, quantizes the transform coefficients to
`
`generate quantized transform coefficients; [54 Fug. 2, and associated text, Para 0053,
`
`0066]
`
`an entropy encoder which, in operation, encodes the quantized transform
`
`coefficients to generate a bitstream; 56 Pig. 2, and associated text, Para 0053, 0056,
`
`0058, 0064, 0066-0067]
`
`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; [58 Fag. 2, and associated
`
`text, Para 0053, 0068)
`
`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; /62 Fig. 2, and associated text, Para 053, 0056,
`
`0068) 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
`
`encoded reference block in a current picture, /Fig. 2, and associated text, Para 0052-
`
`0058, 0068-0072] wherein the prediction controller, in operation:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
`
`Page 12
`
`in response to a size of the current block of the picture satisfying a first
`
`block-size condition, (7.2. Block-size =< MaxBTSize, afirst block condition ts satisfied) [i.e.
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`guad-tree leafnode size is not larger than a maximum allowed binary tree root node size
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`(MaxBTSize), it can befurtherpartitioned according to a binary tree structure; Para 0085 andif
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`the quad-tree leafnode size does not exceed the MaxBTSize of64.times.64), the leafquad-tree
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`node may befurtherpartitioned according to the binary tree structure.; Para 0087] splits the
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`current block into sub blocks along a single direction,/7.¢. ¢fthe guad-tree leafnode size
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`does not exceed the MaxBTSize of64.times.64), the leafquad-tree node may befurtherpartitioned
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`according to the binary tree structure.;[Para 0087] and In each splitting node (i.e., non-leafnode) of
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`the binary tree portion ofFIG. 6B, video encoder 20 may signal oneflag to indicate which binary
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`splitting type (i.e., horizontal or vertical) is used.;[Fig. 6A-B, Fig, 7A-B, Para 0088] wherein,
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`in response to the size of the current block satisfying a second block-size
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`condition, (i.e. wzdth < height second block size condition is satisfied) the splitting along the
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`single direction includes splitting the current block along a shorter side of the current
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`block into an even number of sub blocks having a samesize; /.e. wdeo encoder 20 and
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`udeo decoder 30 implement a horizontal version ofthe binary tree-based split, with respect to the
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`leftmost sub-block ofthe top-right sub-block ofblock 90. The binary tree-based splitting is denoted
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`in partitioning tree 92 using a dashed-hne two-way split ofthe leftmost node that resultedfrom the
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`split ofthe second-from-left branch.; Fig. 7A-B, Para 0095] and
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`otherwise, (.e. width = height, width < height second condition is not satisfied) writes,
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`into a bitstream, one or more parameters including a partition-mode parameter
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`indicating the single direction, /7.e. wdeo encoder 20 may signalfor the variouspartitioning
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`schemes that arepossible in the PT-portion ofa multi-type tree-partitioned block partitions, where
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`binary codeword "111"indicates vertical center-side triple tree-basedpartitioning, the binary
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`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
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`Page 13
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`codeword "101" indicates horizontal center-side triple tree-basedpartitioning, where left most bin
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`indicating where CU is spht or not, O=no split, 1=split, second bin represents the PT split
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`direction, O= horizontal split, 1= vertical split, and third bin represents the PT split mode , O=
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`binary tree and 1 = center-side triple tree); Fig. 8, Para 0100, and number ofbits required to
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`signal PTpartitioning information is according to the mutti-tree-type structure.; Para 0102) in
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`response to the splitting the block into sub blocks including sub blocks having
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`different sizes; /7.e. top-right sub-block of block 92 is split according to the center-side triple tree
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`partitioning structure, toform three rectangular sub-blocks.; Fig. 7A-B, Para 0094)
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`in response to the size of the block notsatisfying the first block-size
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`condition,(i.e. Block-size > MaxBTSize, therefore, Block-size =< MaxBTSizeafirst block
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`size condition is not satisfied) writes, into the bitstream, one or more parameters
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`including a partition-mode parameter/7.e. a node in the quadtree may include a splitflag,
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`indicating whether the CU corresponding to the node is split into sub-CUs.; Para 0038 and For
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`the quad tree-basedportion ofthe OTBT structure, there is no need to signal an indication ofthe
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`splitting type (i.e., horizontal or vertical), because the splitting nodes ofthe quad tree-basedportion
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`are always split horizontally and vertically intofour (4) sub-blocks with equalsizes.; Para 0088,
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`udeo encoder 20 may signal the codeword selection in various syntax structures ofthe bitstream,
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`when different RT or PT splittings are allowed; [Para 0134], and video encoder may signal a one-
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`bitflag, or an index, or multipleflags to enable video decoder to decide or determine which ofthe
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`above-mentioned splitting schemes should be implemented; Para 0137] indicating two
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`directions, horizontal and vertical directions, in response to splitting the block into
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`four sub blocks along vertical and horizontal directions, each of the four sub blocks
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`having a samesize; /2.e. CTU size és set as 128.times.128 and MaxBTSize is set as
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`64.times.64, and quadtreepartitioning is applied to the CTUfirst, to generate quad-tree leaf nodes,
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`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
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`Page 14
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`Para 0086, and block 9O isfirstpartitioned according to the quadtree structure, intofour square
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`sub-blocks; Fig. 7A-B, Para 0093] and
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`encodes the sub blocks of the current block. /é.¢.
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`/2.e. vdeo encoder 20 receives a
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`current video block within a videoframe to be encoded.; Fig. 2 and associated text, Para 0053, and
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`udeo encoder 20 may signal a one-bitflag, or an index, or multipleflags to enable video decoder 30
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`to decade or determine which ofthe above-mentioned splitting schemes should be tmpplemented. ; Para
`
`0137]
`
`While Chuang describes their invention 1n terms of several examples and techniques, the
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`teachings fail to clearly demonstrate the above features being contained in a single
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`embodiment. The interchangeability of the various block splitting techniques described
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`would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art to be performed. Therefore, different
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`example and techniques disclosed in may be combined, and modified that would result in
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`the claim invention.
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`Therefore, tt would have been obvious to the person of ordinary skill in the art before the
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`effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system disclosed by Chuang,in
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`order to provide better coding efficiency. /Chuang: Para 0098]
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`Regarding claim 1, the claim(s) recites analogouslimitations to claim 7 above, andis/are
`
`therefore rejected on the same premise. Therefore, regarding claim 1, Chuang meets the
`
`claim limitations as set forth in claim 7. /Please, refer to mapping, explanation andpertinence ofprior
`
`art reference given in claim 7; Note: current claim may contain different terminology or additional claim terms
`
`compared to the claim(s) that are referred claim(s) to meet the claim limitations of current claim. However,
`
`explanation andpertinence ofprior art ofreferenceprovided in the referred claim(s) would address any
`
`differing claim limitations. Therefore, explanation andpertinence ofprior art ofreference are not duplicated,
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/417,517
`Art Unit: 2488
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`Page 15
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`and applicant ts requested to refer to explanation andpertinence ofprior art referenceprovided in the referred
`
`claim(s).]
`
`Regarding claim 58, Chuang meetthe claim limitations as set forth in claim 1 and 7.
`
`The image encoderof claim 1 wherein whetherthe first block-size condition
`
`is satisfied 1s determined based on: a width of the block; a height of the block; or a
`
`comparison of the width of the block to the height of the block. /Péease, refer to
`
`mapping, explanation andpertinence ofprior art reference given in claim 1 and 7; Note: current
`
`claim may contain different terminology or additional claim terms compared to the claim(s) that are
`
`referred claim(s) to meet the claim limitations ofcurrent claim. However, explanation andpertinence
`
`ofprior art ofreference provided in the referred claim(s) would address any differing claim
`
`Limitations. Therefore, explanation andpertinence ofprior art ofreference are not duplicated, and
`
`applicant is requested to refer to explanation andpertinence ofprior art referenceprovided in the
`
`referred claim(s).]
`
`Regarding claim 59, Chuang meetthe claim limitations as set forth in claim 1 and 7.
`
`The image encoder of claim 1 wherein whether the second block-size
`
`condition 1s satisfied 1s determined based on: a width of the block; a height of the
`
`block; or a comparison of the width of the block to the height of the block. /Please,
`
`refer to mapping, explanation andpertinence ofprior art reference given in claim 1 and 7; Note:
`
`current claim may contain different terminology or additional claim terms compared to the claim(s)
`
`that are referred claim(