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`IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`_______________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`_______________
`
`COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
`Petitioner
`v.
`ROVI GUIDES, INC.
`Patent Owner
`_______________
`
`Patent No. 8,156,528
`Filing Date: March 21, 2002
`Issue Date: April 10, 2012
`Title: PERSONAL VIDEO RECORDER SYSTEMS AND METHODS
`________________
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`Inter Partes Review No.: IPR2020-00810
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`________________
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`
`PETITION 2 of 3 FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`UNDER 35 U.S.C. §§ 311-319 AND 37 C.F.R. § 42.100 et seq.
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`IV.
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`V.
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
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`Page
`MANDATORY NOTICES ........................................................................................ 1
`INTRODUCTION AND RELIEF REQUESTED .......................................... 4
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`OVERVIEW OF THE ’528 PATENT ............................................................ 5
`A. Brief Description ........................................................................................ 5
`B. Relevant Prosecution History ..................................................................... 8
`III. OVERVIEW OF PRIOR ART ........................................................................ 9
` Boyle ........................................................................................................... 9
`B. Ellis 4707 .................................................................................................. 11
`C. Ellis 4709 .................................................................................................. 13
`D. Lea ............................................................................................................ 13
`E. Wood ........................................................................................................ 14
`IDENTIFICATION OF CHALLENGE PURSUANT TO 37 C.F.R.
`§ 42.104(B) AND STATEMENT OF THE RELIEF REQUESTED ...........14
` Claims for Which Review is Requested and Grounds on Which
`Challenge Is Based ................................................................................... 14
` How Claims Are to Be Construed and Level of Skill .............................. 15
`1. Level of Skill .......................................................................................15
`2. How Claims Are to Be Construed .......................................................16
`3. The Claims Should Not Be Interpreted Under 35 U.S.C. § 112 (pre-
`AIA), Sixth Paragraph .........................................................................19
`SPECIFIC GROUNDS FOR UNPATENTABILITY ...................................20
` Ground 1: Claims 1-8, 11-19, 27-30, and 32-35 Are Obvious Over
`Boyle in View of Ellis 4707 ..................................................................... 20
`1. Independent Claim 1 ...........................................................................20
`i.
`Element 1[A] - An interactive television system for providing
`a user with the ability to record television programming, the
`interactive television system having user television
`equipment comprising: ................................................................20
`ii. Element 1[B] - a personal video recorder compliant device,
`wherein a first interactive television program guide and
`personal video recorder extensions are implemented on the
`personal video recorder compliant device; and .........................22
`iii. Element 1[C] - a personal video recorder device coupled to
`the personal video recorder compliant device, ...........................26
`iv. Element 1[D] - wherein the personal video recorder device
`comprises a second interactive television program guide and
`the personal video recorder extensions, and ..............................28
`i
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`v. Element 1[E] - wherein the first interactive television
`program guide and the second interactive television program
`guide have the same functions and are distinctly implemented
`on each of the personal video recorder compliant device and
`the personal video recorder device. ............................................32
`2. Independent Claims 17, 27 ..................................................................35
`i.
`Elements 17[A]-17[D], 17[F], 17[G], 27[A]-27[D], 27[F],
`27[G] ...........................................................................................35
`ii. Elements 17[E], 27[E] - software and hardware configured
`to implement a plurality of application programming
`interfaces; and .............................................................................37
`iii. Elements 17[H], 27[H] - wherein the application
`programming interfaces are configured to facilitate
`communications between the personal video recorder device
`and the personal video recorder compliant device, and .............38
`iv. Element 17[I] - wherein the application programming
`interfaces are used irrespective of where and how the
`personal video recorder device is implemented .........................38
`v. Element 27[I] - wherein the personal video recorder
`extensions and application programming interfaces are
`configured to provide a seamless integration of personal
`video recorder functionality with the interactive television
`program guide .............................................................................39
`3. Independent Claim 32 .........................................................................40
`4. Claim 2 - The system of claim 1 further comprising a communications
`path that couples the personal video recorder compliant device with
`the personal video recorder device. ....................................................43
`5. Claim 3 - The system of claim 2 wherein the communications path
`comprises a serial link. ........................................................................43
`6. Claim 4 - The system of claim 2 wherein the communications path
`comprises a parallel link. ....................................................................44
`7. Claim 5 - The system of claim 1 further comprising a communications
`path that couples the personal video recorder compliant device with
`the personal video recorder device, wherein the communications path
`comprises a wireless infra-red communications link. .........................44
`8. Claims 6 and 18 ...................................................................................44
`9. Claim 7 - The system of claim 6 wherein functionalities related to
`commerce and authorization are provided by the set-top box. ...........45
`ii
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`10. Claims 8, 19 .........................................................................................46
`11. Claim 11 - The system of claim 1 wherein the personal video recorder
`compliant device is used as a pass-through when the personal video
`recorder device is being used. .............................................................47
`12. Claims 12, 13 .......................................................................................48
`13. Claims 14, 15 .......................................................................................49
`14. Claim 16 - The system of claim 1, wherein the same functions
`comprise a function to schedule a television program for recording. 51
`15. Claims 28, 33 .......................................................................................52
`16. Claims 29, 34 .......................................................................................54
`17. Claims 30, 35 .......................................................................................56
` Ground 2: Claims 9, 10, and 20-22 Are Obvious Over Boyle in
`View of Ellis 4707 and Ellis 4709 ............................................................ 57
`1. Claims 9, 21 .........................................................................................57
`2. Claims 10, 22 .......................................................................................60
`3. Claim 20 - The system of claim 17 wherein the personal video
`recorder device is implemented in a server arrangement at a location
`remote from the personal video recorder compliant device. ..............61
` Ground 3: Claims 23-26, 31, and 36 Are Obvious Over Boyle in
`View of Ellis 4707 and Lea ...................................................................... 62
`1. Claims 23, 24 .......................................................................................62
`2. Claim 25 - The system of claim 17 wherein the plurality of application
`programming interfaces are configured to determine the type of
`personal video recorder device being coupled to the personal video
`recorder compliant device. ..................................................................64
`3. Claims 26, 31, 36 .................................................................................66
` Ground 4: Claims 1-8, 11-19, 27-30, and 32-35 Are Obvious Over
`Boyle, Ellis 4707, and Wood .................................................................... 67
` Ground 5: Claims 9, 10, and 20-22 Are Obvious Over Boyle, Ellis
`4707, Ellis 4709, and Wood ..................................................................... 68
` Ground 6: Claims 23-26, 31, and 36 Are Obvious Over Boyle,
`Ellis 4707, Lea, and Wood ....................................................................... 69
`VI. THE BECTON DICKINSON FACTORS WEIGH IN FAVOR OF
`INSTITUTION ..............................................................................................69
` GROUNDS FOR STANDING & FEE PAYMENT .....................................71
`VII. CONCLUSION ..............................................................................................72
`CERTIFICATION UNDER 37 CFR § 42.24(D) ....................................................73
`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ................................................................................74
`CLAIM LISTING APPENDIX ...............................................................................75
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`iii
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`

`EXHIBITS
`
` U.S. Patent No. 8,156,528 (the “’528 Patent”)
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`Certified File Wrapper for the ’528 Patent
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`Declaration of Anthony Wechselberger
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`PCT Application Publication Number WO 00/04709 (“Ellis
`4709”)
`
`PCT Application Publication Number WO 00/04707 (“Ellis
`4707”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 7,206,497 (“Boyle”)
`
`U.S. Patent No. 6,349,352 (“Lea”)
`
`U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0042915
`(“Kubischta”)
`
`Curriculum Vitae of Anthony Wechselberger
`
`U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0057893
`(“Wood”)
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`
`Ex. 1101:
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`Ex. 1102:
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`Ex. 1103:
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`Ex. 1104:
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`Ex. 1105:
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`Ex. 1106:
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`Ex. 1107:
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`Ex. 1108:
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`Ex. 1109:
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`Ex. 1110:
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`Ex. 1116:
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`Ex. 1117:
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`[Exs. 1111-1114 – omitted]
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`Ex. 1115:
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`Comcast Respondents’ Amended Claim Construction Brief in
`Certain Digital Video Receivers, Inv. No. 337-TA-1158
`Complainants’ Opening Claim Construction Brief in Certain
`Digital Video Receivers, Inv. No. 337-TA-1158
`Initial Determination Granting Complainants’ Second
`Unopposed Motion for Partial Termination of the Investigation
`in Certain Digital Video Receivers, Inv. No. 337-TA-1158
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`iv
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`Ex. 1118:
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`Ex. 1119:
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`Ex. 1120:
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`Ex. 1121:
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`Ex. 1122:
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`Markman Hearing Transcript in Certain Digital Video
`Receivers, Inv. No. 337-TA-1158
`Joint Claim Construction Chart in Certain Digital Video
`Receivers, Inv. No. 337-TA-1158
`Excerpt of Transcript of Telephonic Conference on Jan. 14,
`2020, in Certain Digital Video Receivers, Inv. No. 337-TA-
`1158
`Order regarding Outstanding Markman Constructions and
`Motion In Limine from January 14, 2020, Telephone
`Conference in Certain Digital Video Receivers, Inv. No. 337-
`TA-1158
`Public Version of “United States Patent No. 8,156,528 Claim
`Chart for Infringement of Representative Independent Claims 1,
`17, 27 and 32” from Certain Digital Video Receivers, Inv. No.
`337-TA-1158
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`v
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`MANDATORY NOTICES
`Real Parties in Interest. The real parties-in-interest are (i) Comcast
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`Corporation, (ii) Comcast Business Communications, LLC, (iii) Comcast Cable
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`Communications Management, LLC, (iv) Comcast Cable Communications, LLC,
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`(v) Comcast Holdings Corporation, (vi) NBCUniversal Shared Services, LLC
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`(formerly known as Comcast Shared Services, LLC), (vii) Comcast of Santa Maria,
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`LLC, (viii) Comcast of Lompoc, LLC, (ix) Comcast Financial Agency Corporation,
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`and (x) Comcast STB Software I, LLC. These entities are referenced below as
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`“Comcast entity #” or as “Comcast entities #-#,” where “#” is one of (i) through (x).
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`No unnamed entity is funding, controlling, or directing this Petition or
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`otherwise has an opportunity to control or direct this Petition or Petitioner’s
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`participation in any resulting IPR.
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`The ’528 Patent has been asserted against Comcast entities (i), (iii), (iv), and
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`(v) by Rovi Corporation of San Jose, California, and Rovi Guides, Inc. of San Jose,
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`California. The action, before the International Trade Commission, is In the Matter
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`of Certain Digital Video Receivers, Broadband Gateways, and Related Hardware
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`and Software Components, Inv. No. 337-TA-1158 (“ITC Investigation”), which was
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`instituted in May 22, 2019. The ’528 Patent was also asserted in the Central District
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`of California in Rovi Guides, Inc. v. Comcast Corporation, No. 2:19-CV-03096
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`(C.D. Cal). That case is stayed until the determination of the ITC Investigation
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`1
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`becomes final. The earliest date of service on any of the Comcast entities in either
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`of these proceedings was April 25, 2019.
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`Related Matters. This is the second of three petitions for inter partes review
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`filed concurrently by Petitioner against the ’528 Patent.
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`Lead & Back-Up Counsel, Service Information. Petitioner designates
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`counsel listed below and consents to electronic service. A power of attorney for
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`counsel is being filed with this Petition.
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`Lead Counsel
`Frederic M. Meeker
`Reg. No. 35,282
`fmeeker@bannerwitcoff.com
`
`First Back-Up Counsel
`John R. Hutchins
`Reg. No. 43,686
`jhutchins@bannerwitcoff.com
`
`Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.
`1100 13th Street, NW, Suite 1200
`Washington, DC 20005
`Tel: (202) 824-3000
`Fax: (202) 824-3001
`
`Additional Back-Up Counsel
`J. Pieter van Es
`Reg. No. 37,746
`pvanes@bannerwitcoff.com
`
`John Harris Curry
`Reg. No. 65,067
`jcurry@bannerwitcoff.com
`
`Bennett A. Ingvoldstad
`Reg. No. 73,367
`bingvoldstad@bannerwitcoff.com
`
`Camille D. Sauer
`Reg. No. 71,866
`csauer@bannerwitcoff.com
`
`Eunice N. Chan
`Reg. No. 68,981
`echan@bannerwitcoff.com
`
`Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.
`1100 13th Street, NW, Suite 1200
`Washington, DC 20005
`Tel: (202) 824-3000
`Fax: (202) 824-3001
`2
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`Please address all correspondence to counsel at the addresses shown above.
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`Petitioner further consents to electronic service by email at the following address
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`and the above emails: ComcastIPRService@bannerwitcoff.com.
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`INTRODUCTION AND RELIEF REQUESTED
`Comcast Cable Communications, LLC (“Petitioner”) petitions for inter partes
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`review and cancellation of claims 1-36 of U.S. Patent No. 8,156,528 (“the ’528
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`Patent”) (Ex. 1101).
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`The alleged invention relates to a personal video recorder (“PVR”) system
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`with two coupled devices, a “PVR device” and a “PVR-compliant device,” each with
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`its own program guide. The program guides, while implemented on different
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`devices, provide the same functionality including the ability to schedule programs
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`for recording onto the PVR device. This was known or would have been obvious to
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`a person of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the alleged invention (“POSA”).
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`A program guide is a straightforward and known way to control a PVR, and having
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`guides on multiple devices with the same functionality and communicating to allow
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`recording was known. The ’528 Patent, at most, claims trivial modifications to
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`known systems and processes that would have been well within the skill of a POSA.
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`The ’528 Patent concedes that most of its claim features were already known.
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`For example, PVRs allowing users to schedule, playback, and manage recordings
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`were known. Ex. 1101, 1:21-34. Providing interactive program guides (“IPGs”) to
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`facilitate television viewing was also known (Ex. 1101, 1:35-40), as was providing
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`IPGs on PVRs to allow users to record programs. Ex. 1101, 1:41-49. Additionally,
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`providing IPGs that have the same functions and are distinctly implemented on two
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`respective devices was also known in the art, as the Examiner repeatedly noted
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`during prosecution. Ex. 1102, 4477-4486, 4510-4521, 4538-4549, 4591-4602,
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`4889-4899, 5045-5054.
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`The alleged invention thus amounts to using two IPGs on two different
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`devices, both having the same functions, and both doing what IPGs were known to
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`do (e.g., control a PVR). The references relied upon herein show the use of two
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`IPGs having the same functions on two devices to control a PVR as claimed. The
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`dependent claims recite other trivial features – none of which is described as being
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`inventive by the ’528 Patent specification or was argued as being inventive during
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`prosecution, and all of which are taught by the references relied upon herein.
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`In sum, as demonstrated by a preponderance of the evidence, including the
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`relied-upon prior art, and the Declaration of industry expert Mr. Anthony
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`Wechselberger (Ex. 1103), the ’528 Patent’s claims are unpatentable.
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` OVERVIEW OF THE ’528 PATENT
`A. Brief Description
`The ʼ528 Patent “relates to personal video recorder (PVR) systems… that
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`include user television equipment having an interactive television program guide
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`(IPG) with PVR extensions implemented thereon.” Ex. 1101, 1:16-20, 5:23-33. The
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`patent acknowledges that PVR systems with IPGs were known. Id., 1:21-60; Ex.
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`1103, ¶ 41.
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`The system essentially requires a personal video recorder (PVR) that can be
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`controlled via IPGs that are implemented on two devices: the PVR itself and “a PVR-
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`compliant device.” Ex. 1101, 7:48-58, 5:54-6:18. The PVR-compliant device 500
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`“may include, for example, IPG 502, PVR extensions 504, PVR APIs 506, firmware
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`508, any other component needed to accommodate PVR functionality, or any
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`combination thereof.” Id., 7:48-58, 8:20-9:35, 9:50-59, Fig. 5 (reproduced below).
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`“Components of PVR-compliant device 500 may be located in, for example,
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`a PVR sidecar, a PVR server, a set-top-box, any suitable location or locations, or a
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`combination thereof.” Id., 7:55-58, 13:56-14:3, 17:13-30. Figures 9-14 of the ’528
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`Patent depict various arrangements of a system having a PVR and a PVR-compliant
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`device. Id., 13:39-55. For example, Figure 12 (reproduced below) depicts an
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`example where a set-top box 1200 functions as the PVR-compliant device and a
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`PVR sidecar 1201 functions as the PVR. Id., 15:3-12, Fig. 12.
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`The PVR-compliant device 500 (i.e., set-top box) can include PVR extensions
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`902, an IPG 904, and PVR APIs. Id., 14:4-53. The PVR extensions can include
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`“any suitable hardware, software, or both that may be used in conjunction” with the
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`IPG to “enable a seamless integration of” the IPG with PVR functionality, which
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`provides a single interface with which to operate both the IPG and the PVR
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`equipment. Id., 7:59-8:19. The ’528 Patent also explains that a “full port” of the
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`IPG 904 can be implemented in the PVR sidecar in addition to being implemented
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`on the PVR-compliant device (i.e., set-top box). Id., 15:13-29, 16:10-31. In this
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`manner, the PVR device is operated via either the IPG on the PVR or the IPG
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`implemented on the PVR-compliant device, which may be remote from, but in
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`communication with, the PVR device. Ex. 1103, ¶¶ 41-57.
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`B. Relevant Prosecution History
`U.S. Application No. 10/105,082 (“the ’082 Application”), which issued as
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`the ʼ528 Patent, was filed on March 21, 2002 and claimed priority to three
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`provisional applications, the earliest of which was filed on March 22, 2001. Ex.
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`1102, 1, 6. Thus, the earliest possible priority date to which the ’528 Patent could
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`be entitled is March 22, 20011.
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`During an arduous prosecution, the Examiner repeatedly found it obvious to
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`provide two IPGs that are distinctly implemented on two respective devices, citing
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`to, e.g., U.S. 2003/0044165 (“Wood”) and U.S. 6,256,390 (“Okuyama”). Id., 4477-
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`4486, 4510-4521, 4538-4549, 4591-4602, 4889-4899, 5045-5054. Indeed, it is
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`axiomatic that replicating a known feature is presumed obvious. In re Harza, 274
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`F.2d 669, 124 USPQ 378 (CCPA 1960). Nevertheless, after various amendments
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`and appeals, in which the Applicant focused on the claimed two implementations of
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`an IPG – one on the PVR device and one on the PVR-compliant device – both doing
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`1 Petitioner does not concede that the ’528 Patent is entitled to the priority of the
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`provisional applications to which it claims priority.
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`8
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`what IPGs were known to do (e.g., control a PVR device), the Examiner eventually
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`relented and allowed the ’082 Application. Ex. 1102, 4942-4948, 5002-5008, 5067-
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`5073.
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`III. OVERVIEW OF PRIOR ART
` Boyle
`U.S. Patent No. 7,206,497 to Boyle et al. was filed on August 31, 2000, before
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`the earliest claimed priority date of the ’528 Patent. Boyle qualifies as prior art under
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`35 U.S.C. § 102(e).
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`Boyle discloses “a digital video recorder connectable to a set-top box
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`configured to receive electronic program guide information and broadcast
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`audiovisual data.” Ex. 1106, 2:17-20. The digital video recorder (DVR) 100
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`connects to the set-top box 110 via interfaces 140 and 150, as shown in Figure 1:
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`As also shown in the figure, both the DVR 100 and the set-top box 110 have
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`output interfaces (190, 250) for outputting to a display device 200. Ex. 1106, Fig.
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`1, 3:33-53, 4:2-16, 5:7-17, 6:1-6, 6:55-7:10. Both devices may output an electronic
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`program guide (EPG) to a display device. Id., 3:48-52, 5:28-39, 6:1-6.
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`The DVR receives EPG data from the set-top box, rather than an independent
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`source. Id., 2:16-55, 4:47-51, 5:2-10. Thus, the DVR’s EPG will have similar
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`formatting as the EPG on the set-top box, which provides a “more seamless
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`transition” between devices. Id., 6:55-7:10; Ex. 1103, ¶¶ 58-69.
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`Ellis 4707
`B.
`Ellis 4707 (Ex. 1105) is international patent publication number WO
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`00/04707, which was published on January 27, 2000, and qualifies as prior art under
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`35 U.S.C. § 102(b).
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`
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`Ellis 4707 discloses “an interactive television program guide system … in
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`which multiple interactive television program guides within the household are
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`coordinated.” Ex. 1105, 3:24-27. Ellis 4707’s illustrative program guide system 30
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`includes a main facility 32, television distribution facility 38, and multiple instances
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`of user television equipment 44. Id., 11:17-13:4, Fig. 1 (reproduced, below); Ex.
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`1103, ¶¶ 112-123.
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`11
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`Each device 44 of the system implements its own guide. Ex. 1105, 4:19-27,
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`5:18-28, 26:3-17; Ex. 1103, ¶ 114. Furthermore, the guide on one device may be
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`used to adjust settings, including setting program recordings, on the guide of another
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`device. Id. In one example, a device lacking the ability to record may, when a user
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`requests a recording via a guide on the device, instruct another device to carry out
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`the recording. Ex. 1105, 35:9-32. The devices include set-top boxes with a digital
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`storage device and set-top boxes without digital storage. Id., 1:18-20, 2:28-3:2,
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`12
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`3:30-33, 35:9-32, Fig. 1, Claims 89-91. Thus, Ellis 4707 teaches providing
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`recording functionality from one set-top box to another set-top box. Ex. 1103, ¶ 116.
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`C. Ellis 4709
`Ellis 4709 (Ex. 1104) is international patent publication number WO
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`00/04709, which was published on January 27, 2000 and therefore qualifies as prior
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`art under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b).
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`Like the ’528 Patent, Ellis 4709 discloses a system for recording programs on
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`a PVR (a digital storage device 31 within a set-top box) via an IPG implemented on
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`either the PVR itself or on a "remote program guide access device" that is remote
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`from, but in communication with, the PVR. Ex. 1104, 4:18-23, Fig. 1; Ex. 1103, ¶¶
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`89-111. Ellis 4709 also describes using a server to record the programs, as well as
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`the use of a server to provide the “primary processing power” for a client device by
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`rendering screens of the guide for transmission to the client. Ex. 1104, 12:30-13:2,
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`15:20-28, 40:15-16, 54:27-55:20; Ex. 1103, ¶¶ 333, 342.
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`D. Lea
`U.S. Patent No. 6,349,352 to Lea (Ex. 1107) issued from an application filed
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`on January 6, 1998, which is prior to the earliest claimed priority date of the ’528
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`Patent. Lea, therefore, qualifies as prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102(e).
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`Lea describes a home entertainment system in which multiple devices interact.
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`Ex. 1107, Abstract, 2:36-46; Ex. 1103, ¶¶ 124-139. When one device connects to
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`another and discovers its capabilities, it determines the type of the device and then
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`generates a specific API for communicating based on the type of the device. Ex.
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`1107, 9:50-55, 18:20-62, 18:64-19:5. This approach facilitates cooperation among
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`devices of different type and vendor. Id., 9:64-10:3, 18:9-15.
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`E. Wood
`U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0057893 to Wood et al. (Ex. 1110) issued
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`from an application filed on March 3, 1999, which is prior to the earliest claimed
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`priority date of the ’528 Patent. Wood, therefore, qualifies as prior art under 35
`
`U.S.C. § 102(e).
`
`Wood confirms that it was known for digital recording devices to
`
`automatically record programs users are viewing in real-time, a fact also admitted
`
`by the ’528 Patent. Ex. 1103, ¶ 140; Ex. 1101, 1:21-34. For example, Wood
`
`describes the digital recorder storing live television shows so the user can rewind or
`
`pause. Ex. 1110, ¶¶ [0007], [0059], [0117]-[0122].
`
`IV.
`
`IDENTIFICATION OF CHALLENGE PURSUANT TO 37 C.F.R.
`§ 42.104(B) AND STATEMENT OF THE RELIEF REQUESTED
` Claims for Which Review is Requested and Grounds on Which
`Challenge Is Based
`Petitioner requests review on the following grounds:
`
`Ground
`
`1
`
`Claims
`Challenged
`1-8, 11-19, 27-30,
`32-35
`
`Basis
`
`Prior Art
`
`§ 103(a)
`
`Boyle and Ellis 4707
`
`14
`
`

`

`
`
`2
`
`3
`
`4
`
`5
`
`6
`
`9, 10, 20-22
`
`23-26, 31, 36
`1-8, 11-19, 27-30,
`32-35
`
`9, 10, 20-22
`
`§ 103(a)
`
`§ 103(a)
`
`§ 103(a)
`
`§ 103(a)
`
`23-26, 31, 36
`
`§ 103(a)
`
`Boyle, Ellis 4707, and
`Ellis 4709
`Boyle, Ellis 4707, and Lea
`Boyle, Ellis 4707, and
`Wood
`Boyle, Ellis 4707, Ellis
`4709, and Wood
`Boyle, Ellis 4707, Lea,
`and Wood
`
` How Claims Are to Be Construed and Level of Skill
`Level of Skill
`1.
`The alleged invention relates to the field of “personal video recorder (PVR)
`
`systems, and more particularly, to PVR systems that include user television
`
`equipment having an interactive program guide (IPG) with PVR extensions
`
`implemented thereon.” Ex. 1101, 1:16-20, Claims 1, 17, 27 and 32; Ex. 1103, ¶¶ 5-
`
`20, 30, 41. A POSA would have had at least a bachelor’s degree in computer
`
`science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a similar discipline, and
`
`two or more years of relevant industry or research experience, or the equivalent
`
`thereof, including in electronic content delivery, electronic program guides,
`
`television video signal processing, graphical user interfaces, cable or satellite
`
`television systems, set-top boxes, personal video recorders (PVR), or similar digital
`
`storage devices. Ex. 1103, ¶¶ 29-31, 40.
`
`15
`
`

`

`
`
`2. How Claims Are to Be Construed
`A claim subject to inter partes review shall be given its ordinary and
`
`customary meaning to a POSA, consistent with the prosecution history, as it would
`
`be given in a civil action under 35 U.S.C. § 282(b). 37 C.F.R. § 42.100(b). All
`
`claim terms not addressed below should, for the purpose of this proceeding, be
`
`construed according to their ordinary and customary meaning to a POSA at the time
`
`of the alleged invention.
`
`In the co-pending ITC Investigation, Petitioner and Patent Owner proposed
`
`constructions as set forth in the following table. See Ex. 1119, 3-4; Ex. 1115, 26-
`
`52; Ex. 1116, 3-31; Ex. 1122.
`
`Term
`
`application
`programming
`interfaces
`personal
`video
`recorder
`device
`
`personal
`video
`recorder
`compliant
`device
`
`Rovi’s Proposed Construction
`
`Comcast’s Proposed
`Construction
`a set of protocols or routines that provide an interface between
`two program modules, such as two software modules
`
`a device that records
`personal videos on internal
`storage
`
`a device that provides
`recording functionality
`only when coupled to a
`personal video recorder
`
`a device used to interact with an
`interactive television system and that
`is capable of recording programs to
`local digital storage including the
`automatic recording of programs
`that users are watching in real-time
`a device without a personal video
`recorder, designed to operate with a
`personal video recorder device, and
`used to interact with an interactive
`television system
`
`16
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`interactive
`television
`program
`guide
`
`distinctly
`implemented
`
`same
`functions
`PVR
`extensions
`
`the components of a system
`that can manipulate guide
`data and user inputs to
`provide an interactive,
`visual display of media
`listings and other guidance
`functions
`each device separately
`contains all the
`components of a system
`that can manipulate guide
`data and user inputs to
`provide an interactive,
`visual display of media
`listings and other guidance
`functions
`all of the same functions
`
`hardware or software that
`enables seamless
`integration of interactive
`program guide and
`personal video recorder
`functionality
`
`an application that generates a
`display of television program
`listings on user television equipment
`and that allows users to navigate
`through and interact with television
`program listings based on user
`commands
`separately implemented
`
`a plurality of common interactive
`television program guide functions
`any suitable hardware, software, or
`both used in conjunction with the
`interactive television program guide
`which adds personal video recorder
`functionality to a device
`
`The ITC adopted certain claim constructions for the disputed terms. With two
`
`exceptions (as indicated below), the ITC adopted a construction proffered by one of
`
`the parties. The ITC’s adopted constructions are summarized in the table, below:
`
`Term
`personal video recorder
`device
`personal video recorder
`compliant device
`
`ITC Adopted Constructions
`Adopted Rovi’s Construction. Ex. 1120, 58:16-22.
`
`ITC Construction (neither party): “a device that
`provides personal video recorder (‘PVR’) functionality
`only when coupled to a PVR.” Ex. 1120, 64:5-11.
`
`17
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`interactive television
`program guide
`
`Adopted Rovi’s Construction. Ex.1120, 63:18-64:4.
`
`distinctly implemented Adopted Rovi’s Construction. Ex. 1120, 60:12-16.
`
`same functions
`
`Adopted Rovi’s Construction. Ex. 1120, 59:22-60:4.
`
`PVR extensions
`
`ITC Construction (neither party): “hardware,
`software, or both that enables integration of personal
`video recorder functionality with an interactive program
`guide.” Ex. 1121, 1.
`
`This Petition demonstrates the unpatentability of the claims under all of the
`
`ITC’s adopted constructions, as well as the constructions proposed by the parties.
`
`Ex. 1103, ¶¶ 32-40. Additionally, the Board is not bound by the ITC’s adopted
`
`constructions. Mediatek Inc. v. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., IPR2018-00102,
`
`Paper 48 (Final Written Decision), at 10-11 (P.T.A.B. Apr. 29, 2019) (citing Nobel
`
`Biocare Servs. AG v. Instradent USA, Inc., 903 F.3d 1365, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2018)).
`
`For instance, the Board should not adopt a construction of “personal video recorder
`
`device” requiring “automatic recording of programs that users are watching in real
`
`time.” The intrinsic evidence does not require this new limitation be imported into
`
`the claims. In the ITC, the only portion of the specification that Rovi cited in support
`
`of its construction was the Background of the Invention section, which states that
`
`certain commercial PVRs of the time could “record what users are watching in real-
`
`time.” Ex. 1101, 1:21-34; Ex. 1116, 12-14. That statement does not disclose that
`
`18
`
`

`

`
`
`the recording was set automatically and nothing in this brief description justifies
`
`adding a new limitation into t