Filed on behalf of Qualcomm Incorporated
`
`PaperNo. 1
`
`By: Nathan Rees
`
`Richard Zembek
`Eric Hall
`
`R. Ross Viguet
`
`Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
`
`2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 3600
`
`Dallas, Texas 75201-7932
`Tel: (214) 855-7164
`Fax:(214)855-8200
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES
`REVIEW
`
`OF U.S. PATENT NO. 7,477,624
`
`Mail Stop "PATENT BOARD"
`
`Patent Trial and Appeal Board
`
`
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`41779733.1
`
`

`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`
`
`1 I. Mandatory Notices (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(a)(1)) ..................................................
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`II. Grounds for Standing (37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a)) ............................................... 2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`III. Identification of Challenge (3 7 C.F .R. § 42.1 04(b)) ...................................... 3
`
`
`
`A. Statutory grounds for the challenge ...................................................... 3
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`B. Citation of Prior Art .............................................................................. 3
`.........................................
`......................................................
`
`IV. The '624 Patent
`
`4
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`A. Overview of the '624 Patent ................................................................. 4
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`7 B. Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art ........................................................
`
`
`
`7 C. Claim Construction ...............................................................................
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`8 Patents ................................................ D. Prosecution History of Related
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`..................................................... 9 .................................V. Grounds of Rejection
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`A. Ground 1: Gerten anticipates claims 1, 4, 13, 16, 25, 28, and 29 ........ 9
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`9 ..................................................... 1. Overview of Gerten ...............
`
`
`
`
`
`11 2. Gerten anticipates independent claim 1 ...................................
`
`
`
`
`
`device for a. Gerten discloses "[a] communications
`
`
`
`
`
`use in a network of devices" [ 1 P]. ................................. 11
`
`b. Gerten discloses "a memory for storing
`
`
`
`instructions" [ 1 A] and "a processor that is
`
`
`communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein
`
`
`the memory includes instructions which, when
`
`
`
`processed by the processor, causes" [1B] a set of
`
`
`
`
`actions to occur. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
`
`c. Gerten discloses "selecting, based upon
`
`
`
`
`performance of a plurality of communications
`
`channels at a first time, a first set of two or more
`
`
`
`communications channels from the plurality of
`
`
`communications channels"[1Bi] .................................... 13
`
`41779733.1
`
`- 1-
`
`

`
`based upon
`"selecting,
`d. Gerten discloses
`
`
`performance of the plurality of communications
`
`
`channels at a second time that is later than the first
`time, a second set of two or more communications
`
`
`channels from the plurality of communications
`
`
`
`channels" [1Bii] . ............................................................ 14
`
`is e. Gerten discloses "a transceiver that
`
`
`
`
`communicatively coupled to the memory and that
`
`
`
`is configured to transmit to and receive from
`
`
`
`
`
`another communications device" [ 1 C]. ......................... 14
`
`f. Gerten discloses "for a first period of time, the first
`
`
`
`
`set of two or more communications channels is
`
`
`used to transmit to and receive from the other
`
`
`communications device" [1Di] and "for a second
`
`period of time that is after the first period of time,
`the second set of two or more communications
`
`
`
`channels is used to transmit to and receive from
`
`
`the other communications device instead of the
`
`first set of two or more communications channels."
`
`
`[ 1 Dii] .............................................................................. 15
`
`g. Gerten discloses "wherein the communications
`
`
`
`
`device is a first communications device, the other
`
`communications device is a second
`
`
`
`communications device, a default set of two or
`
`
`
`more communications channels is associated with
`
`
`
`a hopping sequence and is not changed based on
`
`
`the performance of the plurality of
`
`
`
`
`communications channels" [1 E] .................................... 16
`
`
`
`
`is configured to h. Gerten discloses "the transceiver
`
`
`transmit to and receive from a third
`
`
`communications device over the default set of two
`
`
`or more communications channels while
`
`
`transmitting to and receiving from the second
`
`communications device over the first set of two or
`
`
`more communications channels and while
`
`
`transmitting to and receiving from the second
`
`communications device over the second set of two
`
`
`or more communications channels" [ 1 F] ....................... 18
`
`41779733.1
`
`- 11-
`
`

`
`
`
`
`
`19 3. Gerten anticipates claim 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`a. Gerten discloses "the memory further includes
`
`
`
`instructions, which when processed by the
`
`
`
`processor, causes: after selecting the first set of
`
`
`
`two or more communications channels, causing the
`
`first set of two or more communications channels
`
`to be loaded into a first register of the
`communications device and a second register of
`
`
`
`
`
`the other communications device" [ 4A] ........................ 19
`
`b. Gerten discloses "the memory further includes
`
`
`
`instructions, which when processed by the
`
`
`processor, causes . . . after selecting the second set
`
`of two or more communications channels, causing
`the second set of two or more communications
`
`
`channels to be loaded into the first register of the
`
`
`communications device and the second register of
`
`
`the other communications device" [ 4B]. ....................... 21
`
`
`
`4. Gerten anticipates claims 13, 16, 25, 28 and 29 ...................... 22
`
`
`
`
`
`B. Ground 2: The combination ofGerten and Cuffaro renders
`
`
`
`
`
`claims 2, 3, 14, 15, 26, and 27 obvious .............................................. 26
`
`
`
`
`.............. 26
`
`1. Gerten/Cuffaro renders claims 2, 14, and 26 obvious
`sequence a. Gerten/Cuffaro discloses the hopping
`
`
`
`
`
`claim limitations of claims 2, 14, and 26 ....................... 26
`
`of the b. Gerten/Cuffaro discloses "the performance
`
`
`
`
`
`
`plurality of communications channels is based on
`
`
`channel performance data that is transmitted over
`
`one or more of the plurality of communications
`
`
`
`
`channels based on the hopping sequence according
`
`
`to the frequency hopping protocol" of claims 2, 14,
`
`
`and 26 ............................................................................. 28
`
`c. A POSIT A would have combined Gerten and
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2. Gerten/Cuffaro renders claims 3, 15, and 27 obvious .............. 32
`
`Cuffaro ........................................................................... 30
`
`C. Ground 3 : The combination ofGendel and Haartsen renders
`
`
`
`
`
`
`claims 1, 3, 4, 13, 15, 16, 25, 27, 28, and 29 obvious . ....................... 37
`
`4 1779733.1
`
`- 111 -
`
`

`
`1. Overview
`
`
`of Gendel ................................................................. 3 7
`
`renders claim 1 2. The combination of Gendel and Haartsen
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`obvious ..................................................................................... 39
`
`device for a. Gendel discloses "[a] communications
`
`
`
`
`
`use in a network of devices" [1P]. ................................. 39
`
`
`b. Gendel/Haartsen discloses "a memory for storing
`
`
`
`
`instructions" [1A] and "a processor that is
`
`
`
`communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein
`
`
`the memory includes instructions which, when
`
`
`
`processed by the processor, causes" [1B] a set of
`
`
`
`
`
`c. Gendel discloses "selecting, based upon
`
`
`
`performance of the plurality of communications
`
`channels at a first time, a first set of two or more
`
`
`
`communications channels from the plurality of
`
`
`
`
`communications channels" [1Bi]. .................................. 41
`
`actions to occur . ............................................................. 39
`
`another communications device" [ 1 C] .......................... 44
`
`d. Gendel discloses "selecting, based upon
`
`
`
`performance of the plurality of communications
`
`channels at a second time that is later than the first
`time, a second set of two or more communications
`
`
`channels from the plurality of communications
`
`
`
`
`channels'' [1Bii] ............................................................. 43
`
`
`that is e. Gendel discloses "a transceiver
`
`
`
`communicatively coupled to the memory and that
`
`
`
`is configured to transmit to and receive from
`
`
`
`
`
`f. Gendel discloses "for a first period of time, the
`
`
`first set of two or more communications channels
`
`
`is used to transmit to and receive from the other
`
`
`communications device" [ 1 Di] and "for a second
`
`period of time that is after the first period of time,
`the second set of two or more communications
`
`
`
`channels is used to transmit to and receive from
`
`
`the other communications device instead of the
`
`first set of two or more communications channels."
`
`
`[ 1 Dii] . ............................................................................. 45
`
`41779733 . 1
`
`-IV-
`
`

`
`g. Gendel discloses "wherein the communications
`
`
`
`
`device is a first communications device, the other
`
`communications device is a second
`
`
`
`communications device, a default set of two or
`
`
`
`more communications channels is associated with
`
`
`
`a hopping sequence and is not changed based on
`
`
`the performance of the plurality of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`communications channels" [ 1 E]. ................................... 46
`
`
`
`
`is configured to h. Gendel discloses "the transceiver
`
`
`transmit to and receive from a third
`
`
`communications device over the default set of two
`
`
`or more communications channels while
`
`
`transmitting to and receiving from the second
`
`communications device over the first set of two or
`
`
`more communications channels and while
`
`
`transmitting to and receiving from the second
`
`communications device over the second set of two
`
`
`
`
`or more communications channels" [ IF] . ...................... 46
`
`renders claim 4 3. The combination ofGendel and Haartsen
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`obvious . .................................................................................... 4 7
`
`a. Gendel/Haartsen discloses "the memory further
`
`
`
`
`
`includes instructions, which when processed by the
`
`
`processor, causes . . . after selecting the first set of
`
`
`
`two or more communications channels, causing the
`first set of two or more communications channels
`
`to be loaded into a first register of the
`
`communications device and a second register of
`
`
`
`the other communications device" [ 4A] ........................ 47
`
`b. The combination of Gendel and Haartsen discloses
`
`
`
`
`"the memory further includes instructions, which
`
`
`when processed by the processor, causes . . . after
`
`selecting the second set of two or more
`
`
`communications channels, causing the second set
`
`of two or more communications channels to be
`
`loaded into the first register of the communications
`
`device and the second register of the other
`
`
`
`
`
`
`communications device" [ 4B] ........................................ 49
`
`41779733.1
`
`- v -
`
`

`
`4. Gendel/Haartsen renders claims 13, 16, 25, 28, and 29
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`obvious ..................................................................................... 50
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`. ........ .. 53 5. Gendel/Haartsen renders claims 3, 15, and 27 obvious
`
`D. Ground 4: The combination ofGendel, Haartsen, and Sage
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`renders claims 2, 14, and 26 obvious ................................................. 55
`
`1. The combination of Gendel, Haartsen, and Sage discloses
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the hopping sequence claim limitations of claims 2, 14,
`
`
`
`
`and 26 ....................................................................................... 55
`
`and Sage discloses 2. The combination of Gendel, Haartsen,
`
`
`
`
`
`"the performance of the plurality of communications
`
`
`
`channels is based on channel performance data that is
`
`
`transmitted over one or more of the plurality of
`
`
`
`communications channels based on the hopping sequence
`
`
`
`according to the frequency hopping protocol" of claims
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2, 14, and 26 ............................................................................. 57
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`VI. Conclusion .................................................................................................... 60
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`41779733.1
`
`- Vl-
`
`

`
`
`
`Qualcomm Incorporated petitions for inter partes review of claims 1-4, 13-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`16, and 25-29 of United States Patent No. 7,477,624 to Gan, et al., titled "Ap­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`proach for Managing the Use of Communications Channels Based on Perfor­
`
`
`
`mance" (hereinafter "the '624 patent"). The '624 patent is provided as Exhibit
`
`
`
`
`
`1001.
`
`
`
`I. Mandatory Notices (37 C.F.R. § 42.8{a){l))
`
`
`
`REAL PARTY IN INTEREST: The real parties-in-interest of Petitioner are
`
`
`
`Qualcomm Incorporated, Qualcomm Atheros, Inc., Qualcomm Innovation Center,
`
`
`
`
`
`Inc.
`
`
`
`RELATED MATTERS: The '624 Patent is involved in the following proceed­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ings that may affect or be affected by a decision in this proceeding:
`Bandspeed,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Inc. v. STMicroelectronics NV et a/, 1: 14-cv-0043 7, Bands peed, Inc. v. Broad com
`
`Corporation, 1: 14-cv-00433, Bandspeed, Inc. v. Texas Instruments Incorporated,
`
`1: 14-cv-00438, Bands peed, Inc. v. Qualcomm
`et a/, 1: 14-cv-00436,
`Incorporated
`
`
`
`Bandspeed, Inc. v. Marvell Semiconduct
`or, Inc., 1: 14-cv-00434, and Bandspeed,
`
`Inc. v. MediaTek, Inc., eta/., 1:14-cv-00435, all in the Western
`
`District of Texas.
`
`
`
`Three petitions for inter partes review of the claims of the '624 patent were
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`previously filed by Marvell Semiconductor, Inc., MediaTek, Inc., and MediaTek
`
`
`
`
`
`USA, Inc. on November 26, 2014 and all were instituted on June 11, 2015: Case
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`No. IPR2015-00314 challenging claims 1-4, 13-16 and 25-29; Case No. IPR2015-
`
`4 1779733.1
`
`- 1 -
`
`

`
`
`
`00315 challenging claims 5-8 and 17 -20; and Case No. IPR20 15-00316 challeng­
`
`
`
`ing claims 9-12 and 21-24.
`
`
`
`
`
`Petitioner is also contemporaneously filing with this petition two other peti­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tions for inter partes review of the remaining claims in the '624 patent.
`
`LEAD AND BACKUP COUNSEL: Pursuant
`to 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3) and
`
`42.10(a),
`Petitioner
`appoints
`Nathan Rees (Reg. No. 63,820) as its lead counsel,
`
`and RichardS. Zembek (Reg. No. 43,306), Eric Hall (Reg. No. 46,751), and R.
`
`
`Ross Viguet
`
`(Reg. No. 42,203) as its back-up counsel.
`
`
`
`SERVICE INFORMATION: Service may be delivered to: NORTON ROSE
`
`
`
`
`
`FULBRIGHT US LLP, 2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 3600, Dallas, Texas 75201-7932,
`
`
`
`
`
`phone number (214) 855-7164 and facsimile (214) 855-8200. Petitioner consents
`
`
`
`
`
`to electronic servtce by email at the email addresses:
`
`
`richard.zembek@nortonrosefulbright.com;
`nate.rees@nortonrosefulbright.com;
`
`
`
`
`
`eric.hall@nortonrosefulbright.com, and ross.viguet@nortonrosefulbright.com.
`
`(37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a))
`II. Grounds for Standing
`
`
`
`The undersigned, Qualcomm Incorporated certifies that the '624 patent is
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`available for inter partes review. Qualcomm Incorporated has concurrently filed a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`motion for joinder to join the present case with Marvell
`
`
`
`Semiconductor, Inc. v.
`
`
`
`Bandspeed, Inc., Case IPR2015-00314. Qualcomm certifies that it is not barred or
`
`
`
`estopped from requesting this inter partes review on the grounds identified herein,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`4 1779733 . 1
`
`-2 -
`
`

`
`so long as the motion for joinder is granted.
`
`
`
`
`
`III. Identification of Challenge (37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b))
`
`
`
`
`
`A. Statutory grounds for the challenge.
`
`
`
`
`
`Petitioner requests review of claims 1-4, 13-16, and 25-29 on four grounds:
`
`
`
`GROUND 1 : Claims 1, 4, 13, 16, 25, 28, and 29 are anticipated under 35 U.S.C. §
`
`
`
`102(e) by Gerten. GROUND 2 : Claims 2, 3, 14, 15, 26, and 27 are obvious over
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the combination of Gerten and Cuffaro. GROUND 3: Claims 1, 3, 4, 13, 15, 16,
`
`
`
`
`25, 27, 28, and 29 are obvious over Gendel in view of Haartsen.
`GROUND 4:
`
`
`
`
`
`Claims 2, 14, and 26 are obvious over Gendel in view of Haartsen and Sage.
`
`
`
`B. Citation of Prior Art
`
`
`
`
`
`In support of the grounds of unpatentability cited above, Petitioner cites the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`following prior art references:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Petitioner cites the following prior art references in support of the grounds of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`unpatentability: U.S. Patent No. 6,760,319 to Gerten, provided as Exhibit 1003,
`
`
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent No. 6,418,31 7 to Cuffaro, provided as Exhibit 1004, U.S. Patent No.
`
`
`
`
`7,280,58()
`
`
`
`to Haartsen, provided as Exhibit 1006, and U.S. Patent No. 5,781,582 to
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Sage, provided as Exhibit 1007, each qualifies as prior art under at least 35 U.S.C.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`§ 1 02( e) because each was filed prior to the earliest possible priority date of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`'624 patent (January 25, 2001).
`
`
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent No. 6,1 15,407 to Gendel, et al., provided as Exhibit 1005, qual-
`
`
`
`4 1779733 . 1
`
`-3 -
`
`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ifies as prior art under at least 35 U.S.C. §102(a) because it issued on September 5,
`
`
`
`2000 ·prior to the earliest possible priority date of the '624 patent (January 25,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2001).
`
`IV. The '624 Patent
`
`
`
`A. Overview of the '624 Patent
`
`
`
`The '624 patent relates to "managing the use of communications channels
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`based on channel performance." ('624 patent, 1 :46-48.) FIG. 2 of the '624 patent
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(reproduced below) depicts a communications network having a number of com-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`munications devices labeled master 210, slave
`
`
`
`220 and slave 230. Each of the communica-
`
`MASTER2.1D
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`that may execute instructions stored in
`
`I �2tt1
`[5]
`21s 1
`tions devices includes a memory, a processor
`I TJWSEVER
`I
`I
`SLAVE ZZII
`
`SLAVE no
`
`memory, and a transceiver
`
`that is configured I r.a�v2221
`I t/!:MORY 2321
`1 I ��I
`with I �ESS�4
`network. ���� ���I
`
`
`
`to transmit and receive communications
`
`
`
`
`
`other devices of the communications
`
`(/d., 9:53-59.)
`
`
`
`To manage the communications channels, the system of the '624 patent se-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`lects a first set of communications channels "based on the performance of the
`
`
`
`
`
`communications channels and channel selection criteria." (/d., 4:11-13.) "For ex-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ample, the selection criteria may be to select the good channels but not the bad
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`4 1779733 . 1
`
`- 4 -
`
`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`channels." (!d., 6:53-55.) At start-up of the communications network, the system
`
`
`
`
`
`selects an initial set of channels. (ld., 6:19-21.) The system then periodically se­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`lects sets of channels based on later performance of the communications channels.
`
`
`
`
`
`(ld., 4: 14-16.)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The '624 patent describes various well-known techniques for measuring per­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`formance of communications channels. (See id., 10: 19-14:59.) The disclosed tech­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`niques utilize special test packets (10:33-12:35), received signal strength indicators
`
`
`
`
`
`(RSSI) (12:37-13:2), cyclic redundancy checks (CRC) (13:50-14:6), and forward
`
`
`
`
`
`error correction (FEC) ( 14: 19-41 ). The system classifies a communication channel
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`based on channel performance and one or more classification criteria. (!d., 14:63-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`65.) "For example, a channel may be classified as 'good' or 'bad' based on there­
`
`
`
`sults of the channel performance testing by applying one or more performance
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`measurements to specified performance criteria." (!d. , 14:65-15:2.)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`"Channel testing and classification may be performed by a master" (e.g.,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`master 21 0 ) "or other participants, such as slaves" (e.g., slaves 220 or 230 ). (!d.,
`
`
`
`
`
`16:42-43.) "In addition, channel testing and classifications from multiple partici­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`pants may be combined and/or weighted to determine an overall, or final, classifi­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`cation for the channels of interest." (ld., 16:43-46.)
`
`
`
`
`
`The '624 patent describes one technique for a '"referendum' approach" in­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`volving voting by participants. (!d., 16:47-49.) In the exemplary voting technique,
`
`
`
`
`
`4 1779733.1
`
`-5 -
`
`

`
`
`
`a participant has a "'vote' on whether to use the channel or not." (Id., 16:65-66.)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`For example, a vote may indicate that the participant prefers not to use the channel
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(e.g., participant finds channel "bad") or a vote may indicate that the participant
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`prefers to use the channel (e.g., participant finds channel "good"). (ld., 16:66-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`17:4.) A certain number of total votes "is required for the channel to be judged
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`'good' and therefore available for use by the FH communications system." (ld.,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`17:5-7.) "Not every participant needs to have input for each channel under consid­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`eration." (ld., 17:29-30 .) As explained in the '624 patent, participants "may collect
`
`
`
`
`
`and combine the channel performance information, or votes, to determine the final
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`channel classifications." (ld., 17:30-34.)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In embodiments, the devices of the '624 patent communicate using a fre­
`
`
`
`
`
`quency hopping (FH) protocol such as used in Bluetooth communications. The
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`'624 patent explains that a FH protocol "uses a frequency hopping signal transmis­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`sion technique in which information or data is transmitted over a set of frequencies
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in a communications frequency band." (!d., 2:5-9.) These frequencies are often re­
`
`
`
`
`
`ferred to as channels. (!d., 2: 19-20. ) A FH protocol utilizes a hopping sequence,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`which is "[t]he order in which the communications network hops among the set of
`
`
`
`frequencies." (!d., 2:11-13. ) For example, "[t]he FH system transmits data on one
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`channel, hops to the next channel in the hopping sequence to transmit more data,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and continues by transmitting data on subsequent channels in the hopping se-
`
`
`
`
`
`4 1779733.1
`
`- 6-
`
`

`
`
`
`quence." (!d., 2:20-24.) "The use of an FH protocol helps to reduce problems with
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`interference from other communications systems and other interference sources."
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`(!d., 2:25-27.)
`
`B. Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art
`
`
`
`One of ordinary skill in the art would have a B.S. degree in Electrical and/or
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Computer Eng., or an equivalent field, as well as at least 3-5 years of academic or
`
`
`
`
`
`industry experience in the wireless communications field. (Ding Decl.1, ��14-16.)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`C. Claim Construction
`
`
`
`
`
`Except for the exemplary terms set forth below, construed under the broad­
`
`
`
`
`
`est reasonable interpretation standard, the terms are to be given their plain and or­
`
`
`
`
`
`dinary meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art and consistent
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`with the disclosure. Petitioner reserves the right to present different constructions
`
`
`
`
`
`in the District Court where a different claim construction standard applies.
`
`
`
`
`
`28]: The term "hopping
`Hopping Sequence [claims 1, 2, 14, 1 6, 26, and
`
`
`
`
`sequence"
`
`
`
`
`
`should be construed as the order in which the network hops among a set
`
`
`
`
`
`of frequencies. The term "hopping sequence" is a well-understood term of art.
`
`
`
`
`
`(Ding Decl., �35.) The specification uses the term in accordance with this under­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`stood meaning: "The order in which the communications network hops among the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`set of frequencies is known as the hopping sequence." (' 624 patent, 2: 11-13.)
`
`
`
`
`
`1 The Declaration of Dr. Zhi Ding is provided as Exhibit 1002.
`
`
`
`41779733.1
`
`-7 -
`
`

`
`
`Vote [claims
`
`
`
`3, 15, and 27]: The term "vote" is not explicitly defined in the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`specification. However, a "vote" is a common term meaning an expression of a
`
`
`
`
`
`choice (an indication). (Am. Her. Diet., 2nd Col. Ed., Exh. 1011, p. 1356.) There­
`
`
`
`fore, a "vote[s} to use the particular communications channef' means at least an
`
`
`
`indication whether to use (or not to use) the communications channel or an indica­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tion whether the communication channel is good or bad. (See, e.g., '624 patent,
`
`
`
`16:66-17:4.)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`D. Prosecution History of Related Patents
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The '624 patent is one patent in a family of patents sharing the same specifi-
`
`
`cation.
`
`
`
`
`
`2 The prosecution of these patents is highly relevant because the Patent
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Owner has pursued claims having substantially identical claim terms in the '624
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`patent. For example, claim 1 of the '418 patent (reproduced below), drafted as a
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`method claim, shares limitations with claim 1 and claim 2 of the '624 patent (re­
`
`
`
`
`
`produced below in part), drafted as device claims. Claims 13, 14, 25 and 26 of the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`'624 patent also share these same limitations with claim 1 of the '418 patent.
`
`
`
`
`
`On October 6, 2011, an inter partes reexamination was filed against claims
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`of the '418 patent, including claim 1. During the reexamination proceeding (Con­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`trol No. 95/000,648), the Office rejected claim 1 as anticipated by Gerten and as
`
`
`
`
`
`2 The '624 patent is a continuation of U.S. Patent No. 7,027,418 ("the '418
`
`
`
`
`
`patent"). The '418 patent is provided as Exh. 1 0 15.
`
`
`
`4 1779733.1
`
`-8 -
`
`

`
`
`
`anticipated by Gendel.
`
`(Non-Final Office Ac-
`
`tion,Exh. 1008,pp.34-
`
`35, 92-93.) In response,
`
`
`
`Patent Owner cancelled
`
`
`
`claim 1, instead of ar-
`
`gutng patentability
`
`over either Gerten or
`
`.Z •• \ �'CMiun�ti.lGS �·kc:
`
`M 1\-cit..-d in cbim I. funhcr
`\.'\ltllrtb� itbU\Ietiuos. •tmil �bnl pn�sat by� pro·
`cat()f.� tbo:borpint:"'fllalCC'Io� �MS:INNM:don
`· b.t i ro�«ol. "bm:in:
`:a fi
`mt ng�
`aa �·
`w
`b.lpriptll'f\l�.,'Qiy\)lle�ChzMdOf
`the (It'd ton u( IWO tl( IJlOtl: \XltnmUni<:#lWnll.il:lcnc:ls is
`u5Cd fttr rommunicatio.lm bdwcm the ("(lCMlwUc-aliom
`d..·''" Jnd �� odltt (\.'fJUUWiic.,Siolu dc\·icc:;
`lllc::�Chbo..>p in �bupping �ba1oedoa&kr�·
`horPins�.aalymc�cbmndof
`thcK'\.��ofrwo<•rmoi'C'rocnmunic;slil:'onschmneh
`
`it uta� l'l'f "'mmunic=ion• �a:n the wmmuoica·
`ti<-a• dc\·1� and the ot� a'ltJUUUiliclllionf <kvicc; 11m
`'624 Patent:
`Claims 1 and 2
`
`
`
`Gendel. (See Housekeeping Amendment, Exh. 1009, p. 2.) Thus, Patent Owner ap-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`pears to acknowledge that these shared limitations of claims 1 and 2 of the '624 pa-
`
`
`
`tent, claims 13 and 14 of the '624 patent, and claims 25 and 26 of the '624 patent
`
`
`
`were known and moreover were disclosed by both Gerten and Gendel.3
`
`
`
`V. Grounds of Rejection
`
`
`
`A. Ground 1 : Gerten anticipates claims 1, 4, 13, 1 6, 25, 28, and 29.
`
`
`
`1. Overview ofGerten
`
`
`
`Gerten is directed "to a system and method for removing channels in a fre-
`
`
`
`
`
`quency hopping scheme having
`
`-------
`
`
`
`/:o/ ..
`/
`,
`3 The limitations of claims 3, 4,
`I I I I I I ' I \ \
`
`
`
`
`
`as directly mirrored to the claims oftb
`
`4 1779733.1
`
`\
`'' ... ,, .....
`
`Uf.STER
`---------
`FIG. 1
`
`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`strong interference or interferers in a wireless communication system." ( Gerten,
`
`
`
`
`
`2:34-37.) FIG. 1 of Gerten (reproduced right) depicts a network having three
`
`
`
`
`
`piconets 10, 12, and 14. (/d., 3:8-12.) As shown in FIG. 1, the first piconet 10 has a
`
`
`
`
`
`plurality of mobile units 20 including a master mobile unit and a slave mobile unit.
`
`
`
`(!d., 3:27-31.) The master mobile unit in Gerten is a device "whose clock and hop­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`in other devices in the piconet--devices ping seq:uence are employed to synchronize
`
`
`
`a piconet that are not the master are typically slaves." (/d., 3:22-26.)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The mobile device 20 of Gerten, depicted below in FIG. 2, includes a trans­
`
`
`
`ceiver 32, a frequency synthesizer 60 having a memory 62, and a central control
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`system 30 that can include "a processor or the like that is programmed to control
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and operate various components within the mobile communication unit 20 in order
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`to carry out various functions." (/d., 3:44-48.) The "frequency synthesizer compo­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`nent 60 cooperates with the central control system 30 and a device clock 64 to pro­
`
`
`
`
`
`vide frequency hopping for the mobile communication unit 20." (/d., 3:65-4: 1.)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`In operation, a master device in
`
`
`
`the piconet determines "which chan­
`
`
`
`nels have [the] strongest interference."
`
`
`
`(/d., 4:50-51.) For example, the master
`
`
`
`device may employ "signal strength
`
`
`
`FIG. 2
`(N being an integer)
`measurements on N number of channels
`of the frequency
`
`101 POWER I
`
`41779733.1
`
`-10-
`
`

`
`
`
`hopping scheme to determine M number of channels (M being an integer less than
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`or equal toN) to avoid." (/d., 2:37-41.) The master device communicates the chan-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`nels to be avoided (the bad channels) to a remote device. (/d., 2:41-47.) The master
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`and remote device then modify their respective hopping sequences and begin
`
`
`
`transmitting data at the modified hopping sequence with the remaining N-M good
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`channels. (/d., 2:47-52.) The master device "periodically updates the channels to be
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`avoided." (/d., 4:58-59.) When a subsequent update occurs, the master device
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`again communicates the channels to be avoided to a remote device and they both
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`modify their respective hopping sequences again. (/d., 4:62-65.)
`
`
`
`
`
`2. Gerten anticipates independent claim 1.
`
`a. Gerten discloses " [a] communications device for use in a network
`
`
`
`
`of devices" [lP] .
`
`
`
`As illustrated above in FIG. 1, a piconet of Gerten is "a network of devices":
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`"A piconet is a collection of devices that can be connected via Bluetooth techno1o-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`gy." (Gerten, 3:8-12.) The master mobile unit of the piconet, for example, is a
`
`
`
`deviceforuse in the network of devices." (/d., 3:27-31.)
`"communication
`
`b. Gerten discloses "a memory for storing instructions" [lA] and "a
`
`
`
`
`processor that is communicatively coupled to the memory,
`
`
`wherein the memory includes instructions which, when processed
`
`
`
`by the processor, causes" [lB] a set of actions to occur.
`
`
`
`Gerten discloses a ''processor" and "a memory for storing
`in-
`instructions"
`
`
`
`eluding
`
`
`cause the channel
`
`"instructions which, when processed by the processor"
`
`41779733.1
`
`-11 -
`
`

`
`
`
`selection actions of limitations [lBi] and [ lBii] (discussed below) to occur. Central
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`control system 30 of Gerten includes a ''processor" to cause the device to perform
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`functions: "[a] central control system 30 is responsible for controlling general op­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`erations of the mobile communication unit 20. The central control system 30 can
`
`
`
`
`
`include
`
`
`
`a processor or the like that is programmed
`
`
`
`to control and operate vari­
`
`
`
`ous components within the mobile communication unit 20 in order to carry out var­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ious functions." (Gerten, 3:40-48.) One of the functions controlled and operated by
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`the processor is the channel identification algorithm of Gerten: "The identification
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`algorithm can use hardware (e.g., measurement power component 66) and soft­
`
`
`
`
`ware (e.g., residing in central control
`
`
`
`
`system 30) to read signal strength of chan­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`nels and determine which channels to avoid." (Gerten, 5:20-24, emphasis added.) It
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`is well-known that software includes ns." (Ding Decl., �42.)
`"instructio
`"a memory": "The The central control system 30 of Gerten also includes
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`memory component 62 may include a plurality of register banks for storing synthe­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`sizer codes that are employed to facilitate frequency hopping. Alternatively, the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`control system 30 (e.g., in a memory
`
`
`
`register banks may reside in the central
`
`
`
`
`component, onboard registers
`
`or memory in a processor or in separate register
`
`
`
`
`
`components)." ( Gerten, 4: 1-6, emphasis added.) In order for the software that re­
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`sides in central control system 30 to be used for channel identification, the set of
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`instructions making up the software is necessarily stored in a memory and ''pro-
`
`
`
`4 1779733.1
`
`-12-
`
`

`
`
`
`cessed by the processor." (Ding Decl., �43.) Gerten recognized that these details
`
`
`
`
`
`were well-understood and need not be spelled out: "The manner in which the pro-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`cessor can be programmed to carry out the functions relating to the present inven-
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`tion will be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art based on the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`description provided herein." (Gerten, 3:48-52, emphasis added.)
`
`
`
`c. Gerten discloses "selecting