UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`COMCAST CABLE COMMUNICATIONS, LLC,
`Petitioner,
`
`v.
`
`TOUCHSTREAM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.,
`Patent Owner.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Patent No. 11,086,934
`Filing Date: June 30, 2020
`Issue Date: August 10, 2021
`Title: PLAY CONTROL OF CONTENT ON A DISPLAY DEVICE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Inter Partes Review No.: IPR2024-00326
`
`
`PETITION FOR INTER PARTES REVIEW
`UNDER 35 U.S.C. §§ 311-319 AND 37 C.F.R. § 42.100 et seq.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`TABLE OF CONTENTS
`
`V.
`
`MANDATORY NOTICES ...................................................................................... ix
`I.
`INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 1
`II.
`SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT ...................................................................... 1
`III. OVERVIEW OF THE ’934 PATENT ............................................................ 1
`A.
`Brief Description .................................................................................. 1
`B.
`Prosecution History .............................................................................. 3
`C.
`Earliest Priority Date for the Claims..................................................... 5
`IV. OVERVIEW OF PRIOR ART ....................................................................... 6
`A. Danciu ................................................................................................... 6
`1.
`Danciu is Entitled to a Priority Date of November 8, 2010 ..... 10
`B. Mahajan .............................................................................................. 11
`C.
`Calvert ................................................................................................. 13
`D. Aldrey ................................................................................................. 15
`IDENTIFICATION OF CHALLENGE PURSUANT TO 37 C.F.R.
`§ 42.104(b) .................................................................................................... 19
`A.
`Claims for Which Review is Requested and Grounds on Which
`Challenge Is Based ............................................................................. 19
`314(a) Discretion Does Not Apply ..................................................... 19
`B.
`325(d) Discretion Does Not Apply ..................................................... 20
`C.
`Level of Ordinary Skill ....................................................................... 21
`D.
`Claim Construction ............................................................................. 21
`E.
`VI. SPECIFIC GROUNDS FOR UNPATENTABILITY .................................. 22
`A. Ground A: Claims 1-20 are Rendered Obvious by Danciu in View
`of Mahajan .......................................................................................... 22
`1.
`Independent Claim 1 ................................................................. 22
`2.
`Dependent Claim 2 ................................................................... 37
`3.
`Dependent Claim 3 ................................................................... 38
`Dependent Claim 4 ................................................................... 41
`4.
`
`i
`
`

`

`Dependent Claim 5 ................................................................... 42
`5.
`Dependent Claim 6 ................................................................... 42
`6.
`Dependent Claim 7 ................................................................... 43
`7.
`Independent Claim 8 ................................................................. 44
`8.
`Dependent Claim 9 ................................................................... 46
`9.
`10. Dependent Claim 10 ................................................................. 46
`11. Dependent Claim 11 ................................................................. 47
`12. Dependent Claim 12 ................................................................. 47
`13. Dependent Claim 13 ................................................................. 47
`14. Dependent Claim 14 ................................................................. 48
`15. Dependent Claim 15 ................................................................. 48
`16. Dependent Claim 16 ................................................................. 48
`17.
`Independent Claim 17 ............................................................... 49
`18. Dependent Claim 18 ................................................................. 52
`19. Dependent Claim 19 ................................................................. 53
`20. Dependent Claim 20 ................................................................. 53
`B. Ground B: Claims 1-20 are Rendered Obvious by Danciu in view
`of Mahajan and Calvert ...................................................................... 54
`1.
`Independent Claim 1 ................................................................. 54
`2.
`Dependent Claims 2-7 .............................................................. 59
`3.
`Independent Claim 8 ................................................................. 59
`4.
`Dependent Claims 9-16 ............................................................ 59
`5.
`Independent Claim 17 ............................................................... 59
`6.
`Dependent Claims 18-20 .......................................................... 60
`C. Ground C: Claims 1-2, and 5-7 are Rendered Obvious by Aldrey ..... 60
`Independent Claim 1 ................................................................. 60
`1.
`2.
`Dependent Claim 2 ................................................................... 68
`3.
`Dependent Claim 5 ................................................................... 69
`4.
`Dependent Claim 6 ................................................................... 69
`
`ii
`
`

`

`Dependent Claim 7 ................................................................... 70
`5.
`D. Ground D: Claims 3-4, and 8-20 are Rendered Obvious by Aldrey
`in view of Mahajan ............................................................................. 70
`1.
`Dependent Claim 3 ................................................................... 70
`2.
`Dependent Claim 4 ................................................................... 74
`3.
`Independent Claim 8 ................................................................. 75
`4.
`Dependent Claim 9 ................................................................... 78
`5.
`Dependent Claim 10 ................................................................. 78
`6.
`Dependent Claim 11 ................................................................. 78
`7.
`Dependent Claim 12 ................................................................. 79
`8.
`Dependent Claim 13 ................................................................. 79
`9.
`Dependent Claim 14 ................................................................. 79
`10. Dependent Claim 15 ................................................................. 80
`11. Dependent Claim 16 ................................................................. 80
`12.
`Independent Claim 17 ............................................................... 81
`13. Dependent Claim 18 ................................................................. 84
`14. Dependent Claim 19 ................................................................. 85
`15. Dependent Claim 20 ................................................................. 85
`VII. GROUNDS FOR STANDING & FEE PAYMENT ..................................... 86
`VIII. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................. 86
`CERTIFICATION UNDER 37 CFR § 42.24(d) ..................................................... 87
`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ................................................................................ 88
`CLAIM LISTING APPENDIX ............................................................................... 89
`
`
`
`
`
`
`iii
`
`

`

`Ex. 1101:
`Ex. 1102:
`Ex. 1103:
`Ex. 1104:
`Ex. 1105-10:
`Ex. 1111:
`
`Ex. 1112:
`
`Ex. 1113:
`
`Ex. 1114:
`
`Ex. 1115:
`
`Ex. 1116-19:
`Ex. 1120:
`
`Ex. 1121:
`
`Ex. 1122:
`
`Ex. 1123-29:
`Ex. 1130:
`
`Ex. 1131:
`
`Ex. 1132:
`
`Ex. 1133:
`
`
`EXHIBITS
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 11,086,934 (“the ʼ934 Patent”)
`Expert Declaration of David B. Lett
`Curriculum Vitae of David B. Lett
`Certified Prosecution History of the ’934 Patent
`Reserved
`U.S. Pub. No. 2004,0078812 (“Calvert”)
`U.S. Pat. No. 9,490,998 (“Danciu”)
`U.S. Prov. App. No. 61/411,386 (“Danciu Provisional”)
`U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0248802 (“Mahajan”)
`U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0172757 (“Aldrey”)
`Reserved
`Joint Claim Construction Statement, Touchstream
`Technologies, Inc. v. Google LLC, 6:21-cv-00569-ADA
`(WDTX) (Feb. 8, 2022)
`Exhibit 1 to Joint Disputed Claim Terms Charts, Touchstream
`Technologies, Inc. v. Vizbee, Inc., 1:17-cv-06247-PGG-KNF
`(SDNY) (Aug. 6, 2018)
`Jury Instructions, Touchstream Technologies, Inc. v. Google
`LLC, 6:21-cv-00569-ADA (WDTX) (July 21, 2023)
`Reserved
`U.S. Pub. No. 2002/0104096 (“Cramer”)
`U.S. Pat. No. 7,356,575 (“Shapiro”)
`U.S. Pat. No. 7,269,842 (“Estipona”)
`U.S. Pub. No. 2004/0267899 (“Rahman”)
`
`iv
`
`

`

`
`Ex. 1134:
`
`Ex. 1135:
`
`Ex. 1136:
`
`Ex. 1137:
`Ex. 1138-40:
`Ex. 1141:
`
`Ex. 1142:
`
`Ex. 1143:
`
`Ex. 1144:
`
`Ex. 1145:
`
`Ex. 1146:
`
`Ex. 1147:
`
`U.S. Pub. No. 2004/0098533 (“Henshaw”)
`U.S. Pub. No. 2004/0172656 (“Kim”)
`Reserved
`U.S. Pat. No. 7,343,419 (“Robinson”)
`Reserved
`CODING OF MOVING PICTURES AND AUDIO, MPEG-4 Overview
`(Int’l Org. Standardisation 2002)
`ROBERT GODWIN-JONES, DIGITAL VIDEO UPDATE: YOUTUBE,
`FLASH, HIGH-DEFINITION, 11 LANGUAGE LEARNING &
`TECH. 16, 17 (2007)
`John C. Paolillo et al., A Network View of Social Media
`Platform History: Social Structure, Dynamics and Content on
`YouTube, PROC. 52ND HAWAII INT’L CONF. ON SYS. SCIS., 1,
`(2019)
`
`YouTube Opens Internet Video to Masses; Serving 3 Million
`Videos Daily and Growing, YouTube Unveils a Fast, Fun, and
`Easy Service for Consumers to Broadcast Original Video,
`MARKET WIRE, Dec. 15, 2005
`
`Hulu Debuts via Private Beta and on Distribution Partners
`AOL, Comcast, MSN, MySpace and Yahoo!; Company
`Announces Major Licensing Deals with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
`Studios Inc. and Sony Pictures Television; Providence Equity
`Partners Makes Strategic Investment in News
`Corporation/NBC Universal Online Video Joint Venture, BUS.
`WIRE, Oct. 29, 2007
`Blockbuster Offers Cheaper Online Rental, ASSOCIATED PRESS,
`Jun. 13, 2007
`
`Adobe Delivers Flash Player 9 With H.264 Video Support; HD
`Quality Web Video and Audio Now Available With Adobe Flash
`Player Update, BUS. WIRE, Dec. 4, 2007
`
`v
`
`

`

`Ex. 1148:
`
`Ex. 1149:
`
`Ex. 1150:
`
`Ex. 1151:
`
`Ex. 1152:
`
`Ex. 1153:
`
`Ex. 1154:
`
`Ex. 1155:
`
`Ex. 1156:
`
`Ex. 1157:
`
`Ex. 1158:
`
`Ex. 1159:
`
`Microsoft Unveils Silverlight to Power the Next Generation of
`Media Experiences on the Web; Leading Media Companies and
`Solution Providers Announce Support for New Solution for
`Video and Interactivity on Mac- and Windows-Based Web
`Browsers, PR NEWSWIRE US, Apr. 16, 2007
`
`Former Apple Multimedia Pioneers Unveil WebTV; New
`Company Brings Internet to Television Viewers, PR
`NEWSWIRE, Jun. 12, 1996
`Netflix, TiVo Team Up After 4-Year Courtship, ASSOCIATED
`PRESS, Oct. 30, 2008
`
`TiVo and Amazon.com Announce New Service Enabling
`Amazon Unbox Video Download to TiVo; TiVo Subscribers
`Will Soon Be Able to Watch Amazon Unbox Movies and TV
`Shows on Their TVs, BUS. WIRE, Feb. 7, 2007
`Wall Crumbling Between Televisions and Computers, AGENCE
`FRANCE PRESSE – ENGLISH, Jan. 8, 2009
`ENHANCED TV BINARY INTERCHANGE FORMAT 1.0, ETV
`(OpenCable Specifications, Nov. 25, 2009)
`
`Award-Winning Sonos™ Digital Music System Begins Shipping
`to Customers, PR NEWSWIRE US, Jan. 27, 2005
`Sonos Introduces the Sonos™ ZonePlayer ZP80, PR
`NEWSWIRE, Jan. 4, 2006
`
`Sonos Introduces the Sonos Controller for iPhone; Free
`Application Lets Music Lovers Control Leading Multi- Room
`Music System from Their iPhone, PR NEWSWIRE, Oct. 28, 2008
`AT&T Opens R&D Lab in Cambridge, England, BUS. WIRE,
`Feb. 10, 1999
`Microsoft Releases Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition,
`M2 PRESSWIRE, Jun 16, 1998
`
`TeamViewer: TeamViewer 3.0 Beta Published; Next
`Generation of the Popular Remote Support Software, M2
`PRESSWIRE, Aug. 27, 2007
`
`vi
`
`

`

`Ex. 1160:
`
`Ex. 1161:
`
`Ex. 1162:
`
`Ex. 1163:
`
`Ex. 1164:
`Ex. 1165:
`Ex. 1166:
`Ex. 1167:
`
`Ex. 1168:
`
`Ex. 1169:
`Ex. 1170:
`Ex. 1171:
`Ex. 1172:
`
`Ex. 1173:
`Ex. 1174:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`3am Labs Announces $10 Million Series A Financing;
`McNamee Lawrence & Co. Acts as Exclusive Financial Advisor
`to 3am Labs, BUS. WIRE, Nov. 16, 2004
`
`Expertcity's GoToMyPC Product Wins A People's Choice
`Award At Upside Events' Showcase 2001, INTERNET WIRE, Feb.
`1, 2001
`
`TV2Me(R) Goes Global By Partnering With Leading Asian
`Online Entertainment Company; Manila-Based ESL Adds Sales
`and Marketing Muscle to Bring Pioneering Place Shifting
`Technology to Wider Market, PR NEWSWIRE US, May 16, 2006
`
`CES Innovations 2005 Award and Red Herring Finalist for 100
`Most Innovative Companies are Latest Commendations for
`Sling Media, BUS. WIRE, Nov. 11, 2004
`Final Written Decision, IPR2022-00795 (Sep. 27, 2023)
`Patent Owner Response, IPR2022-00795 (Jan. 13, 2023)
`Reserved
`
`Progressive Networks Launches the First Commercial Audio-
`On-Demand System Over the Internet, BUS. WIRE, Apr. 10,
`1995
`
`Progressive Networks’ RealVideo Launched With Wide
`Industry Support, PR NEWSWIRE EUROPE, February 10, 1997
`Reserved
`U.S. Pat. Application No. 61/477,998
`U.S. Pat. No. 8,904,289 to Strober (“the ’289 Patent”)
`Certified Copy of Prosecution History of U.S. Pat No.
`8,904,289
`U.S. Pat. No. 9,767,195 (“the ’195 Patent”)
`Certified Copy of Prosecution History of U.S. Pat. No.
`9,767,195
`
`vii
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Ex. 1175:
`1175:
`Ex.
`Ex. 1176:
`1176:
`Ex.
`
`Ex. 1177:
`1177:
`Ex.
`Ex. 1178:
`1178:
`Ex.
`
`Ex. 1179:
`1179:
`Ex.
`Ex. 1180:
`1180:
`Ex.
`Ex. 1181:
`1181:
`Ex.
`Ex. 1182:
`1182:
`Ex.
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 11,048,751 to Strober (“the ’751 Patent”)
`U.S. Pat. No. 11,048,751 to Strober (“the ’751 Patent”)
`Certified Copy of Prosecution History of U.S. Pat. No.
`Certified Copy of Prosecution History of U.S. Pat. No.
`11,048,751
`11,048,751
`U.S. Pat. No. 8,356,251 to Strober (“the ’251 Patent”)
`U.S. Pat. No. 8,356,251 to Strober (“the ’251 Patent’)
`Certified Copy of Prosecution History of U.S. Pat. No.
`Certified Copy of Prosecution History of U.S. Pat. No.
`8,356,251
`8,356,251
`Reserved
`Reserved
`Lett analysis of Danciu Claim 1 in view of Danciu Provisional
`Lett analysis of Danciu Claim 1 in view of Danciu Provisional
`Annotated Copy of Danciu Provisional in view of Danciu
`Annotated Copy of Danciu Provisional in view of Danciu
`Stipulation Regarding Invalidity Defenses
`Stipulation Regarding Invalidity Defenses
`
`
`
`viii
`Vill
`
`

`

`MANDATORY NOTICES
`Real Parties in Interest (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(1))
`
`The real parties-in-interest for this petition are (i) Comcast Cable
`
`Communications, LLC, and (ii) Comcast Corporation.
`
`No unnamed entity is funding, controlling, or directing this Petition for inter
`
`partes review (IPR) of U.S. Patent No. 11,086,934 (“the ’934 Patent”), or otherwise
`
`has an opportunity to control or direct this Petition or Petitioner’s participation in
`
`any resulting IPR.
`
`Related Matters (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(2))
`
`The ’934 Patent, along with related U.S. Patent Nos. 8,356,251 (“the ’251
`
`Patent”) and 11,048,751 (“the ’751 Patent”), is being asserted against Comcast Cable
`
`Communications, LLC, d/b/a Xfinity, Comcast Cable Communications
`
`Management, LLC, and Comcast of Houston, LLC in the Eastern District of Texas
`
`in Touchstream Technologies, Inc. v. Comcast Cable Communications, LLC d/b/a
`
`Xfinity et al., 2:23-cv-00062-JRG (“EDTX Litigation”). The earliest date of service
`
`on any of the Comcast entities named in the EDTX Litigation was March 1, 2023,
`
`however the ’934 and ’751 Patents were first asserted in a First Amended Complaint
`
`served on May 25, 2023.
`
`The ’251, ’751, and ’934 Patents are also presently being asserted against
`
`Charter Communications, Inc., Charter Communications Operating, LLC, Spectrum
`
`ix
`
`

`

`Management Holding Company, LLC, Time Warner Cable Enterprises, LLC, and
`
`Spectrum Gulf Coast, LLC in Touchstream Technologies, Inc. v. Charter
`
`Communications, Inc. et al, 2:23-cv-00059-JRG (EDTX); and against Altice USA,
`
`Inc., Cequel Communications, LLC, CSC Holdings, LLC, and Friendship Cable of
`
`Texas, Inc. in Touchstream Technologies, Inc. v. Altice USA, Inc. et al, 2:23-cv-
`
`00060-JRG (EDTX).
`
`The ’251 Patent is also presently being asserted against Google LLC in
`
`Touchstream Technologies, Inc. v. Google LLC, 6:21-cv-00569-ADA (WDTX)
`
`along with related U.S. Patent Nos. 8,782,528 (“the ’528 Patent”) and 8,904,289
`
`(“the ’289 Patent”). The ’251, ’528, and ’289 Patents were the subject of requests
`
`for inter partes review filed by Google LLC in IPR2022-00795, IPR2022-00793,
`
`and IPR2022-00794 (presently on appeal). The real parties-in-interest in this
`
`Petition are not involved in any of those IPRs. The ’251, ’528, and ’289 Patents were
`
`previously asserted against Vizbee, Inc. in Touchstream Technologies, Inc. v.
`
`Vizbee, Inc., 1:17-cv-06247-PGG-KNF (SDNY) which was terminated by stipulated
`
`dismissal on January 24, 2020.
`
`According to the Office’s records, the ’934 Patent is a continuation of U.S.
`
`Pat. App. No. 15/687,249, filed August 25, 2017 (issued as the ’751 Patent), which
`
`is a continuation of U.S. Pat. App. No. 13/532,546, filed June 25, 2012 (issued as
`
`U.S. Pat. No. 9,767,195), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. App. No.
`
`x
`
`

`

`13/157,821, filed June 10, 2011 (issued as the ’289 Patent). The ’934 Patent claims
`
`priority to Provisional App. No. 61/477,998, filed April 21, 2011.
`
`No other petitions for inter partes review, post-grant review, or covered
`
`business method review have been filed against the ’934.
`
`This is the second of two petitions for inter partes review filed by Petitioner
`
`against the ’934 Patent. Petitioner is also filing petitions for inter partes review
`
`against the related ’251 and ’751 Patents.
`
`
`
`Lead and Back-Up Counsel (37 C.F.R. § 42.8(b)(3))
`
`Petitioner designates counsel listed below. A power of attorney for counsel
`
`is being concurrently filed.
`
`xi
`
`

`

`Lead Counsel
`Frederic M. Meeker (Reg. No. 35,282)
`fmeeker@bannerwitcoff.com
`
`BANNER & WITCOFF, LTD.
`1100 13th Street, NW
`Suite 1200
`Washington, DC 20005
`Tel: (202) 824-3000
`Fax: (202) 824-3001
`
`Back-Up Counsel
`Paul T. Qualey (Reg. No. 45,027)
`pqualey@bannerwitcoff.com
`
`John R. Hutchins (Reg. No. 43,686)
`jhutchins@bannerwitcoff.com
`
`John Fleming (Reg. No. 56,536)
`jfleming@bannerwitcoff.com
`
`Joshua L. Davenport (Reg. No. 72,756)
`jdavenport@bannerwitcoff.com
`
`
`BANNER & WITCOFF, LTD.
`1100 13th Street, NW
`Suite 1200
`Washington, DC 20005
`Tel: (202) 824-3000
`Fax: (202) 824-3001
`
`Please address all correspondence to counsel at this address shown above.
`
`Petitioner consents to electronic service by email at the following address and the
`
`above emails: ComcastIPRService@bannerwitcoff.com.
`
`
`
`xii
`
`

`

`
`
`INTRODUCTION
`Comcast Cable Communications, LLC (“Petitioner”) petitions for inter partes
`
`review and cancellation of claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 11,086,934 (“the ’934
`
`Patent”) (Ex. 1101).
`
`
`
`SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT
`The ’934 Patent claims systems and methods directed to translating
`
`commands among associated devices to control media. The methods present video
`
`content on a display device using one of various media players, via messages
`
`transmitted from a computer. The messages are converted into commands for the
`
`selected media player and then transmitted to a display device. In one embodiment,
`
`the display device is assigned a synchronization code used to associate the computer
`
`with the display device and stored in the server.
`
`The ’934 Patent claims are disclosed and rendered obvious by the prior art
`
`relied on herein, in view of the declaration of Mr. Lett. Ex. 1102, ¶¶ 1-32, 69-86.
`
` OVERVIEW OF THE ’934 PATENT
` Brief Description
`The ’934 Patent describes a system 10 for using a server system 24 (green) to
`
`facilitate a connection between a personal computing device 20 (blue) for selecting
`
`content, and a television/display device 22 (red) for displaying the selected content.
`
`Ex. 1101, 3:15-3:28; Ex. 1102, ¶¶ 40-42.
`
`1
`
`

`

`Ex. 1101, Fig. 1 (annotated)
`
`
`
`The connection between the personal computing device (e.g., a mobile phone)
`
`and the display device may be established by the user selecting from a list of devices
`
`displayed on the mobile phone’s screen or alternatively the user can enter a
`
`synchronization code on the mobile phone that is uniquely associated with the
`
`display device. Ex. 1101, 5:27-35. The synchronization code can be obtained from,
`
`for example, a text or QR code displayed on the screen of the display device. Ex.
`
`1101, 5:35-42. The server system may then store the association between the
`
`2
`
`

`

`personal computing device and display device in a look-up table. Ex. 1101, 5:49-
`
`54.
`
` When a user selects particular content on the mobile phone, a message is
`
`formatted and transmitted to the server which contains information to facilitate the
`
`playback of video content. Ex. 1101, 4:41-57. The message is received by the server
`
`and the information is stored in a database. Ex. 1101, 4:58-5:6. The server then
`
`confirms if a connection between the personal computing device and display device,
`
`and copies the message information to a database associated with the display device.
`
`Ex. 1101, 5:61-6:6. The server also identifies the media player requested in the
`
`message and converts the commands from the personal computing device into the
`
`correct code for use on the display device to control the media player. Ex. 1101,
`
`6:6-39. The information in the database associated with the display device is then
`
`transmitted to, or retrieved by the display device. Ex. 1101, 6:39-49. The display
`
`device then acts on the message information by, for example, loading the requested
`
`media player, obtaining the selected video content file, and playing the video. Ex.
`
`1101, 6:50-7:4.
`
`Prosecution History
`
`The application that led to the ’934 Patent, U.S. Application No. 16/917,095,
`
`was filed on June 30, 2020, as a Track 1 application filed under the First Action
`
`Interview Full Pilot Program. Ex. 1104, pp. 1-2; Ex. 1102, ¶¶ 43-68. The application
`
`3
`
`

`

`was a continuation of U.S. Application No. 15/687,249, filed August 25, 2017,
`
`which was a continuation of U.S. Application No. 13/532,546, filed June 25, 2012,
`
`which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent No. of 13/157,821, filed June 10,
`
`2011, which claimed the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/477,998,
`
`filed April 21, 2011. Ex. 1101, cover.
`
`The ’934 Patent was initially rejected under the pilot program in view of U.S.
`
`Pub. No. 2009/0172780 to Sukeda et al. as to claims 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, and 16, and
`
`Sukeda in view of U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0248802 to Mahajan as to the remaining
`
`claims. Id., pp. 65-86. Mahajan was cited by the Office as a secondary reference (to
`
`Sukeda) “to improve the device with reasonable expectation that this would result in
`
`a content display device that could ‘facilitate effective communication between the
`
`server and client such that the user’s media playback commands are executable on
`
`the client independent of platforms employed on the server and client’ as suggested
`
`by Mahajan (paragraph [0014])”. Id., pp. 74-76.
`
`On March 3, 2021, the Applicant amended the claims to recite “a first media
`
`playing application.” Id., pp. 779-785. Still, the rejections were maintained (Id., pp.
`
`793-820), and the Applicant further amended to further recite “a first type of media
`
`playing application” and “select the first type of media playing application… based
`
`at least in part on its association with the piece of content referenced in the received
`
`set of messages.” Id., pp. 879-884. This amendment was alleged to distinguish from
`
`4
`
`

`

`the Office’s citation of a “content body 177” in Sukeda as “a first media playing
`
`application.” Ex. 1104, p. 888. Applicant further argued only generically that
`
`Mahajan failed to cure the deficiencies in Sukeda, while conceding that “Applicant
`
`submits that Mahajan’s translations for playback commands are being performed
`
`based on a ‘client’s media platform.’” Id., p. 890.
`
`Following those amendments, and interview, the Application was allowed on
`
`June 30, 2021. Ex. 1104, pp. 910-917. Mahajan was never relied on by the office for
`
`teaching “selecting the first type of media playing application… based at least in
`
`part on its association with the piece of content referenced in the received set of
`
`messages.” Moreover, the Office never considered a combination in view of Danciu,
`
`in view of Mahajan’s teachings (as conceded by Applicant) “that Mahajan’s
`
`translations for playback commands are being performed based on a ‘client’s media
`
`platform.’” Id., p. 890.
`
` Earliest Priority Date for the Claims
`The earliest possible priority date for the claims of the ’934 Patent is April 21,
`
`2011, the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/477,998 to which the
`
`’934 Patent claims priority. Ex. 1101, cover. Each of the references relied on herein
`
`is prior art to that date as explained below.
`
`5
`
`

`

` OVERVIEW OF PRIOR ART
` Danciu
`Danciu (Ex. 1112) is a U.S. Patent, No. 9,490,998, filed March 7, 2011, that
`
`claims priority to and incorporates by reference U.S. Provisional Application
`
`61/411,386, filed November 8, 2010, in its entirety. Ex. 1112, cover. Danciu is prior
`
`art under 35 U.S.C. § 102(e). Danciu was not considered during prosecution. Ex.
`
`1101, cover; Ex. 1102, ¶ 87.
`
`Danciu is directed to techniques for exchanging information to control
`
`playback of contact on a web-enabled device such as a network-enabled television.
`
`Ex. 1112, 1:39-50. Danciu’s networked device is disclosed as a controlled device 18
`
`(red), which may be a computing device such as a set-top box (STB) or personal
`
`video recorder (DVR), connected via network 22, including servers 24A-24N
`
`(green), to a remote control 14 (blue), which may be any portable computing device
`
`such as a cell phone, tablet, laptop, or even a portable desktop computer. Ex. 1112,
`
`3:21-28, 5:1-12, 5:42-63, Fig. 1; Ex. 1102, ¶¶ 88-91.
`
`6
`
`

`

`Ex. 1112, Fig. 1 (annotated)
`
`
`
`Danciu contemplates that the network may comprise a large number of
`
`devices under control, including multiple remote controls and controlled devices.
`
`Ex. 1112, 7:41-8:58, Fig. 2; Ex. 1102, ¶¶ 91-93.
`
`7
`
`

`

`Ex. 1112, Fig. 2
`
`
`
`Danciu discloses that a “network service may assign each remote control and
`
`each controlled device a unique identifier” that is used in pairing. Ex. 1112, 4:4-13,
`
`4:36-45, 6:40-7:10, 8:23-49, 13:16-32, 15:28-58. Danciu’s remote control provides
`
`commands for content being played on controlled device. Ex. 1112, 5:29-37. In
`
`doing so, the controlled device receives commands from the remote control to alter
`
`content displayed on the display of the controlled device. Ex. 1112, 5:64-6:2, 10:45-
`
`53; Ex. 1102, ¶¶ 94-98.
`
`8
`
`

`

`Ex. 1112, Fig. 6
`
`
`
`Danciu teaches that commands received by the controlled device are
`
`understood and operated upon. Figure 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example
`
`operation of a network server communicating with a controlled device. Ex. 1112,
`
`3:7-8, 5:29-37, 7:17-29, 18:55-22, Fig. 9. For example, the controlled device may
`
`have the ability to select a program to view content from YouTube, Netflix, or Hulu
`
`based on received commands. Ex. 1112, 11:22-35; 12:32-49, 16:55-67, 17:21-43;
`
`Ex. 1102, ¶¶ 99-105. Figure 9 depicts a process beginning with the server receiving
`
`messages from a controlled device. Ex. 1112, 18:55-19:20, Fig. 9.
`
`9
`
`

`

`
`
`Ex. 1112, Fig. 9
`
`Danciu is Entitled to a Priority Date of November 8, 2010
`1.
`As shown below, U.S. Provisional Application 61/411,386 (“Danciu
`
`Provisional”) provides written description support for at least claim 1 of Danciu. Ex.
`
`1102, ¶ 87; Ex. 1180. This entitles Danciu to its provisional’s filing date. Dynamic
`
`Drinkware, LLC v. National Graphics, Inc., 800 F.3d 1375, 1381 (Fed. Cir. 2015).
`
`Danciu Claim 1
`
`[1 Pre]
`
`Danciu Provisional
`Ex. 1113, [0006].
`
`
`10
`
`

`

`Danciu Claim 1
`
`[1a]
`
`[1b]
`
`[1c]
`[1d]
`
`[1e]
`
`[1f]
`[1g]
`
`[1h]
`
`[1i]
`
`Danciu Provisional
`Ex. 1113, Claim 13, [0021],
`[0024], [0038], [0065], [0069],
`[0073].
`Ex. 1113, Claim 2, [0005], [0037],
`[0065], [0069], [0073].
`Ex. 1113, Claim 2, [0065].
`Ex. 1113, [0022], [0037], [0065],
`[0084].
`Ex. 1113, Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim
`16, [0005], [0022], [0065], [0084].
`Ex. 1113, Claim 2, [0084].
`Ex. 1113, Abstract, Claim 1,
`Claim 16, Claim 17, [0005],-
`[0007], [0074], [0078], Fig. 7.
`Ex. 1113, Abstract, Claim 1,
`Claim 16, Claim 17, [0005]-
`[0007], [0078], Fig. 5, Fig. 7.
`
`Ex. 1113, Abstract, Claim 1,
`Claim 16, Claim 17, [0005]-
`[0007], [0078], Fig. 7.
`
`
`
` Mahajan
`Mahajan (Ex. 1114) is a U.S. Patent Publication, No. 2009/0248802, that
`
`published on October 1, 2009. Ex. 1114, cover. Mahajan is thus prior art under 35
`
`11
`
`

`

`U.S.C. § 102(b). Mahajan was cited during prosecution as a secondary reference, as
`
`discussed above. Ex. 1104, p. 807; Ex. 1102, ¶ 129.
`
`Mahajan discloses a client-server collaboration session wherein a user may
`
`enter commands (orange) to a server (blue) for controlling content (purple) that is
`
`playing on a client device (red). Ex. 1114, [0011]-[0013], Figs. 1-2, 4. The platform
`
`translates generic commands to platform specific media playback commands that
`
`can be understood by the client’s media platform. Ex. 1114, [0012]-[0013], [0022],
`
`[0035]-[0036], [0041], Figs. 3, 5; Ex. 1102, ¶¶ 130-135.
`
`Ex. 1114, Fig. 2 (annotated)
`
`
`
`Mahajan’s server translates specific commands of a first type to genericized
`
`commands, the genericized commands are transmitted, and then Mahajan’s client
`
`12
`
`

`

`translates those generic commands to specialized commands of a second type. Ex.
`
`1114, [0035]-[0036], Figs. 1-2. Mahajan states that “[a] more detailed example for
`
`accomplishing the media command abstraction in a remote terminal session is
`
`described below in relation to Fig. 3.” Ex. 1114, [0036]-[0043], [0063], Figs. 3, 5.
`
`Ex. 1114, Fig. 3
`
`
`
` Calvert
`Calvert (Ex. 1111) is a U.S. Published Application, No. 2004/0078812,
`
`published April 22, 2004. Calvert is prior art under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) and
`
`was not considered during prosecution. Ex. 1101, cover; Ex. 1102, ¶ 116.
`
`Calvert describes a system for aggregating audio and video content from
`
`multiple sources into a unified listing for selection and delivery to a playback device.
`
`13
`
`

`

`Ex. 1111, [0020]-[0044], Figs. 1-11. Content aggregator 102 (green) has multiple
`
`media services available to it that include audio and/or video content. Ex. 1111,
`
`[0020]-[0021], [0024]-[0025], Figs. 1-2. The media services may be in a variety of
`
`formats (e.g., RealMedia, QuickTime, Windows Media) and may be live (e.g., a
`
`television broadcast) or prerecorded (e.g., a movie-on-demand). Ex. 1111, [0021].
`
`Upon request, content aggregator 102 provides a listing of available services to
`
`playback device 202 (red) which displays the listing on display device 222. Ex.
`
`1111, [0025]-[0027], [0033]-[0038], Figs. 2-4; Ex. 1102, ¶ 117.
`
`Ex. 1111, Fig. 2 (annotated)
`
`
`
`14
`
`

`

`Following selection by a user of a particular media service, device 202
`
`requests the selected service directly from the media service provider, or through
`
`content aggregator 102. Ex. 1111, [0027], [0038]-[0040], Figs. 3-4. Device 202
`
`receives the media service in the form of a data transmission which device 202
`
`analyzes to determine its format. Ex. 1111, [0027], [0040]-[0042], Figs. 3, 6. Based
`
`on this determination, the media service data is provided to the appropriate player
`
`application (e.g., RealPlayer, QuickTime player, Microsoft Media Player) and
`
`output to the user. Ex. 1111, [0027], [0030]-[0032], [0043], Figs. 3, 6; Ex. 1102,
`
`¶¶ 118-128. In the event that a new media player is needed to playback the media
`
`service, device 202 downloads the new media player. Ex. 1111, [0032].
`
` Aldrey
`Aldrey (Ex. 1115) is a U.S. P