Appeal No. 1999-2018
Application 08/571,204
of the non-intra modes is selected. The forward predictive
mode has a larger area and is more likely to be selected
when the B-picture is closer in distance to the past
reference picture (Fig. 11A, Df=1) and the backward
predictive mode has a larger area and is more likely to be
selected when the B-picture is closer in distance to the
future reference picture (Fig. 11B, Db=1) (specification,
pp. 24-25). However, the details of the disclosed method
are not claimed.
Our interpretation of distance as the motion vector
estimation error Ef or Eb is consistent with claim 4.
Claim 4 recites that the step of selecting a predictive
coding mode based upon the values of the first inter picture
distance and the second inter picture distance uses a
forward motion vector estimation residuum and a backward
motion vector estimation residuum, which correspond to Ef
and Eb. Claim 4 does not recite that a distance value is
used in addition to the motion vector estimation residuums
and does not recite selecting different stored curves for
selecting a predictive coding mode. Thus, it is fair to
interpret the forward and backward motion vector estimation
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