`571-272-7822
`
`
`
`
`Paper No. 25
`Entered: September 24, 2021
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`____________
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`____________
`
`SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC,
`Petitioner,
`
`v.
`
`BOT M8, LLC,
`Patent Owner.
`____________
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`____________
`
`Record of Oral Hearing
`Held Virtually: September 9, 2021
`
`
`
`Before KALYAN K. DESHPANDE, JAMES A. TARTAL, and
`AMBER L. HAGY, Administrative Patent Judges.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
`
`
`APPEARANCES:
`
`ON BEHALF OF THE PETITIONER:
`
`
`JASON R. MUDD, ESQ.
`ERIC A. BURESH, ESQ.
`Erise IP, P.A.
`7015 College Boulevard, Suite 700
`Overland Park, Kansas 66211
`
`
`
`ON BEHALF OF THE PATENT OWNER:
`
`
`AARON M. FRANKEL, ESQ.
`JEFFREY H. PRICE, ESQ.
`JEFFREY G. ENG, ESQ.
`Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel
`1177 Avenue of the Americas
`New York, New York 10036
`
`
`
`
`The above-entitled matter came on for hearing on Thursday,
`
`September 9, 2021, commencing at 1:00 p.m. EST, by video/by telephone.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`2
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
`
`P R O C E E D I N G S
`- - - - -
` (Proceedings begin at 1:00 p.m.)
` JUDGE TARTAL: Good afternoon, and welcome.
` We are here for a virtual hearing by videoconference
`in an interparty review case captioned Sony Interactive
`Entertainment LLC, Petitioner, v. BOT M8, LLC, Patent Owner.
`Case IPR2020-00922 concerning U.S. Patent No. 8,078,540 B2.
` First, let me begin by introducing the panel. I am
` joined by Judge Hagy and Judge Deshpande, and I am Judge
` Tartal.
` May we please have the parties' appearances? Who do
` we have appearing on behalf of petitioner today?
` MR. MUDD: Your Honor, Jason Mudd on behalf of
`petitioner, and also with me is Eric Biresh.
` JUDGE TARTAL: Good afternoon, counsel, and welcome.
` And now for patent owner. Who do we have appearing
` today?
` MR. FRANKEL: Good afternoon, Your Honor.
` Aaron Frankel from Kramer Levin, joined by my
`colleagues Jeffrey Price and Jeffrey Eng.
` JUDGE TARTAL: Okay. Thank you, and welcome.
` And just to clarify, do we have the name of the
`patent owner correct? Is it Bot M8, or do you pronounce that
`differently?
` MR. FRANKEL: It's pronounced Bot Mate.
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`3
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
` JUDGE TARTAL: Bot Mate. Thank you.
` MR. FRANKEL: Yes. Bot Mate.
` JUDGE TARTAL: We set forth the procedure for
`today's hearing in our trial order, and as a reminder, each
`party will have 60 minutes of total time to present arguments
`in the case.
` Petitioner has the burden of proof and will go
` first. Patent owner will then present opposition arguments
` for the case. And then, to the extent petitioner has
` reserved time, petitioner will present arguments in reply
` for the case. Finally, if patent owner has reserved time,
` it may present surreply arguments.
` We will try to provide a reminder of the time
` remaining but also ask each party to keep track of the time
` they have available as well.
` Counsel, are there any questions in that regard for
` petitioner?
` MR. MUDD: No, Your Honor.
` JUDGE TARTAL: Or for patent owner?
` MR. FRANKEL: No, Your Honor.
` JUDGE TARTAL: For clarity in the transcript, when
`you refer to an exhibit, please state for the record the
`exhibit and page number, or for demonstratives, the slide
`number to which you are referring.
` When you are not speaking, we ask that you please
` mute your connection to improve the audio quality.
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`4
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
` We'll remind each party that under no circumstances
` are they to interrupt the other party while that party is
` presenting its arguments and demonstratives. You will have
` an opportunity to respond in your reply and surreply
` argument times.
` Are there any additional questions on behalf of
` patent owner at this time?
` MR. FRANKEL: No questions, Your Honor.
` JUDGE TARTAL: And are there any additional
`questions from petitioner at this time?
` MR. MUDD: No, Your Honor.
` JUDGE TARTAL: Petitioner, how much time would you
`tentatively like to reserve of your 60 minutes for reply?
` MR. MUDD: 10 minutes, please.
` JUDGE TARTAL: Okay. Then we will endeavor to give
`you a heads up when we are approaching the 50-minute mark.
` Petitioner, you may proceed when you are ready.
` MR. MUDD: Thank you, Your Honor.
` May it please the Board, Jason Mudd for petitioner,
`Sony Interactive Entertainment.
` Turning to Slide 2.
` The Board has instituted these three grounds raised
`by petitioner in this proceeding: First, in Ground 1, that
`Claims 1 and 4 are obvious over Johnson in view of Martinek;
`second, in Ground 2, that Claims 2 through 3 and 5 through 6
`are obvious over Johnson in view of Martinek in further view
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`5
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
`of Diamant; and third, in Ground 3, that Claims 1 and 4 are
`obvious over Morrow '952 in view of Morrow '771 and Diamant.
` Turning to Slide 3.
` The '540 patent at issue in this proceeding
`generally relates to a gaming machine that relies on gaming
`information stored on a storage medium to operate. The
`specification explains that, in the prior art, the purported
`problem was that only the storage medium itself was
`authenticated and not the gaming information that was stored
`on the storage medium. So the stated purpose of the '540
`patent is to authenticate gaming information stored on a
`storage medium rather than only authenticating the storage
`medium itself, and this authentication is done to verify
`that the gaming information has not been manipulated or
`tampered with in some way.
` The '540 patent describes the problem it sought to
`address at Column 2, lines 14 to 20, by stating, "However,
`in the conventional examples described in the aforementioned
`publications, there is a problem in that only the storage
`medium itself is authenticated, whereas authentication of
`the actual gaming information is not performed. In other
`words, it is not checked and verified that the gaming
`information stored on the storage medium has not been
`manipulated in some way."
` The prior art relied on by petitioner in this
`proceeding, however, demonstrates that this purported
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`6
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
`problem had already been solved.
` Turning to Slide 4.
` Both the Johnson and Martinek references teach
`authenticating gaming information stored on a storage medium
`rather than just authenticating the storage medium itself.
` Johnson states, at Column 3, lines 5 through 12, "To
`overcome the limitations in the prior art described above
`and to overcome other limitations that would become apparent
`upon reading and understanding the present specification,
`the present invention discloses a method for verifying the
`contents of a mass storage device before granting access to
`computer-readable data stored on the device."
` So, in other words, Johnson verifies the gaming
`information stored on the mass storage device and not just
`the mass storage device itself, and Johnson verifies this
`gaming information, including program files and data, before
`access is allowed by the system to these files and data.
` Similarly, Martinek states at the bottom of Slide 4
`that, "The gaming system 100 includes a unique system and
`method for preparing a game dataset for authentication in
`authenticating a game used in the gaming system 100. The
`gaming system 100 includes a process which securely verifies
`that the gaming dataset, including program files, have not
`been altered, either intentionally or unintentionally,
`changing the outcome of a game played on the gaming
`system 100."
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`7
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
` So Martinek similarly teaches authenticating the
`gaming information itself and not just the storage medium on
`which it's stored, so the prior art already addressed the
`purported problem laid out by the '540 patent.
` Turning to Slide 5.
` Like the '540 patent, Johnson teaches storing
`authentication program and a gaming program on the same
`storage medium. Specifically, Figure 3 of Johnson depicts
`the contents of Johnson's mass storage device.
` As shown in the figure, the mass storage
`verification module 330, which is the authentication program
`highlighted in green, is stored on the mass storage device
`along with the application module 320, which is the game
`program highlighted in red.
` Johnson teaches that the verification module checks
`and verifies that files stored on the mass storage device
`are valid. It does so by determining a set of computed
`verification data for the files.
` And Johnson teaches that the verification module
`ensures that the game application performs as advertised and
`has not been tampered with by anyone.
` Turning to Slide 6.
` Like the '540 patent, Johnson's computing system has
`another memory highlighted in green, which is at system
`RAM 225, for storing the authentication program from the
`mass storage device so it can be executed by Johnson's CPU.
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`8
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
` Importantly, while Johnson's mass storage device is
`depicted in the figure as being a CD-ROM, this is not the
`only type of read-only memory that the mass storage device
`is limited to. Instead, Johnson teaches at the bottom of
`the slide, Slide 6, at Column 6, lines 48 to 51, that, "One
`skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention
`may be used with any mass storage device attached to any
`computing system without deviating from the spirit and scope
`of the invention."
` As set forth in the petition, given the ubiquitous
`use of circuit board memory at the time, it would have been
`obvious to use a memory board as Johnson's mass storage
`device based on Johnson alone.
` In the alternative, Johnson also would have
`expressly motivated a PHOSITA to look to known memory board
`storage devices such as that taught by Martinek.
` Martinek teaches techniques to verify and
`authenticate data, such as game information or code in mass
`storage, and gives examples of its mass storage as being a
`hard drive, a flash disk, or a read-only memory board.
` Turning to Slide 7.
` As shown in Slide 7, Martinek teaches a read-only
`memory board 502 with memory elements 501 and a connector
`508 to connect to a motherboard.
` And memory elements 501 of Martinek's ROM board 502
`store game code.
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`9
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
` Further, the ROM board 502 may be a single board
`that combines board 504 and it contains a memory element 507
`of restoring an authentication program.
` So like the '540 patent, Martinek's memory board
`stores both a game program and an authentication program.
` As set forth in the petition, a PHOSITA would have
`been motivated by Johnson's teaching that any mass storage
`device may be used to use Martinek's ROM board mass storage
`device containing a game program and an authentication
`program.
` Importantly, both Johnson and Martinek address the
`very same problem as the '540 patent in that they both store
`an authentication program and a game program on the same
`storage medium and the authentication program is used to
`authenticate the stored game program and not just the
`storage medium itself.
` Turning now to focus on the specific issues that
`have been raised by patent owner in this proceeding.
` Turning to Slide 8.
` Patent owner has raised these issues listed on
` Slide 8. I won't read through all of them, but this
` provides a roadmap for the order that I'll be addressing
` these issues in.
` JUDGE TARTAL: Counsel, can I just interrupt for a
`moment? This is Judge Tartal.
` MR. MUDD: Yes, Your Honor.
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`10
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
` JUDGE TARTAL: Is there a position petitioner has on
`whether Johnson is sufficient in its disclosure alone, or
`what is it about Johnson that's missing that leads petitioner
`to necessarily turn to Martinek? Is the disclosure in
`Johnson of any mass storage device insufficient?
` MR. MUDD: Well, our contention is that Johnson
`alone, by teaching any mass storage device, would cause a
`PHOSITA to look to known mass storage devices at the time
`and, as laid out in the petition, circuit-board-based memory
`was ubiquitous at the time and used for mass storage. So
`petitioner has laid out a position that it would be obvious
`over Johnson alone -- over Johnson's teaching alone to use a
`memory board, but in the alternative, Martinek is also being
`combined for teaching a read-only memory board expressly.
` JUDGE TARTAL: Thank you.
` MR. MUDD: Turning now to Slide 9.
` The first issue raised by patent owner pertains to
`claim construction and the proper construction of the term
`read.
` This is somewhat of an unusual claim construction
`because it's not one that patent owner ever really appears
`to apply to its patentability arguments. Patent owner never
`really says that the prior art fails to teach the term read
`based on their construction, but nonetheless, patent owner
`proposes to construe the term read as meaning to transfer
`data from memory into the central processing unit, CPU.
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`11
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
` Patent owner's proposing to construe the term read
`in this manner so as to limit it to a fragment of the
`definition for read provided in the Microsoft Computer
`Dictionary. Patent owner labels this fragment of the
`definition as the read ii definition or, as I'll call it,
`the read, little 2, or ii definition.
` The definition of the verb form of read in the
`Microsoft Computer Dictionary is, "To transfer data from an
`external source, such as from a disk or a keyboard, into
`memory or from memory into the central processing unit,
` CPU."
` Patent owner, in its patent owner response,
` misquotes this definition by inserting a little 1 and a
` little 2 to purport to split this definition into two parts.
` As can be seen, a little 1 and little 2 do not exist in the
` Microsoft definition.
` Importantly, the definition encompasses both
` scenarios. It encompasses both transferring data from an
` external source into memory as well as transferring data
` from memory into the CPU, the definition does not divide
` itself into these two separate meanings.
` In any event, patent owner provided no basis for why
` the term read should be construed to exclude transferring
` data from an external source into memory and should instead
` be limited to transferring data from memory into the CPU.
` JUDGE HAGY: Counsel, I have a question.
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`12
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
` MR. MUDD: Yes, Your Honor.
` JUDGE HAGY: Sorry. I have a question.
` So I think you alluded to this, and you'll probably
`get into this in more detail in your argument, but are you
`saying that this claim construction dispute is not material
`because the prior art does, in fact, teach transferring data
`from the memory into the CPU?
` MR. MUDD: I'm contending that there is no term “read”
`in the claim language that patent owner is contending is not
`met by the prior art. The language that the patent owner
`focuses on is the term “authenticate the game program in the
`memory of the board,” and the term “read” doesn't show up
`anywhere in that statement.
` There is a term “read” that's used in the
`specification which talks about reading data four bytes at a
`time, and I think that's what this claim construction
`ultimately is getting at is how the term “read” may be used in
`the specification, which is why I'm saying it's kind of an
`odd claim construction issue. I don't believe it's material
`because I don't think patent owner has argued that the prior
`art fails to teach “read” as construed.
` So absent a clear intent in the spec, such as clear
` lexicography or disclaimer by the patentee, a claim term
` should be afforded its full plain and ordinary meaning.
` Here, there's been no lexicography or disclaimer to
` limit “read” in the manner proposed by patent owner. As such,
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`13
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
` it should be afforded its full plain and ordinary meaning,
` to the extent the Board even construes this term, because,
`as mentioned, patent owner never applies this construction
`in its patentability arguments to suggest the prior art does
`not satisfy the term read.
` Turning to Slide 10.
` The next claim construction issue raised by patent
`owner is the proper construction of the term “configured to.”
` Patent owner proposes to construe it to mean
`requiring structure designed to or configured to accomplish
`the specified objective, not simply that they can be made to
`serve that purpose.
` But as the Federal Circuit cases cited by patent
`owner indicate, the term “configured to” has been construed to
`mean things simply such as adapted to, made to, or designed
`to, not patent owner's construction.
` Further, patent owner's construction is circular and
`unhelpful because it uses the term “configured to” in
`construing the term “configured to.”
` But most importantly, the presence of the term
`“configured to” in Claim 1 is not an invitation to read in the
`requirement of some type of special, specific, or unique
`hardware configuration from the specification such as what
`patent owner refers to as a special signal path that patent
`owner argues is lacking in the prior art.
` We'll see in a moment that patent owner is relying
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`14
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
`on the term “configured to” to suggest that a special signal
`path is required by Claim 1, such as one that uses both a
`PCI and an IDE interface, and patent owner then argues that
`the prior art does not teach the special or non-standard
`hardware configuration.
` So the term “configured to” is not like a
`means-plus-function claim term that allows one to read in
`the structure from the specification, but that's exactly
`what patent owner purports to do based on this appearance of
`the term “configured to” in the claim.
` So to the extent the Board construes this term, the
`Board should confirm that the term “configured to” does not
`limit Claim 1 to only the specific structure disclosed in
`the '540 specification. Beyond that issue, the term is not
`otherwise in dispute and no construction would be necessary.
` Turning to Slide 11.
` The next issue raised by patent owner is a brief
`argument that a PHOSITA would not have been motivated to
`combine Johnson with Martinek.
` First, again, Johnson provides an express motivation
` to look to known mass storage devices, such as those taught
` by Martinek, because Johnson states that, "One skilled in
` the art would recognize that this invention may be used with
` any mass storage device attached to any computing system."
` That, again, is from Column 6, lines 48 to 51 of Johnson.
` Further, as our expert explained, "a read-only
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`15
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
` memory board, such as Martinek's, would have been understood
` to be easily expandable to help address Johnson's need for
` storage."
` Johnson explains that a single ROM element may not
` individually be enough to store all of the desired audio and
` graphics data, but Martinek contemplates multiple ROM memory
` elements, which a PHOSITA would have recognized is a common
` and preferrable implementation to other mass storage devices
` where storage space is a concern.
` JUDGE HAGY: Counsel, I have another question, just
`real quick.
` MR. MUDD: Sure.
` JUDGE HAGY: As long as we're getting into the level
`of ordinary skill in the art, I understand that petitioner
`and patent owner are proposing different levels of ordinary
`skill in the art, whereas petitioner is proposing one or more
`years of experience in the field, patent owner proposes three
`to five years and experience particularly in computer systems
`designs.
` Do you know how the parties' differing definitions
` would impact, for example, the motivation to combine, if at
` all?
` MR. MUDD: Your Honor, I don't believe the parties
`have a dispute over how the differing proposed definitions of
`the level of ordinary skill in art would affect the
`motivation to combine, I think the motivation to combine
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`16
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
`analysis could be the same under either definition proposed
`by either party. That's petitioner's position on that issue.
` JUDGE HAGY: Are you aware of how the parties'
`differing constructions are material in any way to the issues
`that are before us?
` MR. MUDD: In terms of the term “configured to,” like
`I just mentioned, I don't see how it is material to the
`dispute. The same with the construction of “read.” I don't
`feel like it's material to the dispute on both accounts.
` The only thing I'd mentioned on “configured to” is,
` again, that to the extent it needs construction, and we only
` need construction for the Board to confirm that the term
`“configured to” does not limit the claim to only the specific
`structure disclosed in the specification, it's not like a
`means-plus-function claim term.
` So with regard to the motivation to combine, another
`point raised that petitioner laid out in the petition is
`that Johnson and Martinek also teach similar
`computer-implemented gaming machines that are both designed
`to verify the contents of a memory device, including a
`stored game program, so as to verify that it's not been
`manipulated or tampered with.
` And a PHOSITA would have recognized it as a simple
`choice of one form of memory element on a similarly
`disclosed mass storage device as suggested by Johnson
`itself, but those are just some of the motivations to
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`17
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
`combine as set forth in the petition.
` Turning to Slide 12.
` Patent owner argues that a PHOSITA would not have
`been motivated to combine Martinek's validation scheme with
`Johnson's verification scheme.
` But first, as far as noting that petitioner was not
`proposing to bodily incorporate Martinek's validation scheme
`with Johnson's scheme, bodily incorporation is not required
`by the law. As noted, Martinek was primarily being combined
`for its read-only memory board for Johnson's mass storage
`device.
` But in any event, Johnson and Martinek's schemes are
`consistent with each other and complementary, they are not
`inconsistent.
` And this is from the middle of Slide 12.
` Johnson emphasizes that its verification is
`performed before permitting an initial access to the data on
`its mass storage device. Johnson states, "Before permitting
`an initial access to the computer-readable data from the
`mass storage device, contents of the mass storage device is
`verified by executing the instructions contained within the
`mass storage verification module."
` Martinek similarly emphasizes the same thing.
`Martinek states, "Security and validation are performed
`advantageously to data prior to loading it into various
`memory devices in the gaming machine, such as RAM and
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`18
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
`NVRAM."
` So in both Johnson and Martinek, verification is
`performed first before the game data on the storage medium
`is accessed by the gaming device, thus, they are consistent
` and complementary verification schemes.
` Patent owner also makes an argument that Martinek is
` incompatible with Johnson because Martinek allegedly
` excludes post-computer involvement in the authentication
` process, but Martinek teaches to the contrary. Martinek
` states that, "Authentication can be performed entirely
` within the gaming engine or system without any external
` reading or implements, or a specific design of a system may
` use or require external access, activation, or
` intelligence."
` So it may use or require external access, activation
` or intelligence.
` And as noted in our reply brief, at page 8, patent
` owner's expert admitted during cross that this external
` intelligence could include an external CPU.
` Thus, patent owner is incorrect to suggest that
` Martinek excludes post-computer involvement in its
` verification process. An external CPU can, in fact, be
` involved.
` JUDGE TARTAL: Counsel, so -- counsel, this is Judge
`Tartal. Sorry to interrupt.
` MR. MUDD: That's okay.
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`19
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
` JUDGE TARTAL: This goes to my prior question to
`some degree, which is, you're discussing various additional
`disclosures of Martinek.
` Are you relying on those additional disclosures in
`the combination with Johnson or for some element or feature
`not disclosed by Johnson, or is Martinek only included to
`provide the express example of a type of memory device that
`would include what is claimed?
` I think some of the confusion in terms of the
`rationale for the combination stems from whether or not
`Martinek is being used to supplement some other teaching that
`Johnson lacks.
` So I guess, to clarify, my question: Is there a
`teaching absent from Johnson that you are relying on as
`having been taught by Martinek beyond the specific storage
`device being claimed?
` MR. MUDD: There's also an alternative argument
`where patent owner makes an argument that I'll get to
`momentarily arguing that the game program can't be read to
`RAM prior to authentication.
` We contend that a PHOSITA would understand that
`Johnson teaches this, but we also argue in the alternative,
`that a PHOSITA would have been motivated to look to Martinek
`for teaching that same teaching, that authentication is
`performed prior to the game program being written to RAM.
` So that's another example that I'll get to in a
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`20
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
`moment of an argument where we are relying on Martinek in the
`alternative in the event that Johnson were found not to have
`such an express teaching.
` And turning to Slide 13.
` The next issue raised by patent owner is that patent
` owner next argues that Johnson in view of Martinek does not
` authenticate the game program in a memory of the board, and
` this is because patent owner argues that Johnson does not
` perform a byte-level read of the game program by the CPU
` from memory during authentication.
` But Claim 1 merely recites, "Execute the
` authentication program stored and set on another memory in
` the process A, and then authenticate the game program in the
` memory of the board based upon the executed authentication
` program."
` Notably, this claim limitation does not contain the
` term “read,” nor does it refer to any byte-level read.
` The concept of a byte-level read is not present in
`the claim language, instead, this is a concept the patent
`owner pulls from the '540 patent specification.
` Specifically, as shown at the bottom of Slide 13, at
`Column 9, lines 45 to 50, it recites that, "The main CPU 21
`then operates as the reading unit of the present invention
`and reads out gaming information, in other words, a gaming
`program 30A and a game system program 30B from the memory
`card 30."
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`21
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
` In this case, the main CPU 21 reads out four bytes
`of data constituting the gaming information at a time. That
`concept of reading out four bytes of data at a time is only
`in the specification and not in the claim language, thus,
`the claim language, "Authenticate the game program in the
`memory of the board," does not require a byte-level read
`directly to the CPU during authentication.
` Turning to Slide 14.
` There was some suggestion by patent owner in its
`surreply that patent owner was not requiring a byte-level
`read during authentication, but this is clearly what patent
`owner was arguing.
` As shown on pages 43 to 44 of the patent owner
`response, patent owner distinguished Johnson on this basis.
`Specifically, in summing up its argument, patent owner
`stated, "In other words, Johnson does not teach the
`byte-level reading operation directly to the CPU as
`described in the '540 patent. More specifically, Johnson's
`verification process does not authenticate the game program
`in the memory of the board."
` So as can be seen, patent owner is, indeed,
`requiring a byte-level reading operation for this
`limitation, and patent owner attempted to distinguish
`Martinek on this basis as well.
` This is from page 46 of the patent owner response,
`the middle of Slide 14. Patent owner states, "Martinek,
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`
`22
`
`
`
`IPR2020-00922
`Patent 8,078,540 B2
`
`which does not disclose a byte-level reading operation
`either, cannot cure Johnson's deficiencies."
` And at the bottom of the slide, patent owner's
`expert likewise admitted on cross examination that he and
`patent owner were requiring a byte-level read for this
`limitation.
` He was asked:
` "Q. So unless the prior art discloses a bit-level
` or byte-level read operation during authentication, prior
` art cannot disclose Claim 1?"
` And his answer was:
` "A. That is my understanding of Claim 1."
` So patent owner's incorrect to suggest that patent
` owner's not requiring a byte-level reading operation for
` this limitation, that's precisely what patent owner is
` contending is required because of the presence in this term
` in the memory of the board.
` Turning to Slide 15 --
` JUDGE HAGY: Yeah. I have a question, and maybe
`you'll get to it with this slide.
` But Johnson, in some way or the other, the CPU is
`interacting with the information, so how does that differ
`from a byte-level read, what Johnson discloses in terms of
`the CPU interacting with the data?
` MR. MUDD: Yeah. I don't know whether it does. I
`think patent owner is simply arguing that Johnson doesn't