Appeal No. 2006-1618
Application No. 10/046,797
data structure to represent boundary information, and (2) receiving input of a
contour image and transforming the image into a set of quantized transform
coefficients and segment data [non-final rejection, page 6]. The examiner then
asserts "that format changes in images and videos are very well-known in the
art" [non-final rejection, page 7]. The examiner concludes that it would have
been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to
modify Kim to convert from one format to another to ensure compatibility with
various systems [id.].
Appellant notes that the claim recites converting graphical information of a
data structure in combination with encoding vertices in the data structure [brief,
page 11]. Appellant notes that the quantized transform coefficients and segment
data in Kim are not encoded into a data structure that is converted [id.]. Also,
appellant disagrees with the examiner's assertion that converting graphical
information of the data structure from a first format to a second, different format is
well known in the art [id.].
The examiner responds that the term "data structure" is broad and can
emcompass any method of storing data, including the quantized transform
coefficients of Kim [answer, page 7]. According to the examiner, Kim's transform
coefficients constitute data to be transmitted and must have some sort of
inherent structure; otherwise, the data cannot be read [id.]. The examiner also
contends that Kim even meets a second, narrower definition of "data structure"
11
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