Eu,°P3i“he,
`"“‘°"””"‘
`
`52:23:31..
`Office euvopéen
`des brevets
`
`Finnie, Peter John
`Gill Jennings & Every LLP
`The Broadgate Tower
`20 Primrose Street
`London EC2A 2ES
`ROYAUME UNI
`
`Reference
`PJF11074EP1
`App|icantlProprietor
`
`B|ackBerry Limited
`
`Refund of fees
`
`European Patent Office
`80298 M UNI CH
`
`GERMANY
`
`Questions about this communication ?
`Contact Customer Services at www.epo.org/contact
`
`Date
`
`19.01.16
`
`Application No./Patent No.
`O6125884.4 — 1972/ 1768359
`
`The following fee(s) was (were) paid in respect of the application O6125884.4:
`
`Fee
`
`Reference VoucherNo
`
`Date
`
`Currency Amount
`
`Renewal fee
`
`042
`
`01347510
`
`30.11.15
`
`EUR
`
`1 560,00
`
`The fee(s) was (were) paid by Computer Packages, |nc..
`
`According to the present state of the file the refund will be made by:
`
`CREDITING THE DEPOSIT ACCOUNT 28050014 Gill Jennings & Every LLP.
`
`Amount refundable:
`
`Reference Currency
`
`Amount
`
`Voucher No
`
`042
`
`EUR
`
`1.560,00
`
`01432417
`
`Reason for refund: Application withdrawn on
`
`The Authorising Officer
`Tschubel
`
`(49)(89)23995894
`
`EPO Form 2907 04.14
`
`Page 1 of 403
`
`GOOGLE EXHIBIT 1014
`
`

`

`ilsches
`Eur
`amt:
`Pat
`European
`Patent Office
`Office eu
`éen
`des breve
`
`Closure of the procedure in respect of application No. 06125884.4 - 1972
`
`04.01.16
`
`1. The procedure in respect of the above application is closed for the following reason:
`
`X REFU 2/13.04.11
`
`The time limit under Art.108 EPC has expired.
`No notice of appeal under Article 108 and Rule 99 EPC has been filed. No
`request for a decision under Rule 112(2), or for further processing under
`Article 121 EPC or for re-establishment of rights under Article 122 EPC has
`been filed.
`
`The EPASYS situation has been verified in respect of item 1:
`
`DF|L:
`
`09.11.04
`
`NOAP: REFUAPPR/21.06.11/23.08.11/21.06.11/
`
`RDEC:
`
`////
`
`RFPR:
`
`REES:
`
`//
`
`///
`
`REFU 3/ADXI 3 and DEAD 1 coded. Date of legal ellect
`Position regarding fees:
`FFEE01
`001
`FEFS01
`002
`DEST03
`005
`EXAM02
`006
`NOAP04
`011
`CLMS(2)
`015
`RFEE 03
`033
`RFEE 04
`034
`RFEE 05
`035
`RFEE 06
`036
`RFEE 07
`037
`RFEE 08
`038
`RFEE 09
`039
`RFEE 10
`040
`RFEE 11
`041
`RFEE 12
`042
`EXPT02
`402
`EXPT02
`402
`EXPT02
`403
`EXPT02
`403
`EXPT02
`404
`EXPT02
`404
`EXPT02
`406
`EXPT02
`406
`EXPT02
`407
`EXPT02
`407
`EXPT02
`408
`EXPT02
`408
`EXPT02
`408
`EXPT02
`408
`EXPT02
`409
`EXPT02
`409
`
`00760944
`00760944
`00760944
`00760944
`00766286
`00760944
`00760944
`00756284
`00340207
`00468825
`00927721
`01004042
`01040191
`01115719
`01263577
`01347510
`00131456
`00008231
`00120103
`00008231
`00760944
`00002116
`00760944
`00002116
`00760944
`00002116
`00760944
`00120103
`00002116
`00008231
`00760944
`00002116
`
`12.12.06
`12.12.06
`12.12.06
`12.12.06
`21.06.11
`12.12.06
`12.12.06
`28.11.07
`28.03.08
`14.10.09
`12.11.10
`14.11.11
`13.11.12
`18.11.13
`26.11.14
`30.11.15
`18.01.07
`12.04.07
`12.12.06
`12.04.07
`12.12.06
`08.01.07
`12.12.06
`08.01.07
`12.12.06
`08.01.07
`12.12.06
`12.12.06
`08.01.07
`12.04.07
`12.12.06
`08.01.07
`
`20 ]Q 20] 5
`
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`EUR
`
`95,00
`1 000,00
`560,00
`1 335,00
`1 180,00
`855,00
`400,00
`425,00
`450,00
`900,00
`1 050,00
`1 155,00
`1 325,00
`1495,00
`1 560,00
`1 560,00
`102,00
`76,69
`102,00
`76,69
`102,00
`76,69
`102,00
`76,69
`102,00
`76,50
`102,00
`102,008
`76,50
`76,50
`102,00
`76,50
`
`EPO Form2058
`
`11.15
`
`TT22424
`
`Page 2 of 403
`
`

`

`El Examination started on
`
`I:I Refu nd(s) ordered:
`
`(EXDS51).
`
`El Other fees:
`[I RFEE(s):
`I:I DEST fee*
`El 75% EXAM fee
`Note: Attention is to be aid to otential automated refund ro osal s .
`
`*Refund of DEST fee if date of legal effect is before/on SEPU or PACT6 date.
`
`4. Mark "DEAD" on the paper file and:
`
`IX Check whether a divisional application is pending and if so attach the DEAD file to it.
`[I Any models still in the Offices possession were returned on
`(for dealing with models, please refer to Fil d'Ariane).
`[X Keep paper file in file store (separate place) until next action for file destruction.
`
`04_01_2016
`Date
`
`Touysserkani, Tanja
`Formalities Officer
`
`EPO Form2058
`
`11.15
`
`Page 3 of 403
`
`

`

`23n’12r’2l?15 9:35
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`I
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`Tel. +49 (0)39 2559-0
`Fax: +49 (0)59 zsua-4465
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`111111 1111111111 11111 111 11111
`
`1
`nnne, Peter
`Gill Jennings 8: Every LLF'
`The Broedgete Tower
`20 Primrose Street
`London EC2A ZES
`ROVAUME UNI
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`
`The Registry
`
`Name M H A Pam
`'
`'
`‘
`‘
`Tel: 08912399-3531
`Date:
`24.11.15
`
`Anmaldung Nrmptrlication l-lu..fDemam:le n".'IFatem Nr.1'Patem Nwfirelret n“
`ZsiGhBn’RaferencafRél‘ér9h=e
`06‘l_2588-4-
`I 1768359
`F'JF"11U74EF'1
`Anmeldermppricanu'I:1emancleurI.rPatentrnhal:»ar.1Fropriator/Tltulaire
`BlackBerry Limited
`
`Appeal number:
`
`T203511 1-3.5.03
`
`3032____?j_,,_,_j__
`EPNEPDIOEB Formb!attlForm!Formulaire:
`Empfangsbeecheinigung fiber den Zngang des vorstehantl bezelctmaten Schriftstiicks
`Acknowledgement of receipt of the document epeclfled above
`Récepissé du document spéciflé ci-dessus
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`mit Empfengedaturrl und Unterschrlft zu versehen und umgehend an dee EPA zurfickzusenden:
`with reference to the Notice in DJ EPO E’/2010. 377, you are requested to date and sign the
`acknowledgement of receipt and return it to the EPO Immediately:
`Conformement au communique paru au JO DEB 7J2D10. 3?7, vous étee one d'lndiquer eur le récépiesé la
`date de reception clu document, de signer Ie récepisse et de Ie renvoyer sane délai £11
`I’ DEB:
`-
`fiber die Online-Divenste des EPA (ale Anlage zu EPA Form 1038) I through EPO Dnllne Services
`(as annex to EPO Fem] 1038) 1' par lee services en ligne de I'0EI3 (en tant que plécejolnte au
`forrnulaire CIEB '1 D38),
`per Fax I by fan: I par Iéléfax [+49 (0) 39 2399-4465 or +31 (0)?!) 340-3016)
`oder per Post I or by post rou par courder
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`
`Ernpfangen em 1' Received on I Regu Ie:
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`untarscmiru Signature:
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`Empfangsberechtigterfauthorieed recipient!
`le destlnataire uu la personne dflrnent rnandetée
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`.----:u........................__..
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`(UrnschIag!envelope.’envarlnppe|SO o4mL1c>erc5Ice)
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`leted at 24.12.2015 13:29:02
`Duration: 24.12.2015 13.28.49 — 24.12.2o15:1132§:1c§.1T§1sé;;;%e21 c|>3a£\1~(:151Cc;FFI31
`Received at the EPO on Dec 2 .
`-
`-
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`
`Page 4 of 403
`
`

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`
`

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`Page 6 of 403
`
`

`

`BESCHWERDEKAMERN
`
`BOARDS OF APPEAL OF
`
`CHAMBRES DE RECOURS
`
`DES EUROPAISCHEN
`PATENTAMTS
`
`THE EUROPEAN PATENT
`OFFICE
`
`DE L'OFFICE EUROPEEN
`DES BREVETS
`
`Internal distribution code:
`(A)
`[-—] Publication in OJ
`— ]
`"To Chairmen and Members
`— ] To Chairmen
`X ] No distribution
`
`Datasheet for the decision
`of 20 October 2015
`
`Case Number:
`
`T 2036/11
`
`—
`
`Application Number:
`
`O6125884.4
`
`Publication Number:
`
`1768359
`
`IPC:
`
`{O4Ml/247, GO6F3/O48
`
`Language of the proceedings:
`
`EN
`
`Title of invention:
`
`Dynamic bar oriented user inter ace "or a device having a
`status bar displaying status information concerning the device
`
`Applicant:
`3lack3erry Limited
`
`Headword:
`
`User inter‘ace/?LACKi?RRY
`
`Relevant legal provisions:
`EPC Art. 84,
`ll3(l)
`EPC R. 115(2)
`QPBA Art.
`l5(3)
`
`Keyword:
`Claims — clarity (no)
`Oral proceedings - non—attendance 0:
`
`Decisions cited:
`
`Catchword:
`
`EPA FOUR 303C
`
`This datasheet is not part of the Decision.
`It can be changed at any time and without notice.
`
`Page 7 of 403
`
`

`

`Beschwerdekanjnjefn
`
`Boards of Appeal
`Chambres de recours
`
`European Patent Office
`D-80298 MUNICH
`
`GERMANY
`Td.+49(0)8923990
`Fax +49 (0) 89 2399-4465
`
`Case Number: T 2036/11 — 3.5.03
`
`D E C: I S I (D N
`
`of Technical Board of Appeal 3.5.03
`of 20 October 2015
`
`Appellant:
`(Applicant)
`
`Representative:
`
`BlackBerry Limited
`2200 University Avenue East
`Waterloo, ON NZK OA7
`(CA)
`
`Finnie, Peter JO’lI‘1
`Gill Jennings & Every LLP
`"he Broadgate Tower
`20 Primrose S:reet
`Eondon *C2A 2~S (GB)
`
`Decision under appeal:
`
`Decision of the Examining Division of the
`European Patent Office posted on 13 April 2011
`refusing European patent application
`No. 06125884.4 pursuant to Article 97(2) EPC.
`
`Composition of the Board:
`Chairman
`F. van der Voort
`Members:
`B. Noll
`P. Guntz
`
`Page 8 of 403
`
`

`

`Summary of Facts and Submissions
`
`T 2036/ll
`
`This appeal is against the decision of the examining
`
`division refusing fiuropean patent application
`
`No. O6l25884.4 (publication No. 3? l 768 359 A2).
`
`Witq the statement o
`
`g‘ounds of appeal,
`
`the appellant
`
`filed a single set o
`
`c'aims and implicitly requested
`
`that the decision under appeal be set aside and that a
`
`patent be granted on the basis o; this set o: claims.
`
`Oral proceedings were conditionally requested.
`
`n a communication accompanying a summons to oral
`
`proceedings,
`
`the board drew the appellant's attention
`
`to issues to be discussed at the oral proceedings,
`
`in
`
`particular inventive step of
`
`the s;bject—matte” o
`
`claim l
`
`(Articles 52(l) and 56 EPC). The board further
`
`drew the appellant's attention to the fact
`
`that if
`
`amended claims were filed in response to the
`
`communication,
`
`inter alia the qiestion ol whether or
`
`not
`
`they complied with the requirements of Article 84
`
`EPC would have to be discussed in the oral proceedings.
`
`With a letter dated l8 September 2015,
`
`the appellant
`
`filed, by way o; replacement, sets o" claims o" a main
`
`request and a
`
`'*st auxiliary request.
`
`Wi'
`
`ther submission dated 16 October 20l5,
`
`the
`
`appellant informed the board that it would not be
`
`attending the oral proceedings. Further, it asked "for
`
`a Decision in accordance with the current state o.
`
`the
`
`file".
`
`Oral proceedings were held on 20 October 20l5 in the
`
`absence of the appellant.
`
`Page 9 of 403
`
`

`

`T 2036/11
`
`The board understood from the appellant's submissions
`
`in writing that it was requesting that the decision
`
`under appeal be set aside and that a pa-en- be granted
`
`on the basis ol
`
`-he se- o
`
`c aims o" a main request or,
`
`in the alternative, on the basis of the se- ol claims
`
`o; an auxiliary :eques
`
`(""i*sL aux"ia*y cequest"),
`
`botq requests as submi
`
`-ed with the letter dated
`
`l8 September 2015.
`
`At
`
`the end of
`
`the oral proceedings, after deliberation,
`
`the board's decision was announced.
`
`Claim 1 of the main request reads as follows:
`
`"A method of controlling a mobile station (202) using a
`
`graphical user intecface,
`
`'GUl',
`
`(302) displayed on a
`
`display screen (222) of the mobile station (202),
`
`the
`
`method comprising:
`
`displaying on the display screen (222):
`
`a main screen (300) of the GUI
`
`(302),
`
`the main
`
`screen (300) comprising an application portion (302)
`
`occupying a major portion of the main screen (300),
`
`a mobile station status portion (306)
`
`for
`
`displaying status information concerning the mobil
`
`station (202), and
`
`a plurality of dynamic bars (304), each of said
`
`plurality of dynamic bars (304) being associated with
`
`one or more applications on the mobile station (202)
`
`and being configu ed to expand and collapse via
`
`respective y disp'aying and removing a drop down or
`
`pop—up interface
`
`407
`
`in response to respective user
`
`input, at least one of the plurality of dynamic bars
`
`being associated with a plurality o‘ applications on
`
`the mobile station;
`
`managing information concerning events of said
`
`applications;
`
`Page 10 of 403
`
`

`

`T 2036/ll
`
`displaying in each drop down or pop—up interface
`
`(407) dynamic preview information concerning one or
`
`more new events in the one or more applications,
`
`the
`
`dynamic preview in”orma,ion being determined
`
`dynamica ‘y from the information managed by the one or
`
`more app"cations and/o” information determined from
`
`tre managed information;
`
`providing,
`
`in the dynamic preview information, an
`
`irvokable link for invoking a respective application o:
`
`tre one or more applications in response to user input
`
`received from input means of the mobile station (202);
`
`ard
`
`continuously updating the dynamic preview
`
`irformation to be displayed in each drop down or pop—up
`
`irferface (407)
`
`in response to a change in the
`
`respective one or more new events in the respective one
`
`or more applications."
`
`Claim 1 of the auxiliary request differs from claim l
`
`o '
`
`:
`
`the main request in .hat in -he fifth paragraph the
`
`ol owing text is inser-ed after "being associated with
`
`a p urality of applications on the mobile station":
`
`", wherein the one or more applications are associated
`
`with their respective dynamic bars (304) according to
`
`predetermined logical
`
`relationships between the one or
`
`more applications, said predetermined logical
`
`relationships being con-ex,ual relatioqsiips based on a
`
`manner in which a user of the mobile station may use
`
`the one or more applications and/or func-ional
`
`relationships based on functions that may be performed
`
`by the one or more applications".
`
`Page 11 of 403
`
`

`

`T 2036/ll
`
`Reasons for the Decision
`
`Procedural matters
`
`Tor the reasons set out
`
`in point 2 below,
`
`the board
`
`luded that claim 1 o" each request did not meet
`
`the
`
`- o" Aeticle 84 EPC due to a lack o: clarity
`
`the amendments to the claims made in response
`
`to objections raised in the board's communication.
`
`The appellant, which was duly summoned, had informed
`
`the board that it would not be attending the oral
`
`proceedings, and was indeed absent. The oral
`
`proceedings were therejore held in the absence of
`
`appe"ant
`
`(Rule ll5(2) EPC, Article l5(3) RPQA).
`
`deciding not
`
`to attend the oral proceedings,
`
`the
`
`appe"ant close not to make use of the opportunity to
`
`comment at
`
`them on any ol _he issues to be discussed
`
`(see point
`
`I
`
`above), but instead chose to rely on the
`
`arguments set out
`
`in the statement o_ grounds 0: appeal
`
`and in the letter dated l8 September 2015, which the
`
`board dily considered below.
`
`Jnder these circumstances,
`
`the board was in a position
`
`to give a decision which complied with Artic1e 113(1)
`EPC.
`
`Main request — claim 1 — clarity (Article 84 EPC)
`
`Compared to claim 1 filed with the statement ol grounds
`
`of appeal, claim 1 of the main request has been amended
`
`inter alia in that,
`
`in the
`
`i”th paragraph,
`
`"displaying ... at least one dynamic bar" has been
`
`replaced by "displaying ... a p ura1ity o" dynamic
`
`bars" and in that "the at least one dynamic bar
`
`(304)
`
`being associated with one or more applications on the
`
`Page 12 of 403
`
`

`

`T 2036/ll
`
`mobile station (202)" has been replaced by "each Ol
`
`said plurality of dynamic bars (304) being associated
`
`with one or more applications on the mobile station
`
`(202)". Further, again in the "ifth paragraph,
`
`the
`
`fol owing ‘eature "at least one of
`
`the p'urality o"
`
`dynamic bars being associated witq a plu”ality o“
`
`applications on the mobile station" has been added,
`
`whilst
`
`in the sixth paragraph,
`
`tie feature "managing
`
`iniormation concerning events o_ the one or more
`
`applications associated with the at least one dynamic
`
`bar
`
`(304)" has been replaced by "managing information
`
`concerning events of said applications" (underlinings
`
`added by the board).
`
`In other words, according to the present claim,
`
`a
`
`plurality of dynamic ba:s is associated with one or
`
`more applications and at least one of the plurality of
`
`dynamic bars is associated with a plurality oi
`
`applications.
`
`Consequently,
`
`in the next paragraph ("maraging
`
`information concerning events of said applications"),
`
`the term "said" in "said applications" may refer either
`
`to the "one or more applications" or to the "plurality
`
`of applications" referred to in _he
`
`1
`
`_k paragraph.
`
`This ambiguity was not present
`
`in the psevious version
`
`of the claim and was introduced by the amendments
`
`referred to in point 2.; above.
`
`iowever, due to this
`
`ambiguity,
`
`the scope ‘O which protectior is sought by
`
`the claim is now unclear, as may be illustrated as
`
`follows:
`
`“ "said applications" is assumed to refer to the "one
`
`or more applications",
`
`c aim
`
`wou'd seek protection
`
`inte” alia for an embodiment
`
`in which a dynamic bar is
`
`displayed which is associated with a plurality o:
`
`Page 13 of 403
`
`

`

`T 2036/ll
`
`applications, and in which in one of these applications
`
`events may occur for which dynamic preview in"orma-ion
`
`concerning these events is displayed in the respective
`
`drop—down or pop-up interface (of. claim 1, seventh
`
`paragraph). Hence,
`
`for -he remaining applications
`
`associated with this dynamic bar,
`
`there need not be any
`
`dynamic preview in"orma-ion.
`
`An example of such a dynamic bar is shown in Fig. 10 of
`H‘
`Entertain" bar
`
`the present application, namely the
`
`1012,
`
`in which only one application ("download")
`
`generates events for which dynamic preview information
`
`("5 new games")
`
`is displayed in the drop—down or pop-up
`
`interface l014.
`
`“, however, "said applications" is assumed to refer to
`
`the "plura'ity o“ applications",
`
`the above—mentioned
`
`embodiment would be excluded, since the claim would
`
`require that for the dynamic bar which is associated
`
`with the plura'ity 0“ applications, events in the
`
`plurality of the associated applications may occur
`
`which dynamic preview information is displayed.
`
`An exanple of such a dynamic bar is also given in
`
`Fig. 10 of the present application, namely the
`
`"Commuricate" bar 1004,
`
`in which each of
`
`the
`
`applications generates events for which dynamic preview
`
`in"orie-ion is displayed in the drop—down or pop-up
`
`intergtce 1006.
`
`The board therefore concludes that the claim does not
`
`clearly define the matter for which protection is
`
`sought.
`
`For the above reasons, claim 1 is no‘
`
`lear and, hence,
`
`does not meet
`
`the requirements of Ar‘
`
`_e 84 EPC.
`
`Page 14 of 403
`
`

`

`T 2036/11
`
`The main request is therefore not allowable.
`
`Auxiliary request — claim 1 — clarity (Article 84 EPC)
`
`The additional
`
`featuce o“ cla‘m l o:
`
`the auxiliary
`
`request
`
`(see po‘nt V" above)
`
`furth * d fin s :h "on
`
`or more applications" but does not overcome tie
`
`ambiguify caused by the wording "said applications" in
`
`the sixfh pa ag aph in connection with "a plu ality o’
`H
`
`applications
`
`Consequently,
`
`the reasons set out above
`
`in respect of c'aim W of the main request apply,
`
`mutatis mutandis,
`
`to claim 1 of the auxiliary request.
`
`Claim l of the auxiliary request thus lacks clarity
`
`and, hence, does not meet
`
`the requirements o;
`
`Article 84 EPC.
`
`The auxiliary request is therefore not allowable
`
`either.
`
`There being no allowable request, it follows that the
`
`appeal must be dismissed.
`
`Order
`
`For these reasons it is decided that:
`
`The appeal is dismissed.
`
`Page 15 of 403
`
`

`

`The Registrar:
`
`The Chairman:
`
`T 2036/11
`
`F. van der Voort
`
`Page 16 of 403
`
`

`

`BESCHWERDEKAMERN
`
`BOARDS OF APPEAL OF
`
`CHAMBRES DE RECOURS
`
`DES EUROPAISCHEN
`PATENTAMTS
`
`THE EUROPEAN PATENT
`OFFICE
`
`DE L'OFFICE EUROPEEN
`DES BREVETS
`
`Internal distribution code:
`(A)
`[-—] Publication in OJ
`— ]
`"To Chairmen and Members
`— ] To Chairmen
`X ] No distribution
`
`Datasheet for the decision
`of 20 October 2015
`
`Case Number:
`
`T 2036/11
`
`—
`
`Application Number:
`
`O6125884.4
`
`Publication Number:
`
`1768359
`
`IPC:
`
`{O4Ml/247, GO6F3/O48
`
`Language of the proceedings:
`
`EN
`
`Title of invention:
`
`Dynamic bar oriented user inter ace "or a device having a
`status bar displaying status information concerning the device
`
`Applicant:
`3lack3erry Limited
`
`Headword:
`
`User inter‘ace/?LACKi?RRY
`
`Relevant legal provisions:
`EPC Art. 84,
`ll3(l)
`EPC R. 115(2)
`QPBA Art.
`l5(3)
`
`Keyword:
`Claims — clarity (no)
`Oral proceedings - non—attendance 0:
`
`Decisions cited:
`
`Catchword:
`
`EPA FOUR 303C
`
`This datasheet is not part of the Decision.
`It can be changed at any time and without notice.
`
`Page 17 of 403
`
`

`

`Beschwerdekanjnjefn
`
`Boards of Appeal
`Chambres de recours
`
`European Patent Office
`D-80298 MUNICH
`
`GERMANY
`Td.+49(0)8923990
`Fax +49 (0) 89 2399-4465
`
`Case Number: T 2036/11 — 3.5.03
`
`D E C: I S I (D N
`
`of Technical Board of Appeal 3.5.03
`of 20 October 2015
`
`Appellant:
`(Applicant)
`
`Representative:
`
`BlackBerry Limited
`2200 University Avenue East
`Waterloo, ON NZK OA7
`(CA)
`
`Finnie, Peter JO’lI‘1
`Gill Jennings & Every LLP
`"he Broadgate Tower
`20 Primrose S:reet
`Eondon *C2A 2~S (GB)
`
`Decision under appeal:
`
`Decision of the Examining Division of the
`European Patent Office posted on 13 April 2011
`refusing European patent application
`No. 06125884.4 pursuant to Article 97(2) EPC.
`
`Composition of the Board:
`Chairman
`F. van der Voort
`Members:
`B. Noll
`P. Guntz
`
`Page 18 of 403
`
`

`

`Summary of Facts and Submissions
`
`T 2036/ll
`
`This appeal is against the decision of the examining
`
`division refusing fiuropean patent application
`
`No. O6l25884.4 (publication No. 3? l 768 359 A2).
`
`Witq the statement o
`
`g‘ounds of appeal,
`
`the appellant
`
`filed a single set o
`
`c'aims and implicitly requested
`
`that the decision under appeal be set aside and that a
`
`patent be granted on the basis o; this set o: claims.
`
`Oral proceedings were conditionally requested.
`
`n a communication accompanying a summons to oral
`
`proceedings,
`
`the board drew the appellant's attention
`
`to issues to be discussed at the oral proceedings,
`
`in
`
`particular inventive step of
`
`the s;bject—matte” o
`
`claim l
`
`(Articles 52(l) and 56 EPC). The board further
`
`drew the appellant's attention to the fact
`
`that if
`
`amended claims were filed in response to the
`
`communication,
`
`inter alia the qiestion ol whether or
`
`not
`
`they complied with the requirements of Article 84
`
`EPC would have to be discussed in the oral proceedings.
`
`With a letter dated l8 September 2015,
`
`the appellant
`
`filed, by way o; replacement, sets o" claims o" a main
`
`request and a
`
`'*st auxiliary request.
`
`Wi'
`
`ther submission dated 16 October 20l5,
`
`the
`
`appellant informed the board that it would not be
`
`attending the oral proceedings. Further, it asked "for
`
`a Decision in accordance with the current state o.
`
`the
`
`file".
`
`Oral proceedings were held on 20 October 20l5 in the
`
`absence of the appellant.
`
`Page 19 of 403
`
`

`

`T 2036/11
`
`The board understood from the appellant's submissions
`
`in writing that it was requesting that the decision
`
`under appeal be set aside and that a pa-en- be granted
`
`on the basis ol
`
`-he se- o
`
`c aims o" a main request or,
`
`in the alternative, on the basis of the se- ol claims
`
`o; an auxiliary :eques
`
`(""i*sL aux"ia*y cequest"),
`
`botq requests as submi
`
`-ed with the letter dated
`
`l8 September 2015.
`
`At
`
`the end of
`
`the oral proceedings, after deliberation,
`
`the board's decision was announced.
`
`Claim 1 of the main request reads as follows:
`
`"A method of controlling a mobile station (202) using a
`
`graphical user intecface,
`
`'GUl',
`
`(302) displayed on a
`
`display screen (222) of the mobile station (202),
`
`the
`
`method comprising:
`
`displaying on the display screen (222):
`
`a main screen (300) of the GUI
`
`(302),
`
`the main
`
`screen (300) comprising an application portion (302)
`
`occupying a major portion of the main screen (300),
`
`a mobile station status portion (306)
`
`for
`
`displaying status information concerning the mobil
`
`station (202), and
`
`a plurality of dynamic bars (304), each of said
`
`plurality of dynamic bars (304) being associated with
`
`one or more applications on the mobile station (202)
`
`and being configu ed to expand and collapse via
`
`respective y disp'aying and removing a drop down or
`
`pop—up interface
`
`407
`
`in response to respective user
`
`input, at least one of the plurality of dynamic bars
`
`being associated with a plurality o‘ applications on
`
`the mobile station;
`
`managing information concerning events of said
`
`applications;
`
`Page 20 of 403
`
`

`

`T 2036/ll
`
`displaying in each drop down or pop—up interface
`
`(407) dynamic preview information concerning one or
`
`more new events in the one or more applications,
`
`the
`
`dynamic preview in”orma,ion being determined
`
`dynamica ‘y from the information managed by the one or
`
`more app"cations and/o” information determined from
`
`tre managed information;
`
`providing,
`
`in the dynamic preview information, an
`
`irvokable link for invoking a respective application o:
`
`tre one or more applications in response to user input
`
`received from input means of the mobile station (202);
`
`ard
`
`continuously updating the dynamic preview
`
`irformation to be displayed in each drop down or pop—up
`
`irferface (407)
`
`in response to a change in the
`
`respective one or more new events in the respective one
`
`or more applications."
`
`Claim 1 of the auxiliary request differs from claim l
`
`o '
`
`:
`
`the main request in .hat in -he fifth paragraph the
`
`ol owing text is inser-ed after "being associated with
`
`a p urality of applications on the mobile station":
`
`", wherein the one or more applications are associated
`
`with their respective dynamic bars (304) according to
`
`predetermined logical
`
`relationships between the one or
`
`more applications, said predetermined logical
`
`relationships being con-ex,ual relatioqsiips based on a
`
`manner in which a user of the mobile station may use
`
`the one or more applications and/or func-ional
`
`relationships based on functions that may be performed
`
`by the one or more applications".
`
`Page 21 of 403
`
`

`

`T 2036/ll
`
`Reasons for the Decision
`
`Procedural matters
`
`Tor the reasons set out
`
`in point 2 below,
`
`the board
`
`luded that claim 1 o" each request did not meet
`
`the
`
`- o" Aeticle 84 EPC due to a lack o: clarity
`
`the amendments to the claims made in response
`
`to objections raised in the board's communication.
`
`The appellant, which was duly summoned, had informed
`
`the board that it would not be attending the oral
`
`proceedings, and was indeed absent. The oral
`
`proceedings were therejore held in the absence of
`
`appe"ant
`
`(Rule ll5(2) EPC, Article l5(3) RPQA).
`
`deciding not
`
`to attend the oral proceedings,
`
`the
`
`appe"ant close not to make use of the opportunity to
`
`comment at
`
`them on any ol _he issues to be discussed
`
`(see point
`
`I
`
`above), but instead chose to rely on the
`
`arguments set out
`
`in the statement o_ grounds 0: appeal
`
`and in the letter dated l8 September 2015, which the
`
`board dily considered below.
`
`Jnder these circumstances,
`
`the board was in a position
`
`to give a decision which complied with Artic1e 113(1)
`EPC.
`
`Main request — claim 1 — clarity (Article 84 EPC)
`
`Compared to claim 1 filed with the statement ol grounds
`
`of appeal, claim 1 of the main request has been amended
`
`inter alia in that,
`
`in the
`
`i”th paragraph,
`
`"displaying ... at least one dynamic bar" has been
`
`replaced by "displaying ... a p ura1ity o" dynamic
`
`bars" and in that "the at least one dynamic bar
`
`(304)
`
`being associated with one or more applications on the
`
`Page 22 of 403
`
`

`

`T 2036/ll
`
`mobile station (202)" has been replaced by "each Ol
`
`said plurality of dynamic bars (304) being associated
`
`with one or more applications on the mobile station
`
`(202)". Further, again in the "ifth paragraph,
`
`the
`
`fol owing ‘eature "at least one of
`
`the p'urality o"
`
`dynamic bars being associated witq a plu”ality o“
`
`applications on the mobile station" has been added,
`
`whilst
`
`in the sixth paragraph,
`
`tie feature "managing
`
`iniormation concerning events o_ the one or more
`
`applications associated with the at least one dynamic
`
`bar
`
`(304)" has been replaced by "managing information
`
`concerning events of said applications" (underlinings
`
`added by the board).
`
`In other words, according to the present claim,
`
`a
`
`plurality of dynamic ba:s is associated with one or
`
`more applications and at least one of the plurality of
`
`dynamic bars is associated with a plurality oi
`
`applications.
`
`Consequently,
`
`in the next paragraph ("maraging
`
`information concerning events of said applications"),
`
`the term "said" in "said applications" may refer either
`
`to the "one or more applications" or to the "plurality
`
`of applications" referred to in _he
`
`1
`
`_k paragraph.
`
`This ambiguity was not present
`
`in the psevious version
`
`of the claim and was introduced by the amendments
`
`referred to in point 2.; above.
`
`iowever, due to this
`
`ambiguity,
`
`the scope ‘O which protectior is sought by
`
`the claim is now unclear, as may be illustrated as
`
`follows:
`
`“ "said applications" is assumed to refer to the "one
`
`or more applications",
`
`c aim
`
`wou'd seek protection
`
`inte” alia for an embodiment
`
`in which a dynamic bar is
`
`displayed which is associated with a plurality o:
`
`Page 23 of 403
`
`

`

`T 2036/ll
`
`applications, and in which in one of these applications
`
`events may occur for which dynamic preview in"orma-ion
`
`concerning these events is displayed in the respective
`
`drop—down or pop-up interface (of. claim 1, seventh
`
`paragraph). Hence,
`
`for -he remaining applications
`
`associated with this dynamic bar,
`
`there need not be any
`
`dynamic preview in"orma-ion.
`
`An example of such a dynamic bar is shown in Fig. 10 of
`H‘
`Entertain" bar
`
`the present application, namely the
`
`1012,
`
`in which only one application ("download")
`
`generates events for which dynamic preview information
`
`("5 new games")
`
`is displayed in the drop—down or pop-up
`
`interface l014.
`
`“, however, "said applications" is assumed to refer to
`
`the "plura'ity o“ applications",
`
`the above—mentioned
`
`embodiment would be excluded, since the claim would
`
`require that for the dynamic bar which is associated
`
`with the plura'ity 0“ applications, events in the
`
`plurality of the associated applications may occur
`
`which dynamic preview information is displayed.
`
`An exanple of such a dynamic bar is also given in
`
`Fig. 10 of the present application, namely the
`
`"Commuricate" bar 1004,
`
`in which each of
`
`the
`
`applications generates events for which dynamic preview
`
`in"orie-ion is displayed in the drop—down or pop-up
`
`intergtce 1006.
`
`The board therefore concludes that the claim does not
`
`clearly define the matter for which protection is
`
`sought.
`
`For the above reasons, claim 1 is no‘
`
`lear and, hence,
`
`does not meet
`
`the requirements of Ar‘
`
`_e 84 EPC.
`
`Page 24 of 403
`
`

`

`T 2036/11
`
`The main request is therefore not allowable.
`
`Auxiliary request — claim 1 — clarity (Article 84 EPC)
`
`The additional
`
`featuce o“ cla‘m l o:
`
`the auxiliary
`
`request
`
`(see po‘nt V" above)
`
`furth * d fin s :h "on
`
`or more applications" but does not overcome tie
`
`ambiguify caused by the wording "said applications" in
`
`the sixfh pa ag aph in connection with "a plu ality o’
`H
`
`applications
`
`Consequently,
`
`the reasons set out above
`
`in respect of c'aim W of the main request apply,
`
`mutatis mutandis,
`
`to claim 1 of the auxiliary request.
`
`Claim l of the auxiliary request thus lacks clarity
`
`and, hence, does not meet
`
`the requirements o;
`
`Article 84 EPC.
`
`The auxiliary request is therefore not allowable
`
`either.
`
`There being no allowable request, it follows that the
`
`appeal must be dismissed.
`
`Order
`
`For these reasons it is decided that:
`
`The appeal is dismissed.
`
`Page 25 of 403
`
`

`

`The Registrar:
`
`The Chairman:
`
`T 2036/11
`
`F. van der Voort
`
`Page 26 of 403
`
`

`

`h
`E
`p;‘{;’£?;?§t°‘
`European
`Patentoffice
`Office européen
`desbrevets
`
`Beschwerdekammern
`Boards of Appeal
`
`Chambres de recours
`
`P t .tOff
`E
`aggggjjfimjgg
`‘°°
`GERMANY
`Te!" +49 (0)89 23994]
`Fax +49<o>892399-M65
`
`Finnie, Peter John
`
`Gill Jennings & Every LLP
`The Broadgate Tower
`20 Primrose Street
`London EC2A 2ES
`ROYAUME UNI
`
`Zeichen/Reference/Reference
`
`Anmeldung Nr./Application No./Demande n°//Patent Nr./Patent No./Brevet n°
`
`06125884
`APPR
`PJF11074EP1
`Anmelder/Applicant/De