`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`____________________
`
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`____________________
`
`Playtika Ltd. and Playtika Holding Corp.,
`
`Petitioners,
`
`v.
`
`NEXRF Corp.,
`
`Patent Owner.
`
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`Filing Date: Dec. 29, 2010
`Issue Date: June 10, 2014
`
`____________________
`
`Case No. IPR2021-00951
`
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,747,229
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`
`I.
`II.
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`PRELIMINARY STATEMENT ..................................................................... 1
`THE ’229 PATENT ......................................................................................... 3
`A.
`Summary of ’229 Patent ........................................................................ 3
`B.
`The ’229 Patent Prosecution History .................................................. 10
`III. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART ........................................... 11
`IV. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION .......................................................................... 11
`V.
`STATEMENT OF PRECISE RELIEF REQUESTED FOR EACH
`CLAIM CHALLENGED .............................................................................. 12
`A.
`Claims for Which Review Is Requested ............................................. 12
`B.
`Statutory Grounds................................................................................ 12
`VI. GROUNDS 1-2: THE JOSHI GROUNDS RENDER OBVIOUS
`CLAIMS 1, 9, AND 17 ................................................................................. 13
`A. Overview of Prior Art ......................................................................... 14
`1.
`Joshi........................................................................................... 14
`2.
`Finlayson ................................................................................... 18
`a. Motivation to Combine ................................................... 19
`Independent Claim 1 ........................................................................... 21
`1.
`[1p] “A gaming server system configured to
`communicate with at least one network access device
`communicatively coupled to a network, the gaming
`server system comprising:” ....................................................... 21
`[1a] “a verification system configured to access a
`registration database having a plurality of registration
`data associated with each registered user;” ............................... 22
`
`B.
`
`2.
`
`ii
`
`
`
`3.
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`4.
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`[1b] “a memory module configured to store a plurality of
`images corresponding to at least one game outcome that
`are communicated to the at least one network access
`device;” ..................................................................................... 27
`[1c] “a centralized gaming server communicatively
`coupled to each of the at least one network access device,
`the centralized gaming server configured to generate at
`least one random game outcome by random generation at
`the centralized gaming server;” ................................................ 30
`[1d] “a paytable module associated with the centralized
`gaming server, the paytable module configured to
`determine one or more prizes associated with a game
`outcome;” .................................................................................. 32
`[1e] “the centralized gaming server configured to access
`the memory module and communicate the plurality of
`images corresponding to the at least one random game
`outcome to the at least one network access device.” ................ 33
`Independent Claim 9 ........................................................................... 35
`1.
`[9p] “A gaming server system configured to
`communicate with a plurality of network access devices
`that are communicatively coupled to a network, the
`gaming server system comprising:” .......................................... 35
`[9a] “a verification system configured to access a
`registration database having a plurality of registration
`data associated with each registered user, wherein the
`verification system is configured to:” ....................................... 36
`[9b] “receive user identification information associated
`with a player from at least one network access device,
`and” ........................................................................................... 36
`[9c] “verify the player accessing the network access
`device is a registered user by comparing the user
`identification information to the registration data;” ................. 37
`
`C.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`iii
`
`
`
`5.
`
`7.
`
`8.
`
`6.
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`[9d] “a memory module configured to store a plurality of
`images corresponding to at least one game outcome that
`are communicated to the plurality of network access
`devices;” .................................................................................... 38
`[9e] “a centralized gaming server communicatively
`coupled to each of the plurality of network access
`devices, the centralized gaming server configured to
`generate at least one random game outcome by random
`generation at the centralized gaming server;”........................... 39
`[9f] “a paytable module associated with the centralized
`gaming server, the paytable module configured to
`determine one or more prizes associated with a game
`outcome; and” ........................................................................... 39
`[9g] “the centralized gaming server configured to access
`the memory module and communicate the plurality of
`images corresponding to the at least one random game
`outcome to each network access device.” ................................. 39
`Independent Claim 17 ......................................................................... 40
`1.
`[17p] “A method for generating a game outcome with a
`gaming server system configured to communicate with a
`plurality of network access devices that are
`communicatively coupled to a network, the gaming
`server system comprising:” ....................................................... 40
`[17a] “enabling a verification system to receive user
`identification information from at least one network
`access device;” .......................................................................... 40
`[17b] “verifying with the verification system that the user
`accessing the at least one network access device is a
`registered user by comparing the user identification
`information to registration data stored in a registration
`database;” .................................................................................. 41
`[17c] “generating, with a centralized gaming server
`communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of
`network access devices, at least one random game
`
`D.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`iv
`
`
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`D.
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`outcome with random generation at the centralized
`gaming server;” ......................................................................... 41
`[17d] “determining one or more prizes associated with
`the random game outcome with a paytable module
`associated with the centralized gaming server; and” ................ 41
`[17e] “communicating a plurality of images
`corresponding to the at least one random game outcome
`from the centralized gaming server to each network
`access device.” .......................................................................... 42
`VII. GROUNDS 3-4: THE JOSHI AGASSE GROUNDS RENDER
`OBVIOUS CLAIMS 6, 7, 14, 15, 22, AND 23 ............................................ 42
`A. Overview of Additional Prior Art: Agasse .......................................... 42
`B. Motivation to Combine ....................................................................... 44
`C.
`[Claim 6] “The gaming server system of claim 1, further
`comprising an encoding module configured to convert the
`plurality of images to a format meeting the requirements of
`each network access device.” .............................................................. 49
`[Claim 7] “The gaming server system of claim 1, further
`comprising an encryption module, the encryption module
`configured to encrypt the plurality of images communicated to
`each network access device.” .............................................................. 53
`[Claim 14] “The gaming server system of claim 9, further
`comprising an encoding module configured to convert the
`images to a format meeting the requirements of each network
`access device.” ..................................................................................... 54
`[Claim 15] “The gaming server system of claim 9, further
`comprising an encryption module, the encryption module
`configured to encrypt the plurality of images communicated to
`each network access device.” .............................................................. 54
`[Claim 22] “The method of claim 17, further comprising
`converting the plurality of images to a format meeting the
`
`G.
`
`E.
`
`F.
`
`v
`
`
`
`H.
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`requirements of each network access device with an encoding
`module.” .............................................................................................. 54
`[Claim 23] “The method of claim 17, further comprising
`encrypting the plurality of images communicated to each
`network access device with an encryption module.” .......................... 55
`VIII. GROUNDS 5-6: THE JOSHI MIGHDOLL GROUNDS RENDER
`OBVIOUS CLAIMS 6, 14, AND 22 ............................................................. 55
`A. Overview of Additional Prior Art: Mighdoll ...................................... 55
`B. Motivation to Combine ....................................................................... 58
`C.
`[Claim 6] “The gaming server system of claim 1, further
`comprising an encoding module configured to convert the
`plurality of images to a format meeting the requirements of
`each network access device.” .............................................................. 61
`[Claim 14] “The gaming server system of claim 9, further
`comprising an encoding module configured to convert the
`images to a format meeting the requirements of each network
`access device.” ..................................................................................... 63
`[Claim 22] “The method of claim 17, further comprising
`converting the plurality of images to a format meeting the
`requirements of each network access device with an encoding
`module.” .............................................................................................. 63
`IX. GROUNDS 7-8: THE JOSHI DOBNER GROUNDS RENDER
`OBVIOUS CLAIMS 7, 15, AND 23 ............................................................. 63
`A. Overview of Additional Prior Art: Dobner ......................................... 64
`B. Motivation to Combine ....................................................................... 66
`C.
`[Claim 7] “The gaming server system of claim 1, further
`comprising an encryption module, the encryption module
`configured to encrypt the plurality of images communicated to
`each network access device.” .............................................................. 67
`[Claim 15] “The gaming server system of claim 9, further
`comprising an encryption module, the encryption module
`
`D.
`
`E.
`
`D.
`
`vi
`
`
`
`E.
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`configured to encrypt the plurality of images communicated to
`each network access device.” .............................................................. 68
`[Claim 23] “The method of claim 17, further comprising
`encrypting the plurality of images communicated to each
`network access device with an encryption module.” .......................... 68
`X. NON-INSTITUTION UNDER 35 U.S.C. §§ 314 OR 325 WOULD
`BE IMPROPER ............................................................................................. 68
`A. Non-Institution Under 35 U.S.C. §314(a) Is Improper ....................... 69
`B. Non-Institution Under 35 U.S.C. § 325 Is Improper .......................... 71
`XI. MANDATORY NOTICES UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 42.8 ................................. 72
`A.
`Real Party-in-Interest .......................................................................... 72
`B.
`Related Matters .................................................................................... 73
`C.
`Lead and Back-Up Counsel and Service Information ........................ 73
`XII. GROUNDS FOR STANDING ...................................................................... 74
`XIII. CONCLUSION .............................................................................................. 74
`
`
`vii
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`
`LIST OF EXHIBITS
`
`Description
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229 (the ’229 patent)
`Prosecution File History of U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`Declaration of Stacy A. Friedman
`Curriculum Vitae of Stacy A. Friedman
`U.S. Patent No. 7,470,196 B1 (“Joshi”)
`European Patent Application No. EP 0 934 765 A1 (“Agasse”)
`U.S. Patent No. 5,918,013 (“Mighdoll”)
`Reserved
`Australian Patent No. 721645 (“Finlayson”)
`David Ohlson, Lasseters On-Line, “Internet Gambling” (May 6-7,
`1999).
`Access Systems PTY Ltd., Submission to The Productivity
`Commission Inquiry into Australia’s Gambling Industries (Oct.
`1998).
`U.S. Patent No. 6,874,084 (“Dobner”).
`John R. Smith et al., Content-Based Transcoding of Images in the
`Internet (1998).
`Reserved
`Complained Filed in NEXRF Corp. v. Playtika Ltd., Case No. 3:20-
`cv-604-MMD-CLB (D. Nev.)
`Henrik Frystyk Nielson, et al., Network Performance Effects of
`HTTP/1.1, CSS1, and PNG, note 24-June 1997 (“Neilson”).
`U.S. Patent No. 6,409,602 (“Wiltshire”)
`As-filed Application of U.S. Patent Application No. 09/688,501
`
`
`Exhibit
`Ex-1001
`Ex-1002
`Ex-1003
`Ex-1004
`Ex-1005
`Ex-1006
`Ex-1007
`Ex-1008
`Ex-1009
`Ex-1010
`
`Ex-1011
`
`Ex-1012
`Ex-1013
`
`Ex-1014
`Ex-1015
`
`Ex-1016
`
`Ex-1017
`Ex-1018
`
`
`
`
`
`viii
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`
`I.
`
`
`PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
`Petitioners, Playtika Ltd. and Playtika Holding Corp. (“Playtika”) request
`
`inter partes review of claims 1, 6, 7, 9, 14, 15, 17, 22, and 23 of U.S. Patent No.
`
`8,747,229 (Ex-1001) assigned to NEXRF Corp. (“NEXRF”).1
`
`
`
`The ’229 patent describes a gaming server system and a method for
`
`generating a game outcome using the system. The claimed system comprises a
`
`gaming server connected to a network access device, such as a computer or a
`
`mobile phone, via the Internet. When a player initiates a gameplay, the gaming
`
`server system uses a verification system to verify the player. Once verified, the
`
`gaming server generates a random game outcome and images corresponding to that
`
`outcome. The images are then transmitted from the gaming server to the network
`
`access device. The transmitted images may be encoded or encrypted.
`
`
`1 NEXRF asserts the ’229 patent against Petitioners in NEXRF Corp. v. Playtika
`
`Ltd., Case No. 3:20-cv-604-MMD-CLB (D. Nev.) (“Litigation”).
`
`1
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`
`’229 Patent, FIG. 2 (annotated).
`
`
`
`
`
`But the disclosed system and method were known in the prior art. Joshi (Ex-
`
`1005) discloses a system and a method of generating a game outcome like those
`
`claimed in the ’229 patent. When combined in routine and predictable ways, Joshi,
`
`Finlayson (Ex-1009), Agasse (Ex-1006), Mighdoll (Ex-1007), and Dobner (Ex-
`
`1012) render obvious all features of the challenged claims.
`
`2
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`
`Central Server
`
`Verification
`System
`Joshi, FIG. 1 (modified, annotated).
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Accordingly, the Board should institute inter partes review and cancel the
`
`challenged claims because they are unpatentable.
`
`II. THE ’229 PATENT
`Summary of ’229 Patent
`A.
`The ’229 patent is directed to a gaming server system comprising a server
`
`configured to generate a random game outcome and to transmit images
`
`corresponding to that random game outcome to a network access device, as shown
`
`in FIG. 2 below. See Ex-1001, Claim 1. The claimed gaming server system
`
`3
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`comprises (1) a verification system for verifying the identity of a player, (2) a
`
`paytable module for determining a prize associated with the random game
`
`outcome, and (3) a memory module for storing images corresponding to a random
`
`game outcome. See Ex-1001, Claim 1. The dependent claims of the ’229 patent
`
`further limit the gaming server system as comprising an encoding module for
`
`converting the images into a format meeting the requirements of the network
`
`access device, and an encryption module for encrypting the images communicated
`
`to the network access device. See Ex-1001, Claims 6 and 7. The specification
`
`states that the network access device may be a computer (FIG. 1a), a set-top box
`
`(FIG. 1b), a wireless device such as a digital phone or a personal digital system
`
`(PDA) (FIG. 1c), or slot machine (FIG. 1d), as shown in annotated FIG. 2 below.
`
`Ex-1001, 5:64-6:10.
`
`Ex-1001, FIGS 1a-1d.
`
`
`
`4
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`
`Ex-1001, FIG. 2 (annotated).
`
`
`
`As shown in FIG. 2 above, the gaming system includes a verification
`
`system with a verification server and a registration database. The verification
`
`system receives user identification information and security information from a
`
`network access device to “verif[y] that a user desiring to play the game is a
`
`5
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`registered player.” Ex-1001, 7:20-21. The user identification information includes
`
`“player name, address, user name, password, credit card information, and the date
`
`and time of the registration.” Ex-1001, 8:39-42. The security information includes
`
`“the MAC ID for biometric input module, the IP address for the server
`
`communicating with the registration terminal, and the cryptographic keys
`
`associated with the registration terminal.” Ex-1001, 11:56-60. The ’229 patent
`
`specification also discloses that the user identification information may be “housed
`
`in a smart card (not shown) that is in communication with the verification system
`
`34.” Ex-1001, 7:36-38.
`
`After a player enters a user ID and a password using a network access
`
`device, the server compares the entered data with the data stored in a player
`
`registration database. See Ex-1001, 8:36-42. The registration database stores player
`
`registration information in fields, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 below.
`
`
`
`Ex-1001, FIG 5.
`
`6
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`
`
`
`Ex-1001, FIG. 6.
`
`If the data entered by the player matches the data stored in the registration
`
`database, the player is given authorization to access the user account play a game,
`
`as shown in FIG. 9 below. See Ex-1001, 8:55-58, 12:45-48.
`
`7
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`
`Ex-1001, FIG. 9 (annotated).
`
`
`
`After the verification is complete, the gaming module of the server
`
`generates a random number using a random number generator. See Ex-1001, 13:8-
`
`13. A paytable module then compares the random number to a paytable to
`
`determine a corresponding prize. See Ex-1001, 13:23-26. The server also retrieves
`
`8
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`images corresponding to the random game outcome from a memory module and
`
`transmits them to a network access device. See Ex-1001, 10:21-32.
`
`Ex-1001, FIG. 7.
`
`
`
`As stated in the “Description of Related Art” section of the specification,
`
`most, if not all, of these elements were well known in the art at the time of the
`
`invention. For example, it states that “[n]etworked interactive gaming in an open
`
`networked environment such as the Internet is well-known” and that “[n]etworked
`
`interactive gaming using LANs and WANs for progressive slot machines having
`
`large jackpots are also well-known.” Ex-1001, 2:36-37, 51-53. It also admits that
`
`“[t]o prevent underage gambling[,] prior art systems and methods use passwords,
`
`9
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`use IDs, credit cards and ‘click-through’ agreements that ask the player to agree to
`
`being of legal gambling age by clicking on a button.” Ex-1001, 1:64-67.
`
`Furthermore, the specification states “[w]ith respect to ensuring that on-line
`
`gaming is secure and reliable, prior art systems and methods use various
`
`cryptographic techniques such as RSA encryption, digital certificates, or other
`
`similar well-known cryptographic methods.” Ex-1001, 2:2-5. The specification
`
`also admits that the claimed random number generator and paytable were well
`
`known. See Ex-1001, 1:32-42.
`
`The ’229 Patent Prosecution History
`B.
`During the prosecution of the ’229 patent, the applicant amended the claims
`
`from “gaming server” to “centralized gaming server” to clarify that it refers to a
`
`server located on the server side, not on the client side. See Ex-1002, 207 (2/1/2012
`
`Applicant Arguments/Remarks at 8). Furthermore, to overcome the examiner’s
`
`obviousness rejection, the applicant amended independent claim 21 (issued claim
`
`1) to add “the central gaming server configured to access the memory module and
`
`communicate the plurality of images corresponding to the at least one game
`
`outcome to the valid network access device.” Ex-1002, 160 (10/19/2011 Applicant
`
`Arguments/Remarks at 8). The applicant relied on this amendment to overcome the
`
`examiner’s rejection based on prior art, arguing that the cited prior art lacks “the
`
`central gaming server configured to access the memory module and communicate
`
`10
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`the plurality of images corresponding to the at least one game outcome to the valid
`
`network access device.” Ex-1002 at 209 (2/1/2012 Applicant Arguments/Remarks
`
`at 10 (emphasis in original)).
`
`III. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART
`The level of ordinary skill in the art may be reflected by the prior art of
`
`record. See Okajima v. Bourdeau, 261 F.3d 1350, 1355 (Fed. Cir. 2001). A person
`
`of ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”) for the ’229 patent would have a bachelor’s
`
`degree in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a
`
`related engineering discipline and two or more years of industry experience in the
`
`field of gaming devices and online gaming2 systems and development thereof, or
`
`equivalent experience, education, or both. The person would also have knowledge
`
`or familiarity with online application development generally.
`
`IV. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION
`Only claim terms “in controversy” need be construed in IPR “and only to the
`
`extent necessary to resolve the controversy.” Nidec Motor Corp. v. Zhongshan
`
`Broad Ocean Motor Co., 868 F.3d 1013, 1017 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (citation omitted),
`
`
`2 “For purposes of this patent, the term ‘gaming’ shall refer to either gambling
`
`and/or gaming applications.” Ex-1001, 1:27-28.
`
`11
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`cert. denied, 138 S. Ct. 1695 (2018). No claim terms need to be construed by the
`
`Board at this time.
`
`V.
`
`STATEMENT OF PRECISE RELIEF REQUESTED FOR EACH
`CLAIM CHALLENGED
`
`
`A. Claims for Which Review Is Requested
`
`
`Petitioners respectfully request review under 35 U.S.C. § 311 of claims 1, 6,
`
`7, 9, 14, 15, 17, 22, and 23 of ’229 patent and cancellation of those claims as
`
`unpatentable.
`
`Statutory Grounds
`B.
`Each asserted reference identified in the table below issued, published,
`
`and/or was filed before July 5, 2001, the earliest possible priority date of ’229
`
`patent. The ’229 patent is not entitled to the priority benefit of the provisional
`
`application because the provisional application lacks written description support
`
`for the claims. For example, the provisional application lacks written description
`
`support for at least the following elements: “a memory module,” “a paytable
`
`module,” “communicate the plurality of images corresponding to the at least one
`
`random game outcome to the at least one network access device,” and “an
`
`encoding module,” “an encryption module.” Thus, each asserted reference is prior
`
`art under at least one of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. §§ 102(a), (b), and/or (e).
`
`Prior Art References
`Joshi, U.S. Patent No. 7,470,196 B1, filed on October 16, 2000.
`
`Exhibit
`Ex-1005
`
`12
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`Exhibit
`
`Ex-1006
`
`Ex-1007
`
`Prior Art References
`Agasse, European Patent Application No. EP 0 934 765 A1, filed
`on Sept. 2, 1998, published on Nov. 8, 1999.
`Mighdoll, U.S. Patent No. 5,918,013, filed on June 3, 1996, issued
`on June 29, 1999.
`Finlayson, Australian Patent No. 721645, filed on Aug. 13, 1998,
`published on April 1, 1999.
`Dobner, U.S. Patent No. 6,874,084, filed on May 2, 2000.
`
`Claims 1, 6, 7, 9, 14, 15, 17, 22, and 23 of ’229 patent are unpatentable
`
`Ex-1009
`
`Ex-1012
`
`under the following grounds based on pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103:
`
`
`
`The Joshi Grounds (1-2) render obvious claims 1, 9, and 17 based on the
`
`following combinations: (1) Joshi; and (2) Joshi and Finlayson.
`
`
`
`The Joshi Agasse Grounds (3-4) render obvious claims 6, 7, 14, 15, 22, and
`
`23 based on adding Agasse to Grounds 1-2 above.
`
`
`
`The Joshi Mighdoll Grounds (5-6) render obvious claims 6, 14, and 22 based
`
`on adding Mighdoll to Grounds 1-2 above.
`
`
`
`The Joshi Dobner Grounds (7-8) render obvious claims 7, 15, and 23 based
`
`on adding Dobner to Grounds 1-2 above, respectively.
`
`VI. GROUNDS 1-2: THE JOSHI GROUNDS RENDER OBVIOUS
`CLAIMS 1, 9, AND 17
`Claims 1, 9, and 17 of the ’229 patent are directed to a gaming server system
`
`comprising a centralized server connected to a network access device (e.g., a
`
`computer). The gaming server system comprises a verification system for verifying
`
`13
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`the identity of a player, a memory module for retrieving images corresponding to a
`
`game outcome, and a paytable module for associating a prize with the game
`
`outcome. Joshi discloses a gaming server system comprising these elements.
`
`Additionally, Finlayson (Ground 2) discloses the conventional feature of a paytable
`
`module on the server side.
`
`A. Overview of Prior Art
`Joshi
`1.
`Like the ’229 patent, Joshi discloses a remote gaming system comprising a
`
`central server (casino server 140) and one or more remote terminals, such as
`
`personal computers or mobile telephones, that are connected to the server via the
`
`Internet. Ex-1005, Abstract, 5:1-9, 5:27-31. Although FIG. 1 shows the casino
`
`server 140 connected to slot machines, Joshi also discloses combining the casino
`
`server 140 and the slot machine game software functions into one unit, such that
`
`the casino server 140 “can generate random numbers and corresponding outcomes
`
`to be transmitted to a player via a global computer network.” Ex-1005, 11:35-40.
`
`FIG. 1 is modified below to reflect this embodiment. The modified portion is
`
`shown below in a red dotted box.
`
`14
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`
`Joshi, FIG. 1 (original)
`
`15
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`Joshi, FIG. 1 (modified, annotated).
`
`
`
`Like the ’229 patent, the remote gaming system in Joshi includes a
`
`verification system comprising the casino server and the casino player database
`
`for authorizing a player using a user ID and a password. See Ex-1005, 7:36-39,
`
`7:51-53. As shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b below, Joshi stores user identification
`
`information in the casino player database and compares the stored information
`
`with a player’s input user ID and password when the player attempts to access the
`
`casino website. See Ex-1005, 8:17-21. When the input user ID and password match
`
`with those stored in the casino player database, the player gets access to the casino
`
`website. See Ex-1005, 8:26-31.
`
`16
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`
`’
`
`
`
`Joshi, FIGS. 2a, 2b (annotated).
`
`
`
`When access is granted, a random number generator generates a random
`
`number, which is then correlated with a game outcome using a payout structure
`
`(i.e., payout table). See Ex-1005, 9:66-10:7, 10:13-17, 11:35-40. The casino server
`
`also generates a visual representation of the game outcome, such as reel positions,
`
`based on the data stored in the slot machine database. See Ex-1005, 10:13-17. The
`
`images of the game outcome are then transmitted to a network access device, such
`
`17
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`as a personal computer running a web browser to access a casino website. See Ex-
`
`1005, 11:35-44, 4:49-54, 5:27-48.
`
`
`
`Joshi is analogous art to the ’229 patent because it is from the same field of
`
`endeavor of developing a remote gaming system for playing casino games by
`
`connecting the central gaming server to one or more remote terminals for
`
`transmitting random game outcomes. Ex-1005, Abstract. Furthermore, Joshi is
`
`reasonably pertinent to the problem faced by the inventor because it discloses user
`
`and device verification features for secure and reliable online gaming experiences.
`
`Ex-1005, 7:36-41, 7:51-53, 3:50; Ex-1003, ¶55.
`
`Finlayson
`2.
`Although Joshi discloses a remote gaming system comprising a paytable
`
`module on the server side, if the Patent Owner argues that it does not, Finlayson
`
`discloses it.
`
`Finlayson is directed to a device for playing a slot machine game, in which a
`
`game server generates a random game outcome and sends it to a browser in a
`
`player’s computer via the Internet network. Ex-1009, 2, 4, 6. It discloses that when
`
`a user logs onto a game website on a browser, the browser displays “a three reel
`
`machine having a pull handle.” Ex-1009, 4. When a user clicks on a button
`
`displayed on the browser, the browser sends a request for a ticket to the server. Ex-
`
`1009, 6. In response, the server generates a random number to determine a game
`
`18
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`outcome. Id. Finlayson discloses that “[t]he pay out, including bonus (if any and
`
`as explained below) is determined by the game server by using random
`
`number(s) in a specific algorithm to determine if a win is achieved. If so, a pay
`
`table is used to determine the pay out.” Id. Then, the game server sends a ticket
`
`containing the game outcome information back to the browser. Ex-1009, 6. The
`
`browser applet decodes the information contained in the ticket and displays
`
`appropriate images corresponding to the game outcome. Id.
`
`Finlayson is analogous art because it is from the same field of endeavor of
`
`developing a remote gaming system for playing casino games by connecting a
`
`server to one or more client devices for transmitting random game outcomes. Id.
`
`Furthermore, Finlayson is reasonably pertinent to the problem faced by the
`
`inventor because it discloses placing the payout table on the server to determine a
`
`payout for a random game outcome. Id.; Ex-1003, ¶58.
`
`a. Motivation to Combine
`A POSITA would have been motivated to combine Joshi and Finlayson to
`
`arrive at a gaming server system comprising a paytable module on the server. Joshi
`
`discloses that, like a slot machine, a slot machine database contains a payout table
`
`to correlate a payout received from the slot machine to a possible set of reel
`
`positions. See Ex-1005, 9:66-10:7; Ex-1003, ¶59. It also discloses that the casino
`
`server can house a random number generator and generate a random game
`
`19
`
`
`
`IPR2021-00951 Petition
`U.S. Patent No. 8,747,229
`outcome. See Ex-1005 at 11:35-40. Based on these disclosures, a POSITA would
`
`understand that when the casino server acts as a slot machine, the casino server
`
`accesses a slot machine database that maintains a payout table to correlate the
`
`random number with a payout. Ex-1003, ¶59. Therefore, combining Finlayson’s
`
`payout table located on the server with Joshi’s remote gaming system would have
`
`been combining prior art elements according to known methods to yield
`
`predictable results (i.e., a server-side generation of a random game outcome). Id.
`
`Moreover, moving the payout table from the slot machine to the casino server in
`
`Joshi would have been a simple substitution of a known element for another (i.e., a
`
`server-side payout table) to obtain predictable results. Id. Also, given that there are
`
`only two possible locations for the payout table (server or client)