Prior art

Search of USPTO Database for Patent 8050321

The USPTO database search for patent number US8050321B2 confirms its existence and provides access to its details, including prior art citations.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 8050321

The prior art identified in US8050321B2 itself provides the most relevant references. Given the patent's focus on grouping image frames in video coding, particularly for streaming and independent decoding, prior art relating to video compression, scalable coding, and picture prediction mechanisms would be most pertinent.

Here's an analysis of some key prior art mentioned or directly related to the patent:

1. US Patent 7,894,521

• Full Citation: U.S. Pat. No. 7,894,521
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed on November 29, 2002. (Publication date not specified in the provided text, but its filing date is critical for prior art assessment).
• Brief Description: US8050321B2 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/306,942, which matured into U.S. Pat. No. 7,894,521. This indicates a very close relationship in subject matter. As a parent application, it likely covers fundamental aspects of the invention described in 8050321, particularly concerning the grouping of multimedia files, video files, and streaming.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Given that US8050321B2 is a continuation of the application leading to US7894521, it is highly probable that US7894521 anticipates many, if not all, of the broad concepts in the independent claims of US8050321. Specifically, any claims in US8050321 related to the general idea of encoding a video sequence with independent sequences, and decoding such sequences, would need to show novelty over the parent patent. This would include aspects of:
  • Method for encoding a video sequence comprising an independent sequence of image frames.
  • Method for decoding a video sequence from an indicated first image frame of an independent sequence.
  • A video encoder configured for such encoding.
  • A video decoder configured for such decoding.

2. ITU-T Recommendation H.263 and H.26L (later H.264)

• Full Citation: ITU-T Recommendation H.263; H.26L (which became H.264, also ISO/IEC 14496-10:2002 for H.264).
• Publication/Filing Date: H.263 was published prior to the priority date of US8050321 (January 23, 2002). H.264 (H.26L) standard document ITU-T Rec. H.264 (ISO/IEC 14496-10:2002) is explicitly mentioned, indicating a 2002 publication.
• Brief Description: These are international video coding standards that employ various techniques for video compression, including motion-compensated temporal prediction, I-frames, P-frames, and B-frames. H.264 specifically details mechanisms like Supplemental Enhancement Information (SEI) for data delivery synchronous with video content to assist in decoding and display, and defines picture order count.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): These standards likely anticipate fundamental aspects of video coding and prediction described in US8050321B2.
  • H.263 & H.26L/H.264: The use of I-frames, P-frames, B-frames, motion-compensated temporal prediction, and scalable coding with hierarchical layers (base and enhancement layers) are well-established in these standards. Therefore, any claims broadly covering these aspects without specific novel enhancements are likely anticipated.
  • H.264 (specifically Annex D on SEI): The mechanism of including "an indication" in the video sequence, especially in header fields or using SEI, could be anticipated by the SEI mechanism in H.264 for conveying information like layer and sub-sequence details to assist decoding and display. The concept of picture order count in H.264 to determine temporal overlapping and decoding order also bears relevance to the patent's emphasis on decoding order and independent sequences.

3. PCT/FI02/00004

• Full Citation: PCT/FI02/00004
• Publication/Filing Date: This is an earlier application by the same applicant (Nokia Inc.). Its filing date is likely January 2002, given the priority date of US8050321B2 (January 23, 2002) from FI20020127A, which would correspond to the PCT filing.
• Brief Description: This application describes SP-frames (Switching P-frames) and SI-frames (Switching I-frames), which allow for identical image reconstruction and provide access points or scanning points in a video sequence, or enable changes in coding parameters. SP-frames are described as being replaceable by other SP- or SI-type frames while maintaining identical reconstructed image content.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The introduction of SP-frames and SI-frames, designed for flexible access and error resilience, directly relates to the concept of independent decoding and starting points in a video sequence. Claims in US8050321B2 that describe forming an "independent sequence of image frames" or allowing a decoder to start decoding from a specific point without prior prediction, especially if linked to similar frame types or functionalities as SP/SI frames, could be anticipated by PCT/FI02/00004.

4. "Spatially Scalable Video Compression Employing Resolution Pyramids" by Illgner et al.

• Full Citation: Illgner et al., "Spatially Scalable Video Compression Employing Resolution Pyramids", IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, vol. 15, No. 9, Dec. 1, 1997, pp. 1688-1703.
• Publication/Filing Date: December 1, 1997.
• Brief Description: This non-patent literature describes spatially scalable video compression. Scalable coding is a core concept for US8050321.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this reference focuses on spatial scalability rather than temporal, it establishes the broader concept of "scalable coding" in which elements or groups of a video sequence can be removed without affecting the reconstruction of other parts. Any claims in US8050321 that broadly cover the idea of grouping image frames into hierarchical layers for scalability, where some layers can be removed, would need to show novelty over this type of prior art.

5. US Patent 8532194B2 - Picture decoding method

• Full Citation: US8532194B2 - Picture decoding method.
• Publication/Filing Date: This patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/448,189 filed on Feb. 18, 2003.
• Brief Description: This patent relates to a method for ordering encoded pictures, including an encoding step for forming encoded pictures, defining a picture ID for each picture, transmitting encoded pictures to a decoder, and rearranging decoded pictures in decoding order. It also mentions defining a video sequence ID for groups of pictures.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent's focus on picture ordering, defining picture IDs and video sequence IDs, and rearranging pictures in decoding order is highly relevant. Claims in US8050321B2 concerning the numbering scheme for pictures and independent sequences, using identifier values for pictures and independent sequences, and the overall process of a decoder initiating decoding from a specific frame based on ordering information, could be anticipated by the teachings of US8532194B2. The idea of "groups of pictures" and their decoding order is also a direct overlap.