throbber
IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`
`
`BARCO, INC.,
`Petitioner
`
`v.
`
`T-REX PROPERTY AB,
`Patent Owner
`
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`Issue Date: August 6, 2002
`Title: SYSTEM FOR DIRECT PLACEMENT OF
`COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING, PUBLIC SERVICE
`ANNOUNCEMENTS AND OTHER CONTENT
`ON ELECTRONIC BILLBOARD DISPLAYS
`
`
`
`Inter Partes Review Case No. 2017-01915
`
`
`T-REX PROPERTY AB PATENT OWNER’S
`PRELIMINARY RESPONSE PURSUANT TO 37 CFR §42.107
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`2. 
`
`INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1 
`I. 
`BACKGROUND ............................................................................................. 1 
`II. 
`III.  CLAIM CONSTRUCTION ............................................................................ 4 
`1. 
`“means for scheduling the presentation of video or still-image
`content at selected time slots on selected electronic displays of
`said network and receiving said video or still-image content
`from a content provider” (claim 13 and dependents) ..................... 5 
`“means for enabling split screen images to be displayed at the
`electronic display” (claim 42 and dependents) ............................. 10 
`“time slot” (claims 13, 48 and dependents) .................................. 12 
`3. 
`IV.  THERE IS NO REASONABLE LIKELIHOOD OF PETITIONER
`PREVAILING AS TO A CHALLENGED CLAIM OF THE ’603
`PATENT ........................................................................................................ 14 
`A.  Petitioner Fails to Demonstrate That the Prior Art Discloses
`“means for scheduling the presentation of video or still-image
`content at selected time slots on selected electronic displays of
`said network and receiving said video or still-image content from
`a content provider” (claims 13-16, 23, 42-43) ...................................... 14 
`1.  Nakamura does not disclose or render obvious “means for
`scheduling the presentation of video or still-image content at
`selected time slots on selected electronic displays of said
`network and receiving said video or still-image content from a
`content provider” (Grounds 1 and 2) ............................................ 15 
`2.  Hylin does not disclose or render obvious “means for
`scheduling the presentation of video or still-image content at
`selected time slots on selected electronic displays of said
`network and receiving said video or still-image content from a
`content provider” (Grounds 3-5) ................................................... 18 
`B.  Petitioner Fails to Demonstrate That the Prior Art Discloses
`
`i
`
`

`

`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`“means for enabling split screen images to be displayed at the
`electronic display” (claims 42-43) ........................................................ 20 
`1.  Nakamura does not disclose or render obvious “means for
`enabling split screen images to be displayed at the electronic
`display” (Grounds 1, 2, 5) ............................................................. 21 
`C.  Petitioner Fails to Demonstrate That the Prior Art Discloses
`“enabling a content provider to schedule presentation of video or
`still-image content at selected time slots” (claim 48) ........................... 23 
`1.  Nakamura does not disclose or render obvious “enabling a
`content provider to schedule presentation of video or still-
`image content at selected time slots” (Ground 1) ......................... 23 
`2.  Hylin does not disclose or render obvious “enabling a content
`provider to schedule presentation of video or still-image
`content at selected time slots” (Ground 3) .................................... 26 
`CONCLUSION .............................................................................................. 28 
`
`
`
`ii
`
`V. 
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`EXHIBIT LIST
`
`Description
`Joint Claim Construction and Prehearing Statement
`Pursuant To Local Patent Rule 4-3, filed in T-Rex
`Property AB v. Regal Entertainment Group, et al., Case
`No. 6:16-cv-00927-RWS, Dkt. No. 84 (E.D. Tex.)
`Entry in Oxford English Dictionary Online for “time”
`and related terms, including “time slot,” available at
`http://www.oed.com/viewdictionaryentry/Entry/202100
`(last accessed December 20, 2017)
`
`Exhibit No.
`
`2001
`
`2002
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`iii
`
`

`

`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
` Page(s)
`
`Cases
`Blackboard, Inc. v. Desire2Learn, Inc.,
`574 F.3d 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2009) ................................................................ 6, 11, 21
`Broadsign International, LLC v. T-Rex Property AB,
`Case No. CBM2017-00008 (filed Oct. 28, 2016) ................................................. 2
`In re Donaldson Co.,
`16 F.3d 1189 (Fed. Cir. 1994) .............................................................................. 5
`IPCom GmbH & Co. v. HTC Corp.,
`861 F.3d 1362 (Fed. Cir. 2017) .................................................................. 5, 7, 21
`Med. Instrumentation & Diagnostics Corp. v. Elekta AB,
`344 F.3d 1205 (Fed. Cir. 2003) .......................................................................... 11
`Noah Sys. Inc. v. Intuit Inc.,
`675 F.3d 1302 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 9, 2012) ................................................................ 9
`TecSec, Inc. v. Int’l Bus. Machs.,
`731 F.3d 1336 (Fed. Cir. 2013) ............................................................................ 8
`Typhoon Touch Techs., Inc. v. Dell, Inc.,
`659 F.3d 1376 (Fed. Cir. 2011) ............................................................................ 8
`WMS Gaming Inc. v. International Game Tech.,
`184 F.3d 1339 (Fed. Cir. 1999) ............................................................................ 7
`Other Authorities
`32 C.F.R. § 42.107(a) ................................................................................................. 4
`37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(3) ............................................................................................ 6
`CBM2017-00008, Paper No. 7 .................................................................................. 3
`Oxford English Dictionary ....................................................................................... 13
`
`iv
`
`

`

`INTRODUCTION
`The Board should deny the request for inter partes review of U.S. Patent No.
`
`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`I.
`
`6,430,603 because Petitioner advances erroneous constructions of the claims, and
`
`because the Petition is based on prior art that fails to disclose each claim element,
`
`as properly construed.
`
`For these reasons, as expressed more fully below, the Petitioner has failed to
`
`demonstrate that there is a reasonable likelihood of prevailing with respect to at
`
`least one of the challenged claims. Accordingly, the Board should deny the
`
`Petition.
`
`II. BACKGROUND
`The ’603 Patent, issued on August 6, 2002, generally claims an improved
`
`system for access to and scheduling content for a network of digital signage. Ex.
`
`1001 at 1:7-18. One contemplated use case involves the advertisers providing
`
`digital advertisements to electronic billboards. See id. The ’603 Patent also
`
`contemplates use of the invention for distribution of public service announcements.
`
`See id. at 2:50-54 (“for direct placement of commercial advertisements, public
`
`service announcements and other content on electronic displays.”) (emphasis
`
`added); see also id. at Title (“System For Direct Placement Of Commercial
`
`Advertising, Public Service Announcements And Other Content On Electronic
`
`Billboard Displays”) (emphasis added).
`
`1
`
`

`

`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`At the time of the invention, outdoor billboards traditionally took the form of
`
`“single-message displays formed of printed sheets or painted surfaces . . . adhered
`
`to flat backing.” Ex. 1001 at 1:28-32. The ’603 Patent seeks to solve the problem
`
`of “[t]he high cost of printing, transporting, and mounting a message on a
`
`conventional billboard,” that prevents a conventional billboard from being readily
`
`changed. See Ex. 1001 at 1:34-40.
`
`At the time of the invention, digital signage was a recent development, but
`
`no network existed to provide access for content providers to schedule updates at
`
`selected times on selected electronic displays on an as-needed basis. See Ex. 1001
`
`at 1:54-63 (providing an example of U.S. Patent No. 5,612,741 as describing a
`
`single electronic display and describing the lack of a cohesive network of
`
`electronic displays with dynamic access for content providers).
`
`The ’603 Patent was previously the subject of a Covered Business Method
`
`Petition, Broadsign International, LLC v. T-Rex Property AB, Case No. CBM2017-
`
`00008 (filed Oct. 28, 2016). In that proceeding, the petitioner challenged claims 1,
`
`11-13, 42, 43, and 48-74. Thereafter, Patent Owner filed a statutory disclaimer of
`
`claims 1-12, 17, 19-20, 22, 28-33, 45-47, 49, 51-55, and 58-74. This Board
`
`thereafter denied institution, finding that the remaining challenged claims (claims
`
`13, 42, 43, 48, 50, 56, and 57), did not claim a financial product or service, and
`
`2
`
`

`

`therefore the ’603 patent was not eligible for covered business method patent
`
`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`review. CBM2017-00008, Paper No. 7 at 8-10.
`
`Of the remaining claims of the ’603 Patent, Petitioner in this proceeding has
`
`challenged claims 13-16, 23, 42-43, and 48 as unpatentable. Among those are two
`
`independent claims: Claims 13 and 48. Claim 13 reads:
`
`13. A system for presenting video or still-image content at selected
`times and locations on a networked connection of multiple electronic
`displays, said system comprising:
`a network interconnecting a plurality of electronic displays provided
`at various geographic locations;
`means for scheduling the presentation of video or still-image content
`at selected time slots on selected electronic displays of said network
`and receiving said video or still-image content form a content
`provider;
`transmission means in communication with said receiving means for
`communicating scheduled content to respective server devices
`associated with corresponding selected electronic displays of said
`network, each said associated device initiating display of said video or
`still-image content at selected times on a corresponding selected
`electronic display of said network.
`Ex. 1001 at 8:47-63. Claim 48 reads:
`
`48. A method for presenting video or still-image content at selected
`times and locations on a networked connection of multiple electronic
`displays, said method comprising:
`a) providing a network interconnecting a plurality of electronic
`displays at various geographic locations;
`b) enabling a content provider to schedule presentation of video or
`still-image content at selected time slots on selected electronic
`
`3
`
`

`

`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`displays of said network and receiving said video or still-image
`content from a content provider;
`c) providing a plurality of server devices, each server device
`associated with a corresponding electronic display;
`d) communicating received video or still-image content to the
`associated server devices of corresponding selected electronic
`displays of said network; and,
`e) said server device initiating display of said video or still-image
`content at selected times on an associated electronic display of said
`network.
`Ex. 1001 at 11:34-53.
`
`As described by the claims, the claimed system comprising networks of
`
`electronic displays must be configured to enable a content provider to schedule
`
`content at selected time slots on selected electronic displays. Ex. 1001 at 8:53-56.
`
`In other words, the claimed system comprising networks of electronic displays is
`
`not just any network, but a novel, non-obvious system created by the inventor of
`
`the ’603 Patent over 17 years ago.
`
`III. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION
`Because this preliminary response “is limited to setting forth the reasons
`
`why no inter partes review should be instituted,” 32 C.F.R. § 42.107(a), T-Rex
`
`does not at this time propose a construction for each term. T-Rex reserves the right
`
`to assert any construction of any term in any subsequent filing.
`
`4
`
`

`

`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`1.
`
`“means for scheduling the presentation of video or still-
`image content at selected time slots on selected electronic
`displays of said network and receiving said video or still-
`image content from a content provider” (claim 13 and
`dependents)
`Petitioner acknowledges that this limitation “is a means-plus-function
`
`element” and that under Federal Circuit precedent, for a “computer-implemented
`
`invention in which the inventor has invoked means-plus-function claiming,” “the
`
`disclosed structure is not the general purpose computer, but rather the special
`
`purpose computer programmed to perform the disclosed algorithm.” Pet. at 11-12.
`
`Indeed, it is well established that, even under the broadest reasonable interpretation
`
`standard applied in the Patent Office, the Board must identify the corresponding
`
`structure for a means-plus-function limitation, including an algorithm for a
`
`computer-implemented invention. See, e.g., In re Donaldson Co., 16 F.3d 1189
`
`(Fed. Cir. 1994); IPCom GmbH & Co. v. HTC Corp., 861 F.3d 1362, 1371 (Fed.
`
`Cir. 2017) (“The Board’s analysis was erroneous because it never specified what it
`
`believed was the actual algorithm disclosed in the '830 patent for performing the
`
`‘arrangement for reactivating the link’ function”).
`
`However, Petitioner’s proposed construction for this means limitation fails
`
`to identify any actual algorithms and instead merely recites a computer
`
`programmed in a functional manner. For the “scheduling the presentation of video
`
`or still-image content at selected time slots on selected electronic displays of said
`
`5
`
`

`

`network,” Petitioner identifies the “structure” as “a special purpose server
`
`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`computer programmed to enable scheduling at a desired time slot.” Pet. at 12. But
`
`this is not an algorithm, and instead, the “programm[ing]” merely rephrases the
`
`claimed function (“scheduling the presentation of video or still-image content at
`
`selected time slots”). As the Federal Circuit has repeatedly held, the corresponding
`
`algorithm cannot simply “describe[] an outcome,” (i.e., “enable scheduling at a
`
`desired time slot”) but rather must describe “a means for achieving that outcome.”
`
`Blackboard, Inc. v. Desire2Learn, Inc., 574 F.3d 1371, 1384 (Fed. Cir. 2009).
`
`Petitioner’s identification of “is a special purpose server computer programmed to
`
`receive content on-line through the Internet, a direct phone line or a high speed
`
`connection” as the corresponding structure for “receiving said video or still-image
`
`content from a content provider” is similarly defective. Pet. at 13. Indeed, all it
`
`adds to the claimed function is the language “through the Internet, a direct phone
`
`line or a high speed connection,” but that also is not an algorithm; i.e., it does not
`
`describe how the computer performs the function of “receiving,” but merely what
`
`communications devices may be attached to the computer.
`
`Because the Petitioner’s proposed construction of this claim term plainly
`
`invites legal error by proposing merely functional language, the Board should deny
`
`this petition for failing to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)(3), which requires
`
`that the Petition set forth “the structure, material, or acts corresponding to each
`
`6
`
`

`

`claimed function.” See IPCom, 861 F.3d at 1371 (“the Board here impermissibly
`
`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`treated the means-plus-function limitation in its patentability analysis as if it were a
`
`purely functional limitation”).
`
`Moreover, Patent Owner has previously presented claim construction
`
`arguments for this term which comply with the applicable case law by identifying a
`
`particular algorithm. In particular, the Federal Circuit has repeatedly identified
`
`algorithms as acceptable corresponding structures when they propose a series of
`
`steps to be performed in a particular sequence on the computer. See, e.g., WMS
`
`Gaming Inc. v. International Game Tech., 184 F.3d 1339, 1349 (Fed. Cir. 1999)
`
`(identifying four-step algorithm as corresponding structure for “means for
`
`assigning” algorithm). Here, Patent Owner proposes that the corresponding
`
`structure for this limitation be identified as:
`
`“central information processing station with network interface”
`(’603 Pat. Fig. 1; 2:66-3:17) and associated Customer Interface Web
`Server 20 (’603 Fig. 1, 3:2-6), configured according to the following
`algorithm:
`
`1) a customer of the system is permitted to access the
`central information processing station of the system via the
`Internet;
`2) the customer is permitted to obtain and enter security
`code information;
`3) the customer is permitted to review available
`time/locations;
`4) the customer is permitted to schedule a desired time
`
`slot;
`
`5) content is received from the customer through the
`Internet.
`
`7
`
`

`

`(‘603 Pat. at 2:66-3:17), and equivalents thereof.
`See Ex. 2001 at 20 [Claim Construction Statement, T-Rex Property AB v. Regal et
`
`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`al.].
`
`This structure should be adopted as the corresponding structure for this
`
`means limitation in this proceeding. Firstly, unlike Petitioner’s proposed
`
`construction, this corresponding structure does recite an algorithm. In particular,
`
`the passage in column 2, line 66 through column 3, line 17 recites a sequence of
`
`steps performed on a computer using language clearly indicating a logical ordering
`
`of operations (i.e., an algorithm). ’603 Pat. at 3:8 (“Following access, . . .”), at
`
`3:13 (“Next, . . .”). This easily satisfies the Federal Circuit’s requirements for
`
`disclosing an algorithm in the specification. See Typhoon Touch Techs., Inc. v.
`
`Dell, Inc., 659 F.3d 1376, 1386 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (“it suffices if the specification
`
`recites in prose the algorithm to be implemented by the programmer."); TecSec,
`
`Inc. v. Int'l Bus. Machs., 731 F.3d 1336, 1348 (Fed. Cir. 2013) (“We allow a
`
`patentee to express an algorithm ‘in any understandable terms including as a
`
`mathematical formula, in prose, or as a flow chart, or in any other manner that
`
`provides sufficient structure.’”).
`
`Moreover, the specification of the ’603 patent clearly links the functions of
`
`“receiving” “video or still-image content from a content provider” and
`
`“scheduling” it for display with this algorithm. In particular, the algorithm
`
`8
`
`

`

`described in column 2, line 66 through column 3, line 17 of the ’603 patent is the
`
`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`sole description in the specification for how content is received from content
`
`providers (“customer”). E.g., ’603 Pat. at 3:13-17 (“Next, the customer transmits
`
`the advertising content on-line through the Internet, a direct phone line or a high
`
`speed connection (for example, ISDN or DSL) for receipt by the system’s Video &
`
`Still Image Review and Input module 70.”). Additionally, this passage also
`
`describes the same means (i.e., the central information processing station with
`
`network interface, Customer Interface Web Server, and associated algorithm) also
`
`performing the function of “scheduling the presentation of video or still-image
`
`content at selected time slots on selected electronic displays of said network.”
`
`’603 Pat. at 3:8-13 (“Following access, the customer reviews available advertising
`
`time/locations through a Review Schedule and Purchase Time module 60 that
`
`permits the customer to see what time is available on any display throughout the
`
`world and thereafter schedule and purchase the desired advertising time slot.”).
`
`Furthermore, the corresponding structure proposed by Patent Owner satisfies the
`
`claim requirement for a single “means” that performs both functions. ’603 Pat. cl.
`
`13 (“means for scheduling . . . and receiving”); Noah Sys. Inc. v. Intuit Inc., 675
`
`F.3d 1302, 1314 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 9, 2012) (“there are really two functions recited. .
`
`. . Any algorithm must, therefore, address both aspects of this functional
`
`language.”).
`
`9
`
`

`

`Thus, the Board should reject Petitioner’s proposed construction for “means
`
`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`for scheduling the presentation of video or still-image content at selected time slots
`
`on selected electronic displays of said network and receiving said video or still-
`
`image content from a content provider” and instead adopt Patent Owner’s proposed
`
`construction.
`
`2.
`
`“means for enabling split screen images to be displayed at the
`electronic display” (claim 42 and dependents)
`Petitioner’s construction of “means for enabling split screen . . .” suffers
`
`from the same types of deficiencies as stated above with respect to the “means for
`
`scheduling . . . and receiving” limitation. Like that limitation, Petitioner
`
`acknowledges that “means for enabling split screen . . .” is a means-plus-function
`
`element. Pet. at 14. However, once again Petitioner’s proposed construction fails
`
`to identify any actual algorithms as the corresponding structure and it instead
`
`merely recites a computer programmed in a functional manner. In particular,
`
`Petitioner identifies the corresponding structure as a “special purpose server
`
`computer programmed to enable split screen images to be displayed on an
`
`electronic display using any number of known programs for dividing a display area
`
`into two or more sections.” Pet. at 15. This construction is based on their expert’s
`
`assertion that “Split screen technology was well known in the late 1990s, and could
`
`be achieved by any number of known programs for dividing a display area into two
`
`10
`
`

`

`or more sections.” Ex. 1002 ¶¶ 36-37. However, this is not an algorithm at all.
`
`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`Rather, Petitioner’s reference to various unstated techniques in the prior art plainly
`
`fails to accord with the applicable precedent for construing means-plus-function
`
`limitations. Indeed, the very same argument—construing the structure based on
`
`the disclosures of the prior art, rather than that of the specification—has been
`
`repeatedly rejected by the Federal Circuit. Med. Instrumentation & Diagnostics
`
`Corp. v. Elekta AB, 344 F.3d 1205, 1212 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (“The correct inquiry is
`
`to look at the disclosure of the patent and determine if one of skill in the art would
`
`have understood that disclosure to encompass software for [performing the claimed
`
`function] and been able to implement such a program, not simply whether one of
`
`skill in the art would have been able to write such a software program.”);
`
`Blackboard, Inc. v. Desire2Learn, Inc., 574 F.3d 1371, 1385 (Fed. Cir. 2009)
`
`(“The question before us is whether the specification contains a sufficiently precise
`
`description of the ‘corresponding structure’ to satisfy section 112, paragraph 6, not
`
`whether a person of skill in the art could devise some means to carry out the
`
`recited function.”).
`
`Rather, as Patent Owner has explained in litigation relating to the ’603
`
`Patent, the corresponding structure for the “means for enabling split screen images
`
`to be displayed at the electronic display” should be construed as:
`
`11
`
`

`

`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`The corresponding structure is “high speed servers 100” (’603
`Pat. Fig. 1, 6:58), configured according to the following algorithm:
`1) qualify the customer of the system;
`2) provide direct access to the customer;
`3) perform high speed transfer of still image or video
`transfer from the customer facilitated by compression
`techniques such as JPEG or MPEG II;
`4) present portion of screen as still frame provided by
`customer, and remainder of screen as real time (or near real
`time) video or still frame provided by the customer.
`(’603 Pat. 6:46-62) and equivalents thereof.
`Ex. 2001 at 22 [Claim Construction Statement, T-Rex Property AB v. Regal et al.].
`
`Once again, unlike Petitioner’s proposed construction, Patent Owner’s
`
`proposed construction complies with the applicable case law because it is an
`
`algorithm—a series of operations to be performed by computers—and the
`
`specification clearly links the disclosure to the function of “enabling split screen
`
`images to be displayed at the electronic display.” Indeed, the cited section of the
`
`specification expressly begins by explaining that it “It will be appreciated that split
`
`screen images may be displayed at the displays.” ’603 Pat. at 6:46-47.
`
`Thus, the Board should reject Petitioner’s proposed construction for “means
`
`for enabling split screen images to be displayed at the electronic display” and
`
`instead adopt Patent Owner’s proposed construction.
`
`3.
`“time slot” (claims 13, 48 and dependents)
`Petitioner does not propose a particular construction of time slot and instead
`
`proposes that it be construed according to its ordinary meaning. However, in this
`
`12
`
`

`

`case, construction of the term “time slot” is appropriate because Petitioner is
`
`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`inappropriately applying the “time slot” limitation in a manner inconsistent with its
`
`ordinary meaning. In particular, as demonstrated by its definition in the Oxford
`
`English Dictionary, a “time slot” is “a portion of time allocated to a particular
`
`purpose or person, esp. to an individual broadcast programme.” Ex. 2002 at 139.1
`
`This definition is consistent with the disclosures in the ’603 Patent.
`
`For example, the ’603 patent discloses that, “Following access [through a
`
`Customer Interface Web Server], the customer reviews available advertising
`
`time/locations through a Review Schedule and Purchase Time module 60 that
`
`permits the customer to see what time is available on any display throughout the
`
`world and thereafter schedule and purchase the desired advertising time slot.”
`
`’603 Pat. at 3:8-14 (emphasis added). Similarly, the ’603 Patent elsewhere
`
`describes this as “customers directly purchase time from available slots” and
`
`contrasts it with unclaimed “alternative modes” such as “the system operator . . .
`
`select[s] the time slots for display of the customer's advertisements at ‘best
`
`available rate’ pricing, taking advantage of last minute availability of time slots
`
`and other time slot placement techniques.” ’603 Pat. at 7:8-12. Thus, consistent
`
`with the definition in the OED, the term “time slot” is used in the ’603 patent to
`
`1 Because the OED entry identifies usages of the term “time slot” consistent with
`this definition both before and after the filing date of the ’603 Patent, it is pertinent
`evidence of the meaning of the term at the time of invention.
`
`13
`
`

`

`refer to a “a portion of time allocated to a particular” customer’s content, and not
`
`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`to a general time frame where any number of customers’ content may appear.
`
`IV. THERE IS NO REASONABLE LIKELIHOOD OF PETITIONER
`PREVAILING AS TO A CHALLENGED CLAIM OF THE ’603
`PATENT
`A.
`Petitioner Fails to Demonstrate That the Prior Art Discloses
`“means for scheduling the presentation of video or still-image
`content at selected time slots on selected electronic displays of said
`network and receiving said video or still-image content from a
`content provider” (claims 13-16, 23, 42-43)
`The term “means for scheduling the presentation of video or still-image
`
`content at selected time slots on selected electronic displays of said network and
`
`receiving said video or still-image content from a content provider” is recited by
`
`claim 13. It is also a limitation of claims 14-16, 23, and 42-43, which depend
`
`directly or indirectly on claim 13. The only challenged claim which does not recite
`
`this limitation is claim 48. As set forth in the Petition, Petitioner only identifies
`
`this claim limitation as being met by the Nakamura reference (grounds 1 and 2)
`
`and the Hylin reference (grounds 3-5). Pet. at 18-21, 45-48. As discussed above,
`
`the appropriate construction of this limitation requires a particular algorithm which
`
`is disclosed in the specification of the ’603 Patent at column 2, line 66 through
`
`column 3, line 17. Because Petitioner and their expert applied a claim construction
`
`that only recited functional language, and did not recite any particular algorithm,
`
`Petitioner has failed to present evidence sufficient to show that either Nakamura or
`
`14
`
`

`

`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`Hylin discloses or renders obvious “means for scheduling the presentation of video
`
`or still-image content at selected time slots on selected electronic displays of said
`
`network and receiving said video or still-image content from a content provider.”
`
`The Petition should therefore be denied. Moreover, as set forth in further detail
`
`below, these references plainly fail to disclose numerous portions of the algorithms
`
`of Patent Owner’s proposed construction, or any apparent equivalent thereof.
`
`1.
`
`Nakamura does not disclose or render obvious “means for
`scheduling the presentation of video or still-image content
`at selected time slots on selected electronic displays of said
`network and receiving said video or still-image content
`from a content provider” (Grounds 1 and 2)
`Petitioner identifies the “The master station of Nakamura” and Nakamura’s
`
`“display content posting support software” as satisfying this limitation. Ex. 1002,
`
`¶ 59; Pet. at 18-19. However, the analysis of Petitioner and its expert merely
`
`purports to show that Nakamura performs the claimed functions. Pet. at 18
`
`(“Nakamura’s master station 2 . . . accepts inputs directly from third-party users of
`
`the system . . . and schedules the content presentation.”); Pet. at 18 (citing Ex. 1002
`
`¶ 57) (“The posting software of Nakamura performs the function . . .”); Pet. at 19
`
`(citing Ex. 1002 ¶ 59) (“The master station 2, via the display content posting
`
`support software, also schedules the content ‘at selected time slots on selected
`
`electronic displays.’”). Petitioner and its expert, however, wholly fail to show that
`
`Nakamura performs the claimed functions using the same or equivalent structure as
`
`15
`
`

`

`the ’603 patent, i.e., by performing the steps of an algorithm disclosed by the ’603
`
`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`patent.
`
`Applying the steps of the algorithm identified above in Patent Owner’s
`
`proposed construction, it is clear that Nakamura fails to satisfy this claim
`
`limitation. For example, one of the steps of that algorithm is that the user “the
`
`customer is permitted to obtain and enter security code information.” ’603 Pat. at
`
`3:3-6 (“The customer interface web server has a commerce engine and permits the
`
`customer to obtain and enter security code . . .”). Nakamura does not disclose such
`
`a step in any algorithm, or any equivalent. Indeed, Nakamura does not mention
`
`“secure,” “security” or “security code,” “password,” “authentication,” “PIN” or
`
`similar terms. In short, Nakamura has no disclosure of a step of an algorithm
`
`relating to user providing a security code or equivalent.
`
`Additionally, the algorithm that constitutes the corresponding structure for
`
`“means for scheduling . . .” also includes the steps of the customer being
`
`“permitted to review available time/locations” and “permitted to schedule a desired
`
`time slot.” As discussed in further detail below with respect to claim 48, the
`
`Nakamura reference does not disclose that users can select the specific time slot in
`
`which their content is displayed (which Petitioner correctly identifies as “display
`
`runtime”, Ex. 1002 ¶ 60 (citing Ex. 1003, Fig. 3(B)). However, contrary to
`
`Petitioner’s arguments, the user of the system of Nakamura cannot actually select
`
`16
`
`

`

`the desired “display runtime” for their content (i.e. they are not permitted to
`
`IPR2017-01915
`U.S. Patent No. 6,430,603
`
`
`schedule a desired time slot.”). Rather, users can only select a “posting time frame
`
`T” and a “display duration T.” Ex. 1003, Fig. 2, ¶ 8 (“allows the end user himself
`
`to directly decide the major specifica

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


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

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

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

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

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

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

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

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

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

Your account does not support viewing this document.

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

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

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

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

Become a Member

One Moment Please

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

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

Your document is on its way!

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

Sealed Document

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

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


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket