throbber

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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`____________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`____________
`
`GOOGLE LLC, MICROSOFT CORPORATION,
`Petitioners,
`
`v.
`
`CAROLYN W. HAFEMAN,
`Patent Owner.
`____________
`
`Case IPR2022-01189
`Patent 10,325,122
`____________
`
`
`Case IPR2022-01191
`Patent 10,789,393
`____________
`
`
`Case IPR2022-01193
`Patent 9,892,287
`____________
`
`
`
`DECLARATION OF DR. SCOTT SCHAEFER
`
`
`
`HAFEMAN EXHIBIT 2040
`
`

`

`I.
`
`Introduction
`
`1. My name is Scott Schaefer. I have been retained as an expert witness
`
`to provide my independent opinion in regard to the matters at issue in the inter
`
`partes reviews of United States Patent Nos. 9,892,287 (the “’287 patent”),
`
`10,325,122 (the “’122 patent”), and 10,789,393 (the “’393 patent”) (together, the
`
`“Challenged Patents”). I have been retained by Carolyn W. Hafeman
`
`(“Hafeman”), the Patent Owner in the above proceedings. The Petitioners are
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`Google LLC and Microsoft Corporation (“Petitioner”).
`
`2.
`
`I am being compensated for my time at the hourly rate of $500 per
`
`hour. My compensation does not depend on my conclusions or the outcome of this
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`case, and I have no other interest in this litigation or the parties thereto.
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`3.
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`I am not a legal expert and offer no opinions on the law. However, I
`
`have been informed by counsel of the various legal standards that apply, and I have
`
`applied those standards in arriving at my conclusion.
`
`II.
`
`Qualifications
`
`4.
`
`I received a B.S. in Computer Science and Mathematics in 2000 from
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`Trinity University. Afterwards, I attended Rice University and received an M.S. in
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`Computer Science in 2003 and a Ph.D. in Computer Science in 2006.
`
`5.
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`In 2006, I began a faculty position at Texas A&M University as an
`
`Assistant Professor. I was promoted to Associate Professor in 2012 and to Full
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`HAFEMAN EXHIBIT 2040
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`Professor in 2016. I served as the person in charge of accreditation for our
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`Computer Science degree from 2013-2017. I became Associate Department Head
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`of the Department of Computer Science & Engineering in 2017 and I was
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`appointed Department Head in 2019, a role in which I have served since that time.
`
`6.
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`In 2019, I was awarded the Eppright Professorship in Engineering and
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`was named the holder of the Lynn ‘83 and Bill Crane ‘84 Department Head Chair
`
`in 2020.
`
`7.
`
`I have been awarded multiple awards for my teaching and research
`
`activities. I was named a member of the 2008 DARPA Computer Science Study
`
`Panel. I was awarded the Gunter Enderle Award in 2011 for my research. In
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`2012, I received an NSF CAREER Award for my research work. My research was
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`subsequently recognized in 2015 when I was named the Herbert H. Richardson
`
`Faculty Fellow by the College of Engineering. I was also awarded the 2019 TEES
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`Research Impact Award to recognize significant contributions and impact in the
`
`area of research. In addition to these awards, I have received multiple best paper
`
`awards for my research in the past.
`
`8.
`
`I have received multiple teaching awards from the Computer Science
`
`& Engineering department for teaching excellence over the years. In 2017, I was
`
`awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching at the College level.
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`HAFEMAN EXHIBIT 2040
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`In 2019, I was awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching at the
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`University level, one of the highest university honors that is awarded.
`
`9.
`
`In addition to my academic experience, I have worked for a number of
`
`companies in different capacities. Before becoming involved in academia, I was
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`employed by Southwest Research Institute to work on radio direction finding
`
`algorithms for the U.S. Navy in 1999-2000. I worked at WholeBrain Media on
`
`early mobile development from 1997-1999 including network communications. At
`
`Rare Medium, I performed what is now called full stack development and
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`developed e-commerce platforms for various companies in 2000. I spent time at
`
`SensAble Technologies in 2003 developing implicit modeling algorithms for their
`
`haptic feedback system. In 2004, I was also employed by a startup company called
`
`Mok3 that was developed out of MIT to work on core computer vision algorithms
`
`for their image-based modeling software. I was also employed by Microsoft
`
`Research as an intern in 2005 and subsequently as a visiting researcher in 2006
`
`where we worked on a number of surface modeling methods in computer graphics.
`
`My work at Microsoft Research motivated the inclusion of what is now called the
`
`tessellator unit in DirectX 11, which is an application programming interface
`
`(“API”) that governs the relationship between multimedia hardware. Every
`
`graphics card produced since 2009 has been influenced by my work there.
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`HAFEMAN EXHIBIT 2040
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`10. My research broadly lies in the field of computer graphics, though I
`
`have worked in many areas of Computer Science as is evidenced by my
`
`background. My research has been implemented by a number of companies
`
`including Microsoft, Pixar, Adobe, and Nvidia. In addition, my work on
`
`architectural optimization to create surfaces out of small numbers of discrete
`
`panels was used to design and construct a ski lift in Switzerland.
`
`11.
`
`In addition, I have served as an Associate or Guest Editor for a
`
`number of journals including Graphical Models, The Visual Computer, Computer
`
`Aided Design, Computer Aided Geometric Design, Transactions on Visualization
`
`and Computer Graphics, Computer Graphics and Applications, and ACM
`
`Transactions on Graphics. In addition to this service I have served as papers chair
`
`for most major computer science conferences in my area. I also serve on the
`
`steering committee of the Geometric Modeling and Processing conference.
`
`12.
`
`In terms of instruction, I teach and have developed courses on a
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`variety of topics in Computer Science. I have taught courses in computer graphics,
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`geometric modeling, game development, data structures and algorithms, as well as
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`both our lower level and upper-level undergraduate seminar courses.
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`13. A detailed curriculum vitae showing my credentials is attached to this
`
`report as Error! Reference source not found.A.
`
`HAFEMAN EXHIBIT 2040
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`

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`III.
`
`Summary of Opinions
`
`14.
`
`In my opinion, Hafeman is entitled to a priority date of September 20,
`
`2004 based on her filing of U.S. Patent Application No. 10/945,332, published as
`
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0071670, now U.S. Patent No. 8,601,606.
`
`15. The Challenged Claims do not lack written description because the
`
`’332 Application fully disclosed the remote initiating of return or recovery
`
`information.
`
`16. The Challenged Claims are entitled to a priority date of September 20,
`
`2004.
`
`17. The Challenged Claims were not rendered obvious by the
`
`combination of Hafeman 298 and Chiu, and a POSITA would not have been
`
`motivated to combine Hafeman 298 and Chiu.
`
`IV.
`
`Legal Principles
`
`18.
`
`I am not an attorney. For purposes of this report, I have been
`
`informed by counsel of the following legal standards that apply to the issues I
`
`address in this declaration.
`
`19.
`
`I am not offering any legal opinions in this declaration nor am I
`
`qualified to do so. I only consider such legal standards in framing my opinions and
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`conclusions as well as placing assertions made by Petitioner in the Petition into the
`
`proper context. Additionally, from a subject matter perspective, I understand that
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`HAFEMAN EXHIBIT 2040
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`the petitioner always has the burden of persuasion regarding a challenge of
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`patentability of an invention under an inter partes review.
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`20.
`
`I understand that an inventor establishes priority of an invention by
`
`conceiving of the invention and reducing the invention to practice.
`
`21.
`
`I understand that a patent application may establish priority of
`
`invention when it supports all elements of the Challenged Claims.
`
`22.
`
`I understand that invalidation by anticipation occurs only when a
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`single alleged prior art reference discloses each and every limitation of the claim at
`
`issue, either expressly or inherently. In other words, every limitation of the claim
`
`must identically appear in a single prior art reference for the reference to anticipate
`
`that claim. I also understand that all elements of the claim must be disclosed in the
`
`reference as they are arranged in the claim.
`
`23.
`
`I understand that to be considered anticipatory, the prior art reference
`
`must be enabling and must describe the patentee’s claimed invention sufficiently to
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`have placed it in possession of a person of ordinary skill in the field of the
`
`invention.
`
`24.
`
`I understand that a claim may be anticipated under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)
`
`if “that invention was known or used by others in this country or patented or
`
`described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country, before that invention
`
`thereof by the applicant for patent.” I further understand that a claim may be
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`anticipated under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) if the claimed invention was patented or
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`described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country or in public use or on
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`sale in this country, more than one year prior to the date of the application for a
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`patent in the United States.
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`25.
`
`I understand that patent may be rendered “obvious” based on an
`
`alleged prior art reference or a combination of such references plus what a person
`
`of ordinary skill in the art would understand based on his or her knowledge and the
`
`references. I understand that a patent cannot be properly granted for subject matter
`
`that would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of
`
`the alleged invention, and that a patent claim directed to such obvious subject
`
`matter is invalid under 35 U.S.C. § 103. It also is my current understanding that in
`
`assessing the obviousness of claimed subject matter, one should evaluate
`
`obviousness over the prior art from the perspective of one of ordinary skill in the
`
`art at the time of the invention.
`
`26.
`
`I understand that a patent claim composed of several elements is not
`
`proved obvious merely by demonstrating that each of its elements was
`
`independently known in the prior art. But multiple prior art references or elements
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`may, in some circumstances, be combined to render a patent claim obvious,
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`provided that the references collectively disclose expressly or inherently every
`
`limitation of the challenged claim. I understand that I should consider two factors.
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`HAFEMAN EXHIBIT 2040
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`First, I should consider whether there is an “apparent reason” to combine the prior
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`art references or elements in the way the patent claims. Requiring a reason for the
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`prior art combination protects against the distortion caused by hindsight. Along the
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`same lines, one cannot use the patent as a blueprint to piece together the prior art in
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`order to combine the right ones in the right way as to create the claimed inventions.
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`To determine whether such an “apparent reason” exists to combine the prior art
`
`references or elements in the way a patent claims, it will often be necessary to look
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`to the interrelated teachings of multiple patents, to the effects of demands known to
`
`the design community or present in the marketplace, and to the background
`
`knowledge possessed by a person having ordinary skill in the art. Second, I should
`
`consider whether the combination would work for its intended purpose to achieve
`
`the claimed invention. If a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that
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`the references could not be physically combined in an operational manner because
`
`they are technically incompatible, it would not be obvious to combine them to
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`practice the invention even if the references collectively disclosed all the
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`limitations of a challenged claim.
`
`27.
`
`I understand that when the prior art “teaches away” from combining
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`prior art references or certain known elements, discovery of a successful means of
`
`combining them is less likely to be obvious. A prior art reference may be said to
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`“teach away” from a patent when a person of ordinary skill, upon reading the
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`reference, would be discouraged from following the path set out in the patent or
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`would be led in a direction divergent from the path that was taken by the patent.
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`28.
`
`I understand that the question of obviousness is to be determined
`
`based on:
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`a. The scope and content of the prior art;
`
`b. The differences between the subject matter of the claim and the prior
`
`art (whereby in assessing the possibility of obviousness one should
`
`consider the manner in which a patentee and/or a Court has construed
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`the scope of a claim);
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`c. The level of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the alleged invention
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`of the subject matter of the claim; and
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`d. Any relevant objective factors or secondary considerations of non-
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`obviousness, which may include commercial success of a product using
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`the invention, if that commercial success is due to the invention; long-
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`felt need for the invention; evidence of copying of the claimed
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`invention; industry acceptance; the taking of licenses under the patent
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`by others; initial skepticism; failure of others; and praise of the
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`invention.
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`29.
`
`I understand that when a patentee can demonstrate commercial
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`success, usually shown by significant sales in a relevant market, and that the
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`successful product is the invention disclosed and claimed in the patent, it is
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`presumed that the commercial success is due to the patented invention. I also
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`understand that courts may find the commercial success of the infringer and other
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`members of the industry persuasive even though the patentee was not successful
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`with a product covered by the patent.
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`30.
`
`I understand that a need or problem known in the field at the time of
`
`an invention can provide an obvious reason to combine elements in the manner
`
`claimed. A patent’s subject matter would have been obvious if at the time of that
`
`invention, there was a known problem for which the patent claims encompassed an
`
`obvious solution. Further, if a patent claims a structure known in the prior art that
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`only substitutes one element for another that is known in the field, I understand
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`that the combination would have been obvious unless the result is unexpected and
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`fruitful. Therefore, a predictable variation of prior art is obvious.
`
`31.
`
`It is also my understanding that if a technique was used to improve a
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`device or method, and if a person of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that
`
`the technique would improve similar devices or methods in the same way, using
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`the technique is obvious unless applying it is beyond the person’s skill.
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`32.
`
`It is my further understanding that an alleged improvement claimed in
`
`a particular patent must do more than use prior art elements according to their
`
`established functions.
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`33.
`
`It is my additional understanding that items may have obvious uses
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`beyond their primary purposes. Thus, as stated by the U.S. Supreme Court,
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`“common sense teaches … that familiar items may have obvious uses beyond their
`
`primary purposes, and in many cases a person of ordinary skill will be able to fit
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`the teachings of multiple patents together like pieces of a puzzle.” KSR Int’l Co. v.
`
`Teleflex Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 420 (2007). I understand that neither a particular
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`motivation nor an avowed purpose of a patentee controls how a piece of prior art
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`may be used.
`
`34.
`
`I also understand that if a combination was obvious to try, it may be
`
`obvious. I understand that obviousness is therefore not confined to a formalistic
`
`conception of “teaching, suggestion, and motivation” or by overemphasizing
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`published publications and the explicit content of issued patents.
`
`35.
`
`It is my further understanding that multiple prior art references can be
`
`combined to show that a claim is obvious. To determine whether there was an
`
`apparent reason to combine those references in the way a patent claims, it is my
`
`understanding that I can look to interrelated teachings of multiple patents, to the
`
`effects of demands known to the design community or present in the marketplace,
`
`and/or to the background knowledge possessed by a person of ordinary skill in the
`
`art. I also understand that neither a particular motivation nor the alleged purpose of
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`the patentee controls that investigation of obviousness.
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`36.
`
`I am also aware that another way to decide whether one of ordinary
`
`skill in the art would combine what is described in various items of prior art is
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`whether there is some teaching, suggestion, or motivation in the prior art for a
`
`skilled person to make the combination covered by the patent claims. It is my
`
`further understanding that the analysis of a motivation to combine must be explicit
`
`37.
`
`I am also aware that references that teach away cannot serve to create
`
`a prima facie case of obviousness. A reference is said to reach away when a
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`POSITA, upon reading the reference, would be discouraged from following the
`
`path set out in the reference or would be led in a direction divergent from the path
`
`that was taken by the applicant.
`
`38.
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`I understand that in developing opinions as to whether or not certain
`
`claimed subject matter would have been obvious, each claim of a given patent
`
`should be considered in its entirety and separately from any other claims. In so
`
`doing, it is my further understanding that while I should consider any differences
`
`between the claimed invention and the prior art, I should also assess the
`
`obviousness or non-obviousness of the entirety of a claim covering an alleged
`
`invention, not merely some portion of it.
`
`39.
`
`I understand that patent specification must contain a written
`
`description of the invention sufficient to allow a person of ordinary skill in the art
`
`to recognize that the inventor invented what is claimed. I understand that the test
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`for sufficiency of the written description is whether the disclosure of the
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`application relied upon reasonably conveys to those skilled in the art that the
`
`inventor had possession of the claimed subject matter as of the filing date.
`
`40.
`
`I understand that in analyzing whether a patent specification provides
`
`sufficient written description of a claim, I must consider the description from the
`
`viewpoint of one of skill in the art when the application was filed. The written
`
`description requirement is satisfied if a person having ordinary skill reading the
`
`original patent application would have recognized that it describes the full scope of
`
`the claimed invention as it is finally claimed in the issued patent and that the
`
`inventor actually possessed that full scope by the filing date of the original
`
`application.
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`41.
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`I understand that the written description requirement may be satisfied
`
`by any combination of the words, structures, figures, diagrams, formulas, etc.,
`
`contained in the patent application. The full scope of a claim or any particular
`
`requirement in a claim need not be expressly disclosed in the original patent
`
`application if a person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing would
`
`have understood that the full scope or missing requirement is in the written
`
`description in the patent application.
`
`42.
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`I understand that my interpretation of the patent claims and my
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`validity analysis must be undertaken from the perspective of a hypothetical person
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`of ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”). In determining the characteristics of a
`
`hypothetical person having ordinary skill in the art of the patent at the time of the
`
`claimed invention, I considered several things, including the type of problems
`
`encountered in the art, the solutions to those problems, the rapidity with which
`
`innovations are made, the sophistication of the technology, and the education level
`
`and experience of people working in the field.
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`43. Based on my experience, it is my opinion that a person of ordinary
`
`skill in the art at the time of the invention of the Challenged Patents would have
`
`had a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or a related field, and two years of
`
`experience working in the field of software development. An individual with less
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`technical education but more experience, or vice versa, could also qualify as a
`
`person of ordinary skill in the art.
`
`44.
`
`I consider myself a person with at least ordinary skill in the art with
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`respect to the Challenged Patents at the time of their priority dates.
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`45. My opinions as stated in this declaration are valid even if the Board
`
`adopts a different definition of the level of ordinary skill in the art (e.g., Dr.
`
`Zadok’s proposed definition or the Board’s definition in the Institution Decisions).
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`V.
`
`Overview of the Asserted References
`
`A. Hafeman 298
`
`46. Hafeman 298 is a now-abandoned patent application that bears
`
`similarity to the Challenged Patents. Hafeman 298 discloses a return/recovery
`
`system for the return of lost or stolen computers using a recovery screen that
`
`appears during or after boot-up.1 The recovery screen displays “ownership
`
`information concerning who owns the computer and return information for
`
`returning the computer to the owner” from “data stored in the memory.”2 The
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`display of return information is preferably before satisfying a security prompt such
`
`as entering a password into the computer.3
`
`B. Chiu
`
`47. Chiu is a BlackBerry patent that discloses a system for remote control
`
`of mobile communication devices. The mobile device is associated with an event
`
`driven redirection computer program operating at a host (desktop) computer that
`
`redirects data items from the host system to the mobile device upon sensing a
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`particular user-defined event has occurred.4 Chiu indicates that data items such as
`
`e-mail messages, calendar events, meeting notifications, address entries, journal
`
`entries, and personal reminders may be stored at the host system and pushed to the
`
`1 Hafeman 298 ¶ 15.
`2 Hafeman 298 ¶ 15.
`3 Hafeman 298 ¶ 32.
`4 Chiu ¶ 2.
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`mobile device in response to a triggering event at the host system.5 These events
`
`might be external such as sensing the user is no longer in the vicinity of the host
`
`system or internal such as a calendar alarm, screen saver activation, keyboard
`
`timeout, or programmable timer.6
`
`48. Chiu also discloses that an owner “may wish to exercise some
`
`controls over the use of devices 24 and redirection of other device surfaces” to
`
`“control access to both the information stored on its devices and the functions
`
`supported by the devices.”7 Chiu indicates that different control messages could
`
`disable a device to render it totally or partially inoperable to a user, resetting an
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`existing device password, setting a new device password, or locking a device.8
`
`Chiu indicates that a message to completely disable the device would destroy all
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`data on the device and disable all functionality on the device with a predetermined
`
`or administrator composed text message to be displayed on the screen of a disabled
`
`device.9
`
`49. While Chiu is not primarily about recovering lost devices, one
`
`sentence mentions that a “display message as described above may also indicate
`
`5 Chiu ¶¶ 23, 25.
`6 Chiu ¶ 25.
`7 Chiu ¶ 92.
`8 Chiu ¶ 93.
`9 Chiu ¶ 101.
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`that the device is lost and to whom or where it should be returned.”10 However, the
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`display of the message is displayed in the context of a remote disable command,
`
`which destroys the data on a device or renders the device inoperable.11 There is no
`
`indication that the display of the message is before/with a lock screen or that a lock
`
`screen even exists since the device is disabled and potentially has had all data
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`wiped.
`
`C. Hafeman 670
`
`50. Hafeman 670 is the publication of Hafeman’s ’332 Application, filed
`
`on September 20, 2004. The Challenged Patents each claim priority to the ’332
`
`Application and contain an identical specification (except for the claims) as the
`
`’332 Application.
`
`VI.
`
`The Challenged Claims Were Not Rendered Obvious by Hafeman 298
`in View of Chiu.
`
`51. Petitioner argues that the Challenged Claims were rendered obvious
`
`by the combination of Hafeman 298 and Chiu. I disagree.
`
`52.
`
`In my opinion, Petitioner’s proposed combination does not support
`
`remotely initiating or changing return/recovery information without assistance by a
`
`user.
`
`10 Chiu ¶ 102.
`11 Chiu ¶ 101.
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`a. Petitioner acknowledges that the application that published as
`
`Hafeman 298 did not disclose remotely initiating or changing
`
`return/recovery information.12 Thus, Petitioner must show that Chiu
`
`discloses initiating or changing return information through remote
`
`communication.
`
`b. Chiu does not disclose this limitation. Chiu teaches that the message
`
`is “predetermined” and is stored on the remote device.13 Chiu does
`
`not teach a way to change the message that is displayed. Moreover,
`
`once Chiu’s disable control message is processed, all communication
`
`ability has been shut down and the device cannot receive later
`
`communications.14
`
`53.
`
`In my opinion, a POSITA would not have been motivated to combine
`
`Hafeman 298 with Chiu.
`
`a. As discussed above, only one sentence of Chiu mentions adding a
`
`display message to indicate that a device is lost.15 However, this
`
`message appears in the context of destroying all of the data on the
`
`device and then displaying the message. Hafeman 298 was not
`
`12 IPR2022-01189 Pet., 28 (“Hafeman 670 contains new matter relating to remotely changing the return/recovery
`information with an interactive program … that was not disclosed or described in the original disclosure of Hafeman
`298”); IPR2022-01191 Pet., 28 (same); IPR2022-01193 Pet., 28 (same).
`13 Chiu ¶¶ 101, 103, 109.
`14 Chiu ¶ 103.
`15 Chiu ¶ 102.
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`directed at destroying device data and, in my opinion, a POSITA
`
`would not connect displaying a message after data destruction with
`
`displaying a message before or with the lock screen without user
`
`assistance.
`
`b. In addition, whereas Chiu teaches disabling the communications
`
`functions of a device, Hafeman 298 requires a network connection to
`
`change the ownership information. Thus, the systems would not be
`
`compatible together.
`
`54. Chiu is a redirection system that is geared toward synchronizing a
`
`mobile device with a host system. Petitioner fails to explain how a reference for
`
`synchronizing a mobile device with a host system could be combined with
`
`Hafeman 298, which describes initiating return/recovery information before or
`
`with a security prompt, or why a POSITA would have any motivation to combine
`
`such references.
`
`VII.
`
`Because the Challenged Claims Are Entitled to a Priority Date of
`September 20, 2004, Hafeman 670 and Hafeman 298 Are Not Prior Art.
`
`55.
`
`I understand that Petitioner claims that Hafeman is not entitled to
`
`priority based on the ’332 Application for only one reason: an alleged lack of
`
`support for “initiating . . . [return/recovery] information through remote
`
`HAFEMAN EXHIBIT 2040
`
`

`

`communication.”16 In my opinion, the ’332 Application fully disclosed remote
`
`initiating as recited in the Challenged Claims.
`
`56. This limitation is present in each of the Challenged Claims, either
`
`directly for the independent claims, or via dependence for the dependent claims.
`
`57. The ’332 Application uses the word “initiate,” making clear that the
`
`owner can “initiate a download of changes to the protected equipment.”17
`
`58. During prosecution of the ’332 Application, Hafeman amended the
`
`claim language “changing recovery information” to read “initiating and changing
`
`recovery information.”18 Hafeman explained that “support for . . . the amendment
`
`to the claims is found on page 31, line 2 regarding the owner ‘initiating’
`
`limitation.”19
`
`59. The patent examiner accepted this amendment without objection.20 I
`
`understand that by accepting the amendment, the patent examiner necessarily
`
`concluded that remote initiating was supported by the original ’332 Application.
`
`60.
`
`I understand that Petitioner claims that this disclosure stating “initiate
`
`a download of changes” relates only to remote changing of return or recovery
`
`information and not remote initiating a download of changes. I disagree. In
`
`16 IPR2022-01189 Pet., 15; IPR2022-01191 Pet., 15; IPR2022-01193 Pet., 15.
`17 Ex. 1012, 37 (31:2-3).
`18 Ex. 1012, 115.
`19 Ex. 1012, 123.
`20 Ex. 1012, 129-38.
`
`HAFEMAN EXHIBIT 2040
`
`

`

`computer operations, “initiate” is well understood as causing an action or process
`
`to begin and a POSITA reading this disclosure would understand that the
`
`Challenged Claims can “initiate,” or begin, the process of changing return/recovery
`
`information through remote communication.
`
`61. Changing in some ways is very much linked to initiating. If, for
`
`example, the “download of changes” does not successfully reach completion and
`
`the changes are not made or made at a later time, the owner of the device would
`
`still be “initiating” return/recovery information “through remote communication”
`
`without “changing” such information. Thus, this disclosure in the ’332 Application
`
`supports the well accepted understanding of “remote initiating” to those skilled in
`
`the art.
`
`62.
`
`In addition to the use of the term “initiat[ing],” several other portions
`
`of the ’332 Application provide support for the owner remotely initiating the
`
`display of return or recovery information:
`
`a. The ’332 Application states that “remote communication ability” made
`
`Hafeman’s invention “completely unique and very different” from prior
`
`art.21 The remote communication of return or recovery information
`
`21 Ex. 1012, 37 (31:21-23).
`
`HAFEMAN EXHIBIT 2040
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`

`

`enabled by Hafeman’s invention included “[s]atellite, WI-FI, cable,
`
`bluetooth, or any other type of remote communication.”22
`
`b. The ’332 Application explains that the owner “control[s] the recovery
`
`information displayed by remote.”23 The owner can “control the entire
`
`recovery screen, and even override the ‘assigned to’ person’s input.”24
`
`For example, this control “allows the owner to eliminate erroneous or
`
`misleading ‘assigned to’ recovery information that might have been
`
`created by the rogue ‘assigned to’ individual, replace the display 18
`
`screen with correct owner recovery information and even change or
`
`delete the ‘assigned to’ password to stop access to the equipment
`
`information.”25 In my opinion, a POSITA would understand that
`
`“control[ing] the entire recovery screen” by “remote” encompasses not
`
`just remotely changing return or recovery information, but also
`
`remotely initiating return or recovery information.
`
`c. The ’332 Application further specifies that the owner controls the
`
`recovery screen by “interactively enter[ing], chang[ing][,] and
`
`22 Ex. 1012, 43 (37:17-19); see also Ex. 1012, 37 (31:7:11) (“The [invention] allows the owner to make changes at the
`recovery center level, have the recovery center attempt to communicate those changes to the ‘stolen equipment’ via
`phone line (or cable, wi-fi, bluetooth, satellite etc. in the future).”).
`23 Ex. 1012, 38 (32:7).
`24 Ex. 1012, 37 (31:3-5); see also Ex. 1012, 38, (32:9-13) (“The ‘owner’ can control both the owner information and
`all the ‘assigned to’ recovery information at the recovery enter level, and then attempt to communicate this to the
`protected equipment using the Retriever licensed security recovery program.”)
`25 Ex. 1012, 37 (31:12-16).
`
`HAFEMAN EXHIBIT 2040
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`

`

`updat[ing] [return or recovery information] at anytime.”26 The ’332
`
`Application reiterates that return or recovery information would be
`
`“interactively inputted by the owner, and the owner would have control
`
`over how much recovery information is displayed.”27 In my opinion, a
`
`POSITA would understand
`
`that “interactively enter[ing]” or
`
`“interactively input[ting]” return or recovery information encompasses
`
`remotely initiating return or recovery information.
`
`63. Petitioner claims that the ’332 Application only refers to locally
`
`initiating return/recovery information and that the references to remote
`
`communicati

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