UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`____________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`____________
`
`T-Mobile USA, Inc., AT&T Services Inc., AT&T Mobility LLC, AT&T
`Corporation, Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless, Nokia of America
`Corporation, Ericsson Inc.,
`Petitioners
`
`v.
`
`Cobblestone Wireless, LLC,
`Patent Owner
`____________
`
`Case IPR2024-00138
`U.S. Patent No. 10,368,361 B2
`____________
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW OF
`UNITED STATES PATENT NO. 10,368,361 B2
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Cobblestone Wireless, LLC
`Ex. 2017, IPR2024-00315
`Page 1 of 91
`
`

`

`
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`I.
`INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ 1
`II. MANDATORY NOTICES .................................................................. 2
`III.
`STANDING UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a) ....................................... 1
`IV. STATEMENT OF RELIEF REQUESTED ......................................... 1
`V.
`PAYMENT OF FEES UNDER 37 C.F.R § 42.103 ............................. 1
`VI.
`IDENTIFICATION OF CHALLENGE ............................................... 2
`VII. BACKGROUND .................................................................................. 3
`A. Person of Ordinary Skill in the Art .................................................... 3
`B. Frame Structure of Time-Frequency Resources ................................ 3
`C. Resource Allocation in TDD and Interference Concerns .................. 5
`D. Interference Measurements ................................................................ 7
`E. Dynamic Frame Configurations and 3GPP’s eIMTA Functionality . 9
`F. The ’361 Patent ................................................................................ 11
`1. Description of the ’361 Patent’s Specification ........................... 11
`2. Claim Construction ..................................................................... 15
`VIII. GROUNDS OF REJECTION ............................................................ 18
`A. Ground 1: Gaal Renders Obvious the Challenged Claims .............. 18
`1. Overview of Gaal ........................................................................ 18
`2. Claim 10 ...................................................................................... 21
`3. Claim 11 ...................................................................................... 45
`4. Claim 12 ...................................................................................... 47
`5. Claim 13 ...................................................................................... 48
`
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`6. Claim 15 ...................................................................................... 48
`7. Claim 17 ...................................................................................... 50
`B. Ground 2: Gaal In View of Khoryaev Renders Obvious Claims 10-13, 15,
`and 17 of the ’361 Patent. ............................................................... 57
`1. Overview of Khoryaev ................................................................ 58
`2. Motivation to Combine ............................................................... 61
`3. Claim 10 ...................................................................................... 65
`4. Claim 17 ...................................................................................... 70
`5. Remaining Limitations of Claim 10, 11-13, 15, and 17 ............. 70
`IX. THIS PETITION CONTAINS NEW ARGUMENTS AND PRIOR ART
`NOT PREVISOULY CONSIDERED ................................................ 70
`FINTIV FACTORS FAVOR INSTITUTION .................................... 70
`X.
`XI. CONCLUSION ................................................................................... 73
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`TABLE OF EXHIBITS
`
`1006
`
`1007
`
`1008
`1009
`1010
`
`Exhibit No. Description
`1001
`U.S. Patent No. 10,368,361 B2 (“the ’361 Patent”)
`1002
`Prosecution History of U.S. Patent No. 10,368,361 B2
`1003
`Declaration of Mr. Proctor
`1004
`U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0341051 A1 (“Gaal”)
`1005
`LTE-Advanced: A Practical Systems Approach to Understanding
`3GPP LTE Releases 10 and 11 Radio Access technologies by
`Ahmadi (“Ahmadi”)
`R1-142771, CR 0191 to TS 36.211, Inclusion of eIMTA, TDD-
`FDD CA, and coverage enhancements, 3GPP TSG-RAN WG1
`Meeting #77, Ericsson (May 19-23, 2013) (“R1-142771”)
`R1-142772, CR 0158 to TS 36.212, Introduction of Rel 12 features
`of TDD-FDD CA and eIMTA, 3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 Meeting
`#77, Huawei (May 19-23, 2014) (“R1-142772”)
`3GPP TS 36.211 V12.2.0
`3GPP TS 36.213 V12.2.0
`Cobblestone Wireless, LLC v. T-Mobile USA, Inc., No. 2:22-cv-
`00447-JRG-RSP, Dkt. 62 (E.D. Tex. Apr. 8, 2023) (“Docket
`Control Order”)
`R1-132137, Signalling for flexible subframes and determination of
`their usage, 3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 Meeting #73, Panasonic (May
`20-24, 2013) (“R1-132137”)
`Sesia, S. et al., LTE—The UMTS Long Term Evolution, 2d ed.
`(2011)
`Kreher, R. & Gaenger, K., LTE Signaling, Troubleshooting and
`Optimization, 1st ed. (2011)
`3GPP TS 36.214 V11.1.0
`IBM International Technical Support Organization, An Introduction
`to Wireless Communications, 2d ed. (October 1995)
`Taylor, M.S. et al., Internet Mobility: The CDPD Approach (June
`11, 1996)
`Steele et al., GSM, cdmaOne and 3G Systems (2001)
`
`1011
`
`1012
`
`1013
`
`1014
`1015
`
`1016
`
`1017
`
`iv
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`

`1018
`1019
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`United States Patent No. 9,185,620 (“Khoryaev”)
`Katherine K. Vidal, Interim Procedure for Discretionary Denials in
`AIA Post-Grant Proceedings with Parallel District Court Litigation
`(June 21, 2022)
`
`
`
`v
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`
`
`
`CASES
`
`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
`Page(s)
`
`Apple Inc. v. Fintiv, Inc.,
`IPR2020-00019, Paper 11 (PTAB Mar. 20, 2020) ......................................................70, 72, 73
`
`Cobblestone Wireless, LLC v. AT&T Inc. et al.,
`No. 2:22-cv-00474 (E.D. Tex.) ..................................................................................................3
`
`Cobblestone Wireless, LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al.,
`No. 2:23-cv-00285 (E.D. Tex.) ..................................................................................................4
`
`Cobblestone Wireless, LLC v. T-Mobile USA, et al.,
`No. 2:22-cv-00477 (E.D. Tex.) ..................................................................................................3
`
`Cobblestone Wireless, LLC v. Verizon Communications Inc., et al.,
`No. 2:22-cv-00478 (E.D. Tex.) ..................................................................................................3
`
`Comcast Cable Commn’s, LLC v. Rovi Guides, Inc.,
`IPR2019-00231, Paper 14 (PTAB May 20, 2019) ...................................................................73
`
`Dish Network v. Broadband iTV,
`IPR2020-01280, Paper 17 (PTAB Feb. 4, 2021) .....................................................................71
`
`Mylan Pharms. Inc. v. Horizon Pharma USA,
`IPR2017-01995, Paper 72 (Mar. 28, 2019)..............................................................................18
`
`Phillips v. AWH Corp.,
`415 F.3d 1303 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (en banc) ................................................................................16
`
`Sand Revolution II LLC v. Continental Intermodal Group-Trucking LLC,
`IPR2019-01393, Paper 24 (PTAB June 16, 2020) ...................................................................72
`
`VMWare, Inc. v. Intellectual Ventures I LLC,
`No. IPR2020-00470, Paper 13 (P.T.A.B. Aug. 18, 2020) .......................................................71
`
`Williamson v. Citrix Online, LLC,
`792 F.3d 1339 (Fed. Cir. 2015)................................................................................................16
`
`STATUTES
`
`35 U.S.C. 282(b) ............................................................................................................................15
`
`35 U.S.C. § 102(a) .......................................................................................................................2, 3
`
`35 U.S.C. § 311 ................................................................................................................................1
`
`vi
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`35 U.S.C. § 314(a) .........................................................................................................................70
`
`35 U.S.C. § 315(e) ...........................................................................................................................3
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`
`Cl. No.
`10
`
`Elem.
`[10.pre]
`
`[10.1]
`
`[10.2]
`[10.3]
`
`[10.4]
`
`[10.5]
`[10.6]
`
`[10.7]
`
`[10.8]
`
`[11]
`
`11
`
`12
`
`[12]
`
`13
`
`15
`
`17
`
`[13]
`
`[15]
`
`[17.pre]
`
`LISTING OF CHALLENGED CLAIMS
`
`Claim Language
`A wireless base station for a wireless communication network, the wireless base
`station comprising:
`a quality status module configured to determine a respective quality status of a
`first frequency spectrum resource and a second frequency spectrum resource,
`wherein each of the first frequency spectrum resource and the second frequency
`spectrum resource are associated with an air interface that is available for use by
`the wireless base station for an uplink channel or a downlink channel;
`a processor coupled to the quality status module and configured to:
`determine, based on the quality status of the first frequency spectrum resource,
`that the first frequency spectrum resource is a sub-optimal resource, for the uplink
`channel and the downlink channel, relative to other frequency spectrum resources
`that are available for use by the wireless base station; and
`in response to the determination that the first frequency spectrum resource is the
`sub-optimal resource, assign the first frequency spectrum resource to a shared
`resource pool; and
`a scheduler module coupled to the processor and configured to:
`schedule the second frequency spectrum resource for the uplink channel or the
`downlink channel based on an initial directional allocation of frequency spectrum
`resources for the wireless base station;
`determine an updated directional allocation of frequency spectrum resource for the
`wireless base station after the second frequency spectrum resource is scheduled
`for the uplink channel or the downlink channel; and
`schedule the first frequency spectrum resource based on the updated directional
`allocation of frequency spectrum resources for the wireless base station.
`The base station of claim 10, further comprising: a memory coupled to the
`processor and configured to store an uplink resource pool, a downlink resource
`pool, and the shared resource pool, wherein the processor is further configured to
`assign, based on the determined quality status of the second frequency spectrum
`resource, the second frequency spectrum resource to one of the uplink resource
`pool or downlink resource pool.
`The wireless base station of claim 10, wherein the updated directional allocation
`of frequency spectrum resources is based on one or more of: current resource
`requests from a wireless device serviced by the wireless base station, current
`resource requests from the wireless base station, a number of frequency spectrum
`resources scheduled from an uplink resource pool for uplink channels, and a
`number of frequency spectrum resource scheduled from a downlink resource pool
`for downlink channels.
`The wireless base station of claim 10, wherein the initial directional allocation of
`frequency spectrum resources is based on current resource requests from a
`wireless device serviced by the wireless base station, and current resource requests
`from the wireless base station.
`The wireless base station of claim 10, wherein the first frequency spectrum
`resource includes multiple subcarriers and multiple resource elements associated
`with each of the multiple subcarriers.
`A non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes computer-executable
`instructions stored thereon, which in response to execution by a processor, cause
`the processor to perform or control performance of operations that comprise:
`
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`
`
`
`
`[17.1]
`
`[17.2]
`
`[17.3]
`
`[17.4]
`
`[17.5]
`
`[17.6]
`
`[17.7]
`
`determine a quality status of a first frequency spectrum resource that is available
`for use by a base station for an uplink channel or a downlink channel;
`determine, based on the quality status, that the first frequency spectrum resource is
`a sub-optimal resource, for the uplink channel and the downlink channel, relative
`to other frequency spectrum resources that are available for use by the base
`station,
`wherein to determine that the first frequency spectrum resource is the sub-optimal
`resource, the computer-executable instructions, in response to execution by the
`processor, cause the processor to perform or control performance of at least one
`operation that comprises: determine that a channel quality indicator (CQI) of the
`first frequency spectrum resource is less than a respective CQI of one or more
`other frequency spectrum resources that are available for use by the base station;
`and determine that a received interference power (RIP) of the first frequency
`spectrum resources is greater than a respective RIP of the one or more other
`frequency spectrum resources that are available for use by the base station;
`in response to the determination that the first frequency spectrum resource is the
`sub-optimal resource, assign the first frequency spectrum resource to a shared
`resource pool;
`schedule, based on an initial directional allocation of communication resources for
`the base station, a second frequency spectrum resource that is available for use by
`the base station for the uplink channel or the downlink channel;
`after the second frequency spectrum resource is scheduled for use by the base
`station, determine an updated directional allocation of communication resources
`for the base station; and
`select the first frequency spectrum resource from the shared resource pool, and
`schedule the first frequency spectrum resource for either the uplink channel or the
`downlink channel based on the determined updated directional allocation of
`communication resources for the base station.
`
`ix
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`
`
`Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 311 and 37 C.F.R. § 42.100, Nokia of America
`
`Corporation, Ericsson Inc., AT&T Corp., AT&T Mobility LLC, AT&T Services,
`
`Inc., Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile USA, Inc.
`
`(collectively, “Petitioners”) request inter partes review of claims 10-13, 15, and 17
`
`(“Challenged Claims”) of U.S. Patent No. 10,368,361 B2 (“the ’361 Patent,” Ex.
`
`1001) assigned to Cobblestone Wireless, LLC (“Patent Owner”). Petitioners
`
`respectfully request that the Challenged Claims be judged unpatentable and
`
`canceled.
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`
`The ’361 Patent modifies the TDD resource allocation scheme used in LTE.
`
`The ’361 Patent acknowledges that the prior art TDD resource allocation scheme
`
`assigned frequency resources to either uplink or downlink communications. To
`
`improve the flexibility, the ’361 Patent discloses the concept of a shared resource
`
`pool, which includes frequency resources that can be used for uplink or downlink.
`
`However, the 3GPP standards body (the industry group responsible for
`
`developing cellular standards) was already discussing proposed improvements to the
`
`TDD allocation schemes. Specifically, prior to the ’361 Patent, one of the suggested
`
`changes was to modify the TDD resource allocation scheme to use “flexible” or
`
`“dynamic” subframes to account for changing traffic needs in the network. These
`
`flexible or dynamic subframes allowed the network to adapt to changing traffic
`
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`
`patterns and improved prior art systems where the TDD subframe direction was
`
`fixed. These proposed changes were part of a feature referred to as an Enhanced
`
`Interference Mitigation & Traffic Adaptation (eIMTA), which is the subject of the
`
`prior art references Gaal and Khoryaev.
`
`Like the claims of the ’361 Patent, Gaal and Khoryaev identify that flexible
`
`subframes are subject to interference and propose a strategy to schedule flexible
`
`subframes to account for traffic needs (e.g., heavy downlink traffic) in the network.
`
`Gaal renders obvious the claims of the ’361 Patent because it discloses the
`
`same solution (flexible or shared resources) for a TDD allocation scheme in LTE.
`
`Alternatively, Gaal in combination with Khoryaev discloses the same.
`
`II. MANDATORY NOTICES
`
`REAL PARTIES IN INTEREST: The real parties in interest are Nokia of America
`
`Corporation, Ericsson Inc., AT&T Services Inc., AT&T Mobility LLC, AT&T
`
`Corp., Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile USA, Inc. 37 C.F.R.
`
`§ 42.8(b)(1).1 To avoid additional issues associated with real parties in interest,
`
`
`
`1 Out of an abundance of caution, Petitioners identify all current defendants in the
`
`above identified cases as potential real parties in interest only for the purpose of this
`
`proceeding and only to the extent that Patent Owner contends that these separate
`
`legal entities should be named real parties in interest in this IPR. Petitioners do so to
`
`2
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`Petitioners likewise identify Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. because its products are
`
`accused of infringement in the AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon actions, and Samsung
`
`Electronics Co., Ltd. has been named as a defendant in the litigation listed below.
`
`RELATED MATTERS:
`
`Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2), Petitioners are aware of the following
`
`pending patent infringement lawsuits involving the ’361 Patent:
`
` Cobblestone Wireless, LLC v. T-Mobile USA, et al., No. 2:22-cv-00477
`
`(E.D. Tex.) filed December 16, 2022;
`
` Cobblestone Wireless, LLC v. Verizon Communications Inc., et al., No.
`
`2:22-cv-00478 (E.D. Tex.) filed December 16, 2022;
`
` Cobblestone Wireless, LLC v. AT&T Inc. et al., No. 2:22-cv-00474
`
`(E.D. Tex.) filed December 15, 2022.
`
`
`
`avoid the potential expenditure of resources to resolve such a challenge. Petitioners
`
`also acknowledge that each petitioner has a number of affiliates. No unnamed entity
`
`is funding, controlling, or otherwise has an opportunity to control or direct this
`
`Petition or Petitioners’ participation in any resulting IPR. Petitioners are also not
`
`aware of any affiliate that would be barred from filing this Petition under 35 U.S.C.
`
`§ 315(e).
`
`3
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`
` Cobblestone Wireless, LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. et al., No.
`
`2:23-cv-00285 (E.D. Tex.) filed June 16, 2023.
`
`
`
`LEAD AND BACKUP COUNSEL: Petitioners provide the following designation
`
`and service information for lead and back-up counsel. 37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3) and
`
`(b)(4).
`
`Back-Up Counsel
`
`PETITIONER’S LEAD AND BACK-UP COUNSEL
`Lead Counsel
`John D. Haynes (Reg. No. 44,754)
`Alston & Bird LLP
`One Atlantic Center
`1201 West Peachtree Street NW
`Atlanta, GA 30309
`John.Haynes@alston.com
`404-881-7000
`Fax: 404-881-7777
`
`David Frist (Reg. No 60,511)
`Alston & Bird LLP
`One Atlantic Center
`1201 West Peachtree Street NW
`Atlanta, GA 30309
`David. Frist@alston.com
`404-881-7000
`Fax: 404-881-7777
`
`Michael Deane (Reg. No. 70,389)
`Alston & Bird LLP
`One Atlantic Center
`1201 West Peachtree Street NW
`Atlanta, GA 30309
`Michael.Deane@alston.com
`404-881-7000
`Fax: 404-881-7777
`
`
`
`4
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`SERVICE INFORMATION: Petitioners consent to electronic service by email
`
`at the email addresses: A&BCobblestone@alston.com.
`
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`III. STANDING UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(A)
`
`Petitioners hereby certify that the ’361 Patent is available for inter partes
`
`review. Petitioners also certify that they are not barred or estopped from requesting
`
`this inter partes review challenging the claims of the ’361 Patent on the grounds
`
`identified herein. Neither Petitioners nor any party in privity with Petitioners:
`
`(i) have filed a civil action challenging the validity of claims 10-13, 15, or 17 of the
`
`’361 Patent; (ii) have been served a complaint alleging infringement of the ’361
`
`Patent more than one year prior to the present date; or (iii) are estopped from
`
`challenging the claims on the grounds identified in the Petition. Claims 10-13, 15,
`
`and 17 of the ’361 Patent also have not been the subject of a prior IPR or a finally
`
`concluded district court litigation.
`
`IV. STATEMENT OF RELIEF REQUESTED
`
`Petitioners request inter partes review of challenged claims 10-13, 15, and 17
`
`of the ’361 Patent.
`
`V. PAYMENT OF FEES UNDER 37 C.F.R § 42.103
`
`Petitioners authorize Account No. 16-0605 to be charged for any fee set forth
`
`in 37 C.F.R. § 42.15(a) and for any additional fees.
`
`1
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`VI.
`
`IDENTIFICATION OF CHALLENGE
`
`Petitioners request inter partes review on the below grounds. Per 37 C.F.R. §
`
`42.6(c), copies of the references are filed with this Petition. This petition is
`
`accompanied by a Declaration of Mr. James Proctor.
`
`Ground ’361 Patent Claims Basis for Ground
`
`1
`
`2
`
`10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17 Obvious over U.S. Patent Application Publication
`
`No. 2014/0341051 A1 (“Gaal”)
`
`10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17 Obvious over Gaal in view of U.S. Pat. No. 9,185,620
`
`(“Khoryaev”)
`
`
`
`
`
`As stated on the face of the patent, the earliest priority date of the ’361 Patent
`
`is August 1, 2014. The relied upon reference is prior art to this patent for the reasons
`
`stated below.
`
`
`
`Gaal (Ex. 1004): U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0341051A1
`
`to Gaal (“Gaal”) is titled “Channel State Information (CSI) Measurement and
`
`Reporting for Enhanced Interference Management for Traffic Adaptation (EIMTA)
`
`in LTE.” Gaal was published on November 20, 2014, based on an application filed
`
`on May 13, 2014. Ex. 1004, Cover. Gaal is therefore prior art under at least 35 U.S.C.
`
`§ 102(a) (AIA).
`
`2
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`Khoryaev (Ex. 1018): U.S. Pat. No. 9,185,620 to Khoryaev (“Khoryaev”) is
`
`titled “Adaptive UL-DL Configurations in a TDD Heterogeneous Network.”
`
`Khoryaev was published Nov. 10, 2015, based on an application filed on Nov. 29,
`
`2012. Ex. 1018, Cover. Khoryaev is therefore prior art under at least 35 U.S.C. §
`
`102(a) (AIA).
`
`VII. BACKGROUND
`
`A. Person of Ordinary Skill in the Art
`A POSITA at the time of the alleged invention of the ’361 Patent would have
`
`had at least a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering,
`
`computer science, physics, or the equivalent, and at least two years of experience
`
`working in the field. Ex. 1003, ¶42. Relevant working experience would include
`
`experience with telecommunications and networking, radio-access networking,
`
`and/or service provisioning in wireless networks. Id. More education can supplement
`
`practical experience and vice versa. Id.
`
`B. Frame Structure of Time-Frequency Resources
`A wireless network includes base stations (BS) that communicate with user
`
`equipment (UE). Ex. 1003, ¶53. A downlink transmission is a transmission from the
`
`BS to the UE, and an uplink transmission is a transmission from the UE to the BS.
`
`The LTE standard is a 4th Generation (4G) wireless standard. In LTE, the
`
`resources used to communicate are time-frequency resources. In LTE, these time-
`
`3
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`frequency resources are organized into radio frames. The structure of an LTE radio
`
`frame is below. Ex. 1005 at 445; Ex. 1003, ¶57
`
`Ex. 1005, Fig. 9.31 (annotated); Ex. 1003, ¶57.
`
`
`
`
`
`The radio frame (outlined above in blue) is a 10ms time-frequency resource.
`
`The time domain is represented in the x-direction, and the frequency domain is
`
`represented in the y-direction. Ex. 1003, ¶¶58-59. The radio frame can be divided
`
`into ten 1 ms subframes (outlined in green). Id., ¶60. Each subframe is divided into
`
`0.5 ms slots (outlined in orange). Id., ¶61. For each slot, there are n resource blocks
`
`(RB) (outlined in dark red), which are the smallest units of resources that can be
`
`allocated to a user. Id., ¶62. A resource block may be, for example, 180 kHz wide in
`
`frequency and 1 slot long in time. Id. In frequency, resource blocks are further
`
`divided into subcarriers (shown in yellow highlighting). Id., ¶63.
`
`4
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`By defining radio frames to have these smaller units of time-frequency
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`resources, LTE provides multiple ways of controlling how communications between
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`BS and UE occur.
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`C. Resource Allocation in TDD and Interference Concerns
`The time-frequency resources described above can be allocated to users using
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`resource allocation schemes known in the art. Ex. 1003, ¶64. Time Division Duplex
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`(TDD) was one well-known resource allocation scheme that was used in LTE. Id.
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`TDD separates uplink and downlink transmissions in the time domain but uses
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`the same frequency range. Id., ¶66. The annotated figure below illustrates an
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`example of a TDD resource allocation scheme. The subframes in yellow could be
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`allocated to uplink transmissions while the subframes in blue could be allocated to
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`downlink transmissions. Id., ¶70.
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`Ex. 1005, Fig. 9.31 (annotated) (partial); Ex. 1003, ¶70.
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`Prior to the ’361 Patent, the LTE standard defined seven possible uplink-
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`downlink (UL-DL) subframe configurations for TDD. In the table below, the “D” is
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`downlink, the “U” is uplink, and the “S” is special, which is a frame that can be (but
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`does not have to be) divided by slot between uplink and downlink. Id., ¶71.
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`Ex. 1008 at 12.
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`A known problem prior to the ’361 Patent for TDD resource allocation
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`schemes was the possibility of inter-cell and intra-cell interference. Ex. 1003, ¶72.
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`Interference may occur due to collisions between uplink and downlink transmissions
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`on the same frequency, or interference may occur between neighboring cells using
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`the same frequency for transmissions. Id., ¶73.
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`For example, in the figure below, Petitioner’s expert shows how a BS on the
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`left operating in configuration 0 and a BS on the right operating in configuration 1
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`would create interference in subframes (SF) numbered SF4 and SF9 for a UE that
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`was camped between them. Id., ¶78. In particular, SF4 and SF9 for the BS on the left
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`are configured for uplink transmissions, but SF4 and SF9 for the BS on the right are
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`configured for downlink transmission. Id. The simultaneous uplink and downlink
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`transmissions would cause interference in SF4 and SF9 for a UE camped between
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`these two BSs. Id.
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`Ex. 1003, ¶78
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`For this reason, a POSITA would have known that network operators
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`generally used the same TDD configuration for adjacent BSs to avoid inter-cell
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`uplink/downlink interference. Id., ¶76.
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`D. Interference Measurements
`Prior to the ’361 Patent, a POSITA would have been aware of techniques to
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`measure inter-cell or other cell interference. Ex. 1003, ¶79. One such technique uses
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`channel state information (CSI) reference signals (CSI-RS). Id., ¶80. CSI-RS are
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`known reference signals sent by the BS that the UE measures to assess the state of
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`the channel. Id. The UE sends CSI information in measurement reports back to the
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`BS, which can adjust its signal accordingly. Id., ¶81.
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`One CSI metric that is fed back to the BS is called channel quality indicator
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`(CQI). Ex. 1009 at 58; Ex. 1005 at 664; Ex. 1003, ¶¶81-83. The CQI is a simplified
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`quantization of the measure of signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), which
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`is a measurement that will be lower in the presence of interference. Ex. 1003, ¶83.
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`The possible CQI values were defined by the LTE standard, with each value
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`representing a different signal quality for supporting certain modulation and coding
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`schemes which result in higher or lower efficiency of each measured subframe. Ex.
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`1009; Ex. 1003, ¶84. The following image is a table with the CQI index setting forth
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`the values:
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`Ex. 1009, Table 7.2.3-1
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`A POSITA would have known that CSI reports include CQI. Ex. 1003, ¶81.
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`For example, the prior art standards explicitly state that CSI “consists of ‘Channel
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`Quality Indicator (CQI), precoding matrix (PMI), precoding type indicator (PTI),
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`and/or rank indication (RI).’” Ex. 1009 at 58; Ex. 1003, ¶81; see also Ex. 1009 at 69
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`(“A UE is semi-statically configured by higher layers to periodically feed back
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`different CSI components (CQI, PMI, PTI, and/or RI)[.]”).
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`Indeed, CQI as a component of CSI feedback is a textbook principle that pre-
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`dates the ’361 Patent. See, e.g., Ex. 1012 at 352 (explaining CSI as “includ[ing]
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`Channel Quality Indicators (CQIs) as well as the MIMO-related feedback consisting
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`of RIs and PMIs.”). Ex. 1003, ¶82.
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`E. Dynamic Frame Configurations and 3GPP’s eIMTA
`Functionality
`Prior to the ’361 Patent, the 3GPP standards body discussed how resource
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`allocation schemes could be designed to efficiently allocate resources under
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`changing traffic conditions. Ex. 1003, ¶87.
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`Of relevance to the discussion of Gaal and Khoryaev below, the concept of
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`“dynamic” or “flexible” subframes had been
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`introduced. When using
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`dynamic/flexible subframes, the network could change the uplink/downlink
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`direction of certain subframes for short bursts to account for interference or traffic
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`demand. Ex. 1003, ¶88; Ex. 1004, ¶¶[0069], [0075]. Table 5 below is from a
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`contribution proposed by Panasonic to the standards body developing LTE:
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`Ex. 1011 at 3.
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`This table mirrors the TDD configurations table shown in Section VII.C with
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`one change. In this table, a subset of the subframes were designated with an “F” to
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`indicate that those subframes were “flexible” or “dynamic.” Ex. 1003, ¶90.
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`Accordingly, the above TDD configurations could allow “flexibility for the
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`adaptation of the traffic.” Ex. 1011 at 3; Ex. 1003, ¶90.
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`As part of this discussion on “dynamic” subframes, the eIMTA feature was
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`proposed as a strategy to mitigate scheduling interference that would arise from
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`dynamic subframes. Ex. 1010 at 87; Ex. 1006; Ex. 1007; Ex. 1003, ¶91. eIMTA
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`allows dynamic reconfiguration of UL-DL time slots based on interference
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`mitigation and traffic adaptation considerations. Ex. 1003, ¶91.
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`It was also known that interference considerations could be used to determine
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`whether to configure and use a flexible subframe or a regular/fixed subframe. Ex.
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`1003, ¶¶130-32. In particular, prior art references taught first determining whether
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`particular subframes will be affected by interference and then adapting the
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`subframes to be fixed or flexible to mitigate this interference. Id. For example,
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`Khoryaev discloses that UL-DL interference can occur between cells and teaches
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`adaptive, synchronized UL-DL configurations in the cells to resolve or mitigate
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`interference. Ex. 1018, 5:16-43. One example disclosed in Khoryaev is reducing the
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`set of possible UL-DL configurations available for a first cell based on the UL-DL
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`configuration of a neighboring cell that may interfere with the first cell. Ex. 1018,
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`Fig. 7, 9:30-33.
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`Thus, prior to the ’361 Patent, the allocation and scheduling of frequency
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`spectrum resources for uplink and downlink transmission based on channel
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`condition and traffic needs—the subject of the challenged claims—was known.
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`F. The ’361 Patent
`1. Description of the ’361 Pa