throbber
Filed September 19, 2019
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`
`On behalf of Amazon.com, Inc.
`By:
`Joseph R. Re
`Colin B. Heideman
`Christie R.W. Matthaei
`KNOBBE, MARTENS, OLSON & BEAR, LLP
`925 Fourth Avenue, Suite 2500
`Seattle, WA 98104
`Telephone: 206-405-2000
`Facsimile: 206-405-2001
`Email: BoxSEAZNL1495LP2@knobbe.com
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`IPR2018-01497
`Patent No. 9,124,950
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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`__________________________________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`__________________________________
`
`AMAZON.COM, INC.,
`Petitioner,
`
`v.
`
`CUSTOMPLAY, LLC,
`Patent Owner.
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`PETITIONER’S REPLY
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`

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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
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`2. 
`
`3. 
`
`4. 
`
`I. 
`
`II. 
`
`GROUND 1A: CLAIMS 6 AND 19 ARE UNPATENTABLE
`OVER RANGAN -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 
`A. 
`Retrieving Video Frame Identifiers ---------------------------------------- 1 
`1. 
`Rangan’s Thumbnail Images Are Video Frame
`Identifiers -------------------------------------------------------------- 1 
`Rangan Discloses “Retrieving” a Video Frame
`Identifier --------------------------------------------------------------- 2 
`Rangan’s Keyframe Thumbnails Are Responsive
`to a Play Location ---------------------------------------------------- 3 
`Rangan’s Keyframe Frame Numbers Are “Video
`Frame Identifiers” ---------------------------------------------------- 3 
`Rangan Inherently Discloses Retrieving a Video
`Frame Identifier ------------------------------------------------------- 4 
`Rangan Renders This Limitation Obvious ------------------------ 5 
`6. 
`Displaying Indications ------------------------------------------------------- 5 
`B. 
`GROUND 1B: CLAIMS 2, 14, AND 16 ARE
`UNPATENTABLE OVER RANGAN & RAKIB ------------------------------ 8 
`A. 
`Rangan Discloses a Request for Additional Information --------------- 8 
`B. 
`Combining Rangan and Rakib --------------------------------------------- 9 
`1. 
`No Physical Combination Is Necessary --------------------------- 9 
`2. 
`Rakib’s Methodology Is Irrelevant -------------------------------- 11 
`III.  GROUND 1C: CLAIM 4 IS UNPATENTABLE OVER
`RANGAN, RAKIB & ABECASSIS --------------------------------------------- 12 
`A. 
`Rangan Discloses Resuming Playing at a Beginning of a
`Video Clip -------------------------------------------------------------------- 12
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`5. 
`
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`-i-
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`

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`B. 
`C. 
`
`Obviousness Over Rangan ------------------------------------------------- 13 
`B. 
`Obviousness Over Abecassis ---------------------------------------------- 13 
`C. 
`IV.  GROUND 2A: CLAIMS 2, 6, 14, 16, AND 19 ARE
`UNPATENTABLE OVER ARMSTRONG AND LIVESEY ---------------- 14 
`A. 
`Retrieving Video Frame Identifiers --------------------------------------- 14 
`1. 
`PO Misconstrues the Claim Limitation --------------------------- 14 
`2. 
`Armstrong Discloses This Limitation ---------------------------- 15 
`Displaying an Initial Indication ------------------------------------------- 18 
`Contemporaneously Displaying a Subsequent Indication ------------- 18 
`1. 
`Armstrong Discloses This Limitation ---------------------------- 18 
`2. 
`Livesey Discloses This Limitation -------------------------------- 20 
`3.  Motivation to Combine Armstrong and Livesey ---------------- 21 
`V.  GROUND 2B: CLAIM 4 IS UNPATENTABLE OVER
`ARMSTRONG, LIVESEY, & ABECASSIS ----------------------------------- 22 
`VI.  GROUND 3: CLAIMS 2, 4, 6, 14, 16, AND 19 ARE
`UNPATENTABLE OVER RAKIB & LIVESEY ------------------------------ 23 
`A. 
`Retrieving a Video Frame Identifier -------------------------------------- 23 
`B. 
`The Remaining Limitations of Claim 6 ---------------------------------- 24 
`C.  Motivation to Combine Rakib and Livesey ----------------------------- 25 
`D. 
`Claim 4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 25 
`1. 
`Pausing ---------------------------------------------------------------- 26 
`2. 
`Resuming ------------------------------------------------------------- 26 
`CONCLUSION ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27 
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`-ii-
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`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
`Page(s):
`
`Cases:
`Allied Erecting & Dismantling Co. v. Genesis Attachments, LLC,
`825 F.3d 1373 (Fed. Cir. 2016) ---------------------------------------------- 10, 12
`In re Fulton,
`391 F.3d 1195 (Fed. Cir. 2004) ---------------------------------------------- 11, 20
`In re May,
`574 F.2d 1082 (C.C.P.A. 1978) --------------------------------------------------- 23
`Merck & Co., Inc. v. Biocraft Labs., Inc.,
`874 F.2d 804 (Fed. Cir. 1989) ----------------------------------------------------- 20
`In re NuVasive, Inc.,
`842 F.3d 1376 (Fed. Cir. 2016) ---------------------------------------------------- 4
`Pavo Sols. LLC v. Kingston Tech. Co., Inc.,
`711 Fed. App’x 1020 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 6, 2017) --------------------------------- 11
`Samsung Elecs. Co., Ltd. v. ProMOS Techs, Inc.,
`IPR2017-01413, Paper 33 (P.T.A.B. October 22, 2018) ----------------------- 4
`Smith & Nephew, Inc. v. Rea,
`721 F.3d 1371 (Fed. Cir. 2013) ------------------------------------------ 11, 14, 26
`Whitserve, LLC v. Computer Packages, Inc.,
`694 F.3d 10 (Fed. Cir. 2012) ------------------------------------------------------ 23
`
`Miscellaneous:
`Trial Practice Guide Update (August 2018) ------------------------------------------ 4
`
`
`
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`-iii-
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`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
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`Patent Owner’s (“PO”) Response mischaracterizes the claims and prior art,
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`relies on the conclusory opinions of its expert, and ignores the knowledge of a
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`POSITA. On cross-examination, PO’s expert, Dr. Reader (“Reader”), contradicted
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`and undermined many of PO’s arguments and confirmed that the claimed steps
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`were known. (See, e.g., Ex. 1101, 44:19-22, 51:7-19, 72:6-19 (retrieving video
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`frame identifiers), 78:22-79:4, 83:15-20 (contemporaneously displaying indica-
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`tions), 83:21-84:2 (receiving a request for information), 87:3-7 (displaying infor-
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`mation in response to an indication).) The challenged claims should be canceled.
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`I. GROUND 1A: CLAIMS 6 AND 19 ARE UNPATENTABLE
`OVER RANGAN.
`A. Retrieving Video Frame Identifiers
`1.
`
`Rangan’s Thumbnail Images Are Video
`Frame Identifiers.
`
`PO argues Rangan’s thumbnail images may not be video frame identifiers
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`(“VFIs”) because two thumbnail images might be identical. (POR, 14.) PO’s hy-
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`pothetical is irrelevant because both experts agree that the content of Rangan’s
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`thumbnail images is irrelevant to whether they are VFIs. (Ex. 1102 ¶¶10-11; Ex.
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`1101, 28:7-10 (VFI need not identify contents of frame).) Indeed, Reader admitted
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`a VFI is “anything that identifies a frame to the apparatus.” (Ex. 1101, 33:3-6).
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`Rangan’s system uses keyframe thumbnails to identify the frames from
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`which they were generated. (Ex. 1102 ¶¶9-13.) For example, Rangan’s keyframe
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`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
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`thumbnail identifies a frame because it may initiate playback from the associated
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`frame. (Ex. 1014, 30:8-14, 9:15-20; Ex. 1102 ¶9.) Moreover, it is undisputed that
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`the thumbnail image is the “first frame in the scene.” (POR, 15; Ex. 1101, 114:7-
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`9.) Because only one “first frame” in a scene exists, Rangan’s thumbnail image
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`identifies a single frame. (Ex. 1102 ¶10; Ex. 1101, 114:14-115:2.)
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`2.
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`Rangan Discloses “Retrieving” a Video
`Frame Identifier.
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`Despite explicitly referring to Rangan’s process as “retrieving” a first video
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`frame image (POR, 16), PO argues Rangan’s retrieving is not the “functional
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`equivalent” of the claimed “retrieving” (id.). PO provides no basis for this argu-
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`ment, and Reader admitted that this limitation is satisfied regardless of how the
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`function is performed. (Ex. 1101, 55:17-56:2.)
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`PO also concedes that “Rangan discloses generating, detecting, indexing,
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`storing, and displaying” thumbnails (POR, 16), but never explains how displaying
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`the thumbnails is possible without first retrieving them from storage. Indeed, both
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`experts agree retrieving is necessary in order to display. (Ex. 1002 ¶49; Ex. 1102
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`¶¶16-17; Ex. 1101, 119:20-120:1.) Rangan explicitly refers to “obtaining”
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`keyframe thumbnails from a cache for display (Ex. 1014, 34:67-68) and the ’950
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`defines “retrieving” as including “obtaining (Ex. 1001, 15:4-8; Ex. 1102 ¶17.)
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`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
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`3.
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`Rangan’s Keyframe Thumbnails Are
`Responsive to a Play Location.
`
`PO next argues that, because keyframe thumbnails may come from a cache,
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`they are not “responsive to a play location.” (POR, 16-17.) This is incorrect.
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`Even Reader admits that each keyframe thumbnail is responsive to a single frame
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`in the video. (Ex. 1101, 118:17-19, 114:7-115:2; see also Ex. 1014, 29:60-64.)
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`Each keyframe is therefore responsive to the play location associated with that
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`frame. (Ex. 1102 ¶18; Ex. 1101, 49:14-50:7 (play location need not be current lo-
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`cation).) Each keyframe is also responsive to the scene in which that individual
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`frame appears and, as PO concedes, the “scene change[]” prior to the keyframe.
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`(POR, 17.) All of these are play locations within the playing of a video. (Ex. 1102
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`¶18.) Reader also admitted that information (e.g., keyframe thumbnails) respon-
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`sive to a play location that is stored and retrieved from memory (e.g., cache) is still
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`responsive to the same play location. (Ex. 1101, 119:8-19.) Indeed, a VFI is nec-
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`essarily stored in memory. (Ex. 1102 ¶¶19-20; Ex. 1101, 119:20-120:1 (infor-
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`mation must be stored to be displayed).)
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`4.
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`Rangan’s Keyframe Frame Numbers Are
`“Video Frame Identifiers.”
`
`Petitioner explained that the frame number of the keyframe thumbnail con-
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`stitutes a VFI. (Pet., 18; POR, 11.) PO never disputes this. (POR, 11-17.) Nor
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`does PO dispute that the frame number is retrieved from a plurality of frame num-
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`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
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`bers and responsive to a play location. (Pet., 18; Ex. 1002 ¶51.) Thus, it is undis-
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`puted that Rangan’s frame numbers satisfy this limitation and PO waived any ar-
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`gument to the contrary. In re NuVasive, Inc., 842 F.3d 1376, 1379-82 (Fed. Cir.
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`2016) (argument not raised in POR is waived); Samsung Elecs. Co., Ltd. v. Pro-
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`MOS Techs, Inc., IPR2017-01413, Paper 33 at 20 (P.T.A.B. October 22, 2018) (re-
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`fusing to consider new argument in PO’s sur-reply); Trial Practice Guide Update
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`(August 2018) at 15 (sur-reply may not raise new issues, belatedly present evi-
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`dence, or “embark in a new direction”); Scheduling Order (Paper 14) at B.1.a
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`(“any arguments not raised in the response may be deemed waived”).
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`5.
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`Rangan Inherently Discloses Retrieving a
`Video Frame Identifier.
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`PO argues Rangan does not inherently disclose retrieving a VFI because
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`Rangan may not “retrieve the first frame of any scene to create a keyframe.”
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`(POR, 19.) This contradicts Rangan’s disclosure. Rangan teaches creating the
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`keyframe from the first frame of a scene. (Ex. 1014, 29:8-10, 29:60-64, 31:40-45,
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`claim 14.) Both experts agree that the quote PO relies on (POR, 19-20) for this ar-
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`gument discusses how scene changes are detected, not which frames are used to
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`create a keyframe. (Ex. 1101, 112:21-114:7; Ex. 1102 ¶14.) Regardless, the frame
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`Rangan uses is irrelevant because any keyframe (or frame number) still identifies a
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`video frame and is therefore a VFI. (Ex. 1102 ¶13; Ex. 1101, 118:20-119:2.) How
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`scene changes are detected is similarly irrelevant. (Ex. 1102 ¶¶13-14.)
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`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
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`PO makes the same arguments for retrieving a subsequent VFI (POR, 21),
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`and those arguments should be rejected for the same reasons.
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`6.
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`Rangan Renders This Limitation Obvious.
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`PO argues Petitioner failed to “establish that a POSITA would have been
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`motivated to modify Rangan” to use frame numbers. (POR, 18.) But no modifica-
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`tions would be necessary because Rangan discloses identifying frames by frame
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`numbers. (Ex. 1014, 14:45-63, 30:15-36; Ex. 1102 ¶23.) A POSITA would have
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`understood that Rangan’s system would reference the frame number to create the
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`keyframe thumbnail and to access that frame. (Id.; Ex. 1002 ¶¶51-52.) Thus, even
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`if not disclosed or inherent in Rangan, it would have been obvious to use the frame
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`number. (Id.)
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`B. Displaying Indications
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`PO asserts Rangan’s hotspot cannot be an indication if the remaining portion
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`of the keyframe thumbnail is the VFI. (POR, 12.) But Reader admitted that
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`Rangan’s hotspots were indications (Ex. 1101, 111:6-8) and that indications could
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`be overlaid on an image (id., 61:6-9).
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`Rangan’s hotspot is a distinct grid, coloration, or other clue that can be over-
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`laid on a video frame or thumbnail. (Ex. 1014, 15:27-60, 9:64-10:9, Fig. 4; Ex.
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`1102 ¶29.) Rangan’s hotspot is the same as the ’950 patent’s indications:
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`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
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`
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`Rangan (Ex. 1014, Fig. 4)
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`’950 Patent (Ex. 1001, Fig. 1B)
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`
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`(See Ex. 1001, 7:38-48 (describing the indication as “an outline 141 … [or] an area
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`of increased brightness”).) Rangan describes displaying the same “indication” on
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`the thumbnail images.1 (Pet., 19-20.)
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`PO then argues that Rangan’s indication is not responsive to the play loca-
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`tion. (POR, 20-21.) This argument misinterprets the claim, which both experts
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`agree—and the claim language makes clear—requires the indication to be respon-
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`sive to the VFI, not the play location. (Ex. 1102 ¶27; Ex. 1101, 63:15-64:2.) The
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`available information, not the indication, is responsive to the play location. (Id.)
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`Rangan’s hotspots are “painted over their corresponding video frames.” (Ex.
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`1014, 29:15-16.) Accordingly, they are responsive to individual keyframe thumb-
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`1 Contrary to PO’s argument (POR, 12-13), Petitioner’s annotations
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`encircled the indications (hotspots), not the entire thumbnail. (Pet., 20.)
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`-6-
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`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
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`nails (VFIs). (Id., 29:15-16; Ex. 1101, 127:10-128:1 (indications indicate infor-
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`mation is available for the corresponding frame/thumbnail); Ex. 1102 ¶27.)
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`Rangan’s hotspot (indication) signals that information is available that is re-
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`sponsive to the play location (the frame/scene represented by the keyframe). (Ex.
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`1014, 13:64-14:7 (annotations “serve to impart additional, supplemental infor-
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`mation about the scene and/or the objects in it”), 19:28-45, 25:57-26:2, 27:4-6; Ex.
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`1002 ¶¶54-55; Ex. 1102 ¶27; Ex. 1101, 129:2-7 (information associated with the
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`indication is responsive to the play location).) Thus, Rangan discloses this limita-
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`tion.
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`Rangan would also disclose this limitation under PO’s interpretation. Be-
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`cause Rangan’s VFI (keyframe) identifies an individual frame (and associated sce-
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`ne), the keyframe identifies a play location. (Ex. 1102 ¶28.) Thus, Rangan’s
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`hotspots are responsive to both a VFI (keyframe or frame number) and a play loca-
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`tion (frame/scene associated with the keyframe or frame number). (Id.)
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`PO makes the same incorrect arguments for displaying a subsequent indica-
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`tion. (POR, 22.) PO waived all other arguments. Accordingly, claims 6 and 19
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`should be canceled.
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`-7-
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`

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`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
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`II. GROUND 1B: CLAIMS 2, 14, AND 16 ARE UNPATENTABLE
`OVER RANGAN & RAKIB.
`A. Rangan Discloses a Request for
`Additional Information.
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`PO argues that Petitioner relies on Rangan’s hotspots “as disclosing two
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`separate claim elements.” (POR, 23-24.) PO mischaracterizes the Petition.
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`Petitioner set forth three independent ways Rangan discloses this limitation.
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`First, Rangan’s indication (hotspot) may be annotated and those annotations may
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`include a URL. (Pet., 26-27.) The annotations appear upon a “mouse over” and
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`the URL is activated when the user clicks on the object. (Id.) Thus, Rangan dis-
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`closes displaying indications (hotspots) associated with multiple play locations
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`(keyframes from multiple frames), receiving a request (mouse over) responsive to
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`the indication, displaying information (annotation containing URL) associated with
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`the initial indication (hotspot), receiving a request for additional information (click
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`on URL), and displaying additional information (another video, web page or im-
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`age). (Id.; Ex. 1102 ¶35.) PO never addresses this disclosure, which does not rely
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`on a single “structure” to disclose “two separate claim elements.”
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`Second, Rangan discloses a first hyperlink in a first video that directs a user
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`to a second video with a second hyperlink. (Pet., 27.) PO addresses this argument,
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`but it does not involve any double-mapping. Rangan discloses displaying indica-
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`tions (hotspots) associated with multiple play locations (keyframes from multiple
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`-8-
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`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
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`frames), receiving a request (click on URL) responsive to the indication, displaying
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`information (a second hypervideo) associated with the initial indication (hotspot),
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`receiving a request for additional information (clicking on a different link in the
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`second hypervideo), and displaying additional information (another video, web
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`page or image). (Id.; Ex. 1102 ¶36.) This does not rely on the “same structure” as
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`disclosing “two separate claim elements,” and Reader admitted these disclosures
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`satisfy the limitation. (Ex. 1101, 92:11-94:4.)
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`Third, Rangan discloses that users may access additional information by
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`branching from the original hyperlink, such as by engaging in e-commerce. (Pet.,
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`27; Ex. 1102 ¶37.) This also requires no double-mapping, and PO does not dispute
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`that this disclosure satisfies the claim limitation.
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`B. Combining Rangan and Rakib
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`PO does not dispute that Rakib discloses this claim limitation. (POR, 24-
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`26.) PO argues only that a POSITA would not have combined Rakib’s and
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`Rangan’s systems. (Id.) PO is incorrect.
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`1.
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`No Physical Combination Is Necessary.
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`PO first argues that “modifying Rangan with Rakib” would change
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`Rangan’s “principle of operation” because the two systems have different operat-
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`ing structures. (POR, 24-25.) Even if that were true, which it is not, it would be
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`irrelevant. Petitioner never proposed a physical combination of the systems. (Pet.,
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`-9-
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`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
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`29-30.) Rather, Petitioner explained a POSITA would have been motivated to
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`combine their teachings, and to “modify Rangan’s apparatus to permit requests for
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`additional information as disclosed in Rakib.” (Id.; Ex. 1102 ¶39.) This does not
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`depend on the systems’ physical combinability. Allied Erecting & Dismantling
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`Co. v. Genesis Attachments, LLC, 825 F.3d 1373, 1381 (Fed. Cir. 2016) (the test is
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`not whether the features of a secondary reference may be “bodily incorporated into
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`the structure of the primary reference”).
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`Nothing in Rangan’s system would need to change for it to receive a request
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`for additional information. (Ex. 1102 ¶40.) Rangan’s system already performs this
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`function. (Ex. 1014, 14:52-64, 9:7-30; Ex. 1002 ¶¶76-79.)
`
`PO’s assertion that Rangan and Rakib function “on two completely different
`
`modes of operation” (POR, 24-26) is incorrect. Both identify objects using coor-
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`dinates and retrieve supplemental information using analogous identifiers and a ta-
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`ble linking the object, coordinates, and supplemental information. (Ex. 1014,
`
`28:38-48, Fig. 15; Ex. 1013 ¶¶[0088]-[0090], [0094]; Ex. 1102 ¶41.) The two sys-
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`tems are not incompatible. (Ex. 1102 ¶41.)
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`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
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`2.
`
`Rakib’s Methodology Is Irrelevant.
`
`For claims 14 and 16, PO argues that Rakib’s use of coordinates “is prone to
`
`error” and “tedious and burdensome.” (POR, 27.) But Petitioner never proposes
`
`using Rakib’s methodology to receive the requests for additional information.
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`Rangan’s system performed this function. (See Section II.A.1.)
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`PO’s argument is also contradicted by Reader. (Ex. 1101, 132:21-133:7.)
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`Reader admitted a POSITA would have understood that using coordinates like
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`Rakib’s was a reasonable method of annotating the video to alert the user to the
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`presence of information. (Id.) A POSITA would have recognized Rakib’s method
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`as fast, efficient, and easy to use. (Ex. 1102 ¶¶45-47.) Furthermore, the ’950 pa-
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`tent discloses using a similar method to Rakib’s but provides no discussion of any
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`problems to be overcome nor novel solutions to any such problems. (Ex. 1001,
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`7:38-48; Ex. 1102 ¶45.) PO cannot now argue that such a method was nonobvious,
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`problematic, or outside the skill of a POSITA. Smith & Nephew, Inc. v. Rea, 721
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`F.3d 1371, 1381 (Fed. Cir. 2013).
`
`Even if Rakib’s method were prone to error, tedious, or burdensome, a
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`POSITA would not be deterred from combining its teachings with Rangan. (Ex.
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`1102 ¶47; In re Fulton, 391 F.3d 1195, 1200 (Fed. Cir. 2004) (proposed combina-
`
`tion need not be “the preferred, or the most desirable, combination described in the
`
`prior art in order to provide motivation”); Pavo Sols. LLC v. Kingston Tech. Co.,
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`IPR2018-01497
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`Inc., 711 Fed. App’x 1020, 1028-29 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 6, 2017) (“a less than optimal
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`result” does not necessarily defeat obviousness); Allied Erecting, 825 F.3d at 1381
`
`(a modification that impedes functionality or has disadvantages does not necessari-
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`ly obviate motivation to combine).)
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`Finally, PO argues Rakib fails to teach retrieving a VFI. (POR, 26.) But
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`this ground relies on Rangan, not Rakib, for this element. (See Section I.A.) Re-
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`gardless, PO is incorrect. Rakib also discloses retrieving a VFI. (See Section
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`VI.A.)
`
`III. GROUND 1C: CLAIM 4 IS UNPATENTABLE OVER
`RANGAN, RAKIB & ABECASSIS
`
`PO does not dispute that Rangan discloses or renders obvious claim 4’s
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`pausing limitation. (See POR, 27-31.) PO argues only that a POSITA would not
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`have been motivated to resume playing at a beginning of a video clip responsive to
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`the request for additional information. (Id.) PO is wrong.
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`A. Rangan Discloses Resuming Playing at a
`Beginning of a Video Clip.
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`Rangan discloses this limitation because it discloses playing a clip that is the
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`“additional information.” (Pet., 38.) PO does not dispute that Rangan discloses
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`resuming playing in this manner, or that such resuming meets the claim limitation.
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`Nor does Reader. Accordingly, Rangan discloses this limitation and PO waived
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`any argument to the contrary.
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`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
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`B. Obviousness Over Rangan
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`PO argues that the ’950 patent discloses “additional” resuming options.
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`(POR, 28-29.) But the ’950 patent lists the same options disclosed in Hammoud,
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`albeit using different terminology. (Ex. 1001, 11:65-12:9; Ex. 1026, 210; Ex. 1102
`
`¶¶48-50.) The only additional option is resuming at a location “responsive to …
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`the amount of time that the playing of the video has been paused.” (Ex. 1001,
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`12:4-9.) Thus, PO identifies, at most, five options. (Ex. 1102 ¶¶50-51.) That is
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`hardly a “non-finite number of options,” and the claimed option would have been
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`obvious. (Id.)
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`C. Obviousness Over Abecassis
`
`PO argues Abecassis discloses resuming at the beginning of a “segment,”
`
`and that a “segment” is not a “clip.” (POR, 30-31.) That is incorrect. The ’950
`
`patent defines “clip” as a “segment that is smaller than a chapter.” (Ex. 1001,
`
`3:59-65.) Abecassis likewise discloses that a “segment” is smaller than a chapter.
`
`(Ex. 1024, 6:66-67, 10:38-45 (chapters are divided into segments).) Moreover,
`
`both the “segment” in Abecassis and the “clip” in the ’950 patent are defined by
`
`the individuals appearing on screen. (Ex. 1001, 3:62-64; Ex. 1024, 39:64-40:11
`
`(defining segments by individual panelists such that a viewer may skip a panelist
`
`by skipping a segment).) Thus, Abecassis’ “segment” is a “clip” as defined in the
`
`’950 patent. (Ex. 1102 ¶53.) To the extent PO argues not all segments are clips, a
`
`-13-
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`

`

`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
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`POSITA would have known that a segment must necessarily begin with a clip and
`
`therefore a beginning of a segment must also be the beginning of a clip. (Id.)
`
`Moreover, resuming at the beginning clip was a simple design choice that
`
`would have been obvious. (Ex. 1102 ¶¶53-54.) The ’950 specification provides no
`
`discussion of any problems to be overcome with resuming at the beginning of a
`
`clip and no discussion of novel solutions to any such problems. (Id.) PO cannot
`
`now argue that this trivial design choice would have been nonobvious, problemat-
`
`ic, or outside the skill of a POSITA. Smith & Nephew, 721 F.3d at 1381.
`
`PO does not dispute any of Petitioner’s motivations to combine. According-
`
`ly, these claims would have been obvious in view of Rangan, Rakib, and Abecas-
`
`sis.
`
`IV. GROUND 2A: CLAIMS 2, 6, 14, 16, AND 19 ARE
`UNPATENTABLE OVER ARMSTRONG AND LIVESEY.
`A. Retrieving Video Frame Identifiers
`1.
`
`PO Misconstrues the Claim Limitation.
`
`PO argues that identifying a play location is a “precondition” to enable re-
`
`trieval of a VFI. (POR, 34.) That is incorrect. Reader admitted that, although the
`
`VFI is related to a play location, a play location need not be identified to retrieve a
`
`VFI responsive to that location. (Ex. 1101, 36:10-15, 34:14-35:4; see also Ex.
`
`1102 ¶56.) The challenged claims do not recite “identifying a play location.” And
`
`they certainly do not require doing so before a VFI is retrieved. (Ex. 1102 ¶56.)
`
`-14-
`
`

`

`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
`
`PO’s argument is premised on the assumption that a play location and a VFI
`
`are not “functionally equivalent.” (POR, 32-34.) But the ’950 patent explicitly
`
`states that a play location may be identified by “frame identifiers.” (Ex. 1001,
`
`18:13-24; Ex. 1102 ¶55.) Thus, the identification of a VFI (e.g., a frame number)
`
`also identifies a play location in a video. (Id.)
`
`2.
`
`Armstrong Discloses This Limitation.
`
`PO argues that Petitioner’s assertion that Armstrong retrieves a VFI is un-
`
`supported. (POR, 34.) That is incorrect. (See Pet., 42 (citing Ex. 1002 ¶112 and
`
`Ex. 1021 ¶¶[0031], [0051]-[0052], [0056], Figs. 2A-B).) In the cited paragraphs,
`
`Armstrong discloses indexing each menu by frame number (frame count) and
`
`comparing each viewed frame to a range of frames associated with the menus to
`
`determine the appropriate menu. (Ex. 1021 ¶¶[0031], [0051]-[0052], [0056]; see
`
`also id. ¶¶[0043] (menu structure indexed based on “a frame count of the primary
`
`content of what is appearing on screen”), [0049] (indexing determines menu be-
`
`cause the “frame count is incremented … for each frame being played during video
`
`playback”), [0050], [0053] (frame count compared to frame ranges to determine
`
`menu associated with scene); Ex. 1102 ¶57.) This comparison constitutes, and re-
`
`quires, retrieving the frame number. (Ex. 1102 ¶57.)
`
`Despite Armstrong’s express disclosure of this limitation, PO argues that
`
`Armstrong’s ¶[0031] discloses a result that does not require retrieving a VFI.
`
`-15-
`
`

`

`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
`
`(POR, 35.) Neither PO nor Reader offer any theories for how the result in ¶[0031]
`
`could be obtained without retrieving a VFI. That’s because Armstrong expressly
`
`discloses retrieving a VFI. (Ex. 1102 ¶57.)
`
`Next, PO argues that the “DVD authoring process” in Armstrong’s ¶[0030]
`
`would not require retrieving a VFI. (POR, 35-37.) But ¶[0030] merely explains
`
`that Figure 2A shows how the frame-specific menu system is implemented during
`
`DVD authoring. (Ex. 1021 ¶[0031]; Ex. 1102 ¶¶59-60.) That paragraph is con-
`
`sistent with Petitioner’s position and shows authoring a DVD to provide the func-
`
`tionality during playback that Armstrong describes. (Id.) Neither PO nor Reader
`
`provide any explanation for why Armstrong’s DVD authoring process—which
`
`confirms Petitioner’s arguments—preclude Armstrong from disclosing the limita-
`
`tion. Moreover, Armstrong is not limited to DVD authoring processes. (Ex. 1021
`
`¶[0035]; Ex. 1102 ¶61.)
`
`PO also implies that, because Armstrong discloses that the menus may be
`
`scene-based, they would not require retrieving a VFI. (POR, 36-37 (citing Ex.
`
`1021 ¶[0040])2.) This is inaccurate. Armstrong discloses retrieving a VFI (e.g.,
`
`frame number from frame count) to identify the appropriate menu for display re-
`
`
`2 PO quotes portions of Armstrong relating to the menu but neither PO nor
`
`Reader explain why this disclosure is relevant. (POR, 36.)
`
`-16-
`
`

`

`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
`
`gardless of whether the menus are scene-based or frame-based. (Ex. 1021
`
`¶¶[0031], [0043], [0049]-[0053], [0056], Figs. 2A-B; Ex. 1102 ¶60.)
`
`Finally, PO argues Armstrong identifies the menu before identifying the
`
`point of suspension of the video. (POR, 37-38.) That argument was flatly contra-
`
`dicted by PO’s expert, who admitted that Armstrong discloses first retrieving the
`
`frame number responsive to the request location, and then using that frame number
`
`to determine which menu to display. (Ex. 1101, 150:18-152:2.) Bovik agrees.
`
`(Ex. 1102 ¶62.)
`
`PO’s argument also contradicts Armstrong, which repeatedly discloses that
`
`that the point of suspension and the corresponding frame count are determined
`
`first, and then the appropriate menu is determined. (Ex. 1021 ¶¶[0031] (menus
`
`correspond to current scene/frame), [0043] (menu structure indexed based on “a
`
`frame count of the primary content of what is appearing on screen”), [0049] (menu
`
`depends on frame count), [0050], [0051] (the menu “depend[s] on where (e.g., the
`
`specific frame or frame count) the scene is suspended”), [0052], [0053] (frame
`
`count compared to range of frames to determine menu); Ex. 1102 ¶62.) Armstrong
`
`never suggests identifying a menu first. Armstrong discloses retrieving, from a
`
`plurality of VFIs (frame numbers), a first VFI (frame number) that is responsive to
`
`a request location (point of suspension). PO never addresses most of Armstrong’s
`
`disclosure.
`
`-17-
`
`

`

`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
`
`B. Displaying an Initial Indication
`
`PO argues Petitioner failed to establish that the indication is displayed re-
`
`sponsive to a VFI. (POR, 39.) PO is incorrect. (Pet., 43-44.) PO cites a portion
`
`of the Petition that expressly states that “Armstrong also discloses that the display-
`
`ing is responsive to the frame identifier because the menu selected for display is
`
`determined based on the frame number.” (POR, 39 (emphasis added); see also
`
`Section IV.A.2, supra (frame identifier determined before menu determined).)
`
`Thus, Petitioner established that Armstrong’s displaying of an indication (menu) is
`
`responsive to the VFI (e.g., frame number). (Ex. 1102 ¶63.)
`
`C. Contemporaneously Displaying a Subsequent Indication3
`1.
`
`Armstrong Discloses This Limitation.
`
`PO admits Armstrong discloses adding indices as new items are introduced.
`
`(POR, 42.) PO nevertheless argues this disclosure is insufficient based on an un-
`
`disclosed hypothetical and because Armstrong also discloses other allegedly incon-
`
`sistent embodiments. (Id., 42-45.) PO’s arguments are conclusory, unsupported
`
`by Reader, and irrelevant.
`
`
`3 PO’s arguments for the limitation regarding receiving a request for infor-
`
`mation are based entirely on the arguments discussed in this Section. (POR,
`
`50-51.) They are incorrect for the reasons discussed herein.
`
`-18-
`
`

`

`IPR2018-01497
`Amazon.com v. CustomPlay
`
`First, PO argues that indices would be “deleted” because otherwise the sys-
`
`tem could not be used for “the entire primary video content.” (Id., 42-43.) But
`
`Armstrong never suggests that indices are deleted and PO provides no citation to
`
`Armstrong for its argument. (Id., 42.) Nor does Reader offer such an opinion.
`
`Regardless, even if some indices were eventually deleted, Armstrong would still
`
`disclose this limitation when some of the indices from prior frames appear on the
`
`screen with indices from subsequent frames. (Ex. 1102 ¶65.)
`
`PO’s argument is based on the presumption that the video is long and/or has
`
`numerous indices, such that deletion would be required. But that is not the case.
`
`Armstrong’s system is applicable to

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