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`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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`⸺⸺⸻⸺⸺⸺⸺
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`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
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`⸺⸺⸻⸺⸺⸺⸺
`
`DATASPEED INC.,
`
`Petitioner,
`
`v.
`
`SUCXESS LLC,
`
`Patent Owner.
`
`⸺⸺⸻⸺⸺⸺⸺
`
`Case IPR2020-00116
`
`Patent 9,871,671
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`⸺⸺⸻⸺⸺⸺⸺
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`PATENT OWNER’S SUR-REPLY
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`Case IPR2020-00116
`Patent 9,871,671
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`EXHIBIT LIST
`
`Exhibit No. Description
`
`2001
`
`Declaration of Maxwell Goss in Support of Motion to Appear
`
`Pro Hac Vice on behalf of patent owner Sucxess LLC
`
`2002
`
`ISO 11898-1, Road vehicles – Controller area network (CAN) –
`
`Part 1: Data link layer and physical signalling, First edition 2003-
`
`12-01 (“ISO”)
`
`2003
`
`Denton, Tom. Advanced automotive fault diagnosis. Oxford
`
`Burlington, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2006 (“Denton”)
`
`2004
`
`BAE Systems, Inc., Job posting “Vehicle Systems Architect,”
`
`retrieved from
`
`https://jobs.baesystems.com/global/en/job/56889BR on 02-Jan-
`
`2020
`
`2005
`
`Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Job posting “Electrical Technician,”
`
`retrieved from https://careers.fcagroup.com/job/10316315/ on 02-
`
`Jan-2020
`
`2006
`
`Reserved
`
`2007
`
`Volkswagen Service Training. “Self-study Program 871603. The
`
`Eos 2006 Electrical System Design and Function”
`
` i
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`

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`Case IPR2020-00116
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`
`2008
`
`“VW Eos Convertible Hardtop Emergency Opening and Closing
`
`Using Autologic DrivePRO,” https://us.autologic.com/news/vw-
`
`eos-convertible-hardtop-emergency-opening-and-closing.
`
`2009
`
`Resume of Mahdi Shahbakhti , Ph.D.
`
`2010
`
`YouTube Video “VW Eos Convertible Hardtop Emergency
`
`Opening and Closing,” https://youtu.be/KhgrBsIDO_0.
`
`2011
`
`Currie, Roderick. “Developments in Car Hacking.” (2015).
`
`2012
`
`Bernd Elend, Tony Adamson. “Cyber security enhancing CAN
`
`transceivers.” (2017)
`
`2013
`
`YouTube Video “EOS ROOF OPENING WHILE DRIVING,”
`
`https://youtu.be/Fll2sWA-iwA
`
`2014
`
`Convertible Roof Wiring Diagram, 2007 Volkswagen Eos (1F7)
`
`V6-3.2L (BUB)
`
`2015
`
`Convertible Roof Wiring Diagram, 2007 Cadillac XLR V8-4.6L
`
`2016
`
`Convertible Roof Wiring Diagram, 2007 Lexus SC 430
`
`2017
`
`Convertible Roof Wiring Diagram, 2007 Mazda MX-5 Miata
`
`2018
`
`Convertible Roof Wiring Diagram, 2007 Saab 9-3
`
`2019
`
`Convertible Roof Wiring Diagram, 2007 Pontiac G6
`
`2020
`
`Convertible Roof Wiring Diagram, 2007 Mini Cooper S
`
`Convertible
`
` ii
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`Case IPR2020-00116
`Patent 9,871,671
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`2021
`
`Convertible Roof Wiring Diagram, 2007 Audi S4 Quattro
`
`Cabriolet
`
`2022
`
`Convertible Roof Wiring Diagram, 2007 Ford Mustang
`
`2023
`
`Convertible Roof Wiring Diagram, 2007 Porsche Boxster (987)
`
`2024
`
`Robert Leale, Deposition Transcript
`
`2025
`
`2007 Pontiac G6 Service Manual
`
`2026
`
`Annotated copy of Munoz Fig. 1
`
`2027
`
`YouTube Video “EOS ROOF MODULE SETUP MENU,”
`
`https://youtu.be/yQ9xqvHwe0o
`
`2028
`
`Declaration of Dr. Mahdi Shahbakhti
`
`2029
`
`U.S. Trademark Ser. No. 77-198,481, Reg. No. 3,388,116
`
`2030
`
`YouTube Video “Vario Plus Control Module Ultra features walk-
`
`through,” https://youtu.be/9PYK9j3FFx4
`
`2031
`
`Connector pinout of 2007 Audi A4 Cabriolet, Bose Amplifier,
`
`25-Pin and 32-pin.
`
`
`
`
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` iii
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`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`I.
`
`Introduction ...................................................................................................... 1
`
`II. Munoz does not teach several claim elements. ................................................ 2
`
`A. Munoz does not disclose a first (original) message that is being spoofed. ... 2
`
`B. Munoz does not teach a second (spoofed) message. ..................................... 4
`
`C. Munoz does not teach splitting an existing CAN bus to establish “a second
`
`data bus.” ................................................................................................................ 5
`
`III. Patent Owner’s interpretation is consistent with Munoz’s disclosure. ............ 6
`
`A. A POSITA would have understood Munoz in view of convertible vehicles
`
`at the time. .............................................................................................................. 6
`
`B. Patent Owner’s understanding of convertible roof controls is consistent
`
`with Munoz and with the common practice of convertible vehicles at the time. .. 8
`
`C. Patent Owner does not rely on new buttons, controls or displays. ............... 9
`
`D. Patent Owner’s position reflects Munoz’s mention that an original data
`
`connection will be terminated. .............................................................................10
`
`E.
`
`“All communication” does not include non-existent messages. .................11
`
`F.
`
`Petitioner’s new theory based on Munoz’s Fig. 2 is misguided. ................11
`
`G. Petitioner’s understanding of switch 120 contradicts its own arguments. ..12
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` iv
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`H. None of the prior art teaches spoofing. .......................................................13
`
`
`
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`I.
`
`Petitioner now acknowledges that Munoz does not teach the second
`
`message. ...............................................................................................................15
`
`J.
`
`“Removing or altering” data does not lead to a gateway. ...........................15
`
`K. Petitioner’s theory is the ultimate hindsight exercise. ................................16
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`IV. Conclusion ......................................................................................................17
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`Cases
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`Case IPR2020-00116
`Patent 9,871,671
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`TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
`
`Dynamic Drinkware, LLC v. Nat'l Graphics, Inc.,
`
`800 F.3d 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2015) ............................................................................. 1
`
`Knauf Insulation, Inc. v. Rockwool, Int’l A/S,
`
`788 Fed. App’x 728 (Fed. Cir. 2019) ................................................................1, 2
`
`Tech. Licensing Corp. v. Videotek, Inc.,
`
`545 F.3d 1327 (Fed.Cir.2008)..............................................................................11
`
`
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` vi
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`
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`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
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`Case IPR2020-00116
`Patent 9,871,671
`
`Petitioner uses carefully crafted hindsight to read elements into Munoz that
`
`simply are not there. Petitioner cannot evade the fact that Munoz does not teach a
`
`first (original) message that is being spoofed, a second (spoofed) message, or the
`
`splitting of an existing CAN bus to establish a second data bus. While a reference
`
`should be considered for all it teaches, it may not be considered for more than it
`
`teaches. See, e.g., Knauf Insulation, Inc. v. Rockwool, Int’l A/S, 788 Fed. App’x
`
`728, 733 (Fed. Cir. 2019) (“Although a reference may be used for everything it
`
`teaches, e.g. using a polyhydroxy component, the Board did not identify any
`
`suggestion in Helbing to use a reducing sugar as the polyhydroxy component.”).
`
`Petitioner disagrees with Patent Owner’s analysis of how Munoz had been
`
`implemented. But Patent Owner was merely explaining why a POSITA would not
`
`have filled gaps in Munoz’s disclosure as understood by Petitioner. Thus,
`
`Petitioner cannot meet its burden to show obviousness. See Dynamic Drinkware,
`
`LLC v. Nat'l Graphics, Inc., 800 F.3d 1375, 1378 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (“In an inter
`
`partes review, the burden of persuasion is on the petitioner to prove
`
`‘unpatentability by a preponderance of the evidence,’ 35 U.S.C. § 316(e), and that
`
`burden never shifts to the patentee.”).
`
`Notably, Petitioner does not dispute that the Board should give no weight to
`
`the testimony of its expert, Mr. Leale. Without it, the Petition lacks evidentiary
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`support. In any event, Petitioner’s analysis is flawed, as shown herein. Mr. Leale’s
`
`
`
`
`lack of credibility and the clear record that Munoz himself implemented his
`
`invention differently than proposed by Petitioner shows that the claims of the’671
`
`Patent are not obvious.
`
`II. MUNOZ DOES NOT TEACH SEVERAL CLAIM ELEMENTS.
`
`A. Munoz does not disclose a first (original) message that is being
`spoofed.
`
`Petitioner’s Reply fails to identify any disclosure in Munoz of a first
`
`(original) message that is being spoofed. Instead, Petitioner uses Munoz’s broad
`
`reference to “all communication” to supposedly find a specific “first message.” But
`
`the words “all communication” cannot possibly be understood to describe an
`
`undisclosed specific message that opens a convertible roof. See, e.g., Knauf
`
`Insulation, 788 Fed. App’x at 733 (“It is not enough, even after KSR, to support a
`
`determination of obviousness that a reference includes a broad generic disclosure
`
`and a common utility to that in the claims and other prior art references—there
`
`must be some reason to select a species from the genus.”).
`
`Petitioner misleadingly refers to an “express disclosure” of a first message in
`
`Munoz. Reply, 21. A careful review of the reference will confirm that there is no
`
`express disclosure. Petitioner’s own expert agreed:
`
`Q
`
`So does Munoz anywhere specifically say there is
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`a first message coming from 105?
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`A
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`I don't believe he specifically said that.
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`Ex. 2024, 58:8-10. Furthermore, Dr. Shahbakhti found that the reference does not
`
`disclose a first message, noting that “Munoz does not disclose any communication
`
`between the original dashboard 105 and the roof control electronics 110.” Ex.
`
`2028, ¶59.
`
`Petitioner’s assertion that Munoz would have used an undisclosed first
`
`message is based on a presumption that Munoz’s factory open/close buttons are
`
`wired to dashboard 105. There is no basis in fact for such a presumption. It was
`
`common practice at the time for factory open/close buttons to be wired directly
`
`into a roof control electronics.
`
`As shown in Patent Owner’s Response, such a practice is supported by
`
`detailed wiring diagrams of 10 different vehicles that would have shaped a
`
`POSITA’s understanding of Munoz. Contrary to what Petitioner claims, the
`
`relevance of these wiring diagrams is not simply that they show how a “retrofit
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`device could have been commercially implemented in other vehicles.” Reply, 2.
`
`Rather, the wiring diagrams show that what Petitioner postulates—the wiring of
`
`the factory open/close buttons to the dashboard—contradicts the common practice
`
`of wiring convertible vehicles at the time.
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`Patent Owner’s position is also directly supported by expert testimony. See
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`
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`Ex. 2028, ¶68. And even Petitioner’s expert admitted during cross-examination
`
`that he could not tell how Munoz’s factory open/close buttons are wired:
`
`Q
`
`How do you know that the factory cabriolet top
`
`open/close buttons are connected to the module
`
`105?
`
`A
`
`I do not.
`
`Ex. 2024, 61:6-8.
`
`B. Munoz does not teach a second (spoofed) message.
`
`The Reply fails to show any evidence of the second message required in the
`
`claims of the ’671 Patent. Patent Owner demonstrated that Munoz can be
`
`implemented with a diagnostic message that does not spoof any first message and
`
`does not read on the “second message” limitation. Trying to dismiss the diagnostic
`
`message, Petitioner now refers to Munoz’s disclosure of “removing or altering
`
`data” in Fig. 1, box 100. Reply, 8. Surprisingly though, Petitioner now agrees with
`
`Patent Owner that “removing or altering data” does not read on “transmitting a
`
`second message”:
`
`Munoz does not disclose adding new messages to the
`
`CAN bus to perform the retrofit’s roof control module
`
`functions—it discloses altering or removing data.
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`Reply, 8.
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`“Removing or altering data” does not read on a second (spoofed) message
`
`
`
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`that is “indistinguishable from a first message” as required by claim 1. “Removing
`
`or altering data” also does not read on “a second message which mimics the first
`
`message” as required by claim 6. Neither does “removing or altering data” read on
`
`“a second message having the same message identifier” as a first message as
`
`required by claim 10. See Ex. 2012, 2; Ex. 2028, ¶38.
`
`Petitioner’s position now appears to be that the “second message” element
`
`would inherently be met if a first message existed. See Reply, 21-22. But that is not
`
`the case. Even in a hypothetical vehicle in which a “roof open” command was sent
`
`over a CAN bus, it is the use of a diagnostic message that would get around a
`
`manufacturer lockout and allow opening the roof while driving. There would be no
`
`reason for a retrofit apparatus to send a second (spoofed) message to request what
`
`is locked out.
`
`Even if, arguendo, there was a first message, Petitioner still has failed to
`
`show that a second message spoofs the first message and is not, for example, a
`
`diagnostic message. Petitioner’s position is based on unfounded conjecture.
`
`C. Munoz does not teach splitting an existing CAN bus to establish
`“a second data bus.”
`
`With respect to the “second bus” limitation, Petitioner presents a new theory
`
`that Munoz’s Fig. 2 shows that the retrofit module 100 has two interfaces. Reply,
`
`17. Petitioner misreads Munoz. Figure 2 shows two CAN busses as part of the
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`(larger) device 200. But the Roof Control Electronics 100 shown in Figure 1 is
`
`
`
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`only a portion of the device 200 and uses only one of the two CAN connections
`
`shown in Fig. 2. Dr. Shahbakhti explained this during his deposition:
`
`So what we see in figure 2, it's showing that there are
`
`buses [...] so the Vario plus control module will act
`
`properly. But these -- it doesn't mean what we seen [sic]
`
`in figure 1 is showing two different buses.
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`Ex. 1020, 13-18. The device 200 would, for example, have to communicate on a
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`chassis CAN bus to implement the shock absorber adjustment Munoz discusses.
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`See Ex. 1004, 5:6-20. That leaves one CAN interface to interact with the
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`convertible roof as illustrated in Fig. 1.
`
`III. PATENT OWNER’S INTERPRETATION IS CONSISTENT WITH
`MUNOZ’S DISCLOSURE.
`
`A. A POSITA would have understood Munoz in view of convertible
`vehicles at the time.
`
`Petitioner attempts to discredit Patent Owner’s analysis as irrelevant for
`
`considering a specific implementation in a VW EOS, suggesting that Patent Owner
`
`“plucks Munoz’s Roof Control Module 100 out of the automobile disclosed in
`
`Munoz.” Reply, 1. That is not the case. Whereas Petitioner tries to re-create in
`
`hindsight what is claimed in the ’671 Patent, Patent Owner shows the
`
`understanding of convertible vehicles that a POSITA would have had in 2007.
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`Patent Owner does not change anything about Munoz’s disclosure. This can be
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`readily seen in the annotated Figure 1 shown below: Everything Munoz discloses
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`
`
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`in black remains, and gaps of Munoz’s disclosure have been filled as indicated in
`
`red.
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`
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`Response, 35; Ex. 2028, ¶51.
`
`Dr. Shahbakhti analyzed ten different convertible vehicles sold in 2007. In
`
`so doing, Dr. Shahbakhti established the common practice at the time that
`
`convertible vehicles included a hardwired connection from a roof control switch to
`
`a roof control electronics. See Ex. 2028, ¶50. The VW EOS was chosen as an
`
`example because Munoz himself demonstrated his invention in this vehicle. But
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`Dr. Shahbakhti’s analysis applies to any of the analyzed vehicles. See Ex. 2028,
`
`
`
`
`¶80. Patent Owner’s Response established the knowledge a POSITA would have
`
`had with respect to convertible vehicles and used the specific example of Munoz’s
`
`own implementation to show how gaps in Munoz’s disclosure would be filled.
`
`B.
`
`Patent Owner’s understanding of convertible roof controls is
`consistent with Munoz and with the common practice of
`convertible vehicles at the time.
`
`Petitioner believes that “control signals to control Roof Control Electronics
`
`110 are sent over Munoz’s CAN bus before the retrofit, and through Roof Control
`
`Module 100 and two separate CAN buses after the retrofit.” Reply, 4. Petitioner
`
`refers to Munoz’s statement regarding “the operation of the roof control module in
`
`various embodiments of the invention” to imply that the same must have been true
`
`before the vehicle was retrofitted. That is invalid and has been rejected by Dr.
`
`Shahbakhti. See Ex. 2028, ¶65. Petitioner’s theory is based on Munoz’s alleged
`
`failure to state “that the controls for the roof are changed from pre-retrofit to post-
`
`retrofit.” Reply, 19. But Munoz does show the use of different controls pre- and
`
`post-retrofit. Munoz refers to “factory cabriolet top open/close buttons which
`
`require that said buttons be depressed for the duration the said cabriolet top is
`
`opened or closed [pre retrofit].” Ex. 1004, 8:37-38. In contrast, post-retrofit
`
`Munoz’s device is controlled only by a factory display:
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`Another improvement made by the device over related
`
`
`
`
`art systems is the ability to operate using only the factory
`
`display. Messages that are required in order to operate
`
`and adjust the device's features and settings are displayed
`
`on the vehicle's factory display.
`
`Ex. 1004, 3:43-47. Munoz’s features are operated post-retrofit by interacting
`
`with a factory display, not by depressing roof control buttons as done pre-retrofit.
`
`Petitioner fails to account for the control using only a factory display.
`
`C.
`
`Patent Owner does not rely on new buttons, controls or displays.
`
`Petitioner highlights Munoz’s disclosure that his “device does not rely upon
`
`new buttons, controls, or displays.” Reply, 19. The use of existing steering wheel
`
`buttons is exactly what Dr. Shahbakhti shows, using a VW EOS as an example:
`
`
`
`Ex. 2028, ¶40. It is this interaction with the display that allows Munoz, post-
`
`retrofit, to control the roof. Petitioner, on the other hand, argues that Munoz adds a
`
`switch 120, which is plainly inconsistent with Munoz’s explicit disclosure.
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`Patent Owner’s position reflects Munoz’s mention that an original
`data connection will be terminated.
`
`
`
`
`D.
`
`Munoz mentions that an “original data connection will be terminated.” Ex.
`
`1004, Fig. 1, block 115. Munoz does not provide any further details beyond those
`
`words in the drawing as to the nature of the termination.
`
`Patent Owner’s understanding of an internal connection in the roof control
`
`module 100 is consistent with Munoz’s wording: The original data connection
`
`refers to the wiring originally present in the vehicle, which has been permanently
`
`separated and no longer connects the original dashboard 105 to the roof control
`
`electronics 110.
`
`Petitioner points to another gap in Munoz’s disclosure that “[t]here is no
`
`disclosure of any ‘Internal Connection’ or ‘passthrough’ in Munoz’s Roof Control
`
`Module 100 or device 200.” Reply, 6. Even if that is correct, it is Petitioner’s
`
`burden to proof that there is no such internal connection. See Tech. Licensing
`
`Corp. v. Videotek, Inc., 545 F.3d 1327 (Fed.Cir.2008) ) (“[I]f the fact trier of the
`
`issue is left uncertain, the party with the burden loses.”). Petitioner fails to
`
`substantively contradict any of Patent Owner’s reasons “A” through “F” which
`
`explain why a POSITA would have understood Munoz to include an internal
`
`passthrough. See Response, 48-50.
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`“All communication” does not include non-existent messages.
`
`
`
`
`E.
`
`Petitioner argues that “all communication” includes an undisclosed message
`
`sent from dashboard 105 to roof control electronics 110 to read on the ’671 Patent.
`
`Reply, 22.
`
`Munoz Fig. 1 is oversimplified, in that it shows only two original
`
`components, the original vehicle dashboard electronics 105 and the original roof
`
`electronics 110 connected to the bus. Ex. 2028, ¶59. Petitioner’s Expert agreed:
`
`“From the diagram [Fig. 1], this diagram indicates that there's only two nodes on
`
`this bus; however, in reality, there are likely more.” Ex. 2024, 56:16-21. “All
`
`communication” includes messages from nodes that are present on the CAN bus
`
`and not shown in Fig. 1. The words “all communication” do not imply any
`
`message being sent from dashboard 105 to roof control electronics 110.
`
`F.
`
`Petitioner’s new theory based on Munoz’s Fig. 2 is misguided.
`
`Petitioner presents a new theory that Munoz’s Fig. 2 shows “a first CAN-
`
`bus” and “a second CAN-bus” of the roof control module 100. Petitioner fails to
`
`appreciate that Fig. 2 shows a larger device 200, of which the roof control module
`
`100 is only a portion. See Ex. 1004, 6:30-31. Munoz does not state that both CAN
`
`busses shown in Fig. 2 are part of the roof control module 100. A POSITA would
`
`recognize that Munoz’s features such as pneumatic shock absorber adjustments
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`require access to a chassis CAN bus separately from access to a body CAN bus for
`
`
`
`
`convertible roof control. Dr. Shahbakhti explained this during cross-examination:
`
`So what we see in figure 2, it's showing that there are
`
`buses [...] so the Vario plus control module will act
`
`properly. But these -- it doesn't mean what we seen [sic]
`
`in figure 1 is showing two different buses.
`
`Ex. 1020, 86:13-18.
`
`G.
`
`Petitioner’s understanding of switch 120 contradicts its own
`arguments.
`
`Petitioner disagrees with Patent Owner’s position that switch 120 is
`
`symbolic. Yet, Petitioner cannot credibly explain what purpose switch 120 serves
`
`or why Munoz would add a switch 120 in spite of the explicit statement that his
`
`“device further relies upon these [existing] controls, without the need for new
`
`buttons, knobs, or switches to be added to the vehicle.” Ex. 1004, 3:35-37.
`
`Petitioner’s expert provided a far-fetched explanation that the switch 120 was
`
`always open and proactively installed in a hidden location to be closed only if the
`
`retrofit device were to be removed from the vehicle at a later time. See Ex. 2024,
`
`51:5-55:10. Petitioner’s Expert acknowledged never to have installed a switch
`
`between two CAN buses himself when he installed retrofit devices. See Ex. 2024,
`
`56:11-15.
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`Patent 9,871,671
`As Dr. Shahbakhti pointed out during cross examination, switch 120 is
`
`
`
`
`shown in Fig. 1 not being connected to any wire and floating in the air. See Ex.
`
`1020, 70:9-17.
`
`
`
`If Petitioner were correct and the switch 120 were real, then there would be
`
`no need for the roof control module 100 to include a gateway even if there were
`
`two separate busses. All that would need to be done is for switch 120 to be closed
`
`when the module 100 is off and the vehicle would return to the pre-retrofit state.
`
`Patent Owner’s understanding of Munoz is independent of the switch 120. A
`
`switch 120 wired in parallel to the internal pass-through in module 100 does not
`
`affect its operation. That is not true for Petitioner’s understanding. If switch 120 is
`
`closed, Petitioner’s gateway would receive and retransmit its own messages,
`
`thereby flooding the bus and ultimately rendering the vehicle inoperative.
`
`H. None of the prior art teaches spoofing.
`
`Petitioner criticizes Patent Owner’s Response as being too focused on the
`
`term “spoofing.” But spoofing is critical to the invention disclosed in the ’671
`
` 13
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`Case IPR2020-00116
`Patent 9,871,671
`Patent—and Petitioner cannot show the concept of “spoofing” in the prior art
`
`
`
`
`references under any name.
`
`Petitioner mischaracterizes Patent Owner’s position as confirming that
`
`Munoz is performing spoofing. To the contrary, Patent Owner has emphasized that
`
`“Munoz does not teach spoofing of CAN messages, which would require a node to
`
`be using an identifier that it is not allowed to send.” Response, 34.
`
`Patent Owner’s argument related to the reasoning for separating an existing
`
`vehicle data bus into two busses is a response to show that even if, arguendo,
`
`spoofing were known, it would not lead to splitting an existing bus into two. Dr.
`
`Shahbakhti clarified that a POSITA was not familiar with spoofing in 2007 during
`
`his deposition:
`
`Q.
`
`Is it your position that a POSITA would not have
`
`known about spoofing in 2007?
`
`A.
`
`[...] So my expectation would be that the POSITA
`
`will not be familiar with doing a spoofing at that
`
`time.
`
`Q. Were you familiar with spoofing in 2007?
`
`A.
`
`I was -- I was not.
`
`Ex. 1020, 80:14-81:11.
`
` 14
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`I.
`
`Case IPR2020-00116
`Patent 9,871,671
`Petitioner now acknowledges that Munoz does not teach the
`second message.
`
`
`
`
`Petitioner attempts, and fails, to discredit Patent Owner’s finding that a
`
`POSITA would have implemented Munoz with a diagnostic message. Petitioner
`
`instead proves its own theory wrong and confirms that Munoz does not read on the
`
`’671 Patent: “Munoz does not disclose adding new messages to the CAN bus to
`
`perform the retrofit’s roof control module functions—it discloses altering or
`
`removing data.” Reply, 8.
`
`Claim 1 of the ’671 Patent requires “transmitting a second message” which
`
`is “indistinguishable from a first message.” Claim 6 requires “a second message
`
`which mimics the first message.” Claim 10 requires sending “a second message
`
`having the same message identifier” as a first message. All independent claims
`
`require adding a new (second) message, which, surprisingly, Petitioner now says
`
`Munoz does not teach.
`
`J.
`
`“Removing or altering” data does not lead to a gateway.
`
`Petitioner argues that Munoz’s vague mention of “removing or altering” data
`
`would lead a POSITA to understand the roof control module 100 to include a
`
`gateway. That is not correct. Gateways are used by car manufacturers to connect
`
`separate busses that have been designed to be separate ab initio. Ex. 2028, ¶90.
`
`Their purpose is to add data to a bus that otherwise would not be present. For
`
`example, the convertible top control module of a VW EOS uses vehicle speed data
`
` 15
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`

`

`
`
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`Case IPR2020-00116
`Patent 9,871,671
`from the Engine Control Module (ECM) or ABS control module. See Ex. 2007, 38.
`
`
`
`
`It is the role of a gateway to receive vehicle speed from the ECM or ABS on a
`
`Powertrain CAN bus and add it to the Comfort System CAN bus so that the
`
`convertible top control module can receive it. A gateway does not remove any data
`
`that already exists on a bus. Elend and Adamson directly describe a denial of
`
`service attack by flooding the bus “which can be used to disable safety relevant
`
`functionality.” Ex. 2012, 2. That would include Munoz’s goal to defeat a speed-
`
`based lockout and might be considered “removing data,” but does not include a
`
`gateway.
`
`Dr. Shahbakhti explained that a POSITA would understand “altering” data
`
`to reflect a tampering attack as described by Elend and Adamson. See Ex. 2028,
`
`¶37. Such a tampering attack is not a function performed by a gateway.
`
`Petitioner’s understanding that Munoz includes a gateway is a hindsight
`
`reconstruction. Munoz does not mention or imply “gating” any messages.
`
`K.
`
`Petitioner’s theory is the ultimate hindsight exercise.
`
`Petitioner’s theory that Munoz teaches a gateway is rooted in the mistaken
`
`contention in a “CAN bus messages indicating vehicle speed from the dashboard
`
`105 to Roof Control Electronics 110, which may otherwise prohibit roof
`
`operation.” Reply, 9. Munoz does not mention such a vehicle speed message. Nor
`
`is there any reason to believe that such a message would exist. Vehicle speed is
`
` 16
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`Case IPR2020-00116
`Patent 9,871,671
`determined by wheel speed sensors which are connected to an ABS system, not by
`
`
`
`
`a dashboard. What makes Petitioner’s theory even more bizarre is the notion that
`
`the dashboard supposedly sends a “roof open” message to the roof electronics,
`
`which the roof electronics ignores based on vehicle speed information also
`
`received from the dashboard. This is an ultimate exercise in hindsight and defies
`
`common sense. If the vehicle is too fast to open the roof, the dashboard would
`
`simply not send a roof open message.
`
`IV. CONCLUSION
`
`For all the reasons set out above, the Board should reject the Petitioner’s
`
`arguments and confirm the patentability of each challenged claim.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`
`
`
`
`By: /Axel Nix/
`Bernd Axel Nix
`Registration No. 59184
`Counsel for Patent Owner
`Sucxess LLC
`
`
`
`Date: 22 December 2020
`
`
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` 17
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`Case IPR2020-00116
`Patent 9,871,671
`
`CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE WITH 37 C.F.R. § 42.24
`
`
`This Patent Owner’s Sur-Reply contains 3431 words, excluding the portions
`
`allowed to be excluded by § 42.24(a)(1), as determined by the word-processing
`
`system used to prepare the paper.
`
`
`
`Date: December 22, 2020
`
`
`
`
`/Axel Nix/
`Bernd Axel Nix
`Registration No. 59184
`Counsel for Patent Owner
`Sucxess LLC
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case IPR2020-00116
`Patent 9,871,671
`
`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
`
`I hereby certify that a copy of this Patent Owner’s Sur-Reply was served on
`
`Petitioner's counsel of record via PTAB E2E and by electronic mail on December
`
`22, 2020 at the following addresses:
`
`Peter W. Gowdey - pgowdey@dbjg.com
`
`Wayne M. Helge - whelge@dbjg.com
`
`James T. Wilson - jwilson@dbjg.com
`
`with a copy sent to ESong@dbjg.com
`
`
`
`Date: December 22, 2020
`
`
`
`
`/Axel Nix/
`Bernd Axel Nix
`Registration No. 59184
`Counsel for Patent Owner
`Sucxess LLC
`
`
`
`

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