V
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`17.0. Box 1450
`Alexandria. Vixginia 223134450
`www.mpto.gnv
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`09/864,602
`
`FILING DATE
`
`05/24/2001
`
`FIRST NAMED [NVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`CONFIRMATION N0,
`
`Indra Laksono
`
`mm 004
`
`8010
`
`TIMOTHY W. MARKISON ‘
`VIXS, INC.
`P.O.BOX [60727
`AUSTIN, TX 78736
`
`vu, NGOC K
`
`26”
`DATE MAILED: l0/26/2005
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`PTO-90C (Rev. l0/03)
`
`Page 1 of 166
`
`Comcast, Ex. 1103
`
`Page 1 of 166
`
`Comcast, Ex. 1103
`
`

`

`Office Action Summary
`
`Application No.
`
`Applicant(s)
`
`09/864,602
`
`LAKSONO, INDRA
`
`Examine,
`
`Ngoc K- W
`
`Art Unit
`
`2511 -
`
`-- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address -
`Period for Reply
`'
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE § MONTH(S) FROM
`THE MAILING DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`- Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CF R 1.136(3).
`after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`It the period for reply specified above is less than thirty (30) days, a reply within the statutory minimum of thirty (30) days will be considered timely.
`-
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, even if timely filed, may reduce any
`earned patent term adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`In no event, however. may a reply be timely filed
`
`Status
`
`,
`1)l:] Responsive to communication(s) filed on
`23):] This action is FINAL.
`2mm This action is non-final.
`3)E] Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Ex parte Quayle, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims
`
`ADE Claim(s) 1-25 and 28-79 is/are pending in the application.
`43) Of the above claim(s) _ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`5)Ij Claim(s) __ is/are allowed.
`
`6)IZ Claim(s) 1-25 and 28-79 is/are rejected.
`7)D Claim(s)
`is/are objected to.
`8)l:l Claim(s)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`
`Application Papers
`
`
`
`9)[:| The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`10)D The drawing(s) filed on _ is/are:
`a)|___l accepted or b)l:| objected to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121(d).
`11H] The oath or declaration is objected to by the Examiner. Note the attached Office Action or form PTO-152.
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`
`12):] Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)—(d) or (f).
`a)[] All b)|] Some * c)I:J None of:
`1.!:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2E] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`31: Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`
`* See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1) El Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`2) D Notice of Draflsperson’s Patent Drawing Review (PTO-948)
`3) El Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO-1449 or PTO/SB/OB)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date m.
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`4) [1 Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper N0(S)/Mai| Date. _.
`5) I] Notice of Informal Patent Application (PTO-152)
`6) El Other: _.
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 1-04)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20050816
`
`Page 2 of 166
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`Page 2 of 166
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 09/864,602
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Claim Objections
`
`1.
`
`It is noted that original claims 26 and 27tare missing which should be cancelled.
`
`Applicant is reminded of 37 CFR 1.126 which requires the original numbering of the claims to be
`
`preserved throughout the prosecution. When claims are canceled, the remaining claims must
`
`not be renumbered. When new claims are presented, they must be numbered consecutively
`
`beginning with the number next following the highest numbered claims previously presented
`
`(whether entered or not).
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`2.
`
`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the
`
`basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
`
`'A person shall be entitled to a patent unless —
`
`(e) the invention was described in (1) an application for patent, published under section 122(b), by
`another filed in the United States before the invention by the applicant for patent or (2) a patent
`granted on an application for patent by another filed in the United States before the invention by the
`applicant for patent. except that an international application filed under the treaty defined in section
`351 (a) shall have the effects for purposes of this subsection of an application filed in the United States
`only if the international application designated the United States and was published under Article 21(2)
`of such treaty in the English language.
`
`3.
`
`Claims 1, 2, 6, 7, 11, 13-15, 18-22, 29, 31-33, 36, 42-45, 48-50, 54, 55, 59, 61-63, 66-
`
`68, 73, 75 and 77 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) as being anticipated by Williams (US.
`
`6,493,873 B1).
`
`Regarding claim 1, Williams teaches a method of multiplexing a plurality of channels in a
`
`multimedia system, the method comprises:
`
`receiving a plurality of channels from a multimedia source (from satellite) (see col. 5,
`
`lines 59-62; col. 6, lines 47-63);
`
`Page 3 of 166
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`Page 3 of 166
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 09/864,602
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 3
`
`receiving a plurality of channel selection commands (see col. 7, lines 31-47);
`
`selecting a channel of the plurality of 'channels per channel selection command of the
`
`plurality of channel selection commands to produce selected channels (see col. 11, lines 6-16);
`
`and
`
`encoding (via encoder 60) each of the selected channels based on a data conveyance
`
`protocol (DVB cable) of the multimedia system to produce a set of encoded channel data (see
`
`col. 10, lines 10-23).
`
`Regarding claim 2, Williams teaches receiving a plurality of channel selection requests
`
`from a plurality of clients (see col. 10, lines 59-65; col. 11, lines 6-12); and processing the
`
`plurality of channel selection requests to produce the plurality of channel selection commands,
`
`wherein the each of the plurality of channel selection commands includes specific channel
`
`selection command (see col. 16, lines 5-19).
`
`Regarding claims 6 and 7, Williams teaches receiving a second plurality of channels
`
`from a second multimedia source (from cable provider), the selecting a channel comprises
`
`selecting a channel from the plurality of channels, wherein each of the channel selection
`
`commands includes identify of the multimedia source or the second multimedia source and
`
`identify of the channel (see col. 10, lines 40-52; col. 6, lines 47-63).
`
`Regarding claim 11, Williams teaches packetizing (via 58) data of each of the selected
`
`channels into a packet that includes a header section and a data section, wherein the header
`
`section includes packet sequence number (i.e., PID number) (see col. 13, line 23 to col. 14,
`
`lines 14 and figure 3).
`
`Regarding claim 13, Williams teaches framing data (via encoder 60) of each of the
`
`selected channels into a frame that includes header section and a data section, wherein the
`
`Page 4 of 166
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`Page 4 of 166
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 09/864,602
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 4
`
`header section includes encryption (see figure 3; col. 9, line 65 to col. 10, line 23; col. 13, lines
`
`56 to col. 14, line 15).
`
`Regarding claim 14, Williams teaches conveying the frame in accordance with frequency
`
`division multiplexing data conveyance protocol (see col. 10, lines 24-38).
`
`Regarding claim 15, Williams teaches multilevel encoding data of each of the selected
`
`channels via R-S encoder 92 and differential encoder 98 (see col. 14, lines 2-25).
`
`Regarding claim 18, Williams teaches receiving a single channel from a multimedia
`
`source (from cable provider); selecting the single channel based on at least one of the plurality
`
`of channel selection commands to produce a selected single channel; and encoding the
`
`selecting single channel based on the data conveyance protocol (see col. 10, lines 40-52 and
`
`10-23; col. 11, lines 6-21).
`
`Regarding claim 19, Williams teaches receiving the single channel of at least one of
`
`data, audio data and video data from a modem (see col. 6, lines 47-52).
`
`Regarding claim 20, Williams teaches receiving audio and video data for each of the
`
`plurality of channels from a satellite connection (see col. 5, lines 59-62).
`
`Regarding claim 36, Williams teaches a tuning module for using in multimedia system,
`
`_ the tuning module comprises:
`
`plurality of selectors (transmodulator channels), wherein each of the plurality of selectors
`
`is operably coupled to receive a plurality of channels, wherein each of the plurality of selectors
`
`outputs a channel of the plurality of channels based on a respective one of a plurality of channel
`
`selection commands to produce selected channels (see col. 9, lines 28-48; col. 10, lines 40-52);
`
`encoding module (60) operably coupled to encode the selected channels based on a
`
`data conveyance protocol (DVB cable) of the multimedia system to produce encoded channel
`
`data (col.10, lines 10-23); and
`
`Page 5 of 166
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`Page 5 of 166
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 09/864,602
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 5
`
`bus interface module (between encoder 60 and upconverter 62) operably coupled to
`
`transmit the encoded channel data in accordance with the data conveyance protocol (see figure
`
`3).
`
`Regarding claim 42, Williams teaches that second plurality of selectors (within level
`
`shifter 70), wherein each of the second plurality of selectors is operably coupled to receive a
`
`second plurality of channels, wherein each of the second plurality of selectors outputs a channel
`
`of the second plurality of channels based on a respective one of the plurality of channel
`
`selection commands to produce second selected channels (see col, 10, lines 40-52).
`
`Regarding claim 48, Williams teaches that the system comprises controller (72) to
`
`control receiving of the plurality of channel selection commands and control the transmitting of
`
`the encoded channel data (see col. 10, lines 53-65; col. 11, lines 6—67).
`
`Regarding claims 49 and 67, Williams teaches an apparatus for multiplexing a plurality
`
`of channels in a multimedia channels, the apparatus comprises: processing module (within unit
`
`72); and memory (within unit 72) operably coupled to the processing module, wherein the
`
`memory includes operational instructions (col. 12, lines 1-6; col. 10, lines 53-59) that cause the
`
`processing module to:
`
`receiving a plurality of channels from a multimedia source (from satellite) (see col. 5,
`
`lines 59-62; col. 6, lines 47-63);
`
`receiving a plurality of channel selection commands (see col. 7, lines 31-47);
`
`selecting a channel of the plurality of channels per channel selection command of the
`
`plurality of channel selection commands to produce selected channels (see col. 11, lines 6-16);
`
`and
`
`Page 6 of 166
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`Page 6 of 166
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 09/864,602
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 6
`
`encoding (via encoder 60) each of the selected channels based on a data conveyance
`
`protocol (DVB cable) of the multimedia system to produce a set of-encoded channel data (see
`
`col..10, lines 10-23).
`
`Claims 22, 50 and 68, see the similar interpretation for claim 2 above.
`
`Claims 54 and 55, see the similar interpretation for claims 6 and 7 above.
`
`Claims 29, 43, 59 and 73, see the similar interpretation for claim 11 above.
`
`Claims 31, 44, 61 and 75, see the similar interpretation for claim 13 above.
`
`Claims 32, 62 and 76, see the similar interpretation for claim 14 above.
`
`Claims 33, 45, 63 and 77, see the similar interpretation for claim 15 above.
`
`Claim 66, see the similar interpretation for claim 18 above.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`4.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`.
`
`\
`
`(a) A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set
`forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and
`the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the
`invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains.
`Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the invention was made.
`’
`
`5.
`
`Claims 8, 28, 41, 56 and 72 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable
`
`over Williams (US. 6,493,873 B1).
`
`Claims 8, 28, 41, 56 and 72, Williams teaches receiving the plurality of channel selection
`
`commands (see col. 7, lines 31-40; col. 10, lines 59-65). Williams does not teach decrypting
`
`each of the plurality of channel selection commands. Official Notice is taken that the technique
`
`of decrypting information is well known in the art. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one
`
`of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to modify the system of Williams by
`
`decrypting each of the plurality of channel selection commands for security purposes.
`
`Page 7 of 166
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`Page 7 of 166
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 09/864,602
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 7
`
`6.
`
`Claims 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 34, 35, 46, 47, 51, 57, 58, 64, 65, 69, 78 and 79 are rejected
`
`under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Williams (US. 6,493,873 B1) in view of
`
`Basawapatna et al. (US 6,598,231 B1).
`
`Regarding claims 3, 23, 51 and 69, Williams does not teach processing the plurality of
`channel selection requests comprising authenticating a client of the plurality of clients that
`
`provides a specific channel selection request. However, Basawapatna teaches the steps of
`
`checking the customer authorization and determination whether or not the customer is a valid
`
`user (see col. 14, liens 19-28). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in
`
`the art at the time the invention was made to modify the system of Williams by processing the
`
`plurality of channel selection requests comprising authenticating a client of the plurality of clients
`
`that provides a specific channel selection request as taught by Basawapatna in order to verify
`the authorized user for requesting the channel selection.
`
`Regarding claims 9, 10, 16, 17, 34, 35, 46, 47, 57, 58, 64, 65, 78 and 79, Williams
`
`teaches encoding the channels into packets based on the data conveyance protocol (see col. 9,
`
`line 59 to col. 10, line 16). Williams as modified by Basawapatna further teaches that the video
`
`signal are encrypted and/or compressed signals (see col. 7, lines 1-7).
`
`7.
`
`Claims 4, 5, 24, 25, 37-40,‘52, 53, 70 and 71 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as
`
`being unpatentable over Williams (US. 6,493,873 B1) in view of Rakib et al. (US 20040172658
`
`A1).
`
`Regarding claims 4, 5, 24, 25, 37—40, 52, 53, 70 and 71, Williams teaches receiving and
`
`decoding the plurality of channel selection requests by decoder 73. These requests may be
`
`from the lRDs periodically to indicate to the control unit 72 which transponder signals are being
`
`actively requested by the lRDs (see col. 7, lines 31-40; col. 10, lines 59-65; col. 11, lines 1-4;
`
`and figure 3). Williams does not teach monitoring packets on a shared bus and identifying at
`
`Page 8 of 166
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`Page 8 of 166
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 09/864,602
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 8
`
`least one of the packets to contain at least a portion of one of the plurality of channel selection
`
`commands. However, Rakib teaches that when the user selects a VOD selection from menu in
`
`which the pointer lies is transmitted via bus 81 to the receiver 82. The receiver 82 then uses an
`
`IP address of video server as a destination address and its own IP address as a source address
`
`and the requested selection to create an IP packet bearing the VOD request. This packet is then
`
`encapsulated into an Ethernet packet addressed to gateway 14 and sent to the gateway. The
`
`gateway strips off the Ethernet header and routes the IP packet to the appropriate video server
`
`(see 0083-0086). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the
`
`time the invention was made to modify the system of Williams by monitoring packets on a
`
`shared bus and identifying at least one of the packets to contain at least a portion of request as
`
`taught by Rakib in order to effectively recognize the user’s request from the packet and provide
`
`the request to the video server.
`
`8.
`
`Claims 12, 30, 60 and 74 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable
`
`over Williams (US. 6,493,873 B1) in view of Hartley et al. (US 64734414 B1).
`
`Regarding claims 12, 30, 60 and 74, Williams does not teach conveying the packet using
`
`CSMA with collision detection. However, Hartley discloses that a protocol known as carrier
`
`sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) is utilized to detect collisions during
`
`transmission (see col. 1, lines 25-31). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary
`skill in the art at the time the invention was made to modify the system Williams by providing
`
`CSMA/CD protocol in order to effectively detect collisions during transmission.
`
`Conclusion
`
`The following are suggested formats for either a Certificate of Mailing or Certificate of
`9.
`Transmission under 37 CFR 1.8(a). The certification may be included with all correspondence
`concerning this application or proceeding to establish a date of mailing or transmission under 37
`CFR 1.8(a). Proper use of this procedure will result in such communication being considered as
`timely if the established date is within the required period for reply. The Certificate should be
`signed by the individual actually depositing or transmitting the correspondence or by an
`
`Page 9 of 166
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`Page 9 of 166
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 09/864,602
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 9
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`individual who, upon information and belief, expects the correspondence to be mailed or
`transmitted in the normal course of business by another no later than the date indicated.
`
`Certificate of Mailing
`
`I hereby certify that this correspondence is being deposited with the United States Postal Service with
`sufficient postage as first class mail in an envelope addressed to:
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`on
`
`(Date)
`
`.
`
`Typed or printed name of person signing this certificate:
`
`Signature:
`
`Registration Number:
`
`Certificate of Transmission
`
`I hereby certify that this correspondence is being facsimile transmitted to the United States Patent and
`Trademark Office, Fax No. (703)
`-
`on
`(Date)
`
`Typed or printed name of person signing this certificate:
`
`Signature:
`
`Registration Number:
`
`Please refer to 37 CFR 1.6(d) and 1.8(a)(2) for filing limitations concerning facsimile
`transmissions and mailing. respectively.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner
`
`should be directed to Ngoc K. Vu whose telephone number is 571-272-7306. The examiner can
`
`normally be reached on Monday-Thursday.
`
`Page 10 of 166
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`Page 10 of 166
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 09/864,602
`Art Unit: 2611
`
`Page 10
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's
`
`supervisor, Christopher Grant can be reached on 571-272-7294. The fax phone number for the
`
`organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 703-872-9306.
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent
`
`Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications
`.may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished
`
`applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR
`
`system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private
`
`PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
`
`Wa—
`
`Ngoc K. Vu
`Primary Examiner
`Art Unit 2611
`
`August 16, 2005
`
`Page 11 of 166
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`

`

`A
`
`
`
`MAR 1 3 Mo
`
`I
`
`f
`
`PATENT APPLICATION
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`Vu, Ngoc K
`Examiner:
`Indra Laksano
`Applicant:
`Art Group: 2611
`09/864,602
`Serial No:
`Docket No: VIXS 004
`Filing Date: 05/24/2001
`Title: METHOD AND APPARATUS OF MULTIPLEXING A PLURALITY OF
`CHANNELS IN A MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM
`
`Date: 3/9/2006
`
`Mail Stop Amendment
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313—1450
`
`RESPONSE TO OFFICIAL ACTION
`
`In response to an Office Action mailed on 10/26/2005
`
`regarding
`
`the
`
`above—captioned
`
`patent
`
`application,
`
`the
`
`applicant respectfully submits the following amendment and
`
`response .
`
`Amendment
`
`to the Specification — N/A
`
`Amendment
`
`to the Claims begins on page a of this paper.
`
`Amendment to the Drawings — N/A
`
`Remarks/Arguments begins on page g2 of this paper.
`
`Page120f166
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`Page 12 of 166
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`

`

`Appl. No. 09/864,602
`Amendment dated 03/08/2006
`
`Reply to Office Action mailed 10/26/2005
`
`Docket No. VIXSOO4
`
`CLAIM AMENDMENTS
`
`l.
`
`(currently
`
`amended)
`
`A method
`
`of
`
`nmltiplexing
`
`a
`
`plurality of channels
`
`in a multimedia system,
`
`the method
`
`comprises:
`
`receiving a plurality of channels from a multimedia source;
`
`receiving a plurality of channel selection commands by:
`
`receiving,
`
`from a plurality of clients,
`
`a plurality of
`
`channel selection reguests;
`
`and
`
`processing the plurality of channel Selection requests
`
`to
`produce
`the
`plurality
`of
`channel
`selection
`
`commands, wherein the each of the plurality of channel
`
`selection commands
`
`includes at
`
`least
`
`one of:
`
`last
`
`’channel
`
`selection command,
`
`next
`
`channel
`
`selection
`
`favorite
`
`command, previous channel selection command,
`
`channel
`selection command,
`and
`select
`
`channel
`
`from
`
`user define list;
`
`selecting a
`
`channel
`
`‘of
`
`the plurality of
`
`channels per
`
`channel
`
`selection command of
`
`the plurality of
`
`channel
`
`selection commands to produce selected channels;
`
`and
`
`encoding each of
`
`the selected channels based. on a data
`
`conveyance protocol of
`
`the multimedia system to produce a
`
`set of encoded channel data.
`
`2.
`
`(cancelled)
`
`Page13of166
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`Page 13 of 166
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`

`

`Appl. No. 09/864,602
`Amendment dated 03/08/2006
`Reply to Office Action mailed 10/26/2005
`
`Docket No. VIXSOO4
`
`3.
`
`(original)
`
`The method
`
`of
`
`claim 2, wherein
`
`the
`
`processing the plurality of
`
`channel
`
`selection requests-
`
`further comprises at least one of:
`
`interpreting at
`
`least
`
`one
`
`channel
`
`selection request
`
`to
`
`identify at
`
`least one client of
`
`the plurality of clfénts
`
`and at
`
`least one of
`
`the channel selection requests of
`
`the
`
`plurality of channel selection requests;
`
`authenticating a client of
`
`the plurality of clients that
`
`provides a specific channel selection request;
`
`and
`
`authenticating the specific channel selection request.
`
`4.
`
`(original)
`
`The method
`
`of
`
`claim 1, wherein
`
`the
`
`receiving
`
`the plurality of
`
`channel
`
`selection commands
`
`further comprises:
`
`monitoring packets on a shared bus;
`
`identifying at least one of the packets to contain at least
`
`a portion of one of
`
`the plurality of channel
`
`selection
`
`commands;
`
`and
`
`decoding, based on the data conveyance protocol,
`
`the at
`
`least one packet
`
`to recapture the at least a portion of the
`
`one of the plurality of channel selection commands.
`
`Page14of166
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`

`

`Appl. No. 09/864,602
`Amendment dated 03/08/2006
`Reply to Office Action mailed 10/26/2005
`
`Docket NO. VIXSOO4
`
`5.
`
`(original)
`
`The method
`
`of
`
`claim 1, wherein
`
`the
`
`receiving the plurality of
`
`channel
`
`selection commands
`
`further comprises:
`
`monitoring a shared bus at specific time intervals;
`
`identifying a data
`
`frame at
`
`one of
`
`the
`
`specific time
`
`intervals that contains at
`
`least
`
`a portion of one of
`
`the
`
`plurality of channel selection commands;
`
`and
`
`decoding, based on the data conveyance protocol,
`
`the data
`
`frame to recapture the at least a portion of the one of the
`
`plurality of channel selection commands.
`
`6.
`
`(original) The method of claim 1 further comprises:
`
`receiving a
`
`second plurality of channels
`
`from.
`
`a
`
`second
`
`multimedia source.
`
`7.
`
`(original)
`
`The method
`
`of
`
`claim 6, wherein
`
`the
`
`selecting a channel further comprises:
`
`selecting a channel
`
`from either the plurality of channels
`
`or the second plurality of channels per each of the channel
`
`selection commands, wherein each of
`
`the channel selection
`
`commands
`
`includes identity of the multimedia source or the
`
`Second multimedia source and identity of the channel.
`
`Page150f166
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`

`

`Appl. No. 09/864,602
`Amendment dated 03/08/2006
`
`Reply to Office Action mailed 10/26/2005
`
`Docket No. VIXSOO4
`
`8.
`
`(original)
`
`The method
`
`of
`
`claim 1, wherein
`
`the
`
`receiving
`
`the plurality of
`
`channel- selection commands
`
`further comprises at least one of:
`
`decrypting each
`
`of
`
`the plurality of
`
`channel
`
`selection
`
`commands;
`
`and
`
`decompressing each of
`
`the plurality of channel selection
`
`commands.
`
`9.
`
`(original) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the
`
`plurality of channels is compressed, wherein the selecting
`
`a channel further comprises:
`
`selecting a group of compressed channels of
`
`the plurality
`
`of channels per at
`
`least one of
`
`the plurality of channel
`
`selection
`
`commands, wherein
`
`the
`
`group
`
`of
`
`compressed
`
`channels includes the channel.
`
`10.
`
`(original) The method of claim 9, wherein the encoding
`
`further comprises:
`
`encoding the group of compressed channels into packets or
`
`frames based on the data conveyance protocol.
`
`Page160f166
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`Page 16 of 166
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`

`

`Appl. No. 09/864,602
`Amendment dated 03/08/2006
`Reply to Office Action mailed 10/26/2005
`
`Docket No. VIXSOO4
`
`11.
`
`(original) The method of claim 1, wherein the encoding
`
`further comprises:
`
`packetizing data of each of
`
`the selected channels
`
`into a
`
`packet
`
`that
`
`includes a header section and a data section,
`
`wherein
`
`the
`
`header
`
`section includes
`
`at
`
`least
`
`one
`
`of
`
`identity the selected channel,
`
`type of data of the selected
`
`channel,
`
`identity of
`
`the multimedia
`
`source,
`
`encryption
`
`enable/disable,
`
`type
`
`of
`
`encryption,
`
`compression
`
`enable/disable,
`
`type of compression,
`
`and packet
`
`sequence
`
`number.
`
`12.
`
`(original) The method of claim 11 further comprises:
`
`conveying the packet using at
`
`least one of: Carrier Sense
`
`Multiple Access
`
`(CSMA), CSMA with collision avoidance,
`
`and
`
`CSMA with collision detection.
`
`13.
`
`(original) The method of claim 1, wherein the encoding
`
`further comprises:
`
`framing data of each of the selected channels into a frame
`
`that
`
`includes header section and a data section, wherein
`
`the header section includes at
`
`least one of
`
`identity the
`
`selected channel,
`
`type of data of
`
`the selected channel,
`
`identity
`
`of
`
`the
`
`multimedia
`
`source,
`
`encryption
`
`enable/disable,
`
`type
`
`of
`
`encryption,
`
`compression
`
`enable/disable,
`
`type of compression, and frame number.
`
`Page17of166
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`Page 17 of 166
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`

`

`Appl. No. 09/864,602
`Amendment dated 03/08/2006
`Reply to Office Action mailed 10/26/2005
`
`Docket No. VIXSOO4
`
`14.
`
`(original) The method of claim 13 further comprises:
`
`conveying the frame-in accordance with at
`
`least one of:
`
`a
`
`time division multiplexing data conveyance protocol,
`
`and
`
`frequency division multiplexing data conveyance protocol.
`
`15.
`
`(original) The method of claim 1, wherein the encoding
`
`further comprises at least one of:
`
`multilevel encoding data of each of the selected channels;
`
`non return to zero (NRZ) encoding the data of each of
`
`the
`
`selected channels;
`
`Manchester
`
`encoding
`
`the data
`
`of
`
`each of
`
`the
`
`selected
`
`channels;
`
`block encoding the data of each of
`
`the selected channels;
`
`and
`
`nB/mB encoding the data of each of
`
`the selected channels,
`
`where n < m.
`
`16.
`
`(original) The method of claim 1 further comprises:
`
`data compressing the selected channels prior to encoding.
`
`17.
`
`(original) The method of claim 1 further comprises:
`
`encrypting the selected channels prior to encoding.
`
`Page180f166
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`Page 18 of 166
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`

`

`Appl. No. 09/864,602
`Amendment dated 03/08/2006
`Reply to Office Action mailed 10/26/2005
`
`Docket No. VIXSOO4
`
`18.
`
`(original) The method of claim 1 further comprises:
`
`receiving a single channel
`
`from a multimedia source;
`
`selecting the single channel based on at
`
`least one of
`
`the
`
`plurality of
`
`channel
`
`selection commands
`
`to
`
`produce
`
`a
`
`selected single channel;
`
`and
`
`encoding the selecting single channel based on the data
`
`conveyance protocol.
`
`19.
`
`(original)
`
`The method
`
`of
`
`claim 18, wherein
`
`the
`
`receiving the single channel further comprises at
`
`least one
`
`of:
`
`receiving the single channel of audio data and video data
`
`from an output of a video cassette recorder;
`
`receiving the single channel of audio data and video data
`
`from an output of a DVD player;
`
`receiving the single channel of audio data and video data
`
`from an output of a camcorder;
`
`receiving the single channel of audio data from an output
`
`of a compact disk player;
`
`receiving the single channel of audio data from an output
`
`of a cassette player;
`
`Page190f166
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`

`

`Appl. No. 09/864,602
`Amendment dated 03/08/2006
`Reply to Office Action mailed 10/26/2005
`
`Docket No. VIXSOO4
`
`receiving the single channel of at
`
`least one of data and
`
`audio data from a telephone connection;
`
`and
`
`receiving the single channel of at least one of data, audio
`
`data, and video data from a modem.
`
`20.
`
`(original)
`
`The method
`
`of
`
`claim 1, wherein
`
`the
`
`receiving the plurality of channels
`
`further comprises at
`
`least one of:
`
`receiving audio and video data for each of the plurality of
`
`channels from a satellite connection;
`
`receiving audio and video data for each of the plurality of
`
`channels from a set—top box;
`
`receiving audio and video data for each of the plurality of
`
`channels from a cable connection;
`
`receiving audio and video data for each of the plurality of
`
`channels from a high—definition television receiver;
`
`and
`
`receiving audio and video data for each of the plurality of
`
`channels from an antenna.
`
`PageZOof166
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`Page 20 of 166
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`

`

`Appl. No. 09/864,602
`Amendment dated 03/08/2006
`Reply to Office Action mailed 10/26/2005
`
`’
`
`Docket No. v1x5004
`
`21.
`
`(currently amended) A method of multiplexing channels
`
`in a multimedia system,
`
`the method comprises:
`
`receiving a channel
`
`from each of a plurality of sources to
`
`produce a plurality of channels;
`
`receiving a plurality of channel selection commands;
`
`selecting a
`
`channel
`
`of
`
`the plurality of
`
`channels per
`
`channel
`
`selection command of
`
`the plurality of
`
`channel
`
`selection command to produce selected channels;
`
`and
`
`encoding each of
`
`the selected Channels based on a data
`
`conveyance protocol of
`
`the multimedia system to produce a
`
`set of encoded channel data by packetizing data of each of
`
`the selected channels into a packet
`
`that
`
`includes a header
`
`section and a data
`
`section, wherein the header
`
`section
`
`includes at
`
`least one of:
`
`identity the selected channel,
`
`type of data of
`
`the
`
`selected channel,
`
`identity of
`
`the
`
`multimedia
`
`source,
`
`encryption
`
`enable/disable,
`
`type
`
`encryption,
`
`compression
`
`enable/disable,
`
`type
`
`of
`
`of
`
`compression, and packet seguence number.
`
`10
`
`Page21of166
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`Page 21 of 166
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`

`

`Appl. No. 09/864,602
`Amendment dated 03/08/2006
`
`Reply to Office Action mailed 10/26/2005
`
`Docket No. VIXSOO4
`w
`
`22.
`
`(original)
`
`The method
`
`of
`
`claim 21, wherein
`
`the
`
`receiving the channel selection commands further comprises:
`
`receiving,
`
`from a plurality of clients,
`
`a plurality of
`
`channel selection requests;
`
`and
`
`processing the plurality of channel selection requests to
`
`produce
`
`the plurality of
`
`channel
`
`selection
`
`commands,
`
`wherein the each of
`
`the plurality of
`
`channel
`
`selection
`
`commands
`
`includes
`
`at
`
`least
`
`one
`
`of:
`
`specific
`
`channel
`
`selection command,
`
`last
`
`channel
`
`selection command,
`
`next
`
`channel
`
`selection
`
`command,
`
`previous
`
`channel
`
`selection
`
`command,
`
`favorite channel
`
`selection command,
`
`and
`
`select
`
`channel from user define list.
`
`23.
`
`(original)
`
`The method
`
`of
`
`claim 22, wherein
`
`the
`
`processing the plurality of
`
`channel
`
`selection requests
`
`further comprises at least one of:
`
`i