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`Exhibit 1
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9148 Filed 03/16/23 Page 2 of 192
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`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN SOUTHERN DIVISION
`
`In Re Neo Wireless, LLC
`Patent Litigation
`
`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
`Hon. Terrence G. Berg
`
`DECLARATION OF DR. ROBERT AKL, D.Sc., IN SUPPORT OF
`DEFENDANTS’ RESPONSIVE CLAIM CONSTRUCTION BRIEF
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9149 Filed 03/16/23 Page 3 of 192
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
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`
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 2
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`II.
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`QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE ...................... 3
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`III. LEGAL STANDARDS ................................................................................... 9
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`Claim Construction ............................................................................... 9
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`Indefiniteness ....................................................................................... 10
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`IV. PERSON OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART ........................................ 11
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`V. MATERIALS RELIED UPON ..................................................................... 12
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`VI. THE ’366 PATENT ....................................................................................... 13
`
`A.
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`“the ranging signal exhibits a low peak-to-average power ratio
`in the time domain” (Claims 1, 17) ..................................................... 14
`
`a.
`
`b.
`
`c.
`
`Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR) .......................... 14
`
`The ’366 Patent Does Not Provide Examples of a
`“Low” PAPR .................................................................. 17
`
`The Two Publications Mr. Alberth Cites Would
`Not Have Informed a POSITA About the Scope of
`the Term “Low Peak-To-Average Power Ratio” in
`the ’366 Patent ................................................................ 18
`
`B.
`
`“a ranging sequence selected from a set of ranging sequences”
`(Claims 1, 17) ...................................................................................... 24
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`VII. THE ’908 PATENT ....................................................................................... 28
`
`A.
`
`“wherein the portion of the frequency band used for
`transmission of the random access signal does not include
`control channels” (Claim 4) ................................................................ 28
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`VIII. ADDITIONAL REMARKS .......................................................................... 31
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`
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`1
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
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`
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9150 Filed 03/16/23 Page 4 of 192
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`I, Robert Akl, D.Sc. of Dallas, Texas, declare that:
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
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`1.
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`I am over the age of 18 and am competent to make this declaration. I
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`have personal knowledge, or have developed knowledge of these technologies based
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`upon education, training, or experience, of the matters set forth herein. If called upon
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`to do so, I would testify competently thereto.
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`2.
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`I have been retained as an expert witness to address certain technical
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`issues presented in the claim construction proceedings of this matter.
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`3.
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`I have been informed that there are 6 patents-at-issue in the above
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`captioned litigation. Those patents are U.S. Patent Nos. 8,467,366 (“’366 patent”),
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`10,833,908 (“’908 patent”), 10,447,450 (“’450 patent”), 10,075,941 (“’941 patent”),
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`10,771,302 (“’302 patent”), and 10,965,512 (“’512 patent”) (collectively, “Patents-
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`in-Suit”). I have reviewed and analyzed these Patents-in-Suit.
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`4.
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`I have been asked to provide opinions regarding how a person having
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`ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”) would understand certain terms of the asserted
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`claims of the Patents-in-Suit.
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`5.
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`This declaration contains statements of my opinions formed to date and
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`the bases and reasons for those opinions. I may offer additional opinions based on
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`further review of materials in this case, including opinions and/or testimony of other
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`expert witnesses.
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`2
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
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`
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9151 Filed 03/16/23 Page 5 of 192
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`6.
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`For time spent in connection with study and analysis in this matter, I am
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`compensated in the amount of $850 per hour. My compensation does not depend on
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`the outcome of this case or any issue related to it. I have no financial interest in this
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`matter. The opinions contained in this declaration are mine and based upon my
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`education, knowledge, research and experience, and study of the materials discussed
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`below.
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`II. QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
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`7.
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`I am an expert in the field of wireless telecommunication systems.
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`I have studied, taught, practiced, and researched this field for over 28 years. I have
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`summarized in this section my educational background, work experience, and other
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`relevant qualifications. A true and accurate copy of my curriculum vitae is attached
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`as Appendix A to this declaration.
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`8.
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`I earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering and
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`Computer Science summa cum laude with a grade point average of 4.0/4.0 and a
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`ranking of first in my undergraduate class from Washington University in St. Louis
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`in 1994. In 1996, I earned my Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering
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`from Washington University in St. Louis with a grade point average of 4.0/4.0.
`
`I earned my Doctor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Washington
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`University in St. Louis in 2000, again with a grade point average of 4.0/4.0, with my
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`dissertation being on “Cell Design to Maximize Capacity in Cellular Code Division
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`3
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
`
`
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9152 Filed 03/16/23 Page 6 of 192
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`Multiple Access (CDMA) Networks.”
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`9. While a graduate student, from 1996 through 2000, I worked at
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`MinMax Corporation in St. Louis, where I designed software packages that provided
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`tools to flexibly allocate capacity in a CDMA communications network and
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`maximize the number of subscribers. I also analyzed and simulated different audio
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`compression schemes. I also validated the hardware architecture for an
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`Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switch capable of channel group switching, as
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`well as performed logical and timing simulations, and developed the hardware
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`architecture for the ATM switch. I also worked with Teleware Corporation in Seoul,
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`South Korea, where I designed and developed algorithms that were commercially
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`deployed in a software package suite for analyzing the capacity in a CDMA network
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`implementing the IS-95 standard to maximize the number of subscribers.
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`10. After obtaining my Doctor of Science degree, I worked as a Senior
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`Systems Engineer at Comspace Corporation from October of 2000 to December of
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`2001. At Comspace, I designed and developed advanced data coding and
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`modulation methods for improving the reliability and increasing the available data
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`rates for cellular communications. I coded and simulated different encoding
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`schemes (including Turbo coding, Viterbi decoding, trellis coded modulation, and
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`Reed-Muller codes) and modulation techniques using amplitude and phase
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`characteristics and multi-level star constellations. This work further entailed the
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`4
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
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`
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9153 Filed 03/16/23 Page 7 of 192
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`optimization of soft decision parameters and interleavers for additive white Gaussian
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`and Rayleigh faded channels. In addition, I also extended the control and trunking
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`of Logic Trunked Radio (LTR) to include one-to-one and one-to-many voice and
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`data messaging.
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`11.
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`In January of 2002, I joined the faculty of the University of New
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`Orleans in Louisiana as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical
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`Engineering. While in this position, I designed and taught two new courses called
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`“Computer Systems Design I and II.” I also developed a Computer Engineering
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`Curriculum with a strong hardware-design emphasis, formed a wireless research
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`group, and advised graduate and undergraduate students.
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`12.
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`In September of 2002, I received an appointment as an Assistant
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`Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University
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`of North Texas (UNT), in Denton, Texas. In May of 2008, I became a tenured
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`Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. As a
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`faculty member, I have taught courses and directed research in networking and
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`telecommunications, including 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, CDMA/WCDMA, GPS, GSM,
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`UMTS, LTE, ad-hoc networks, antenna design and beamforming, Bluetooth, call
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`admission control, channel coding, channel estimation, communication interfaces
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`and standards, compression, computer architecture, MIMO systems, multi-cell
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`network optimization, network security, packet-networks, telephony, VoIP, Wi-Fi
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`5
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
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`
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9154 Filed 03/16/23 Page 8 of 192
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`(802.11), 802.15.4, Zigbee, wireless communication, and wireless sensors. In
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`January of 2015, I was appointed to Associate Chair of Graduate Studies in the
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`Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
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`13.
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`I am involved in various research centers. I am the director of the
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`Wireless Sensor Lab (“WiSL”) at UNT. I am also a member of the Center for
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`Information and Cyber Security (CICS). It is the only program in the U.S. to be
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`federally certified by the National Security Agency as a Center of Academic
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`Excellence in Information Assurance Education and Research and Cyber Defense
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`Research. I was also a member of the NSF Net-Centric & Cloud Software &
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`Systems: Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC). Several of
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`my research projects are funded by industry and the National Science Foundation
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`and published in IEEE conference proceedings and journals.
`
`14.
`
`In addition to advising and mentoring students at UNT, I was asked to
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`join the faculty of the University of Arkansas in Little Rock as an Adjunct Assistant
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`Professor from 2004 to 2008 in order to supervise the research of two Ph.D. graduate
`
`students who were doing research in wireless communications. At UNT, I have
`
`advised and supervised more than 250 undergraduate and graduate students, several
`
`of whom received a master’s or doctorate degree under my guidance.
`
`15. Further, since 2005, I have received over a million dollars in funding
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`from the State of Texas, Texas Higher Education Coordination Board, the National
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`6
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
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`
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9155 Filed 03/16/23 Page 9 of 192
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`Science Foundation, and industry to design and conduct robotics, video, and mobile
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`gaming (e.g., Xbox, PC, mobile device) programming summer camps for middle
`
`and high school students at UNT. By using video and mobile gaming as the
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`backdrop, participants have learned coding and programming principles and
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`developed an understanding of the role of physics and mathematics in video game
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`design.
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`16.
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`In addition to my academic work, I have remained active in the
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`communication industry through my consulting work. In 2002, I consulted for
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`Input/Output Inc. and designed and implemented algorithms for optimizing the
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`frequency selection process used by sonar for scanning the bottom of the ocean. In
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`2004, I worked with Allegiant Integrated Solutions in Ft. Worth, Texas, to design
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`and develop an integrated set of tools for fast deployment of wireless networks, using
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`the 802.11 standard. Among other features, these tools optimize the placement of
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`Access Points and determine their respective channel allocations to minimize
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`interference and maximize capacity. I also assisted the Collin County Sheriff’s
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`Office (Texas) in a double homicide investigation, by analyzing cellular record data
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`to determine user location.
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`17.
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`I have authored and co-authored over 100 journal publications,
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`conference proceedings, technical papers, book chapters, and technical presentations
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`in a broad array of communications-related technologies, including networking and
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`7
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
`
`
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9156 Filed 03/16/23 Page 10 of 192
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`wireless communication. I have also developed and taught over 100 courses related
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`to communications and computer systems, including several courses on signals and
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`systems, 4G/LTE and 5G/NR, OFDM, VoIP, Wi-Fi (802.11), 802.15.4, Zigbee,
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`wireless communication, antenna design and beamforming, communications
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`systems, communication interfaces and standards, channel estimation, location
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`management, sensor networks, source coding and compression, network security,
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`computer systems design, game and app design, and computer architecture. These
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`courses have included introductory courses on communication networks and signals
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`and systems, as well as more advanced courses on wireless communications. A
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`complete list of my publications and the courses I have developed and/or taught is
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`also contained in my curriculum vitae.
`
`18. My professional affiliations include services in various professional
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`organizations and serving as a reviewer for a number of technical publications,
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`journals, and conferences. I have also received a number of awards and recognitions,
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`including the IEEE Professionalism Award (2008), UNT College of Engineering
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`Outstanding Teacher Award (2008), and Tech Titan of the Future (2010) among
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`others, which are listed in my curriculum vitae.
`
`19.
`
`I have also served as an expert in certain legal proceedings. A list of
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`cases in which I have testified at trial, hearing, or by deposition (including those
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`during the past five years) is provided in my curriculum vitae. Over the years, I have
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`8
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
`
`
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9157 Filed 03/16/23 Page 11 of 192
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`been retained by both patent owners and petitioners, and plaintiffs and defendants.
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`III. LEGAL STANDARDS
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`20.
`
`I have been instructed by counsel on the law regarding claim
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`construction. My understanding based on those instructions is as follows.
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`A. Claim Construction
`
`21.
`
`I have been informed that, to determine the meaning of the claims,
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`courts consider the intrinsic evidence, which includes the claims, the specification,
`
`and the prosecution history. I am informed that courts give claim terms their
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`ordinary and accustomed meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art
`
`at the time of the invention in the context of the entire patent. I also understand that
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`a patentee may also define his or her own terms or disclaim claim scope.
`
`22.
`
`I have been informed that the intrinsic record may also resolve
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`ambiguous claim terms where the ordinary and accustomed meaning of the words
`
`used in the claims lack sufficient clarity to permit the scope of the claim to be
`
`ascertained from the words alone. I understand, however, that particular
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`embodiments and examples appearing in the specification will not generally be read
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`into the claims.
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`23.
`
`I have been informed that a term’s context in the asserted claims can
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`also be helpful. It is my understanding that differences among the claim terms can
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`also assist in understanding a term’s meaning, for example, when a dependent claim
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`9
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
`
`
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9158 Filed 03/16/23 Page 12 of 192
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`adds a limitation to an independent claim, it is presumed that the independent claim
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`does not include the limitation.
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`24.
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`I have been informed that extrinsic evidence can also be useful in
`
`determining the meaning of claim terms. I understand, however, that it is less
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`significant than the intrinsic record. It is my understanding that technical
`
`dictionaries may be useful to show the manner in which one skilled in the art might
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`use claim terms, but technical dictionaries may provide definitions that are too broad
`
`or may not be indicative of how the term is used in the patent. Similarly, I also
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`understand that expert testimony may be useful in determining the particular
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`meaning of a term in the pertinent field, but unsupported or conclusory expert
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`testimony is not helpful.
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`B.
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`Indefiniteness
`
`25.
`
`I have been informed that the requirement that claims be definite stems
`
`from statutory law found in Title 35 of the United States Code. I have been informed
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`that, under 35 U.S.C. § 112(b), a patent specification “shall conclude with one or
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`more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter
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`which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as his invention.” I have been
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`informed that a claim which fails to meet this standard is invalid as indefinite. I
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`understand that patent claims are presumed valid, and clear and convincing evidence
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`is required to establish that a patent is invalid because it is indefinite.
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`10
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9159 Filed 03/16/23 Page 13 of 192
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`26.
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`I understand that indefiniteness is to be evaluated from the perspective
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`of a POSITA at the time of the patent’s filing.
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`27.
`
`I understand that the Supreme Court has held that “a patent is invalid
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`for indefiniteness if its claims, read in light of the specification delineating the patent,
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`and the prosecution history, fail to inform, with reasonable certainty, those skilled
`
`in the art about the scope of the invention.” I understand that absolute or
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`mathematical precision in claim language is not required. However, I have been
`
`informed that it is not enough that some meaning can be ascribed to a patent’s claims.
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`It is my understanding that the claims, when read in light of the intrinsic record, must
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`provide objective boundaries for those of skill in the art.
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`IV. PERSON OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART
`
`28.
`
`In rendering the opinions set forth in this Declaration, I was asked to
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`consider the patent claims and the prior art through the eyes of a person of ordinary
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`skill in the art (“POSITA”). The “art” is the field of technology to which a patent is
`
`related. In my Declaration, I use the term POSITA and skilled person to refer to the
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`same hypothetical person of ordinary skill in the art. I considered factors such as the
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`educational level and years of experience of those working in the pertinent art; the
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`types of problems encountered in the art; the teachings of the prior art; patents and
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`publications of other persons or companies; and the sophistication of the technology.
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`I understand that a POSITA is not a specific real individual, but rather a hypothetical
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`11
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9160 Filed 03/16/23 Page 14 of 192
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`individual having the qualities reflected by the factors discussed above.
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`29.
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`I understand that the qualifications of a POSITA for each of the Patents-
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`in-Suit as recited in Defendants’ invalidity contentions was “a bachelor’s degree in
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`electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, or an equivalent
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`field, or an advanced degree in those fields, as well as at least 3-5 years of academic
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`or industry experience in mobile wireless communications, or comparable industry
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`experience.” For purposes of this declaration, I have been asked to apply this
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`definition.
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`30.
`
`I understand that Plaintiff’s expert, Mr. Alberth, provided his opinion
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`of the level of a POSITA for the Patents-in-Suit as follows:
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`[A] person of ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) at the time of the
`alleged inventions of the asserted patents would have had an electrical
`engineering degree and at least 2 years of experience related to the
`design or implementation of wireless telecommunications systems or
`transceivers. Advanced education and degrees could compensate for
`less work experience, and equivalent knowledge gained through
`experience could compensate for less education.
`
`
`Dkt. 127-3 (Alberth Decl.) ¶ 18.
`
`
`31.
`
`I was at least a POSITA with respect to each of the Patents-in-Suit at
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`the time of their alleged priority dates under either set of qualifications. The opinions
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`expressed below would apply under either set of qualifications.
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`V. MATERIALS RELIED UPON
`
`32.
`
`In reaching the conclusions described in this declaration, I have relied
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`12
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9161 Filed 03/16/23 Page 15 of 192
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`on the documents and materials cited herein as well as those identified in this
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`declaration, including the Patents-in-Suit, the prosecution histories of the Patents-in-
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`Suit, and references cited herein. These materials comprise patents, related
`
`documents, and printed publications. Each of these materials is a type of document
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`that experts in my field would have reasonably relied upon when forming their
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`opinions. In the cited references all emphasis is added unless otherwise noted.
`
`33.
`
`I have also relied on my education, training, research, knowledge, and
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`personal and professional experience in the relevant technologies and systems that
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`were already in use prior to, and within the timeframe of the earliest priority date of
`
`the claimed subject matter in the Patents-in-Suit.
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`VI. THE ’366 PATENT
`
`34. The ’366 patent is titled “Methods and apparatus for random access in
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`multi-carrier communication systems.” It was filed on August 8, 2011 and claims
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`priority to a provisional application filed on March 9, 2004.
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`13
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9162 Filed 03/16/23 Page 16 of 192
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9163 Filed 03/16/23 Page 17 of 192
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`
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`37.
`
`In Mr. Alberth’s declaration, he stated that the typical PAPR for
`
`OFDMA systems is 12 dB. Dkt. 127-3 (Alberth Decl.) ¶ 25. But, with OFDM
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`signals, the PAPR can be much higher than the 12 dB PAPR identified by Mr.
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`Alberth, which I discuss further below. “For example, for [subchannels] N = 256
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`the PAPR can be as high as 24 dB (10log10(256)).” Ex. A (Ye) at 205.
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`38. During the mid-2000s, when interest in applying OFDM to wireless
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`networks increased, the industry started developing approaches to reduce PAPR in
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`OFDM signals. Id. at 199-200. Some in the industry proposed new amplifier
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`concepts for increasing the transmitter power efficiency. Id. Others used
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`modulation techniques to generate transmit signals with reduced PAPR. Id. at 200;
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`Ex. B (van Nee) at 119, 123.
`
`39. One approach to reduce PAPR was to clip the peaks by setting
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`15
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
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`
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9164 Filed 03/16/23 Page 18 of 192
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`maximum values for the transmitted signal. Ex. A (Ye) at 208-215; Ex. B (van Nee)
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`at 119, 123. However, clipping increases the bit error rate (BER) of the signal. Ex.
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`A (Ye) at 208; Ex. B (van Nee) at 123. With clipping, the PAPR would change
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`based on system configurations such as the number of subchannels and the
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`permissible BER. See Ex. A (Ye) at 208-215; Ex. B (van Nee) at 124-125. Other
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`approaches reduced PAPR by using modulating techniques to produce waveforms
`
`with diminished peaks. Ex. A (Ye) at 215; Ex. B (van Nee) at 131-152. Some of
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`these modulation approaches included coding tables, selective mapping (SLM),
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`and/or partial transmit sequences (PTS). Ex. A (Ye) at 215-241. The PAPR for
`
`modulated signals would depend on system configurations and the type of
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`modulation technique. See Ex. A (Ye) at 215-241; Ex. B (van Nee) at 131-152.
`
`40. As textbooks about OFDM explain and show with examples, the range
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`of the PAPR for signals that used clipping or different modulation approaches varied
`
`greatly. See, e.g., Ex. A (Ye) at 216-241 (disclosing PAPR values from 21 dB to
`
`less than 7 dB); Ex. B (van Nee) at 131-152 (also disclosing a wide range of dB
`
`values depending on different PAPR reduction techniques).
`
`41. Although PAPR was a well-known measurement, I am unaware of any
`
`industry standard, publication, or other guidance that would indicate to a POSITA
`
`what the PAPR for the ranging signal in the ’366 patent should be. I am also unaware
`
`of any industry standard for determining whether a PAPR is low generally or in the
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`16
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9165 Filed 03/16/23 Page 19 of 192
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`context of a ranging signal.
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`b.
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`The ’366 Patent Does Not Provide Examples of a
`“Low” PAPR
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`42.
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`I have been asked to consider the intrinsic record of the ’366 patent and
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`determine whether it provides examples or other guidance that would help inform a
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`POSITA about what qualifies as a low PAPR. I have reviewed the specification and
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`have not seen anything that would inform a POSITA about the scope of the claim
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`term.
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`43. The ’366 patent does not provide any examples for determining
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`whether a PAPR is low. When those in the field refer to “low” or “high” PAPR,
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`they are comparing the PAPR of one signal to the PAPR of another signal or a
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`baseline PAPR. E.g., Ex. A (Ye) at 232 (measuring performance based on whether
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`the system can “reduce the PAPR below 7 dB”); Ex. B (van Nee) at 123 (comparing
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`the PAPR of multiple signals), 138 (measuring performance based on whether “PAP
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`ratio is below some desirable level.”). However, in the ’366 patent, there is nothing
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`that a POSITA can use for the comparison. The ’366 patent states only that the
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`signal exhibits a “relatively low” PAPR:
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`In one embodiment of the implementation, the ranging sequence is
`designed such that its corresponding time-domain signal exhibits
`relatively low peak-to-average power ratio. This improves the power
`efficiency of the mobile station transmission power amplifier.
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`’366 patent at 4:34-37. This disclosure does not clarify what the ’366 patent
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9166 Filed 03/16/23 Page 20 of 192
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`considers low PAPR and adds additional uncertainty by using the phrases “relatively”
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`low PAPR and “improve[d]” power efficiency.
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`44. The claims of the ’366 patent also do not specify what qualifies as a
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`low PAPR. The independent claims recite an OFDMA system that has a “ranging
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`signal [that] exhibits a low peak-to-average power ratio in the time domain.” Id. at
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`Claims 1, 17. But, like the specification, the claims also do not provide an example
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`of a low PAPR that a POSITA could use for comparison. And, as described above,
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`the fact that the claims recite an OFDMA system does not help a POSITA determine
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`possible PAPRs because an OFDMA system can exhibit a wide range of PAPRs.
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`45. The prosecution history for the ’366 patent also does not clarify what a
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`low PAPR is. During prosecution of the ’366 patent, there was no communication
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`with the PTO about PAPR.
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`46. Without guidance on what qualifies as a low PAPR or any point of
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`comparison, a POSITA would not have understood the scope of the claim term “low
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`peak-to-average power ratio” in the ’366 patent with reasonable certainty.
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`c.
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`The Two Publications Mr. Alberth Cites Would Not
`Have Informed a POSITA About the Scope of the
`Term “Low Peak-To-Average Power Ratio” in the
`’366 Patent
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`47.
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`I understand that Mr. Alberth provided a declaration with opinions on
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`what he considered a low PAPR in the context of the ’366 patent. To support his
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`opinions, Mr. Alberth relies on two publications: (1) Baxley et al., Power Savings
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9167 Filed 03/16/23 Page 21 of 192
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`Analysis of Peak-to-Average Power Ratio Reduction, IEEE Transactions of
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`Consumer Elecs. (Aug. 2004) and (2) You et al., A Simple Construction of OFDM-
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`CDMA Signals with Low Peak-To-Average Power Ratio, IEEE Transactions on
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`Broadcasting (Dec. 2003). Dkt. 127-3 (Alberth Decl.) ¶ 25. Mr. Alberth cites these
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`publications for his conclusion that “a POSITA would understand that cellular
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`OFDMA systems could have a typical PAPR of 12dBs.” Id. ¶ 25. He also cites
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`these publications for his conclusion that “a POSITA would understand that a
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`relative difference in PAPR of 3dBs for a reduced PAPR to be ‘low’ in the context
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`of the patented claims.” Id. ¶ 26.
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`48.
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`I disagree with Mr. Alberth that a POSITA would have considered these
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`references when determining what low PAPR means in the context of the ’366 patent.
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`Both publications relate to different systems than the system in the ’366 patent.
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`Whereas the ’366 patent refers to ranging sequences designed to reduce the PAPR
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`for a ranging signal (’366 patent at 4:14-38), the two publications relate to theoretical
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`systems that use clipping and specific modulation schemes such as selective
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`mapping (SLC), as described in more detail below. The ’366 patent does not discuss
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`these signal processing techniques anywhere in the specification. However, even if
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`a POSITA would have considered these references, these references do not assist a
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`POSITA in determining the scope of a “low peak-to-average power ratio.” I
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`therefore disagree that the POSITA would reach the same conclusions as Mr.
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9168 Filed 03/16/23 Page 22 of 192
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`Alberth.
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`49. The Baxley publication describes different schemes that reduce the
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`PAPR in an OFDM signal. Ex. C (Baxley) at 793. As Baxley explains, “in the time
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`domain, the OFDM signal has a large peak-to-average power ratio (PAR), which
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`translates to low power amplifier efficiencies.”1 Id. at 792. To reduce PAPR, Baxley
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`proposed several different schemes. Id. For example, Baxley’s Table I (below)
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`shows that a theoretical system can use clipping to reduce the PAPR. Id. at 793. As
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`the data shows below, the PAPR for this theoretical system depends heavily on the
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`number of subcarriers (N) and the probability for clipping (p).
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`Id. The data further shows that more subcarriers result in a higher PAPR. The data
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`also shows that a higher probability of clipping results in a lower PAPR. Notably,
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`the table says nothing about a PAPR being “low” or “high,” just that some PAPR
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`
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`1 Baxley abbreviates the peak-to-average power ratio as PAR instead of PAPR where
`PAR is a shorthand for peak-to-average ratio.
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`2:22-MD-03034-TGB
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`DR. ROBERT AKL’S
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION DECLARATION
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`Case 2:22-md-03034-TGB ECF No. 131-2, PageID.9169 Filed 03/16/23 Page 23 of 192
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`values are lower or higher than others.
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`50. Mr. Alberth does not explain why he chose Baxley’s theoretical system
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`with clipping as “a baseline” for the ’366 patent. Dkt. 127-3 (Alberth Decl.) ¶ 25.
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`The ’366 patent does not indicate that the “relatively low peak-to-average power
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`ratio” is relative to systems that already use clipping to reduce the PAPR. In fact,
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`the ’366 patent does not refer to clipping or Baxley anywhere in the specification.
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`51. Even if a POSITA would have considered Baxley, the POSITA would
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`not have understood that the baseline PAPR would be approximately 12 dB. Baxley
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`never says that conventional OFDM or OFDMA signals have a PAPR of 12 dB.
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`Instead, Baxley provides exemplary PAPR calculations for a specific theoretical
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`system that range from 9.97 dB to 13.5 dB. Ex. C (Baxley) at 793. Mr. Alberth
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`appears to pick 12 dB from the table of numbers by relyin