UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC,
`Petitioner
`v.
`
`NEO WIRELESS, LLC
`Patent Owner
`
`Case (to be assigned)
`U.S. Patent No. 10,965,512
`
`PETITION FOR
`INTER PARTES REVIEW OF U.S. PATENT NO. 10,965,512
`UNDER 35 U.S.C. §§ 311-319 AND 37 C.F.R. §§42.100 et seq.
`
` Filed on behalf of Petitioner:
`Celine Jimenez Crowson (Reg. No. 40,357)
`Joseph Raffetto (Reg. No. 66,218)
`Scott Hughes (Reg. No. 68,385)
`Helen Y. Trac (Reg. No. 62,250)
`HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP
`555 13th Street N.W.
`Washington, D.C. 20004
`Telephone: 202.637.5600
`Facsimile: 202.637.5710
`
`

`

`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`V.
`
`C.
`
`VI.
`
`Page
`INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1
`I.
`II. MANDATORY NOTICES (37 C.F.R. §42.8(A)(1)) ...................................... 2
`III. GROUNDS FOR STANDING (37 c.F.R. §42.104(A)) .................................. 5
`IV.
`IDENTIFICATION OF CHALLENGE (37 C.F.R. §42.104(B)) ................... 5
`A.
`Citation of Prior Art .............................................................................. 5
`B.
`Statutory Grounds for the Challenge ..................................................... 6
`TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW........................................................................ 7
`A.
`OFDMA Systems Were Well-Known .................................................. 7
`B.
`Communicating Various Pilots Signals Between Base Stations and
`Mobile Stations Was Well-Known ....................................................... 8
`OFDM/OFDMA Cellular Systems Implemented Pilot Symbols for
`Channel Estimation and Data Recovery ............................................... 8
`D.
`Beamforming Was Well-Known ........................................................... 9
`THE ’512 PATENT ......................................................................................... 9
`A.
`Summary of the ’512 Patent .................................................................. 9
`B.
`Prosecution History Summary ............................................................ 11
`C.
`Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art ....................................................... 11
`D.
`Claim Construction.............................................................................. 12
`VII. OVERVIEW OF THE APPLIED REFERENCES ....................................... 12
`A.
`Kim ...................................................................................................... 12
`B.
`Ketchum .............................................................................................. 15
`C.
`Tong ..................................................................................................... 16
`D.
`Smee .................................................................................................... 17
`VIII. GROUNDS OF UNPATENTABILITY ........................................................ 17
`A.
`Ground 1: The combination of Kim and Tong renders obvious claims
`1-30. ..................................................................................................... 18
`1.
`A POSA would have been motivated to combine Kim and Tong
` ................................................................................................... 18
`Independent Claim 1. ................................................................ 23
`
`2.
`
`- i -
`
`

`

`(a)
`
`(b)
`
`(c)
`
`(d)
`
`(e)
`
`(f)
`
`(g)
`
`[1.P]: An orthogonal frequency division multiple access
`(OFDMA)-compatible base station that uses subcarriers
`in a frequency domain and time slots in a time domain,
`the OFDMA-compatible base station comprising: ......... 23
`[1.1] a plurality of antennas; and a transmitter operably
`coupled to the plurality of antennas; .............................. 24
`[1.2] the transmitter configured to: insert first pilots of a
`first type onto a first plurality of subcarriers, wherein the
`first pilots are cell-specific pilots; and ............................ 25
`[1.3] insert data and second pilots of a second type onto a
`second plurality of subcarriers;....................................... 28
`[1.4] wherein at least some subcarriers of the first
`plurality of subcarriers or the second plurality of
`subcarriers are beam-formed; and .................................. 33
`[1.5] the plurality of antennas configured to transmit the
`first plurality of subcarriers and the second plurality of
`subcarriers in at least one of the time slots; .................... 34
`[1.6] wherein the second type is different than the first
`type and wherein the first pilots do not interfere with the
`second pilots. .................................................................. 36
`Independent Claim 8 ................................................................. 37
`(a)
`[8.P] A method performed by an orthogonal frequency
`division multiple access (OFDMA)- compatible base
`station that uses subcarriers in a frequency domain and
`time slots in a time domain, the method comprising: ..... 37
`[8.1] inserting, by the OFDMA-compatible base station,
`first pilots of a first type onto a first plurality of
`subcarriers, wherein the first pilots are cell-specific
`pilots; .............................................................................. 37
`[8.2] inserting, by the OFDMA-compatible base station,
`data and second pilots of a second type onto a second
`plurality of subcarriers; ................................................... 38
`[8.3] wherein at least some subcarriers of the first
`plurality of subcarriers or the second plurality of
`subcarriers are beam-formed; and .................................. 38
`[8.4] transmitting, by the OFDMA-compatible base
`
`(d)
`
`3.
`
`(b)
`
`(c)
`
`(e)
`
`- ii -
`
`

`

`(f)
`
`(b)
`(c)
`
`(d)
`
`station, the first plurality of subcarriers and the second
`plurality of subcarriers in at least one of the time slots
`using a plurality of antennas; .......................................... 38
`[8.5] wherein the second type is different than the first
`type and wherein the first pilots do not interfere with the
`second pilots. .................................................................. 38
`Independent Claim 15 ............................................................... 39
`(a)
`[15.P] An orthogonal frequency division multiple access
`(OFDMA)-compatible mobile station that uses
`subcarriers in a frequency domain and time slots in a
`time domain, the OFDMA-compatible mobile station
`comprising: ..................................................................... 39
`[15.1] at least one antenna; and a receiver; and ............. 39
`[15.2] the at least one antenna and the receiver are
`configured to: receive first pilots of a first type on a first
`plurality of subcarriers, wherein the first pilots are cell-
`specific pilots; and .......................................................... 40
`[15.3] receive second pilots of a second type and data on
`a second plurality of subcarriers, wherein the first
`plurality of subcarriers and the second plurality of
`subcarriers are received in at least one of the time slots;
` ........................................................................................ 41
`[15.4] wherein at least some subcarriers of the first
`plurality of subcarriers or the second plurality of
`subcarriers are beam-formed; and .................................. 41
`[15.5] the receiver is further configured to: recover the
`data using channel estimates from at least the second
`pilots; and ........................................................................ 41
`[15.6] recover cell-specific information using the cell-
`specific pilots; ................................................................. 44
`[15.7] wherein the second type is different than the first
`type and wherein the first pilots do not interfere with the
`second pilots. .................................................................. 45
`Independent Claim 23 ............................................................... 45
`(a)
`[23.P] A method performed by an orthogonal frequency
`division multiple access (OFDMA)- compatible mobile
`
`(e)
`
`(f)
`
`(g)
`
`(h)
`
`- iii -
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`

`

`(c)
`
`(d)
`
`(b)
`
`station that uses subcarriers in a frequency domain and
`time slots in a time domain, the method comprising: ..... 45
`[23.1] receiving first pilots of a first type on a first
`plurality of subcarriers, wherein the first pilots are cell-
`specific pilots; ................................................................. 45
`[23.2] receiving second pilots of a second type and data
`on a second plurality of subcarriers, wherein the first
`plurality of subcarriers and the second plurality of
`subcarriers are received in at least one of the time slots;
` ........................................................................................ 45
`[23.3] wherein at least some subcarriers of the first
`plurality of subcarriers or the second plurality of
`subcarriers are beam-formed; ......................................... 46
`[23.4] recovering the data using channel estimates from
`at least the second pilots; and ......................................... 46
`[23.5] recovering cell-specific information using the cell-
`specific pilots; ................................................................. 46
`(g)
`[23.6] wherein the second type is different than the ...... 46
`6.
`Claims 2, 9, 16, and 24 ............................................................. 46
`7.
`Claims 3, 10, 17, and 25 ........................................................... 47
`8.
`Claims 4, 11, 18, and 26 ........................................................... 49
`9.
`Claims 5, 12, 21, and 29 ........................................................... 50
`10. Claims 6, 13, 20, and 28 ........................................................... 51
`11. Claims 7 and 14......................................................................... 51
`12. Claims 19 and 27....................................................................... 51
`13. Claims 22 and 30....................................................................... 52
`Ground 2: The combination of Ketchum and Li renders obvious
`claims 1, 3, 4, 6-8, 10, 11, 13-15, 17, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, and 30
` ............................................................................................................. 53
`2.
`Independent Claim 1. ................................................................ 56
`(a)
`[1.P]: An orthogonal frequency division multiple access
`(OFDMA)-compatible base station that uses subcarriers
`in a frequency domain and time slots in a time domain,
`the OFDMA-compatible base station comprising: ......... 56
`
`(e)
`
`(f)
`
`B.
`
`- iv -
`
`

`

`(b)
`
`(c)
`
`(d)
`
`(e)
`
`(f)
`
`(g)
`
`3.
`
`[1.1] a plurality of antennas; and a transmitter operably
`coupled to the plurality of antennas; .............................. 58
`[1.2] the transmitter configured to: insert first pilots of a
`first type onto a first plurality of subcarriers, wherein the
`first pilots are cell-specific pilots; and ............................ 59
`[1.3] insert data and second pilots of a second type onto a
`second plurality of subcarriers;....................................... 62
`[1.4] wherein at least some subcarriers of the first
`plurality of subcarriers or the second plurality of
`subcarriers are beam-formed; and .................................. 64
`[1.5] the plurality of antennas configured to transmit the
`first plurality of subcarriers and the second plurality of
`subcarriers in at least one of the time slots; .................... 65
`[1.6] wherein the second type is different than the first
`type and wherein the first pilots do not interfere with the
`second pilots. .................................................................. 66
`Independent Claim 8 ................................................................. 67
`(a)
`[8.P] A method performed by an orthogonal frequency
`division multiple access (OFDMA)- compatible base
`station that uses subcarriers in a frequency domain and
`time slots in a time domain, the method comprising: ..... 67
`[8.1] inserting, by the OFDMA-compatible base station,
`first pilots of a first type onto a first plurality of
`subcarriers, wherein the first pilots are cell-specific
`pilots; .............................................................................. 68
`[8.2] inserting, by the OFDMA-compatible base station,
`data and second pilots of a second type onto a second
`plurality of subcarriers; ................................................... 68
`[8.3] wherein at least some subcarriers of the first
`plurality of subcarriers or the second plurality of
`subcarriers are beam-formed; and .................................. 68
`[8.4] transmitting, by the OFDMA-compatible base
`station, the first plurality of subcarriers and the second
`plurality of subcarriers in at least one of the time slots
`using a plurality of antennas; .......................................... 68
`[8.5] wherein the second type is different than the first
`
`(d)
`
`(b)
`
`(c)
`
`(e)
`
`(f)
`
`- v -
`
`

`

`4.
`
`5.
`
`(b)
`(c)
`
`(d)
`
`(e)
`
`(f)
`
`(g)
`
`(h)
`
`type and wherein the first pilots do not interfere with the
`second pilots. .................................................................. 68
`Independent Claim 15 ............................................................... 69
`(a)
`[15.P] An orthogonal frequency division multiple access
`(OFDMA)-compatible mobile station that uses
`subcarriers in a frequency domain and time slots in a
`time domain, the OFDMA-compatible mobile station
`comprising: ..................................................................... 69
`[15.1] at least one antenna; and a receiver; and ............. 70
`[15.2] the at least one antenna and the receiver are
`configured to: receive first pilots of a first type on a first
`plurality of subcarriers, wherein the first pilots are cell-
`specific pilots; and .......................................................... 70
`[15.3] receive second pilots of a second type and data on
`a second plurality of subcarriers, wherein the first
`plurality of subcarriers and the second plurality of
`subcarriers are received in at least one of the time slots;
` ........................................................................................ 71
`[15.4] wherein at least some subcarriers of the first
`plurality of subcarriers or the second plurality of
`subcarriers are beam-formed; and .................................. 71
`[15.5] the receiver is further configured to: recover the
`data using channel estimates from at least the second
`pilots; and ........................................................................ 72
`[15.6] recover cell-specific information using the cell-
`specific pilots; ................................................................. 72
`[15.7] wherein the second type is different than the first
`type and wherein the first pilots do not interfere with the
`second pilots. .................................................................. 73
`Independent Claim 23 ............................................................... 73
`(a)
`[23.P] A method performed by an orthogonal frequency
`division multiple access (OFDMA)-compatible mobile
`station that uses subcarriers in a frequency domain and
`time slots in a time domain, the method comprising: ..... 73
`[23.1] receiving first pilots of a first type on a first
`plurality of subcarriers, wherein the first pilots are cell-
`
`(b)
`
`- vi -
`
`

`

`(c)
`
`(e)
`
`(f)
`
`(g)
`
`(d)
`
`specific pilots; ................................................................. 73
`[23.2] receiving second pilots of a second type and data
`on a second plurality of subcarriers, wherein the first
`plurality of subcarriers and the second plurality of
`subcarriers are received in at least one of the time slots;
` ........................................................................................ 73
`[23.3] wherein at least some subcarriers of the first
`plurality of subcarriers or the second plurality of
`subcarriers are beam-formed; ......................................... 74
`[23.4] recovering the data using channel estimates from
`at least the second pilots; and ......................................... 74
`[23.5] recovering cell-specific information using the cell-
`specific pilots; ................................................................. 74
`[23.6] wherein the second type is different than the first
`type and wherein the first pilots do not interfere with the
`second pilots. .................................................................. 74
`6.
`Claims 3, 10, 17, and 25 ........................................................... 74
`7.
`Claims 4, 11, 18, and 26 ........................................................... 76
`8.
`Claims 6, 13, 20, and 28 ........................................................... 77
`9.
`Claims 7 and 14......................................................................... 77
`10. Claims 22 and 30....................................................................... 78
`Ground 3: The Combination of Ketchum, Li, and Smee renders
`obvious claims 5, 12, 21, and 29 ......................................................... 78
`IX. DISCRETIONARY CONSIDERATIONS UNDER 314(A) AND 325(D)
`STRONGLY FAVOR INSTITUTION. ........................................................ 83
`A.
`The Fintiv factors strongly favor institution. ...................................... 83
`B.
`The Advanced Bionics two-part framework strongly favors institution.
` ............................................................................................................. 86
`CONCLUSION .............................................................................................. 87
`
`C.
`
`X.
`
`- vii -
`
`

`

`Exhibit No.
`1001
`1002
`1003
`
`1004
`1005
`
`1006
`1007
`1008
`
`1009
`
`1010
`1011
`1012
`
`1013
`1014
`
`1015
`1016
`
`1017
`1018
`
`1019
`
`1020
`
`PETITIONER’S EXHIBIT LIST
`Description
`U.S. Patent No. 10,965,512 to Li et al. (“’512 patent”)
`’512 Patent Prosecution History
`Declaration of Dr. Paul Min Submitted in IPR2022-01539
`International Patent Publication No. WO2004/049618 to Kim et al.
`(“Kim”)
`U.S. Patent No. 7,120,395 to Tong et al. (“Tong”)
`U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2004/0179627 to Ketchum et al.
`(“Ketchum”)
`U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2002/0163879 to Li et al. (“Li”)
`U.S. Patent No. 7,248,559 to Ma et al. (“Ma ’559”)
`Tufvesson, et al., Pilot Assisted Channel Estimation For OFDM in
`Mobile Cellular Systems, IEEE 47th Vehicular Technology
`Conference (1997)
`U.S. Patent No. 7,826,471 to Wilson et al. (“Wilson”)
`U.S. Patent No. 7,664,533 to Logothetis et al. (“Logothetis”)
`U.S. Patent No. 7,054,664 to Nagaraj (“Nagaraj”)
`International Patent Application No. WO 2004/056022 to Lee et al.
`(“Lee”)
`U.S. Patent No. 7,551,546 to Ma (“Ma ’546”)
`Anderson, Fixed Broadband Wireless System Design, Wiley (2003)
`(excerpts)
`U.S. Patent No. 7,852,746 to Jalali (“Jalali”).
`U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2004/0131007 to Smee et al.
`(“Smee”)
`U.S. Patent No. 7,650,152 to Li et al. (“Li ’152”).
`U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2004/0190598 to Seki et al.
`(“Seki”).
`Li, “A Novel Broadband Wireless OFDMA Scheme for Downlink in
`Cellular Communications,” Samsung Advanced Institute of
`Technology (IEEE) (2003) (“Li-Samsung”)
`
`- i -
`
`

`

`Exhibit No.
`
`1021
`
`1022
`
`1023
`
`1024
`
`1025
`1026
`1027
`
`1028
`1029
`
`1030
`1031
`
`1032
`
`1033
`
`1034
`
`1035
`
`1036
`
`1037
`
`Description
`Hara et al., “Multicarrier Techniques for 4G Mobile
`Communications,” Artech House (2003) (excerpts) (“Hara”)
`U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2004/0228270 to Chen et al.
`(“Chen”)
`Van Nee et al., “OFDM for Wireless Multimedia Communications,”
`Artech House (2000) (“Van Nee”) (excerpts)
`Bahai et al., “Multi-Carrier Communications Theory and
`Applications of OFDM,” Springer Science (2004) (excerpts)
`(“Bahai”)
`U.S. Patent No. 7,039,001 to Krishnan et al. (Krishnan”)
`U.S. Patent No. 6,992,621 to Casas et al. (“Casas”)
`U.S. Patent No. 5,596,329 to Searle et al. (“Searle”)
`U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2005/0075125 to Bada et al.
`(“Bada”).
`Curriculum Vitae of Dr. Paul Min
`U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/421,309 to Walton et al.
`(“’309 Provisional”)
`U.S. Patent No. 7,012,882 to Wang et al. (“Wang”)
`Transfer Order, In re: Neo Wireless, LLC, Patent Litigation, Case
`No. 2:22-md-3034 (E.D. Mich.), filed June 23, 2022 (ECF No. 1)
`Docket Sheet, In re: Neo Wireless, LLC, Patent Litigation, Case No.
`2:22-md-3034 (E.D. Mich.)
`United States District Courts - National Judicial Caseload Profile,
`June 2022
`Conditional Transfer Order, In re: Neo Wireless, LLC, Patent
`Litigation, Case No. 2:22-md-3034 (E.D. Mich.), issued August 1,
`2022 (ECF No. 88)
`Conditional Transfer Order, Neo Wireless, LLC v. Mercedes-Benz
`USA, LLC, Case No. 3:22-cv-780 (M.D. Fla.), issued August 1, 2022
`(ECF No. 9)
`Conditional Transfer Order, Neo Wireless, LLC v. Mercedes-Benz
`USA, LLC, Case No. 2:22-cv-11769 (E.D. Mich.), issued August 1,
`2022 (ECF No. 2)
`
`- ii -
`
`

`

`1038
`1039
`
`Declaration of Mr. Bruce McNair
`Curriculum Vitae of Mr. Bruce McNair
`
`- iii -
`
`

`

`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (“Mercedes” or “Petitioner”) petitions for inter
`
`partes review of claims 1-30 of U.S. Patent No. 10,965,512 (“the ’512 patent”).
`
`The ’512 patent claims techniques for communicating two types of pilot
`
`signals within wireless systems. The ’512 patent admits it was known to use pilot
`
`signals to perform “many important system functions.” EX1001, 1:36-43. The ’512
`
`patent’s only purported advancement was to use two types of pilot signals to perform
`
`such system functions. E.g., id., 3:10-36. But this was well-known and disclosed in
`
`various patents and publications before the ’512 patent. This Petition demonstrates
`
`each challenged claim is not patentable based on a small subset of these patents and
`
`publications, and is supported by Mr. Bruce McNair,1 who has over 55 years of
`
`experience working with cellular and other wireless systems. See EX1038, McNair
`
`Declaration.
`
`The primary references presented herein include International Patent
`
`1 Petitioner retained Mr. Bruce McNair, who prepared a declaration adopting the
`
`opinions set forth in EX1003, the declaration of Dr. Paul Min submitted in
`
`IPR2022-01539, as his own. EX1038, ¶2. Petitioner cites Mr. McNair’s declaration
`
`(EX1038), and notes there are corresponding, identical opinions in Dr. Min’s
`
`declaration.
`
`- 1 -
`
`

`

`Publication No. WO2004/049618 (“Kim”), which discloses orthogonal frequency
`
`division multiple access (OFDMA) downlink signals that include a “[pilot] pattern
`
`in common for each cell,” and a different pilot pattern that is “different for each cell”
`
`(EX1004, Kim, 6:23-7:10, 24:20-25:5), and U.S. Patent Application Pub. No.
`
`2004/0179627 (“Ketchum”), which discloses cellular downlink signals that include
`
`“various types of pilot[s].” EX1006, Ketchum, ¶¶11-13.
`
`Kim and Ketchum used in various combinations teach claims 1-30 of the ’512
`
`patent. Neither Kim nor Ketchum—nor any of the other prior-art references relied
`
`on herein—were previously before the Office. Had they been, the ’512 patent would
`
`not have been allowed. Accordingly, the Board should institute this proceeding and
`
`find claims 1-30 of the ’512 patent unpatentable.
`
`II. MANDATORY NOTICES (37 C.F.R. §42.8(A)(1))
`REAL PARTY-IN-INTEREST: The real parties-in-interest are Petitioner
`
`Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC; Mercedes-Benz Intellectual Property GmbH & Co. KG;
`
`and Mercedes-Benz AG.
`
`RELATED MATTERS: The ’512 patent is the subject of the following civil
`
`actions: Neo Wireless, LLC v. Ford Motor Company, Case No. 4-22-cv-00210 (W.D.
`
`Mo.), filed March 29, 2022; Neo Wireless, LLC v. Nissan North America Inc. et al.,
`
`Case No. 3-22-cv-00220 (M.D. Tenn.), filed March 29, 2022; Neo Wireless, LLC v.
`
`American Honda Motor Co., Inc. et al., Case No. 2-22-cv-01824 (S.D. Ohio), filed
`
`- 2 -
`
`

`

`March 29, 2022; Neo Wireless LLC v. Tesla, Inc., Case No. 2- 22-cv-00095 (E.D.
`
`Tex.), filed March 29, 2022; Neo Wireless LLC v. General Motors Company et al.,
`
`Case No. 2-22-cv-00094 (E.D. Tex.), filed March 29, 2022; Neo Wireless LLC v.
`
`Toyota Motor North America, Inc. et al., Case No. 2- 22-cv-00093 (E.D. Tex.), filed
`
`March 29, 2022; Neo Wireless, LLC v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. et al.
`
`(TV2), Case No. 1-22-cv-00076 (E.D. Tenn.), filed March 29, 2022; Neo Wireless,
`
`LLC v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. et al., Case No. 2-22-cv-11404 (E.D.
`
`Mich.), filed June 28, 2022; Neo Wireless LLC v. Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
`
`et al., Case No. 2-22-cv-11406 (E.D. Mich.), filed June 28, 2022; Neo Wireless LLC
`
`v. General Motors Company et al., Case No. 2-22-cv-11407 (E.D. Mich.), filed June
`
`28, 2022; Neo Wireless LLC v. Tesla, Inc., Case No. 2-22-cv-11408 (E.D. Mich.),
`
`filed June 28, 2022; Neo Wireless, LLC v. Nissan North America Inc. et al., Case
`
`No. 2-22-cv-11405 (E.D. Mich.), filed June 29, 2022; Neo Wireless, LLC v.
`
`American Honda Motor Co., Inc. et al., Case No. 2-22-cv-11403 (E.D. Mich.), filed
`
`June 27, 2022; Neo Wireless, LLC v. Ford Motor Company, Case No. 2-22-cv-11402
`
`(E.D. Mich.), filed June 27, 2022; In re: Neo Wireless, LLC Patent Litigation, Case
`
`No. 2-22-md-03034 (E.D. Mich.), filed June 23, 2022; Neo Wireless, LLC v.
`
`Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, Case No. 3-22-cv-00780 (M.D. Fla.), filed July 15, 2022;
`
`Neo Wireless, LLC v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, Case No. 2-22-cv-11769 (E.D.
`
`Mich.), filed August 1, 2022; Neo Wireless, LLC v. FCA US LLC, Case No. 3-22-
`
`- 3 -
`
`

`

`cv-01252 (N.D. Ohio), filed July 15, 2022; and Neo Wireless, LLC v. FCA US LLC,
`
`Case No. 2-22-cv- 11770 (E.D. Mich.), filed August 1, 2022.
`
`Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. filed an IPR petition (IPR2022-01539)
`
`against the ’512 patent on September 15, 2022. That petition is currently pending,
`
`and no institution decision has been made. Petitioner is concurrently filing a Motion
`
`to Join IPR2022-01539 herewith, and requests the Board consider that motion if
`
`IPR2022-01539 is instituted.2
`
`LEAD AND BACKUP COUNSEL:
`
`Lead Counsel
`Celine J. Crowson (Reg. No.
`40,357)
`celine.crowson@hogan.com
`
`Postal and Hand-Delivery Address
`Hogan Lovells US
`LLP 555 13th Street
`
`Back-Up Counsel
`Joseph J. Raffetto (Reg. No. 66,218)
`joseph.raffetto@hoganlovells.com
`
`Postal and Hand-Delivery Address
`Hogan Lovells US LLP
`555 13th Street N.W.
`Washington, D.C. 20004
`Telephone: 202.637.5600
`Facsimile: 202.637.5910
`
`2 Should IPR2022-01539 be terminated prior to any institution decision, or
`
`otherwise not instituted for any reason, Petitioner submits its motion for joinder
`
`would be moot, and would request the Board consider this Petition on its own
`
`merits.
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`- 4 -
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`

`

`N.W. Washington,
`D.C. 20004
`Telephone: 202.637.5600
`Facsimile: 202.637.5910
`
`Scott Hughes (Reg. No. 68,385)
`scott.hughes@hoganlovells.com
`
`Postal and Hand-Delivery Address
`Hogan Lovells US LLP
`555 13th Street N.W.
`Washington, D.C. 20004
`Telephone: 202.637.5600
`Facsimile: 202.637.5910
`Helen Y. Trac (Reg. No. 62,250)
`helen.trac@hoganlovells.com
`
`Postal and Hand-Delivery Address
`Hogan Lovells US LLP
`Four Embarcadero,
`# 3500
`San Francisco, CA 94111
`Telephone: 415.374.2300
`Facsimile: 415.374.2399
`
`SERVICE INFORMATION: Petitioner consents to electronic service by email at:
`
`celine.crowson@hoganlovells.com
`
`joseph.raffetto@hoganlovells.com
`
`scott.hughes@hoganlovells.com
`
`helen.trac@hoganlovells.com
`
`III. GROUNDS FOR STANDING (37 C.F.R. §42.104(A))
`Petitioner certifies the ’512 patent is available for inter partes review.
`
`Petitioner is not barred or estopped from requesting this review.
`
`IV.
`
`IDENTIFICATION OF CHALLENGE (37 C.F.R. §42.104(B))
`A.
`Citation of Prior Art
`The ’512 patent’s earliest possible priority date is January 29, 2004. EX1001,
`
`- 5 -
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`

`

`(60). Without conceding this priority date is correct, all references relied upon herein
`
`are prior art as of January 29, 2004.
`
`Kim (EX1004) was filed November 29, 2002 and published June 10, 2004.
`
`Kim designated the United States, and was published in English. EX1004, (26), (81).
`
`Therefore, Kim is prior art at least under 35 U.S.C. §102(e).
`
`U.S. Patent No. 7,120,395 (“Tong”) (EX1005) was filed October 20, 2003
`
`and issued October 10, 2006. Therefore, Tong is prior art at least under 35 U.S.C.
`
`§102(e).
`
`Ketchum (EX1006) was filed June 30, 2003 and published September 16,
`
`2004. Therefore, Ketchum is prior art at least under 35 U.S.C. §102(e).
`
`U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2002/0163879 (“Li”) (EX1007) published
`
`November 7, 2002. Therefore, Li is prior art at least under 35 U.S.C. §102(b).
`
`U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2004/0131007 (“Smee”) (EX1017) was
`
`filed February 7, 2003 and published July 8, 2004. Therefore, Smee is prior art at
`
`least under 35 U.S.C. §102(e).
`
`B.
`
`Statutory Grounds for the Challenge
`
`Ground
`1.
`2.
`
`Basis
`§103
`§103
`
`3.
`
`§103
`
`Claims
`1-30
`1, 3, 4, 6-8, 10, 11,
`13-15, 17, 18, 20,
`22, 23, 25, 26, 28,
`5, 12, 21, and 29
`
`References
`Kim in view of Tong
`Ketchum in view of Li
`
`Ketchum in view of Li and further
`in view of Smee
`
`- 6 -
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`

`

`V.
`
`TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
`The ’512 patent describes systems and techniques for communicating pilot
`
`signals of different types between base and mobile stations. EX1001, Abstract. The
`
`claims of the ’512 patent recite these systems and techniques in terms of four general
`
`concepts: (i) the system is an orthogonal frequency division multiple access
`
`(OFDMA) system; (ii) base stations communicate various pilots signals to mobile
`
`stations; (iii) mobile stations use the pilot signals for channel estimation and to
`
`recover transmitted data; and (iv) base stations transmit signals using beamforming.
`
`But these concepts and combinations were well-known before the ’512 patent.
`
`EX1038, ¶¶46-63.
`
`OFDMA Systems Were Well-Known
`A.
`Mr. McNair explains OFDMA systems were well-known prior the ’512
`
`patent. Id., ¶¶47-55. Indeed, orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM)
`
`and its “logical extension,” OFDMA, have long been known in the art, including in
`
`cellular systems. EX1015, Anderson, 307; see also EX1038, ¶47.
`
`“The basic principle of OFDM [] is to split a high-rate data stream into a
`
`number of lower rate streams that are transmitted simultaneously over a number of
`
`subcarriers.” EX1021, Hara, 43. The “frequency response of each sub-carrier is
`
`designed to be orthogonal to that of each other sub-carrier in order to allow data
`
`modulated to each sub-carrier to be independently recovered at a receiver.” EX1038,
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`- 7 -
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`

`

`¶¶48-53; EX1014, 10:15-19. OFDMA is a “variation” or “logical extension” of
`
`OFDM, in which “multiple-access is realized by providing each user with a fraction
`
`of the available number of subcarriers.” EX1023, Van Nee, 213; EX1015, Anderson,
`
`307; EX1038, ¶¶54-55.
`
`B.
`
`Communicating Various Pilots Signals Between Base Stations and
`Mobile Stations Was Well-Known
`Mr. McNair explains the use of pilots signals was well-known prior to the’512
`
`patent. Id., ¶56-60. Pilot signals are signals that have a “value known to the
`
`receiver,” and “enable the receiver to perform various functions,” such as “channel
`
`estimation, timing and frequency acquisition, data demodulation, and so on.”
`
`EX1008, Ma, 2:1-14; EX1007, Li, ¶28; EX1006, ¶8.
`
`Mr. McNair also explains it was well-known that OFDM/OFDMA systems
`
`implement multiple types of pilots that could be used, for instance, for different
`
`functions. EX1038, ¶61. As described in detail below, Ketchum discloses an OFDM
`
`multiple-access system that implements “various types of pilot.” EX1006, Abstract.
`
`Further, Kim discloses an OFDMA cellular system that implements two types of
`
`pilot signals—a “[pilot] pattern in common for each cell,” and a separate pilot pattern
`
`that is “different for each cell.” EX1004, 6:23-7:10, 24:20-25:5.
`
`C.
`
`OFDM/OFDMA Cellular Systems Implemented Pilot Symbols for
`Channel Estimation and Data Recovery
`Mr. McNair explains the well-known role of pilot signals in performing
`
`- 8 -
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`

`

`channel estimation for recovering data at the receiver. EX1038, ¶56-60; EX1025,
`
`Krishnan, 1:52-61. Specifically, receivers use pilot signals to determine “[a]n
`
`accurate estimate of the response” of the communication channel (e.g., air or space).
`
`EX1025, 1:52-61; EX1024, Bahai, 15, 117-118; EX1038, ¶¶56-57. “Since the pilot
`
`is made up of symbols that are known a priori by the receiver, the channel response
`
`can be estimated as the ratio of the received pilot symbol over the transmitted pilot
`
`symbol for each [subcarrier] used for pilot transmission.” EX1025, 1:55-61. The
`
`receiver then uses the channel estimate “to