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
`
`MS Amendment
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`
`P.O. Box 1450
`
`Alexandria, VA 223 13-1450
`
`RESPONSE TO NON-FINAL OFFICE ACTION
`
`Dear Sir:
`
`In response to the Office Action dated September 17, 2009, please enter the following:
`
`The listing of claims begins on page 2 of this paper.
`
`Remarks/Arguments begin on page 10 of this paper.
`
`2440997571.DOC
`
`Comcast, Exhibit—102O
`
`1
`
`Comcast, Exhibit-1020
`
`

`
`Application No. l0/704,3 l 8
`Reply dated March l7, 2010
`Reply to Office Action of September 17, 2009
`
`Docket No.: GS/061 CON 2
`
`CLAIMS
`
`l.
`
`(Previously Presented) 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 program description displayed in the third area of the screen in
`
`response to a user input without changing the currently broadcast television program 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
`
`program.
`
`4.
`
`(Previously Presented) The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a
`
`selection of 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.
`
`(Previously Presented) The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a
`
`selection of 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.
`
`6.
`
`(Previously Presented) The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a
`
`selection of one of the plurality of program listings displayed in the first area of the screen and
`
`2
`
`

`
`Application No. l0/704,3 l 8
`Reply dated March l7, 2010
`Reply to Office Action of September 17, 2009
`
`Docket No.: GS/061 CON 2
`
`switching the display in the third area to a description of the program corresponding to the selected
`
`program listing.
`
`7.
`
`(Previously Presented) 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;
`
`receiving a selection of 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.
`
`(Previously Presented) 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;
`
`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; and
`
`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.
`
`3
`
`

`
`Application No. l0/704,3 l 8
`Reply dated March l7, 2010
`Reply to Office Action of September 17, 2009
`
`Docket No.: GS/061 CON 2
`
`9.
`
`(Previously Presented) An interactive entertainment system 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 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 program
`
`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.
`
`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.
`
`4
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`

`
`Application No. l0/704,318
`Reply dated March l7, 2010
`Reply to Office Action of September 17, 2009
`
`Docket No.: GS/061 CON 2
`
`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.
`
`(Previously Presented) An interactive entertainment system comprising:
`
`a tuner coupled to a display, wherein the display includes a screen;
`
`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;
`
`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; and
`
`means for switching the display in the third area to a description of the program
`
`corresponding to the selected program listing.
`
`16.
`
`(Previously Presented) An entertainment system comprising:
`
`a tuner coupled to a display, wherein the display includes a screen;
`
`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.
`
`5
`
`

`
`Application No. 10/704,318
`Reply dated March 17, 2010
`Reply to Office Action of September 17, 2009
`
`Docket No.: GS/061 CON 2
`
`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.
`
`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)
`
`6
`
`

`
`Application No. l0/704,318
`Reply dated March l7, 2010
`Reply to Office Action of September 17, 2009
`
`Docket No.: GS/061 CON 2
`
`22.
`
`(Previously Presented) 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 current television program 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,
`
`including
`
`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.
`
`(Previously Presented) 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, 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 program description displayed in the third area of the screen in
`
`response to a user input without changing the currently broadcast television program displayed in
`
`the second area of the screen.
`
`24.
`
`(Cancelled)
`
`7
`
`

`
`Application No. l0/704,318
`Reply dated March l7, 2010
`Reply to Office Action of September 17, 2009
`
`Docket No.: GS/061 CON 2
`
`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
`
`program.
`
`26.
`
`(Previously Presented) The method of claim 23 further comprising receiving a
`
`selection of 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.
`
`(Previously Presented) The method of claim 23 further comprising receiving a
`
`selection of 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.
`
`(Previously Presented) The method of claim 23 further comprising receiving a
`
`selection of 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.
`
`29.
`
`(Previously Presented) 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, 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;
`
`receiving a selection of 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
`
`8
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`

`
`Application No. l0/704,3 l 8
`Reply dated March l7, 2010
`Reply to Office Action of September 17, 2009
`
`Docket No.: GS/061 CON 2
`
`switching the display in the third area to a description of the program corresponding to the
`
`selected program listing.
`
`30.
`
`(Previously Presented) 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, 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;
`
`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; and
`
`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
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`

`
`Application No. 10/704,318
`Reply dated March 17, 2010
`Reply to Office Action of September 17, 2009
`
`Docket No.: GS/061 CON 2
`
`Claims 1, 3-9, 11-20, 22-23, and 25-30 are pending in this application.
`
`REMARKS
`
`Claim Reections under 35 U.S.C.
`
`103 a
`
`Claims 1, 3, 5-6, 9, 11, 13-14, 16-17, 20, 23, 25, and 27-28 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
`
`§ 103(a) as unpatentable over U.S. Patent No. 5,731,844 ("Rauch") in view of U.S. Patent No.
`
`5,710,601 ("Marshall"). Applicants respectfully traverse the rejection.
`
`Claim 1 recites a method for displaying an electronic program guide in an interactive
`
`television system which includes the following elements:
`
`0
`
`0
`
`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 program description displayed in the third area of the screen in
`response to a user input without changing the currently broadcast television program
`displayed in the second area of the screen.
`
`On page 3 of the Office Action, the Examiner admits that Rauch does not "disclose
`
`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 program displayed in the second area
`
`of the screen," but contends that this element is disclosed by Marshall at FIG. 8, col. 3, lines 41-43.
`
`The Examiner explains that "the viewer then presses a predetermined key on remote 35, such as the
`
`highlight button, to cause the written description and video clip related to the selected program to be
`
`displayed on the video screen." (Office Action, page 3.) Applicants respectfully disagree.
`
`In Marshall, a viewer can view a display including listings, e.g., as shown in FIG. 7. The
`
`listings display is superimposed over a base program signal. (Marshall, col. 2, lines 45-50.) One of
`
`the listings can be selected using a remote control key to obtain the display shown in FIG. 8 which
`
`includes a video clip and description of the program selected from the listings in FIG. 7. (Marshall,
`
`col. 3, lines 37-43.) Thus, in Marshall, a viewer can view a video and video information
`
`10
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`10
`
`10
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`

`
`Application No. 10/704,318
`Reply dated March 17, 2010
`Reply to Office Action of September 17, 2009
`
`Docket No.: GS/061 CON 2
`
`superimposed over a base program signal, by selecting the video from a listings screen. (Marshall,
`
`FIGS. 7-8, col. 3, lines 37-44.) Marshall, however, does not disclose switching a program
`
`description in response to a user input without changing the currently broadcast television program.
`
`In Marshall, program descriptions can be obtained by selecting a listing. There is no disclosure in
`
`Marshall, however, of switching a program description to another program description. In Marshall,
`
`there is no disclosure of any selections which could be made from the program description display
`
`in FIG. 8 to cause any changes in the screen. Thus, Marshall fails to disclose at least the element of
`
`claim 1 which recites "switching the detailed program description displayed in the third area of the
`
`screen in response to a user input..."
`
`Applicants also note that the motivation for combining Marshall and Rauch as stated by the
`
`Examiner on page 3 of the Office Action "for the purpose of allowing users to keep enjoying their
`
`current show whenever they move from one program to another one in the list of the programs,"
`
`does note make sense given that Marshall's listings are superimposed over a majority of a currently
`
`broadcast program and the viewer would not be able to enjoy their show at all.
`
`For at least these reasons, applicants submit that claim 1 is patentable over the cited
`
`references, and respectfully request the rejection be withdrawn.
`
`Claims 4, 7, 12, 15, 18, 19, 22, 26 and 29 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being
`
`unpatentable over Rauch in view of U.S. Patent No. 5,583,560 ("Florin"). Applicants respectfully
`
`traverse the rejection.
`
`Claim 7 recites an element which the Office Action contends is disclosed by Florin:
`
`"receiving a selection of 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."
`
`(Office Action, page 8, citing Florin at col. 15, lines 46-49.) Applicants disagree.
`
`Florin describes providing a display of listings with a picture-in-picture window of a
`
`program the user was last viewing. (Florin, col. 15, lines 29-32.) If a user selects a program from
`
`11
`
`‘I1
`
`11
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`

`
`Application No. l0/704,3 l 8
`Reply dated March l7, 20 l 0
`Reply to Office Action of September 17, 2009
`
`Docket No.: GS/061 CON 2
`
`the listings in Florin, the program would be displayed in a full screen without any listings. (Florin,
`
`Col. 15, lines 33-39.) Thus, Florin does not disclose receiving a selection a program listing, and
`
`controlling the tuner to display the program in a picture-in-picture window. Florin only discloses
`
`selecting a program from a listing to provide a full screen display of the program.
`
`With respect to claim 7, the Office Action also cites Marshall as disclosing switching a
`
`display in a third area to a program description... (Office Action, page 8.) For the reasons
`
`mentioned above in reference to claim 1, applicants submit that Marshall does not disclose any
`
`switching of program descriptions. For at least these reasons, applicants submit that claim 7 is
`
`patentable over the cited references, and respectfully request the rejection be withdrawn.
`
`Claims 8 and 30 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § l03(a) as being unpatentable over Rauch
`
`in view of Florin. Applicants respectfully traverse the rejection.
`
`Claim 8 recites "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." The Examiner contends that Florin discloses this element by its picture-in-picture window
`
`display of selected programs.
`
`(Office action, page 12, citing Florin at Col. 15, lines 46-49.)
`
`Applicants disagree. As mentioned above in reference to claim 7, Florin only discloses selecting a
`
`program in a listing to cause the program to be displayed in a full screen. There is no disclosure in
`
`Florin of selecting a program in a listing and viewing the program in a picture-in-picture screen.
`
`Thus, Florin does not disclose all of the elements of claim 8. For at least these reasons, Applicant
`
`respectfully requests that the rejection of claim 8 be withdrawn.
`
`Thus, for at least the above reasons, applicants submit that the cited references do not teach
`
`all of the elements of independent claims 1, 7 and 8. The remaining claims 3-6, 9, ll-20, 22-23,
`
`and 25-30 include elements in common with claims 1, 7 and/or 8, or depend either directly or
`
`12
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`12
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`12
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`

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`Application No. l0/704,318
`Reply dated March l7, 2010
`Reply to Office Action of September 17, 2009
`
`Docket No.: GS/061 CON 2
`
`indirectly from independent claims 1, 7 or 8, and are patentable over the cited references for at least
`
`the reasons that those claims are patentable.
`
`Applicants believe a 3-month extension of time is due with this response. However, if any
`
`other fee is due, please charge our Deposit Account No. 06-1075, under Order No. GS-61 C011 2
`
`from which the undersigned is authorized to draw.
`
`March 17, 2010
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`/Pristine Johannessen/
`
`Pristine Johannessen
`
`Reg. No. 55,302
`Attorney for Applicants
`ROPES & GRAY LLP
`
`Customer No. 75563
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