APPiication Number
`
`10/704,318
`
`Filina Date
`
`November 7, 2003
`
`PTO/SB/30 (01)
`Approved for use through 02/28/2009. OMB 0651-0031
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number.
`Request
`for
`Continued Examination (RCE)
`Transmittal
`
`First Named Inventor
`
`Henry C. Yuen
`
`Address to:
`Mail Stop RCE
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`Art Unit
`
`2425
`
`Examiner Name
`
`J. D. Saint-Cyr
`
`Attorney Docket Number GS-61 Cont. 2
`
`This is a Request for Continued Examination (RCE) under 37 CFR 1.114 of the above-identified application.
`Request for Continued Examination (RCE) practice under 37 CFR 1.114 does not apply to any utility or plant application filed prior to June
`8, 1995, or to any design application. See Instruction Sheet for RC Es (not to be submitted to the US PTO) on page 2.
`1. I Submission required under 37 CFR 1.114 I Note: If the RCE is proper, any previously filed unentered amendments and
`amendments enclosed with the RCE will be entered in the order in which they were filed unless applicant instructs otherwise. If
`applicant does not wish to have any previously filed unentered amendment(s) entered, applicant must request non-entry of such
`amendment(s).
`
`a. D
`
`Previously submitted. If a final Office action is outstanding, any amendments filed after the final Office action
`may be considered as a submission even if this box is not checked.
`
`i. D Consider the arguments in the Appeal Brief or Reply Brief previously filed on
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`ii. Oother
`
`b. 0 Enclosed
`i. 0 Amendment/Reply
`
`iii. D Information Disclosure Statement (IDS)
`
`ii. D Affidavit(s)/Declaration(s)
`
`iv. Oother
`
`I Miscellaneous I
`a.o Suspension of action on the above-identified application is requested under 37 CFR 1.103(c) for a
`period of
`months. (Period of suspension shall not exceed 3 months; Fee under 37 CFR 1.17(i) required)
`
`b.D Other
`I Fees I The RCE fee under 37 CFR 1.17(e) is required by 37 CFR 1.114 when the RCE is filed.
`a. 0 The Director is hereby authorized to charge the following fees, any underpayment of fees, or credit any
`i. 0 RCE fee required under 37 CFR 1.17( e)
`ii. 0 Extension of time fee (37 CFR 1.136 and 1.17)
`
`Overpayments, to Deposit Account No.
`
`18-1945
`
`iii. Oother
`
`b.D Check in the amount of $
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`enclosed
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`c.D Payment by credit card (Form PT0-2038 enclosed)
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`SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT, ATTORNEY, OR AGENT REQUIRED
`
`Signature
`
`/Haixia Lin/
`
`Name (Print/Type)
`
`Haixia Lin
`
`Date
`February 23, 2009
`Registration No. I 61,318
`
`11635404_1.DOC
`
`1
`
`Comcast, Exhibit-1016
`
`

`
`Docket No.: GS-61 Cont. 2
`
`(PATENT)
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`In re Patent Application of:
`Yuen et al.
`
`Application No.: 10/704,318
`
`Confirmation No.: 3367
`
`Filed: November 7, 2003
`
`Art Unit: 2425
`
`For: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`DISPLAYING TELEVISION PROGRAMS
`
`Examiner: J. D. Saint—Cyr
`
`AND RELATED TEXT
`
`AMENDMENT AFTER FINAL ACTION UNDER 37 C.F.R. 1.116
`
`MS RCE
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`
`P.O. Box 1450
`
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`Dear Madam:
`
`INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS
`
`In response to the Office Action dated September 22, 2008, please amend the above-
`
`identified U.S. patent application as follows. This amendment accompanies a Request for
`
`Continued Examination (RCE) filed herewith. The time period for response has been extended to
`
`February 22, 2009, by the accompanying petition for a two—month extension of time.
`
`Amendments to the Claims are reflected in the listing of claims which begins on page 2 of
`
`this paper.
`
`Remarks/Arguments begin on page 10 of this paper.
`
`ll635397_l.DOC
`
`2
`
`

`
`Application No. 10/704,318
`Amendment dated February 23, 2009
`After Final Office Action of September 22, 2008
`
`Docket No.2 GS/061 CON 2
`
`AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS
`
`1.
`
`(Currently amended) A method for displaying an electronic program guide in an
`
`interactive television system having a tuner and a screen, the method comprising:
`
`simultaneously displaying a plurality of television program listings in a first area of the
`
`screen, a currently broadcast television program received by the tuner in a second, nonoverlapping
`
`area of the screen and a detailed program description of the currently broadcast television program
`
`displayed in the second area of the screen in a third nonoverlapping area of the screen; and
`
`switching the detailed pro gram description displayed in the third area of the screen in
`
`response to a user input without changing the currently broadcast television pro gram displayed in
`
`the second area of the screen.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`(Cancelled)
`
`(Original) The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a second currently
`
`broadcast television program in the second area of the screen in response to a user input and
`
`switching the display in the third area to a description of the second currently broadcast television
`
`pro gram.
`
`4.
`
`(Original) The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting one of the plurality of
`
`program listings displayed in the first area of the screen and controlling the tuner to display in the
`
`second area of the screen simultaneously with the program listings the currently telecast video
`
`program corresponding to the selected program listing.
`
`5.
`
`(Original) The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting one of the plurality of
`
`program listings displayed in the first area of the screen without changing the currently broadcast
`
`television program displayed in the second area of the screen.
`
`ll635397_l.DOC
`
`3
`
`

`
`Application No. 10/704,318
`Amendment dated February 23, 2009
`After Final Office Action of September 22, 2008
`
`Docket No.2 GS/061 CON 2
`
`6.
`
`(Original) The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting one of the plurality of
`
`program listings displayed in the first area of the screen and switching the display in the third area
`
`to a description of the program corresponding to the selected program listing.
`
`7.
`
`(Currently amended) A method for displaying an electronic program guide in an
`
`interactive television system having a tuner and a screen, the method $h&me$
`
`comprising;
`
`simultaneously displaying a plurality of television program listings in a first area of the
`
`screen, a currently broadcast television pro gram received by the tuner in a second, nonoverlapping
`
`area of the screen and a detailed pro gram description of the currently broadcast television pro gram
`
`displayed in the second area of the screen in a third nonoverlapping area of the screen;
`
`selecting one of the plurality of program listings displayed in the first area of the screen and
`
`controlling the tuner to display in the second area of the screen simultaneously with the program
`
`listings the currently telecast video program corresponding to the selected program listing; and
`
`switching the display in the third area to a description of the program corresponding to the
`
`selected program listing.
`
`8.
`
`(Currently amended) A method for displaying an electronic program guide in an
`
`interactive television system having a tuner and a screen, the method $h&me$
`
`comprising:
`
`simultaneously displaying a plurality of television program listings in a first area of the
`
`screen, a currently broadcast television pro gram received by the tuner in a second, nonoverlapping
`
`area of the screen and a detailed pro gram description of the currently broadcast television pro gram
`
`displayed in the second area of the screen in a third nonoverlapping area of the screen;
`
`successively marking on the screen current program listings displayed in the first area;
`
`successively retrieving from a memory channel identifications of the marked
`
`program listings;Q1
`
`ll635397_l.DOC
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`4
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`

`
`Application No. 10/704,318
`Amendment dated February 23, 2009
`After Final Office Action of September 22, 2008
`
`Docket No.2 GS/061 CON 2
`
`using the retrieved channel identifications to set the tuner successively to receive the
`
`current telecast programs represented by the marked program listings to successively display such
`
`programs in the second area of the screen as program listings are marked in the first area.
`
`9.
`
`(Currently amended) An interactive entertainment system comprising:
`
`a display having a screen;
`
`a tuner coupled to the display; and
`
`means for simultaneously displaying a plurality of television program listings in a first area
`
`of the screen, a currently broadcast television program received by the tuner in a second
`
`nonoverlapping area of the screen and a detailed program description of the currently broadcast
`
`television program displayed in the second area of the screen in a third nonoverlapping area of the
`
`screen; and
`
`means for switching the detailed program description displayed in the third area of the
`
`screen in response to a user input without changing the currently broadcast television pro gram
`
`displayed in the second area of the screen.
`
`10.
`
`(Cancelled)
`
`ll.
`
`(Original) The interactive entertainment system of claim 9 further comprising means
`
`for displaying a second currently broadcast television program in the second area of the screen in
`
`response to a user input and switching the display in the third area to a description of the second
`
`currently broadcast television program.
`
`12.
`
`(Original) The interactive entertainment system of claim 9 further comprising means
`
`for selecting one of the plurality of program listings displayed in the first area of the screen and
`
`means for controlling the tuner to display in the second area of the screen simultaneously with the
`
`program listings the currently telecast video program corresponding to the selected program listing.
`
`ll635397_l.DOC
`
`5
`
`

`
`Application No. 10/704,318
`Amendment dated February 23, 2009
`After Final Office Action of September 22, 2008
`
`Docket No.2 GS/061 CON 2
`
`13.
`
`(Original) The interactive entertainment system of claim 9 further comprising means
`
`for selecting one of the plurality of program listings displayed in the first area of the screen without
`
`changing the currently broadcast television program displayed in the second area of the screen.
`
`14.
`
`(Original) The interactive entertainment system of claim 9 further comprising means
`
`for selecting one of the plurality of program listings displayed in the first area of the screen and
`
`means for switching the display in the third area to a description of the program corresponding to
`
`the selected program listing.
`
`15.
`
`(Currently amended) An interactive entertainment system 3Ehe—inter—aeti=ve
`
` comprising;
`
`a display having a screen;
`
`a tuner coupled to the display;
`
`means for simultaneously displaying a plurality of television program listings in a first area
`
`of the screen, a currently broadcast television pro gram received by the tuner in a second
`
`nonoverlapping area of the screen and a detailed pro gram description of the currently broadcast
`
`television program displayed in the second area of the screen in a third nonoverlapping area of the
`
`E;
`
`means for selecting one of the plurality of program listings displayed in the first area of the
`
`screen and means for controlling the tuner to display in the second area of the screen simultaneously
`
`with the program listings the currently telecast video program corresponding to the selected
`
`pro gram listing; and
`
`means for switching the display in the third area to a description of the program
`
`corresponding to the selected program listing.
`
`16.
`
`(Original) An entertainment system comprising:
`
`a display having a screen;
`
`a tuner;
`
`ll635397_l.DOC
`
`6
`
`

`
`Application No. 10/704,318
`Amendment dated February 23, 2009
`After Final Office Action of September 22, 2008
`
`Docket No.2 GS/061 CON 2
`
`means for simultaneously displaying a plurality of television program listings in a
`
`first area of the screen, a currently broadcast television program received by the tuner in a second
`
`area of the screen and a detailed program description of the currently broadcast television program
`
`at a first level of detail in a third area of the screen; and
`
`means responsive to an input device for substituting a program description of the
`
`currently broadcast television program at a second level of detail for the detailed program
`
`description of the currently broadcast television program at a first level of detail in a third area of
`
`the screen.
`
`17.
`
`(Original) A method for displaying an electronic program guide in an interactive
`
`television system having a tuner and a screen, the method comprising:
`
`displaying in a first area of the screen a plurality of program listings;
`
`simultaneously displaying in a second area of the screen substantially all of a
`
`currently broadcast television program;
`
`simultaneously displaying in a third area of the screen a detailed program description
`
`of the current television program displayed in the second area of the screen; and
`
`switching the detailed program description displayed in the third area of the screen in
`
`response to a user input without changing the current television program displayed in the second
`
`area of the screen.
`
`18.
`
`(Original) The method of claim 17 further comprising:
`
`successively marking on the screen current program listings displayed in the first
`
`area; and
`
`successively displaying the current telecast program represented by the marked
`
`program listings in the second area of the screen as program listings are marked in the first area.
`
`19.
`
`(Original) The method of claim 18 further comprising responsive to a user
`
`command, maintaining the current telecast program displayed in the second area as program listings
`
`are successively marked in the first area.
`
`ll635397_l.DOC
`
`7
`
`

`
`Application No. 10/704,318
`Amendment dated February 23, 2009
`After Final Office Action of September 22, 2008
`
`Docket No.2 GS/061 CON 2
`
`20.
`
`(Original) The method of claim 17 further comprising successively marking on the
`
`screen current program listings displayed in the first area wherein switching the detailed program
`
`description displayed in the third area of the screen in response to a user input comprises displaying
`
`in the third area of the screen the detailed program description represented by the marked program
`
`listings.
`
`21.
`
`(Cancelled)
`
`
`
`an electronic program guide in an interactive television system having a tuner and a screen, the
`
`method comprising:
`
`displaying in a first area of the screen a plurality of program listings;
`
`simultaneously displaying in a second area of the screen substantially all of a currently
`
`broadcast television pro gram;
`
`simultaneously displaying in a third area of the screen a detailed pro gram description of the
`
`current television pro gram displayed in the second area of the screen; and
`
`switching the current television pro gram displayed in the second area of the screen and the
`
`corresponding detailed program description displayed in the third area in response to a user input,
`
`mg
`
`successively marking on the screen current program listings displayed in the first area; and
`
`successively displaying the current telecast program represented by the marked program
`
`listings in the second area of the screen and the corresponding detailed program description in the
`
`third area as program listings are marked in the first area.
`
`23.
`
`(Currently amended) A method for displaying an electronic program guide in an
`
`interactive television system having a tuner and a screen, the method comprising:
`
`ll635397_l.DOC
`
`8
`
`

`
`Application No. 10/704,318
`Amendment dated February 23, 2009
`After Final Office Action of September 22, 2008
`
`Docket No.2 GS/061 CON 2
`
`simultaneously displaying a plurality of television program listings in a first area of the
`
`screen, substantially all of a currently broadcast television program received by the tuner in a
`
`second area of the screen and a detailed program description of the currently broadcast television
`
`program displayed in the second area of the screen in a third area of the screen; and
`
`switching the detailed pro gram description displayed in the third area of the screen in
`
`response to a user input without changing the currently broadcast television pro gram displayed in
`
`the second area of the screen.
`
`24.
`
`(Cancelled)
`
`25.
`
`(Original) The method of claim 23 further comprising displaying a second currently
`
`broadcast television program in the second area of the screen in response to a user input and
`
`switching the display in the third area to a description of the second currently broadcast television
`
`pro gram.
`
`26.
`
`(Original) The method of claim 23 further comprising selecting one of the plurality
`
`of program listings displayed in the first area of the screen and controlling the tuner to display in the
`
`second area of the screen simultaneously with the program listings the currently telecast video
`
`program corresponding to the selected program listing.
`
`27.
`
`(Original) The method of claim 23 further comprising selecting one of the plurality
`
`of program listings displayed in the first area of the screen without changing the currently broadcast
`
`television program displayed in the second area of the screen.
`
`28.
`
`(Original) The method of claim 23 further comprising selecting one of the plurality
`
`of program listings displayed in the first area of the screen and switching the display in the third
`
`area to a description of the program corresponding to the selected program listing.
`
`ll635397_l.DOC
`
`9
`
`

`
`Application No. 10/704,318
`Amendment dated February 23, 2009
`After Final Office Action of September 22, 2008
`
`Docket No.2 GS/061 CON 2
`
`29.
`
`(Currently amended) A method for displaying an electronic program guide in an
`
`interactive television system having a tuner and a screen, the method
`
`fur—ther—comprising;
`
`simultaneously displaying a plurality of television program listings in a first area of the
`
`screen, substantially all of a currently broadcast television pro gram received by the tuner in a
`
`second area of the screen and a detailed pro gram description of the currently broadcast television
`
`program displayed in the second area of the screen in a third area of the screen;
`
`selecting one of the plurality of program listings displayed in the first area of the screen and
`
`controlling the tuner to display in the second area of the screen simultaneously with the program
`
`listings the currently telecast video program corresponding to the selected program listing; and
`
`switching the display in the third area to a description of the program corresponding to the
`
`selected program listing.
`
`30.
`
`(Currently amended) A method for displaying an electronic program guide in an
`
`interactive television system having a tuner and a screen, the method
`
`further—comprising:
`
`simultaneously displaying a plurality of television program listings in a first area of the
`
`screen, substantially all of a currently broadcast television pro gram received by the tuner in a
`
`second area of the screen and a detailed pro gram description of the currently broadcast television
`
`program displayed in the second area of the screen in a third area of the screen;
`
`successively marking on the screen current program listings displayed in the first area;
`
`successively retrieving from a memory channel identifications of the marked program
`
`listings;Q1
`
`using the retrieved channel identifications to set the tuner successively to receive the current
`
`telecast programs represented by the marked program listings to successively display such programs
`
`in the second area of the screen as program listings are marked in the first area.
`
`ll635397_l.DOC
`
`10
`
`10
`
`

`
`Application No. 10/704,318
`Amendment dated February 23, 2009
`After Final Office Action of September 22, 2008
`
`Docket No.2 GS/061 CON 2
`
`Summary of Office Action
`
`REMARKS
`
`Claims 1-30 were pending in this application. Claims 2, 10, and 24 have been canceled.
`
`Claims 1, 4-5, 9, 12-13, 23, and 26-27 were rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being
`
`unpatentable over Alten et al. U.S. Patent No. 5,635,978 ("Alten") in View of Florin et al. U.S.
`
`Patent No. 5,583,560 ("Florin").
`
`Claims 3, 6, 11, 14, 21, 25 and 28 were rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being
`
`unpatentable over Alten in View of Florin and further in View of Marshall et. al. U.S. Patent
`
`No. 5,523,796 ("Marshall").
`
`Claims 16-20 were allowed.
`
`Claims 2, 7-8, 10, 15, 22, 24, 29, and 30 were objected to as being dependent upon a rejected
`
`base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations
`
`of the base claim and any intervening claims.
`
`Applicants note with appreciation that Claims 16-20 were allowed and that Claims 2, 7-8,
`
`10, 15, 22, 24, 29, and 30 would be allowable if these claims were amended to include the
`
`limitations of their respective base and intervening claims.
`
`Accordingly, Claims 1, 9, and 23 have been amended to include the subject matter recited in
`
`allowable Claims 2, 10, and 24, and, therefore, should now be allowable. Also, Claims 7-8, 15, 22,
`
`29, and 30 have been rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of their
`
`respective base claim and any intervening claims and, therefore, should now be allowable.
`
`The amendments are made solely to expedite prosecution of the application, and Applicants
`
`reserve the right to prosecute claims of similar or differing scope in subsequent applications.
`
`11635397_1.DOC
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`11
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`

`
`Application No. 10/704,318
`Amendment dated February 23, 2009
`After Final Office Action of September 22, 2008
`
`Docket No.2 GS/061 CON 2
`
`Because Claims 1, 9, and 23 have been amended to include the subject matter recited in
`
`allowable Claims 2, 10, and 24, these claims should now be allowable and the § 103 Rejection
`
`should be withdrawn. Because Claim 3-6, 11-14, and 25-28 depend from amended allowable base
`
`Claim 1, 9, or 23, these claims are now allowable.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Applicants believe no fee is due with this response other than as reflected on the enclosed
`
`Amendment Transmittal. However, if a fee is due, please charge our Deposit Account No. 06-1075,
`
`under Order No. GS-61 Cont. 2 from which the undersigned is authorized to draw.
`
`Dated: February 23, 2009
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`/Haixia Lin/
`By
`Haixia Lin
`
`Registration No .: 61,318
`ROPES & GRAY LLP
`
`One International Place
`
`Boston, Massachusetts 02110
`
`(617) 951-7000
`
`(617) 951-7050 (Fax)
`
`Attorneys/Agents For Applicant
`
`11635397_1.DOC
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