UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`
`
`CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS, INC.,
`Petitioner,
`v.
`TOUCHSTREAM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
`Patent Owner.
`
`
`
`
`Patent No. 11,048,751
`Filing Date: August 25, 2017
`Issue Date: June 29, 2021
`Title: PLAY CONTROL OF CONTENT ON A DISPLAY DEVICE
`
`
`
`
`
`Inter Partes Review No.: IPR2024-01232
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW UNDER 35 U.S.C. §§
`311-319 AND 37 C.F.R. § 42.100 et seq.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`II.
`
`
`MANDATORY NOTICES .................................................................................... ix
`I.
`INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 1
`II.
`SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT ..................................................................... 1
`I.
`OVERVIEW OF THE ’751 PATENT ........................................................... 2
`A.
`Brief Description ................................................................................. 2
`B.
`Prosecution History .............................................................................. 4
`C.
`Earliest Priority Date for the Claims .................................................... 5
`OVERVIEW OF PRIOR ART ....................................................................... 6
`A. Danciu .................................................................................................. 6
`1.
`Danciu is Entitled to a Priority Date of
`November 8, 2010 ...................................................................10
`B. Mahajan .............................................................................................11
`C.
`Calvert ................................................................................................13
`D. Aldrey ................................................................................................15
`IDENTIFICATION OF CHALLENGE PURSUANT
`TO 37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b) .........................................................................18
`A.
`Claims for Which Review is Requested and Grounds on
`Which Challenge Is Based .................................................................18
`314(a) Discretion Does Not Apply ....................................................18
`B.
`325(d) Discretion Does Not Apply ....................................................19
`C.
`Level of Ordinary Skill ......................................................................19
`D.
`Claim Construction ............................................................................20
`E.
`IV. SPECIFIC GROUNDS FOR UNPATENTABILITY..................................21
`A. Grounds A and B: Claims 1-20 are Rendered Obvious
`by Danciu- Mahajan or Danciu-Mahajan-Calvert .............................21
`1.
`Independent Claim 1 ................................................................21
`2.
`Dependent Claim 2 ..................................................................39
`
`III.
`
`i
`
`

`

`Dependent Claim 3 ..................................................................39
`3.
`Dependent Claim 4 ..................................................................40
`4.
`Dependent Claim 5 ..................................................................41
`5.
`Dependent Claim 6 ..................................................................43
`6.
`Dependent Claim 7 ..................................................................45
`7.
`Dependent Claim 8 ..................................................................46
`8.
`Dependent Claim 9 ..................................................................46
`9.
`10. Dependent Claim 10 ................................................................47
`11. Dependent Claim 11 ................................................................47
`12.
`Independent Claim 12 ..............................................................49
`13. Dependent Claim 13 ................................................................51
`14. Dependent Claim 14 ................................................................51
`15. Dependent Claim 15 ................................................................51
`16. Dependent Claim 16 ................................................................52
`17.
`Independent Claim 17 ..............................................................53
`18. Dependent Claim 18 ................................................................56
`19. Dependent Claim 19 ................................................................57
`20. Dependent Claim 20 ................................................................57
`Ground C: Claims 1-20 are Rendered Obvious by
`Aldrey in view of Mahajan ................................................................57
`1.
`Independent Claim 1 ................................................................57
`2.
`Dependent Claim 2 ..................................................................69
`3.
`Dependent Claim 3 ..................................................................70
`4.
`Dependent Claim 4 ..................................................................70
`5.
`Dependent Claim 5 ..................................................................71
`6.
`Dependent Claim 6 ..................................................................73
`7.
`Dependent Claim 7 ..................................................................73
`8.
`Dependent Claim 8 ..................................................................74
`9.
`Dependent Claim 9 ..................................................................74
`
`B.
`
`
`
`ii
`
`

`

`10. Dependent Claim 10 ................................................................75
`11. Dependent Claim 11 ................................................................75
`12.
`Independent Claim 12 ..............................................................76
`13. Dependent Claim 13 ................................................................78
`14. Dependent Claim 14 ................................................................78
`15. Dependent Claim 15 ................................................................78
`16. Dependent Claim 16 ................................................................79
`17.
`Independent Claim 17 ..............................................................79
`18. Dependent Claim 18 ................................................................82
`19. Dependent Claim 19 ................................................................82
`20. Dependent Claim 20 ................................................................83
`III. GROUNDS FOR STANDING & FEE PAYMENT....................................83
`IV. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................84
`CERTIFICATION UNDER 37 CFR § 42.24(d) ....................................................85
`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ...............................................................................86
`CLAIM LISTING APPENDIX ..............................................................................88
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`iii
`
`

`

`EXHIBITS
`
`U.S. Patent No. 11,048,751 (“the ʼ751 Patent”)
`
` Expert Declaration of David B. Lett
`
`Curriculum Vitae of David B. Lett
`
`Certified Prosecution History of the ’751 Patent
`
`U.S. Pub. No. 2004/0078812 (“Calvert”)
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 9,490,998 (“Danciu”)
`
`U.S. Prov. App. No. 61/411,386 (“Danciu Provisional”)
`
`U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0248802 (“Mahajan”)
`
`U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0172757 (“Aldrey”)
`
`Ex. 1101:
`
`
`Ex. 1102:
`
`Ex. 1103:
`
`Ex. 1104:
`
`Ex. 1105-1110: Reserved
`
`Ex. 1111:
`
`Ex. 1112:
`
`Ex. 1113:
`
`Ex. 1114:
`
`Ex. 1115:
`
`Ex. 1116-1119: Reserved
`
`Ex. 1120:
`
`Joint Claim Construction Statement, Touchstream
`Technologies, Inc. v. Google LLC, 6:21-cv-00569-ADA
`(WDTX) (Feb. 8, 2022)
`
`Exhibit 1 to Joint Disputed Claim Terms Charts, Touchstream
`Technologies, Inc. v. Vizbee, Inc., 1:17-cv-06247-PGG-KNF
`(SDNY) (Aug. 6, 2018)
`
`Jury Instructions, Touchstream Technologies, Inc. v. Google
`LLC, 6:21-cv-00569-ADA (WDTX) (July 21, 2023)
`
`Reserved
`
`U.S. Pub. No. 2002/0104096 (“Cramer”)
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 7,356,575 (“Shapiro”)
`
`iv
`
`
`Ex. 1121:
`
`
`Ex. 1122:
`
`
`Ex. 1123-29:
`
`Ex. 1130:
`
`Ex. 1131:
`
`
`
`

`

`
`Ex. 1132:
`
`Ex. 1133:
`
`Ex. 1134:
`
`Ex. 1135:
`
`Ex. 1136:
`
`Ex. 1137:
`
`Ex. 1138-40:
`
`Ex. 1141:
`
`
`Ex. 1142:
`
`
`Ex. 1143:
`
`
`Ex. 1144:
`
`
`Ex. 1145:
`
`
`
`
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 7,269,842 (“Estipona”)
`
`U.S. Pub. No. 2004/0267899 (“Rahman”)
`
`U.S. Pub. No. 2004/0098533 (“Henshaw”)
`
`U.S. Pub. No. 2004/0172656 (“Kim”)
`
`Reserved
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 7,343,419 (“Robinson”)
`
`Reserved
`
`CODING OF MOVING PICTURES AND AUDIO, MPEG-4
`Overview (Int’l Org. Standardisation 2002)
`
`ROBERT GODWIN-JONES, DIGITAL VIDEO UPDATE:
`YOUTUBE, FLASH, HIJJJGH-DEFINITION, 11
`LANGUAGE LEARNING & TECH. 16, 17 (2007)
`
`John C. Paolillo et al., A Network View of Social Media
`Platform History: Social Structure, Dynamics and Content on
`YouTube, PROC. 52ND HAWAII INT’L CONF. ON SYS.
`SCIS., 1, (2019)
`
`YouTube Opens Internet Video to Masses; Serving 3 Million
`Videos Daily and Growing, YouTube Unveils a Fast, Fun, and
`Easy Service for Consumers to Broadcast Original Video,
`MARKET WIRE, Dec. 15, 2005
`
`Hulu Debuts via Private Beta and on Distribution Partners
`AOL, Comcast, MSN, MySpace and Yahoo!; Company
`Announces Major Licensing Deals with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
`Studios Inc. and Sony Pictures Television; Providence Equity
`Partners Makes Strategic Investment in News
`Corporation/NBC Universal Online Video Joint Venture,
`BUS. WIRE, Oct. 29, 2007
`
`v
`
`

`

`Ex. 1146:
`
`
`Ex. 1147:
`
`
`Ex. 1148:
`
`
`Ex. 1149:
`
`
`Ex. 1150:
`
`
`Ex. 1151:
`
`
`Ex. 1152:
`
`
`Ex. 1153:
`
`
`Ex. 1154:
`
`
`Ex. 1155:
`
`
`Ex. 1156:
`
`
`
`Blockbuster Offers Cheaper Online Rental, ASSOCIATED
`PRESS, Jun. 13, 2007
`
`Adobe Delivers Flash Player 9 With H.264 Video Support; HD
`Quality Web Video and Audio Now Available With Adobe
`Flash Player Update, BUS. WIRE, Dec. 4, 2007
`
`Microsoft Unveils Silverlight to Power the Next Generation of
`Media Experiences on the Web; Leading Media Companies
`and Solution Providers Announce Support for New Solution
`for Video and Interactivity on Mac- and Windows-Based Web
`Browsers, PR NEWSWIRE US, Apr. 16, 2007
`
`Former Apple Multimedia Pioneers Unveil WebTV; New
`Company Brings Internet to Television Viewers, PR
`NEWSWIRE, Jun. 12, 1996
`
`Netflix, TiVo Team Up After 4-Year Courtship, ASSOCIATED
`PRESS, Oct. 30, 2008
`
`TiVo and Amazon.com Announce New Service Enabling
`Amazon Unbox Video Download to TiVo; TiVo Subscribers
`Will Soon Be Able to Watch Amazon Unbox Movies and TV
`Shows on Their TVs, BUS. WIRE, Feb. 7, 2007
`
`Wall Crumbling Between Televisions and Computers,
`AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE – ENGLISH, Jan. 8, 2009
`
`ENHANCED TV BINARY INTERCHANGE FORMAT 1.0,
`ETV (OpenCable Specifications, Nov. 25, 2009)
`
`Award-Winning Sonos™ Digital Music System Begins
`Shipping to Customers, PR NEWSWIRE US, Jan. 27, 2005
`
`Sonos Introduces the Sonos™ ZonePlayer ZP80, PR
`NEWSWIRE, Jan. 4, 2006
`
`Sonos Introduces the Sonos Controller for iPhone; Free
`Application Lets Music Lovers Control Leading Multi- Room
`Music System from Their iPhone, PR NEWSWIRE, Oct. 28,
`
`vi
`
`

`

`
`Ex. 1157:
`
`
`Ex. 1158:
`
`
`Ex. 1159:
`
`
`Ex. 1160:
`
`
`Ex. 1161:
`
`
`Ex. 1162:
`
`
`Ex. 1163:
`
`
`Ex. 1164:
`
`Ex. 1165:
`
`Ex. 1166:
`
`Ex. 1167:
`
`
`
`
`
`2008
`
`AT&T Opens R&D Lab in Cambridge, England, BUS. WIRE,
`Feb. 10, 1999
`
`Microsoft Releases Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition,
`M2 PRESSWIRE, Jun 16, 1998
`
`TeamViewer: TeamViewer 3.0 Beta Published; Next
`Generation of the Popular Remote Support Software, M2
`PRESSWIRE, Aug. 27, 2007
`
`3am Labs Announces $10 Million Series A Financing;
`McNamee Lawrence & Co. Acts as Exclusive Financial
`Advisor to 3am Labs, BUS. WIRE, Nov. 16, 2004
`
`Expertcity's GoToMyPC Product Wins A People's Choice
`Award At Upside Events' Showcase 2001, INTERNET WIRE,
`Feb. 1, 2001
`
`TV2Me(R) Goes Global By Partnering With Leading Asian
`Online Entertainment Company; Manila-Based ESL Adds
`Sales and Marketing Muscle to Bring Pioneering Place
`Shifting Technology to Wider Market, PR NEWSWIRE US,
`May 16, 2006
`
`CES Innovations 2005 Award and Red Herring Finalist for
`100 Most Innovative Companies are Latest Commendations
`for Sling Media, BUS. WIRE, Nov. 11, 2004
`
`Final Written Decision, IPR2022-00795 (Sep. 27, 2023)
`
`Patent Owner Response, IPR2022-00795 (Jan. 13, 2023)
`
`Reserved
`
`Progressive Networks Launches the First Commercial Audio-
`On-Demand System Over the Internet, BUS. WIRE, Apr. 10,
`1995
`
`vii
`
`

`

`Ex. 1168:
`
`
`Ex. 1169:
`
`Ex. 1170:
`
`Ex. 1171:
`
`
`Ex. 1172:
`
`
`Ex. 1173:
`
`Ex. 1174:
`
`Ex. 1175:
`
`Ex. 1176:
`
`Ex. 1177:
`
`Ex. 1178:
`
`
`Ex. 1179:
`
`Ex. 1180:
`
`Ex. 1181:
`
`Ex. 1182:
`
`Ex. 1183:
`
`Progressive Networks’ RealVideo Launched With Wide
`Industry Support, PR NEWSWIRE EUROPE, February 10,
`1997
`
`Reserved
`
`U.S. Pat. Application No. 61/477,998
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 8,904,289 to Strober (“the ’289 Patent”)
`
`Certified Copy of Prosecution History of U.S. Pat No.
`8,904,289
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 9,767,195 (“the ’195 Patent”)
`
`Certified Copy of Prosecution History of U.S. Pat. No.
`9,767,195
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 11,048,751 to Strober (“the ’751 Patent”)
`
`Certified Copy of Prosecution History of U.S. Pat. No.
`11,048,751
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 8,356,251 to Strober (“the ’251 Patent”)
`
`Certified Copy of Prosecution History of U.S. Pat. No.
`8,356,251
`
`Reserved
`
`Lett analysis of Danciu Claim 1 in view of Danciu Provisional
`
`Annotated Copy of Danciu Provisional in view of Danciu
`
`Reserved
`
`Claim Construction Order, Touchstream Technologies, Inc. v.
`Charter Communications, Inc. et al, 2-23-cv-00059-RJG (E.D.
`Tex.) (July 9, 2024)
`
`
`
`viii
`
`

`

`MANDATORY NOTICES
`
`
`Real Parties in Interest (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1))
`
`The real parties-in-interest for this petition are Charter Communications, Inc.,
`
`Charter Communications Operating, LLC, Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC,
`
`Spectrum Management Holding Company, LLC, Spectrum Gulf Coast, LLC, and
`
`Charter Communications, LLC.
`
`No unnamed entity is funding, controlling, or directing this Petition for inter
`
`partes review (IPR) of U.S. Patent No. 11,048,751 (“the ’751 Patent”), or otherwise
`
`has an opportunity to control or direct this Petition or Petitioner’s participation in
`
`any resulting IPR.
`
`Related Matters (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2))
`
`
`The ’751 Patent, along with related U.S. Patent Nos. 8,356,251 (“the ’251
`
`Patent”) and 11,086,934 (“the ’934 Patent”), is being asserted against Charter
`
`Communications, Inc., Charter Communications Operating, LLC, Time Warner
`
`Cable Enterprises LLC, Spectrum Management Holding Company, LLC, Spectrum
`
`Gulf Coast, LLC, and Charter Communications, LLC in Touchstream Technologies,
`
`Inc. v. Charter Communications, Inc. et al, 2-23-cv-00059-RJG (E.D. Tex.) (“EDTX
`
`Litigation”). The earliest date of service on any of the Charter entities named in the
`
`EDTX Litigation was February 28, 2023, however the ’751 and ’934 Patents were
`
`first asserted in a First Amended Complaint served on May 25, 2023.
`
`ix
`
`

`

`The ’751, ’251, and ’934 Patents are also presently being asserted against
`
`Comcast Cable Communications, LLC, d/b/a Xfinity, Comcast Corp., Comcast
`
`Cable Communications Management, LLC, and Comcast of Houston, LLC in the
`
`Eastern District of Texas in Touchstream Technologies, Inc. v. Comcast Cable
`
`Communications, LLC d/b/a Xfinity et al., 2:23-cv-00062-JRG; and against Altice
`
`USA, Inc., Cequel Communications, LLC, CSC Holdings, LLC, and Friendship
`
`Cable of Texas, Inc. in Touchstream Technologies, Inc. v. Altice USA, Inc. et al,
`
`2:23-cv- 00060-JRG (E.D. Tex.).
`
`The ’251 Patent is also presently being asserted against Google LLC in
`
`Touchstream Technologies, Inc. v. Google LLC, 6:21-cv-00569-ADA (W.D. Tex.)
`
`(“Touchstream-Google case”) along with related U.S. Patent Nos. 8,782,528 (“the
`
`’528 Patent”) and 8,904,289 (“the ’289 Patent”). The ’251, ’528, and ’289 Patents
`
`were the subject of requests for inter partes review filed by Google LLC in IPR2022-
`
`00795, IPR2022-00793, and IPR2022-00794 (presently on appeal). The real parties-
`
`in-interest in this Petition are not involved in any of those IPRs. The ’251, ’528, and
`
`’289 Patents were previously asserted against Vizbee, Inc. in Touchstream
`
`Technologies,
`
`Inc. v. Vizbee,
`
`Inc., 1:17-cv-06247-PGG-KNF
`
`(S.D.N.Y)
`
`(“Touchstream-Vizbee case”) which was terminated by stipulated dismissal on
`
`January 24, 2020.
`
`
`
`x
`
`

`

`The Board instituted IPR2024-00324 for the ‘751 Patent filed by Comcast
`
`Cable Communications, LLC. Concurrently with the filing of the present petition,
`
`Petitioners will be filing a motion to join the present proceeding to IPR2024-00324.
`
`The ’751 Patent was also the subject of request for inter partes review filed
`
`by Comcast Cable Communications, LLC in IPR2024-00323 which was not
`
`instituted. The real parties-in-interest in this Petition are not involved in that IPR.
`
`To Petitioners’ knowledge, no other petitions for inter partes review, post-
`
`grant review, or covered business method review have been filed against the ’751
`
`Patent.
`
`The Board instituted IPR2024-00322 for the ‘251 Patent filed by Comcast
`
`Cable Communications, LLC. The ’251 Patent was also the subject of request for
`
`inter partes review filed by Comcast Cable Communications, LLC in IPR2024-
`
`00321 which was not instituted. The real parties-in-interest in this Petition are not
`
`involved in those IPRs.
`
`The ’934 Patent was the subject of two requests for inter partes review filed
`
`by Comcast Cable Communications, LLC in IPR2024-00325 and IPR2024-00326
`
`which were not instituted. The real parties-in-interest in this Petition are not
`
`involved in those IPRs.
`
`Petitioner is also filing a petition for inter partes review against the related
`
`’251 Patent that is a “copycat” petition to IPR2024-00322.
`
`
`
`xi
`
`

`

`According to the Office’s records, the ’751 Patent is a continuation of U.S.
`
`Pat. App. No. 13/532,546, filed June 25, 2012 (issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,767,195)
`
`which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. App. No. 13/157,821, filed June 10, 2011
`
`(issued as the ’289 Patent), which claims priority to Provisional App. No.
`
`61/477,998, filed April 21, 2011.
`
`Lead and Back-Up Counsel (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3))
`
`
`Petitioner designates counsel listed below. A power of attorney for counsel is
`
`being concurrently filed.
`
`Lead Counsel
`Jeffrey A. Miller (Reg. No. 35,287)
`jeffrey.miller@apks.com
`
`Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
`3000 El Camino Real
`Five Palo Alto Square, Suite 500
`Palo Alto, CA 94306-3807
`Telephone: 650.319.4500
`Facsimile: 650.319.4700
`
`Back-Up Counsel
`Elizabeth A. Long (Reg. No. 51,966)
`elizabeth.long@arnoldporter.com
`
`Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
`250 West 55th Street
`New York, New York 10019-9710
`Telephone: 212.836.8000
`Facsimile: 212.836.8689
`
`
`
`Please address all correspondence to counsel at this address shown above.
`
`Petitioner consents to electronic service by email at the above emails.
`
`
`
`xii
`
`

`

`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`
`Charter Communications, Inc. (“Petitioner”) petitions for inter partes review
`
`and cancellation of claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 11,048,751 (“the ’751 Patent”)
`
`(Ex. 1101).
`
`II.
`
`SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT
`
`The Board should institute review and, pursuant to the motion for joinder filed
`
`with this petition, join the resulting proceeding to previously instituted PR2024-
`
`00324 filed by Comcast. As stated in Petitioner’s concurrently motion for joinder,
`
`there are no substantive differences between Comcast’s and Petitioner’s Petitions,
`
`and the evidence relied on is substantially the same.
`
`The ’751 Patent generally claims computer-implemented methods directed to
`
`translating commands among associated devices to control media. The methods use
`
`a display device to present video content using one of a plurality of media players
`
`controlled via messages transmitted from a computing device to a server, converted
`
`into commands appropriate for the selected media player to control playing of the
`
`video content, and then transmitted to the display device. The display device is
`
`assigned a synchronization code which is used to associate the computing device
`
`with the display device and stored in the server.
`
`These features and additional features of the ’751 Patent claims are disclosed
`
`or rendered obvious by the prior art, e.g., Ex. 1112 and other references relied on
`
`
`
`1
`
`

`

`herein. Accordingly, as set forth below and in view of the declaration of Mr. Lett,
`
`claims 1-20 of the ’751 Patent are unpatentable and should be cancelled. Ex. 1102,
`
`¶¶1-32, 60-77.
`
`I.
`
`OVERVIEW OF THE ’751 PATENT
`
`A. Brief Description
`The ’751 Patent describes a system 10 for using a server system 24 (green) to
`
`facilitate a connection between a personal computing device 20 (blue) for selecting
`
`content, and a television/display device 22 (red) for displaying the selected content.
`
`Ex. 1101, 3:13-36; Ex. 1102, ¶¶40-42.
`
`
`
`2
`
`
`
`

`

`Ex. 1101, Fig. 1 (annotated)
`
`The connection between the personal computing device (e.g., a mobile phone)
`
`and the display device may be established by the user selecting from a list of devices
`
`displayed on the mobile phone’s screen or alternatively the user can enter a
`
`synchronization code on the mobile phone that is uniquely associated with the
`
`display device. Ex. 1101, 5:25-33. The synchronization code can be obtained from,
`
`for example, a text or QR code displayed on the screen of the display device. Id.,
`
`5:33-40. The server system may then store the association between the personal
`
`computing device and display device in a look-up table. Id., 5:5-5:24, 5:47-58.
`
`When a user selects particular content on the mobile phone, a message is
`
`formatted and transmitted to the server which contains information to facilitate the
`
`playback of selected video content. Id., 4:39-55. The message is received by the
`
`server and the information is stored in a database. Id., 4:56-5:4. The server then
`
`confirms a connection between the personal computing device and display device,
`
`and copies the message information to a database associated with the display device.
`
`Id., 5:59-6:4. The server also identifies the media player requested in the message
`
`and converts the commands from the personal computing device into the correct
`
`code for use on the display device to control the media player. Id., 6:4-37. The
`
`information in the database associated with the display device is then transmitted to,
`
`or retrieved by the display device. Id., 6:38-48. The display device then acts on the
`
`
`
`3
`
`

`

`message information by, for example, loading the requested media player, obtaining
`
`the selected video content file, and playing the video. Ex. 1101, 6:49-7:3. After the
`
`video is playing on the display device, the user may further control the playing by
`
`entering commands through the mobile phone and transmitted through the server as
`
`described above. Id., 7:4-15.
`
`B.
`
`Prosecution History
`
`The application that led to the ’751 Patent, U.S. Application No. 15/687,249,
`
`was filed on August 25, 2017 with 20 claims including independent claims 1, 12,
`
`and 17. Ex. 1104, pp. 1–51; Ex. 1102, 54-59; Ex. 1102, ¶¶43-59.
`
`All claims were rejected in an Office Action dated January 8, 2019 as
`
`anticipated by U.S. Published Application 2012/0130971 to Morris or as obvious
`
`over Morris in view of U.S. Published Application 2009/0248802 to Mahajan. Ex.
`
`1104, pp. 63–74. In a response dated May 9, 2019, Applicant argued that neither
`
`Morris nor Mahajan disclose “a first message that includes at least one command in
`
`a first format, wherein the first message is received based at least in part on a second
`
`message including at least one command in a second format.” Id., pp. 168–173.
`
`In a Final Office Action dated June 12, 2019, the rejections of all claims in
`
`view of Morris or Morris-Mahajan was maintained. Id., pp. 176–190. An interview
`
`was held on June 25, 2019 but no agreement was reached. Id., pp. 212–216. In an
`
`Amendment dated December 12, 2019, Applicant amended the claims to require,
`
`
`
`4
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`

`

`among other things, a synchronization code associating a first and second computing
`
`devices, and that the media player be selected from a plurality of media players. Ex.
`
`1104, pp. 234–241.
`
`A Notice of Allowance was issued on April 2, 2020. Id., p. 493. The issue fee
`
`was paid on June 30, 2020. Id., pp. 548-553. However, a Petition to Withdraw from
`
`Issue was filed July 22, 2020 along with an Information Disclosure Statement (IDS)
`
`containing additional prior art. Id., pp. 555–565. Another Notice of Allowance was
`
`issued September 3, 2020. Id., p. 684. Another Petition to Withdraw from Issue with
`
`an IDS was filed on September 3, 2020. Id., pp. 698–703.
`
`Claims 1, 12 and 17 were rejected in an Office Action dated February 2, 2021
`
`as unpatentable for nonstatutory double patenting over co-pending application
`
`16/917,095 (which eventually issued as the ’934 Patent). Ex. 1104, pp. 744-752.
`
`Applicant filed a Terminal Disclaimer on March 31, 2021. Id., p. 826. A Notice of
`
`Allowance was issued on May 26, 2021. Id., p. 844. The ’751 Patent issued on June
`
`29, 2021. Ex. 1101, cover.
`
`C. Earliest Priority Date for the Claims
`
`The earliest possible priority date for the claims of the ’751 Patent is April 21,
`
`2011, the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/477,998 to which the
`
`’751 Patent claims priority. Ex. 1102, ¶¶44-48. Each of the references relied on
`
`herein is prior art to that date as explained below.
`
`
`
`5
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`

`

`II. OVERVIEW OF PRIOR ART
`A. Danciu
`
`Danciu (Ex. 1112) is a U.S. Patent, No. 9,490,998, filed March 7, 2011, that
`
`claims priority to and incorporates by reference U.S. Provisional Application
`
`61/411,386, filed November 8, 2010, in its entirety. Ex. 1112, cover, 1:3-5. Danciu
`
`is prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102(e). Danciu was not considered during prosecution.
`
`Ex. 1101, cover; Ex. 1102, ¶¶78-79.
`
`Danciu is directed to techniques for exchanging information to control
`
`playback of content on a web-enabled device such as a network-enabled television.
`
`Ex. 1112, 1:39-50. Danciu’s networked device is disclosed as a controlled device 18
`
`(red), which may be a computing device such as an Internet-connected television
`
`connected via network 22, including servers 24A-24N (green), to a remote control
`
`14 (blue), which may be any portable computing device such as a cell phone, tablet,
`
`laptop, or even a portable desktop computer. Id., 3:21-28, 5:1-12, 5:42-63, Fig. 1;
`
`Ex. 1102, ¶¶80-96.
`
`
`
`6
`
`

`

`Ex. 1112, Fig. 1 (annotated)
`
`
`
`Danciu contemplates that the network may comprise a large number of
`
`devices under control, including multiple remote controls and controlled devices.
`
`Ex. 1112, 7:41-8:58, Fig. 2.
`
`
`
`7
`
`
`
`

`

`Ex. 1112, Fig. 2
`
`Danciu discloses that a “network service may assign each remote control and
`
`each controlled device a unique identifier” that is used in pairing. Ex. 1112, 4:4-13,
`
`4:36-45, 6:40-7:10, 8:23-49, 13:16-32, 15:28-58. Danciu’s remote control provides
`
`commands for content being played on controlled device. Id., 5:29-37. In doing so,
`
`the controlled device receives commands from the remote control to alter content
`
`displayed on the display of the controlled device. Id., 5:64-6:2, 10:45-53; Ex. 1102,
`
`¶¶86-89.
`
`Ex. 1112, Fig. 6
`
`
`
`
`
`8
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`

`

`Danciu teaches that commands received by the controlled device are
`
`understood and operated upon. Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example
`
`operation of a network server communicating with a controlled device. Ex. 1112,
`
`3:7-8, 5:29-37, 7:17-29, 18:55-19:22, Fig. 9. For example, the controlled device may
`
`have the ability to select a program to view content from YouTube, Netflix, or Hulu
`
`based on received commands. Id., 11:22-35; 12:32-49, 16:55-67, 17:21-43. Figure 9
`
`depicts a process beginning with the server receiving messages from a controlled
`
`device. Id., 18:55-19:22, Fig. 9.
`
`
`
`Ex. 1112, Fig. 9
`
`
`
`9
`
`

`

`1.
`
`Danciu is Entitled to a Priority Date of November 8, 2010
`
`As shown below, U.S. Provisional Application 61/411,386 (“Danciu
`
`Provisional”) provides written description support for at least claim 1 of Danciu. Ex.
`
`1102, ¶78; Ex. 1180. This entitles Danciu to its provisional’s filing date. Dynamic
`
`Drinkware, LLC v. National Graphics, Inc., 800 F.3d 1375, 1381 (Fed. Cir. 2015).
`
`
`
`Danciu
`Claim 1
`[1 Pre]
`
`[1a]
`
`[1b]
`
`[1c]
`[1d]
`[1e]
`
`[1f]
`[1g]
`
`[1h]
`
`
`
`Ex. 1113, [0006]
`
`Danciu Provisional
`
`Ex. 1113, Claim 13, [0021], [0024], [0038], [0065],
`[0069], [0073].
`
`Ex. 1113, Claim 2, [0005], [0037], [0065], [0069],
`[0073].
`Ex. 1113, Claim 2, [0065].
`Ex. 1113, [0022], [0037], [0065], [0084].
`Ex. 1113, Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim 16, [0005], [0022],
`[0065], [0084].
`
`Ex. 1113, Claim 2, [0084].
`Ex. 1113, Abstract, Claims 1, 16, 17, [0005], [0006],
`[0007], [0074], [0078], Fig. 7.
`Ex. 1113, Abstract, Claims 1, 16, 17, [0005]-[0007],
`[0078], Figs. 5, 7.
`
`10
`
`

`

`Danciu
`Claim 1
`
`B. Mahajan
`
`[1i]
`
`
`
`Danciu Provisional
`Ex. 1113, Abstract, Claims 1, 16, 17, [0005],-[0007],
`[0078], Fig. 7.
`
`Mahajan (Ex. 1114) is a U.S. Patent Publication, No. 2009/0248802, that
`
`published on October 1, 2009. Ex. 1114, cover. Mahajan is thus prior art under 35
`
`U.S.C. § 102(b). Mahajan was cited during prosecution as a secondary reference, as
`
`discussed above. Ex. 1104, pp. 63–74; Ex 1102, ¶¶120-126.
`
`Mahajan discloses a client-server collaboration session wherein a user may
`
`enter commands (orange) to a server (blue) for controlling content (purple) that is
`
`playing on a client device (red). Ex. 1114, [0011]-[0013]; Figs. 1-2, 4. The platform
`
`translates generic commands to platform specific media playback commands that
`
`can be understood by the client’s media platform. Id., [0012]-[0013], [0022], [0035]-
`
`[0036], [0041], Figs. 3, 5.
`
`
`
`11
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`

`

`Ex. 1114, Fig. 2 (annotated)
`
`
`
`Mahajan’s server translates specific commands of a first type to
`
`genericized commands, the genericized commands are transmitted, and then
`
`Mahajan’s client translates those generic commands to specialized commands of a
`
`second type. Id., [0035]-[0036], Figs. 1-2. Command mappings are shown in
`
`Figure 3. Id., [0036]-[0043], [0063], Figs. 3, 5.
`
`
`
`12
`
`

`

`Ex. 1114, Fig. 3
`
`
`
`C. Calvert
`
`Calvert (Ex. 1111) is a U.S. Published Application, No. 2004/0078812,
`
`published April 22, 2004. Calvert is prior art under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) and
`
`was not considered during prosecution. Ex. 1101, cover; Ex. 1102, ¶107.
`
`Calvert describes a system for aggregating audio and video content from
`
`multiple sources into a unified listing for selection and delivery to a playback device.
`
`Ex. 1111, [0020]-[0044], Figs. 1-11; Ex. 1102, ¶¶108-114. Content aggregator 102
`
`(green) has multiple media services available to it that include audio and/or video
`
`content in various formats. Ex. 1111, [0020]-[0021], [0024]-[0025], Figs. 1-2. Upon
`
`request, content aggregator 102 provides a listing of available services to playback
`
`device 202 (red) which displays the listing on display device 222. Id., [0025]-
`
`
`
`13
`
`

`

`[0027], [0033]-[0038], Figs. 2-4.
`
`
`
`Ex. 1111, Fig. 2 (annotated)
`
`
`
`Following selection by a user of a particular media service, device 202
`
`requests the selected service directly from the media service provider, or through
`
`content aggregator 102. Id., [0027], [0038]-[0040], Figs. 3-4; Ex. 1102, ¶¶115-119.
`
`Device 202 receives the media service in the form of a data transmission which
`
`device 202 analyzes to determine its format. Id., [0027], [0040]-[0042], Figs. 3, 6.
`
`Based on this determination, the media service data is provided to the appropriate
`
`player application (e.g., RealPlayer, QuickTime player, Microsoft Media Player) and
`
`output to the user. Id., [0027], [0030]-[0032], [0043], Figs. 3, 6. In the event that a
`
`
`
`14
`
`

`

`new media player is needed to playback the media service, device 202 downloads
`
`the new media player. Ex. 1111, [0032].
`
`D. Aldrey
`
`Aldrey (Ex. 1115) is a U.S. Published Application, No. 2009/0172757,
`
`published July 2, 2009. Aldrey is prior art under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) and
`
`was not considered during prosecution. Ex. 1101, cover; Ex. 1102, ¶97.
`
`Aldrey is directed to a system that integrates television and other computing
`
`devices “thereby broadening the scope of devices available to consumers for r