UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
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`TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION;
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`Petitioner
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`v.
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`BLITZSAFE TEXAS, LLC;
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`Patent Owner
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`Patent No. 7,489,786
`Issued: Feb. 10, 2009
`Filed: Dec. 11, 2002
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`Inventor: Ira Marlowe
`Title: AUDIO DEVICE INTEGRATION SYSTEM
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`Inter Partes Review No.: IPR2016-00421
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`CORRECTED PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
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`

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`Request for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1 
`I. 
`II.  MANDATORY NOTICES UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(a)(1) ............................. 1 
`A. 
`Real Party-in-Interest under 37 C.F.R. § 42(b)(1) ....................................... 1 
`B. 
`Related Matters under 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2) ............................................. 1 
`C. 
`Lead and Back-Up Counsel ......................................................................... 2 
`D. 
`Service Information ...................................................................................... 2 
`III.  REQUIREMENTS FOR IPR UNDER 37 C.F.R. §§ 42.104 ............................. 2 
`A.  Grounds for Standing under 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a) ..................................... 2 
`B. 
`Prior Art Patents ........................................................................................... 3 
`C. 
`Identification of Challenge under 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b) and Relief
`Requested ..................................................................................................... 4 
`IV.  SUMMARY OF THE ‘786 PATENT ................................................................ 5 
`A. 
`Brief Description of the ‘786 Patent ............................................................ 5 
`B. 
`Summary of the Prosecution History of the ‘786 Patent ............................. 7 
`C. 
`The Purported Novelty of the ‘786 Patent and the State of the Art ............. 9 
`V.  CLAIM CONSTRUCTION .............................................................................. 11 
`A. 
`Terms Construed in District Court ............................................................. 12 
`B.  Means-Plus Function Terms ...................................................................... 15 
`VI.  THERE IS A REASONABLE LIKELIHOOD THAT AT LEAST ONE
`CLAIM OF THE ‘786 PATENT IS UNPATENTABLE ................................. 19 
`A.  Ground 1: Claims 57, 58, 60, 64, 86, 88, 90, 91, 92, 94 and 97 are obvious
`based on JP ‘954 in view of Lau ................................................................ 19 
`1.  Disclosure of JP ‘954 ................................................................................. 19 
`2.  Disclosure of Lau ....................................................................................... 21 
`3.  Obvious to Combine Lau with JP ‘954 ...................................................... 21 
`4.  Obvious to provide a “video device” and process “video information” .... 28 
`5.  Claim 92 ..................................................................................................... 30 
`6.  “means for remotely controlling… by transmitting the formatted control
`command to the portable device” ...................................................................... 34 
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`Request for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
`7.  “means for…transmitting the audio from the portable audio device to the
`car stereo” .......................................................................................................... 35 
`B. 
`Ground 2: Claim 44 is obvious based on JP ‘954 in view of Lau and
`Bhogal ........................................................................................................ 37 
`1.  Description of Bhogal and Motivation to Combine ................................... 37 
`2.  “storage area” ............................................................................................. 38 
`3.  “interface” .................................................................................................. 38 
`4.  Remotely controlling .................................................................................. 39 
`C. 
`Ground 3: Claims 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, and 23 are rendered obvious by JP
`‘954 in view of Sony XR-C5120 and Sony XA-C30 ................................ 42 
`Interface and connectors ............................................................................ 42 
`1. 
`2.  Microcontroller and format conversion ..................................................... 42 
`3.  Disclosure Sony XR-C5120 and Sony XA-C30 ........................................ 42 
`4.  The first, second, and third connectors: ..................................................... 43 
`5.  The “interface” ........................................................................................... 44 
`6. 
`the first pre-programmed code portion ...................................................... 45 
`7.  The second pre-programmed code portion ................................................ 45 
`8.  The third pre-programmed code portion .................................................... 45 
`9.  Track and time and title/artist .................................................................... 46 
`10.  Use of control buttons ................................................................................ 47 
`11.  Channeling audio ....................................................................................... 47 
`12.  Motivation to Combine .............................................................................. 47 
`D.  Ground 4(a): Claims 5 and 24 is obvious based on JP ‘954 in view of Sony
`XR-C5120, Sony XA-C30 and known bus technology ............................. 51 
`1.  Plug and play mode .................................................................................... 51 
`2.  USB ............................................................................................................ 52 
`E. 
`Ground 4(b): Claims 65, 89 and 98 are obvious based on JP ‘954 in view
`of Lau and known bus technology ............................................................. 54 
`Ground 4(c): Claim 47 is obvious based on JP ‘954 in view of Lau and
`Bhogal ........................................................................................................ 54 
`G.  Ground 5: Claims 6 and 10 are obvious based on JP ‘954 in view of Sony
`XR-C5120, Sony XA-C30 and Lau ........................................................... 55 
`H.  Ground 6: Claims 61, 62, and 63 are obvious based on JP ‘954 in view of
`Lau and Sony XR-C5120 ........................................................................... 56 
`Ground 7: Claims 57 and 86 are obvious in view of Bhogal .................... 57 
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`F. 
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`I. 
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`ii
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`Request for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
`VII. THE GROUNDS ARE NOT CUMULATIVE ................................................. 59 
`VIII.  CONCLUSION .......................................................................................... 60 
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`Request for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
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`Exhibit
`1101
`1102
`1103
`1104
`1105
`1106
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`1107
`1108
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`1109
`1110
`1111
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`1112
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`1113
`1114
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`1115
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`EXHIBITS
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`Description
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786 (“the ‘786 Patent”)
`File History of U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
`International Publication No. WO 01/67266 A1 (“Lau)
`U.S. Patent No. 6,175,789 (“Beckert”)
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2001/0028717 A1 (“Ohmura”)
`Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. H7-6954 to Ouchida
`(“JP ‘954”)
`Certified translation of Ex. 1006
`Sony XR-C5120 FM/AM Cassette Car Stereo Operating
`Instructions (“Sony XR-C5120 Manual”)
`Sony XA-C30 Service Manual (“Sony XA-C30 Manual”)
`U.S. Patent No. 6,629,197 (“Bhogal”)
`Sony XR-C5120R FM/AM Cassette Car Stereo Operating
`Instructions (“Sony XR-C5120R Manual”)
`Claim Construction Ruling in Marlowe Patent Holdings LLC v.
`DICE Electronics, LLC et al., 3:10-cv-01199 (D. NJ) and Marlowe
`Patent Holdings LLC v. Ford Motor Company, 3:10-cv-07044 (D.
`NJ).
`NEC µPD75004 Data Sheet
`Merriam Webster, definition of “device” (www.merriam-
`webster.com/dictionary/device)
`Declaration of Thomas G. Matheson, Ph.D.
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`
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`iv
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`I.
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`INTRODUCTION
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`Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §§ 311-319 and 37 C.F.R. § 42, Petitioner Toyota
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`Motor Corporation (“Petitioner”) respectfully requests Inter Partes Review of
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`claims 1, 2, 4-8, 10, 13, 14, 23, 24, 44, 47, 57, 58, 60-65, 86, 88-92, 94, 97, and 98
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`of U.S. Patent 7,489,786 (Ex. 1001, the “’786 Patent”), which was filed on
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`December 11, 2002 and issued on February 10, 2009, and which is currently
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`assigned to Blitzsafe Texas LLC (“Blitzsafe”). There is a reasonable likelihood
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`that Petitioner will prevail with respect to at least one of the challenged claims.
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`II. MANDATORY NOTICES UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(a)(1)
`A. Real Party-in-Interest under 37 C.F.R. § 42(b)(1)
`The Petitioner is Toyota Motor Corporation. Additional Real Parties-in-
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`Interest are: Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.; Toyota Motor Manufacturing
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`Texas, Inc.; Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc.; and Toyota Motor
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`Manufacturing Mississippi, Inc.
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`B. Related Matters under 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2)
`Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2), Petitioner states that the ’786 Patent is
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`presently asserted in the following patent infringement lawsuits by Blitzsafe, which
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`may affect, or be affected by, a decision in this proceeding: Blitzsafe Texas, LLC v.
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`Toyota Motor Corp. et al., 2:15-cv-01277 (E.D. Tex.); Blitzsafe Texas, LLC v.
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`Honda Motor Co., Ltd. et al., 2:15-cv-01274 (E.D. Tex.); Blitzsafe Texas, LLC v.
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`Hyundai Motor Co. et al., 2:15-cv-01276 (E.D. Tex); and Blitzsafe Texas, LLC v.
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`Request for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
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`Volkswagen Group of Am., Inc. et al., 2:15-cv-01278 (E.D. Tex.). All the Blitzsafe
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`E.D. Texas actions identified here were filed on July 16, 2015. The ‘786 Patent
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`was previously asserted in the following matters: Marlowe Patent Holdings LLC
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`v. DICE Electronics, LLC et al., 3:10-cv-01199 (D. NJ) and Marlowe Patent
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`Holdings LLC v. Ford Motor Co., 3:10-cv-07044 (D. NJ). Petitioner has
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`concurrently filed a separate petition against the ‘786 Patent on different grounds.
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`C. Lead and Back-Up Counsel
`Lead Counsel for Petitioner is William H. Mandir, Reg. No. 32, 156. Back-
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`Counsel for Petitioner are John F. Rabena, Reg. No. 38,584; Yoshinari Kishimoto,
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`Reg. No. 47,327; Brian K. Shelton, Reg. No. 50,245; Fadi N. Kiblawi, Reg. No.
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`61,973; and Margaret M. Welsh, Reg. No. 70,754. Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. §
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`42.10(b), a Power of Attorney accompanies this Petition.
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`D. Service Information
`Service information (whether via hand delivery or electronically for lead and
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`back-up counsel is provided in the signature block below. Petitioner also consents
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`to electronic service.
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`III. REQUIREMENTS FOR IPR UNDER 37 C.F.R. §§ 42.104
`A. Grounds for Standing under 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a)
`Petitioner certifies that the ’786 Patent is available for Inter Partes Review
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`and that Petitioner is not barred or estopped from requesting an Inter Partes
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`Review challenging the patent claims on the grounds identified in this Petition.
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`Request for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
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`B. Prior Art Patents
`The claims of the ‘786 Patent have an effective date no earlier than
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`December 11, 2002, which is the filing date of the application for the ‘786 Patent.
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`Petitioner relies upon the following patents and publications, all of which are
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`prior art to all claims of the ’786 Patent:
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`Art available under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b):
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`Ex. 1103 – International Publication Number WO 01/67266 A1 (“Lau”),
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`published on Sept. 13, 2001.
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`Ex. 1104 – U.S. Patent No. 6,175,789 (“Beckert”), issued Jan. 16, 2001.
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`Ex. 1105—U.S. Patent Publication No. 2001/0028717 A1 (“Ohmura”),
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`which published on October 11, 2001.
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`Ex. 1106—Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. H7-6954 to
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`Ouchida (“JP ‘954”) published on Jan. 31, 1995. (Ex. 1107 certified translation).
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`Ex. 1108—Sony XR-C5120 FM/AM Cassette Car Stereo Operating
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`Instructions (“Sony XR-C5120 Manual”) bears a copyright date of 1999.
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`Ex. 1109—Sony XA-C30 Service Manual (“Sony XA-C30 Manual”) bears a
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`copyright date of 1996.
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`Ex. 1011 – Sony XR-C5120R FM/AM Cassette Car Stereo Operating
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`Instructions (“Sony XR-C5120R Manual”) bears a copyright date of 1999.
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`Art available under 35 U.S.C. § 102(e):
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`Request for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
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`Ex. 1110– U.S. Patent No. 6,629,197 (“Bhogal”), the application for which
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`was filed on November 3, 2000 and which issued on September 30, 2003.
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`C.
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`Identification of Challenge under 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b) and Relief
`Requested
`Petitioner requests Inter Partes Review of claims 1, 2, 4-8, 10, 13, 14, 23,
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`24, 44, 47, 57, 58, 60-65, 86, 88-92, 94, 97, and 98 of the ‘786 Patent on the
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`following grounds – Ground 1: Claims 57, 58, 60, 64, 86, 88, 90, 91, 92, 94, and
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`97 are obvious based on JP ‘954 in view of Lau; Ground 2: Claim 44 is obvious
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`based on JP ‘954 in view of Bhogal; Ground 3: Claims 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, and
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`23 are obvious based on JP ‘954 in view of Sony XR-C5120 and Sony XA-C30;
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`Ground 4(a): Claims 5 and 24 is obvious based on JP ‘954 in view of Sony XR-
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`C5120, Sony XA-C30 and known bus technology; Ground 4(b): Claims 65, 89
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`and 98 are obvious based on JP ‘954 in view of Lau and known bus technology;
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`Ground 4(c): Claim 47 is obvious based on JP ‘954 in view of Lau and Bhogal;
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`Ground 5: Claims 6 and 10 are obvious based on JP ‘954 in view of Sony XR-
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`C5120, Sony XA-C30 and Lau; Ground 6: Claims 61, 62, and 63 are obvious
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`based on JP ‘954 in view of Lau and Sony XR-C5120; and Ground 7: Claims 57
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`and 86 are obvious in view of Bhogal.
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`An explanation of how these claims are unpatentable under the statutory
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`grounds identified below, including the identification where each element is found
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`in the prior art references and the relevance of each of the prior art references, is
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`4
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`

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`Request for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
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`provided in the form of detailed claim charts and supporting explanation.
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`Additional explanation and support for each ground of rejection is set forth in the
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`Declaration of Thomas G. Matheson, Ph.D. (Ex. 1115).
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`IV. SUMMARY OF THE ‘786 PATENT
`A. Brief Description of the ‘786 Patent
`The '786 patent is directed to an “audio device integration system” that
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`integrates a car stereo (also referred to as “car radio”) and one or more external or
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`“after-market” devices, such as a CD changer or an MP3 player, that may
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`otherwise be incompatible with the car stereo. See Ex. 1101 at abstract; 1:20-35
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`and FIG. 1. In the context of the ‘786 Patent, this integration is provided by an
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`“interface,” which is separate from the car stereo and the external device. Id.
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`The interface converts control signals from the car stereo into a format that
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`is compatible with an after-market external device, thus allowing commands input
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`at the car stereo to control the external device. With reference to Figure 2B of the
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`‘786 Patent below, the control panel buttons 14 of the car radio 10 may be used to
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`control the operation of an external device (MP3 player 30) as a result of interface
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`20 converting the control signals from the car radio 10 into a format compatible
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`with the MP player. Ex. 1101 at 6:1-19. Similarly, the interface receives data
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`from the external device and converts the data into a format compatible with car
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`radio 10 to allow information, such as artist, song title, and track and time
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`Requestt for Inter PPartes Revview
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`U.S. Patent No. 7,,489,786
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`informaation, to bee displayedd on displayy 13 of carr
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`radio 100. Ex. 11001 at 6:19-224. The innterface
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`includess a microcoontroller pprogrammeed to
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`performm the formaat conversiion for signnals sent
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`by the ccar stereo to the exterrnal devicee and
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`signals sent by thee external ddevice to thhe car
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`stereo.
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`Ex. 1101 aat 8:31-9:77.
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`786 Paatent Figurre 2B (Ex. 11101)
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`TThe ‘786 paatent also ddescribes thhe interfacce providinng one or mmore auxiliiary
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`inputs (inputs 35 iin Figure 22E) to alloww additionaal audio deevices to bbe connecteed.
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`Ex. 11001 at 7:23-229. This alllows the ddevices connnected to
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`an auxiliaary input too be
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`selectivvely activatted by the mmicrocontrroller so thhat audio frrom the sellected deviice
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`is channneled to thee car stereoo. Ex. 11001 at 7:30-337.
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`TThe ‘786 Paatent descrribes the innterface gennerating a
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`“device prresence
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`signal” that it trannsmits to thhe car stereeo to mainttain the carr stereo in
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`state, suuch as “preevent[ing] tthe car sterreo from shhutting offf, entering
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`an operatioonal
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`a sleep moode,
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`or otherrwise beingg unresponnsive to siggnals and/oor data fromm an externnal source..”
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`Ex. 11001 at 12:29-35; 13:15-19; FIGs. 4A and 4BB.
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`

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`Request for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
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`B. Summary of the Prosecution History of the ‘786 Patent
`The application for the ’786 patent, U.S. App. No. 10/316,961 (“the ‘961
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`application), was filed on December 11, 2002. See Ex. 1102.0001. Portions of the
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`file history pertinent to the issues in this Petition are summarized below.
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`In a first Non-Final Office Action date June 5, 2006, all pending claims were
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`rejected on prior art grounds. Ex. 1102.0204-.0230. The Examiner relied
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`primarily on U.S. Patent No. 6,993,615 (Falcon). Id. In response, the Applicant
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`distinguished Falcon on the basis that it failed to show an interface “connected
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`between a car stereo and an external audio source.” Ex. 1102.0267 (Sept. 11, 2006
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`Amendment). The applicant also distinguished Falcon as “unconcerned with
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`integrating an external audio device, which is ordinarily alien to and incompatible
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`with a car stereo system, for use with the car stereo system.” Id.
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`In response, the Examiner issued another Non-Final Office Action on
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`November 14, 2006 rejecting all of the claims on new grounds, relying primarily
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`on U.S. Patent No. 6,163,079 (Miyazaki). Ex. 1102.0282-.0326. A final rejection
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`was issued on April 19, 2007, again relying primarily on Miyazaki. Ex.
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`1102.0378-.0442.
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`In response to these Office Actions, the Applicant amended the independent
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`claims to specify the interface performed a “format” conversion of control
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`commands from the car stereo to the external device. Ex. 1102.0334-.0369 (Feb.
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`Request for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
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`14, 2007 Amendment). The Applicant then distinguished Miyazaki because its
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`interface was directed to devices that were “already compatible with each other.”
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`Ex. 1002.0604 (Sept. 6, 2007 Amendment). The Applicant also amended some
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`claims to add “connectors” to the interface (e.g., claim 1 amended to add a “first
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`connector” that connects the interface to the “car stereo” and a “second connector”
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`that connects the interface to the after-market (external) device; application claims
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`55 and 81 were amended similarly, which issued as claims 57 and 86.) Ex.
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`1102.0575-.0576; .0588-.0589; .0595-.0596.
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`On February 20, 2008, the Examiner issued a Final Office Action rejecting
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`all of the pending claims on new grounds, relying primarily on U.S. Patent
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`Application Publication No. 2002/0084910 (Owens) and U.S. Patent No. 6,175,789
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`(Beckert). Ex. 1102.0616-.0665. Thereafter, the Applicant filed an Amendment on
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`April 21, 2008. (Ex. 1102.0678-.0709.) The amendments made included
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`additional language requiring that the microcontroller was “pre-programmed” to
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`perform the recited format conversion operations (e.g., “for remotely controlling
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`the after-market audio device…” and “for receiving data from the after-market
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`audio device…” E.g., Ex. 1102.0679 (amendment to claim 1); 1102.0707-.0709
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`(arguing “pre-programmed” aspect as basis for overcoming prior art).
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`A Notice of Allowance followed on July 31, 2008. Ex. 1102.1035-.1041.
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`The Examiner stated that although interfacing auxiliary after-market devices with a
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`Request for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
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`car stereo was known, “the Examiner has not found prior art that teaches or
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`suggests an interface unit containing a pre-programmed microcontroller that
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`allows for the communication of incompatible audio devices as presented in the
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`independent claims 1, 24, 30, 42, 55, 63 and 72” or “to execute a code portion for
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`generating and transmitting a device presence signal to a car stereo to maintain the
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`stereo in an operational state responsive to signals from an after-market device as
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`presented in the independent claims 47, 81, 83, 104.” Ex. 1102.1039-.1040
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`(emphasis added).
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`C. The Purported Novelty of the ‘786 Patent and the State of the Art
`The ‘786 Patent professes to solve the problem of “integrating” after-market
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`audio devices (CD changers, etc.) that were incompatible with original equipment
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`manufacturer (OEM) car stereos. Ex. 1101 at 1:36-44. The ‘786 Patent described
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`existing technology as limited to “expansion modules” that would only allow
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`devices made by the same manufacturer to be integrated, but not devices made by
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`different manufacturers. Id. at 1:45-59. The solution, according to the ‘786 Patent,
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`was to provide an interface to convert the signal formats of the car stereo and
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`external devices so as to make them compatible. Id. at 2:35-43 and 4:47-52.
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`This “solution,” however, was not novel with ‘786 Patent. Rather, the
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`problem of interfacing car stereos with incompatible external devices had been
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`solved nearly eight years before the application for ‘786 Patent was filed.
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`Requestt for Inter PPartes Revview
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`U.S. Patent No. 7,,489,786
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`Jaapanese Unnexaminedd Patent Appp. No. H77-6954 to OOuchida (““JP ‘954”)
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`provideed the samee “solutionn” of using an interfacce 1 betweeen the car
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`stereo (he
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`unit 3) aand the CDD changer 22. JP ‘9544 (Ex. 11077) at ¶ 3 (“tthe problemm for the
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`present invention is to makee it possiblee to add a CCD changeer of comppany B to aa
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`head unnit of comppany A…”)). The JP ‘‘954 interfface converrted controol signals ffrom
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`the headd unit into a format ccompatible with the CCD changeer and vice--versa. JP
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`s interfacee that
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`‘954 at ¶ 6. Like the ‘786 Paatent, JP ‘9954 used a
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`was pree-programmmed to perfform the siignal formaat convers
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`ion. JP ‘9
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`54 at ¶ 2-33, 6.
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`JP ‘954 FFigure 1 (annnotated)
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`Coomparison of ‘786 Paatent Figurre 2A and
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`AAnd while JJP ‘964 deescribed inttegrating aa CD changger with a ccar stereo,
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`it
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`was alsoo known too provide tthe same “iinterface”
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`with othher types oof external devices, suuch as MP
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`solution too integrate
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`a car stereeo
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`3 players,
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`well over ttwo years
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`before tthe filing oof the ‘786 Patent, as evidencedd by Lau (ffiled in Maarch 2000)..1
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`1 Lau is the primarry referencce in a conncurrently ffiled Petitioon for the
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`‘786 Patennt.
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`10
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`Requestt for Inter PPartes Revview
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`U.S. Patent No. 7,,489,786
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`s a t “emulateser 102 thatmusic serveller in its microcontrolLau proovides a dedicated mi
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`disc chaanger” suchh that it “aappears to aact like a ddisc changeer” from thhe perspecttive
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`of the hhead unit. EEx. 1003 (Lau) at 4:441-46.
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`Comparisoon of ‘786 Patent Figgure 2B annd Lau Figgure 1 (annnotated)
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`TThough neiither were ccited durinng prosecuttion, both JJP ‘954 annd Lau plaiinly
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`disclosee the featurre of “an innterface unnit containiing a pre-pprogrammeed
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`microcoontroller thhat allows ffor the commmunicatioon of incommpatible auudio devicces,”
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`identifieed as the reeason for aallowing thhe ‘786 Pattent claimss. As showwn below, LLau
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`also discloses the “device prresence siggnal” reciteed in some claims, wwhich was thhe
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`only othher reason identified by the Exaaminer for
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`allowancee.
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`V. CCLAIM COONSTRUCCTION
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`AA claim subbject to Intter Partes RReview is
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`given its ““broadest r
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`easonable
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`construcction in ligght of the sspecificatioon of the paatent in whhich it appeears.”
37
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`C.F.R. §§ 42.100(bb). Thus, thhe words off the claimm are givenn their plainn meaning
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`from thee perspectiive of one of ordinaryy skill in thhe art unleess that meaaning is
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`11
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`

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`Request for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
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`inconsistent with the specification. In re Zletz, 893 F.2d 319, 321 (Fed. Cir. 1989).
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`Petitioner submits that a person of ordinary skill in the art of monitoring and
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`controlling equipment at the time of the alleged invention would have had at least
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`at least a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or equivalent
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`science/engineering degree and at least two years of experience in signal
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`processing and/or electronic system design, or would have at least four years of
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`experience in signal processing and/or electronic system design.
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`A. Terms Construed in District Court
`In the New Jersey litigations (see Section II. B), a common Markman
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`decision was issued construing the following claim terms. See Ex. 1112.
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`“interface” (recited in independent claims 1, 44, 57, 86, and 92) was
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`construed as “a microcontroller that is a functionally and structurally separate
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`component from the car stereo, which integrates an after-market device with a car
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`stereo.” Ex. 1112 at 4-13. In so doing, the district court found that the claim
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`language and the specification supported the conclusion that the interface was
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`functionally separate from the car stereo. Ex. 1112 at 8-9 (citing ‘786 Patent at
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`1:60-64 (integration system “allows for information to be exchanged between the
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`after-market device and the car stereo”); 2:28-32 (integration system “connects to
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`and interacts with the car stereo”); 5:38-41; and claim language of 1, 25, 56 and 66
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`reciting an “integration system”). Further, the court found the requirement that the
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`12
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`Request for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
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`interface be “structurally” separate was supported by the remarks made by the
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`Applicant in distinguishing Miyazaki by amending the claims to add “connectors”
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`to connect the interface to the car stereo and external device. Ex. 1112 at 12-13.
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` “device presence signal” (recited in independent claims 57, 86, and 92 and
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`dependent claim 6) was construed as “transmission of a continuous signal
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`indicating an audio device is present.” Ex. 1112 at 14-17. In reaching this
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`interpretation, the district court pointed to the description in the specification of the
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`interface generating a signal “indicating that a CD player/changer is present, and
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`the signal is continuously transmitted to the car stereo.” Ex. 1112 at 14 (citing
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`‘786 Patent at 12:29-32 in addition to 13:15-18; 13:62-66; 14:49-51; 15:35-38;
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`16:12-15; 16:57-60.)
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`“portable” (recited in independent claims 44, 57, and 92) was construed as
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`“capable of being moved about.” Ex. 1112 at 24-25. In reaching this construction,
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`the court noted the only reference in the specification of the ’786 Patent to
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`“portable” is noted in col 20, lines 64 to col. 21, line 20, with respect to the
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`discussion of Figures 7A-7B. Id. That section describes a “portable audio device,”
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`which in one embodiment, can be integrated with a car stereo by a docking station.
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`Claim 44 specifies a “docking portion” for “communicating and physically mating
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`with” a portable device. Conversely, claim 57 recites a “portable MP3 player”
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`while claim 92 recites a “portable audio device,” both without any requirement for
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`13
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`Request for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
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`a “dock” or “docking portion.” Accordingly, petitioner submits the broadest
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`reasonable interpretation of portable should be “capable of being moved about.”2
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`Petitioner contends that “interface,” device presence signal,” and “portable”
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`should be construed for purposes of this IPR as set forth above, which is the
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`understanding of the claim meaning that Petitioner has applied. Other terms
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`construed by the New Jersey District Court, which do not necessarily present any
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`issues with respect to this Petition, are “auxiliary input source” (construed as “a
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`device that outputs audio by headphone jack or other connector” (Ex. 1112 at 17-
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`20)); “operational state” (construed as “in a state responsive to data and/or
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`command signals from the external device” (Ex. 1112 at 20-21.)); “pre-
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`programmed” (construed as “programmed prior to its use in the normal course”
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`(Ex. 1112 at 21-23)); “external” (construed as “an after-market device that is
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`outside and alien to the environment of an OEM or after-market stereo system”
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`(Ex. 1112 at 23-24)).
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`These constructions are at least consistent with the ’786 patent’s claims,
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`specification, and prosecution history, and have thus been utilized when comparing
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`the prior art to the claims of the ’786 Patent in this Petition.
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`2 Consistent with this understanding, the broadest reasonable interpretation of
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`“portable device” (as recited in claim 44) would be an object, machine, or piece of
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`equipment that is capable of being moved about.” Ex. 1114.
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`14
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`Request for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
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`B. Means-Plus Function Terms
`When a term uses “means for” language, there is a presumption that 35
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`U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6 applies. Williamson v. Citrix Online, LLC, 792 F.3d 1339, 1348-
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`49 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (en banc). Means plus function terms are construed by: (1)
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`first determining the claimed function and (2) identifying the corresponding
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`structure in the specification that performs the claimed function. Noah Sys., Inc. v.
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`Intuit Inc., 675 F.3d 1302, 1311 (Fed. Cir. 2012). The district court construed the
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`following terms under 35 U.S.C. §112, 6th paragraph, recited in claim 92.
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`“first pre-programmed means for generating a device presence signal”:
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`The function was identified as “generating a device presence signal to the car
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`stereo.” Ex. 1112 at 29. With respect to structure, the court identified “ports
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`J2A1, X2, RCH, and LCH, connected to a power source (i.e. battery) that are
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`provided for allowing connection between the interface system of the present
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`invention and an after-market device, or an auxiliary input source,” and “a
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`microcontroller (U1) with hardware components such as resistors, diodes,
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`capacitors, and oscillators.” Ex. 1112 at 32 (citing Ex. 1101 at 8:42-45 and 9:1-5.)
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`In reaching its conclusion, the district court rejected the argument that the
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`“means for generating a device presence signal” should be found indefinite
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`because the ‘786 fails to disclose an algorithm executed by the microcontroller that
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`performs the recited function. Ex 1112 at 30-32. The court reasoned that structure
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`15
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`Request for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 7,489,786
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`is not “limited to an algorithm when the function being performed is generating,
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`receiving, or transmitting signals. Id. at 31.
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`The premise of the district court’s construction was incorrect, however,
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`because the structure it identified does not generate the device presence signal, but
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`merely conveys the signal generated by the microcontroller to the car stereo. Ex.
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`1101 at 9:9-13; Ex. 1115 at ¶ 70. Further, to the extent the structure identified by
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`the district court conveys the generated device presence signal, that does not make
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`it corresponding structure for purposes of Section 112, ¶ 6 since “generating” the
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`signal is the recited function, not conveying it. See Omega Eng’g, Inc. v. Raytek
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`Corp., 334 F.3d 1314, 1321 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (“the structure must be necessary to
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`perform the claimed function”) (emphasis added).
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`The ‘786 Patent provides no detail on how the device presence signal is
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`generated