`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`
`
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`––––––––––
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`––––––––––
`
`PLR WORLDWIDE SALES LIMITED,
`
`Petitioner,
`
`
`v.
`
`FLIP PHONE GAMES INC.,
`
`Patent Owner.
`
`––––––––––
`Case No. IPR2024-00200
`
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`
`––––––––––
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`OF U.S. PATENT NO. 11,117,056
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`I.
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1
`
`II.
`
`Standing ........................................................................................................... 2
`
`III.
`
`Identification of Challenge And Relief Requested .......................................... 2
`
`IV. Level Of Ordinary Skill In The Art ................................................................. 2
`
`V.
`
`The ’056 patent ................................................................................................ 3
`
`A. Overview ............................................................................................... 3
`
`B.
`
`Prosecution History of the ’056 Patent ................................................. 4
`
`VI. Technology Background .................................................................................. 5
`
`A. Video Games ......................................................................................... 5
`
`B. Mobile Games ....................................................................................... 5
`
`C.
`
`Dynamic Content and In-Game Ads ..................................................... 7
`
`VII. Overview Of The Prior Art .............................................................................. 8
`
`A. Hays (Ex. 1005) ..................................................................................... 8
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`D.
`
`Choi (Ex. 1006) ................................................................................... 10
`
`Chu (Ex. 1007) .................................................................................... 10
`
`Levkovitz (Ex. 1008) ........................................................................... 11
`
`VIII. Claim Construction ........................................................................................ 12
`
`IX. Detailed Explanation of Invalidity Grounds .................................................. 13
`
`A. Ground 1: Claims 1-16 are Rendered Obvious in View of Hays ....... 13
`
`1.
`
`Claim 1 ...................................................................................... 13
`
`
`
`
`i
`
`

`

`
`
`(a)
`
`(b)
`
`(c)
`
`(d)
`
`(e)
`
`(f)
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`1[pre]: A system for providing updated content
`associated with a mobile video game to a mobile
`communication device, the system comprising: ............. 13
`
`1[a]: a storage medium for storing in-game video
`game content; .................................................................. 14
`
`1[b]: a server in communication with the storage
`medium; and ................................................................... 15
`
`1[c]: wherein the server is configured to: receive a
`request for updated content from the mobile
`communication device; ................................................... 16
`
`1[d]: identify, in response to receiving the request,
`what in-game video game content to send; .................... 16
`
`1[e]: send a message relating to the in-game video
`game content to the mobile communication device
`in response to receiving the request, wherein the
`message is pre-selected by the server based on a
`model type associated with the mobile
`communication device, a service subscription
`associated with the mobile communication device,
`or a service provider for the service subscription
`associated with the mobile communication device;
`and ................................................................................... 17
`
`(g)
`
`1[f]: send the in-game video game content to the
`mobile communication device as the updated
`content for the mobile video game. ................................ 21
`
`Claim 2: The system of claim 1, wherein the updated
`content comprises promotional content. ................................... 22
`
`Claim 3: The system of claim 2, wherein the promotional
`content comprises localized promotional content based
`on a location of the mobile communication device. ................. 22
`
`Claim 4: The system of claim 1, wherein identifying
`what in-game video game content to send is based on a
`model type associated with the mobile communication
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`
`
`
`ii
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`

`

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`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`device, a service subscription associated with the mobile
`communications device, a service provider for the service
`subscription associated with the mobile communication
`device, or a location of the mobile communications
`device. ....................................................................................... 23
`
`Claim 5: The system of claim 1, wherein the server is
`further configured to send information to the mobile
`communication device regarding the in-game placement
`location of the in-game video game content. ............................ 24
`
`Claim 6: The system of claim 1, wherein the server is
`further configured to check whether the mobile
`communication device should receive the updated
`content before sending the updated content to the mobile
`communication device. ............................................................. 26
`
`Claim 7: The system of claim 1, wherein the server is
`further configured to track the distribution of updated
`content. ...................................................................................... 27
`
`Claim 8: The system of claim 1, wherein the server is
`further configured to check for availability of bandwidth
`before sending the updated content to the mobile
`communication device. ............................................................. 28
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`7.
`
`8.
`
`9.
`
`Claim 9 ...................................................................................... 29
`
`(a)
`
`(b)
`
`(c)
`
`(d)
`
`9[pre]: A method for providing updated content
`associated with a mobile video game to a mobile
`communication device, the method comprising: ............ 29
`
`9[a]: storing, on a storage medium, pre-selected in-
`game video game content for use in a video game; ....... 30
`
`9[b]: receiving, at a server, a request from the
`mobile communication device for updated content
`from the mobile communication device; ........................ 30
`
`9[c]: identifying, by the server in response to
`receiving the request, what pre-selected in-game
`video game content to send; ........................................... 30
`
`
`
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`iii
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`

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`
`
`(e)
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`9[d]: sending a message relating to the in-game
`video game content from the server to the mobile
`communication device in response to receiving the
`request, wherein the message is pre-selected by the
`server based on a model type associated with the
`mobile communication device, a service
`subscription associated with the mobile
`communication device, or a service provider for
`the service subscription associated with the mobile
`communication device; and ............................................ 30
`
`(f)
`
`9[e]: sending, from the server, the pre-selected in-
`game video game content to the mobile
`communication device as the updated content for
`the mobile video game. ................................................... 30
`
`10. Claim 10: The method of claim 9, wherein the updated
`content is promotional content. ................................................. 31
`
`11. Claim 11: The method of claim 10, wherein the
`promotional content is localized promotional content
`based on a location of the mobile communication device. ....... 31
`
`12. Claim 12: The method of claim 9, wherein identifying
`what in-game video game content to send is based on a
`model type associated with the mobile communication
`device, a service subscription associated with the mobile
`communications device, a service provider for the service
`subscription associated with the mobile communication
`device, or a location of the mobile communications
`device. ....................................................................................... 31
`
`13. Claim 13: The method of claim 9, further comprising
`sending information from the server to the mobile
`communication device regarding the in-game placement
`location of in-game video game content. .................................. 31
`
`14. Claim 14: The method of claim 9, further comprising
`checking whether the mobile communication device
`should receive the updated content before sending the
`updated content to the mobile communication device. ............ 31
`
`
`
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`iv
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`

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`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`15. Claim 15: The method of claim 9, further comprising
`tracking the distribution of updated content at the server......... 32
`
`16. Claim 16: The method of claim 9, wherein the server
`checks for availability of bandwidth before sending the
`updated content to the mobile communication device. ............ 32
`
`B.
`
`Ground 2: Claims 1-16 Are Rendered Obvious By Hays and
`Choi ..................................................................................................... 32
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`Rationale to Combine Hays and Choi ....................................... 32
`
`Limitation 1[e]/9[d]................................................................... 37
`
`Claims 3 and 11......................................................................... 38
`
`Claims 4 and 12......................................................................... 39
`
`Claims 8 and 16......................................................................... 39
`
`C.
`
`Ground 3: Claim 5 and 13 Are Rendered Obvious by Hays (or
`Hays and Choi) in Further View of Chu ............................................. 40
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`Rationale to Combine Hays (or Hays and Choi) with Chu ...... 40
`
`Claims 5 and 13......................................................................... 43
`
`D. Ground 4: Claims 1-16 Are Rendered Obvious by Levkovitz ........... 43
`
`1.
`
`Claim 1 ...................................................................................... 43
`
`(a)
`
`(b)
`
`(c)
`
`(d)
`
`(e)
`
`(f)
`
`Limitation 1[pre] ............................................................. 43
`
`Limitation 1[a] ................................................................ 44
`
`Limitation 1[b] ................................................................ 44
`
`Limitation 1[c] ................................................................ 45
`
`Limitation 1[d] ................................................................ 46
`
`Limitation 1[e] ................................................................ 47
`
`(g)
`
`Limitation 1[f] ................................................................ 49
`
`
`
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`v
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`

`

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`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`Claim 2 ...................................................................................... 50
`
`Claim 3 ...................................................................................... 50
`
`Claim 4 ...................................................................................... 50
`
`Claim 5 ...................................................................................... 51
`
`Claim 6 ...................................................................................... 52
`
`Claim 7 ...................................................................................... 53
`
`Claim 8 ...................................................................................... 53
`
`Claims 9-16 ............................................................................... 54
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`5.
`
`6.
`
`7.
`
`8.
`
`9.
`
`E.
`
`Ground 5: Claims 5 and 13 are Rendered Obvious by Levkovitz
`and Chu ................................................................................................ 54
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`Rationale to Combine Levkovitz with Chu .............................. 54
`
`Claims 5 and 13......................................................................... 56
`
`F.
`
`Ground 6: Claims 8 and 16 are Rendered Obvious by Levkovitz
`and Choi .............................................................................................. 57
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`Rationale to Combine Levkovitz with Choi ............................. 57
`
`Claims 8 and 16......................................................................... 59
`
`X. Discretionary Denial ...................................................................................... 60
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`35 U.S.C. §314(a) ................................................................................ 60
`
`35 U.S.C. §325(d)................................................................................ 61
`
`XI. Mandatory Notices And Fees ........................................................................ 61
`
`A.
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`D.
`
`Real Party-In-Interest .......................................................................... 61
`
`Related Matters .................................................................................... 61
`
`Counsel and Service Information ........................................................ 62
`
`Payment of Fees .................................................................................. 64
`
`
`
`
`vi
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`

`

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`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`XII. Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 64
`
`
`
`
`
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`vii
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`

`
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`
`EXHIBIT LIST
`
`Ex.
`
`Description
`
`1001
`
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056 (“’202 patent”)
`
`1002
`
`File History for U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`
`1003
`
`Declaration of Dr. José Zagal
`
`1004
`
`Curriculum Vitae of Dr. José Zagal
`
`1005
`
`U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2008/0102947 (“Hays”)
`
`1006
`
`U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2007/0174490 (“Choi”)
`
`1007
`
`U.S. Patent No. 7,698,178 (“Chu”)
`
`1008
`
`U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2007/0088801 (“Levkovitz”)
`
`1009
`
`Exemplary infringement charts for U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`served by Patent Owner in Flip Phone Games Inc. v. PLR
`Worldwide Sales Ltd., No. 2:23-cv-139 (E.D. Tex.)
`
`1010
`
`Steven Kent, The Ultimate History of Video Games (2001)
`
`1011
`
`Frans Mayra, “Mobile Games,” in the International Encyclopedia
`of Digital Communications and Society, 1st ed. (2015)
`
`1012 N. Leavitt, “Will wireless gaming be a winner?” in Computer, Vol.
`36, No. 1, pp. 24-27 (Jan. 2003)
`
`1013
`
`Jason Soh & Bernard Tan, “Mobile Gaming,” in Communications
`of the ACM, Vol. 51, No. 3, pp. 35-39 (Mar. 2008)
`
`1014 Michael Zyda et al., “Educating the Next Generation of Mobile
`Game Developers,” in IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications,
`Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 92-96 (Mar./Apr. 2007)
`
`1015 Mark Andrejevic, “Productive Play 2.0: The Logic of In-Game
`Advertising” in Media International Australia, Vol. 130, No. 1, pp.
`66-76 (Feb. 2009)
`
`
`
`
`viii
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`
`1016
`
`1017
`
`1018
`
`Ilya Vedrashko, Advertising in Computer Games (Doc. No.
`123290221) [Master’s Thesis, Mass. Inst. of Technology],
`DSpace@MIT
`
`Exit Games, In-Game Advertising Goes Mobile [Press Release]
`(Mar. 21, 2006)
`
`Jussi-Pekka Partanen, Mobile Gaming: A Framework for
`Evaluating the Industry 2000-2005 (2001)
`
`
`
`ix
`
`

`

`
`
`Claim
`
`1[pre]
`
`1[a]
`
`1[b]
`
`1[c]
`
`1[d]
`
`1[e]
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`LIST OF CHALLENGED CLAIMS
`
`Limitation
`
`A system for providing updated content associated with a mobile
`video game to a mobile communication device, the system
`comprising:
`
`a storage medium for storing in-game video game content;
`a server in communication with the storage medium; and
`
`wherein the server is configured to: receive a request for updated
`content from the mobile communication device;
`
`identify, in response to receiving the request, what in-game
`video game content to send;
`
`send a message relating to the in-game video game content to the
`mobile communication device in response to receiving the
`request, wherein the message is pre-selected by the server based
`on a model type associated with the mobile communication
`device, a service subscription associated with the mobile
`communication device, or a service provider for the service
`subscription associated with the mobile communication device;
`and
`
`1[f]
`
`send the in-game video game content to the mobile
`communication device as the updated content for the mobile
`video game.
`
`
`
`2
`
`3
`
` The system of claim 1, wherein the updated content comprises
`promotional content.
`
`
`
`The system of claim 2, wherein the promotional content
`comprises localized promotional content based on a location of
`the mobile communication device.
`
`
`
`
`x
`
`

`

`
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`
`Claim
`
`Limitation
`
`
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`7
`
`8
`
`The system of claim 1, wherein identifying what in-game video
`game content to send is based on a model type associated with
`the mobile communication device, a service subscription
`associated with the mobile communications device, a service
`provider for the service subscription associated with the mobile
`communication device, or a location of the mobile
`communications device.
`
`
`
`The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured
`to send information to the mobile communication device
`regarding the in-game placement location of the in-game video
`game content.
`
`
`
`The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured
`to check whether the mobile communication device should
`receive the updated content before sending the updated content
`to the mobile communication device.
`
`
`
`The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured
`to track the distribution of updated content.
`
`
`
`The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured
`to check for availability of bandwidth before sending the updated
`content to the mobile communication device.
`
`
`
`9[pre]
`
`A method for providing updated content associated with a
`mobile video game to a mobile communication device, the
`method comprising:
`
`
`
`
`xi
`
`

`

`
`
`Claim
`
`9[a]
`
`9[b]
`
`9[c]
`
`9[d]
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`
`Limitation
`
`storing, on a storage medium, pre-selected in-game video game
`content for use in a video game;
`
`receiving, at a server, a request from the mobile communication
`device for updated content from the mobile communication
`device;
`
`identifying, by the server in response to receiving the request,
`what pre-selected in-game video game content to send;
`
`sending a message relating to the in-game video game content
`from the server to the mobile communication device in response
`to receiving the request, wherein the message is pre-selected by
`the server based on a model type associated with the mobile
`communication device, a service subscription associated with the
`mobile communication device, or a service provider for the
`service subscription associated with the mobile communication
`device; and
`
`9[e]
`
`sending, from the server, the pre-selected in-game video game
`content to the mobile communication device as the updated
`content for the mobile video game.
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The method of claim 9, wherein the updated content is
`promotional content.
`
`The method of claim 10, wherein the promotional content is
`localized promotional content based on a location of the mobile
`communication device
`
`The method of claim 9, wherein identifying what in-game video
`game content to send is based on a model type associated with
`the mobile communication device, a service subscription
`associated with the mobile communications device, a service
`
`xii
`
`

`

`
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`
`Claim
`
`Limitation
`provider for the service subscription associated with the mobile
`communication device, or a location of the mobile
`communications device.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`The method of claim 9, further comprising sending information
`from the server to the mobile communication device regarding
`the in-game placement location of in-game video game content.
`
`The method of claim 9, further comprising checking whether the
`mobile communication device should receive the updated
`content before sending the updated content to the mobile
`communication device.
`
` The method of claim 9, further comprising tracking the
`distribution of updated content at the server.
`
`The method of claim 9, wherein the server checks for availability
`of bandwidth before sending the updated content to the mobile
`communication device.
`
`
`
`xiii
`
`

`

`
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`
`PLR Worldwide Sales Limited (“Petitioner”) respectfully requests inter
`
`partes review of claims 1-16 (the “Challenged Claims”) of U.S. Patent No.
`
`11,117,056 (the “’056 patent”) pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §311 and 37 C.F.R. §42.100.
`
`The ’056 patent, which has a priority date of June 26, 2007, claims a system
`
`and method for providing content updates to be displayed in a mobile game based
`
`on factors such as the type of mobile device or the mobile device’s carrier. The
`
`simplicity of this description, which is reflected in the plain language of the claims,
`
`underscores the obviousness of the challenged claims as of 2007. Petitioner
`
`presents two references, Hays and Levkovitz, both of which alone disclose or
`
`render obvious every limitation of independent claims 1 and 9, and most or all of
`
`the dependent claims.
`
`For example, Hays describes a system for presenting updated content such
`
`as advertisements within a game played on a game console, which includes mobile
`
`devices such as cellular phones. The game console requests an advertisement, and
`
`the system selects an advertisement based on numerous factors, including the type
`
`of mobile device and the demographics of the user. The advertisement is then
`
`displayed within the game, such as on a store front or on a car within the game.
`
`Levkovitz similarly describes presenting updated content such as
`
`advertisements for game applications running on a mobile device. The mobile
`
`
`
`1
`
`

`

`
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`device may request an advertisement from the ad server, which selects an
`
`advertisement based on the type of mobile device and the demographics of the
`
`user. The advertisement is then displayed within the application.
`
`II.
`
`STANDING
`
`Petitioner certifies that the ’056 patent is available for IPR and that Petitioner
`
`is not barred or estopped from presenting the grounds identified in this Petition.
`
`III.
`
`IDENTIFICATION OF CHALLENGE AND RELIEF REQUESTED
`
`Petitioner requests cancellation of claims 1–16 (“Challenged Claims”) on the
`
`Claims
`
`following grounds:
`
`Ground
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`
`Reference(s)
`
`Hays
`Hays, Choi
`Hays (or Hays/Choi), Chu
`Levkovitz
`Levkovitz, Chu
`Levkovitz, Choi
`
`Basis
`§103
`§103
`§103
`§103
`§103
`§103
`
`1-16
`1-16
`5, 13
`1-16
`5, 13
`8, 16
`
`
`
`IV. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL IN THE ART
`
`A person of ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”) as of June 26, 2007 would
`
`have had an undergraduate degree in game design or development, computer
`
`science, computer engineering, or a related field, with at least two years of
`
`experience working with computer gaming systems or software application
`
`development. Ex. 1003, ¶¶65-69. Less work experience may be compensated by a
`
`
`
`2
`
`

`

`
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`higher level of education or vice versa. Id. Petitioner’s expert, Dr. José Zagal,
`
`exceeds this definition. Id., ¶70.
`
`V. THE ’056 PATENT
`
`A. Overview
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 11,117,056 (the “’056 patent”) is directed to “updating content
`
`of a mobile video game [that] allow for mobile communication devices to receive
`
`updated content for video games that operate on the devices.” Ex. 1001, Abstract.
`
`These “updates may be promotional in nature,” i.e. advertisements. Id. The ’056
`
`patent explains that “[a]fter server 120 receives a communication request from
`
`mobile communication device 110, server 120 may check whether updated content
`
`is available for one or more mobile video games.” Id., 5:58-61. The server
`
`determines “whether updated content should be sent to the particular mobile
`
`communication device 110,” and “user information may also be utilized to determine
`
`which updated content to download, such as the sex, age, or interests of the user.”
`
`Id., 5:65-6:7. In addition to updated content, the server may also send the mobile
`
`communication device a “message relating to the content,” such as a “message
`
`alert[ing] the user of available updated content” or a message that “helps the mobile
`
`communication device internally check what available updated content is already
`
`present on the mobile communication device.” Ex. 1001, 3:39-41, 9:53-10:21.
`
`
`
`3
`
`

`

`
`
`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`the “updated content has been downloaded by
`the mobile
`
`When
`
`communication device 110, the content may be placed in-game (i.e., within the video
`
`game environment).” Ex. 1001, 6:13-15.
`
`B.
`
`Prosecution History of the ’056 Patent
`
`The ’056 patent was filed on April 9, 2020 as Application No. 16/844,256.
`
`Ex. 1001.
`
`During prosecution of the ’056 patent, the examiner rejected most of the
`
`original claims as anticipated or obvious based on U.S. Patent Publication No.
`
`2008/0307412 (“Marr”), alone or in combination with U.S. Patent Publication No.
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`2006/0136297 (“Willis”), but noted that two dependent claims (reciting that the
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`server pre-selects a message “based on a model type …, a service subscription …,
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`or a service provider … associated with the mobile device”) would be allowable if
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`incorporated into the independent claims. Ex. 1002, 96-101. The examiner also
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`raised a non-statutory double patenting rejection. Id., 101-102. In response,
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`applicant filed a terminal disclaimer and amended the independent claims to
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`incorporate the aforementioned limitation. Id., 56-57, 75-80. The claims as
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`amended were then allowed. Id., 34-37.
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`Both of Petitioner’s primary references, Hays and Levkovitz, disclose a server
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`pre-selecting a message based on the type of the mobile communication device. Ex.
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`1003, ¶63. Neither reference was cited or considered by the examiner.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
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`VI. TECHNOLOGY BACKGROUND
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`A. Video Games
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`The history of video games spans decades. For example, in 1961, students at
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`MIT programmed an early, very expensive, very large computer to play a game they
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`titled “Spacewar,” which simulated duels between rocket ships in space. Ex. 1003,
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`¶43; Ex. 1010 at 34-35. Video games rose in popularity and entered the mainstream
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`in the 1970s and 1980s, particularly with the development and release of coin-
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`operated arcade machines and home video game consoles, such as the Magnavox
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`Odyssey, the Atari Video Computer System, the Nintendo Entertainment System,
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`and the Sega Master System. Ex. 1003, ¶44; Ex. 1010 at 42, 124, 140-166, 295, 320.
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`By the end of the 1980s, video games were already a multi-billion dollar business.
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`Ex. 1003, ¶44; Ex. 1010 at 429.
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`B. Mobile Games
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`Portable video game systems began to launch at roughly the same time as
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`home video game consoles. For example, in the late 1970s, Nintendo released its
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`“Game & Watch” series of watch-shaped portable video games. Ex. 1003, ¶45; Ex.
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`1010 at 296; Ex. 1011 at 2. Ten years later, in 1989, Nintendo released the Game
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`Boy, one of the first handheld video game systems that supported multiple games by
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`way of interchangeable cartridges. Ex. 1003, ¶45; Ex. 1010 at 430; Ex. 1011 at 2.
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`Video games began appearing on mobile phones in the late 1990s. For
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`example, in 1997 Nokia began pre-installing a mobile version of the game Snake on
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`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`its mobile handsets. Ex. 1003, ¶46; Ex. 1011 at 2; Ex. 1012 at 2. As mobile phones
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`incorporated increasingly more powerful hardware, demand for mobile games
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`increased and more mobile game developers emerged to meet that demand. Ex.
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`1003, ¶46; Ex. 1012 at 2; Ex. 1013 at 2. Following that trend, in 2003, handset
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`manufacturer Nokia released a portable gaming device built on a mobile phone,
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`called the N-Gage. Ex. 1003, ¶46; Ex. 1013 at 4. Market analysts in the early 2000s
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`considered mobile games to be one of the fastest growing segments in the video
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`game industry, and established video game publishers invested hundreds of millions
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`of dollars to acquire a presence in that market. Ex. 1003, ¶47; Ex. 1014 at 1. Indeed,
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`as the ’056 Patent acknowledges, by its priority date “[m]any mobile communication
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`devices … [were] capable of operating video games,” and “gaming on mobile
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`communication devices [had] become a popular mode of entertainment.” Ex. 1001,
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`1:19-22, 1:31-34.
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`Although mobile game development posed some unique challenges, hardware
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`manufacturers and software developers quickly adapted to meet these challenges.
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`Ex. 1003, ¶¶47-48. For example, Intel and NVIDIA developed hardware and
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`software specifically designed to support 3D graphics on mobile phones; handset
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`manufacturers such as Ericsson and Motorola defined software interfaces to support
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`standard functions used in video games; and platform developers such as Oracle and
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`Qualcomm released software development platforms to facilitate programming of
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`mobile games. Ex. 1003, ¶48; Ex. 1012 at 3; Ex. 1013 at 2-3; Ex. 1014 at 1.
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`C. Dynamic Content and In-Game Ads
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`Game developers embraced the idea of updateable games even before mobile
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`games became popular. Ex. 1003, ¶51. Many game publishers released expansion
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`packs for popular games that added new levels or new in-game characters or items
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`to keep players interested. Id. For example, in 2001, Nokia launched a subscription
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`service that allowed members to download new levels for certain mobile games. Id.;
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`Ex. 1018 at 52.
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`Dynamic content updates also allowed advertisers to expand into video
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`games. Ex. 1003, ¶52. By 2006, a number of different advertising companies
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`offered in-game advertising networks that allowed game developers to incorporate
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`dynamic ads from third parties into their games, including mobile games. Id.; Ex.
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`1015 at 1-2; Ex. 1016 at 22-23; Ex. 1017 at 1. Many of these in-game ads took the
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`form of billboards and similar passive advertisements within the game world;
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`however, interactive ads were also incorporated into games, requiring the user to
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`interact with an in-game object in order to trigger advertising content to appear. Ex.
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`1013, ¶52; Ex. 1016 at 45. At least some of the grounds presented in this petition
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`rely on prior art references originating at several of the in-game advertisement
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`network companies from that era. Ex. 1003, ¶53; see also, e.g., Ex. 1006; Ex. 1007.
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`Petition for Inter Partes Review
`U.S. Patent No. 11,117,056
`
`VII. OVERVIEW OF THE PRIOR ART
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`The below is an overview of the asserted prior art. All of the below references
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`relate to provision and display of advertisements in a video game, and typically a
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`video game running on a mobile communication device. Ex. 1003, ¶74. Thus, all
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`of these references would be obvious sources that a POSITA would have considered
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`when seeking to improve the provision of updated content to a mobile video game,
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`as they all relate to the same field of endeavor, i.e., systems and methods for
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`delivering updated content, such as advertisements, to video games. Id.
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`A. Hays (Ex. 1005)
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`U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2008/0102947 (“Hays”) was filed on March 8, 2005 and
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`is therefore prior art under pre-AIA §102(e).
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`Hays is directed to “[a]n advertisement delivery scheme and associated
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`facility provide targeted advertisements for multiple video games without
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`advertisers having to specify specific game titles in which they would like their
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`adver