throbber
Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 112 Filed 12/09/16 Page 1 of 34 PageID #: 1291
`
`IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
`MARSHALL DIVISION
`


`§ Case No. 2:16-cv-00741-JRG

`
`LEAD CASE


`§ Case No. 2:16-cv-00860-JRG
`
`
`UNILOC USA, INC., et al,
`
`Plaintiffs,
`
`
`v.
`
`
`
`ADP, LLC,
`BOX, INC.,
`
`Defendants.
`
`
`PLAINTIFFS’ OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANT
`BOX, INC.’S MOTION TO DISMISS
`
`
`
`
`2AA9538
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 112 Filed 12/09/16 Page 2 of 34 PageID #: 1292
`
`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`STATEMENT OF ISSUES TO BE DECIDED ................................................................. 1 
`
`COMPUTER PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY THE ASSERTED PATENTS ................. 1 
`
`LEGAL STANDARDS ...................................................................................................... 5 
`
`ARGUMENT ...................................................................................................................... 7 
`
`
`I. 
`
`II. 
`
`III. 
`
`IV. 
`
`V. 
`
`VI. 
`

`
`
`
`
`
`A. 
`B. 
`
`C. 
`
`Step 1: The Asserted Patents Claim Patentable Subject Matter ............................. 7 
`The Asserted Patents are Directed Toward an Improvement in the Way
`Computers Operate ............................................................................................... 16 
`Step 2: The Claims of the Asserted Patents Add an Inventive Concept ............... 20 
`The Specific Components Recited in the Claims Perform Specific
`a. 
`Functions Within a Network ..................................................................... 26 
`Box has Failed to Sustain its Burden of Showing that Generic
`Components as Arranged in the Asserted Claims do not Amount to
`Inventive Concepts.................................................................................... 28 
`VENUE IS PROPER UNDER CONTROLLING LAW .................................................. 29 
`
`b.  
`
`CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................. 29 
`
`i
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 112 Filed 12/09/16 Page 3 of 34 PageID #: 1293
`
`
`
`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
`Cases 
`2-Way Computing, Inc., v. Grandstream Networks, Inc.,
`2:16-cv-0111-RCJ-PAL (D. Nev. Oct. 18, 2016) .................................................................... 14
`Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Int’l,
`134 S. Ct. 2347 (2014) ...................................................................................................... passim
`Amdocs (Isr.) Ltd. v. Opennet Telecom, Inc.,
`2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 19593 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 1, 2016) .................................................... 25, 26
`Ashcroft v. Iqbal,
`556 U.S. 662 (2009)) .................................................................................................................. 5
`Audio MPEG, Inc. v. HP, Inc.,
`2:15-cv-00073-HCM-RJK (E.D. Va. Jun. 29, 2016) ............................................................... 18
`Bancorp Servs., LLC v. Sun Life Assur. Co. of Canada (U.S.),
`687 F.3d 1266 (Fed. Cir. 2012) .................................................................................................. 7
`Bascom Global Internet Servs. v. AT&T Mobility LLC,
`2016 U.S. App. Lexis 11687 (Fed. Cir. Jun. 27, 2016) ........................................... 7, 20, 24, 29
`Core Wireless Lic. S.à.r.l. v. LG Elecs., Inc.,
`2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 123232 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 8, 2016) ...................................................... 15
`Core Wireless Lic. S.à.r.l. v. LG Elecs., Inc.,
`2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 35663 (E.D. Tex. Mar. 20, 2016) ....................................................... 15
`DDR Holdings, LLC v. Hotels.com, L.P.,
`773 F.3d 1245 (Fed. Cir. 2014) ......................................................................................... passim
`Diamond v. Diehr,
`450 U.S. 175 (1981) ................................................................................................................... 6
`Enfish LLC v. Microsoft Corp.,
`2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 8699 (Fed. Cir. May 12, 2016) ................................................... passim
`Genband US LLC v. Metaswitch Networks Ltd.,
`2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134659 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 29, 2016) ............................................. passim
`Gonzalez v. Kay,
`577 F.3d 600 (5th Cir. 2009) ...................................................................................................... 5
`Harrington v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co.,
`563 F.3d 141 (5th Cir. 2009) ...................................................................................................... 5
`In re BRCA1- & BRCA2-Based Hereditary Cancer Test Pat. Lit.,
`774 F.3d 755 (Fed. Cir. 2014) .................................................................................................... 7
`JDS Techs., Inc. v. Exacq Techs.,
`2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 73622 (E.D. Mich., June 7, 2016) ....................................................... 8
`
`ii
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 112 Filed 12/09/16 Page 4 of 34 PageID #: 1294
`
`Mayo Collaborative Servs. v. Prometheus Labs., Inc.,
`132 S. Ct. 1289 (2012) ............................................................................................................... 6
`McRo, Inc. v. Bandai Namco Games AM. Inc.,
`2016 WL 4896481 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 13, 2016) ............................................................................ 8
`Nystrom v. Trex Co.,
`424 F.3d 1136 (Fed. Cir. 2005) .................................................................................................. 7
`Perdiemco, LLC v. Industrack LLC,
`2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 135667 (E.D. Tex., July 7, 2016) ................................................ passim
`Personalized Media Commc’ns, LLC v. Samsung Elec. Am., Inc.,
`2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 135669 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 21, 2016) .................................................... 20
`RPost Holdings, Inc. v. Readnotify.com Pty. Ltd.,
`No. 2:11-cv-16, 2012 WL 3201898 (E.D. Tex. Jun. 29, 2012) ................................................. 5
`Turner v. Pleasant,
`663 F.3d 770 (5th Cir. 2011 ....................................................................................................... 5
`
`Rules 
`35 U.S.C. § 282 ............................................................................................................................... 7
`35 U.S.C. §101 .......................................................................................................................... 1, 18
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`iii
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 112 Filed 12/09/16 Page 5 of 34 PageID #: 1295
`
`Plaintiffs, Uniloc USA, Inc. and Uniloc Luxembourg, S.A. (together “Uniloc” or
`
`“Plaintiffs”), respectfully submit this opposition to the motion of defendant, Box, Inc.
`
`(“Defendant” or “Box”), to dismiss for failure to state a claim or for improper venue (“Motion” or
`
`“Mot.”). For the reasons set forth herein, the Motion should be denied.
`
`I.
`
`STATEMENT OF ISSUES TO BE DECIDED1
`
`A.
`
`
`B.
`
`Has Box proved by clear and convincing evidence that the claims of the
`Asserted Patents are directed to abstract ideas under 35 U.S.C. §101?2
`
`If so, has Box proved by clear and convincing evidence that any such
`claim(s) of the Asserted Patents include no inventive concepts under 35
`U.S.C. §101?
`
`Is Venue proper in this District under controlling law?
`
`
`C.
`
`COMPUTER PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY THE ASSERTED PATENTS
`
`II.
`
`As explained in detail below, the Asserted Patents solve particular problems in the
`
`computer field, thus rendering them patent eligible. See Enfish LLC v. Microsoft Corp., 2016 U.S.
`
`App. LEXIS 8699, at *21 (Fed. Cir. May 12, 2016) (“claims [that] are directed to a specific
`
`implementation of a solution to a problem in the software arts” are not invalid under Section 101).
`
`Moreover, the claims of the Asserted Patents are “necessarily rooted in computer technology in
`
`order to overcome a problem specifically arising in the realm of computer networks” because they
`
`“amount to an inventive concept for resolving this particular Internet-centric problem.” DDR
`
`Holdings, LLC v. Hotels.com, L.P., 773 F.3d 1245, 1257 (Fed. Cir. 2014) Thus, contrary to Box’s
`
`argument, the claims are patent eligible. Id. at 1259.
`
`                                                            
`1 Box did not provide a Statement of the Issues. Therefore, Uniloc includes this Statement pursuant
`to L.R. 7(c).
`
` The Asserted Patents are U.S. Patent Nos. 6,510,466 (“the ’466 Patent”), 6,324,578 (“the ’78
`Patents”) and 7,069,293 (“the ’293 Patent”). The Asserted Patents are all related and share a
`common specification. Copies of the Asserted Patents were filed with the Complaint. See Dkt.
`No. 1.
`
` 2
`
`1
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 112 Filed 12/09/16 Page 6 of 34 PageID #: 1296
`
`The Asserted Patents, originally issued to IBM, relate to network and application
`
`management on a computer network. See ’466 Patent at 1:21-23; ’578 Patent at 1:21-23. Further,
`
`the Asserted Patents are all part of a family of patents drawn toward addressing the inefficiencies
`
`in application management in a client-server environment. Accordingly, they share similar
`
`specifications.3 Prior to the inventions claimed in the Asserted Patents, many information
`
`technology organizations struggled with application deployment management particularly with the
`
`advent of large, distributed networks. See, e.g., ’578 Patent 1:45-48. Among the problems facing
`
`the industry were: configuring geographically diverse machines running different operating
`
`systems; installing new and updated software in a timely and efficient manner; monitoring
`
`software and data to ensure that they were synchronized with administrative policy; and
`
`automating the software life cycle from development through production. Another major
`
`challenge facing the industry at that time was maintaining proper licensing procedures for existing
`
`software installations. Id. at 1:52-56.
`
`A known approach to reducing software distribution was to use an application server to
`
`store and maintain application programs which may then be transmitted over a network to a
`
`plurality of client stations using a software program, such as Systems Management Server
`
`(“SMS”) from Microsoft Corporation. Id. at 1:57-62. However, a customized install was required
`
`each time for each different version of a given application. Id. at 1:67-2:2. Further, an install was
`
`specific to a client station rather than to a given user. Id. at 2:2-3. Moreover, applications could
`
`not be deleted or updated on the station. Id. at 2:3-6. In addition, combinations of network
`
`                                                            
`3 Uniloc asserts: claims 1-8, 10-11, 13-39, and 41-46 of the ’578 Patent; claims 1, 12 and 17 of the
`’293 Patent; claims 1- 5, 7-9, 13, 15-20, 22-24, 28-33, 35-37, and 41-42 of the ’466 Patent. See
`Dkt. No. 51 at ¶¶ 30, 41, 52.  
`
`2
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 112 Filed 12/09/16 Page 7 of 34 PageID #: 1297
`
`connections, differing hardware, native applications and network applications made portability of
`
`preferences or operating environments difficult. Id. at 2:19-25.
`
`Attempted solutions such as Novell’s Z.E.N.works™, Microsoft’s “Zero Administration”
`
`initiative for Windows®, and International Business Machines Corporation’s Workspace On
`
`Demand™ attempted to address the issue of mobility of users within a network including
`
`preference mobility. Id. at 2:35-40. These efforts typically required pre-installation of software at
`
`the station to support their services. Id. at 2:40-42. Some of these efforts were largely limited to a
`
`homogenous environment, where the station and server utilized the same operating system. Id.at
`
`2:47-49. Traditional mainframe models for centralized management, such as with the IBM 3270
`
`system or an X Windows environment, only allowed for execution of applications to occur at the
`
`server rather than the client station. Id. at 2:50-55. None of these attempted solutions addressing
`
`the issue of mobility of users presented application choices for a given user. Id. at 3:8-11. Instead,
`
`they presented information associated with a given client station. Id. Moreover, users had to either
`
`manually define their session characteristics at each different client station in the network, or
`
`maintain local characteristic definitions which may have been inappropriate for particular
`
`executing applications. Id.at 3:11-17.
`
`The ’466 Patent seeks to resolve the long-standing problem of providing a seamless
`
`integration of application access and session characteristics across heterogeneous networks. See
`
`’466 Patent at 3:21-23. The claimed subject matter of the ’466 Patent is directed to resolving that
`
`problem by providing methods, systems and computer program products for centralized
`
`management of application programs on a network including a server and a client. See, e.g., id. at
`
`21:17-18; 22:57-59; 23:9-10. A plurality of application programs are installed at a server, which
`
`receives a login request from a user at a client. Id. at 21:20-22. A user desktop interface is
`
`3
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 112 Filed 12/09/16 Page 8 of 34 PageID #: 1298
`
`established at the client in response to the login request and includes a plurality of display regions
`
`associated with a set of application programs from the user desktop interface and, in response, an
`
`instance of the selected application program is provided to the client for execution. Id. at 21:30-
`
`35. Thus, the application programs may be installed at the server and an instance of a selected
`
`application program may be provided to a client when needed for execution.
`
`
`
`The ’578 Patent seeks to reduce costs and increase uniformity in managing software in a
`
`network environment by delivering configured applications when demanded by a user and
`
`provides “an essentially hardware transparent ability for an individual user to interface to an on-
`
`demand server supported client station while maintaining the user’s personal preferences for each
`
`application program.” ’578 Patent at 6:2-9. The ’578 Patent is directed to resolving that problem
`
`by claiming a method for management of configurable programs on a network. Id. at 14:65-67.
`
`An application launcher program associated with the application program is distributed to a client
`
`coupled to the network. Id. at 15:1-3. A user set of the plurality of configurable preferences
`
`associated with one of the plurality of authorized users executing the application launcher program
`
`is obtained. Id. at 15:4-7. In addition, an administrator set of the plurality of configurable
`
`preferences is obtained from an administrator. Id. at 15:8-9. The application program is then
`
`executed using the obtained user set and the obtained administrator set of the plurality of
`
`configurable preferences responsive to a request from the one of the plurality of authorized users.
`
`Id. at 15:9-13. This provides for the desired reduced costs and increased uniformity in managing
`
`software in a network environment by delivering configured applications when demanded by a
`
`user. Id. at 6:2-5.
`
`
`
`The ’293 Patent provides an approach to the limited capabilities associated with centralized
`
`management of software distribution by providing “a uniform framework for deployment of new
`
`4
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 112 Filed 12/09/16 Page 9 of 34 PageID #: 1299
`
`or updated application programs from different software designers.” ’293 Patent at 3:32-34. The
`
`claims of the ’293 Patent are directed toward resolving this problem by, inter alia, providing a
`
`method for distribution of application programs to a target on-demand server on a network. Id. at
`
`21:22-25. Source and target directories for distribution of the application program are specified.
`
`Id. at 21:26-30. Further, a file packet associated with the application program is prepared and
`
`includes a segment configured to initiate registration operations for the application program at the
`
`target on-demand server. Id. at 15:34-37. The file packet is distributed to the target on-demand
`
`server to make the application program available for use by a user at a client. Id.at 15:34-37.
`
`III. LEGAL STANDARDS
`
`
`As they are not unique to patent law, motions to dismiss are evaluated under the law of the
`
`regional circuit courts. See, e.g., In re Bill of Lading Transmission & Proc. Sys. Patent Lit., 681
`
`F.3d 1323, 1331 (Fed. Cir. 2012). In the Fifth Circuit, motions to dismiss under Fed. R. Civ. P.
`
`12(b)(6) are disfavored and rarely granted. Turner v. Pleasant, 663 F.3d 770, 775 (5th Cir. 2011);
`
`see also RPost Holdings, Inc. v. Readnotify.com Pty. Ltd., No. 2:11-cv-16, 2012 WL 3201898, at
`
`*1 (E.D. Tex. Jun. 29, 2012).
`
`
`
`In evaluating a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the complaint should be liberally construed in favor
`
`of the plaintiff and all facts pleaded in the complaint should be taken as true. Harrington v. State
`
`Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 563 F.3d 141, 147 (5th Cir. 2009). Upon reviewing the facts most favorably
`
`to the plaintiff, the Court must decide whether the facts state a claim for relief that is plausible on
`
`its face. Gonzalez v. Kay, 577 F.3d 600, 603 (5th Cir. 2009) (quoting Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S.
`
`662 (2009)).
`
`Under 35 U.S.C. § 101, an inventor may obtain a patent for “any new and useful process,
`
`machine, manufacture, or composition of matter.” Excluded from patent protection are “laws of
`
`5
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 112 Filed 12/09/16 Page 10 of 34 PageID #: 1300
`
`nature, natural phenomena, and abstract ideas.” Diamond v. Diehr, 450 U.S. 175, 185 (1981).
`
`“[T]he concern that drives this exclusionary principle [i]s one of pre-emption,” that is, “that patent
`
`law not inhibit further discovery by improperly tying up the future use of these building blocks of
`
`human ingenuity.” Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Int’l, 134 S. Ct. 2347, 2354 (2014) (internal quotation
`
`marks omitted). The Supreme Court recognized, however, that “too broad an interpretation of this
`
`exclusionary principle could eviscerate patent law” because “all inventions at some level embody,
`
`use, reflect, rest upon, or apply laws of nature, natural phenomena, or abstract ideas.” Mayo
`
`Collaborative Servs. v. Prometheus Labs., Inc., 132 S. Ct. 1289, 1293 (2012). Accordingly, “an
`
`invention is not rendered ineligible for patent simply because it involves an abstract concept.”
`
`Alice, 134 S. Ct. at 2354. “[A]n application of a law of nature or mathematical formula to a known
`
`structure or process may well be deserving of patent protection.” Diehr, 450 U.S. at 187. The
`
`abstract-ideas exception does not apply if the claimed invention “solve[s] a technological problem
`
`in ‘conventional industry practice,’” “improve[s] an existing technological process,” or otherwise
`
`“effect[s] an improvement in any other technology or technical field.” Alice, 134 S. Ct. at 2358-
`
`59.
`
`A court must first “determine whether the claims at issue are directed to one of those patent-
`
`ineligible concepts[:]” laws of nature, natural phenomena, or abstract ideas. Id. at 2355. If so, then
`
`secondly, the court must “search for an ‘inventive concept’— i.e., an element or combination of
`
`elements that is sufficient to ensure that the patent in practice amounts to significantly more than
`
`a patent upon the [ineligible concept] itself.” Id. (internal quotation marks omitted). Only when a
`
`claim fails both steps is it rendered ineligible subject matter under Section 101.
`
`“A party seeking to establish that particular claims are invalid must overcome the
`
`presumption of validity in 35 U.S.C. § 282 by clear and convincing evidence.” Nystrom v. Trex
`
`6
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 112 Filed 12/09/16 Page 11 of 34 PageID #: 1301
`
`Co., 424 F.3d 1136, 1149 (Fed. Cir. 2005). The Federal Circuit has cautioned that “it will
`
`ordinarily be desirable—and often necessary—to resolve claim construction disputes prior to a §
`
`101 analysis, for the determination of patent eligibility requires a full understanding of the basic
`
`character of the claimed subject matter.” Bancorp Servs., LLC v. Sun Life Assur. Co. of Canada
`
`(U.S.), 687 F.3d 1266, 1273-74 (Fed. Cir. 2012). Even then, claims must be construed in favor of
`
`the nonmovant. BASCOM Global Internet Servs. v. AT&T Mobility LLC, 2016 U.S. App. Lexis
`
`11687, at *23 (Fed. Cir. Jun. 27, 2016). For these reasons, courts often decline to resolve
`
`challenges under Section 101 on a motion to dismiss. The ultimate question of eligibility under
`
`Section 101 is an issue of law. In re BRCA1- & BRCA2-Based Hereditary Cancer Test Pat. Lit.,
`
`774 F.3d 755, 759 (Fed. Cir. 2014).
`
`IV. ARGUMENT
`
`A.
`
`Step 1: The Asserted Patents Claim Patentable Subject Matter
`
`The Step 1 analysis applies a “filter to claims, considered in light of the specification based
`
`on whether ‘their character as a whole is directed to excluded subject matter.’” Enfish, 2016 U.S.
`
`App. LEXIS 8699, at *11 (internal citations omitted). When “the claims are directed to a specific
`
`implementation of a solution to a problem in the software arts” they are not directed to an abstract
`
`idea. Id. at *21. To be sure, “mere recitation of a generic computer cannot transform a patent-
`
`ineligible abstract idea into a patent-eligible invention.” Perdiemco, LLC v. Industrack LLC, 2016
`
`U.S. Dist. LEXIS 135667 at*16 (E.D. Tex., July 7, 2016)(internal citations omitted). “But this is
`
`not a license to delete all computer-related limitations from a claim and thereby declare it abstract.”
`
`Id. “Moreover, the mere fact that all the recited computer components are ‘conventional’ because
`
`the applicant did not invent an entirely new kind of computer is not inherently troubling.” Id. at
`
`17. “Instead, the analysis turns on ‘whether the claims in these patents focus on a specific means
`
`7
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 112 Filed 12/09/16 Page 12 of 34 PageID #: 1302
`
`or method that improves the relevant technology or are instead directed to a result or effect that
`
`itself is the abstract idea and merely invoke generic processes and machinery.” Id.
`
`Box argues that the Asserted Patents are abstract, comparing the ’466 and ’293 patents “to
`
`the abstract idea of software distribution,” and the asserted claims of the ’578 Patent as “directed
`
`to the abstract idea of customization based on preferences.” Mot. at 1. This over-generalization of
`
`the Asserted Patents is exactly what the Federal Circuit has cautioned against in an Alice analysis,
`
`warning that “describing the claims at such a high level of abstraction and untethered from the
`
`language of the claims all but ensures that the exceptions to §101 swallow the rule.” Enfish, 2016
`
`U.S. App. LEXIS 8699, at *16; see also McRo, Inc. v. Bandai Namco Games AM. Inc., 2016 WL
`
`4896481, at *7 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 13, 2016)(“[C]ourts must be careful to avoid oversimplifying the
`
`claims by looking at them generally and failing to account for the specific requirements of the
`
`claims.”). Box’s over-generalization of the scope of these claims should be rejected.
`
`As set forth in more detail supra and below, the claimed inventions are directed to
`
`remedying specific problems with prior systems and do not merely invoke generic computer
`
`components. See, e.g., Genband US LLC v. Metaswitch Networks Ltd., 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS
`
`134659, at **112-114 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 29, 2016); see also JDS Techs., Inc. v. Exacq Techs., 2016
`
`U.S. Dist. LEXIS 73622 at *20 (E.D. Mich., June 7, 2016).
`
`
`
`i)
`
`The ’466 Patent
`
`Box alleges that the ’466 Patent is abstract because it is directed to the “abstract idea of
`
`software distribution.” Mot. at 11. In so arguing, Box improperly generalizes the nature of the
`
`claims and reads the indispensable computer limitations out of the claim. See, e.g., Perdiemco,
`
`LLC v. Industrack LLC, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 135667, at *16 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 21, 2016) (Alice
`
`8
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 112 Filed 12/09/16 Page 13 of 34 PageID #: 1303
`
`“is not a license to delete all computer-related limitations from a claim and thereby declare it
`
`abstract”).4 Box then attempts to analogize the claims to recent case law. Mot. at 11-14.
`
`However, claim 1 of the ’466 Patent recites:
`
`1. A method for management of application programs on a network including a
`server and a client comprising the steps of:
`
`[a] installing a plurality of application programs at the server;
`
`[b] receiving at the server a login request from a user at the client;
`
`[c] establishing a user desktop interface at the client associated with the user
`responsive to the login request from the user, the desktop interface including a
`plurality of display regions associated with a set of the plurality of application
`programs installed at the server for which the user is authorized;
`
`[d] receiving at the server a selection of one of the plurality of application programs
`from the user desktop interface; and
`
`[e] providing an instance of the selected one of the plurality of application programs
`to the client for execution responsive to the selection.
`
`Importantly, this claim recites inherent computer-related limitations that are narrowly
`
`
`
`drawn to address specific problems that existed in 1998, such as “receiving at the server a selection
`
`of one of the plurality of application programs from the user desktop interface” and “providing an
`
`instance of the selected one of the plurality of application programs to the client for execution
`
`responsive to the selection.” Id. at 21:30-33. Cf. Core Wireless, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 35663, at
`
`*11 (“concepts of ‘application,’ ‘summary window,’ and ‘unlaunched state’ are specific to devices
`
`like computers”). This claim specifically recites a client server environment where an instance of
`
`an application program is provided to a client in response to selection of the program from a user
`
`desktop interface associated with an authorized user. Notably, the instance of the application
`
`programs (i.e., executable computer program instructions) is provided to the client for execution.
`
`These steps of the claim are inherently electronic and not tasks that could be performed by the
`
`                                                            
`4 Adopted by 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134654 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 29, 2016).
`
`9
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 112 Filed 12/09/16 Page 14 of 34 PageID #: 1304
`
`human hand. See, e.g., Genband, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134659, at **110-111. Neither are they
`
`mental processes or methods of organizing human activity that merely invoke a computer. Rather,
`
`they inherently require a computer because they solve a problem particular to computers, namely
`
`providing application programs to roaming users who login from different clients with varying
`
`hardware and operating systems. Such claims are patent eligible. Core Wireless, 2016 U.S. Dist.
`
`LEXIS 35663, at *12 (claim that “purports to ‘improve the functioning of the computer itself’” is
`
`patent eligible) (citing Alice, 134 S. Ct. at 2359).
`
`
`
`Box argues that the ’466 Patent does “not improve anything about how a computer
`
`operates,” arguing that the patent merely invokes generic computer components to implement an
`
`abstract idea. Mot. at 15. However, the claims call for more than use of generic computer
`
`components to implement an abstract idea. In fact, the claim recites establishing a “user desktop
`
`interface” associated with a user that includes “a plurality of display regions associated with a set
`
`of the plurality of application programs installed at the server for which the user is authorized.”
`
`Moreover, the claims also recite “providing an instance of the selected one of the plurality of
`
`application programs to the client for execution.” The meaning of the term “an instance of the
`
`selected one of the plurality of application programs” is important to clarify the general character
`
`of the patent as a solution to the problem of providing seamless integration of application access
`
`across heterogeneous networks that is specific enough to avoid the risk of pre-emption. For
`
`example, a proposed construction of the term as “a particular version of an application program
`
`that is adapted to the type of hardware and/or operating system from which a user requests
`
`execution” is not only consistent with the teachings of the ’466 Patent specification (see id. at 11:4-
`
`8) but is also consistent with the plain language of the claim itself. See claim 1 at 21:17-35
`
`(“application programs” vs. “instance of… application program”). The terms recited in the steps
`
`10
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 112 Filed 12/09/16 Page 15 of 34 PageID #: 1305
`
`of the Claim 1 are not merely conventional techniques of providing responses from a server, but
`
`rather are elements or combination of elements that provide user mobility in a client-server
`
`environment. See Core Wireless Lic. S.à.r.l. v. LG Elecs., Inc., 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 123232, at
`
`*31 (E.D. Tex. Aug. 8, 2016) (claim “directed to a specific type of packet traffic-metering that is
`
`confined to, and solves problems arising in, mobile device networks” is “not directed to an abstract
`
`idea”), adopted by 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 122745 (E.D. Tex. Sept. 12, 2016).
`
`Box asserts that the dependent claims are equally abstract and add nothing to save the
`
`patents from abstraction. Mot. at 17. Box’s argument should be rejected. For example, claim 2,
`
`of the ’466 Patent recites:
`
`A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
`
`maintaining application management information for the plurality of applications
`at the server; and
`
`wherein the establishing step includes the step of including a plurality of display
`regions associated with a set of the plurality of application programs for which the
`user is authorized responsive to the application management information.
`
`’466 Patent at 21:36-45. This dependent claim recites that the display regions associated with the
`
`application programs for which the user is authorized is responsive to application management
`
`information maintained at the server. The elements of this claim are also inherently electronic and
`
`not amenable to tasks performed by a human. Likewise, claim 7 specifically recites that the user
`
`desktop interface is configured responsive to an identifier of the user associated with the login
`
`request so as to provide associated information to the interface. Id. at 22:11-17. Again, the
`
`elements of the claim are inherently electronic and not amenable to tasks performed by a human.
`
`ii)
`
`The ’293 Patent
`
`As with the ’466 Patent, Box argues that the ’293 Patent is abstract because it is directed
`
`to the “abstract idea of software distribution.” Mot. at 11. In doing so, Box again improperly
`
`11
`
`

`

`Case 2:16-cv-00741-RWS Document 112 Filed 12/09/16 Page 16 of 34 PageID #: 1306
`
`“delete[s] all computer-related limitations from a claim and thereby declare[s] it abstract.” See
`
`Perdiemco, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 135667, at *16. Box then attempts to analogize the claims to
`
`recent case law. Mot. at 11-14. Box’s purported analogy should be rejected.
`
`Box argues that the ’293 Patent is merely directed to “the abstract idea of software
`
`distribution. Mot. at 11. This is not true. Claim 1of the ’293 Patent recites:
`
`A method for distribution of application programs to a target on-demand server on
`a network comprising the following executed on a centralized network management
`server coupled to the network:
`
`[a] providing an application program to be distributed to the network management
`server;
`
`[b] specifying a source directory and a target directory for distribution of the
`application program;
`
`[c] preparing a file packet associated with the application program and including a
`segment configured to initiate registration operations for the application program
`at the target on-demand server; and
`
`[d] distributing the file packet to the target on-demand server to make the
`application program available for use by a user at a client.
`
`This claim is directed to a method for distribution of application programs to a target on-
`
`demand server, wherein source and target directories for distribution of an application program are
`
`specified. Notably, t

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket