`
`Filed on behalf of Cisco Systems, Inc.
`By:
`Lori A. Gordon
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`Daniel S. Block
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`Tyler J. Dutton
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`Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.
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`1100 New York Avenue, NW
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`Washington, D.C.
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`Tel: (202) 371-2600
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`Fax: (202) 371-2540
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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
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`PETITION FOF INTER PARTES REVIEW
`OF U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
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`Mail Stop PATENT BOARD
`Patent Trial and Appeal Board
`U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`I.
`
`II.
`
`III.
`
`IV.
`
`Introduction. ................................................................................................. 1
`
`Mandatory notices (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(a)(1)). ............................................... 2
`
`Grounds for standing (37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a)). ........................................... 3
`
`Identification of challenge (37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)). ................................... 3
`
`A.
`
`B.
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`Citation of prior art. ............................................................................... 3
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`Statutory grounds for the challenge. ..................................................... 5
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`V.
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`Background. ................................................................................................. 6
`
`A.
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`B.
`
`C.
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`D.
`
`E.
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`F.
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`The 3rd Generation Partnership Project. ............................................... 6
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`The ’971 patent. ...................................................................................11
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`Prosecution history. .............................................................................18
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`Level of ordinary skill in the art. .........................................................19
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`Claim construction. .............................................................................20
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`Patent Owner is not entitled to the priority benefit of the 2004
`Chinese applications. ...........................................................................21
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`VI.
`
`Ground 1: 3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 anticipates claims 1–8 and 11. ...............28
`
`A.
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`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 anticipates claims 1 and 5. ................................29
`
`1.
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`2.
`
`3.
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`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 discloses “[a method / communication
`system] for controlling charging of packet data service,” as
`recited in claims 1 and 5.................................................................29
`
`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 discloses “a Traffic Plane Function (TPF)
`which is in communication with a Charging Rule Function
`(CRF)” as recited in claim 5 and a TPF and CRF as recited in
`claim 1. ...........................................................................................29
`
`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 discloses the “receiv[ing/e]” limitation of
`independent claims 1 and 5. ...........................................................32
`
`i
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
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`4.
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`5.
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`6.
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`7.
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`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 discloses “wherein the event triggers are
`determined by the CRF,” as recited in claims 1 and 5. ..................34
`
`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 discloses the “determin[ing/e]” limitation
`of independent claims 1 and 5. .......................................................34
`
`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 discloses the “send[ing]” limitations of
`independent claims 1 and 5. ...........................................................35
`
`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 discloses the “event triggers” limitation
`of independent claims 1 and 5. .......................................................41
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`D.
`
`E.
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`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 anticipates claims 2 and 6. ................................42
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`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 anticipates claims 3 and 7. ................................43
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`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 anticipates claims 4 and 8. ................................44
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`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 anticipates claim 11. ..........................................47
`
`VII.
`
`Ground 2: Claims 9 and 10 are obvious over 3GPP 23.125
`V6.2.0 and Duffield. ..................................................................................48
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`VIII. Ground 3: Claims 2 and 6 are obvious over 3GPP 23.125
`V6.2.0. ........................................................................................................51
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`Grounds 1–3 are not redundant..................................................................53
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`Conclusion. ................................................................................................55
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`IX.
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`X.
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`
`ii
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
`
`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`Dynamic Drinkware, LLC v. Nat’l Graphics, Inc.,
`800 F.3d 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2015)................................................................................ 22
`
`In re Baker,
`559 F.2d 588 (C.C.P.A. 1977) ................................................................................. 23
`
`In re DiLeone,
`436 F.2d 1404 (C.C.P.A. 1971) ............................................................................... 23
`
`In re Gosteli,
`872 F.2d 1008 (Fed. Cir. 1989)................................................................................ 23
`
`Lizardtech, Inc. v. Earth Resource Mapping,
`424 F.3d 1336 (Fed. Cir. 2005)................................................................................ 22
`
`Tech. Licensing Corp. v. Videotek, Inc.,
`545 F.3d 1316 (Fed. Cir. 2008)................................................................................ 22
`
`Vas-Cath Inc. v. Mahurkar,
`935 F.2d 1555 (Fed. Cir. 1991)................................................................................ 22
`
`
`
`iii
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
`
`EXHIBIT LIST
`
`Ex. 1001 U.S. Patent No. 8,531,971 to Duan
`
`Ex. 1002 U.S. Patent No. 8,531,971 Prosecution History
`
`Ex. 1003 CN 2004 1 0030955
`
`Ex. 1004 CN 2004 1 0033721
`
`Ex. 1005 WO 2005/096547 (PCT/CN2005/000388)
`
`Ex. 1006 U.S. Patent No. 8,009,573 to Duan
`
`Ex. 1007 U.S. Patent No. 8,009,573 Prosecution History
`
`Ex. 1008 U.S. Patent Application No. 13/190,817 Prosecution History
`
`Ex. 1009 U.S. Patent No. 7,450,591 to Körling et al.
`
`Ex. 1010 U.S. Patent No. 7,450,591 Prosecution History
`
`Ex. 1011 WO 2004/036825 (PCT/SE2003/001122)
`
`Ex. 1012 U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/418,547 to Körling et al.
`
`Ex. 1013
`
`3GPP TR 23.825 (V1.2.0) (2003-11)
`
`Ex. 1014 U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2002/0165958 to Duffield et al.
`
`Ex. 1015 Declaration of Dr. Paul Min
`
`Ex. 1016 Declaration of Mark Grayson
`
`Ex. 1017 Dr. Paul Min Curriculum Vitae
`
`Ex. 1018
`
`Ex. 1019
`
`Internet Archive of 3GPP Database (May 18, 2004), available at
`https://web.archive.org/web/20040518183918/http://www.3gpp.org/ft
`p/specs/archive/23_series/23.825/
`
`Internet Archive of 3GPP Database (Mar. 8, 2015), available at
`https://web.archive.org/web/20150308024711/http://www.3gpp.org/ft
`p/specs/archive/23_series/23.825/
`
`iv
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`
`
`Ex.
`
`Ex. 1020
`
`1020
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
`U.S. PATENT No. 8,531,971
`
`Invitation to Nov. 24-28, 2003 SA2 Meeting in New York, available
`Invitation to Nov. 24-28, 2003 SA2 Meeting in New York, available
`at http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/WG2_Arch/TSGS2_36_New_
`at http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/WG2_Arch/TSGS 2_36_New_
`York/Invitation/
`York/Invitation/
`
`Ex.
`
`1021
`
`Ex. 1021 Meeting Minutes from Nov. 24-28, 2003 SA2 Meeting in New York,
`Meeting Minutes from Nov. 24-28, 2003 SA2 Meeting in New York,
`available at http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/WG2_Arch/TSGS2_36_
`available at http://www.3 gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/WG2_Arch/TS GS 2_3 6_
`New_York/report/
`New_York/report/
`
`Ex.
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`Ex. 1022
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`1022
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`Ex.
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`Ex. 1023
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`1023
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`3GPP Meeting Registration for Nov. 24-28, 2003 SA2 Meeting in
`3GPP Meeting Registration for Nov. 24-28, 2003 SA2 Meeting in
`New York, available at http://webapp.etsi.org/3GPPRegistration/
`New York, available at http://webapp.etsi.org/3GPPRegistration/
`fViewPart.asp?mid=23040
`fViewPart.asp?mid=23 040
`
`3GPP TS 23.125 (V6.2.0) (2004-09)
`3GPP TS 23.125 (V6.2.0) (2004-09)
`
`Ex.
`
`1 024
`
`Ex. 1024 Change Request Tdoc S2-041454, 3GPP TSG SA WG2 Meeting #39,
`Change Request Tdoc S2-041454, 3GPP TSG SA WG2 Meeting #39,
`ShenZhen, China, April 19-23, 2004, available at
`ShenZhen, China, April 19-23, 2004, available at
`http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/wg2_arch/TSGS2_39_Shenzhen/Tdoc
`http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/wg2_arch/TSGS2_39_Shenzhen/Tdoc
`s/S2-041454.zip
`s/S2-041454.zip
`
`Ex.
`
`Ex. 1025
`
`1025
`
`Ex.
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`Ex. 1026
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`1026
`
`Internet Archive of 3GPP Database (Mar. 8, 2015), available at
`Internet Archive of 3GPP Database (Mar. 8, 2015), available at
`https://web.archive.org/web/20150308020217/http://www.3gpp.org/ft
`https://web.archive.org/web/20150308020217/http://www.3gpp.org/ft
`p/specs/archive/23_series/23.125/
`p/specs/archive/23_series/23. 125/
`
`Invitation to Sept. 7-16, 2004 TSG #25 Meeting in Palm Springs,
`Invitation to Sept. 7-16, 2004 TSG #25 Meeting in Palm Springs,
`available at http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/TSG_SA/TSGS_25/
`available at http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/TSG_SA/TSGS_25/
`Invitation/
`Invitation/
`
`Ex.
`
`1027
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`Ex. 1027 Meeting Minutes from Sept. 7-16, 2004 TSG #25 Meeting in Palm
`Meeting Minutes from Sept. 7-16, 2004 TSG #25 Meeting in Palm
`Springs, available at http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/TSG_SA/
`Springs, available at http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/TSG_SA/
`TSGS_25/Report/
`TSGS_25/Report/
`
`Ex.
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`Ex. 1028
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`1028
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`Ex.
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`Ex. 1029
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`1029
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`Ex.
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`Ex. 1030
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`1030
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`3GPP Meeting Registration for Sept. 7-16, 2004 TSG #25 Meeting in
`3GPP Meeting Registration for Sept. 7-16, 2004 TSG #25 Meeting in
`Palm Springs, available at http://webapp.etsi.org/3GPPRegistration/
`Palm Springs, available at http://webapp.etsi.org/3GPPRegistration/
`fViewPart.asp?mid=22815
`fViewPart.asp?mid=22815
`
`3GPP Specifications – Numbering Scheme (Oct. 3, 2003), available
`3GPP Specifications — Numbering Scheme (Oct. 3, 2003), available
`at https://web.archive.org/web/20031003215125/
`at https://web.archive.org/web/20031003215125/
`http://www.3gpp.org/specs/numbering.htm
`http://www.3 gpp.org/specs/numbering.htm
`
`3GPP Specifications – Numbering Scheme (Feb. 5, 2004), available
`3GPP Specifications — Numbering Scheme (Feb. 5, 2004), available
`at https://web.archive.org/web/20040205170822/
`at https://web.archive.org/web/20040205 170822/
`http://www.3gpp.org/specs/numbering.htm
`http://www.3gpp.org/specs/numbering.htm
`
`v
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`
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
`U.S. PATENT No. 8,531,971
`
`3GPP Specification Series: 23 Series (Dec. 6, 2003), available at
`3GPP Specification Series: 23 Series (Dec. 6, 2003), available at
`https://web.archive.org/web/20031206155155/http://www.3gpp.org/ft
`https://Web.archive.org/web/20031206155155/http://WWW.3gpp.org/ft
`p/Specs/html-info/23-series.htm
`p/Specs/htInl-info/23-series.htm
`
`3GPP Specification Series: 23 Series (Feb. 5, 2004), available at
`3GPP Specification Series: 23 Series (Feb. 5, 2004), available at
`https://web.archive.org/web/20040205130026/http://www.3gpp.org/ft
`https ://Web.archive.org/web/20040205 1 30026/http://WWW.3 gpp.org/ft
`p/Specs/html-info/23-series.htm
`p/Specs/htInl-info/23-series.htm
`
`3GPP ftp – 3GPP 23.825, available at
`3GPP ftp — 3GPP 23.825, available at
`http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/23_series/23.825
`http://WWW.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/23_series/23.825
`
`3GPP ftp – 3GPP 23.825 (Mar. 5, 2004), available at
`3GPP ftp — 3GPP 23.825 (Mar. 5, 2004), available at
`http://web.archive.org/web/20040305070631/http://www.3gpp.org/ftp
`http://Web.archive.org/web/2004030507063 1/http://WWW.3 gpp.org/ftp
`/Specs/archive/23_series/23.825
`/Specs/archive/23_series/23.825
`
`3GPP ftp – 3GPP 23.125, available at
`3GPP ftp — 3GPP 23.125, available at
`http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/23_series/23.125
`http://WWW.3 gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/23_series/23. 125
`
`3GPP ftp – 3GPP 23.125 (Oct. 29, 2004), available at
`3GPP ftp — 3GPP 23.125 (Oct. 29, 2004), available at
`http://web.archive.org/web/20041029104252/http://www.3gpp.org/ftp
`http://web.archive.org/web/20041029104252/http://WWW.3gpp.org/ftp
`/Specs/Archive/23_series/23.125/
`/Specs/Archive/23_series/23.125/
`
`Internet Archive of 3GPP.org/about (Feb. 6, 2004), available at
`Internet Archive of 3GPP.org/about (Feb. 6, 2004), available at
`http://web.archive.org/web/20040206082055/http://www.3gpp.org/Ab
`http://Web.archive.org/web/20040206082055/http://WWW.3gpp.org/Ab
`out/about.htm/
`out/about.htrn/
`
`Seurre, Emmanuel et al., GPRS for Mobile Internet (Artech House
`Seurre, Emmanuel et al., GPRS for Mobile Internet (Artech House
`2003)
`2003)
`
`Ex.
`
`Ex. 1031
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`1031
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`Ex.
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`Ex. 1032
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`1032
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`Ex.
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`Ex. 1033
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`1033
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`Ex.
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`Ex. 1034
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`1034
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`Ex.
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`Ex. 1035
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`1035
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`Ex.
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`Ex. 1036
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`1036
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`Ex.
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`Ex. 1037
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`1037
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`Ex.
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`Ex. 1038
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`1038
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`Ex. 1039 Certificate of Translation of CN 2004 1 0030955
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`Certificate of Translation of CN 2004 1 0030955
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`Ex.
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`1039
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`Ex.
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`1040
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`Ex. 1040 Certificate of Translation of CN 2004 1 0033721
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`Certificate of Translation of CN 2004 1 0033721
`
`Ex.
`
`1041
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`Ex. 1041 Certificate of Translation of WO 2005/096547
`(PCT/CN2005/000388)
`(PCT/CN2005/000388)
`
`Certificate of Translation of WO 2005/096547
`
`Ex.
`
`Ex. 1042 Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1018
`Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1018
`
`1042
`
`Ex.
`
`Ex. 1043 Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1019
`Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1019
`
`1043
`
`Ex.
`
`Ex. 1044 Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1025
`Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1025
`
`1044
`
`Ex.
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`Ex. 1045 Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1029
`Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1029
`
`1045
`
`vi
`
`vi
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`
`
`Ex.
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`Ex. 1046 Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1030
`Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1030
`
`1046
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
`U.S. PATENT No. 8,531,971
`
`Ex.
`
`Ex. 1047 Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1031
`Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1031
`
`1047
`
`Ex.
`
`Ex. 1048 Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1032
`Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1032
`
`1048
`
`Ex.
`
`Ex. 1049 Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1034
`Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1034
`
`1049
`
`Ex.
`
`Ex. 1050 Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1036
`Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1036
`
`1050
`
`Ex.
`
`Ex. 1051 Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1037
`Affidavit of Christopher Butler Corresponding to Exhibit 1037
`
`1051
`
`Ex.
`
`Ex. 1052
`
`1052
`
`3GPP TS 29.207 (V5.6.0) (2003-12)
`3GPP TS 29.207 (V5.6.0) (2003-12)
`
`Ex.
`
`1053
`
`Ex. 1053 Redlines showing the differences between 3GPP TS 23.125 (V2.0.0)
`Redlines showing the differences between 3GPP TS 23.125 (V2.0.0)
`(2004-03) and 3GPP TS 23.125 (V6.2.0) (2004-09)
`(2004-03) and 3GPP TS 23.125 (V6.2.0) (2004-09)
`
`
`
`vii
`
`vii
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`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
`
`I.
`
`Introduction.
`Cisco Systems, Inc. petitions for inter partes review of claims 1–11 of
`
`United States Patent No. 8,531,971, titled “Method for Controlling Charging of
`
`Packet Data Service.” The ’971 patent claims priority benefit to two April 2004
`
`Chinese applications. However, the challenged claims recite limitations having no
`
`written description support in the Chinese applications. Therefore, the earliest
`
`possible priority date of the ’971 patent is the March 28, 2005 PCT application
`
`date.
`
`The challenged claims of the ’971 patent recite a method and system for
`
`controlling charging of a packet data service utilizing components such as a Traffic
`
`Plane Function (“TPF”) and Charging Rule Function (“CRF”). These components
`
`were well-known and standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project
`
`(3GPP) organization before the earliest possible priority date of the ’971 patent.
`
`Indeed, over half of the ’971 patent describes existing mechanisms for controlling
`
`charging packet data service that were standardized by 3GPP, an organization in
`
`which Patent Owner actively participated.
`
`The ’971 patent contends that it improved upon the charging mechanisms
`
`defined in the 3GPP specification. However, this alleged improvement was also
`
`included in a 3GPP specification, 3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0, published in September
`
`2004 prior to the PCT application date of the ’971 patent. Petitioner demonstrates
`
`
`
`- 1 -
`
`
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
`
`that the September 2004 3GPP 23.125 standard anticipates the challenged claims.
`
`Further, Petitioner’s expert, Dr. Min, who has 30 years of experience in the field,
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`explains that both sending event triggers from a CRF to a TPF and requesting
`
`charging rules according to the encountered events were widely known and in use
`
`in the industry prior to the earliest possible priority date of the ’971 patent. Thus,
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`the alleged improvement upon the 3GPP specification was also well known.
`
`Petitioner demonstrates herein that at least a reasonable likelihood exists that
`
`all 11 claims of the ’971 patent are unpatentable. Accordingly, Petitioner
`
`respectfully requests that the Board institute trial on the grounds set forth herein.
`
`II. Mandatory notices (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(a)(1)).
`REAL PARTY IN INTEREST: Cisco Systems, Inc. is the real party in interest.
`
`RELATED MATTERS: The ’971 patent is involved in the following cases that
`
`may affect or be affected by a decision in this proceeding: Huawei Techs. Co. v. T-
`
`Mobile US, Inc., 2:16-cv-00055 (E.D. Tex. 2016) and Cisco Systems, Inc. v.
`
`Huawei Techs. Co., IPR2017-02077 (September 8, 2017) (filed herewith).
`
`LEAD AND BACKUP COUNSEL: Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. §§ 42.8(b)(3) and
`
`42.10(a), Petitioner appoints Lori A. Gordon (Reg. No. 50,633) as its lead counsel
`
`and Daniel S. Block (Reg. No. 68,395) and Tyler J. Dutton (Reg. No. 75,069) as its
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`back-up counsel, all at the address: STERNE, KESSLER, GOLDSTEIN & FOX, 1100
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`
`
`- 2 -
`
`
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
`
`New York Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20005, phone number (202) 371-
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`2600 and facsimile (202) 371-2540.
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`SERVICE INFORMATION: Petitioner consents to electronic service by email at
`
`the email addresses: lgordon-PTAB@skgf.com, dblock-PTAB@skgf.com, and
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`tdutton-PTAB@skgf.com.
`
`III. Grounds for standing (37 C.F.R. § 42.104(a)).
`The undersigned and Cisco Systems, Inc. certify that the ʼ971 patent is
`
`available for inter partes review. Cisco Systems, Inc. further certifies that it is not
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`barred or estopped from requesting this inter partes review on the grounds
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`identified herein.
`
`IV.
`
`Identification of challenge (37 C.F.R. § 42.104(b)).
`A. Citation of prior art.
`The ’971 patent claims priority through a continuation application to U.S.
`
`Patent No. 8,009,573 which is the national stage of international application
`
`PCT/CN2005/000388, filed on March 28, 2005. The ’971 patent further claims
`
`priority to two Chinese applications, filed on April 1, 2004 and April 9, 2004.
`
`Cisco demonstrates in Section V.F. that none of the challenged claims are entitled
`
`to priority benefit of the April 2004 Chinese applications. Therefore, the earliest
`
`possible priority date is the filing date of the PCT application—March 28, 2005,
`
`which is also its U.S. filing date.
`
`
`
`- 3 -
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
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`3GPP TS 23.125 (V6.2.0) (2004-09), titled “Overall High Level
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`Functionality and Architecture Impacts of Flow Based Charging” (“3GPP 23.125
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`V6.2.0”)1 (Ex. 1023), published in September 2004, is prior art under at least 35
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`U.S.C. § 102(a) because 3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 was publicly available before the
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`March 28, 2005 filing date of the PCT Application. 3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 lists a
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`September 2004 date on the face of the document. (3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0, pp. 1,
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`47.) 3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 was presented and approved during the September 7–16,
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`2004 meeting in Palm Springs, California, which had 118 attendees spanning
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`across the entire industry. (Ex. 1027, pp. 9, 35, 107, 130–31, 139–40, 242; Ex.
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`1028 (listing the attendees and the organizations represented).) 3GPP 23.125
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`V6.2.0 was uploaded to the 3GPP ftp server on September 22, 2004. (See Grayson
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`Decl., ¶¶ 21–24 ; Ex. 1036.) And 3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 has not been modified
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`since. (See Grayson Decl., ¶ 10, 22; Ex. 1025; 1035.)
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`A person having ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention
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`(“POSITA”) would have been able to easily search for and find 3GPP 23.125
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`1 A previously-filed IPR by Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC, T-
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`Mobile US, Inc., and T-Mobile USA, Inc. utilized a March 2004 Version of 3GPP
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`TS 23.125 (V2.0.0). As Petitioner discusses in Section IX, significant differences
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`exist between the March 2004 and September 2004 versions of 3GPP TS 23.125.
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
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`V6.2.0. (Grayson Decl., ¶¶ 13–15; Min Decl., ¶¶ 19, 34–35.) The 3GPP standards
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`organization provided standards—including 3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0—online without
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`restriction. (Grayson Decl., ¶ 5; Min Decl., ¶ 35.) A POSITA would have known to
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`look at the 3GPP website, as such practice was customary in the art at the time of
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`the invention. (Min Decl., ¶ 35.) For at least these reasons, 3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0
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`was publicly available well before the priority date of the ’971 patent and therefore
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`prior art.
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`U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2002/0165958 A1 to Duffield et al., titled “Apparatus
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`for size-dependent sampling for managing a data network” (“Duffield”) (Ex. 1014)
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`is prior art under at least 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) because it was published on
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`November 7, 2002, more than one year before the earliest possible effective filing
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`date of the ’971 patent. (Ex. 1014, face page (43).)
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`Statutory grounds for the challenge.
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`B.
`Cisco requests review of claims 1–11 on the following grounds:
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`GROUND 1: Claims 1–8 and 11 are unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 102 as
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`anticipated by 3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0.
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`GROUND 2: Claims 9 and 10 are unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as
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`obvious over 3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 in view of Duffield.
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`GROUND 3: Claims 2 and 6 are unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as
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`obvious over 3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0.
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
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`V. Background.
`A. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project.
`The ’971 patent spends over five columns (more than it spends describing its
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`purported invention) explaining the charging-flow systems disclosed in prior-art
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`3rd Generation Partnership Project (“3GPP”) specifications. As this Section
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`explains, 3GPP was (and still is) a collaboration of organizational partners with the
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`goal of standardizing telecommunications systems—including charging-flow
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`systems—and was widely known and respected in the industry.
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`Established in 1998, 3GPP consists of a global collaboration of industry
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`leaders in wireless technologies ranging from service providers to equipment
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`manufacturers. (Ex. 1037, p. 1.) 3GPP also includes representatives from core
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`telecommunications-standards organizations including the Alliance for
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`Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) from the United States
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`(responsible for the T1 standards), the European Telecommunications Standards
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`Institute (ETSI), the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) from
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`Japan, the China Communications Standards Association (CCSA), the
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`Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) from Korea, and the
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`Telecommunication Technology Committee (TTC) from Japan. (See 1037, p. 1.)
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`Representatives from 3GPP met, typically quarterly, to draft specifications and
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`reports. (See Ex. 1037, p. 1; Ex. 1038, pp. 56–57; Min Decl., ¶ 34.) These
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
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`specifications and reports served as the blueprint for global standardization in
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`mobile telecommunications. (See Ex. 1037, p. 1; Min Decl., ¶ 34.)
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`The 3GPP specifications provide end-to-end requirements for mobile
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`networks and applications. Several of these 3GPP specifications and reports deal
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`with the subject matter of the ’971 patent, charging-flow systems (i.e., how
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`communications systems would charge users for different services). The ability to
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`offer flexible charges to customers was important because prior to the 3GPP
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`23.125 standard, mobile-network technologies were evolving to offer users greater
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`access to a diverse set of services (e.g., voice, data, and multimedia services). (See
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`Min Decl., ¶ 31.) This evolution in service drove a corresponding need for service
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`providers to charge users for these services in a dynamic and flexible way. (See
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`Min Decl., ¶ 31.) And, 3GPP 23.125, as detailed in V 6.2.0, provided this solution.
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`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 describes a system architecture that enables service
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`providers to differentiate services and in turn, to charge users based on service-
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`driven, flexible pricing models. (See 3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0, p. 9; Min Decl., ¶ 37.)
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`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 discloses two categories of charging systems: (1) online
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`charging systems, and (2) offline charging systems:
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
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`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0: Online Charging
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`(3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0, p. 17.)
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
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`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0: Offline Charging
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`(3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0, p. 18.)
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`Online charging systems allow both prepaid and postpaid subscribers to be
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`charged in real time. (See Min Decl., ¶ 33.) Offline charging systems collect
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`charging records and then send the records to a billing system after the services are
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`delivered. (See Min Decl., ¶ 32.) As shown in 3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0, the online
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`system (above top) includes a TPF coupled to both a CRF (labeled “Service Data
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`Flow Based Charging Rules Function”) and an Online Charging System. The
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`offline system (above bottom) includes a TPF coupled to both a CRF an offline
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`charging system (labeled “Charging Gateway Function/Charging Collection
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
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`Function”). Thus, both categories of charging systems use a CRF and a TPF.
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`(3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0, pp. 18–20.)
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`The CRF is responsible for calculating charging rules2 to apply for a user.
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`(3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0, p. 18; Min Decl., ¶ 38.) The CRF sends these charging rules
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`to the TPF, which, in turn, enforces the rules. (3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0, pp. 18–20;
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`Min Decl., ¶ 38.) To enable service providers to offer dynamic and flexible
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`charging on a per-user basis, the TPF differentiates user data traffic, identifies the
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`invoked service, and charges a user based on the charging rules received from the
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`CRF that relate to that service. (3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0, pp. 19–20; Min Decl., ¶ 37.)
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`In this manner, both the online and offline charging systems provide customized
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`and flexible charging on a user-by-user basis and service-by-service basis. (Min
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`Decl., ¶ 37.) For example, a service provider can charge a particular user
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`differently based on whether a service is invoked when in the home network or in a
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`visited network (i.e., the user is roaming). (Min Decl., ¶ 31.) As a further example,
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`the techniques of 3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 allow a service provider to charge
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`differently based on the quality of service the user desires. (Min Decl., ¶ 31.)
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`2 Charging rules contain information that allow a service provider to identify
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`the packets belonging to a particular service data flow and to define how the
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`identified service data flow is to be charged. (3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0, pp. 11–13.)
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
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`The ’971 patent.
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`B.
`The ’971 patent acknowledges that online and offline charging systems were
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`well known and standardized by 3GPP years before the earliest possible priority
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`date of the ’971 patent. (See ’971 patent, 3:12–6:50.) The ’971 patent also
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`references and discusses these standardized online and offline charging systems in
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`detail.
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`Figure 2A of the ’971 patent (reproduced below) depicts the structure of an
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`admitted prior art online charging system. (’971 patent, 7:52–53.) The online
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`charging system in Figure 2A was part of the existing 3GPP specification, as
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`shown in the comparison of Figure 2A and 3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0 below.
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
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`’971 Patent: Online Charging
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`(’971 patent, Figure 2A.)
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`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0: Online Charging
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`(3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0, p. 17.)
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
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`Figure 2B of the ’971 patent (reproduced below) depicts the structure of an
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`admitted prior art offline charging system. (’971 patent, 7:54–55.) Like the online
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`charging system, the offline charging system in Figure 2B was part of the existing
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`3GPP specification, as shown in the comparison of Figure 2B and 3GPP 23.125
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`V6.2.0 below.
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`’971 Patent: Offline Charging
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`(’971 patent, Figure 2B.)
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
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`3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0: Offline Charging
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`(3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0, p. 18.)
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`The background section of the ’971 patent explains that in the 3GPP
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`architecture, the TPF “bears IP Flows.”3 (’971 patent, 3:57–58.) “During the
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`establishment of the IP Flow bearer, the TPF 205 sends a Charging Rule Request
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`to the CRF 203.” (’971 patent, 3:58–61.) The CRF 203 then selects a proper
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`charging rule and “returns the selected charging rule to the TPF 205.” (’971 patent,
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`3 A bearer is an information transmission path of defined capacity, delay,
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`and bit error rate. A bearer service is a type of telecommunication service that
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`provides the capability of transmission of signals between access points. (See Min
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`Decl., ¶ 54.)
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
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`4:7–9.) Following receipt of the proper charging rule(s), the TPF 205 enforces the
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`charging rules on the different IP flows. (See ’971 patent, 4:18–21.) Thus, based on
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`the charging rules supplied by the CRF 203 to the TPF 205, the TPF 205 can apply
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`pricing models for different service flows: “for instance, Send/Receive email
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`service may be charged based on trigger times of Sending and Receiving events,
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`WAP browse service may be charged according to flow, file transfer service may
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`also be charged according to flow, [etc.].” (’971 patent, 3:1–8.)
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`The ’971 patent then describes the use of event triggers in the online and
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`offline system architectures to request a change to the existing charging rules.
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`(’971 patent, 3:66–4:29.) Specifically, an event trigger determines when the TPF
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`signals the CRF that the TPF encountered a specific pre-defined event. (3GPP
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`23.125 V6.2.0, pp. 15–16, 31; Min Decl., ¶¶ 39–43.) When an event trigger is met,
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`the TPF reauthorizes or requests updated charging rules. (See 3GPP 23.125 V6.2.0,
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`pp. 15–16, 31; Min Decl., ¶¶ 42–44.)
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`The ’971 patent acknowledges that event triggers were already included in
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`the 3GPP standard: “[a]t present, the interactive mode concerning charging rule
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`between TPF and the CRF is defined in 3GPP Specification like this: The TPF
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`sends a Charging Rule Request to the CRF when a certain trigger event is met. The
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`trigger event may be an event of establishing, modifying or deleting the bearer.”
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`(’971 patent, 6:29–35.) According to the ’971 patent, “[t]he event trigger of the
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`U.S. PATENT NO. 8,531,971
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`Charging Rule Request shall be set in the TPF in advance.” (’971 patent, 6:37–40.)
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`The ’971 patent considers these predefined event triggers to be static because, after
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`the event triggers are set during bearer establishment, the event triggers are not
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`updated. (’971 patent, 7:29–33, 8:30–47.)4 However, according to the ’971 patent,
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`static event triggers lack flexibility, leading to inefficiency. For example, “