`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
`
`Case No. 1:16-cv-21761-KMM
`
`PRISUA ENGINEERING CORP.,
`
`Plaintiff,
`
`v.
`
`SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. et al.,
`
`Defendants.
`
`/ M
`
`ARKMAN ORDER
`
`THIS CAUSE came before the Court upon the Markman Hearing held before the Court
`
`on July 7, 2017, relative to United States Patent No. 8,650,591 (the “‘591 Patent”). Plaintiff
`
`Prisua Engineering Corp. (“Prisua”) filed a claim construction brief (ECF No. 42). Defendants
`
`Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (“Samsung Korea”), Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
`
`(“Samsung America”), and Samsung Electronics Latinoamerica Miami (“Samsung Miami”)
`
`(collectively, “Samsung”) responded (ECF No. 50). Prisua replied (ECF No. 53), and Samsung
`
`filed a surreply (ECF No. 72). UPON CONSIDERATION of the ‘591 Patent, the prosecution
`
`history, the Parties’ briefs, the evidence presented at the Markman Hearing, the arguments of
`
`counsel, the pertinent portions of the record, and being otherwise fully advised in the premises,
`
`this Court enters the following Order.
`
`I.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`On May 17, 2016, Prisua, a corporation organized in Florida with a principal place of
`
`business in Coral Gables, Florida, filed a Complaint (ECF No. 1) for patent infringement against
`
`Samsung pursuant to Title 35 of the United States Code, Section 271. See Pl.’s Compl. ¶¶ 1–5.
`
`Samsung v. Prisua
`IPR2017-01188
`Samsung Ex. 1018
`
`
`
`Case 1:16-cv-21761-KMM Document 103 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/06/2017 Page 2 of 11
`
`Prisua owns the ‘591 Patent, entitled “Video Enabled Digital Devices for Embedding
`
`User Data in Interactive Applications.” Id. ¶ 9. The ‘591 Patent was filed by the inventor, Dr.
`
`Yolanda Prieto, an officer and director of Prisua, on March 8, 2011, and issued by the U.S.
`
`Patent Office on February 11, 2014. Id. ¶¶ 10–11. Claim 1 of the ‘591 Patent states in relevant
`
`part:
`
`An interactive media apparatus for generating a displayable edited video data
`stream from an original video data stream, wherein at least one pixel in a frame
`of said original video data stream is digitally extracted to form a first image, said
`first image then replaced by a second image resulting from a digital extraction of
`at least one pixel in a frame of a user input video data stream, said apparatus
`comprising:
`
`an image capture device capturing the user input video data stream;
`
`an image display device displaying the original video stream;
`
`a data entry device, operably coupled with the image capture device and the
`image display device, operated by a user to select the at least one pixel in the
`frame of the user input video data stream to use as the second image, and further
`operated by the user to select the at least one pixel to use as the first image;
`
`wherein said data entry device is selected from a group of devices consisting of: a
`keyboard, a display, a wireless communication capability device, and an external
`memory device;
`
`a digital processing unit operably coupled with the data entry device, said digital
`processing unit performing:
`
`identifying the selected at least one pixel in the frame of the user input video
`data stream;
`extracting the identified at least one pixel as the second image;
`storing the second image in a memory device operably coupled with the
`interactive media apparatus;
`receiving a selection of the first image from the original video data stream;
`extracting the first image;
`spatially matching an area of the second image to an area of the first image in
`the original video data stream, wherein spatially matching the areas results in
`equal spatial lengths and widths between said two spatially matched areas;
`and
`
`2
`
`
`
`Case 1:16-cv-21761-KMM Document 103 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/06/2017 Page 3 of 11
`
`performing a substitution of the spatially matched first image with the
`spatially matched second image to generate the displayable edited video data
`stream from the original video data stream.
`
`Id. ¶ 13 (emphasis added). Claims 3 and 4 of the ‘591 patent, which are also the subject
`
`of this Markman Order, are dependent upon Claim 1.
`
`Prisua alleges that Samsung manufactures and sells mobile phones, tablets, and cameras
`
`that have a camera functionality that violates the ‘591 Patent. Id. ¶ 14. Prisua alleges that these
`
`infringing products include, but are not limited to: Galaxy S4, S4 mini, S5, SIII, and Samsung
`
`Mega products, the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1, Galaxy Note Pro, and Galaxy Tab Pro tablets,
`
`and NX300M, NX2000, WB800F, WB350 and WB250 cameras. Id.
`
`Prisua alleges that these products include “an image capture device in the form of a front
`
`and back digital camera, a display device in the form of an LCD screen, and a data entry device
`
`in the form of a touchscreen keyboard.” Id. ¶ 15. The products also include a digital processing
`
`unit. Samsung’s products have a “Best Face” application that uses the product’s image capture
`
`device to capture images. Users of the product are then able to select a portion of the captured
`
`images along with a portion of the original video data stream. The product’s digital processing
`
`unit then uses its memory and processing components to “spatially match[] the second image
`
`(from the user input video data stream) to the first image (from the original video stream).” Id.
`
`This process substitutes the first image with the second image—i.e., the “user-selected ‘Best
`
`Face.’” Id. Prisua alleges that the above violates Prisua’s ‘591 Patent.
`
`On August 29, 2014, Prisua sent Samsung America a letter including a detailed claim
`
`chart alleging Samsung’s patent infringement. Id. ¶ 16. This letter prompted discussions
`
`between Prisua and Samsung Korea; Prisua proposed a license agreement, which Samsung
`
`rejected. Id. ¶ 18.
`
`3
`
`
`
`Case 1:16-cv-21761-KMM Document 103 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/06/2017 Page 4 of 11
`
`In its Complaint, Prisua alleges direct infringement of the ‘591 Patent against the three
`
`Defendants. Id. Counts 1–3. For relief, Prisua requests that the Court: (1) find Samsung liable
`
`for infringement of the ‘591 Patent; (2) enjoin and restrain Samsung from importing, selling,
`
`and/or offering to sell any products that infringe the ‘591 Patent; (3) award Prisua damages and
`
`treble such amount pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 284; (4) find this case exceptional under 35 U.S.C. §
`
`285 and therefore award Prisua reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, taxable costs and
`
`disbursements, and prejudgment and post-judgment interest; and (5) award Prisua such other and
`
`further relief as the Court deems just and proper.
`
`On March 9, 2017, the Court denied Samsung’s Motion to Dismiss (ECF No. 56). The
`
`Parties have since completed claim construction briefing. On June 16, 2017, following a
`
`hearing, the Court denied without prejudice Samsung’s Motion to Stay the case pending inter
`
`partes review (ECF No. 62).
`
`The Court held its Markman Hearing on July 7, 2017. The terms at issue span three of
`
`the ‘591 Patent’s asserted claims: independent Claim 1 and dependent Claims 3 and 4. In
`
`support of their constructions, the Parties provide both intrinsic and extrinsic evidence, including
`
`deposition testimony from Dr. Prieto, the inventor, as well as two experts.
`
`II.
`
`STANDARD OF REVIEW
`
`A patent must “conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly
`
`claiming the subject matter” of the invention. 35 U.S.C. § 112(b). A patent’s claims are invalid
`
`as indefinite under § 112 if the “claims, viewed in light of the specification and prosecution
`
`history,” fail to “inform those skilled in the art about the scope of the invention with reasonable
`
`certainty.” Nautilus, Inc. v. Boisig Instr., Inc., 134 S. Ct. 2130, 2129–30 (2014). This is so that
`
`the patent “afford[s] clear notice of what is claimed.” Id. Whether a claim is invalid for
`
`4
`
`
`
`Case 1:16-cv-21761-KMM Document 103 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/06/2017 Page 5 of 11
`
`indefiniteness is a question of law for the Court. See Teva Pharm. USA, Inc. v. Sandoz, Inc., 789
`
`1335, 1341 (Fed. Cir. 2015).1
`
`It is the Court’s role to construe the claims of the disputed patent. Markman v. Westview
`
`Instruments, Inc., 517 U.S. 370, 388–90 (1996). The Court principally looks to the claims made
`
`in the patent, specification, and prosecution history. Alza Corp. v. Mylan Labortories, Inc., 391
`
`F.3d 1365, 1370 (Fed. Cir. 2004); Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582
`
`(Fed. Cir. 1996). These sources are considered intrinsic evidence. Vitronics Corp., 90 F.3d at
`
`1582.
`
`In approaching claim construction, the words of the claim are to be given their ordinary
`
`and customary meaning as understood by one with ordinary skill in the art at the time of the
`
`invention. Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1313 (Fed. Cir. 2005); see also Elekta
`
`Instrument S.A. v. O.U.R. Scientific Intern., Inc., 214 F.3d 1302, 1307 (Fed. Cir. 2000)
`
`(“[a]bsent an express intent to impart a novel meaning, claim terms take on their ordinary
`
`meaning.”). “[C]laims are interpreted with an eye toward giving effect to all terms in the
`
`claim.” Bicon, Inc. v. Straumann Co., 441 F.3d 945, 950 (Fed. Cir. 2006). Otherwise,
`
`characteristics described in a claim would be considered superfluous, rendering the scope of
`
`the patent ambiguous and leaving examiners to guess about which claim language is deemed
`
`necessary and which is non-limiting elaboration. Id. Additionally, courts must pay particular
`
`attention to the patentees’ own definition of the claim terms, which control. Oakley, Inc. v.
`
`Sunglass Hut Intern., 316 F.3d 1331, 1341 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (“a patentee may be his or her
`
`own lexicographer by defining the claim terms.”).
`
`1 As discussed further below, Samsung raises indefiniteness challenges to multiple terms at issue
`in this case.
`
`5
`
`
`
`Case 1:16-cv-21761-KMM Document 103 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/06/2017 Page 6 of 11
`
`With respect to the relationship between the specification and the claims, the Federal
`
`Circuit has explained that claims must be read in view of the specification and that the
`
`specification may act as a sort of dictionary, which explains the invention and may define terms
`
`used in the claims. Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 52 F.3d 967, 979 (Fed. Cir. 1995),
`
`aff’d 517 U.S. 370 (1996). The Federal Circuit has cautioned, however,
`
`that “there is
`
`sometimes a fine line between reading a claim in light of the specification, and reading a
`
`limitation into the claim from the specification.” Comark Communications, Inc. v. Harris
`
`Corp., 156 F.3d 1182, 1186 (Fed. Cir. 1998).
`
`In addition to intrinsic evidence, courts may rely on extrinsic evidence, which includes
`
`expert and inventor testimony as well as dictionaries and technical treatises. Markman, 52
`
`F.3d at 980. Extrinsic evidence, however, is viewed as less reliable than the patent and its
`
`prosecution history in determining how to read claim terms. Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1318.
`
`III.
`
`ANALYSIS
`
`As addressed at the Markman Hearing and in their filings, the Parties have stipulated to
`
`the following: (1) the term “extracting” shall be defined as “select and separate out”; and (2)
`
`“performing a substitution” shall be assigned its plain meaning. See ECF No. 40; see also
`
`Markman Hearing Transcript at 25:18–26:1.
`
`For the remaining terms in dispute, the Court construes them as follows:
`
`A. “User input video data stream” and “original video data stream”
`
`During the Markman Hearing and in their briefs, the Parties addressed the terms “user
`
`input video data stream” and “original video data stream.” together due to the overlap in the
`
`arguments for each construction. The Court likewise addresses these terms together. Both terms
`
`are found in Claim 1 of the ‘591 Patent.
`
`6
`
`
`
`Case 1:16-cv-21761-KMM Document 103 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/06/2017 Page 7 of 11
`
`Prisua defines “user input video data stream” as “a sequence of images digitally recorded
`
`by a user separate from the original video data stream.” Samsung defines this term as “a
`
`digitally recorded sequence of frames contained in a format for displaying the frames as a motion
`
`picture (e.g., ASF, MPEG-2, AVI) that is provided by the user.” In similar fashion, Prisua
`
`defines “original video data stream” as “a digitally recorded sequence of images that is to be
`
`modified,” while Samsung defines it as “a digitally recorded sequence of frames contained in a
`
`format for displaying the frames as a motion picture (e.g., ASF, MPEG-2, AVI) that is to be
`
`modified.” During the Markman Hearing, Prisua indicated that it would consent to compromise
`
`by substituting the phrase “image frames” in place of “images” in each of Prisua’s constructions;
`
`however, Samsung did not indicate that it agreed to this alteration. See Reply at 4 (Prisua
`
`describing that it believes “video data stream” can be properly defined as either “a sequence of
`
`images” of a “sequence of image frames” because there is no material distinction between the
`
`two phrases).
`
`Central to the construction of these two terms is the meaning of “video data stream.”
`
`According to Samsung, Prisua’s construction is an attempt “to broaden ‘video’” (and by
`
`extension the ‘591 Patent) to “include still images and a sequence of still images.” See Response
`
`at 7, n.1. Samsung cites to the English Oxford Dictionary for its definition of video as “[t]he
`
`recording, reproducing, or broadcasting of moving visual images” or “a recording of moving
`
`visual images made digitally or on videotape.” Id. (Ex. K). Samsung claims that one of ordinary
`
`skill in the art would understand a “video data stream” to be “a digitally recorded sequence of
`
`frames contained in a format for displaying the frames as a motion picture.” See Delp
`
`Declaration ¶ 28 (Ex. I). Samsung cites to the testimony of its expert, Dr. Edward J. Delp, for
`
`7
`
`
`
`Case 1:16-cv-21761-KMM Document 103 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/06/2017 Page 8 of 11
`
`the principle that a video portrays motion, while a still image2 does not necessarily do so. Id. ¶
`
`29. Dr. Delp testified that “not all digitally recorded sequences of images are video” and that “a
`
`still image or a sequence of still images that cannot be played back to the viewer as a motion
`
`picture [is not a] video data stream.” Id.
`
`Prisua, alternatively, argues that the term “image” is necessary to accurately define
`
`“video,” which is a series of images in succession that creates the illusion of movement. This
`
`interpretation of “video” is supported by the language of the ‘591 Patent and reflects how a
`
`person of ordinary skill in the art would understand the term. The word “image” is used
`
`seventeen times in Claim 1 of the ‘591 Patent—for example, to describe “receiving a selection of
`
`the . . . image from the . . . video data stream” and “extracting the . . . image” from the video data
`
`stream. See ‘591 Patent at 7:43–45. Prisua argues that its use of the term “images” in its
`
`construction of “video data stream” is intended “to provide clarity and dispel the notion that
`
`blank frames are ever present in any of the ‘591 patent’s video data streams.” See Reply at 4.
`
`The Court agrees with Prisua that the inclusion of “images” in the definition of these
`
`terms is consistent with the plain meaning of the claim language and will aid the jury in
`
`understanding the terminology. As Prisua consents to the addition of the term “frames,” that
`
`word will be added to Prisua’s constructions to provide greater specificity. The terms “user
`
`input video data stream” and “original video data stream” are hereby construed as “a sequence
`
`of image frames digitally recorded by a user separate from the original video data stream” and “a
`
`digitally recorded sequence of image frames that is to be modified,” respectively.
`
`B. “Spatially matching”
`
`Prisua defines “spatially matching” as “aligning a set of pixels in the spatial domain.”
`
`2 As Prisua notes in its Reply Brief, those of skill in the art use the terms “still image” and
`“image” interchangeably. See Deposition of Edward J. Delp, Ph.D. at 118–119s (ECF No. 53-1).
`
`8
`
`
`
`Case 1:16-cv-21761-KMM Document 103 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/06/2017 Page 9 of 11
`
`Samsung argues that this term is indefinite under 36 U.S.C. § 112(b). In the alternative,
`
`Samsung defines the term as: “partitioning images into a set of course to fine scale sub-blocks
`
`and concatenating the histograms extracted from all blocks into a long vector representation.”
`
`Prisua acknowledges that neither the ‘591 Patent’s specification nor its prosecution
`
`history provides an express definition of “spatially matching.” See Claim Construction Brief at
`
`13. As stated above, under the Nautilus standard a patent claim is indefinite if, when “read in
`
`light of the specification delineating the patent, and the prosecution history,” the claim “fail[s] to
`
`inform, with reasonable certainty, those skilled in the art about the scope of the invention.”
`
`Nautilus, 134 S. Ct. at 2124. Samsung argues that the absence of intrinsic evidence available to
`
`help define “spatially matching” means that the ‘591 Patent does not adequately inform the
`
`public of this term’s scope, and therefore does not meet Nautilus standard. See Response at 12–
`
`13.
`
`However, the Federal Circuit has clarified that extrinsic evidence may “play a significant
`
`role in the indefiniteness analysis.” Dow Chem. Co. v. Nova Chems. Corp. (Canada), 809 F.3d
`
`1223, 1225 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (per curiam). The Federal Circuit has also stated that “if a skilled
`
`person would choose an established method of measurement, that may be sufficient to defeat a
`
`claim of indefinitness, even if that method is not set forth . . . in the patent itself.” Id. at 1225
`
`(Prost, J., concurring). The accused infringer—in this case, Samsung—bears the burden of
`
`proving indefiniteness by clear and convincing evidence. Id.
`
`Here, Prisua’s expert has testified that a person of ordinary skill in the art would be able
`
`to choose among the different types of spatially matching techniques. See Negahdaripour Dec.
`
`¶¶ 9–25 (ECF No. 53-10). Prisua’s expert cites to numerous publications in the field as extrinsic
`
`evidence in support of defining spatially matching as “aligning a set of pixels in the spatial
`
`9
`
`
`
`Case 1:16-cv-21761-KMM Document 103 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/06/2017 Page 10 of 11
`
`domain.” Id. Furthermore, Samsung’s own expert testified that he would be able to choose
`
`among spatially matching techniques if required to do so. Counsel for Prisua asked Dr. Delp,
`
`“[Y]ou could choose among the [spatially matching techniques] you know and love, right?” Dr.
`
`Delp responded that “[he] could probably choose those, yes.” Delp Depo. at 218:18–20.
`
`Samsung has therefore failed to meet its burden of demonstrating by clear and convincing
`
`evidence that one of ordinary skill in the art would be unable to choose among different
`
`definitions of “spatially matching.” The Court rejects Samsung’s argument that “spatially
`
`matching” is indefinite and adopts Prisua’s construction of the term as “aligning a set of pixels in
`
`the spatial domain.”
`
`C. Antecedent Claim Terms
`
`Samsung argues that Claims 3 and 4—which are dependent claims—are indefinite
`
`because they contain terms with no antecedent basis in Claim 1. For the reasons below, the
`
`Court rejects this argument.
`
`1. “Extracting the at least one pixel from the user entering data in the data
`entry display device” (“Claim 3 term”)
`
`Prisua defines the Claim 3 term as “selecting and separating out the at least one pixel
`
`chosen by a user on a display, when said display is acting as a data entry device and receives a
`
`selection of at least one pixel by said user.”
`
`Samsung argues that the Claim 3 term is indefinite because there is no antecedent basis
`
`for the terms “the user entering data” or “the data entry display device” in Claim 3. However, as
`
`Prisua notes, an antecedent basis can be present by implication. Slimfold Mfg. Co. v. Kinkead
`
`Indus., Inc., 810 F.2d 1113, 1117 (Fed. Cir. 1987); see also Cross Med. Prods. V. Medtronic
`
`Sofamor Danek, 424 F.3d 1293, 1319 (Fed. Cir. 2005). While Claim 1 may not explicitly use the
`
`terms “the user entering data” or “the data entry display device,” Claim 1 uses several terms that
`
`10
`
`
`
`Case 1:16-cv-21761-KMM Document 103 Entered on FLSD Docket 09/06/2017 Page 11 of 11
`
`would illuminate the meaning of Claim 3 for one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, Claim
`
`one describes “a data entry device” that is “operated by a user” in order “to select the at least one
`
`pixel.” See ‘591 Patent, 7:25–30. In addition, the specification addresses “user input data” that
`
`“can be captured directly” by a “stand alone device” that includes “data entry devices such as a .
`
`. . displaying device.” Id. 4:57–63.
`
`Samsung has not provided sufficient evidence to meet its burden of demonstrating by
`
`clear and convincing evidence that Claim 3 is indefinite. Therefore, the Court adopts Prisua’s
`
`construction of the Claim 3 term.
`
`2. “Extracting the at least one pixel from the user pointing to a special location
`in a displayed video frame” (“Claim 4 term”)
`
`Prisua defines the Claim 4 term as “performing spatial analysis on a video frame based
`
`on a user input, then selecting and separating out the at least one pixel chosen by said user.”
`
`Samsung argues this term is indefinite because it depends upon Claim 3. As the Court has not
`
`found the Claim 3 term to be indefinite, the Court rejects this argument. The Claim 4 term is
`
`therefore defined using Prisua’s construction.
`
`IV.
`
`CONCLUSION
`
`For the foregoing reasons, it is hereby ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that United States
`
`Patent Number 8,650,591 shall be construed in a manner consistent with this Order.
`
`6th
`DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Miami, Florida, this _____ day of September,
`
`2017.
`
`cc: All counsel of record
`
`Kevin Michael Moore
`
`Digitally signed by Kevin Michael Moore
`DN: o=Administrative Office of the US Courts,
`email=k_michael_moore@flsd.uscourts.gov, cn=Kevin
`Michael Moore
`Date: 2017.09.06 16:35:34 -04'00'
`
`K. MICHAEL MOORE
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
`
`11
`
`