throbber
PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`In the Inter Partes Review of U.S. Patent No. 8,504,746
`Trial No.: IPR2016-01211
`Issued:
`August 6, 2013
`Filed:
`September 27, 2010
`Inventor: Michael Tasler
`Assignee: Papst Licensing GmbH & Co., KG
`Title:
`ANALOG DATA GENERATING AND PROCESSING DEVICE
`FOR USE WITH A PERSONAL COMPUTER
`
`
`
`MAIL STOP PATENT BOARD
`Patent Trial and Appeal Board
`United States Patent & Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`
`CORRECTED PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 42.100
`
`In response to the Notice of Filing Date Accorded to Petition mailed on June
`
`24, 2016, this corrected petition is being timely filed to make the corrections
`
`requested by the Board. Specifically, footnotes 2 and 3 that appear on pages 8 and
`
`14, respectively, have been double-spaced.
`
`Inter partes review is respectfully requested for claims 1-12, 14-15, 17-21,
`
`23-31, 34-35 (the “Challenged Claims”) of U.S. Patent No. 8,504,746 (“the ’746
`
`patent”), attached hereto as Exhibit 1201.
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`
`
`The undersigned representative of Petitioners authorizes the Patent Office to
`
`charge the $23,000 Petition Fee to Deposit Account 501432, ref: 876346-605001.
`
`30 claims are being reviewed, so $8,000 excess claim fees are due. The undersigned
`
`representative further authorizes payment for any additional fees that may be due in
`
`connection with this Petition to be charged to the above-referenced Deposit
`
`Account.
`
`
`
`

`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`
`
`Page
`
`B. 
`
`C. 
`D. 
`
`B. 
`
`Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 
`I. 
`Grounds for Standing Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a) ................................ 2 
`II. 
`III.  Background Information for ’746 Patent......................................................... 2 
`A.  Overview of the ’746 Patent Family and Prosecution History .............. 2 
`Identification of Challenge Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b) ....................... 5 
`A. 
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(1): Claims for Which Inter Partes
`Review Is Requested ............................................................................ 5 
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(2): The Prior Art and Specific Grounds
`on Which the Challenge to the Claims Is Based ................................... 5 
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(3): Claim Construction ..................................... 7 
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(4): How the Construed Claims are
`Unpatentable ......................................................................................... 9 
`E. 
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(5): Supporting Evidence .................................. 9 
`There Is a Reasonable Likelihood That The Challenged Claims of the
`’746 Patent Are Unpatentable ....................................................................... 10 
`A. 
`Prior Art .............................................................................................. 10 
`1. 
`Kawaguchi ............................................................................... 10 
`2.  Matsumoto ............................................................................... 11 
`Kawaguchi, Matsumoto, DASM-AD14, Takahashi,
`3. 
`Saito, and Muramatsu are Properly Combinable ..................... 12 
`Level of Skill ............................................................................ 15 
`4. 
`Challenged Claims ............................................................................. 15 
`1. 
`Independent Claim 1 ................................................................ 15 
`2. 
`Dependent Claim 2 .................................................................. 27 
`3. 
`Dependent Claim 3 .................................................................. 28 
`4. 
`Dependent Claim 4 .................................................................. 28 
`5. 
`Dependent Claim 5 .................................................................. 29 
`6. 
`Dependent Claim 6 .................................................................. 30 
`7. 
`Dependent Claims 7, 8, 26 ....................................................... 31 
`-i-
`
`
`IV. 
`
`V. 
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`(continued)
`
`Page
`
`
`
`Dependent Claim 9 .................................................................. 32 
`8. 
`Dependent Claim 10 ................................................................ 34 
`9. 
`10.  Dependent Claims 11, 12 ......................................................... 35 
`11.  Dependent Claim 14 ................................................................ 36 
`12.  Dependent Claim 15 ................................................................ 37 
`13.  Dependent Claims 17, 18 ......................................................... 38 
`14.  Dependent Claim 19 ................................................................ 41 
`15.  Dependent Claim 20 ................................................................ 43 
`16.  Dependent Claims 21, 27 and 28 ............................................. 44 
`17.  Dependent Claim 23 ................................................................ 48 
`18.  Dependent Claim 24 ................................................................ 50 
`19.  Dependent Claim 25 ................................................................ 52 
`20.  Dependent Claim 29 ................................................................ 53 
`21.  Dependent Claim 30 ................................................................ 53 
`22. 
`Independent Claim 31 .............................................................. 54 
`23. 
`Independent Claim 34 .............................................................. 59 
`24.  Dependent Claim 35 ................................................................ 61 
`VI.  Mandatory Notices Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(a)(1) ................................. 63 
`A. 
`C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1): Real Party-In-Interest ........................................ 63 
`B. 
`C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2): Related Matters ................................................. 64 
`C. 
`C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3) and (4): Lead and Back-up Counsel and
`Service Information ............................................................................ 66 
`VII.  Conclusion .................................................................................................... 70 
`
`
`
`
`
`
`-ii-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`I.
`
`Introduction
`
`The ’746 patent specification describes an interface device designed to
`
`facilitate the transfer of data between an input/output (“i/o”) device and a host
`
`computer that allegedly obviates the need for installation of driver software on the
`
`computer. Ex. 1201 at 1:37-40; 7:11-20.
`
`The ’746 patent is owned by Papst Licensing GmbH & Co., KG (“Papst” or
`
`the “Patent Owner”). The District Court judge in a litigation involving an ancestor
`
`of the ’746 patent described Papst by stating that “the business of Papst is litigation,
`
`not invention or production.” Ex. 1202 (Memorandum Order of Judge Collyer) at 6
`
`(emphasis in original). Papst acquired the patent family, including the five earlier
`
`applications and two issued patents related to application no. 12/891,443 (“the ’443
`
`application”) from which the ’746 patent issued, nine years after the filing date of
`
`the earliest application in the chain. See USPTO Assignment Record executed Mar.
`
`8, 2006, at 17314-114. The ’443 application was filed and prosecuted entirely under
`
`Papst’s control during the pendency of patent infringement litigation filed by Papst
`
`against the Petitioners and others based on the two earlier-issued patents.
`
`Filed in 2010, the ’443 application, issued in 2013. During prosecution of the
`
`’443 application, Papst presented nearly 600 references for the Examiner to consider
`
`via Information Disclosure Statements – a near impossible task for a tightly time
`
`constrained examination. As a result, the Examiner did not focus on certain highly
`
`
`
`-1-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`relevant prior art. 1 Based on the presented grounds, the Board should institute inter
`
`partes review of the ’746 patent and cancel the challenged claims.
`
`II. Grounds for Standing Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a)
`
`Petitioners certify that the ’746 patent is available for inter partes review and
`
`that Petitioners are not barred or estopped from requesting inter partes review
`
`challenging the claims on the grounds identified herein.
`
`III. Background Information for ’746 Patent
`
`A. Overview of the ’746 Patent Family and Prosecution History
`The ’443 application was filed on September 27, 2010, and issued almost
`
`three years later on August 6, 2013 as the ’746 patent. The ’746 patent stems from
`
`the last application filed in a family of seven U.S. non-provisional applications. The
`
`’746 patent’s written description describes a device alleged to facilitate the transfer
`
`of data between a data transmit/receive device from which data is to be acquired and
`
`a host computer. Ex. 1201 at 1:20-24. The written description states that, while
`
`interface devices were known at the time of the invention, existing devices had
`
`limitations, including disadvantageous sacrifices of data-transfer speed or a lack of
`
`flexibility as to the computers and data devices with which they were compatible.
`
`
`1 Some of this relevant art was buried in the nearly 600 references submitted
`
`to the Examiner via IDSs.
`
`
`
`-2-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`Id. at 1:28-2:21. The ’746 patent purports to describe an interface device to
`
`overcome these limitations.
`
`When a computer detects that a new device has been connected to one of its
`
`input-output (i/o) ports, a normal course of action includes these steps: the host asks
`
`the new device what type of device it is; the connected device responds; the host
`
`determines whether it already possesses drivers for the identified type of device; and
`
`if it does not, an appropriate driver must be installed on the host and loaded into
`
`memory before proceeding. In the ’746 patent family, when the interface device is
`
`connected between a data transmit/receive device and a host, the interface device
`
`responds to the host’s request for identification by stating that it is a type of device,
`
`such as a hard drive, for which the computer already has a driver. By mis-
`
`identifying itself to the host as to the type of device the host is communicating with,
`
`the interface device induces the host to treat it like a device already familiar to the
`
`host. Thereafter, when the host communicates with the interface device to request
`
`data from or control the operation of the data device, the host uses its customary
`
`driver, and the interface device translates the communications into a form
`
`understandable by the connected data device. Ex. 1004, ¶¶37-38,64-84; Ex. 1201 at
`
`3:28-4:38.
`
`
`
`-3-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the interface device that includes a first
`
`connecting device 12 for connecting to the host computer and a second connecting
`
`device 15 for connecting to the data transmit/receive device. A digital signal
`
`processor 13 and a memory 14 manage communications between the computer and
`
`the data transmit/receive device. Ex. 1201 at 4:59-5:7. See also, Ex. 1204, ¶¶21-36.
`
`The prosecution history of the ’746 patent spanned three Office Actions and
`
`corresponding responses. The final response before allowance included thirteen
`
`pages of arguments presenting a number of alleged reasons why the claims were
`
`allowable over the cited references. No amendments were made. A Notice of
`
`Allowance was issued on June 7, 2013. The reasons for allowance stated: “The
`
`reasons for allowance of claims 2, 32, 33 and 35… in the instant application is that
`
`
`
`-4-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`the examiner finds applicant’s arguments filed on 05/28/2013 are persuasive and that
`
`the combination of all the claimed limitations is neither anticipate[d] or render[ed]
`
`obvious by the prior art of record.” Thus, it is difficult to ascertain exactly which
`
`argument or claim limitation(s) were considered important to the Examiner’s
`
`decision.
`
`IV.
`
`
`
`Identification of Challenge Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)
`A.
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(1): Claims for Which Inter Partes Review
`Is Requested
`Inter Partes review is requested for claims 1-12, 14-15, 17-21, 23-31, 34-35
`
`of the ’746 patent.
`
`B.
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(2): The Prior Art and Specific Grounds
`on Which the Challenge to the Claims Is Based
`
`
`
`The one-year time bar under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. §102(b) is measured from the
`
`effective U.S. filing date of the ‘746 patent, which is March 3, 1998, the date of the
`
`PCT application to which the ‘746 patent claims priority (PCT/EP98/01187).
`
`Inter Partes review is requested in view of the following prior art references:
`
` JP H4-15853 to Kawaguchi (“Kawaguchi”) (Exhibit 1006). Kawaguchi
`
`was filed on May 9, 1990 and published on January 21, 1992, and is prior
`
`art to the ’746 patent under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b).
`
`
`
`-5-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
` U.S. Patent No. 5,684,607 to (“Matsumoto”) (Exhibit 1007). Matsumoto
`
`was filed on November 4, 1994, and issued on November 4, 1997, and is
`
`prior art to the ’746 patent under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102(a) and/or 102(e).
`
` The DASM-AD14 product brochure (DASM-AD14) (Exhibit 1008).
`
`DASM-AD14 is a data sheet for the DASM-AD14 product dated 1992.
`
`The DASM-AD14 product was available for purchase in 1992, as
`
`evidenced by the Digital Equipment Corporation Shippable Products
`
`Catalog, submitted as Exhibit 1214 at page 23. Because the DASM-AD14
`
`Product Brochure was freely available to the public five years prior to the
`
`earliest possible priority data of the patent at issue, the DASM-AD14
`
`Product Brochure is a publication under 35 U.S.C. §102(b). DASM-AD14
`
`was published in March 1992 and is prior art to the ’746 patent under 35
`
`U.S.C. § 102(b).
`
` JP H5-344283 to Takahashi (“Takahashi”) (Exhibit 1009). Takahashi was
`
`filed on June 11, 1992 and published on December 24, 1993, and is prior
`
`art to the ’746 patent under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b).
`
` U.S. Patent No. 5,592,256 to Muramatsu (“Muramatsu”) (Exhibit 1012).
`
`Muramatsu was filed on May 29, 1996, and issued on January 7, 1997, and
`
`is prior art to the ’746 patent under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b).
`
`
`
`-6-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
` U.S. Patent No. 5,724,155 to Saito (“Saito”) (Exhibit 1013). Saito was
`
`filed on December 30, 1994, and issued on March 3, 1998, and is prior art
`
`to the ’746 patent under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a) and/or 102(e).
`
`The specific statutory grounds on which the challenge to the claims is based
`
`and the prior art relied upon for each ground are as follows:
`
`a) Claims 1-12, 14-15, 17-19, 26, 29-31, 34-35 are anticipated by
`
`Kawaguchi;
`
`b) Claims 1-12, 14-15, 17-19, 26, 29-31, 34-35 are unpatentable under 35
`
`U.S.C. § 103(a) over Kawaguchi in view of Matsumoto;
`
`c) Claim 14 is unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) over Kawaguchi in
`
`view of Matsumoto and Takahashi;
`
`d) Claims 21, 24-25, 27-28 are unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) over
`
`Kawaguchi in view of Matsumoto and DASM-AD14;
`
`e) Claims 20 is unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) over Kawaguchi in
`
`view of Matsumoto and Saito;
`
`f) Claim 23 is unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) over Kawaguchi in
`
`view of Matsumoto, Saito, and Muramatsu.
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(3): Claim Construction
`
`C.
`Claims are to be given their “broadest reasonable construction in light of the
`
`specification.” 37 C.F.R. § 42.100(b). The constructions proposed below are
`
`
`
`-7-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`intended to aid in this proceeding, and should not be understood as waiving any
`
`arguments that may be raised in any litigation. Further, because the standard for
`
`claim construction at the Patent Office is different from that used during a U.S.
`
`District Court litigation, see In re Am. Acad. Of Sci. Tech Ctr., 367 F.3d 1359, 1364,
`
`1369 (Fed. Cir. 2004); MPEP § 2111, Petitioners expressly reserve the right to argue
`
`a different claim construction in litigation for any term of the ’746 patent. For
`
`purposes of this proceeding only, and without conceding that these are the correct
`
`constructions under the standard that controls in the litigation, Petitioners propose
`
`adopting the claim constructions presented by Papst in related litigation in the
`
`District of Columbia: Misc. Action No. 07-493 (RMC); MDL No. 1880 (Ex. 1005),
`
`as follows: 2
`
`Claim Term
`“without requiring any end user to load
`any software onto
`the [first/second]
`computer at any time”
`
`“without requiring any user-loaded file
`
`Adopted BRI
`“without requiring the end user to install
`or load specific drivers or software for
`the [ADGPD/analog data acquisition
`device/analog data
`acquisition
`and
`interface device] beyond that included in
`
`
`2 Petitioners have proposed competing constructions in the district court
`
`proceedings, including that the term “processor” requires a means-plus-function
`
`construction.
`
`
`
`-8-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`transfer enabling software to be loaded
`on or installed in the [computer/host
`device] [at any time]”
`
`“whereby there is no requirement for any
`user-loaded
`file
`transfer
`enabling
`software to be loaded on or installed in
`the computer in addition to the operating
`system”
`“processor”
`
`the operating system or BIOS”
`
`“any kind of microprocessor, including a
`digital signal processor”
`
`
`
`
`
`D.
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(4): How the Construed Claims are
`Unpatentable
`
`
`
`An explanation of how the Challenged Claims are unpatentable, including
`
`identification of how each claim feature is found in the prior art, is set forth below in
`
`Section V.
`
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(5): Supporting Evidence
`
`E.
`An Appendix of Exhibits supporting this Petition is attached. Included at
`
`Exhibit 1004 is a Declaration of Dr. Paul F. Reynolds (“Reynolds Decl.”) under 37
`
`C.F.R. § 1.68. In addition, the relevance of the evidence to the challenged claims,
`
`including an identification of the specific portions of the evidence supporting the
`
`challenge, is included in Section V.
`
`
`
`-9-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`V.
`
`There Is a Reasonable Likelihood That The Challenged Claims of the
`’746 Patent Are Unpatentable
`
`A.
`
`Prior Art
`1. Kawaguchi
`As illustrated in Fig. 1 shown below, Kawaguchi discloses a SCSI device
`
`converter (3) having a SCSI interface (7) for connecting a peripheral device (4, 5, 6)
`
`to a SCSI interface (2) on an engineering workstation (EWS (1)). The SCSI device
`
`converter (3) inputs and outputs data to the SCSI interface (2) of an EWS using the
`
`same standards as a SCSI interface for a hard disk. The SCSI device converter
`
`communicates with the EWS’s SCSI hard disk driver and emulates a hard disk. Data
`
`from peripheral devices is retrieved by the control unit (16) via the device interfaces
`
`(8, 9, 10), converted into SCSI standard data by a code converting unit (15), and
`
`stored in data reading units (12, 14) from which the EWS can retrieve the data. An
`
`A/D converter (19) may also be installed to receive analog data from an analog
`
`device (18) such as a sensor. Data from the EWS to peripheral devices is written to
`
`data writing units (11, 13) and transferred by the control unit to the peripheral
`
`devices via the device interfaces. See Ex. 1204, ¶¶41-51.
`
`
`
`-10-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`
`
`2. Matsumoto
`Matsumoto discloses that a “facsimile apparatus having a scanner for reading
`
`original images, a memory for storing images, a printer for recording images, and a
`
`communication control section for controlling the transmission/reception of data
`
`with a receiving communication apparatus is connected to a host computer via a
`
`small computer system interface (SCSI).” Ex. 1208, Abstract. Matsumoto also
`
`discloses that a “file management section 10 manages documents created inside a
`
`facsimile apparatus . . . [wherein the] operation for entering and storing a file is
`
`
`
`-11-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`performed by the file management section 10.” Ex. 1208, 3:20-22, 5:55-56. See
`
`also, Ex. 1204, ¶¶52-59.
`
`
`3. Kawaguchi, Matsumoto, DASM-AD14, Takahashi, Saito,
`and Muramatsu are Properly Combinable
`
`Both Kawaguchi and Matsumoto provide teachings, suggestions, and
`
`motivations to combine their respective disclosures with one another because, inter
`
`alia, they both teach interfacing a peripheral device to a host computer using SCSI.
`
`Given the similarities of their subject matter and teachings, a person of ordinary skill
`
`in the art (POSA) would be motivated to combine features of each reference to
`
`provide the advantages achieved by those added features.
`
`
`
`-12-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`For example, combining file management features taught by Matsumoto to
`
`the Kawaguchi system to allow processed analog data to be stored in the data
`
`storage memory as at least one file, to allow the processor to automatically send file
`
`system information to the host to enable the host to retrieve the at least one file, to
`
`allow an indication of the type of a file system that is used to store the at least one
`
`file of digitized analog data in the data storage memory, and to allow file allocation
`
`table information containing a start location of a file allocation table to be sent to the
`
`i/o port along with a virtual boot sequence that includes at least information that is
`
`representative of a number of sectors of a storage disk, would have been obvious.
`
`Organization and naming benefits can be achieved using a file system.
`
`DASM-AD14 discloses an A/D converter that attaches to a host computer via
`
`SCSI and emulates a disk drive. Takahashi discloses a scanning device that attaches
`
`to a host computer via SCSI. Saito discloses an electronic imaging system for
`
`capturing image data and filing the image data over a personal computer network via
`
`SCSI. Each of the references provide teachings, suggestions and motivations to
`
`combine their respective disclosures with Kawaguchi and Matsumoto and with one
`
`another.
`
`
`
`-13-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`Combining the features of Matsumoto discussed above and others3, as well as
`
`combining the teachings of DASM-AD14, Takahashi and Saito with Kawaguchi and
`
`each other is proper because (a) it involves combining prior art elements according
`
`to known methods to yield predictable results, (b) the combination results in a
`
`simple substitution of one known element for another to obtain predictable results,
`
`(c) the combination involves the use of a known technique to improve similar
`
`devices, methods, or products in the same way, (d) the combination involves
`
`applying a known technique to a known device, method, or product ready for
`
`improvement to yield predictable results, (e) the combination is obvious to try – it
`
`involves choosing from a finite number of identified, predictable solutions, with a
`
`reasonable expectation of success, and (f) the combination is proper because known
`
`work in one field of endeavor may prompt variations of it for use in either the same
`
`field or a different one based on design incentives or other market forces because the
`
`variations are predictable to one of ordinary skill in the art. Id.
`
`In summary, each of the references disclose using standard SCSI commands
`
`and/or drivers for the host to communicate with the relevant target device. Given
`
`
`3 It is also proper to combine the sensor (facsimile device) feature, stand-alone
`
`device feature and the use of a cable to connect SCSI interfaces feature taught by
`
`Matsumoto in the Kawaguchi system for these reasons as well.
`
`
`
`-14-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`the similarities of their subject matter and teachings, it would have been readily
`
`apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art to combine the teachings of each of the
`
`references. Id., ¶¶85-91
`
`Level of Skill
`
`4.
`A person of ordinary skill in the field, at the time the ’144 patent was
`
`effectively
`
`filed, possessed a working knowledge of devices such as
`
`microprocessors, hard disks, and computer interfaces such as SCSI. Ex. 1204, ¶ 39.
`
`He or she would also be familiar with associated software, including MS-DOS, MS
`
`Windows 95, UNIX and SCSI software modules and drivers, associated file systems
`
`(e.g., FAT), and device drivers. Ex. 1204, ¶ 39. A person of ordinary skill at the
`
`relevant time (1996-1998) would have had at least a four-year degree in electrical
`
`engineering, computer science, or related field of study, or equivalent experience,
`
`and at least two years’ experience in studying or developing computer interfaces or
`
`peripherals. Ex. 1204, ¶¶ 39-40.
`
`B.
`
`Challenged Claims
`1.
`
`Independent Claim 1
`
`(a)
`
`Preamble
`
`(i)
`
`First part – “An analog data acquisition device
`operatively connectable to a computer through
`a multipurpose interface of the computer”
`
`Kawaguchi discloses “a SCSI device converter comprising: a SCSI interface
`
`connected to a SCSI interface in an engineering workstation (EWS) . . . a device
`
`
`
`-15-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`interface for connecting a peripheral device . . . [and] a control unit for controlling
`
`the transmission/reception of data between the EWS and the peripheral device . . .”
`
`Ex. 1207, claim 1. Kawaguchi further discloses that the “EWS includes, as a
`
`standard interface, a SCSI interface used to connect hard disks and magnetic disk
`
`drives.” Id. at p. 3. The Kawaguchi SCSI device converter in cooperation with the
`
`connected peripheral devices forms an analog data acquisition device that is
`
`operatively connectable to a computer (i.e., EWS) through a multipurpose interface
`
`(i.e., SCSI interface) of the computer. Ex. 1204, ¶¶92-99.
`
`(ii)
`
`Second part – “the computer having an
`operating system programmed so that, when
`the computer receives a signal from the device
`through said multipurpose interface of the
`computer indicative of a class of devices, the
`computer automatically activates a device
`driver corresponding to the class of devices for
`allowing the transfer of data between the device
`and the operating system of the computer, the
`analog data acquisition device comprising:”
`
`As recited in Kawaguchi: “The following is an explanation of the operations
`
`performed by a SCSI driver (software) of the EWS (1) . . . The SCSI driver of the
`
`EWS has been developed as a driver for connecting a hard disk. Therefore, the
`
`apparatus in the present invention [i.e., the SCSI device converter] operates in a
`
`manner emulating the hard disk. This processing procedure is performed according
`
`to a flowchart shown in FIG. 2. In this flowchart, steps from ‘Start’ to ‘Mode Sense’
`
`represent an initialization process for a hard disk, ‘Inquiry’ represents reporting of
`
`
`
`-16-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`attribute information of a target and logical units (identification code of a device
`
`type), . . . In this way, the writing units and reading units (11) (12) (13) (14) can be
`
`activated for the EWS (1). After the initialization process, the EWS (1) performs
`
`writing to or reading from the writing units and reading units (11) (12) (13) (14).”
`
`Ex. 1207, p. 7. Kawaguchi discloses that the EWS has an operating system that is
`
`programmed to automatically activate its hard disk driver to allow data transfer with
`
`the SCSI device converter’s writing and reading units after receiving a response to
`
`the inquiry command through the EWS’s SCSI interface indicating that hard disks
`
`are attached. Ex. 1204, ¶¶64-72,85-91.
`
`(b)
`
`First element – a program memory;
`
`Kawaguchi recites that “the SCSI device converter (3) also implements a data
`
`writing unit (11), a data reading unit (12), a control data writing unit (13), an
`
`interrupt data reading unit (14), a code converting unit (15), a control unit (16) and
`
`an interrupt control unit (17) by using a microcomputer, ROM and RAM.” Ex. 1207,
`
`p. 5. The ROM and RAM provide program memory for the microcomputer. Ex.
`
`1204, ¶¶100-102.
`
`(c)
`
`Second element – an analog signal acquisition channel
`for receiving a signal from an analog source;
`
`As illustrated in Fig. 1, Kawaguchi discloses a plurality of analog signal
`
`acquisition channels: an I/O interface (9) for receiving a signal from Input device 5
`
`and a channel that includes A/D converter (19) for “receiv[ing] analog data from an
`
`
`
`-17-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`analog device (18) such as a sensor.” Ex. 1207, p. 5 and Fig. 1. The Sensor 18
`
`connected to A/D 19 and the Input device 5 connected to Device interface 9 are all
`
`analog sources – they all generate analog data that is then digitized. Ex. 1204, ¶¶
`
`103-104.
`
`(d) Third element – “a processor operatively interfaced
`with the multipurpose interface of the computer, the
`program memory, and a data storage memory when
`the analog data acquisition device is operational;”
`
`Kawaguchi discloses a microcomputer, program memory, and data storage
`
`memory within the SCSI device controller 3: “the SCSI device converter (3) also
`
`implements a data writing unit (11), a data reading unit (12), a control data writing
`
`unit (13), an interrupt data reading unit (14), a code converting unit (15), a control
`
`unit (16) and an interrupt control unit (17) by using a microcomputer, ROM and
`
`RAM.” Ex. 1207, p. 5. A microcomputer is a processor. Ex. 1204, ¶106.
`
`Kawaguchi discloses a processor (microcomputer), program memory (ROM and
`
`RAM), and data storage memory (RAM).
`
`Because a microcomputer inherently and implicitly executes program
`
`instructions which are stored in program memory such as ROM and/or RAM and
`
`inherently and implicitly stores data in data storage memory such as RAM,
`
`Kawaguchi discloses that when the analog data acquisition device (SCSI device
`
`converter) is operational, the processor is operatively interfaced with the program
`
`memory and a data storage memory. Ex. 1204, ¶¶105-107.
`
`
`
`-18-
`
`
`
`

`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,504,746
`
`Kawaguchi discloses
`
`that “the control unit (16) controls
`
`the data
`
`transmission/reception between the EWS and the peripheral devices.” Ex. 1207, p.
`
`5. Because the control unit (16) is implemented using a processor (microcomputer),
`
`Kawaguchi also discloses that when the analog data acquisition device (SCSI device
`
`converter)
`
`is operational
`
`the processor
`
`is operatively
`
`interfaced with
`
`the
`
`multipurpose interface of the computer (SCSI interface 2 of the EWS). Ex. 1204,
`
`¶¶105-107.
`
`(e)
`
`is
`the processor
`Fourth element – “wherein
`configured and programmed to implement a data
`generation process by which analog data is acquired
`from the analog signal acquisition channel, the analog
`data is processed and digitized, and the processed and
`digitized analog data is stored in a file system of the
`data storage memory as at least one file of digitized
`analog data”
`
`Kawaguchi discloses that sensor 18 generates analog data that are received
`
`and processed by the A/D 19: “For example, an A/D converter (19) may be installed
`
`to receive analog data from an analog device (18) such as a sensor.” Ex. 1207, p 5.
`
`and Fig. 1. Peripheral device 5, which is a sensor, also generates analog data that are
`
`received and processed. Ex. 1204, ¶103 Kawaguchi discloses that analog data is
`
`acquired from the analog signal acquisition channel. Id.
`
`Kawaguchi discloses that the processor-implemented control unit contro

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket