`__________________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`__________________
`
`VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.,
`Petitioner
`
`v.
`
`STRATOSAUDIO, INC.,
`Patent Owner
`
`
`__________________
`
`Case No. IPR2021-00716
`Patent No. 8,688,028
`
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`
`
`I. Mandatory Notices (37 C.F.R. §42.8) ............................................................. 1
`A.
`Real Party in Interest (37 C.F.R. §42.8(b)(1)) ...................................... 1
`B.
`Related Matters (37 C.F.R. §42.8(b)(2)) ............................................... 1
`C.
`Counsel and Service Information (37 C.F.R. §§42.8(b)(3)-(4)) ........... 2
`Payment of Fees (37 C.F.R. §42.103) ............................................................. 3
`II.
`III. Requirements for Inter Partes Review (37 C.F.R. §42.104) .......................... 3
`A. Grounds for Standing (37 C.F.R. §42.104(a)) ...................................... 3
`B.
`Identification of Challenge (37 C.F.R. §42.104(b)(1)-(2)) and
`Relief Requested (37 C.F.R. §42.22(a)(1)) ........................................... 3
`IV. Relevant Information Concerning the Contested Patent ................................. 3
`A. Overview of the ’028 Patent .................................................................. 3
`B.
`Person of Ordinary Skill in the Art ....................................................... 8
`C.
`Claim Construction (37 C.F.R. §42.104(b)(3)) ..................................... 8
`1.
`“broadcast stream,” “broadcast segment,” and “associated
`media content” ............................................................................ 9
`“receiving a data stream associated with the broadcast
`stream” (Claim 11) .................................................................... 12
`“operations are accessible by” (Claim 14) ................................ 14
`3.
`The Specific Grounds of Unpatentability ...................................................... 15
`A. Overview of the Prior Art .................................................................... 15
`1.
`Takahisa .................................................................................... 15
`2. Mackintosh ................................................................................ 17
`
`V.
`
`2.
`
`i
`
`
`
`B. Ground 1: Takahisa Anticipates Claims 11, 14-16, and 18 ................ 24
`1.
`Claim 11 .................................................................................... 24
`2.
`Claim 14 .................................................................................... 42
`3.
`Claim 15 .................................................................................... 43
`4.
`Claim 16 .................................................................................... 44
`5.
`Claim 18 .................................................................................... 46
`C. Ground 2: Mackintosh Renders Obvious Claims 11, 14-16, and 18 .. 47
`1.
`Claim 11 .................................................................................... 48
`2.
`Claim 14 .................................................................................... 66
`3.
`Claim 15 .................................................................................... 68
`4.
`Claim 18 .................................................................................... 69
`5.
`Claim 16 .................................................................................... 71
`VI. Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 75
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ii
`
`
`
`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
` Page
`
`Cases
`Amazon.com, Inc. v. M2M Solutions LLC,
`IPR2019-01205, Paper 14 (PTAB Jan. 27, 2020) ........................................24
`Apple Inc. v. Omni MedSci, Inc.,
`IPR2020-00175, Paper 11 (PTAB June 17, 2020) .......................................23
`Chrimar Holding Co., LLC v. ALE USA Inc.,
`732 F. App’x 876 (Fed. Cir. 2018) ...............................................................13
`In re GPAC Inc.,
`57 F.3d 1573 (Fed. Cir. 1995) ......................................................................8
`Nidec Motor Corp. v. Zhongshan Broad Ocean Motor Co.,
`868 F.3d 1013 (Fed. Cir. 2017) ....................................................................8
`Phillips v. AWH Corp.,
`415 F.3d 1303 (Fed. Cir. 2005) ....................................................................8
`Trustees of Columbia Univ. v. Symantec Corp.,
`811 F.3d 1359 (Fed. Cir. 2016) ....................................................................13
`Virnetx, Inc. v. Cisco Sys., Inc.,
`767 F.3d 1308 (Fed. Cir. 2014) ....................................................................13
`Zip Top, LLC v. Stasher, Inc.,
`IPR2018-01216, Paper 14 (PTAB Jan. 17, 2019) ........................................24
`Statutes
`35 U.S.C. §102 ..................................................................................................passim
`35 U.S.C. §103 ..................................................................................................passim
`35 U.S.C. §325 ................................................................................................... 23, 24
`
`iii
`
`
`
`Rules and Regulations
`83 Fed. Reg. 51340, Vol. 83, No. 197 (Oct. 11, 2018) ...........................................8
`M.P.E.P. §2141.03 ..................................................................................................8
`
`
`
`
`
`iv
`
`
`
`Exhibit No.
`1001
`1002
`1003
`1004
`1005
`
`LIST OF EXHIBITS
`Description
`U.S. Patent No. 8,688,028
`File History of U.S. Patent No. 8,688,028
`Declaration of Dr. Vijay Madisetti
`U.S. Patent No. 5,579,537 (Takahisa)
`U.S. Patent No. 6,317,784 (Mackintosh)
`
`v
`
`
`
`
`
`Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (“Petitioner”) respectfully requests
`
`Inter Partes Review (“IPR”) of claims 11, 14-16, and 18 (the “Challenged
`
`Claims”) of U.S. Patent No. 8,688,028 (Ex. 1001, “the ’028 patent”), currently
`
`assigned—according to Patent Office records—to StratosAudio, Inc. (“Patent
`
`Owner”). There is a reasonable likelihood Petitioner will prevail on at least one
`
`challenged claim.
`
`I. Mandatory Notices (37 C.F.R. §42.8)
`A. Real Party in Interest (37 C.F.R. §42.8(b)(1))
`The real party in interest is Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
`
`
`
`B. Related Matters (37 C.F.R. §42.8(b)(2))
`The Challenged Claims are asserted by Patent Owner against Petitioner in
`
`
`
`StratosAudio, Inc. v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., No. 6:20-cv-1131,
`
`pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. The
`
`Challenged Claims are also asserted by Patent Owner against (1) Hyundai Motor
`
`America in StratosAudio, Inc. v. Hyundai Motor America, No. 6:20-cv-01125; (2)
`
`Mazda Motor of America, Inc. in StratosAudio, Inc. v. Mazda Motor of America,
`
`Inc., No. 6:20-cv-01126; (3) Subaru of America, Inc. in StratosAudio, Inc. v.
`
`Subaru of America, Inc.; and (4) Volvo Cars of North America, LLC and Volvo
`
`Cars USA, LLC in StratosAudio, Inc. v. Volvo Cars of North America, LLC et al.,
`
`No. 6:20-cv-01129, all of which are pending in the United States District Court for
`
`the Western District of Texas.
`
`1
`
`
`
`C. Counsel and Service Information (37 C.F.R. §§42.8(b)(3)-(4))
`Petitioner designates the following lead and back-up counsel:
`Lead Counsel
`
`Eric S. Lucas (Reg. No. 76,434; Tel. (212) 848-4955;
`
`eric.lucas@shearman.com), attorney at Shearman & Sterling LLP, 599 Lexington
`
`Avenue, New York, New York 10022.
`
`Backup Counsel
`
`David J. Cooperberg (Reg. No. 63,250; Tel. (212) 848-4063;
`
`david.cooperberg@shearman.com), attorney at Shearman & Sterling LLP, 599
`
`Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022.
`
`Mark A. Hannemann (pro hac vice to be requested upon authorization; Tel.
`
`(212) 848-7696; mark.hannemann@shearman.com), attorney at Shearman &
`
`Sterling LLP, 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022.
`
`Thomas R. Makin (pro hac vice to be requested upon authorization; Tel.
`
`(212) 848-7698; thomas.makin@shearman.com), attorney at Shearman & Sterling
`
`LLP, 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022.
`
`
`
`Petitioner consents to e-mail service at the above e-mail addresses and VW-
`
`Stratos@Shearman.com.
`
`2
`
`
`
`II.
`
`Payment of Fees (37 C.F.R. §42.103)
`The Director is authorized to charge the filing fee for this Petition, as well as
`
`any other fees that may be required in these proceedings, to Deposit Account
`
`500324.
`
`III. Requirements for Inter Partes Review (37 C.F.R. §42.104)
`A. Grounds for Standing (37 C.F.R. §42.104(a))
`Petitioner certifies that the ’028 patent is available for IPR, and that
`
`Petitioner is not barred or estopped from requesting an IPR challenging the claims
`
`on the identified grounds.
`
`B.
`
`Identification of Challenge (37 C.F.R. §42.104(b)(1)-(2)) and
`Relief Requested (37 C.F.R. §42.22(a)(1))
`Petitioner requests the Board institute IPR on the Challenged Claims
`
`because they are anticipated or obvious under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. §§102 and 103
`
`on the following grounds:
`
`Ground
`
`Prior Art
`
`1
`
`2
`
`U.S. Patent No. 5,579,537
`(“Takahisa”)
`U.S. Patent No. 6,317,784
`(“Mackintosh”)
`
`Basis
`
`§102
`
`§103
`
`Claims
`Challenged
`11, 14-16, 18
`
`11, 14-16, 18
`
`
`IV. Relevant Information Concerning the Contested Patent
`
`A. Overview of the ’028 Patent
`The ’028 patent is directed to a system that sends “a data stream in
`
`combination with a broadcast signal for identifying music or speech available for
`
`3
`
`
`
`purchase.” Ex. 1001, 3:23-25. While in several illustrative embodiments the
`
`accompanying data is sent using the “RBDS/RDS” standard—which standard
`
`facilitates the broadcast of a variety of program-related information on a subcarrier
`
`of a standard FM broadcast channel—and is therefore associated with the
`
`broadcast stream, the ’028 patent contemplates other types of accompanying data,
`
`and also contemplates that the accompanying data stream may be sent
`
`independently from the source of the broadcast stream. Ex. 1001, 1:35-60, 3:8-25,
`
`claim 15; Ex. 1003, ¶31.1 The ’028 patent explains that “[d]ata such as song title
`
`and artist, author or publisher and the IP address for the location where the digital
`
`version of the content is stored, can be transmitted using the RBDS/RDS data
`
`stream.” Ex. 1001, 3:39-42. “A reference number representing song title and
`
`artist, author and publisher and the IP address for the location where the digital
`
`version of the content is stored can also be employed for ease of implementation.”
`
`Ex. 1001, 3:42-45.
`
`Figure 1 of the ’028 patent is split into four separate segments. A composite
`
`image of figure 1, comprised of the four individual segments (figures 1A-1D), is
`
`reproduced below:
`
`
`
`1 Declaration of Dr. Vijay Madisetti, an expert in computer science and electrical
`
`engineering. Ex. 1003, ¶¶5-17; see also CV attached to same.
`
`4
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1003, ¶33.
`
`
`
`The ’028 patent explains that “radio station 140 includes a radio automation
`
`or CD playback system 142, an audio database/encoding server 144, an FM
`
`transmission system 146 and a RBDS/RDS encoder 148.” Ex. 1001, 5:41-44.
`
`These elements are shown in the top half of the composite figure. Ex. 1003, ¶34.
`
`The ’028 patent further explains that “[t]he radio automation or CD playback
`
`system 142 can extract information about songs or a radio program from the station
`
`playlist or by extracting information encoded on a CD or a CD-ROM.” Ex. 1001,
`
`5
`
`
`
`5:44-47. “The playlist information is provided to the audio database and [sic]
`
`coding server 144.” Ex. 1001, 5:47-48. The ’028 patent explains that the “playlist
`
`information” can include various information about the tracks, such as “song title”
`
`and “artist.” Ex. 1001, 5:48-49; Ex. 1003, ¶36. Additional information can be
`
`included, such as the “cut” (e.g., “cut number” or “cut information,” see Fig. 1A)
`
`or other identifying information. Ex. 1001, 5:48-49; Ex. 1003, ¶36. The ’028
`
`patent further explains that this identifying information and various other
`
`information (e.g., if a particular song is available for download) is sent to the
`
`“RBDS/RDS encoder 148,” which “transmits the RBDS/RDS information using
`
`the 57 khz RBDS/RDS subcarrier 170 to the FM transmission system 146.” Ex.
`
`1001, 5:52-59; Ex. 1003, ¶37. The “radio automation or CD playback system
`
`142,” “audio database encoding server 144,” and “RBDS/RDS encoder 148” are
`
`shown in figure 1A (excerpted below):
`
`
`
`6
`
`
`
`Ex. 1003, ¶38.
`
`
`
`The ’028 patent further explains that “[t]he RBDS/RDS subcarrier signal
`
`170 is mixed by the FM transmission system 146 with the FM baseband program
`
`signal 172 and any other subcarriers,” and then the “FM transmission system 146
`
`… transmits an FM RF signal 162 which is received by the radio receiver 100.”
`
`Ex. 1001, 5:49-63. The “FM transmission system 146,” “FM RF signal 162,” and
`
`the user’s/listener’s “radio receiver 100” are shown in figure 1B (excerpted and
`
`annotated below):
`
`RADIO RECEIVER
`
`
`
`Ex. 1003, ¶40.
`
`7
`
`
`
`Person of Ordinary Skill in the Art
`B.
`Here, the level of skill is apparent from the cited art. See In re GPAC Inc., 57 F.3d
`
`1573, 1579 (Fed. Cir. 1995); M.P.E.P. §2141.03. Petitioner submits that a person
`
`of ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”) would have had a B.S. in computer science
`
`or electrical engineering (or a related field), and approximately three years of
`
`experience working in the communications- or Internet-related industries, or,
`
`alternatively, an advanced degree (such as a master’s degree) in computer science
`
`or electrical engineering (or a related field). Ex. 1003, ¶44. This description is
`
`approximate—a higher education or skill level might make up for less experience,
`
`and vice-versa. Id.
`
`C. Claim Construction (37 C.F.R. §42.104(b)(3))
`This Petition construes terms consistent with the understanding a POSITA
`
`would have had, at the time of the invention, in view of the ’028 patent’s intrinsic
`
`evidence. See 83 Fed. Reg. 51340, Vol. 83, No. 197 (Oct. 11, 2018); Phillips v.
`
`AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1314 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc). Only terms subject
`
`to a legitimate dispute need to be construed for the purposes of IPR. Nidec Motor
`
`Corp. v. Zhongshan Broad Ocean Motor Co., 868 F.3d 1013, 1017 (Fed. Cir.
`
`2017) (citations omitted). Terms not expressly construed should be given their
`
`plain and ordinary meaning.
`
`8
`
`
`
`1.
`
`“broadcast stream,” “broadcast segment,” and “associated
`media content”
` “broadcast stream” (Claims 11 and 15)
`a.
`Consistent with the intrinsic evidence, the phrase “broadcast stream” should
`
`be construed to mean “any media conveyance methodology that conveys
`
`information in the form of a signal,” including, for example, data, information, or
`
`programming distributed over AM/FM radio, digital radio, the Internet, satellite,
`
`cable, analog television, digital television, or the like. Ex. 1003, ¶57.
`
`This construction is supported by the ’028 patent specification, which refers
`
`to broadcasts of various kinds, including radio and television. Ex. 1001, 1:26-2:49;
`
`Ex. 1003, ¶¶51-55.
`
`According to the ’028 patent: “One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize
`
`that there are various forms of media that can be broadcast. Where a specific type
`
`of media is used in the following examples, it is for demonstration purposes only
`
`and the examples should not be limited in that regard. Some examples of the
`
`various types of media can include music, songs, speech, text, video, etc.” Ex.
`
`1001, 4:16-21; Ex. 1003, ¶56.
`
`The ’028 patent explains, for example, that “RBDS/RDS is an FM-only
`
`transmission system but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that APS
`
`data can be included with other radio services (e.g. AM, etc.).” Ex. 1001, 10:56-
`
`58; see also 10:59-67; Ex. 1003, ¶54. The ’028 patent further explains:
`
`9
`
`
`
`Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), which includes
`flexible, open-source, data transmission functions along
`with the audio signal. Systems for adapting digital audio
`and data transmission to the current allocation of AM and
`FM stations using a technique known as In Band On
`Channel (IBOC) are known. IBOC includes an ancillary
`data stream in the broadcast signal to be used by the station
`for whatever purposes they see fit. The ancillary data
`stream signal can be used to carry APS information.
`
`Other developing radio systems also include a data path
`that can be used to send the information used by the APS
`system to successfully allow the acquisition of music or
`other material being broadcast. Satellite DAB providers,
`such as XM Satellite and Sirius Satellite Radio, have
`access to the audio and ancillary data signals being sent to
`compatible receivers.
`
`As other audio services develop, the capability to transmit
`complimentary, simultaneous data can be used as a
`component of the APS. The APS can be simply adapted
`to each new transmission form with no significant change
`in the overall system.
`
`Wireless technology and the related developments in high
`speed Internet access using systems such as BlueTooth or
`other wireless network
`technology allows
`faster
`
`10
`
`
`
`downloads of the desired material by taking advantage of
`the newer, faster technology.
`
`NTSC, PAL and other technologies employed to transmit
`television signals around the world allow for similar
`capabilities in transmitting subcarrier data within the
`carrier signal.
`
`Ex. 1001, 10:59-11:20; Ex. 1003, ¶54.
` “broadcast segment” (Claims 11 and 16)
`b.
`Consistent with the intrinsic evidence, the phrase “broadcast segment”
`
`should be construed to mean “a distinguishable piece or portion of a broadcast
`
`stream,” such as an individual song, speech, or video. Ex. 1003, ¶61.
`
`This construction is supported by the claims of the ’028 patent which refer to
`
`“at least one identifiable broadcast segment as part of a broadcast stream.” Ex.
`
`1001, claims 1, 5, and 6; Ex. 1003, ¶59.
`
`This construction is also supported by the ’028 patent specification, which
`
`refers to identifying specific broadcast segments or songs, in the context of
`
`“tracking of music content which is being broadcast” and determining whether that
`
`“broadcast segment” is “available for purchase.” Ex. 1001, 5:64-6:4; Ex. 1003,
`
`¶60.
`
`11
`
`
`
` “media content” (Claim 11)
`c.
`Consistent with the intrinsic evidence, the phrase “media content” should be
`
`construed to mean “any form of media content that, when translated from the
`
`signal-form in which it is transmitted, is discernible to humans.” Ex. 1003, ¶66.
`
`This construction is consistent with the ’028 patent specification which
`
`explains that “there are various forms of media that can be broadcast. Where a
`
`specific type of media is used in the following examples, it is for demonstration
`
`purposes only and the examples should not be limited in that regard. Some
`
`examples of the various types of media can include music, songs, speech, text,
`
`video, etc.” Ex. 1001, 4:16-21; Ex. 1003, ¶¶63-65.
`
`2.
`
`“receiving a data stream associated with the broadcast
`stream” (Claim 11)
`While Petitioner does not propose an explicit “construction” of the phrase
`
`“receiving a data stream associated with the broadcast stream,” Petitioner notes
`
`that the phrase must cover receiving data (related to the broadcast stream) where
`
`the data is transmitted to the receiver either (i) together with the broadcast stream;
`
`(ii) from a third party database, independently from the broadcast stream; or (iii)
`
`from both the broadcaster and the third party. Ex. 1003, ¶75.
`
`This understanding is necessitated by the language of independent claim 11,
`
`and claims 12 and 15—both of which depend from claim 11. Because both claim
`
`12 and claim 15 depend from claim 11, claims 12 and 15 cannot be broader than
`
`12
`
`
`
`claim 11. And, therefore, the scope of claim 11 encompasses at least what is
`
`covered in claims 12 and 15. See Chrimar Holding Co., LLC v. ALE USA Inc., 732
`
`F. App’x 876, 885–86 (Fed. Cir. 2018) (affirming claim construction of
`
`“physically connect,” under the doctrine of claim differentiation, where “physically
`
`connect” in independent claim meant a capability to be connected—not that the
`
`components were actually connected—because dependent claim expressly claimed
`
`the components were physically connected); see also Virnetx, Inc. v. Cisco Sys.,
`
`Inc., 767 F.3d 1308, 1317 (Fed. Cir. 2014) (“The specific limitation of hierarchical
`
`formatting in the dependent claims strongly suggests that the independent claims
`
`contemplate domain names both with and without the hierarchical format
`
`exemplified by ‘Yahoo.com.’”); Trustees of Columbia Univ. v. Symantec Corp.,
`
`811 F.3d 1359, 1370 (Fed. Cir. 2016) (using doctrine of claim differentiation to
`
`construe independent claim to encompass material covered in dependent claims).
`
`Claim 15 explains that “the association of the data stream with the broadcast
`
`stream” in claim 11 at least encompasses instances in which the “data stream” is:
`
`(1) “transmitted independently from the broadcast stream” and (2) sent with the
`
`broadcast stream (via “frequency” or “time” multiplexing, or an encoding process).
`
`Ex. 1001, claim 15; Ex. 1003, ¶70. Claim 15 further explains that the “association
`
`of the data stream with the broadcast stream is at least one of” the methods set
`
`forth in claim 15. Ex. 1003, ¶71. Therefore, the receiving of a data stream
`
`13
`
`
`
`associated with the broadcast stream in claim 11 must be a reception of a data
`
`stream transmitted independently from the broadcast stream, with the broadcast
`
`stream, or both. Ex. 1003, ¶72.
`
`And, claim 12 explains a mechanism for how that could be accomplished, as
`
`it makes plain that claim 12 (and thus claim 11) must encompass a method in
`
`which “the receiving a data stream associated with the broadcast stream” is
`
`performed “in conjunction with a database system.” Ex. 1001, claim 12; Ex.
`
`1003, ¶¶73-74.
`
`“operations are accessible by” (Claim 14)
`3.
`Independent claim 11 recites:
`
`A method for correlating media content identifying data
`with at least one broadcast segment received by a
`communication device, the method comprising:
`receiving a broadcast stream…;
`receiving a data stream…;
`…storing in an electronic memory of the communication
`device, at a minimum, media content identifying data
`elements into identifying data aggregates….
`
`Ex. 1001, claim 11.
`
`Dependent claim 14 recites “The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of
`
`the receiving, storing, aggregating, correlating operations are accessible by at least
`
`one of the following: a response authentication system, a broadcaster, an
`
`14
`
`
`
`advertiser, a content provider, a wireless carrier, a web portal, a third party
`
`database.” Ex. 1001, claim 14 (emphasis added).
`
`Consistent with the intrinsic evidence, the phrase “operations are accessible
`
`by” should be construed to mean that at least one of the steps of receiving, storing,
`
`aggregating, and correlating of claim 11 are performed in a manner involving at
`
`least one of the following: a response authentication system, a broadcaster, an
`
`advertiser, a content provider, a wireless carrier, a web portal, a third party
`
`database. Ex. 1003, ¶78.
`
`This construction is consistent with each of the examples in the specification
`
`of the ’028 patent, wherein it is the “communication device” that performs the
`
`claimed steps and wherein, for example, the “response authentication system” and
`
`“broadcaster” are involved in, but are not responsible for, performing the claimed
`
`steps. Ex. 1003, ¶79; see generally Ex. 1001.
`
`V. The Specific Grounds of Unpatentability
`A. Overview of the Prior Art
`Takahisa
`1.
`Takahisa, entitled “Broadcast System with Associated Data Capabilities,”
`
`issued as a patent on November 26, 1996. Ex. 1004. It is prior art under at least 35
`
`U.S.C. §102(b).
`
`Takahisa is directed to a broadcast system that “includes a device to
`
`compare program material to be transmitted with a database of known material and
`
`15
`
`
`
`to transmit along with the program material data corresponding to that program
`
`material.” Ex. 1004, Abstract. Takahisa explains that the data that are provided by
`
`program material recognizer are converted by a data stream generator “into a form
`
`that may be directly applied to a conventional subcarrier channel….” Ex. 1004,
`
`4:7-10; Ex. 1003, ¶84. “A corresponding receiving system stores the data in
`
`memory and displays, at the selection of the user, the data corresponding to the
`
`program material.” Ex. 1004, Abstract.
`
`A block diagram of Takahisa’s “data stream generator” is illustrated in
`
`figure 1, while a block diagram of Takahisa’s “receiving system” for “receiving
`
`program material and associated data” is illustrated in figure 2, reproduced below:
`
`Figures 3 and 4, reproduced below, illustrate two views of a user display
`
`
`
`
`
`panel, respectively:
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`Ex. 1003, ¶¶85-86.
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`Takahisa was listed in a 108-reference-long Information Disclosure
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`Statement during prosecution, Ex. 1002, 100-05, but Takahisa was never cited by
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`the Examiner.
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`2. Mackintosh
`Mackintosh, entitled “Presenting Supplemental Information for Material
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`Currently and Previously Broadcast by a Radio Station,” was filed on September
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`29, 1998, and issued as a patent on November 13, 2001. Ex. 1005. It is prior art
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`under at least 35 U.S.C. §102(e).
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`Mackintosh is directed to a system that “provid[es] enhanced features for the
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`delivery of broadcast material to a listener….” Ex. 1005, 2:41-44. Mackintosh
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`explains that, “[a]ccording to one aspect of the invention, supplemental materials
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`17
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`can be provided to a user in a coordinated fashion with the broadcast materials
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`being delivered … such that they relate to the actual broadcast materials as they are
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`being streamed or otherwise delivered to the user. For example, according to one
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`embodiment, the broadcast material is delivered to the user in segments such as,
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`for example, tracks of music, advertisements, and promotional materials in a radio
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`broadcast. In this embodiment, the supplemental materials can be coordinated with
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`the individual segments (e.g., tracks) such that supplemental materials relating to
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`the segments can be provided as the segments are being provided to the user.” Ex.
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`1005, 2:45-58.
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`Mackintosh explains that “radio broadcast materials can include a plurality
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`of tracks that can be streamed to a user via the Internet, [which] can include, for
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`example, music tracks … along with program data that can indicate, for example,
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`an identification of the track, the type of track, and other pertinent or relevant
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`information regarding the particular track being broadcast at that time.” Ex. 1005,
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`3:3-13. Mackintosh explains that, “[d]epending on the broadcast or delivery
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`medium, the user equipment can include, for example, a processor-based system,
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`such as a personal computer (PC) or other processor-based system, having an
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`appropriate communication interface.” Ex. 1005, 5:30-34. Mackintosh
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`implements its system through “player” software that runs on a “client computer or
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`other end use device….” Ex. 1005, 21:56-58; Ex. 1003, ¶93.
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`Mackintosh discloses several exemplary architectures with respect to how a
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`user may receive the “supplemental materials.” Ex. 1003, ¶¶94-102.
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`In its most generic example, Mackintosh discloses an architecture in which a
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`“program provider 104” (e.g., a radio station) provides “broadcast materials” (e.g.,
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`a radio program) to a “broadcast provider 108” (e.g., “a service provider such as,
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`for example, www.broadcast.com that provides radio broadcast materials to user
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`equipment 112 via the Internet”), and “program materials” (i.e., “information
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`pertaining to the broadcast materials” such as “event codes identifying the item
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`being broadcast to user equipment 112”) to “data server 116.” Ex. 1005, 5:7-6:4;
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`Ex. 1003, ¶95. Mackintosh explains that:
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`In operation, data server 116 utilizes the data received
`from program provider 104 [e.g., the event codes] to
`retrieve supplemental materials related to the broadcast
`materials and to provide those supplemental materials to
`user equipment 112 in coordination with the broadcast
`materials. Thus, in one embodiment, data server 116 uses
`the data from program provider 104 to retrieve the
`associated supplemental materials from its one or more
`data storage databases 118 and provide these materials to
`user equipment 112.
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`In the context of the radio station example, data from
`program provider 104 can include event codes identifying
`the item being broadcast to user equipment 112. Event
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`codes can be codes indicating, for example, a current song
`being played, an advertising spot being played, or other
`material in the stream of broadcast materials being
`broadcast by program provider 104. Continuing in this
`example scenario, data server 116 can
`retrieve
`supplemental information pertaining to the specific item
`of programming being broadcast such as, for example,
`images, video clips, or textual data relating to the material
`being broadcast.
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`Ex. 1005, 5:52-6:4.
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`Figure 1 is reproduced below:
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`Ex. 1003, ¶97.
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`Mackintosh discloses other exemplary architectures in which the user’s
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`device, as opposed to the program provider, forwards the program materials (e.g.,
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`event codes) to a server in order to obtain the supplemental materials. Ex. 1003,
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`¶98. Mackintosh’s figures 5 and 6, reproduced below, depict a block diagram
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`illustrating this exemplary architecture, as well as an operational flow diagram
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`illustrating the process by which the provision of supplemental information by the
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`data server can be coordinated with the user’s reception of the broadcast material,
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`respectively:
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`Ex. 1003, ¶99.
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`Mackintosh provides a generic example of the player software (not
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`populated with the supplemental materials) in figure 7, reproduced below:
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`Ex. 1003, ¶100.
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`A more specific implementation of Mackintosh’s system is depicted in
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`figures 10 through 13, with exemplary architecture of “computer system 702”
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`shown in figure 13, and “player 510” shown in figure 12, reproduced below;
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`Mackintosh asserts that this “specific example is provided by way of example only,
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`and it should be appreciated that other environments are possible … including the
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`more generic examples described [elsewhere in Mackintosh],” Ex. 1005, 24:5-9:
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`Ex. 1003, ¶101.
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`Mackintosh itself was not listed in an IDS or cited during prosecution. An
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`international publication (WO 2000/019662) to the same assignee
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`(Radiowave.com, Inc.) was listed in the same 108-reference-long IDS as Takahisa,
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`Ex. 1002, 100-05, but it too was never cited by the Examiner.
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`To the extent that Patent Owner argues, based on the fact that Takahisa and
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`an international publication of Mackintosh were disclosed during prosecution, that
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`the Board should exercise its discretion under 35 U.S.C. § 325(d) to deny
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`institution of this IPR, the Board should reject Patent Owner’s argument and
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`decline to exercise its discretionary denial power at least because neither reference
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`was applied in a rejection against the pending claims. See Apple Inc. v. Omni
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`MedSci, Inc., IPR2020-00175, Paper 11 (PTAB June 17, 2020) (declining to
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`23
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`exercise §325(d) discretion where, inter alia, there was an absence of record “of
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`what the Examiner’s consideration of these references entailed”); Zip Top, LLC v.
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`Stasher, Inc., IPR2018-01216, Paper 14, 35 (PTAB Jan. 17, 2019) (“[M]ere
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`citation to a reference by the Examiner does not establish that the Examiner
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`substantively considered the merits of [the reference].”); Amazon.com, Inc. v. M2M
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`Solutions LLC, IPR2019-01205, Paper 14, 16 (PTAB Jan. 27, 2020) (“The Board
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`frequently holds that a reference that ‘was neither applied against the claims nor
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`discussed by the Examiner’ does not weigh in favor of exercising the Board’s
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`discretion under §325(d) to deny a petition.”) (citations omitted).
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`B. Ground 1: Takahisa Anticipates Claims 11, 14-16, and 18
`As explained in further detail below, Takahisa anticipates the Challenged
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`Claims because it discloses a system that, during the normal course of its
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`operation, necessarily performs each and every step of the method