throbber

`
`
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`___________________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`___________________
`
`
`LG ELECTRONICS, INC., LG ELECTRONICS U.S.A., INC., LG
`ELECTRONICS MOBILECOMM U.S.A. INC., LG ELECTRONICS MOBILE
`RESEARCH U.S.A. LLC, AND LG ELECTRONICS ALABAMA, INC.,
`Petitioners,
`
`v.
`
`FUNDAMENTAL INNOVATION SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL LLC,
`Patent Owner.
`___________________
`
`Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`___________________
`
`FUNDAMENTAL INNOVATION SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL LLC's
`PATENT OWNER PRELIMINARY RESPONSE
`
`
`
`
`
`Mail Stop "PATENT BOARD"
`Patent Trial and Appeal Board
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`10519100
`
`
`
`
`

`

`Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`Page
`INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1
`I.
`SUMMARY OF THE '586 PATENT........................................................... 6
`II.
`III. THE PRIOR ART REFERENCES DIFFER FROM THE '586
`INVENTIONS .............................................................................................. 8
`A. Dougherty Overview .......................................................................... 8
`1.
`Dougherty's Docking Station ................................................... 8
`2.
`Dougherty's Alleged Improvement Over Prior Art ............... 10
`3.
`Dougherty's Docking Station Logic ....................................... 11
`(a) Docking When Laptop Is Operational ......................... 12
`(b) Docking When Laptop Is Non-Operational
`(Dead Battery Or No Battery) ..................................... 13
`Shiga Overview ................................................................................ 14
`B.
`IV. SKILL LEVEL OF A POSA ...................................................................... 15
`V.
`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION ....................................................................... 16
`VI. THE BOARD SHOULD DENY INSTITUTION BECAUSE LG
`HAS FAILED TO NAME ALL REAL PARTIES-IN-INTEREST .......... 16
`VII. GROUNDS 1&3: CLAIMS 8-9, AND 11-12 ARE NOT OBVIOUS
`OVER DOUGHERTY IN VIEW OF SHIGA, DEJACO AND/OR
`KALOGEROPOULOS. .............................................................................. 23
`A.
`The Petition Should Be Denied Because, As In IPR2018-
`00111, It Fails To Present Any Competent Evidence That A
`POSA Would Have Had a Reasonable Expectation of
`Success In Using SE1 In The Manner Proposed .............................. 23
`
`10519100
`
`
`- i -
`
`

`

`
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`D.
`
`E.
`
`Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`Page(s)
`
`1.
`
`This Petition Presents the Same Theory and Evidence
`Regarding the Shiga Combinations As in IPR2018-
`00111. ..................................................................................... 24
`Petitioner's Evidence Fails To Demonstrate That A
`POSA Would Have Had A Reasonable Expectation of
`Success In Using SE1 Signaling. ........................................... 28
`The Board's Finding in IPR2018-00111 Is Based On
`Petitioner's Failure to Present Competent Evidence on
`the Use of SE1 Signals ........................................................... 34
`Petition Fails To Establish That Its References Are
`Analogous Art To The '586 Patent ................................................... 36
`Petitioner Fails To Present Any Competent Evidence That
`The Dougherty/Shiga Combination Renders Obvious
`Detecting "An Identification Signal" That Is "Different Than
`USB enumeration" (Claims 8 & 9) .................................................. 40
`The Dougherty/Shiga Combination Would Not Use A
`"Microprocessor And Memory To Process" … "An
`Identification Signal Received At The D+ And D- Lines"
`(Claims 11 & 12). ............................................................................. 42
`Petitioner Fails To Provide Any Competent Factual Basis For
`Its Assertion Of A Motivation To Combine Dougherty and
`Shiga ................................................................................................. 43
`1.
`The Petition's Reliance On The SE1 Signal Has
`Already Been Rejected By the Board. ................................... 45
`The Petition Fails To Establish That Shiga Is
`Analogous Art. ....................................................................... 45
`The Prior Art Does Not Teach Using An SE1 Signal
`As An "Identification Signal." ............................................... 45
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`10519100
`
`
`- ii -
`
`

`

`
`
`4.
`
`Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`Page(s)
`
`A POSA Would Conclude That Petitioner's Proposed
`Combination Had No Reasonable Expectation of
`Success ................................................................................... 47
`(a) A POSA Would Believe That Dougherty's
`Laptop Would Not Be Able To Receive SE1
`Signals While Maintaining Normal USB
`Communications .......................................................... 48
`Even If The Laptop Were Programmed To
`Respond To An SE1 Identification Signal, The
`Proposed Combination Is Still Inoperative. ................ 49
`A POSA Would Believe The Suggested Modifications
`Would Disable Dougherty's Primary Functionality ............... 50
`(a) Dougherty's Docking Station Expands Ports
`And Requires Normal USB Communication. ............. 50
`(b) Dougherty's Handshaking Process Is Necessary
`To Establish Communication. ..................................... 51
`Petitioner Ignores Other Methods For Identification
`Without Violating The USB Standard. .................................. 52
`(a)
`Petitioners Fail To Explain Why A POSA
`Would Have Ignored Identification Via Well-
`Established Enumeration Procedure. ........................... 53
`Petitioner Fail To Explain Why A POSA Would
`Have Ignored Identification Via Non-Data
`Lines. ........................................................................... 54
`A POSA Could Not Use Petitioner's Proposed
`Modification In Dougherty's "Dead Battery" Scenario ......... 56
`VIII. THE PETITION SHOULD BE DENIED UNDER §§ 325(d) and
`315(d). ......................................................................................................... 57
`IX. CONCLUSION ........................................................................................... 60
`
`(b)
`
`(b)
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`7.
`
`10519100
`
`
`- iii -
`
`

`

`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
`Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`
` Page(s)
`
`Cases
`Arendi S.A.R.L. v. Apple Inc.,
`832 F.3d 1355 (Fed. Cir. 2016) .......................................................................... 41
`Atlanta Gas Light Co. v. Bennett Regulatory Guards, Inc.,
`IPR2013-00453, Paper 88, 8 (PTAB Jan. 6, 2015) .....................................passim
`Broadcom Corp. v. Emulex Corp.,
`732 F.3d 1325 (Fed. Cir. 2013) .................................................................... 48, 50
`In re Clay,
`866 F.2d 656 (Fed. Cir. 1992) ...................................................................... 37, 39
`DSS Tech. Mgmt. v. Apple Inc.,
`885 F.3d 1367 (Fed. Cir. 2018) .......................................................................... 41
`Fox Factory, Inc. v. SRAM, LLC,
`IPR2017-01439, Paper 7 (PTAB Dec. 8, 2017) ................................................. 59
`Google, LLC v. Uniloc Luxembourg S.A.,
`IPR2017-01665, Paper 10 (PTAB Jan. 11, 2018) ........................................ 58, 59
`Halliburton Energy Servs., Inc. v. Schlumberger Tech. Corp.,
`IPR2017-01777, Paper 13, 3 (PTAB Jan. 31, 2018) ............................................ 1
`Initiative for Responsibility in Drug Pricing LLC v. Wyeth LLC,
`IPR2014-01259, Paper 8 (PTAB Feb. 13, 2015) ................................................ 59
`In re Klein,
`647 F.3d 1343 (Fed. Cir. 2011) .......................................................................... 37
`Parrot SA v. Drone Techs.,
`IPR2014-00732, Paper 29, 12 (PTAB Oct. 20, 2015) ........................................ 37
`In re Stepan Co.,
`868 F.3d 1342 (Fed. Cir. 2017) .................................................................... 44, 48
`
`10519100
`
`
`- iv -
`
`

`

`Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`Page
`
`
`Taylor v. Sturgell,
`553 U.S. 880 (2008) .......................................................................... 17, 18, 19, 20
`Toyota Motor Corp. v. Cellport Systems, Inc.,
`IPR2015-01423, Paper 7 (PTAB Oct. 28, 2015) ................................................ 59
`Tyco Fire Prods. LP v. Victaulic Co.,
`IPR2016-00278, Paper 13, 12 (PTAB Sept. 7, 2016)......................................... 38
`Wasica Fin. GmbH v. Continental Automotive Sys., Inc.,
`853 F. 3d 1272 (Fed. Cir. 2017) ......................................................................... 38
`ZOLL Lifecor Corp. v. Philips Elec. N. Am. Corp.,
`IPR2013-00606, Paper 13, 10 (PTAB Mar. 10, 2014) ....................................... 17
`ZTE (USA) Inc., v. Fundamental Innovation Systems Int’l LLC,
`IPR2018-00111, Paper 16, 19-22 (PTAB May 9, 2018). IPR2018-
`00111 ............................................................................................................passim
`Statutes
`35 U.S.C. § 253(a) ..................................................................................................... 1
`35 U.S.C. § 312(a)(2) ............................................................................................... 16
`35 U.S.C. § 315(b) ................................................................................................... 17
`35 U.S.C. § 315(d) ............................................................................................. 57, 59
`35 U.S.C. §325(d) .............................................................................................passim
`Other Authorities
`37 C.F.R. § 1.321(a). .................................................................................................. 1
`37 C.F.R. § 42.106(b) .............................................................................................. 17
`37 C.F.R. § 42.107(e) ................................................................................................. 1
`
`10519100
`
`
`- v -
`
`

`

`Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`
`
`
`
`
`EXHIBIT LIST
`
`
`Ex. 2001 Declaration of Dr. Kenneth Fernald in Support of Fundamental
`Innovation Systems International LLC's Patent Owner
`Preliminary Response
`Ex. 2002 Excerpts from the USB 2.0 Specification Engineering Change
`Notice (ECN) #1: Mini-B connector, Date: 10/20/2000
`Ex. 2003 Excerpts from USB Complete, Jan Axelson, 1999
`Ex. 2004 U.S. 5,884,086 (Amoni)
`Ex. 2005 Excerpts from the deposition transcript of John Irving Garney in
`Fundamental Innovation Systems International LLC v. Samsung
`Electronics Co., Ltd. et al., Civil Action No. 2:17-cv-00145-JRG
`(U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Texas)
`Ex. 2006 Excerpts from USB Complete (2d. Edition), Jan Axelson, 2001
`Ex. 2007 LG Corporation Annual Report (2016)
`Ex. 2008 LG Electronics Inc. Corporate Structure Tree
`Ex. 2009
`2016-2017 LG Electronics Sustainability Report
`Ex. 2010 Excerpts from LG Corporation Annual Report (2017) (translated
`from Korean)
`Ex. 2011 LG Corporation Key Developments Report
`Ex. 2012 Excerpts from claim construction order in Fundamental
`Innovation Systems Int'l LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.,
`Case No. 2:17-cv-145-JRG-RSP (E.D. Tex., Jan 31, 2018)
`Ex. 2013 Excerpts from claim construction order in Fundamental
`Innovation Systems Int'l LLC v. LG Electronics Inc., Case No.
`2:16-cv-1425-JRG-RSP (E.D. Tex., April 2, 2018)
`Ex. 2014 Excerpts from LG objections claim construction order in
`Fundamental Innovation Systems Int'l LLC v. LG Electronics
`Inc., Case No. 2:16-cv-1425-JRG-RSP (E.D. Tex., April 2,
`2018)
`
`10519100
`
`
`- vi -
`
`

`

`Case IPR2015-00592
`Patent 7,075,585
`
`Ex. 2015 U.S. 6,531,845 (Kerai)
`Ex. 2016 U.S. 2005/0268000 (Carlson)
`Ex. 2017 USB 1.1
`Ex. 2018
`Statutory Disclaimer of Claims 3, 7, 10 and 13 of the '586 patent
`Ex. 2019 U.S. 6,904,488 (Matsumoto)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`10519100
`
`
`- vii -
`
`

`

`
`
`Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`STATEMENT OF MATERIAL FACTS IN DISPUTE
`Petitioners did not submit a statement of material facts in this Petition.
`
`Accordingly, no response is due pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.23(a), and no facts are
`
`admitted.
`
`
`
`10519100
`
`
`
`
`

`

` Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`The Petition should be denied because it fails to demonstrate a reasonable
`
`likelihood that any of the challenged claims are unpatentable.
`
`As an initial matter, only the Grounds 1 and 3 and only claims 8-9 and 11-12
`
`remain at issue. Grounds 2 and 4-6 are directed only to claims 10 and 13. Because
`
`of a drafting error in the claims, a statutory disclaimer disclaiming claims 10 and
`
`13 from the Patent has been filed and recorded in compliance with 35 U.S.C.
`
`§ 253(a) and 37 C.F.R. § 1.321(a). Ex. 2018. "'No inter partes review will be
`
`instituted based on disclaimed claims.'" Halliburton Energy Servs., Inc. v.
`
`Schlumberger Tech. Corp., IPR2017-01777, Paper 13, 3 (PTAB Jan. 31, 2018)
`
`(quoting 37 C.F.R. § 42.107(e)). Consequently, Grounds 2 and 4-6 cannot
`
`possibly be a basis for institution.
`
`The remaining grounds are centered on the combination of Dougherty, DeJaco
`
`and Shiga. Petitioner contends it would have been obvious to replace Dougherty's
`
`handshaking protocols with Shiga's SE1 signal as an "identification signal."
`
`The Board has already rejected the same assertion that a POSA would have
`
`used SE1 state instead of USB enumeration for identification purposes. ZTE (USA)
`
`Inc., v. Fundamental Innovation Systems Int'l LLC, IPR2018-00111, Paper 16, 19-
`
`22 (PTAB May 9, 2018). IPR2018-00111 concerned whether a patent from the same
`
`10519100
`
`
`- 1 -
`
`

`

` Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`family, with the same disclosure, was obvious over the combination of Rogers and
`
`Shiga. There, as here, the petitioner argued that it was obvious to utilize Shiga's SE1
`
`signal to indicate to a USB device that it is connected to a non-traditional USB power
`
`source. Both there and here, the petitioners alleged that an SE1 signal was desirable
`
`because it could be "easily distinguishable from USB standard signaling." Compare
`
`IPR2018-00111, Paper 1, 43-44with Pet., 24. In both petitions, the petitioners
`
`alleged that an SE1 signal would be a "logical" and "trivial" choice over the allegedly
`
`more "complex and time-consuming" USB enumeration. Compare IPR2018-00111,
`
`Paper 1, 44 with Pet., 24.
`
`In both petitions, Petitioners failed to account for what a POSA would believe
`
`were the deleterious consequences of the SE1 signal which the USB specification
`
`states must "never" be "intentionally" sent. Ex. 1010, 123. 1 As the USB
`
`specification makes clear and as the -00111 petitioner's litigation expert has
`
`confirmed, an SE1 signal lasting longer than 2.5 micro-seconds will disable a USB
`
`port of a USB host (such as Dougherty's laptop). Ex. 2005, 259-61; Ex. 1010, 316.
`
`Shiga's signal lasts "50 ms." Ex. 1008, 6:43-47. Under Petitioner's proposal, an SE1
`
`signal from Dougherty's docking station would cause Dougherty's laptop to
`
`"disconnect its USB port to isolate the device from the rest of the bus." Ex. 2005,
`
`
`1 Citations to Exs. 1010, 2005, 2006, and 2016 are to the original page
`numbers.
`
`10519100
`
`
`- 2 -
`
`

`

` Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`260:5-13. SE1 thus interrupts the USB communication. This interruption lasts until
`
`the host and the attached device complete a new USB enumeration. Id., 261:25-
`
`262:4. But because Petitioner proposes that the docking station should continue to
`
`send SE1 signals, Dougherty's USB port would undergo a "continual loop" of
`
`disconnecting and attempting to reconnect, "interfering with the operation of the
`
`port." Ex. 2001, ¶37.
`
`Programming Dougherty's USB host to treat an SE1 signal as an identification
`
`signal for a docking station also has high risk: if the USB host does not timely
`
`disconnect the port, it "can cause system errors that are very difficult to isolate and
`
`correct." Ex. 1010, 316.
`
`The Board in the -00111 case, faced with substantially the same evidence and
`
`arguments, found that, "Petitioner has not sufficiently explained why one of ordinary
`
`skill in the art would have sought to utilize Shiga's SE1 signal in Rogers' system with
`
`a reasonable expectation of success." IPR2018-00111, Paper 16, 20. As the Board
`
`explained, "Petitioner and [its expert] do not explain how a port-disabling SE1 signal
`
`could be used in Rogers' system without interfering with standard USB signaling."
`
`Id., 21. Additionally, here, as there, Petitioners identify mostly the same ancillary
`
`references—Casebolt, Cypress and Shiga—to support their proposal of using an SE1
`
`signal. Ex. 2001, ¶¶48-49. The additional ancillary references are cumulative of the
`
`SE1 references raised in IPR2018-00111: (1) Sonoda, like Casebolt and Cypress,
`
`10519100
`
`
`- 3 -
`
`

`

` Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`use SE1 in connection with a PS/2 device that cannot undergo USB communications;
`
`and (2) Zyskowski, like Kerai (Ex. 2015, 5:45-51), do not even involve detecting for
`
`logic highs on both data lines (Ex. 1021 [0019]); Ex. 2001, ¶¶44-47. The Board
`
`rejected that as well, finding that "Patent Owner also provides persuasive analysis
`
`demonstrating that in the prior art references relied upon by Petitioner, continued
`
`USB communication between the device and the host is not contemplated after the
`
`SE1 signal is sent." IPR2018-00111, Paper 16, 21.
`
`Replacing Rogers with Dougherty is a distinction without a difference
`
`because the Board's reasons for rejecting the combination focused exclusively on the
`
`Petitioners' failure to account for the "port-disabling" nature of Shiga's SE1 signal.
`
`Because this Petition presents substantively the same theory as supported by
`
`substantially the same evidence, this Petition should be denied. See Section VII.A.
`
`Other fatal flaws exist. As an initial matter, the Petition fails to properly
`
`identify its parent corporation, LG Corporation, as a real party-in-interest. See
`
`Section VI.
`
`The Petition also fails to establish that Shiga and Kalogeropoulos are
`
`analogous art to the challenged '586 patent. Instead, the Petition merely alleges that
`
`they are analogous art to Dougherty, the primary reference. See Section VII.B.
`
`As to claims 8 and 9, the Petition fails to adequately explain how the
`
`Dougherty/Shiga combination discloses the use of an SE1 signal as an "identification
`
`10519100
`
`
`- 4 -
`
`

`

` Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`signal" of any sort much less a "signal that identifies a power source type" as that
`
`term is properly construed. Shiga employs an SE1 signal to wake up a dormant
`
`computer, not as an identification signal. Additionally, Shiga sends the SE1 signals
`
`to analog comparators at a time when signaling to the USB chip is disconnected,
`
`which would indicate to a POSA that Shiga would not commend sending an SE1
`
`signal to a "microprocessor and memory" for processing as required by claims 11
`
`and 12.
`
`Furthermore, the Petition falls well short of demonstrating prima facie
`
`obviousness. Even beyond the fatal deficiencies found by the Board already in
`
`IPR2018-00111, the Petition fails to adequately explain why a POSA would
`
`eliminate Dougherty's USB-standard handshaking (enumeration) protocol in favor
`
`of the forbidden SE1, when such modification would frustrate Dougherty docking
`
`station's core port replication functionality because Dougherty's laptop would not be
`
`able to access any USB function of the docking station without USB enumeration.
`
`LGE-1010, 243, § 9.1.1.5 ("Before a USB device's function may be used, the device
`
`must be configured); 243-44 (configuration that last step of enumeration). The
`
`Petition also fails to colorably explain why a POSA would take such an approach
`
`while ignoring the many other known options for establishing identification.
`
`Moreover, given the large number of duplicative petitions, the Board should
`
`exercise its discretion to deny institution under 35 U.S.C. §325(d). Thirteen petitions
`
`10519100
`
`
`- 5 -
`
`

`

`have been filed based on the Dougherty-Shiga combination, including in IPR2018-
`
` Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`
`00485 also directed towards the '586 patent. No good reason exists for the Board to
`
`consider a Dougherty/Shiga combination thirteen separate times and twice against
`
`the '586 patent.
`
`II.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE '586 PATENT
`The '586 Patent discloses methods and apparatuses that allow a mobile device
`
`to draw current at higher rates than permitted by the USB Specification to permit
`
`faster recharging. See, e.g., Ex. 1001, 2:57-65, 8:9-14. The '586 Patent teaches that
`
`this higher current draw is in response to an identification signal on USB data lines.
`
`See, e.g., id. at 8:15-18.
`
`At the time of the invention, devices with a USB data interface typically did
`
`not use the USB interface as a power interface. Id., 1:45-48. A problem with using
`
`a USB interface as a power interface is that it requires enumeration between the
`
`power source and device. Id., 1:56-62.
`
`The methods and apparatuses disclosed in the '586 Patent refer to use of "an
`
`identification signal." See, e.g., id. at 2:19-21, 2:57-65; 3:5-13; 8:15-34. In the USB
`
`2.0 Specification, data is typically sent as differential pairs. Ex. 1010, 19, 123. The
`
`USB 2.0 specification also defines other allowable signals for use under specified
`
`conditions. Id., 119-120; see generally id., Chapter 7. One signal that is expressly
`
`not allowable is Single-Ended 1, or "SE1." Id., 123. "SE1 is a state in which both
`
`10519100
`
`
`- 6 -
`
`

`

` Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`the D+ and D- lines are at a voltage above VOSE1 (min), which is 0.8 V." Id. The
`
`detection of SE1 indicates an error condition, and the USB specification stipulates
`
`that "USB drivers must never 'intentionally' generate an SE1 on the bus." Id.
`
`Despite the perceived importance of compliance with communications
`
`protocols in the USB Specification, the inventors of the '586 Patent recognized that
`
`this SE1 state could, contrary to the dogma of the time, be used carefully to signal
`
`that a device was connected to a specially-configured USB power supply, such as a
`
`USB Adapter, instead of a USB Host or Hub. Ex. 1001, 9:8-52. In this case, the
`
`device could charge its battery without waiting for USB enumeration, as seen in
`
`Figure 3 of the '586 Patent, which is described as "a flow chart illustrating an
`
`exemplary use of a USB adapter with a mobile device":
`
`
`
`10519100
`
`
`- 7 -
`
`

`

`Id., 3:25-26, Fig. 3.
`
` Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`
`This use of an abnormal USB data condition allows the mobile device to draw
`
`current unrestricted by the USB Specification limit. This could include drawing
`
`more than 100 mA of current without enumeration or more than 500 mA, the
`
`maximally allowed current under USB 2.0. Id., 8:9-14.
`
`III. THE PRIOR ART REFERENCES DIFFER FROM THE '586
`INVENTIONS
`The Petition proposes that a POSA would have arrived at the inventions set
`
`forth in the '586 patent by starting with the docking station of Dougherty and
`
`employing Shiga's SE1 signal as an "identification signal." To that combination, the
`
`Petition adds ancillary references DeJaco and Kalogeropoulos for particular
`
`limitations. Even in combination, the asserted references differ greatly from the
`
`inventions claimed in the '586 patent. An overview of Petitioners' primary
`
`references, Dougherty and Shiga, is provided below.
`
`A. Dougherty Overview
`1.
`Dougherty's Docking Station
`Dougherty's docking station is used to "expand the capabilities of the laptop
`
`computer to include a full size keyboard, a full size monitor, more serial ports, and
`
`other functionality typically associated only with desktop computing devices." Ex.
`
`1005, 1:63-67. One way to achieve this expansion is via "port replication across a
`
`USB port." Id., 2:25. Port expansion means "by plugging the laptop into [a] docking
`
`10519100
`
`
`- 8 -
`
`

`

` Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`station, more serial . . . ports are available for connection to printers, scanners, full
`
`size display devices, . . . pointing devices and the like." Id., 2:17-20. Hence, docking
`
`a laptop in a docking station via a USB connection generates "plurality of
`
`communication ports" for access to printers, scanners, displays, mice and other
`
`peripheral devices. Id., 2:25-28.
`
`USB-based docking stations allegedly had the drawback of "requir[ing] the
`
`user to separately apply power to the laptop" with a power adapter such as an AC/DC
`
`power converter connected to the laptop. Id., 2:43-45. Dougherty's docking station
`
`allegedly overcame this shortcoming and presented "a USB based docking station
`
`that has the capability of both operating the laptop computer and charging the
`
`batteries in the laptop computer while docked without the need to plug in a separate
`
`power connection . . . ." Id., 2:45-49 (emphasis added).
`
`Dougherty teaches that the primary reason for docking a laptop is to allow it
`
`to access the full functionality available to a desktop computer. E.g., id., 1:64-67
`
`("Docking . . . may expand the capabilities of the laptop computer to include . . .
`
`functionality typically associated only with desktop computing devices."), 2:18-20
`
`(using port replication to make more ports "available for connection to printers,
`
`scanners, full size display devices . . . and the like").
`
`Dougherty also acknowledges that to support USB-based port expansion, the
`
`laptop and docking station must be able to communicate with each other via USB
`
`10519100
`
`
`- 9 -
`
`

`

` Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`protocols in order to operate peripheral USB devices connected to the USB based
`
`docking station. Id., 2:25-30 ("[a] user connects a laptop, via a USB connection, to
`
`a port replication device which generates plurality of communication ports," and
`
`"port replication is accomplished across the USB connector"), 2:38-39 ("USB
`
`expansion connection"); Ex. 2001, ¶58. For this reason, Dougherty's "laptop
`
`computer 100 of the preferred embodiment does not modify operation of the serial
`
`communication conductors 126 of the USB protocol" (i.e., the D+ and D- data lines).
`
`Ex. 1005, 4:67-5:3.
`
`2.
`Dougherty's Alleged Improvement Over Prior Art
`As noted above, Dougherty allegedly improves prior art USB-based docking
`
`stations by allowing the docking station to provide power to the laptop using the
`
`USB connection, rather than a separate power adapter, while at the same time
`
`maintaining the ability to communicate over USB that is the purpose of the USB
`
`docking station. Id., 2:45-49 ("it would be desirable to have a USB based docking
`
`station that has the capability of both operating the laptop computer and charging
`
`the batteries in the laptop computer while docked without the need to plug in a
`
`separate power connection"); see also, e.g., id., 2:55-58 ("The problems noted above
`
`are solved in large part by a laptop computer and related docking station adapted to
`
`supply power from the docking station to the laptop computer across the USB
`
`connection.").
`
`10519100
`
`
`- 10 -
`
`

`

` Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`Dougherty's docking station is designed to supply power at up to 18V and
`
`2.5A when the laptop is in full operation over the VBUS and GND power lines. Id.,
`
`7:20-55. Dougherty teaches the use of the VBUS and GND lines to send the
`
`communications necessary "to establish whether laptop computer [] is capable of
`
`receiving power from the docking station." Id., 5:3-7. This communication takes
`
`place after a handshaking (or enumeration) process under "normal USB protocols."
`
`Id., 5:39-6:17; Ex. 2001, ¶69. Dougherty teaches that the USB communication lines
`
`maintain their standard operation:
`
`Referring to FIG. 1, the laptop computer 100 of the preferred
`embodiment does not modify operation of the serial communication
`conductors 126 of the USB protocol.
`Ex. 1005, 4:67-5-7 (emphasis added); see also id. at 6:13-18, Fig. 1 (explaining that
`
`docking logic 134 is coupled to the power lines 138, not the communication lines
`
`126).
`
`There is no disclosure or discussion of using the USB communication lines
`
`(D+ and D-) to send an identification signal being different than USB enumeration.
`
`This is not an accident. Those lines need to be used for normal USB communication.
`
`Ex. 2001, ¶58.
`
`3.
`Dougherty's Docking Station Logic
`Dougherty applies docking station logic in two separate scenarios: (1) where
`
`the laptop is already operational before connection to the docking station, and (2)
`
`10519100
`
`
`- 11 -
`
`

`

` Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`where the laptop is non-operational upon connection to the docking station (for
`
`example, because the laptop's battery is dead or removed).
`
`(a) Docking When Laptop Is Operational
`In the "operational" scenario, Dougherty teaches a multi-step process when
`
`the docking station is connected to the laptop via a USB cable. The first step is to
`
`engage in a "normal USB protocol," which "requires a series of USB handshaking
`
`protocols to identify both the . . . laptop computer 100, and . . . the docking station
`
`200." Ex. 1005, 5:38-43. The handshaking protocol to "identify" the host and the
`
`docking station is enumeration as described in the USB specification, which is a
`
`process used by the host to "to identify and manage the device state changes
`
`necessary." Ex. 1010, 243; Ex. 2001, ¶16. Notably, if Dougherty were to skip this
`
`handshaking protocol and thus not perform USB enumeration, it would render the
`
`docking station unable to perform its primary role as a USB hub expander, because
`
`enumeration is the basic threshold element to allow a hub to communicate with
`
`additional USB devices. Ex. 1010, 243 ("Before a USB device's function may be
`
`used, the device must be configured"); Id., 243-44 (configuration is the last step of
`
`enumeration); Ex. 2001, ¶28. A detailed description of the steps involved in the
`
`enumeration process, per the USB 2.0 specification, is described in Section II.A of
`
`Dr. Fernald's declaration. Ex. 2001, ¶¶16-29.
`
`Dougherty's docking station then uses the USB enumeration protocol to
`
`10519100
`
`
`- 12 -
`
`

`

` Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`command the laptop to load a USB device driver and shut off the laptop's VBUS
`
`supply voltage to the docking station. Ex. 1005, 5:53-58. The driver loaded by the
`
`operating system "may provide many functions," such as enabling access to
`
`peripheral devices through port replication. Id., 5:55-56; Ex. 2001, ¶27. This is not
`
`surprising given that the docking station's primary function is port replication. Id.,
`
`1:61-67, 2:24-28. The driver also contains code that "preferably turns off the laptop
`
`computer's ability to provide five volts to the power rails 138." Id., 5:57-58. This is
`
`because normally the host (laptop) supplies power to the peripherals, but in this case,
`
`the docking station will supply power when the laptop is docked. Id., 5:15-18, 4:55-
`
`58.
`
`Finally, upon detecting no voltage on the USB VBUS line (e.g., when the
`
`laptop has turned off its supply voltage on the VBUS line as commanded), the
`
`docking station logic 234 attempts to "establish that the laptop computer to which it
`
`is docked is capable of receiving power," which is "done by attempting to establish
`
`communications across the power rails 138 of the USB connector." Id., 6:4-36. After
`
`confirming that the laptop is capable of receiving power, the docking station
`
`increases the voltage supply to the laptop to as much as 18 volts and 2.5 amps. Id.,
`
`7:10-41.
`
`10519100
`
`
`(b) Docking When Laptop Is Non-Operational (Dead
`Battery Or No Battery)
`
`- 13 -
`
`

`

` Case IPR2018-00493
`Patent No. 7,834,586
`
`If the laptop is nonoperational at the time it is connected to the docking station,
`
`Dougherty skips the USB standard handshaking protocol and Dougherty's docking
`
`logic communicates with the laptop to establish that it can receive power and
`
`supplies power accordingly. Id., 6:4-11. This communication occurs over the power
`
`lines and is the same as the last two steps of the operational mode descr

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