Please type a plus sign (+) inside this box —›
`
`PTO/SB/05 (4/
`Approved for use through 09/30/2000. OMB 0651-008W
`Patent and Trademark Office: U S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`valid OMB control num
`
`r
`UTILITY
`APPLICATION
`PATENT
`TRANSMITTAL
`,g Only for new nonprovisional applications under 37 C F.R. § 1.53(b))
`
`Attorney Docket No. AGLE0001
`
`DI
`
`First Inventor or Application Idenbfier Calderone et al.
`r'
`Title System and Method of Voice Recognition Near a Wireline...
`
`Express Mail Label No. EL540887154US
`
`
`
`X
`
`Assistant Commissioner for Patents
`ADDRESS TO: Box Patent Application
`Wachinaton DC 20951
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`j
`
`Microfiche Computer Program (Appendix)
`
`Sequence Submission
`Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid
`(if applicable, all necessary)
`Computer Readable Copy
`a.
`
`b.
`
`c.
`
`Paper Copy (identical to computer copy)
`
`Statement verifying identity of above copies
`
`APPLICATION ELEMENTS
`See MPEP chapter 600 concerning utility patent application contents.
`* Fee Transmittal Form (e.g., PTO/SB/17)
`(Submit an original and a duplicate for fee processing)
`2. X Specification
`134
`[Total Pages
`
`forth below)
`(preferred arrangement set
`- Descriptive title of the Invention
`- Cross References to Related Applications
`D
`- Statement Regarding Fed sponsored R &
`- Reference to Microfiche Appendix
`- Background of the Invention
`- Brief Summary of the Invention
`Brief Description of the Drawings (if filed)
`- Detailed Description
`- Claim(s)
`- Abstract of the Disclosure
`3. X Drawing(s) (35 U.S.C. 113)
`
`[Total Sheets 35
`
`7.
`
`X
`
`X
`
`8.
`
`9.
`
`10. X
`
`1
`
`1
`
` X Copies of IDS
`Citations
`
`ACCOMPANYING APPLICATION PARTS
`&
`document(s))
`Assignment Papers (cover sheet
`
`, Power of
`37 C.F.R.§3.73(b) Statement
`X
`Attorney
`(when there is an assignee)
`(if applicable)
`English Translation Document
`Information Disclosure
` Statement (IDS)/PTO-1449
`Preliminary Amendment
`11.
`[Total Pages 3
`4. Oath or Declaration
`12. X Return Receipt Postcard (MPEP 503)
`Newly executed (original or copy)
`a. X
`(Should be specifically itemized)
`Copy from a prior application (37 C.F R. § 1.63(d))
`1 Small Entity
`b.
`Statement filed in prior application,
`(for continuation/divisional with Box 16 completed)
`13 X
`Statement(s)
`and desired
`proper
`Status still
`DELETION OF INVENTOR(S)
`(PTO/SS/09-12)
`Certified Copy of Priority Document(s)
`Signed statement attached deleting
`inventor(s) named in the prior application, 14
`(if foreign pnonty is claimed)
`15.
`see 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.63(d)(2) and 1.33(b).
`Other:
`* NOTE FOR ITEMS 1 & 13: IN ORDER TO BE ENTITLED TO PAY SMALL ENTITY
`FEES, A SMALL ENTITY STATEMENT IS REQUIRED (37 C.F.R. § 1.27), EXCEPT
`IF ONE FILED IN A PRIOR APPLICATION IS RELIED UPON (37 C F.R. i 1.281.
`16. If a CONTINUING APPLICATION, check appropriate box, and supply the requisite information below and in a preliminary amendment:
`/
`of prior application No:
`Continuation-in-part (CIP)
`Divisional
`Continuation
`Group / Art Unit:
`Examiner
`Poor application information:
`For CONTINUATION or DIVISIONAL APPS only: The entire disclosure of the prior application, from which an oath or declaration is supplied
`under Box 4b, is considered a part of the disclosure of the accompanying continuation or divisional application and is hereby incorporated by
`reference. The incorporation can only be relied upon when a portion has been inadvertently omitted from the submitted application parts.
`17. CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
`22862
`(Insert Customer No. or Attach bar code label here)
`
`i.
`
`El Customer Number or Bar Code Label
`
`or 0 Correspondence address below
`
`Name
`
`Address
`
`City
`Country
`F
`Name (Pant/Type) Michael A. Glgag--------
`
`State
`I
`Telephone
`
`I Zip Code
`Fax
`
`I Registration No. (Attorney/Agent)
`
`30,176
`
`%
`
`2/16/01
`I Date
`Signature
`•
`s
`Burden Hour Statement: This form is estimated to take 0.2 hours to complete. Time will vary depending upon the needs of e individual case. Any
`comments on the amount of time you are required to complete this form should be sent to the Chief Information Officer, Patent and Trademark Office,
`Washington, DC 20231. DO NOT SEND FE ES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS. SEND TO: Assistant Commissioner for Patents,
`Box Patent Application, Washington, DC 2C231.
`
`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 1
`
`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 1
`
`

`

`../
`
`Fee Paid
`
`FEE CALCULATION (continued)
`3. ADDITIONAL FEES
`Large Entity Small Entity
`Fee
`Fee Fee
`Fee
`Code ($) Code ($)
`105 130 205
`65
`
`Fee Description
`
`Surcharge - late filing fee or oath
`Surcharge - late provisional filing fee or
`cover sheet
`
`127
`
`50 227
`
`25
`
`Non-English specification
`139 130 139 130
`147 2,520 147 2,520 For filing a request for reexamination
`112 920* Requesting publication of SIR prior to
`112
`920*
`Examiner action
`113 1,840' 113 1,840* Requesting publication of SIR after
`Examiner action
`Extension for reply within first month
`Extension for reply within second month
`
`115 110 215
`55
`116 380 216 190
`117
`870 217 435
`118 1,360 218 680
`
`Extension for reply within third month
`
`Extension for reply within fourth month
`
`128 1,850 228 925
`
`Extension for reply within fifth month
`Notice of Appeal
`300 219 150
`119
`Filing a brief in support of an appeal
`300 220 150
`120
`Request for oral hearing
`121 260 221 130
`138 1,510 138 1,510 Petition to institute a public use proceeding
`Petition to revive - unavoidable
`55
`140 110 240
`
`METHOD OF PAYMENT (check one)
` Lm
`The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge
`1.
`indicated fees and credit any over payments to
`WA3
`
`Deposit
`Account
`Number
`
`Deposit
`Account
`Name
`
`07-1445
`
`Michael A. Glenn
`
`X
`'s
`
`Charge Any Additional Fee Required
`Under 37 CFR §§1 16 and 1 17
`
`[1 Other
`
`2. q Payment Enclosed:
`Money
`Check
`q Order
`FEE CALCULATION
`1. BASIC FILING FEE
`Large Entity Small Entity
`Fee Fee Fee Fee
`Code ($) Code ($)
`201 380 Utility filing fee
`101 760
`206 155 Design filing fee
`207 240 Plant filing fee
`208 380 Reissue filing fee
`214
`75 Provisional filing fee
`
`Fee Description
`
`Fee Paid
`355.00
`
`106 310
`107 480
`108 760
`114 150
`
`SUBTOTAL (1)
`2. EXTRA CLAIM FEES
`
`($) 355.00
`
`Multiple Dependent
`
`Fee Description
`
`**or number previously paid, if greater, For Reissues, see below
`Large Entity Small Entity
`Fee Fee Fee Fee
`Code ($) Code ($)
`18
`203
`9 Claims in excess of 20
`103
`102
`78
`
`202 39 Independent claims in excess of 3
`104 260
`204 130 Multiple dependent claim, if not paid
`209 39 ** Reissue independent claims
`over original patent
`
`109
`
`78
`
`110
`
`18
`
`210
`
`9 — Reissue claims in excess of 20
`and over original patent
`
`PTO/SB/17 (6/99)
`Approved for use through 09/30/2000 OMB 0651-0032
`Patent and Trademark Office U S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number.
`...Sk
`
`cFEE TRANSMITTAL
`for FY 1999
`
`Patent fees are subject to annual revision.
`Small Entity payments must be supported by a small entity statement,
`otherwise large entity fees must be paid. See Forms PTOISBI09-12
`See 37 C F R §§ 1 27 and 1 28
`($) 849.00
`
``TOTAL AMOUNT OF PAYMENT
`
`Complete if Known
`Application Number Unassigned
`Herewith
`Filing Date
`First Named Inventor Calderone et al.
`Unassigned
`Unassigned
`Group / Art Unit
`Attorney Docket No. AGLE0001
`
`Examiner Name
`
`Fee from
`Fee Paid
`...42i22.31,
`Extra Claims
`I 4414.o°'
`66 -20** WM X I 9
`Total Claims
`I _ 3** ,I 1
`Independent 4
`x 1-----1 I
`ii 40.00 I
`140
`I
`I 123
`
`Petition to revive - unintentional
`
`Utility issue fee (or reissue)
`Design issue fee
`Plant issue fee
`
`Petitions to the Commissioner
`
`Petitions related to provisional applications
`
`Submission of Information Disclosure Stmt
`
`Recording each patent assignment per
`property (times number of properties)
`Filing a submission after final rejection
`(37 CFR § 1 129(a))
`For each additional invention to be
`examined (37 CFR § 1 129(b))
`
`40.00
`
`141 1,210 241 605
`142 1,210 242 605
`143 430 243 215
`580 244 290
`144
`122 130
`122
`130
`
`50 123
`
`50
`126 240
`
`126 240
`
`581
`
`40 581
`
`40
`
`146 760 246
`
`380
`
`149 760 249
`
`380
`
`Other fee (specify)
`
`Other fee (specify)
`
`SUBTOTAL (2) 1($) 454.00
`
`" Reduced by Basic Filing Fee Paid
`
`SUBTOTAL (3)
`
`($) 40.00
`
`° SUBMITTED BY
`Name (Punt/Type Michael A. Glenn
`
`! Registration Na
`(Attorneyiagent) 30,176
`
`Date
`
`Complete (if appixable)
`Telephone 650-474-8400
`2/16/01
`Signature
`•
`..
`P1.7.-------
`Burden Hour Statement' This form is estimated to take 0.2 hours to complete Time will vary depending upon the needs of the individual case Any comments
`on the amount of Ume you are required to complete this form should be sent to the Chief Information Officer, Patent and T ademark Office, Washington, DC
`20231 DO NOT SEND FEES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS SEND TO Assistant Commissioner for Patents, Washington, DC 20231
`
`1
`
`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 2
`
`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 2
`
`

`

`Please type a plus sign (+) inside this box —›
`
`PTO/SB/05 (4/
`Approved for use through 09/30/2000. OMB 0651-008W
`Patent and Trademark Office: U S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`valid OMB control num
`
`r
`UTILITY
`APPLICATION
`PATENT
`TRANSMITTAL
`,g Only for new nonprovisional applications under 37 C F.R. § 1.53(b))
`
`Attorney Docket No. AGLE0001
`
`DI
`
`First Inventor or Application Idenbfier Calderone et al.
`r'
`Title System and Method of Voice Recognition Near a Wireline...
`
`Express Mail Label No. EL540887154US
`
`
`
`X
`
`Assistant Commissioner for Patents
`ADDRESS TO: Box Patent Application
`Wachinaton DC 20951
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`j
`
`Microfiche Computer Program (Appendix)
`
`Sequence Submission
`Nucleotide and/or Amino Acid
`(if applicable, all necessary)
`Computer Readable Copy
`a.
`
`b.
`
`c.
`
`Paper Copy (identical to computer copy)
`
`Statement verifying identity of above copies
`
`APPLICATION ELEMENTS
`See MPEP chapter 600 concerning utility patent application contents.
`* Fee Transmittal Form (e.g., PTO/SB/17)
`(Submit an original and a duplicate for fee processing)
`2. X Specification
`134
`[Total Pages
`
`forth below)
`(preferred arrangement set
`- Descriptive title of the Invention
`- Cross References to Related Applications
`D
`- Statement Regarding Fed sponsored R &
`- Reference to Microfiche Appendix
`- Background of the Invention
`- Brief Summary of the Invention
`Brief Description of the Drawings (if filed)
`- Detailed Description
`- Claim(s)
`- Abstract of the Disclosure
`3. X Drawing(s) (35 U.S.C. 113)
`
`[Total Sheets 35
`
`7.
`
`X
`
`X
`
`8.
`
`9.
`
`10. X
`
`1
`
`1
`
` X Copies of IDS
`Citations
`
`ACCOMPANYING APPLICATION PARTS
`&
`document(s))
`Assignment Papers (cover sheet
`
`, Power of
`37 C.F.R.§3.73(b) Statement
`X
`Attorney
`(when there is an assignee)
`(if applicable)
`English Translation Document
`Information Disclosure
` Statement (IDS)/PTO-1449
`Preliminary Amendment
`11.
`[Total Pages 3
`4. Oath or Declaration
`12. X Return Receipt Postcard (MPEP 503)
`Newly executed (original or copy)
`a. X
`(Should be specifically itemized)
`Copy from a prior application (37 C.F R. § 1.63(d))
`1 Small Entity
`b.
`Statement filed in prior application,
`(for continuation/divisional with Box 16 completed)
`13 X
`Statement(s)
`and desired
`proper
`Status still
`DELETION OF INVENTOR(S)
`(PTO/SS/09-12)
`Certified Copy of Priority Document(s)
`Signed statement attached deleting
`inventor(s) named in the prior application, 14
`(if foreign pnonty is claimed)
`15.
`see 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.63(d)(2) and 1.33(b).
`Other:
`* NOTE FOR ITEMS 1 & 13: IN ORDER TO BE ENTITLED TO PAY SMALL ENTITY
`FEES, A SMALL ENTITY STATEMENT IS REQUIRED (37 C.F.R. § 1.27), EXCEPT
`IF ONE FILED IN A PRIOR APPLICATION IS RELIED UPON (37 C F.R. i 1.281.
`16. If a CONTINUING APPLICATION, check appropriate box, and supply the requisite information below and in a preliminary amendment:
`/
`of prior application No:
`Continuation-in-part (CIP)
`Divisional
`Continuation
`Group / Art Unit:
`Examiner
`Poor application information:
`For CONTINUATION or DIVISIONAL APPS only: The entire disclosure of the prior application, from which an oath or declaration is supplied
`under Box 4b, is considered a part of the disclosure of the accompanying continuation or divisional application and is hereby incorporated by
`reference. The incorporation can only be relied upon when a portion has been inadvertently omitted from the submitted application parts.
`17. CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS
`22862
`(Insert Customer No. or Attach bar code label here)
`
`i.
`
`El Customer Number or Bar Code Label
`
`or 0 Correspondence address below
`
`Name
`
`Address
`
`City
`Country
`F
`Name (Pant/Type) Michael A. Glgag--------
`
`State
`I
`Telephone
`
`I Zip Code
`Fax
`
`I Registration No. (Attorney/Agent)
`
`30,176
`
`%
`
`2/16/01
`I Date
`Signature
`•
`s
`Burden Hour Statement: This form is estimated to take 0.2 hours to complete. Time will vary depending upon the needs of e individual case. Any
`comments on the amount of time you are required to complete this form should be sent to the Chief Information Officer, Patent and Trademark Office,
`Washington, DC 20231. DO NOT SEND FE ES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS. SEND TO: Assistant Commissioner for Patents,
`Box Patent Application, Washington, DC 2C231.
`
`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 3
`
`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 3
`
`

`

`../
`
`Fee Paid
`
`FEE CALCULATION (continued)
`3. ADDITIONAL FEES
`Large Entity Small Entity
`Fee
`Fee Fee
`Fee
`Code ($) Code ($)
`105 130 205
`65
`
`Fee Description
`
`Surcharge - late filing fee or oath
`Surcharge - late provisional filing fee or
`cover sheet
`
`127
`
`50 227
`
`25
`
`Non-English specification
`139 130 139 130
`147 2,520 147 2,520 For filing a request for reexamination
`112 920* Requesting publication of SIR prior to
`112
`920*
`Examiner action
`113 1,840' 113 1,840* Requesting publication of SIR after
`Examiner action
`Extension for reply within first month
`Extension for reply within second month
`
`115 110 215
`55
`116 380 216 190
`117
`870 217 435
`118 1,360 218 680
`
`Extension for reply within third month
`
`Extension for reply within fourth month
`
`128 1,850 228 925
`
`Extension for reply within fifth month
`Notice of Appeal
`300 219 150
`119
`Filing a brief in support of an appeal
`300 220 150
`120
`Request for oral hearing
`121 260 221 130
`138 1,510 138 1,510 Petition to institute a public use proceeding
`Petition to revive - unavoidable
`55
`140 110 240
`
`METHOD OF PAYMENT (check one)
` Lm
`The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge
`1.
`indicated fees and credit any over payments to
`WA3
`
`Deposit
`Account
`Number
`
`Deposit
`Account
`Name
`
`07-1445
`
`Michael A. Glenn
`
`X
`'s
`
`Charge Any Additional Fee Required
`Under 37 CFR §§1 16 and 1 17
`
`[1 Other
`
`2. q Payment Enclosed:
`Money
`Check
`q Order
`FEE CALCULATION
`1. BASIC FILING FEE
`Large Entity Small Entity
`Fee Fee Fee Fee
`Code ($) Code ($)
`201 380 Utility filing fee
`101 760
`206 155 Design filing fee
`207 240 Plant filing fee
`208 380 Reissue filing fee
`214
`75 Provisional filing fee
`
`Fee Description
`
`Fee Paid
`355.00
`
`106 310
`107 480
`108 760
`114 150
`
`SUBTOTAL (1)
`2. EXTRA CLAIM FEES
`
`($) 355.00
`
`Multiple Dependent
`
`Fee Description
`
`**or number previously paid, if greater, For Reissues, see below
`Large Entity Small Entity
`Fee Fee Fee Fee
`Code ($) Code ($)
`18
`203
`9 Claims in excess of 20
`103
`102
`78
`
`202 39 Independent claims in excess of 3
`104 260
`204 130 Multiple dependent claim, if not paid
`209 39 ** Reissue independent claims
`over original patent
`
`109
`
`78
`
`110
`
`18
`
`210
`
`9 — Reissue claims in excess of 20
`and over original patent
`
`PTO/SB/17 (6/99)
`Approved for use through 09/30/2000 OMB 0651-0032
`Patent and Trademark Office U S DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number.
`...Sk
`
`cFEE TRANSMITTAL
`for FY 1999
`
`Patent fees are subject to annual revision.
`Small Entity payments must be supported by a small entity statement,
`otherwise large entity fees must be paid. See Forms PTOISBI09-12
`See 37 C F R §§ 1 27 and 1 28
`($) 849.00
`
``TOTAL AMOUNT OF PAYMENT
`
`Complete if Known
`Application Number Unassigned
`Herewith
`Filing Date
`First Named Inventor Calderone et al.
`Unassigned
`Unassigned
`Group / Art Unit
`Attorney Docket No. AGLE0001
`
`Examiner Name
`
`Fee from
`Fee Paid
`...42i22.31,
`Extra Claims
`I 4414.o°'
`66 -20** WM X I 9
`Total Claims
`I _ 3** ,I 1
`Independent 4
`x 1-----1 I
`ii 40.00 I
`140
`I
`I 123
`
`Petition to revive - unintentional
`
`Utility issue fee (or reissue)
`Design issue fee
`Plant issue fee
`
`Petitions to the Commissioner
`
`Petitions related to provisional applications
`
`Submission of Information Disclosure Stmt
`
`Recording each patent assignment per
`property (times number of properties)
`Filing a submission after final rejection
`(37 CFR § 1 129(a))
`For each additional invention to be
`examined (37 CFR § 1 129(b))
`
`40.00
`
`141 1,210 241 605
`142 1,210 242 605
`143 430 243 215
`580 244 290
`144
`122 130
`122
`130
`
`50 123
`
`50
`126 240
`
`126 240
`
`581
`
`40 581
`
`40
`
`146 760 246
`
`380
`
`149 760 249
`
`380
`
`Other fee (specify)
`
`Other fee (specify)
`
`SUBTOTAL (2) 1($) 454.00
`
`" Reduced by Basic Filing Fee Paid
`
`SUBTOTAL (3)
`
`($) 40.00
`
`° SUBMITTED BY
`Name (Punt/Type Michael A. Glenn
`
`! Registration Na
`(Attorneyiagent) 30,176
`
`Date
`
`Complete (if appixable)
`Telephone 650-474-8400
`2/16/01
`Signature
`•
`..
`P1.7.-------
`Burden Hour Statement' This form is estimated to take 0.2 hours to complete Time will vary depending upon the needs of the individual case Any comments
`on the amount of Ume you are required to complete this form should be sent to the Chief Information Officer, Patent and T ademark Office, Washington, DC
`20231 DO NOT SEND FEES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS SEND TO Assistant Commissioner for Patents, Washington, DC 20231
`
`1
`
`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 4
`
`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 4
`
`

`

`SYSTEM AND METHOD OF VOICE RECOGNITION NEAR A
`
`WIRELINE NODE OF A NETWORK SUPPORTING CABLE
`
`TELEVISION AND/OR VIDEO DELIVERY
`
`This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application no.
`
`5
`
`60/210,440, entitled Method and Apparatus for Centralized Voice-Driven
`
`Natural Language Processing, docket number AGLE0001PR, filed 8 June,
`
`2000.
`
`This application is a continuation in part from Application no. 09/679,115,
`
`entitled System and Method of a Multi-dimensional Plex Communication
`
`10
`
`Network, docket number AGLE0003, filed 14 October, 2000;
`
`Application no. 09/664,874, entitled Increased Bandwidth In Aloha-Based
`
`Frequency-Hopping Transmission Systems, docket number AGLE0005, filed
`
`19 September, 2000;
`
`Application no. 09/661,486, entitled N-way Demultiplexor, docket number
`
`15
`
`AGLE0008, filed 14 September, 2000; and
`
`Application no. 09/708,315, entitled Common Carrier, Multiple Output RF
`
`Upconverter docket number AGLE0015, filed 7 November, 2000.
`
`Background of the Invention
`
`Technical field
`
`20
`
`This invention relates to voice recognition performed near a wireline node of a
`
`network supporting cable television and/or video delivery.
`
`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 5
`
`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 5
`
`

`

`Background Art
`
`Currently, voice operated functions using the latest voice recognition
`
`technologies are limited to a handful of applications, such as toys, appliances,
`
`some computers, voice dictation, cellular phones, and voice control of one's
`
`5
`
`home. Most of these applications use voice recognition technology running on
`
`a computer or voice recognition chip technology. These voice recognition
`
`systems typically offer only a limited number of commands and the
`
`recognition efficiency is only fair and often require voice training.
`
`There have been numerous patents issued regarding voice recognition. Many
`
`lo
`
`apply in a telephone context or other dial-up context such as an Automated
`
`Teller machine (ATM), including the following: Rabin, Voice command control
`
`and verification system, U.S. Patent No. 6,081,782, issued June 27, 2000,
`
`Basore, et al, Voice activated device and method for providing access ro
`
`remotely retrieved data, U.S. Patent 5,752,232, issued May 12, 1998, and
`
`15 Kowalkowski, et al, Voice-control
`
`integrated
`
`field support data
`
`communications system for maintenance, repair and emergency services,
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,924,069, issued July 13, 1999.
`
`There is, however, another class of voice recognition technology referred to
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`as natural language, which requires state of the art processing software and
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`20
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`hundreds of megabytes of RAM to support. Natural language voice
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`recognition is currently being used in high end systems, such as billing
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`applications for utility companies and the New York Stock Exchange, because
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`of its ability to recognize spoken words from any voice. Some natural
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`language systems claim to be totally user independent and are also capable
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`25
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`of recognizing speech in several different languages.
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`2
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`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 6
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`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 6
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`

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`However, the problems of voice recognition at a centralized wireline node in a
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`network supporting video delivery or cable television delivery have not been
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`addressed by such prior art. For the purposes of the discussion herein, a
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`centralized wireline node refers to a network node providing video or cable
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`s
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`television delivery to multiple users using a wireline physical transport
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`between those users at the node.
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`Figure 1 depicts a typical network as found in a cable television and/or video
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`delivery network employing a Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial (HFC) wiring scheme as
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`disclosed in the prior art.
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`io Each user site contains a Set Top Box, such as STB 180, coupling to the
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`network through a coaxial cable 172, which interfaces 170 to a collective
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`coaxial cable 160 which couples to a Node 126. The interface 170 may
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`include bi-directional signal amplification and possibly further include the
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`filtering and/or frequency shifting of these signals.
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`15
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`The Node 126 is hierarchically coupled 128 to a Headend 104, which in most
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`cable television networks serves as the source of television programming and
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`other signaling. The signals are sent through the Node 126 and couplings
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`160-170-172 to provide the STB 180 and others, with the television signaling.
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`In certain large towns and cities, there may be a further hierarchical layer
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`including a Metropolitan Headend 10 coupled 106 to Headend 104. These
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`higher layers of the network use fiber optics for the physical transport of
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`couplings 102, 106 and 108, as well as for 122, 126 and 128.
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`The couplings between STB 180 and Node 126 support bi-directional
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`communication. The couplings between STB 180, Node 126 and Headend
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`3
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`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 7
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`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 7
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`

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`104 may also support bi-directional communication. Such bi-directional
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`communication allows the STB 180 to receive multiple television channels.
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`This bi-directional communication allows STB 180 to signal at least limited
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`information to the Node 126 and/or the Headend 104. Such information in
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`5
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`either case may support management of Pay-per-View and other services.
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`User site accounting information usually resides at the highest level of the
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`network, which tends to be either the Headend 104 or Metropolitan Headend
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`10.
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`In cable systems, several downstream data channels that send channel and
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`io
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`synchronization information are often transmitted in a previously reserved
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`band of frequencies. They are typically assigned for re-broadcasting FM
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`channels over cable in the United States. Currently, most cable systems
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`reserve some of the 88 to 108 MHz FM spectrum for set-top data
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`transmission. The unused portion of that spectrum are left for barker channels
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`15
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`or for additional video channels. The Open Cable Standard requires that the
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`70 to 130 MHz band be available for what's called Out-of-Band or (00B) or
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`Downstream transmission.
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`Most current cable systems use the popular HFC architecture so that the
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`downstream video signals, digital or analog, are sent from the Headend to
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`hubs or nodes via fiberoptic cable. At the receiving side of the node, the
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`optical signal from the fiber gets converted to an electrical signal containing all
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`of the analog, digital video RF carriers and program/service information. This
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`signal, in turn, is amplified and distributed via coaxial cable to the appropriate
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`subscribers connected to the node.
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`4
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`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 8
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`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 8
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`

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`A major design objective for existing cable television set-top boxes was
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`efficient downstream information delivery, i.e. from cable plant to subscriber.
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`Provision for upstream data transmission, i.e. from subscriber to cable plant,
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`is much more restrictive, supporting only limited bandwidth. As new classes of
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`5
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`interactive services become available, efficient use of upstream transmission
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`bandwidth grows in importance. For example, if it is necessary to pass voice
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`information from the subscriber to the cable headend (also known as the
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`headend), sufficient upstream bandwidth must be made available.
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`One of the most popular digital set-top boxes, the General Instruments (now
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`0 Motorola) DCT-2000, is a useful example. When this box was first deployed,
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`upstream transmissions were restricted to user pay-per-view requests, and
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`other simple, infrequent transmissions. As a consequence, the transmission
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`format used for upstream transmissions was not required to be very efficient,
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`and in fact, is not.
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`is
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`In this set-top box, the transmission hardware is capable of selecting twenty
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`different 256K bps channels, each of which uses QPSK transmission coding.
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`While the hardware is capable of frequency-hopping to avoid channels which
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`are subject to interference, the scheme used is fairly static, with typical
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`deployments only using two active upstream communications channels. This
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`20
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`leads to an aggregate bandwidth of only 512K bps per cluster of set-top boxes
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`converging in the network to a node, in cable television terms. The cable node
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`typically supports between 500 and 2000 subscribers.
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`Upstream signals in the 5 to 40 MHz band from each subscriber connected to
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`the node are collected, combined, and then sent to the Headend via either the
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`25
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`same fiber used for the downstream video carriers, or a separate fiber.
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`5
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`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 9
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`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 9
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`

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`Furthermore, the transmission control protocol used, referred to as Aloha, is
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`one where an individual set-top box immediately transmits any pending
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`request to the headend, without regard to whether or not the transmission
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`channel is already in use. This transmission is repeated at regular intervals
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`5
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`until the box receives an acknowledgement command from the headend,
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`indicating successful receipt of the transmission.
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`This transmission control protocol is quite inefficient due to the number of
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`collisions which ensue, e.g. simultaneous transmissions from different set-top
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`boxes which interfere with one another, forcing all of the transmitters to repeat
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`10
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`their transmissions again. This leads to typical channel utilization on the order
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`of just 30%. As a consequence, the total bandwidth available for upstream
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`transmission per node is only about 30% of 512K bps = -137K bps, on
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`average.
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`Downstream control data transmission typically occurs in a separate
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`15
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`frequency band from the upstream channels.
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`Typically, HFC networks employ an optical fiber from a central office, or
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`Headend, to a neighborhood node. The fiber has forward and reverse
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`transmission capability, which can alternatively be accommodated on
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`separate fibers. Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) can be used to
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`20
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`implement both on a single fiber. At the node, coaxial cable connects the
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`users through a shared frequency division multiplexing (FDM) scheme with
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`contention resolution protocols used to manage upstream data flows.
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`Such communication schemes having both forward and backward paths, and
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`which may or may not involve a user, are referred to as loops herein. An
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`6
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`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 10
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`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 10
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`

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`example of a loop is the communication between Headend 104 and Node
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`126. Communication schemes having both forward and backward paths to
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`multiple users are referred to as local loops. An example of a local loop is the
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`communication between Node 126 and user site STBs 180, 182 and 184.
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`5
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`Note that a loop may be constituted out of optical fiber or out of coaxial cable.
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`Hybrid-Fiber-Copper (HFCop) networks work in much the same manner, but
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`substitute copper wire(s), often in twisted pairs, for coaxial cable. In such
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`networks a local loop may further be constituted out of optical fiber, coaxial
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`cable or twisted pairs.
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`io
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`Another alternative local loop configuration is commonly known as Switched
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`Digital Video. It is a form of HFC coupling the fiber through a node to each
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`user site with a distinct point-to-point coaxial cable. The node interfaces the
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`user site coaxial cables with the optical fiber through a switch. The switch
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`typically contains a network management unit which manages the switch,
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`15
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`connecting the bandwidth service provider with multiple homes, today often in
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`the range of five to 40 homes per switch.
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`The Synchronous Optical NETwork (SONET) scheme is also applied in the
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`creation of high-speed networks for homes and businesses. This and similar
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`communication schemes may be employed to deliver video streams to user
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`20
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`sites.
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`Figure 2 depicts a typical residential broadband network using local loop
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`wiring of the network, as disclosed in the prior art.
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`As in Figure 1, each user site contains a Set Top Box, such as STB 180,
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`coupled to the network through a coaxial cable 172 which interfaces 170 to a
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`7
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`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 11
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`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 11
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`

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`collective coaxial cable 160 which is coupled to Node 126. Interface 170 may
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`include bi-directional signal amplification, and possibly further include the
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`filtering and/or frequency shifting of these signals.
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`As in Figure 1, the couplings between STB 180 and Node 126 support bi-
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`s
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`directional communication allowing the STB 180 to receive multiple television
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`channels and allowing STB 180 to signal at least limited information to the
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`Node 126, which may well include management of Pay-per-View and other
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`services. The couplings between STB 180, Node 126 and Headend 104 may
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`also support bi-directional communication allowing the STB 180 to receive
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`10 multiple television channels and allowing STB 180 to signal at least limited
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`information to the Headend 104, which may well include management of Pay-
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`per-View and other services.
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`Figure 2 shows a loop coupling Headend 104 through coupling 130 to Node
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`120 through coupling 132 to Node 124 through coupling 134 to Node 126
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`15
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`which in turn couples 136 to Headend 104 forming the loop.
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`The hierarchical coupling of Node 126 with Headend 104 is carried out along
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`distinct paths through this loop. Communication from Headend 104 to Node
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`126 follows a path 130-132-134. Communication from Node 126 to Headend
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`104 follows the path 136. The specific wiring schemes are dominated by the
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`20
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`choice of physical transport, communication protocols and network level
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`management. The description just given for Figure 2 is provided as a
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`simplified discussion of the basics of how high speed residential broadband
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`networks incorporate loops and local loops supporting network level
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`hierarchies.
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`8
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`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 12
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`Comcast - Exhibit 1002, page 12
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`

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`There has been extensive research into the mechanics of speech recognition.
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`The progress has been sufficient to allow voice trading by stock brokers using
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`their desk top computers.
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`While these innovations have been substantial, they do not resolve several
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`5
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`central questions of great importance to cable television, video delivery
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`systems, and commerce. There is no present system providing voice
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`recognition to a collection of users over a cable television network. There is
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`no present system providing user identification based upon that voice
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`recognition over a network that supports cable television and/or video
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`io
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`delivery. There is no present system sufficient for real-time auctions and
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`contracting to be conducted over a cable television and/or video delivery
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`network, based on user identification through voice recognition.
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`Summary o