`___________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`___________
`
`GOOGLE INC.
`Petitioner
`
`v.
`
`B.E. TECHNOLOGY, L.L.C.
`Patent Owner
`___________
`
`Case IPR2014-00033
`Patent 6,771,290
`___________
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DECLARATION OF DR. CORY PLOCK IN SUPPORT OF
`PATENT OWNER’S RESPONSE TO PETITION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 1
`
`
`
`
`
`I.
`
`I, Cory Plock, under penalty of perjury, declare as follows:
`
`PERSONAL BACKGROUND
`1.
`
`I have personal knowledge of the facts contained in this Declaration,
`
`am of legal age, and am otherwise competent to testify.
`
`2. My name is Cory Plock. I have been retained as a consultant by
`
`Freitas Angell and Weinberg LLP on behalf of B.E. Technology, L.L.C. to provide
`
`professional opinions in the Inter Partes Review of United States Patent 6,771,290
`
`(“the ’290 patent”) initiated by petitioner Google Inc. Specifically, I have been
`
`asked to provide my opinion on whether U.S. Patent No. 6,771,290 (the “’290
`
`patent”) is unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103 by U.S. Patent No. 5,706,502
`
`(“Foley”).
`
`3.
`
`I have approximately nineteen (19) years of software engineering and
`
`software development background in both academic and commercial settings.
`
`Over the years, I have participated in the design, development, testing,
`
`deployment, support, and ongoing maintenance of software projects of various
`
`sizes across several industries.
`
`4.
`
`As a result of my extensive experience and work in both academia and
`
`industry, I have personal knowledge concerning certain technologies and art
`
`relevant to this case. I currently serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of
`
`Prolifogy Inc., a software technology firm based in Danbury, Connecticut. The
`
`- 2 -
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 2
`
`
`
`
`
`primary functions of the business are software consulting and software
`
`development. Most of my current software development work has involved my
`
`personal hands-on involvement with web based software technology.
`
`5. My academic background is primarily in the field of computer
`
`science. I hold a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in computer science from Western
`
`Connecticut State University, where I graduated Summa Cum Laude. I also hold a
`
`Master of Science (MS) degree in computer science from Rensselaer Polytechnic
`
`Institute. I also hold a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in computer science
`
`from the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University. My
`
`area of research study includes formal requirements languages, embedded systems,
`
`and synthesis of executable code from requirements.
`
`6. My academic background in computer science includes, among other
`
`things, coursework and hands-on experience with programming languages,
`
`computer architecture, software engineering, assembly programming, operating
`
`systems, compilers, and programming languages such as Java, PHP, and C#.
`
`7.
`
`I am currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York University
`
`where I teach graduate courses in programming languages and web application
`
`development.
`
`8.
`
`I served as a full-time consultant to Microsoft Research Ltd. for
`
`approximately two (2) years, where I worked with researchers and programmers to
`
`- 3 -
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 3
`
`
`
`
`
`design and implement a software framework known as an execution engine for a
`
`publically available research tool used in biological modeling.
`
`9.
`
`I was employed as a Specialist and then later as a consultant for the
`
`Information Technology (IT) department of PepsiCo Inc. I was also employed at
`
`various times by Boehringer Ingelheim and Yoh Scientific in the capacities of
`
`intern, employee, and consultant, where I worked with web technology.
`
`10.
`
`I have also served as a Teaching Assistant for several undergraduate
`
`and graduate courses including Programming Languages, UNIX Tools, and
`
`Machine Learning at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and New York University. I
`
`have received recognition by the New York University Computer Science
`
`department for my work as a teaching assistant.
`
`11.
`
`I have additionally served as a Research Assistant at various times
`
`throughout my course of study at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and New York
`
`University. Topics of research have included a programming concept known as
`
`garbage collection, machine learning, software modeling, verification, and
`
`synthesis.
`
`12. My education, history of employment, listing of all publications,
`
`listing of all prior testimony, and additional qualifications are set forth in my
`
`curriculum vitae, attached to this report. Filed herewith as Exhibit 2002 is a true
`
`and correct copy of my curriculum vitae.
`
`- 4 -
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 4
`
`
`
`
`
`13.
`
`I am being compensated at my customary rate of $495.00 per hour for
`
`all work I perform in the current matter, including reasonable out-of-pocket
`
`expenses. The compensation is not dependent on the outcome of the matter.
`
`14. The opinions I provide herein are my own, and are based on my
`
`research in this matter and on the education, experience, training, and skill that I
`
`have accumulated in the course of my approximately nineteen (19) years working
`
`in this field. In connection with my analysis, I have reviewed the following: (1)
`
`the ’290 patent, (2) the Petition, (3) the Board’s Decisions relating to the Petition,
`
`and (4) Foley. I have also read the declaration and deposition testimony of Mr.
`
`Stephen Gray.
`
`15. All of the opinions I express in this Declaration have been made from
`
`the standpoint of a person of ordinary skill in the art of the subject matter of the
`
`’290 patent. It is my opinion that at the time the ’290 patent application was filed,
`
`July 16, 1999, a person of ordinary skill in the art (hereafter, “POSITA”) in the
`
`subject matter of the ’290 patent would have education and/or experience with the
`
`World Wide Web, Common Gateway Interface (CGI), server side programming
`
`languages, databases, networking, and client/server architecture. The education
`
`component could be satisfied with a bachelor’s degree in computer science (or
`
`related field) or at least two (2) years of experience.
`
`- 5 -
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 5
`
`
`
`
`
`16.
`
`I understand that, from a patentability perspective, a proper analysis
`
`compares the claims of the patent to the teachings of the alleged prior art reference.
`
`A discussion of the relevant sections of the references based on my analysis
`
`appears below.
`
`17.
`
`I understand that in an inter partes review proceeding, claims must be
`
`given their broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the specification,
`
`unless the inventor sets forth special meaning to a term.
`
`II. OPINIONS
`18.
`I have been asked by counsel to provide expert opinions on certain
`
`topics and questions presented below.
`
`A.
`
`Foley Does Not Disclose A Separate “User Profile” From A “User
`Library”
`
`19.
`
`I have been asked to opine on whether Foley discloses a “user profile”
`
`as distinct from a “user library.” In my opinion, Foley has not disclosed a user
`
`profile distinct from a user library. The basis of my opinion is set forth below.
`
`20.
`
`I understand that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board has defined
`
`certain terms in the ’290 patent. I have been asked to assume that a “user profile”
`
`is user-specific information relating to the individual using a computer. I have
`
`been also asked to assume that a “user library” is a collection of an individual’s
`
`stored files.
`
`- 6 -
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 6
`
`
`
`
`
`21.
`
`I understand that Petitioner has taken the position that a “portfolio
`
`file” in Foley corresponds to the ’290 patent’s “user profile” and that a “portfolio
`
`directory” in Foley corresponds to the ’290 patent’s “user library.” See Paper 1 at
`
`18.
`
`22. A portfolio file, as depicted in Figure 5 of Foley, is a set of references
`
`to project files. This point is stated explicitly where it says in reference to Figure
`
`5, “there is shown a portfolio file 160A1 that contains project file references
`
`162A1j for its constituent projects.” Ex. 1002, Col. 7:29-34. Foley states that a
`
`portfolio file “represents” a portfolio. Id., Col. 2:55-57. Therefore, it is my
`
`opinion that the terms “portfolio” and “portfolio file” were disclosed by Foley as
`
`being synonymous in referring to the same set of projects.
`
`23. The project files comprising a portfolio reside together in what is
`
`described as a directory. See Ex. 1002 at 2:49-51; 7:29-34. In his deposition,
`
`Petitioner’s expert Mr. Stephen Gray testified that he could not think of any
`
`differences between a “project” and a “project file.” (Ex. 2003 at 275:21-24) Mr.
`
`Gray also testified that a “portfolio” is “the collection of projects” and the
`
`“portfolio file” is “the reference to those component parts.” Ex. 2003 at 275:25-
`
`276:10. Mr. Gray is simply referring to the same set of projects, whether the set is
`
`in his described “portfolio” or “portfolio file.”
`
`- 7 -
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 7
`
`
`
`
`
`24. The projects in a “portfolio” are the same projects as referenced in a
`
`“portfolio file.” That is, there exists a one-to-one correspondence between the
`
`project names or URLs and the project files (ending with a “.prj” extension)
`
`disclosed in Foley. See Ex. 1002, Figure 5.
`
`25. To summarize, a portfolio file representing one portfolio is a set of
`
`references to projects (“user profile”). The set of referenced projects are the
`
`constituent members comprising the portfolio (“user library”). Foley must disclose
`
`a separate “user profile” from a “user library” in order to correspond to the “user-
`
`specific information relating to an individual using a computer” and “a collection
`
`of an individual’s stored files” separately claimed in the ’290 patent. Therefore, it
`
`is my opinion that the user profile and the user library, as Petitioner argues is
`
`disclosed by Foley, are not distinct.
`
`
`
`B.
`
`Foley Does Not Disclose A “User Profile.”
`
`26.
`
`I have been asked to opine on whether Foley discloses a “user
`
`profile.” It is my opinion that Foley does not disclose a user profile. The basis of
`
`my opinion is set forth below.
`
`27.
`
`In determining what a user profile should include, I looked to the
`
`specification of the ‘290 patent, which makes numerous references to user profiles
`
`and items contained therein. Such items include:
`
`a.
`
`Application setup and preference information (Ex. 1001, Col.
`8:32-33);
`
`- 8 -
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 8
`
`
`
`
`
`b.
`
`c.
`
`d.
`
`e.
`
`f.
`
`
`User-specific customized settings for the operating system,
`including the desktop icons and shortcuts utilized by that
`particular user (Id., Col. 12:56-59);
`
`User preferences for the interfaces provided by [software]
`applications (Id., Col. 12:62-67);
`
`Bookmarks, shortcuts, and such links to file and information
`resources accessible via either the network or the Internet (Id.,
`Col. 12:67-13:3);
`
`Templates, macros, and other such custom files (Id., Col. 26:7-
`9);
`
`User identification data, user hyperlink bookmarks, user
`hyperlink categories, and user application shortcuts (Id., Col.
`26:18-20);
`
`Information such as user identity, demographic information, a
`baseline on the user's computer usage, and the like (Id., Col.
`34:8-11; Col. 34:24-26);
`
`User-specific information including home address, email
`address, telephone number (Id., Col. 36:22-24);
`
`Credit card, mailing address, and other such information to
`enable the purchase of products (Id., Col. 37:18-20).
`
`28. The portfolio file (the alleged “user profile”) disclosed in Foley only
`
`g.
`
`h.
`
`i.
`
`contains references to project files and has a name. See Ex. 1002, Figure 3; Figure
`
`5; Col. 7:20-23; Col. 8:1-6. No personal user-specific information is contained in
`
`file references or portfolio names.
`
`29. Projects also do not contain these items either. Foley discloses
`
`projects as containing a name, type, project administration information, project
`
`- 9 -
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 9
`
`
`
`
`
`contents, and a run page URL. Ex. 1002, Col. 8:41-63. None of these items
`
`contain user-specific information relating to the individual using the computer.
`
`30. An individual user in Foley can import published portfolio and project
`
`files created by other users. Entering “Portfolio 3,” for example, into a name field
`
`to import a portfolio file that another user created and named is not importing user-
`
`specific information relating to the individual using the computer. See Ex. 1002,
`
`Col. 8:11-13; Col. 14-26. Similarly, entering the name or URL of a project is not
`
`importing user-specific information relating to the individual using the computer.
`
`See Ex. 1002, Col. 10:8-23; Col. 12:7-12. Foley therefore does not disclose a user
`
`profile as claimed in the ’290 patent.
`
`C.
`
`Foley’s JWS Program And JWS Browser Are Not Related
`Program Modules.
`31. Foley teaches a “JWS program” and a “JWS browser.” I have been
`
`asked to opine on whether these are considered related program modules. In my
`
`opinion, they are not. The basis of this opinion is set forth below.
`
`32. The ’290 patent requires “a program stored on a said non-volatile data
`
`storage device in a computer-readable format.” I understand that in an inter partes
`
`review proceeding, the broadest reasonable definition in light of the specification
`
`applies. The inventor, acting as his own lexicographer, has defined a “program” to
`
`be “[o]ne or more related program modules,” where “program module” is defined
`
`as “[o]ne or more related program components.” Ex. 1001, Col. 4:59-61. The
`
`- 10 -
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 10
`
`
`
`
`
`’290 patent further defines “program component” as “[a] set of instructions stored
`
`in a file in computer-readable format, whether as object code or source code, and
`
`whether written in a compiled language, in byte code (such as Java™), or in a
`
`scripting or other interpreted language.” Id., Col. 4:54-58.
`
`33. Consequently, the determination of whether a set of program
`
`components together constitute a single program or multiple programs rests
`
`squarely on whether the program components are related. To answer this question,
`
`I therefore studied Foley in order to determine whether the program components
`
`comprising the “JWS program” and the “JWS browser” are related based on the
`
`description of the components.
`
`34. Functions carried out by the Java Workshop Program 150A (“JWS
`
`program”), as disclosed in Foley (Ex. 1002, Col. 6:15-37), include:
`
`a)
`
`b)
`
`c)
`
`d)
`
`e)
`
`f)
`
`Providing access to an applet, which displays the projects in the
`current portfolio;
`
`Providing access to an applet, in which the user can edit project
`information;
`
`Providing access to an applet, in which the user can edit project
`source code;
`
`Providing access to a JWS project compiler applet;
`
`Providing access to an applet that allows the user to browse
`certain source programs;
`
`Providing access to an applet that allows the user to debug
`certain source programs;
`
`- 11 -
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 11
`
`
`
`
`
`g)
`
`
`Providing access to a method that runs executable projects;
`
`Providing access to an applet that provides context-sensitive
`help for operations.
`
`35. The JWS browser, on the other hand, is disclosed in Foley as having
`
`h)
`
`the following functions:
`
`a)
`
`b)
`
`c)
`
`Providing all of the features of a conventional Web browser
`(Ex. 1002, Col. 4:59-64). A conventional web browser is a
`program that sends an HTTP request to a web server, receives a
`response, and renders the contents of the response in an
`application window. In other words, the web browser displays
`what a web server tells it to display;
`
`Providing the ability to communicate with a remote platform
`hosting the Web document (Id., Col. 4:59-64);
`
`Downloading linked web documents (Id., Col. 5:2-5). In fact,
`projects can only be accessed remotely using the JWS browser
`(Id., Col. 7:39-46; 13:12-17);
`
`Handling local or remote web documents (Id., Col. 5:9-18);
`
`Pulling in and begin executing automatically an applet
`referenced in a web document (Id., Col. 5:23-26; 5:36-40; 5:42-
`46);
`
`Running applets in the JWS browser’s virtual machine (Id.,
`Col. 5:27-32);
`
`g) Worrying about network and operating system complexities
`(Id., Col. 5:27-32);
`
`h) Monitoring icon selection events (Id., Col. 5:53-56).
`
`
`d)
`
`e)
`
`f)
`
`- 12 -
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 12
`
`
`
`
`
`36.
`
`I reviewed the two feature lists above and compared the capabilities of
`
`the JWS program and JWS browser. With respect to applets, which are referenced
`
`in both lists, I have observed that Foley discloses the JWS program providing
`
`access to applets, whereas the Foley discloses the JWS browser running applets. I
`
`consider these to be different actions because an applet can be downloaded from a
`
`web server and exist in a non-running state. A POSITA would know that the act
`
`of accessing an applet does not imply that the applet is running. In all other
`
`respects, I have found the features and capabilities of the JWS browser and JWS
`
`program listed above to be substantially different. Therefore, the two sets of
`
`program components are not “related,” and are therefore different programs
`
`according to the construction set forth in the ’290 patent.
`
`37. The fact that the JWS program “has an integrated JWS browser” does
`
`not change my opinion. Foley clearly depicts the JWS Program 150A, JWS
`
`Browser 154A, and JWS Toolbar Specification 112A separately. See Ex. 1002,
`
`Figure 1. Moreover, the nature of the integration disclosed by Foley is not one of
`
`closely related functionality, but rather communication. Specifically, Foley
`
`describes the JWS browser as monitoring the JWS program for icon selection
`
`events. Id., Col. 5:50-61. This is indicative of communication between the
`
`programs, but does not establish a similarity in features and capabilities between
`
`the two.
`
`- 13 -
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 13
`
`
`
`
`
`D.
`
`Foley’s JWS Program Is Not Operable Upon Execution To
`Receive Or Access Remote Files.
`
`38.
`
`I have been asked to opine on whether the JWS program is operable
`
`upon execution to receive from a server a portfolio file (the alleged “user profile”)
`
`and access a project file via a network. In my opinion, the JWS program is not
`
`operable upon execution to receive or access remote portfolio or project files. The
`
`basis of my opinion is set forth below.
`
`39. There are two types of portfolio and projects files disclosed in Foley:
`
`those that are remote and those that are local. The JWS program can access,
`
`create, or modify portfolio and project files on the user’s local computer. On the
`
`other hand, remote portfolio and project files cannot be accessed by the JWS
`
`program. Foley specifically discloses that the remote portfolio and project files are
`
`only accessible using the JWS browser. See Ex. 1002, Col. 7:40-46; Col. 13:2-17.
`
`40. The JWS browser is separate from the JWS program, as discussed
`
`above. Because it is only the JWS browser that can access the remote portfolio
`
`and projects files, the JWS program in Foley cannot be the “said program” claimed
`
`in the ’290 patent.
`
`E.
`
`Foley’s JWS Browser Is Not Operable Upon Execution To
`Display A Graphical User Interface Claimed In The ’290 Patent.
`41. Claim 2 of the ’290 patent reads, in part: “Said program being
`
`operable upon execution to display a graphical user interface comprising an
`
`- 14 -
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 14
`
`
`
`
`
`application window having a number of user-selectable items displayed therein,
`
`wherein each of said items has associated with it a link to an information resource
`
`accessible via the network.” Ex. 1001, Col. 39:12-17.
`
`42.
`
`I have been asked to opine on whether the JWS browser is “operable
`
`upon execution to display a graphical user interface.” In my opinion, while the
`
`JWS browser does display “a graphical user interface,” it does not display the
`
`graphical user interface “comprising an application window having a number of
`
`user-selectable items displayed therein…” The basis of my opinion is set forth
`
`below.
`
`43. Petitioner contends that the “graphical user interface” required by
`
`claim 2 is “using the Java Workshop Program (JWS) software program 150A to
`
`implement a user interface” in Foley. Paper 1 at 21-22.
`
`44. Petitioner acknowledges that it is the JWS Program 150A (not the
`
`JWS browser) that contains a “toolbar 160 which ‘causes the JWS 150A to open a
`
`Portfolio display showing the projects of the current portfolio in the Applet
`
`Window 164A.’” Paper 1 at 22; see also Ex. 1002, Col. 12:36-40. Such items are
`
`not part of the JWS browser.
`
`45. Most references to the JWS browser in the Foley specification
`
`describe what the JWS browser is capable of doing—not what the JWS browser
`
`displays. The reason no specific disclosure is made regarding JWS browser
`
`- 15 -
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 15
`
`
`
`display is most likely because the J WS browser is understood by a POSITA to
`
`display whatever the web server transmits to it. The specific contents of the J WS
`
`browser are therefore beyond the control of the Foley invention. For example,
`
`there are references to the JWS browser displaying web—based content which is
`
`based on selections that the user made in the toolbar. See Ex. 1002, Col. 5:50-67.
`
`It is the applet, executed by the J WS program, however, that takes control of the
`
`portion ofthe window to display results. See Ex. 1002, Col. 4:41-46; 5:63-67.
`
`46.
`
`Any graphical user interface displayed by the J WS browser therefore
`
`does not meet the claim limitations above, at least because:
`
`a.
`
`The graphical user interface alleged to exist by Petitioner
`
`belongs to a different program than the J WS browser.
`
`b.
`
`Foley does not disclose any specific content which is displayed
`
`by the JWS browser because the JWS browser, being a “conventional web
`
`browser” (Ex. 1002, Col. 4:59-63) displays the content transmitted to it by
`
`the web server.
`
`I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
`
`Executed on July 9, 2014 in Danbury, CT.
`
`é 52-.........
`
`
`Cory Plock ('
`
`-15-
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 16
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 16
`
`
`
`
`
`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
`
`It is certified that copies of the DECLARATION OF DR. CORY PLOCK
`
`IN SUPPORT OF PATENT OWNER’S RESPONSE TO PETITION have
`
`been served on Petitioner as provided in 37 C.F.R. § 42.6(e) via electronic mail
`
`transmission addressed to the persons at the address below:
`
`Clinton H. Brannon
`Brian A. Rosenthal
`MAYER BROWN, LLP
`cbrannon@mayerbrown.com
`brosenthal@mayerbrown.com
`WDC-Client-IPR-Filings@mayerbrown.com
`
`Date: July 9, 2014
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`By: /s/ Jason S. Angell
`Jason S. Angell
`Reg. No. 51408
`Counsel for Patent Owner
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`- 17 -
`
`B.E. Technology, L.L.C. - Exhibit 2001, Page 17