Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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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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`Charter Communications, Inc.
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`Petitioner
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`v.
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`Sprint Communications Company
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`Patent Owner
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`Patent No. 6,757,907
`Case No. IPR2019-01139
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`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
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`I.
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`II.
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`PRELIMINARY STATEMENT ..................................................................... 1
`
`THE ’7907 PATENT ....................................................................................... 2
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`A. Overview ............................................................................................... 2
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`B.
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`Challenged Claims ................................................................................ 4
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`III.
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`STATEMENT OF PRECISE RELIEF REQUESTED ................................. 12
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`IV. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL .................................................................. 13
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`V.
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`CLAIM CONSTRUCTION .......................................................................... 13
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`A.
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`B.
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`C.
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`“A video-on-demand system” (claim 1) / “operating a video-on-
`demand system” (claims 21 and 41) ................................................... 14
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`“viewer control signal” (claims 1, 21, 41) .......................................... 14
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`“transfer … [first/second] video signals” (claim 1) /
`“transferring [first/second] video signals” (claims 21, 41) ................. 15
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`D. Agreed Constructions in Comcast Order ............................................ 16
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`VI. CLAIMS 1-53 ARE UNPATENTABLE OVER THE PRIOR ART ........... 16
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`A. Overview of the Prior Art .................................................................... 16
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`1.
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`2.
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`3.
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`Humpleman ............................................................................... 16
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`Yosuke ....................................................................................... 17
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`Ellis ........................................................................................... 18
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`B.
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`Ground 1: Humpleman Anticipates Claims 1-53 ................................ 18
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`1.
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`2.
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`3.
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`4.
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`5.
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`6.
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`7.
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`8.
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`9.
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`Independent Claim 1 ................................................................. 18
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`Dependent Claim 2 ................................................................... 39
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`Dependent Claim 3 ................................................................... 40
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`Dependent Claim 4 ................................................................... 41
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`Dependent Claim 5 ................................................................... 42
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`Dependent Claim 6 ................................................................... 43
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`Dependent Claim 7 ................................................................... 45
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`Dependent Claim 8 ................................................................... 45
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`Dependent Claim 9 ................................................................... 46
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`10. Dependent Claim 10 ................................................................. 47
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`11. Dependent Claim 11 ................................................................. 48
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`12. Dependent Claim 12 ................................................................. 48
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`13. Dependent Claim 13 ................................................................. 49
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`14. Dependent Claim 14 ................................................................. 50
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`15. Dependent Claim 15 ................................................................. 51
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`16. Dependent Claim 16 ................................................................. 51
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`17. Dependent Claim 17 ................................................................. 52
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`18. Dependent Claim 18 ................................................................. 52
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`19. Dependent Claim 19 ................................................................. 53
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`20. Dependent Claim 20 ................................................................. 54
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`21.
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`Independent Claim 21 ............................................................... 54
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`22. Dependent Claims 22-40 ........................................................... 55
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`23.
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`Independent Claim 41 ............................................................... 55
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`24. Dependent Claims 42-53 ........................................................... 56
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`C.
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`Ground 2: Humpleman and Yosuke Render Obvious Claims 1-
`53 ......................................................................................................... 56
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`1.
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`2.
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`3.
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`4.
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`5.
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`6.
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`7.
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`8.
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`9.
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`Independent Claim 1 ................................................................. 62
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`Dependent Claims 2-4, 6-14, 16-17 .......................................... 64
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`Dependent Claim 5 ................................................................... 64
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`Dependent Claim 15 ................................................................. 65
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`Dependent Claims 18-19 ........................................................... 66
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`Dependent Claim 20 ................................................................. 67
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`Independent Claim 21 ............................................................... 68
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`Dependent Claims 22-40 ........................................................... 68
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`Independent Claim 41 ............................................................... 68
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`10. Dependent Claims 42-53 ........................................................... 69
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`D. Ground 3: Humpleman and Ellis Render Obvious Claims 1-53 ......... 69
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`1.
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`Independent Claim 1 ................................................................. 75
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`2.
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`3.
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`4.
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`5.
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`6.
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`7.
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`8.
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`9.
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`Dependent Claims 2-3, 5-9, 12-17 ............................................ 77
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`Dependent Claim 4 ................................................................... 77
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`Dependent Claim 10 ................................................................. 78
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`Dependent Claim 11 ................................................................. 79
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`Dependent Claims 18-19 ........................................................... 80
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`Dependent Claim 20 ................................................................. 81
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`Independent Claim 21 ............................................................... 83
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`Dependent Claims 22-40 ........................................................... 83
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`10.
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`Independent Claim 41 ............................................................... 83
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`11. Dependent Claims 42-53 ........................................................... 83
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`VII. MANDATORY NOTICES ........................................................................... 84
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`A.
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`B.
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`C.
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`Real Party-in-Interest .......................................................................... 84
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`Related Matters .................................................................................... 84
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`Lead and Back-Up Counsel, and Service Information ....................... 85
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`VIII. CERTIFICATION UNDER 37 C.F.R. § 42.24(d) ........................................ 86
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`IX. GROUNDS FOR STANDING ...................................................................... 86
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`CONCLUSION .............................................................................................. 86
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`X.
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`Exhibit Description
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`LIST OF EXHIBITS
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`Ex. 1001 U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907 to Schumacher et al. (“the ’7907 patent”)
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`Ex. 1002 Declaration of Kevin C. Almeroth (“Almeroth”)
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`Ex. 1003 Curriculum Vitae of Kevin C. Almeroth, Ph.D.
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`Ex. 1004 Prosecution History of U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`Ex. 1005 RESERVED - OMITTED
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`Ex. 1006 European Patent Application EP0872987A2 to Yosuke (“Yosuke”),
`filed March 31, 1998, and published on October 21, 1998
`
`Ex. 1007 RESERVED - OMITTED
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`Ex. 1008 U.S. Patent No. 7,913,278 to Ellis et al. (“Ellis”), filed June 19,
`2007, continuation to Application No. 09/354,344, filed July 16,
`1999, issued on March 22, 2011
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`Ex. 1009 U.S. Patent No. 6,182,094 to Humpleman et al. (“Humpleman”),
`filed June 24, 1998, and issued on January 30, 2001
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`Ex. 1010 Claim Construction Order from Comcast Cable Commc’ns, LLC v.
`Sprint Commc’ns Co., LP, Case No. 2:12-cv-859-JD, Dkt. 162 (Aug.
`15, 2014, E.D. Pa.) (“Comcast Order”)
`
`Ex. 1011 Sprint’s Opening Claim Construction Br. from Comcast Cable
`Commc’ns, LLC v. Sprint Commc’ns Co., LP, Case No. 2:12-cv-859-
`JD, Dkt. 162 (Aug. 15, 2014, E.D. Pa.) (“Sprint Claim Construction
`Br.”)
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`I.
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`PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
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`Petitioner requests IPR and cancellation of claims 1-53 of the ’7907 patent
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`(Ex. 1001).1 These claims are directed to a video-on-demand (“VOD”) system that
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`allows the viewer to use a computer—instead of a set-top box—to remotely control
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`the display of video content. (’7907 patent, 1:24-26.) The patent explains that
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`when it was filed in 2000, VOD systems already allowed viewers to use a
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`television set-top box to remotely control the display of video content. (Id., 1:23-
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`35.) However, the patent emphasized that using a set-top box for remote control
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`was undesirable because it was a “special component” that could not be used for
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`other purposes, such as “offer[ing] a selection of displays and bandwidths.” (Id.,
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`1:38-43.) The patent attempts to overcome this alleged shortcoming by simply
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`replacing the set-top box with a computer that allows the viewer to remotely
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`control video content displayed on the television, using a high bandwidth to
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`transfer the video content, or displayed on the computer itself, using a lower
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`bandwidth to transfer the video content. (Id., 1:46-55, Abstract.)
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`But the concept of using a computer to replace a set-top box for remotely
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`controlling video content displayed on a television or on the computer itself was
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`well-known before the ’7907 patent. For example, Humpleman discloses a home
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`network system capable of displaying remotely stored video signals on a home
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`1 In separate, concurrently filed IPR Petitions, IPR2019-01135 and IPR2019-
`01137, Petitioner requests cancellation of the same claims from the ’7907 patent.
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`device (e.g., electronic devices, TVs, VCRs) for display. (Humpleman, Abstract,
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`14:19-46.) Just like in the ’7907 patent, in Humpleman, the viewer can use a
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`session manager running on one home device to remotely select video content to
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`view and remotely select a home device on which to view the selected video
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`content. (Humpleman, 14:5-14, 14:22-33, 15:25-47, Figs. 10-12B.)
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`Beyond Humpleman, the concept of using a computer to remotely control a
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`video system was known and continued to be a known concept of controlling a
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`VOD system before the invention of the ’7907 patent. Yosuke and Ellis—two
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`other references that predate the filing of the ’7907 patent—each similarly
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`discloses a VOD system in which users can use a computer to remotely access and
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`select video data to view and select a display on which to view the selected video
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`data. (Yosuke, 3:20-28, 5:24-6:31, Fig. 2; Ellis, 2:47-60, 5:9-12, 9:42-49, Fig. 2d.)
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`Accordingly, the ’7907 patent’s claimed technology was well known prior to its
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`invention date, and expressly anticipated and rendered obvious by the art submitted
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`in this Petition.
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`II. THE ’7907 PATENT
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`A. Overview
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` The ’7907 patent’s three independent claims (1, 21, and 41) are generally
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`directed to methods and systems for using a computer to remotely control a VOD
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`system, and offering the user the choice of transferring the selected video content
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`to either a television or to the computer itself at different bandwidths. (’7907
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`patent, 6:42-58, 7:58-8:4, 8:62-9:11.) The patent, like the prior art, recognized
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`limitations in using set-top boxes for remotely controlling a VOD system, and
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`attempted to improve VOD systems by replacing the set-top box with a computer.
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`(Id., 1:53-55.)
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`The ’7907 patent claims require interactions between a “first communication
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`system,” which the patent defines as including “optical fiber systems, wire cable
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`systems, and wireless link systems,” and a “second communication system,” which
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`the patent defines as the “Internet,” and “in particular, the World-Wide Web.” (Id.,
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`2:42-46.) The claims require that transferring video signals to the second
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`communication system use less bandwidth than transferring video signals to the
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`first communication system. (Id., 6:43-49.) Each communication system is
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`coupled to its own display, e.g., the first communication system is coupled to a
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`television and the second communications system is coupled to a computer with a
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`browser. (Id., 2:46-48.)
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`The claims are directed to a method for controlling the two communications
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`systems using two separate communication interfaces. (Id., 3:1-14.) The claimed
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`VOD system transmits a “control screen signal” to the user over a second
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`communications system, the user then transmits a “viewer control signal” to the
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`VOD system over a communication interface that is coupled to a particular
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`communications system, and in response, the VOD system transmits “video
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`signals” over the user’s selected first or second communications system, where
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`transmitting the video signals to the second communications system uses less
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`bandwidth than transmitting video signals to the first communications system.
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`(Id., 2:29-3:14.)
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`Figure 1 of the patent, reproduced below, demonstrates the interaction
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`between the various claimed systems, interfaces, and displays, and Figure 6 depicts
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`a preferred embodiment of the claimed invention.
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`B. Challenged Claims
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`This petition challenges claims 1-53 of the ’7907 patent. For ease of
`
`reference, the Challenged Claims are reproduced below:
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`No.
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`1[P]
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`1[A]
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`1[B]
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`1[C]
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`Claim 1
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`Claim Limitation
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`A video-on demand system comprising:
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`a first communication interface configured to transfer first video
`signals to a first communication system using a first bandwidth;
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`a second communication interface configured to transfer a control
`screen signal and second video signals to a second communication
`system using a second bandwidth that is less than the first bandwidth;
`and
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`a processing system configured to transfer the control screen signal to
`the second communication interface, receive a viewer control signal
`from the second communication interface, and transfer the first video
`signals to the first communication interface if the first communication
`system is indicated by the viewer control signal or transfer the second
`video signals to the second communication interface if the second
`communication system is indicated by the viewer control signal.
`
`Claim 2
`
`The video-on-demand system of claim 1 wherein the control screen includes video
`display menu.
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`Claim 3
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`The video-on-demand system of claim 2 wherein second communications interface
`is configured to receive a video display menu selection signal from the second
`communications system, and the processing system is configured to process the
`video display menu selection signal to responsively select the first communications
`interface or the second communications interface to transfer the video signals.
`
`The video-on-demand system of claim 3 wherein the video display menu selection
`signal includes a selection of displays to display the video signals.
`
`Claim 4
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` The video-on-demand system of claim 3 wherein the video display menu selection
`signal includes a selection of bandwidths to transfer the video signals.
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`Claim 5
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`Claim 6
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`The video-on-demand system of claim 1 wherein the control screen includes a
`video content menu.
`
`Claim 7
`
`The video-on-demand system of claim 6 wherein the video content menu includes
`a video preview selection.
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`Claim 8
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`The video-on-demand system of claim 7 wherein second communications interface
`is configured to receive a video preview selection signal from the second
`communications system, and the processing system is configured to process the
`video preview selection signal to responsively transfer a selected video preview as
`the video signals.
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`The video-on-demand system of claim 8 wherein the control screen includes a
`viewer that is configured to display the selected video previews.
`
`Claim 9
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`Claim 10
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`The video-on-demand system of claim 6 wherein second communications interface
`is configured to receive a video content menu selection signal from the second
`communications system, and the processing system is configured to process the
`video content menu selection signal to responsively transfer selected video content
`as the video signals.
`
`The video-on-demand system of claim 10 wherein the control screen includes a
`viewer configured to display the selected video content.
`
`Claim 11
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`The video-on-demand system of claim 1 wherein the control screen includes a
`video display control menu comprising play, pause, rewind, fast forward, and stop.
`
`Claim 12
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`Claim 13
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`The video-on-demand system of claim 12 wherein second communications
`interface is configured to receive a video display control menu selection signal
`from the second communications system, and the processing system is configured
`to process the video display control menu selection signal to implement a selected
`video display control.
`
`The video-on-demand system of claim 1 wherein the control screen includes a
`video display control comprising full screen view.
`
`Claim 14
`
`The video-on-demand system of claim 1 wherein the first communication interface
`is configured to interface with optical fiber.
`
`Claim 15
`
`Claim 16
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`The video-on-demand system of claim 1 wherein the first communication interface
`is configured to interface with wire cable.
`
`Claim 17
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`The video-on-demand system of claim 1 wherein the first communication interface
`is configured to interface with wireless links.
`
`Claim 18
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`The video-on-demand system of claim 1 wherein the second communication
`interface is configured to interface with an internet.
`
`The video-on-demand system of claim 1 wherein the second communication
`interface is configured to interface with a world-wide web.
`
`Claim 19
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`Claim 20
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`The video-on-demand system of claim 19 wherein the control screen comprises a
`web page.
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`Claim 21
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`21[P]
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`21[A]
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`21[B]
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`21[C]
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`A method of operating a video-on-demand system, the method
`comprising:
`
`transferring a control screen signal indicating a control screen to a
`second communication system;
`
`receiving a viewer control signal from the second communication
`system; and
`
`transferring first video signals to a first communication system using a
`first bandwidth if the first communication system is indicated by the
`viewer control signal or transferring second video signals to the second
`communication system using a second bandwidth if the second
`communication system is indicated by the viewer control signal
`wherein the second bandwidth is less than the first bandwidth.
`
`Claim 22
`
`The method of claim 21 wherein the control screen includes a video display menu.
`
`Claim 23
`
`The method of claim 22 wherein receiving the viewer control signal comprises
`receiving a video display menu selection signal and transferring the video content
`signals comprises processing the video display menu selection signal to
`responsively select the first communications interface or the second
`communications interface to transfer the video signals.
`
`Claim 24
`
`The method of claim 23 wherein the video display menu selection signal includes a
`selection of displays to display the video signals.
`
`Claim 25
`
`The method of claim 23 wherein the video display menu selection signal includes a
`selection of bandwidths to transfer the video signals.
`
`The method of claim 21 wherein the control screen includes a video content menu.
`
`Claim 26
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`Claim 27
`
`The method of claim 26 wherein the video content menu includes a video preview
`selection.
`
`Claim 28
`
`The method of claim 27 wherein receiving the viewer control signal comprises
`receiving a video preview selection signal and transferring the video signals
`comprises processing the video preview selection signal to responsively transfer a
`selected video preview as the video signals.
`
`Claim 29
`
`The method of claim 27 wherein receiving the viewer control signal comprises
`receiving a video content selection signal and transferring the video signals
`comprises processing the video content selection signal to responsively transfer
`selected video content as the video signals.
`
`Claim 30
`
`The method of claim 21 wherein the control screen includes a video display control
`menu comprising play, pause, rewind, fast forward, and stop.
`
`Claim 31
`
`The method of claim 30 wherein receiving the viewer control signal comprises
`receiving a video display control menu selection signal and transferring the video
`signals comprises processing the video display control menu selection signal to
`responsively implement a selected video display control.
`
`Claim 32
`
`The method of claim 21 wherein the control screen includes a video display control
`comprising full screen view.
`
`The method of claim 21 wherein transferring the video signals comprises
`interfacing with optical fiber.
`
`Claim 33
`
`The method of claim 21 wherein transferring the video signals comprises
`interfacing with wire cable.
`
`Claim 34
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`Claim 35
`
`The method of claim 21 wherein transferring the video signals comprises
`interfacing with wireless links.
`
`Claim 36
`
`The method of claim 21 wherein transferring the video signals comprises
`interfacing with an internet.
`
`The method of claim 21 wherein transferring the video signals comprises
`interfacing with a world-wide web.
`
`Claim 37
`
`Claim 38
`
`The method of claim 21 wherein transferring the control screen signal comprises
`interfacing with an internet.
`
`Claim 39
`
`The method of claim 21 wherein transferring the control screen signal comprises
`interfacing with a world-wide web.
`
`The method of claim 21 wherein the control screen comprises a web page.
`
`Claim 40
`
`Claim 41
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`41[P]
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`41[A]
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`41[B]
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`A product comprising a processor-readable storage medium storing
`processor-executable instructions for performing a method for
`operating a video-on-demand system, the method comprising:
`
`transferring a control screen signal indicating a control screen to a
`second communication system;
`
`receiving a viewer control signal from the second communication
`system; and
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`41[C]
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`transferring first video signals to a first communication system using a
`first bandwidth if the first communication system is indicated by the
`viewer control signal or transferring second video signals to the second
`communication system using a second bandwidth if the second
`communication system is indicated by the viewer control signal
`wherein the second bandwidth is less than the first bandwidth.
`
`Claim 42
`
`The product of claim 41 wherein the control screen includes a video display menu.
`
`Claim 43
`
`The product of claim 42 wherein receiving the viewer control signal comprises
`receiving a video display menu selection signal and transferring the video content
`signals comprises processing the video display menu selection signal to
`responsively select the first communications interface or the second
`communications interface to transfer the video signals.
`
`Claim 44
`
`The product of claim 43 wherein the video display menu selection signal includes a
`selection of displays to display the video signals.
`
`Claim 45
`
`The product of claim 43 wherein the video display menu selection signal includes a
`selection of bandwidths to transfer the video signals.
`
`Claim 46
`
`The product of claim 41 wherein the control screen includes a video content menu.
`
`Claim 47
`
`The product of claim 46 wherein the video content menu includes a video preview
`selection.
`
`Claim 48
`
`The product of claim 47 wherein receiving the viewer control signal comprises
`receiving a video preview selection signal and transferring the video signals
`comprises processing the video preview selection signal to responsively transfer a
`selected video preview as the video signals.
`
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`Claim 49
`
`The product of claim 47 wherein receiving the viewer control signal comprises
`receiving a video content selection signal and transferring the video signals
`comprises processing the video content selection signal to responsively transfer
`selected video content as the video signals.
`
`Claim 50
`
`The product of claim 41 wherein the control screen includes a video display control
`menu comprising play, pause, rewind, fast forward, and stop.
`
`Claim 51
`
`The product of claim 50 wherein receiving the viewer control signal comprises
`receiving a video display control menu selection signal and transferring the video
`signals comprises processing the video display control menu selection signal to
`responsively implement a selected video display control.
`
`Claim 52
`
`The product of claim 41 wherein the control screen includes a video display control
`comprising full screen view.
`
`Claim 53
`
`The product of claim 41 wherein the control screen comprises a web page.
`
`
`III. STATEMENT OF PRECISE RELIEF REQUESTED
`
`Claims 1-53 of the ’7907 patent are unpatentable and should be canceled in
`
`view of the following prior art references:
`
`# Ground for Challenge
`
`1 Claims 1-53 are anticipated by Humpleman (Ex. 1009)
`
`2 Claims 1-53 are obvious over Humpleman (Ex. 1009) and Yosuke (Ex. 1006)
`
`3 Claims 1-53 are obvious over Humpleman (Ex. 1009) and Ellis (Ex. 1008)
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`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
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`IV. LEVEL OF ORDINARY SKILL
`
`A person of ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”) regarding the ’7907 patent
`
`would have held a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or
`
`a related field with at least five years of experience or research in interactive
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`systems applicable to digital television, including VOD for cable and Internet
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`delivery. (Almeroth, ¶46.)
`
`V. CLAIM CONSTRUCTION
`
`Sprint asserted the ’7907 patent in Comcast Cable Commc’ns, LLC v. Sprint
`
`Commc’ns Co., LP, Case No. 2:12-cv-859-JD (E.D. Pa.). The parties there
`
`proposed constructions, and the court construed various terms in the patent. Id.,
`
`Dkt. 162 (Aug. 15, 2014) (“Comcast Order”). While the Comcast court disagreed
`
`with Sprint’s proposed constructions (Comcast Order at 28-38), the Board need not
`
`resolve those disputes here because, as discussed in Section VI, the prior art
`
`renders the challenged claims invalid under either Sprint’s proposed constructions
`
`or the Comcast court’s constructions.2
`
`
`2 Sprint asserted claims 21, 23, and 36 of the ’7907 patent against Comcast in
`Comcast v. Sprint. Accordingly, the Comcast court only construed terms
`contained in those claims. However, those constructions apply equally to the same
`or similar terms found in the remaining claims in the patent, as like terms should
`be construed consistently across all claims in a patent. See Omega Engineering,
`Inc, v. Raytek Corp., 334 F.3d 1314, 1334 (Fed. Cir. 2003).
`
`
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`13
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`

`

`A.
`
`“A video-on-demand system” (claim 1) / “operating a video-on-
`demand system” (claims 21 and 41)
`
`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
`
`Sprint’s Proposed Construction
`
`Comcast Order
`
`Plain and ordinary meaning, or
`
`Should the Court deem a construction of
`the ordinary meaning necessary:
`operating a system that provides video-
`on-demand
`
`operating a video-on-demand system
`without the use of a set-top box for
`remote control of the video-on-demand
`system
`
`
`(Comcast Order at 28-33.) The difference between these two constructions is
`
`whether the claimed methods for operating a VOD system must exclude the use of
`
`a set-top box for remote control of the VOD system. The Comcast court correctly
`
`found that the ’7907 patent disclaims the use of a set-top box for remote control by
`
`disparaging the prior art’s reliance on set-top boxes and by not including a set-top
`
`box in any of the patent’s embodiments. (Id. at 28-32.) The difference between
`
`these constructions, however, does not impact the outcome of this proceeding
`
`because the prior art does not use a set-top box for remote control of the VOD
`
`system.
`
`B.
`
`“viewer control signal” (claims 1, 21, 41)
`
`Sprint’s Proposed Construction
`
`Comcast Order
`
`Plain and ordinary meaning, or
`
`Should the Court deem a construction of
`the ordinary meaning necessary: a
`signal reflecting viewer control
`
`a viewer control signal generated and
`processed without the involvement of a
`set-top box for remote control of the
`video-on-demand system.
`
`
`
`
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`14
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`

`

`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
`
`(Comcast Order at 34-35.) The difference between these constructions is related to
`
`the dispute presented in the prior term—whether a viewer control signal can be
`
`generated without the use of a set-top box for remote control of the VOD system.
`
`The Comcast court held that disclaimer also applies to this term.3 (Id. at 34-35.)
`
`C.
`
`“transfer … [first/second] video signals” (claim 1) / “transferring
`[first/second] video signals” (claims 21, 41)
`
`Sprint’s Proposed Construction
`
`Comcast Order
`
`Plain and ordinary meaning, or
`
`Should the Court deem a construction of
`the ordinary meaning necessary:
`sending [first/second] video signals
`
`in response to the viewer control signal,
`transferring [first/second] video signals
`
`
`(Comcast Order at 36-38.) There is no disagreement in the construction about
`
`what it means to transfer a video signal; rather, the constructions differ on the issue
`
`of whether the video signal must be sent in response to a viewer control signal.
`
`(Id. at 37.) The Comcast court correctly found that the video signals are
`
`transferred in response to the viewer control signal received from the computer.
`
`(Id. at 36-37; ’7907 patent, Abstract, 2:61-3:14, 4:5-7.)
`
`
`3 The Comcast court found that “[t]he specification does not disparage the use of
`a set-top box for other purposes, such as for decod[ing a video signal] and
`present[ing] it to a television” (Comcast Order at 35), and thus the Comcast Order
`permits the use of a set-top box for purposes other than for remote control.
`
`
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`15
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`

`Inter Partes Review No. 2019-01139
`U.S. Patent No. 6,757,907
`
`D. Agreed Constructions in Comcast Order
`
`The parties in Comcast v. Sprint agreed that: (1) “control screen signal”
`
`should be construed as “a signal that defines a control screen” and (2)
`
`“implementing a viewer control selection” should be construed as “in response to
`
`the video control signal, implementing a viewer control selection.” (Comcast
`
`Order at 42.) These constructions correctly capture the ordinary meaning of these
`
`terms to a POSITA. (Almeroth, ¶54.) Accordingly, Petitioner applies these
`
`constructions in this Petition.
`
`VI. CLAIMS 1-53 ARE UNPATENTABLE OVER THE PRIOR ART
`
`A. Overview of the Prior Art
`
`1. Humpleman
`
`Humpleman discloses a system that generates a program guide to watch
`
`video content over a network. (Humpleman, Abstract.) In one example, the
`
`network may be a home network with several home devices, such as a digital video
`
`device (“DVD”), a digital TV (“DTV”), a DVCR, and a PC. (Humpleman, 1:16-
`
`18, 4:20-24,