pete oeeAy?
`
`USING. GOV
`7S
`571-272-7822
`
`Paper6
`Entered: July 20, 2023
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`ZOHO CORPORATIONand ZOHO CORPORATION PVT., LTD.,
`Petitioner,
`
`V.
`
`MEETRIX IP, LLC,
`Patent Owner.
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`
`Before KARL D. EASTHOM, CHARLESJ. BOUDREAU,and
`KARA L. SZPONDOWSKI, Administrative Patent Judges.
`
`BOUDREAU,Administrative Patent Judge.
`
`DECISION
`Granting Institution of /nter Partes Review
`35 US.C. $314
`
`
`
`USING. GOV
`7S
`571-272-7822
`
`Paper6
`Entered: July 20, 2023
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`ZOHO CORPORATIONand ZOHO CORPORATION PVT., LTD.,
`Petitioner,
`
`V.
`
`MEETRIX IP, LLC,
`Patent Owner.
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`
`Before KARL D. EASTHOM, CHARLESJ. BOUDREAU,and
`KARA L. SZPONDOWSKI, Administrative Patent Judges.
`
`BOUDREAU,Administrative Patent Judge.
`
`DECISION
`Granting Institution of /nter Partes Review
`35 US.C. $314
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`
`Zoho Corporation and Zoho Corporation Pvt., Ltd. (collectively,
`
`Petitioner’) filed a Petition requesting inter partes review of claims 1—12 of
`
`U:S. Patent No. 9,253,332 B2 (Ex. 1001, “the ?332 patent’). Paper 1
`
`(“Pet.”). Petitioner filed a Declaration of Dr. Henry H. Houh (Ex. 1003) in
`
`support of the Petition. Patent Owner Meetrix IP, LLC did notfile a
`
`Preliminary Response.
`
`Wehaveauthority to determine whetherto institute an inter partes
`
`review. See 35 U.S.C. § 314 (2018); 37 C.F.R. § 42.4(a) (2023). Institution
`
`of an inter partes review requiresthat “the information presented in the
`
`petition and... any response. .
`
`. showsthat there is a reasonablelikelihood
`
`that the petitioner would prevail with respect to at least 1 of the claims
`
`challengedin the petition.” 35 U.S.C. § 314(a). For the reasonsset forth
`
`below, we determinethat there is a reasonable likelihood that Petitioner will
`
`prevail with respect to at least one challenged claim. Accordingly, we
`
`institute an inter partes review asto all challenged claims of the ’332 patent
`
`on the grounds of unpatentability presented.
`
`ll. BACKGROUND
`
`A. Real Parties in Interest
`
`Petitioner identifies Zoho Corporation and Zoho Corporation Pvt.,
`
`Ltd. as real parties in interest. Pet. 2. Meetrix IP, LLC identifies itself as the
`
`real party in interest for Patent Owner. Paper 3, 2 (Mandatory Notices of
`
`Patent Owner).
`
`B. Related Matters
`
`Theparties indicate that the ?332 patent is involved in the following
`
`district court proceedings: Meetrix IP, LLC vy. Zoho Corp., No. 1:22-cv-
`
`00588-LY (W.D. Tex.) (transferred from No. 6:21-cv-01288 (W.D. Tex.),
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`filed Dec. 10, 2021); and Meetrix IP, LLC v. Verizon Communications, Inc.,
`
`No. 1:22-cv-00758-LY (W.D. Tex.) (transferred from No. 6:21-cv-01289
`
`(W.D. Tex.), filed Dec. 10, 2021). Pet. 3; Paper 3, 2.
`
`Patent Owneralso identifies as related matters IPR2023-00371,
`
`IPR2023-00378, IPR2023-00379, IPR2023-00380, and IPR2023-00382,
`
`involving the same parties and patents related to the °332 patent. Paper3, 2.
`
`Weadditionally note that the °332 patent previously was the subject
`
`of two petitions for inter partes review filed by Cisco Systems,Inc. in
`
`IPR2019-00539 and IPR2019-00540, both of which proceedings settled and
`
`were dismissed prior to any decision on institution. [PR2019-00539,
`
`Papers 1, 8; IPR2019-00540, Papers1, 8.
`
`C. The ’332 Patent
`
`The °332 patent, titled “Voice Conference Call Using PSTN and
`
`Internet Networks,” issued February 2, 2016, from U.S. Patent Application
`
`No. 13/674,227, filed November 12, 2012, as a continuation of U.S. Patent
`
`Application No. 12/646,892, filed December 23, 2009 (now U.S. Patent
`
`No. 8,339,997), which wasin turn a continuation of U.S. Patent Application
`
`No. 10/796,560, filed March 9, 2004 (now U.S. Patent No. 7,664,056).
`
`Ex. 1001, codes (21), (22), (45), (54), (63). The ’332 patent also claims
`
`priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/453 ,307, filed March 10,
`
`2003. Id. at code (60).
`
`The °332 patent discloses a system and method for supporting a
`
`multi-participant voice conferencecall using the public switched telephone
`
`network (PSTN) and Internet networks. Ex. 1001, code (57). The method
`
`includes (1) receiving voice data from a PSTNclient, (11) receiving voice
`
`data from a moderator and from at least one remote client connected to the
`
`Internet, (111) mixing, using an audio mixer, the voice data from the PSTN
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`client with the voice data from the moderatorinto a first mixed voice data
`
`that is transmitted to the remote client that is connected to the Internet, and
`
`(iv) mixing, using a voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) mixer, the voice
`
`data from the moderator with the voice data from the remote client
`
`connected to the Internet into a second mixedvoicedata that is transmitted
`
`to the PSTN client.
`
`/d. at code (57), 3:20-45.
`
`Figure 3 of the 332 patent is reproduced below.
`
`PSINChente
`CtisntVideo inputdevioe481
`| GentTenninat
`~ &mt
`Rowter'Modem
`b
`
`
`
`‘Cent "POTS? aaaaft } PSTNNetwork e 42
`
`> Gos
`Audis inpuldewice 482
`=
`453
`( ait
`|
`Clee]
`giobalDitNewort
`433 ay
`Witelsgs Phone
`oO
`poaaaaaaaee
`i
`Telaphone
`
`PSINGaleway
`|
`S87peg
`|
`
`i
`1
`donee
`480
`
`Weim Moderator 41
`lh
`GhentCommputingseviceaes
`
`
`Dewettatecatncernaneare naABeRARBEN¢HeRARsees eneeee
`
`PN Bridge
`
`ag?
`Virtual Private Network
`oN
`
`at
`
`feosaSe"og 5.8
`walt
`
`: 418
`
`aea
`rome
`_ Chanta3
`48
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Conference Cailea
`
`
`
`
`feinensenensaeSe
`Clientdn |
`a
`
`Telephone
`
`
`
`i
`Conference Calee
`
`Figure 3, above,illustrates a system implementing a method for supporting a
`
`multi-participant voice conference call using PSTN and Internet networks,
`
`by integrating full duplex audio, video, and data connections between clients
`
`conferencing on the Internet and clients conferencing on standard telephone
`
`systems. Ex. 1001, 4:3, 4:39-42, 4:47-50. The system in Figure 3 allows
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`audio, video, and data collaboration information to be securely transferred
`
`between a plurality of local and remote clients within a virtual private
`
`network (VPN). /d. at 4:40—-53. The system also providesthe ability for a
`
`moderator (a single memberof the conference) to “dial out from a desktop
`
`computeror terminal (using a novel hybrid network structure) connecting an
`
`external telephone user’s audio into the audio/video conference.” Jd.
`
`at 4:43-47. The Internet/PSTN hybrid network is the medium usedfor
`
`transport, and Figure 3 illustrates the necessary equipmentand protocols to
`
`complete the dial out to the PSTN network. /d. at 4:50—53.
`
`VoIP moderator 401 (a call initiator or caller, as shown in Figure 3)
`
`typically has a numberof peripherals used for real input output devices at
`
`the desktop. Ex. 1001, 4:54—5:6. The peripherals include client computing
`
`device (e.g., a PC or other computer) 459, client terminal 455, standard
`
`desktop telephone 457, video input device or camera 451, and
`
`microphone 452.
`
`/d. at 4:56-61. The multi-party virtual conference
`
`illustrated in Figure 3 is connected over the Internet, with (a) Internet clients
`
`including audio video clients 415, 417, 418, and (b) telephony clients using
`
`standard wired (413) or wireless (412) telephone systems, where
`
`clients 412a, 413a are connected to wireless cell phone 412b and standard
`
`telephone handset 413b, respectively, which are in turn connected to global
`
`dial network 450, as specified by PSTN 433. /d. at 4:63—5:6. Internet-based
`
`clients 401, 415, 418, and 417 are connected through routers or modems 453
`
`in VPN configuration 461.
`
`/d. at 5:7-18. A local connection from VPN
`
`bridge 407 to VoIP server 409 is used to transfer conference audio from any
`
`participant on the IP network, to any participant in the PSTN. /d.
`
`at 5:11-14. VoIP server 409 is responsible for transcoding audio
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`information from VPN 461 to and from PSTN gateway 411, thus bridging
`
`the PSTN and VPN together.
`
`/d. at 5:15-18.
`
`Figure 5 of the ’332 patent is reproduced below.
`
`
`Moderator | Pig
`Chont #4
`
` 408
`
`40h
`
`Conference VolP Audio
`and Call Setup
`
`
`
`_Conference Call VolP
`
`
`i Audio and Cali Setup 405
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OC|
`
`VPN Tunnel 423 }
`
`VPRTunnel 425 4
`
`403
`Conference Audioand Video
`
`a
`FIG. 5
`
`Figure 5, above,illustrates a detailed block diagram of a system
`
`implementing the °332 patent’s method for supporting a multi-participant
`
`voice conference call using PSTN and Internet networks, particularly
`
`showing the audio and video data flow over hybrid networks. Ex. 1001,
`
`4:4—6, 6:20-21. A moderator client #1 401 in Figure 5 initiates a call using
`
`the application code running on VoIP server 409. Ex. 1001, 6:20-60. Call
`
`initiation and call transfer may be accomplished through VPN tunnel 421
`
`connected to moderatorclient 401.
`
`/d. at 6:23—-25. Two connections to
`
`moderator client 401 through VPN tunnel 421 are established, with thefirst
`
`connection connecting the VoIP conference data for call initiation, set-up,
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`and control 405, and the second connection 403 through the VPN tunnel
`
`connecting the conference audio and video 403 between moderator
`
`client 401 and multiple remote clients 413, 415, 417 connectedto the
`
`Internet.
`
`/d. at 6:25-31. VPN tunnel 421 is connected into VPN bridge 407,
`
`which may belocated within Internet 435 at either local or remote sites.
`
`/d.
`
`at 6:31-34. As indicated in Figure 5, VPN bridge 407, which bridges the
`
`tunnels for data transfer, is responsible for connecting and establishing the
`
`VPN used for secure conferencing.
`
`/d. at 6:34—36. An additional tunnel
`
`containing the conference VoIP audio andcall set-up data 405 is connected
`
`to a separate VoIP server 409.
`
`/d. at 6:42-45.
`
`Server 409 is responsible for transcoding the VoIP audio andcall set-
`
`up control 405 in preparation for data transfer across network 437 employing
`
`the International Telecommunications Union H.323 standard for
`
`transmission of audio and video information through the Internet or switched
`
`private networks. Ex. 1001, 1:53-57, 6:45—-60. H.323 network 437
`
`traverses across the Internet to one of many PSTN gateways 411, which
`
`form a bridge between the Internet and the public switched telephone
`
`network 433. Jd. at 6:47-49. The VoIP gatewaysare typically located at a
`
`local exchange carrier at individual points of presence throughout the world.
`
`Id. at 6:51-53. Audio telephony calls are terminated at VoIP client 413.
`
`/d.
`
`at 6:53-54. These termination points may be located throughout the world.
`
`Id. at 6:54—55. Thus, the system illustrated in Figure 5 allows for dial-out to
`
`standard phones from a client terminal with audio and video capability over
`
`IP networks, thereby allowing conferencing between multiple remote sites
`
`including secure VoIP audio components over the PSTN. /d. at 6:55-60.
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`D.
`
`Illustrative Claim
`
`Of the challenged claims, claims 1 and 8 are independentclaims.
`
`Claim 1, reproduced below with bracketed alphanumeric reference
`
`identifiers used by Petitioner, is illustrative of the claimed subject matter.
`
`supporting a multi-participant
`[1.P] A method for
`1.
`audio/video conference call, the method comprising:
`[1.1] receiving first audio data from a Public Switched
`Telephone Network (PSTN)client;
`[1.2] receiving second audio data from a moderator;
`and
`[1.3.1]
`receiving third audio
`data, video
`data,
`collaboration data from at
`least one remote client
`[1.3.2] through a first Virtual Private Network (VPN)
`tunnel;
`[1.4] mixing the first audio data from the PSTN client with
`the second audio data from the moderator into a first
`mixed audio data;
`[1.5] transmitting the first mixed audio data to the remote
`client through the first VPN tunnel;
`[1.6] mixing the second audio data from the moderator with
`the third audio data from the remote client into a second
`mixed audio data; and
`[1.7] transmitting the second mixed audio data to the PSTN
`client.
`
`Ex. 1001, 9:52-10:5.
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`FE}. Asserted Grounds of Unpatentability
`
`Petitioner asserts that the challenged claims are unpatentable on the
`
`following grounds:
`
`3,6,8-11
`
`
`
`Knappe,” Elliott,? VPN
`1,2,4,5,7 Textbook*
`Knappe, Elliott, VPN Textbook,
`Drell?
`Knappe, Elliott, VPN Textbook,
`
`Pet. 4, 14-81.
`
`Ut. ANALYSIS
`
`A. Legal Standards
`
`“In an [inter partes review], the petitioner has the burden from the
`
`onset to show with particularity why the patent it challenges is
`
`unpatentable.” Harmonic Inc. vy. Avid Tech., Inc., 815 F.3d 1356, 1363 (Fed.
`
`Cir. 2016) (citing 35 U.S.C. § 312(a)(3) (2012) (requiring inter partes
`
`review petitions to identify “with particularity .
`
`.
`
`. the evidence that supports
`
`the grounds for the challenge to each claim’’)).
`
`' The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, Pub. L. No. 112-29, 125 Stat. 284
`(2011) (“AIA”), amended 35 U.S.C. § 103, effective March 16, 2013.
`Becausethe ’332 patent issued from an application filed before that date, we
`refer to the pre-AIA version of § 103.
`? Knappe, US 7,180,997 B2, issued February 20, 2007 (Ex. 1006).
`3 Elliott et al., US 6,690,654 B2, issued February 10, 2004 (Ex. 1007).
`* Excerpts from Jim Guichard & Ivan Pepelnjak, MPLS and VPN
`Architectures (2001) (Ex. 1010).
`> Drell, US 7,089,285 B1, issued August 8, 2006 (Ex. 1008).
`° Hokeet al., US 6,701,437 B1, issued March 2, 2004 (Ex. 1009).
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`A patent claim is unpatentable for obviousnessif the differences
`
`between the claimed subject matter and the priorart are “such that the
`
`subject matter as a whole would have been obviousat the time the invention
`
`was madeto a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject
`
`matter pertains.” 35 U.S.C. § 103(a). The question of obviousnessis
`
`resolved based on underlying factual determinations, including (1) the scope
`
`and content of the prior art; (2) any differences between the claimed subject
`
`matter and the prior art; (3) the level of ordinary skill in the art; and
`
`(4) when presented, objective evidence of obviousness or nonobviousness,
`
`1.e., secondary considerations. Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1,
`
`17-18 (1966).
`
`Additionally, the obviousness inquiry typically requires an analysis of
`
`“whether there was an apparent reason to combine the known elements in
`
`the fashion claimedby the patent at issue.” KSR Int’l Co. v. Teleflex Inc.,
`
`550 U.S. 398, 418 (2007) (citing Jn re Kahn, 441 F.3d 977, 988 (Fed. Cir.
`
`2006) (requiring “articulated reasoning with somerational underpinning to
`
`support the legal conclusion of obviousness”)). Petitioner cannotsatisfy its
`
`burden of proving obviousness by employing “mere conclusory statements,”
`
`but “must instead articulate specific reasoning, based on evidenceof record,
`
`to support the legal conclusion of obviousness.” /n re Magnum Oil Tools
`
`Int'l, Ltd., 829 F.3d 1364, 1380 (Fed. Cir. 2016).
`
`B. Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art
`
`Determining whether an invention would have been obvious under
`
`35 U.S.C. § 103 requires resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent
`
`art at the time of the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Graham,
`
`383 U.S. at 17. The person of ordinary skill in the art is a hypothetical
`
`person who knowsthe relevant art. Jn re GPAC Inc., 57 F.3d 1573, 1579
`
`10
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`(Fed. Cir. 1995). Factors in determining the level of ordinary skill in theart
`
`include the types of problems encounteredin the art, the sophistication of the
`
`technology, and educational level of active workers in the field.
`
`/d. One or
`
`more factors may predominate. /d.
`
`Petitioner contends that a person of ordinary skill in the art (POSITA)
`
`would have had
`
`and video
`audio
`available
`the
`working knowledge of
`conferencing art. Ex_ 1003 427. A POSITA would have had a
`bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or
`an equivalent, and three or more years of professional experience
`relating to conferencing systems in packet-based networks, or
`without said professional experience, further education relating
`to conferencing systems in packet-based networks.
`/d. 9924-28.
`
`Pet. 9.
`
`Atthis stage of the proceeding, Patent Ownerdoesnotdispute the
`
`level of ordinary skill in theart.
`
`Based on a review of the preliminary record, for purposes of the
`
`Institution Decision, we adopt Petitioner’s proposed level of ordinary skill in
`
`the art becauseit is consistent with the evidence of record, including the
`
`asserted prior art and °332 patent specification, except that we delete the
`
`qualifier “or more” in the phrase “three or more years” to eliminate
`
`vaguenessas to the stated amount of professional experience.
`
`C. Claim Construction
`
`In an inter partes review, we apply the same claim construction
`
`standard as would be usedbya district court to construe a claim in a civil
`
`action involving the validity or infringementof a patent. 37 C.F.R.
`
`§ 42.100(b). Under that standard, claim termsare given their ordinary and
`
`customary meaning, as would have been understood by a person of ordinary
`
`11
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`
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`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`skill in the art at the time of the invention,in light of the language of the
`
`claims, the specification, and the prosecution history of record. /d.;
`
`Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312-19 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc);
`
`Thorner v. Sony Comput. Entm ’t Am. LLC, 669 F.3d 1362, 1365—66 (Fed.
`
`Cir. 2012). “The Boardis required to construe ‘only those terms.. . that are
`
`in controversy, and only to the extent necessary to resolve the controversy.’”
`
`Realtime Data, LLC v. lancu, 912 F.3d 1368, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2019) (quoting
`
`Vivid Techs., Inc. v. Am. Sci. Eng’g, Inc., 200 F.3d 795, 803 (Fed. Cir.
`
`1999))).
`
`Petitioner relies on the ordinary and customary meaning under
`
`Phillips. Pet. 9-10. Based on the current record and without any opposition
`
`from Patent Owner, we discern no need for express construction of any term
`
`to resolve any controversy at this stage of the proceeding.
`
`D. Obviousness over Knappe, Elliott, and VPN Textbook
`(Petitioner’s Ground 1)
`
`Petitioner alleges claims 1, 2, 4,5, and 7 of the ’332 patent are
`
`unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as obvious over Knappe,Elliott, and
`
`VPN Textbook. Pet. 4, 14-49. For reasons that follow, we are persuaded at
`
`this stage of the proceeding that Petitioner has demonstrated a reasonable
`
`likelihood of prevailing in showing that claims 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7 are
`
`unpatentable on this ground.
`
`Webegin our analysis with an overview of Knappe, Elliott, and VPN
`
`Textbook.
`
`1. Knappe
`
`Knappe,titled “Method and System for Improving the Intelligibility
`
`of a Moderator During a Multiparty Communication Session,”relates
`
`“generally to the field of multiparty communications.” Ex. 1006, code (54),
`
`12
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
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`1:8—9. Knappe’s system receivesa plurality of participant voice streams
`
`from a plurality of conference participants, with an incoming moderator
`
`voice stream received from a moderator. /d. at code (57). The plurality of
`
`participant voice streams and the moderator voice stream are transmitted
`
`such that the intelligibility of the moderator voice stream is improved
`
`relative to at least one of the participant voice streams.
`
`/d.
`
`Figure 1 of Knappeis reproduced below.
`
`12
`ge
`
`| COMMUNICATIONS
`DEVICE
`
`HOR
`
`an
`i
`—
`
`/
`yg
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`«SC
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`ra
`,
`4
`
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`
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`2 poe
`
`
`
`
`4-4 CONFERENCE|0(LGATENAY
`
`
`BRIDGE
`
`
`COMMUNICATIONS[.
`
`|
`DEVICE
`
`
`| COMMURICATONS
`
`DEVICE
`
`FIG.
`7
`
`Figure 1, above, is a block diagram of an embodiment of Knappe’s
`
`communication system 12. Ex. 1006, 2:59-61, 3:24—25. In the illustrated
`
`embodiment, communication system 12 1s a distributed system transmitting
`
`audio, video, voice, data, and other suitable types of real-time and/or non-
`
`real-time traffic between source and destination endpoints. /d. at 3:25—29.
`
`Communication system 12 may be used to conduct multi-party telephone
`
`conference communication sessions, and components of the system may be
`
`configured to automatically improve the intelligibility of a moderator during
`
`13
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`a multi-party communication session, while allowing the moderatorto
`
`exercise control and influence over the telephone conference, without
`
`completely silencing the other participants. /d. at 3:29-38. Communication
`
`system 12 includes a network 14 connecting a plurality of communication
`
`devices 16 to each other and to analog telephones 18 through gateway 20
`
`and public switched telephone network (PSTN) 22. /d. at 3:41—45.
`
`Communication devices 16, analog telephones 18, and gateway 20 are
`
`connected to network 14 and/or PSTN 22 through twisted pair, cable, fiber
`
`optic, radio frequency, infrared, microwave, or other wireline or wireless
`
`links 28. Id. at 3:45—49,
`
`Network 14 may bethe Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local
`
`area network (LAN), or other suitable packet-switched network. Ex. 1006,
`
`3:50-52. In the Internet embodiment, network 14 transmits information in
`
`Internet Protocol (IP) packets.
`
`/d. at 3:53-54. Telephony voice information
`
`in communication system 12 is transmitted in the VoIP format, and real-time
`
`IP packets (such as VoIP packets) are encapsulated in real-time transport
`
`protocol (RTP) packets for transmission over network 14. /d. at 3:54—-58.
`
`For voice calls, according to Knappe, communication devices 16 comprise
`
`real-time applications that play traffic as it 1s received, and to which packet
`
`delivery cannot be interrupted without severely degrading performance.
`
`/d.
`
`at 4:5-9. A codec (coder/decoder) converts audio, video, or other suitable
`
`signals generated by users, from analog signals into digital form.
`
`/d.
`
`at 4:9-11. The digital encoded data is encapsulated into IP or other suitable
`
`packets, for transmission over network 14. /d. at 4:11—13. IP packets
`
`received from network 14 are converted back into analog signals, and played
`
`to the user.
`
`/d. at 4:13-14.
`
`14
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`Gateway 20 included in communication system 12 in Figure 1
`
`provides conversion between analog and/or digital formats. Ex. 1006,
`
`4:18-19. Analog telephones 18 communicate standard telephony signals
`
`through PSTN 22 to gateway 20, wherethe signals are converted to IP
`
`packets in VoIP format.
`
`/d. at 4:19-22. Similarly, VoIP packets received
`
`from network 14 are converted into standard telephonysignals for delivery
`
`to destination telephone 18 through PSTN 22.
`
`/d. at 4:22—25. Gateway 20
`
`also translates between the network call control system and the Signaling
`
`System 7 (SS7) protocol and/or other signaling protocols used in PSTN 22.
`
`Id. at 4:25-28.
`
`As shown in Figure 1, network 14 includes a call manager 30, which
`
`managescalls in the network and provides voicemail, bridging, multicasting,
`
`call hold, conference call, and other multiparty communications for
`
`communications devices 16. Ex. 1006, 4:29-57. Network 14 also includes
`
`a conference bridge 32, which provides conference call and other suitable
`
`audio, video, and/or real-time multiparty communication sessions between
`
`communication devices 16.
`
`/d. at 4:29-41, 4:58-5:2. Conference bridge 32
`
`includes a controller, buffers, converters, a normalizer, a mixer, and a
`
`database. /d. at 5:49-55. “[C]all manager 30 controls the conference
`
`bridge 32 to set up, process and tear down conference calls and other
`
`multiparty communication sessions.” /d. at 5:29-31. “The call manager 30
`
`and the conference bridge 32 maybe located in a central facility or have
`
`their functionality distributed across and/or at the periphery of the
`
`network 14.” /d. at 4:30-33.
`
`For conferencecalls, call manager 30 identifies participants based on
`
`the called numberor other suitable criteria. Ex. 1006, 5:26-39. Call
`
`manager 30 controls conference bridge 32 to set up, process, and tear down
`
`15
`
`
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`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
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`conference calls and other multiparty communication sessions. /d. During
`
`multiparty communicationssessions, participants are connected and stream
`
`media through conference bridge 32. /d. The media is cross-connected and
`
`mixed to produce conference output streams for each participant.
`
`/d. The
`
`conference output stream for a participant includes the mediaofall other
`
`participants, or of a subset of other participants (or of other suitable mix
`
`dictated by the type of multiparty session and/or participant). Jd.
`
`Figure 2 of Knappeis reproduced below.
`
`CONFERENCE 8RIDGE
`SS
`a
`| CORVER
`
`FIG. 2
`
`DATABASE
`
`2
`CONFERENCE
`PARAMETERS
`
`b
`CONFERENCE
`PARAMETERS
`| CONFERENCE
`PARTICIPANTS
`
`|
`
`PARTICIPANT
`|
`| PRIORITIES
`
`| PARTICIPANT
`|
`| PRIGRTHES
`
`Figure 2, above, is a block diagram illustrating details of conference
`
`bridge 32. Ex. 1006, 2:62—64. Asillustrated, conference bridge 32 includes
`
`mixer 58. “[Ml]ixer 58 includes a plurality of summersor other suitable
`
`signal processing resources each operable to sum, add or otherwise combine
`
`a plurality of input streams into conference output streamsfor participants to
`
`a conference call.” /d. at 6:33-37.
`
`16
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`Figure 3 of Knappeis reproduced below.
`
`PARTICIPANT INPUTS
`
`MONAURAL MEXER
`
`
`
`
` |
`
`108
`
`108
`
`CONFERENCE OUTPUTS
`
`Figure 3, above, is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of Knappe’s
`
`mixer 58 (supra Figure 2) in the form of monaural mixer 80. Ex. 1006,
`
`2:65-67, 6:52—55. Monaural mixer 80 illustrated in Figure 3 receives
`
`participant input streams 84, and combinesthe streams in summers 82 to
`
`generate conference output streams 86 for each participant to a conference
`
`call. /d. at 6:59-62. In one embodiment, a summer 82/108 assigned to each
`
`participant “receives audio input streams from each other participant to the
`
`conference call,’ and “combines the audio input streams to generate a
`
`conference output stream for delivery to the participant.” Jd. at 6:63-67.’
`
`During normal operation, each participant receives the audio input of each
`
`other participant.
`
`/d. at 7:1-2. For example, the conference output stream of
`
`participant | includes the audio inputs of participants 2—5, the conference
`
`output stream of participant 2 includes the audio inputs of participants 1
`
`and 3—5, the conference output stream of participant 3 includes the audio
`
`7 Knapperefers to “summer 108”in connection with Figure 7 and
`“summers 82” in connection with Figure 3, although Figure 3 shows
`summers 108. Compare Ex. 1006, 8:24—26, with id. at 6:59-63.
`
`17
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
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`inputs of participants 1—2 and 4—5, the conference output stream of
`
`participant 4 includes the audio inputs of participants 1—3 and 5, and the
`
`conference output stream of participant 5 includes the audio inputs of
`
`participants 1-4. /d. at 7:2-11.
`
`2. Elliott
`
`Elliott, titled “Method and System for Multi-Media Collaboration
`
`Between Remote Parties,” relates to “computer networks and specifically to
`
`a method and system for multi-media collaboration between remote parties.”
`
`Ex. 1007, code (54), 1:27-30. According to Elliott, “[m]ulti-media
`
`collaboration refers to the use of more than one media stream (e.g.: voice,
`
`fax, data, video, etc.) used in collaboration with more than one party.” /d.
`
`at 2:66—3:1. “Multi-media collaboration services allow two or more parties
`
`to exchange information in a conference setting,” and “[t]hese services can
`
`be readily provided over the Internet and include collaborative Web
`
`browsing, audio conferencing, video conferencing, and application sharing.”
`
`Id. at 1:40-44. With Elliott’s multi-media collaboration method,a first
`
`party, which may be a call center, receives requests for access from first and
`
`second remote parties.
`
`/d. at code (57). Each of these remote parties is
`
`provided a computer program,and a session is initiated for each party.
`
`/d.
`
`Thefirst party can then independently communicate with the first and
`
`second remote parties via the computer program. /d. The method of
`
`communicating with a remote party begins with the initiation of a link over
`
`an internet, such as the public Internet. /d. at 1:60—2:2. While maintaining
`
`this link, a number of web sites may be viewed, each of these web sites
`
`addressable by a unique URL (universal resource location).
`
`/d. The
`
`viewing party can then selectively push the URL for some (but not
`
`necessarily all) of the viewed websites, to the remote party.
`
`/d. Elliott
`
`18
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
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`explainsthat its “method is useful for customer information andassistance,
`
`on-line training and other collaborative browsing applications.” /d.
`
`Figure 1 of Elliott is reproduced below.
`
`
`
`
`24
`
`Computer
`
`Call Center
`
`Chant
`Computer
`
`Sever
`
`Server
`
`FIG. 1
`
`Figure 1, above,illustrates a block diagram of a system architecture 10 for
`
`multi-media collaboration between remote parties. Ex. 1007, 2:38—40, 3:57.
`
`The architecture shownin Figure | uses shared network resources, including
`
`a session server 12, a web server 14, and a customer website 16, to provide
`
`services for a plurality parties, such as call centers, agents, and clients.
`
`/d.
`
`at 3:57-63. The architecture allows remote parties (¢.g., parties separated by
`
`a network 18, such as an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network) to
`
`communicate.
`
`/d. at 3:64—4:20. Network 18 maybe a public or a carrier
`
`supported VPN or LANthat uses IP or [P-tunneling. /d. at 4:20-34.
`
`Client computer 20 communicates with call center 22 (a company,
`
`organization, person, or entity that is responsible for servicing a form of
`
`19
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`communication, the call center employing several agent workstations 24) via
`
`network 18. Ex. 1007, 4:35-48. Client computer 20 is equipped with
`
`software, such as Internet telephone software, for placing Internet telephony
`
`calls. /d. at 5:34—39. A client mayalso havea traditional telephone 28 for
`
`placing calls to call center agents over public switched telephone network
`
`(PSTN) 30.
`
`/d. Session server 12 is software that manages communication
`
`sessions among one or more agents and one or more clients.
`
`/d. at 5:39-61.
`
`Session server 12 may be a conference server that follows the ITU T.120
`
`standard (a standard that contains a series of communication and application
`
`protocols and services that provide support for real-time, multi-point data
`
`communications).
`
`/d. Session server 12 enables video conferences, audio
`
`conferences, and data conferences with application sharing.
`
`/d.
`
`Collaborative Web browsing can also be enabled with URL push
`
`technology.
`
`/d. During the course of a collaborative session, one party can
`
`push a URL to anotherparty. /d.
`
`Webserver 14 provides software for communication with client
`
`computer 20. Ex. 1007, 5:62-6:11. While illustrated as being run on a
`
`single computer 14, web server 12 can operate on one or more computers,
`
`including the same oneor onesthat session server 12 is operating on.
`
`/d.
`
`20
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`Figure 2 of Elliott is reproduced below.
`
`a 202
`CLIENT BROWSER
`ACCESSES WEB SERVER
`
`CAN PROCEED
`
`WEB SERVER
`DOWNLOADS PROGRAM
`TO CLIENT COMPUTER
`
`SESSION INITIATED
`IN SESSION SERVER
`
`|
`
`MULTI-MEDIA
`GOLLABORATION
`
`204
`
`206
`
`208
`
`FIG. 2
`
`Figure 2, above,illustrates a method for initiating a link between remote
`
`parties. Ex. 1007, 2:38—40, 6:12—15. The method shownin Figure 2 starts
`
`with client computer 20 accessing web server 14 (step 202).
`
`/d. at 6:12—28.
`
`When webserver 14 is accessed by a client browser, the Web site causes
`
`client computer 14 to run a program which enables remote accessto the
`
`browser (step 204 in Figure 2). /d. Web server 14 then downloadsto client
`
`computer 20 a Java applet, which is automatically launched.
`
`/d. The Java
`
`applet can be run stand-aloneor with a real-time Java run time enginein the
`
`browser.
`
`/d. The Java applet runs on client computer 20 in a windowthatis
`
`separate from the client’s Web browser.
`
`/d. at 6:33—45. This program
`
`causes client computer 20 to initiate a session with session server 12
`
`(step 206). Id. A session begins whenthe two computers begin
`
`communicating, and continues until the communication ceases.
`
`/d. For
`
`21
`
`
`
`IPR2023-00377
`Patent 9,253,332 B2
`
`example, the program may provide a session identifier (ID), and log the
`
`client into a session.
`
`/d. While the Java applet is logging the client into a
`
`session, the client can browse the Web independently, since the appletis a
`
`separate process from the Web browser.
`
`/d. The applet’s window displays
`
`the progress of the call to session server 12. /d.
`
`Oncea session is established, multi-media collaboration between the
`
`agent and client is enabled (step 208 in Figure 2). Ex. 1007, 6:46—54. For
`
`example, the Java applet running on client computer 20 monitors the client
`
`computer’s IP socket connection for incoming URLs.
`
`/d. When a URL is
`
`pushed by an agent or anotherclient, the applet will feed that URL to the
`
`client’s Web browser, which will then go to the Website addressed by the
`
`URL. /d. Other types of collaboration, such as audio, video, or data
`
`conferencing can also be performed.
`
`/d. Web server 14 can download
`
`various Java applets for establishing different types of session
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