DOUGLAS P. WOODLOCK, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE.
Plaintiff Tele-Publishing, Inc. ("TPI") brought this action against Defendants Facebook, Inc. and TheFacebook, LLC, (collectively, "Facebook") alleging infringement of United States Patent No. 6,253,216 (the "'216 Patent"). The '216 Patent describes methods (claims 1 and 10), systems (claims 16 and 32), and computer code (claims 21 and 29) for providing "users with a secure way to display personal information to other computer network users" via a personal page. '216 Patent, col. 1 ll. 14-18. Facebook responded to TPI's claim with a counterclaim seeking a declaratory judgment of non-infringement
Following discovery, the parties submitted briefing on the construction of claim terms of the '216 Patent. While claim construction was pending, the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("PTO") Examiner rejected the '216 Patent, and TPI appealed to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences ("BPAI"). And while that appeal was pending, I held an initial claim construction hearing. The BPAI subsequently reversed the PTO Examiner and reinstated the '216 Patent, and the parties filed supplemental claim construction briefs concerning intrinsic evidence arising from the BPAI appeal process.
The PTO issued the '216 Patent, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Providing a Personal Page," to TPI on June 26, 2001. The application was filed on June 3, 1997, and the final patent includes Claims 1 through 34, of which Claims 1, 10, 16, 21, 29, and 32 are dependent, and the remaining are independent. '216 Patent col. 12 l. 48-col. 16 l. 49.
The specification, in the Background of the Invention section, explains that "systems for providing personals advertisements on networked computers" began to appear at the "advent of the Internet's World Wide Web." Id. at col. 1 ll. 30-32. Initially, these advertisements merely provided the same information previously available in personals advertisements published in newspapers. Id. at col. 1 ll. 36-38. Such systems did not take full advantage of the capabilities of computer systems and networks, including the use of images and graphics, the ability for people to communicate over computer networks, and the ability to restrict access to particular users. Id. at col. 1 ll. 40-48. The invention aims to supply these services, and is a "system for generating a page for display on a computer system accessible to a plurality of remote users through a computer network," id. at col. 2 ll. 22-25, which includes
Id. at col. 2 ll. 25-31.
An embodiment of the invention described in the specification uses the system to provide users with a personals page for use on a Personals On-line Network. Id. at col. 2 ll. 31-33. This system allows users to create a page by selecting a template and contributing text and graphics to the page and provides the user the ability to authorize other uses to view the personal page. Id. at col. 2 ll. 40-44. The system stores data provided by the user and displays the information on request by other users. Id. at col. 2 ll. 44-53.
Since the patent was issued, the landscape of "social networking" sites, broadly speaking, has changed dramatically. Major players have entered the space, expanded, and closed or been bought out by other companies. Some examples include Friendster, which was founded in 2002 and at one point had over 115 million registered users, and MySpace, which was developed in 2003 and had 100 million active users. Most notably, Facebook, which was founded in 2004, has became a publicly traded company in 2012 and supports over 1.65 million monthly active users. In addition, the total number of social networking sites, most of which were developed after TPI filed for the '216 Patent, has exploded.
TPI's original complaint in this action was filed on October 7, 2009. On December 22, 2009, Facebook filed a request for ex parte reexamination of the '216 Patent with the PTO. Thereafter, this dispute has traveled along parallel tracks in this Court and at the PTO. To provide a complete history of the dispute to date, I briefly summarize the proceedings before the PTO.
Facebook's reexamination request raised questions of patentability based on the existence of alleged prior art not cited in the original prosecution of the '216 Patent. On April 16, 2010, the PTO issued an office action rejecting all thirty-four claims of the '216 Patent. TPI responded to the office action on June 16, and the PTO ultimately issued a Final Rejection of all claims in the '216 Patent on August 20, 2010.
In the initial office action, the PTO rejected all claims in the '216 Patent based in large part on the existence of the alleged prior art, namely United States Patent No. 5,796,395 (the "de Hond Patent"). In its final action, the PTO rejected the contention by TPI (shared by Facebook) that critical elements at issue are "means-plus-function" elements governed by 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 6.
TPI filed a response to the final office action on October 20, 2010. On November 5, 2010, the PTO issued an advisory action which affirmed its rejection of all claims. TPI then appealed the PTO decision to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences ("BPAI").
On February 23, 2012, the BPAI reversed the PTO's decision. The BPAI found that claims 1, 10, 16, and 21 of the '216 Patent were not anticipated by de Hond because de Hond did not recite the use of a plurality of page templates. It also found that claims 29 and 32 were not anticipated by de Hond because de Hond did not authorize remote users to access the profile information and a personal page differently, as provided by claims 29 and 32. Thus, the BPAI concluded that the PTO Examiner erred in finding that claims 1-26 and 28-34 were anticipated by de Hond under 35 U.S.C. § 102(e). The BPAI's decision did not address whether the patent requires means-plus-function analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 112 ¶ 6.
A patent must include "one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention." 35 U.S.C. § 112 ¶ 2. It is firmly established "that `the claims of a patent define the invention to which the patentee is entitled the right to exclude.'" Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312 (Fed. Cir.2005) (quoting Innova/Pure Water, Inc. v. Safari Water Filtration Sys., Inc., 381 F.3d 1111, 1115 (Fed.Cir.2004)). Construing the terms of a patent, "including terms of art within its claim, is exclusively within the province of the court." Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 517 U.S. 370, 372, 116 S.Ct. 1384, 134 L.Ed.2d 577 (1996). See generally, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. v. Sandoz, Inc., ___ U.S. ___, 135 S.Ct. 831, ___ L.Ed.2d ___ (2015); Eon Corp. IP Holdings, LLC v.
When construing the terms in a claim, the words "`are generally given their ordinary and customary meaning,'" Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1312 (quoting Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576 (Fed.Cir.1996)), that is, the meaning that "a person of ordinary skill in the art in question at the time of the invention" would give to the term, read "in the context of the entire patent, including the specification." Id. at 1313.
In addition to the claims and the specification, courts consider the prosecution history of the patent, which is the record of the proceedings before the PTO which resulted in the grant of the patent. Id. at 1317. While the prosecution history "often lacks the clarity of the specification and thus is less useful for claim construction purposes," it "can often inform the meaning of the claim language by demonstrating how the inventor understood the invention and whether the inventor limited the invention in the course of prosecution." Id.
Courts may also consider "extrinsic evidence," which is that evidence outside of the patent and prosecution history, including testimony, general and technical dictionaries, and treatises. Id. Although "extrinsic evidence can help educate the court regarding the field of the invention and can help the court determine what a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand the claim terms to mean," id. at 1319, it is "less reliable than the patent and its prosecution history," id. at 1318, and "unlikely to result in a reliable interpretation of patent claim scope unless considered in the context of the intrinsic evidence." Id. at 1319.
Several of the disputed claim elements are alleged to be "means-plus-function" elements implicating ¶ 6 of 35 U.S.C. § 112, which provides that:
In other words, a claim that recites a "means for" performing a function does not have to state a specific structure for carrying out that function in the claim, so long as it is described in the specification. See generally, Media Rights Technologies v. Capital One Financial, 800 F.3d 1366, 1371-74 (Fed.Cir.2015); Williamson v. Citrix Online, Inc., 792 F.3d 1339, 1347-49 (Fed.Cir.2015). As a result, "[i]n construing a means-plus-function claim, the district court must first determine the claimed function and then identify the corresponding structure in the written description of the patent that performs that function." Baran v. Med. Device Techs., Inc., 616 F.3d 1309, 1316 (Fed.Cir.2010). The scope of the claim language is of particular concern in identifying the function of a means-plus-function claim. For district courts construing disputed claim terms in a patent, the Federal Circuit has warned against limiting a claimed function beyond the scope of the claim language, or broadening it by ignoring limitations contained in the claim language. Lockheed Martin Corp. v. Space Systems/Loral, Inc., 324 F.3d 1308, 1319 (Fed.Cir.2003).
When "means-plus-function" analysis involves claim elements implemented by computers and microprocessors, the Federal Circuit has required that a specific algorithm for such implementation be
The algorithm structure need not be extensive. "[A]lgorithms in the specification need only disclose adequate defining structure to render the bounds of the claim understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art." AllVoice Computing PLC v. Nuance Commc'n, Inc., 504 F.3d 1236, 1245 (Fed.Cir.2007). Though it need not be extensive, it nevertheless must actually be described in the specification. Relying merely on a showing that "one of ordinary skill in the art could build the device claimed ... based on the disclosure in the specification ... conflates the requirement of enablement ... and the requirement to disclose the structure that performs the claimed function...." Aristocrat, 521 F.3d at 1336 (emphasis added). The specification must "recite the particular structure," id, and "if a person of ordinary skill in the art would be unable to recognize the structure in the specification and associate it with the corresponding function in the claim," then the means-plus-function claim is indefinite and thus invalid. AllVoice, 504 F.3d at 1241.
The parties dispute twenty-six claim terms which appear in various of the claims, including the six independent claims. Most of the claim terms are considered separately, but I have consolidated the analysis of several to avoid repetition.
Each of the six independent claims includes an element describing means for the page-creating remote-user to enter or input security parameters or attributes granting permission to others to view the personal page. '216 Patent Claims 1(f), 10(e), 16(f), 21(e), 29(e), 32(e). The parties agree these are "means-plus-function" elements subject to 35 U.S.C. § 112 ¶ 6, and they agree that all elements should have identical constructions. These six claim elements are similarly worded, but are not identical.
'216 Patent cols. 12-16.
The first step in construing a "means-plus-function" claim element is to identify the function described. Although the parties generally agree that the function is described by the language following "means for,"
Facebook construes the claims as all sharing the function, essentially, of "allowing the page-creating remote user to enter or input the `security attributes' or `security parameters' for the personal page." Facebook argues that this function involves the remote user entering or inputting information (i.e., name or User ID) about both (a) the page-creating remote user and (b) the remote user to whom permission is being given. This argument is based on the construction of "security attributes" and "security parameters," which requires information about both users.
TPI contends that the claimed function is the server providing the means for the user to set in motion activity which results in the inputting of a security parameter, and does not require a specific action on the part of the remote user, i.e., the inputting of information about both remote users.
Read in the context of the claims and the specification, Facebook's construction of the function, requiring the remote user to manually input both elements of the security parameters/attributes, improperly narrows the claimed function beyond the scope of the claim language, and must be rejected. Lockheed, 324 F.3d at 1319. Facebook has read an additional limitation into the claim whereby the page-creating remote user may only "enter" or "input" the security attributes by literally entering or inputting two distinct remote user names or user IDs. Facebook conflates the function and structure by arguing that the function must involve the page-creating remote user entering both aspects of the security attribute individually.
I am satisfied that TPI's construction properly identifies the function.
The second step in a means-plus-function analysis is to identify the structure in the specification that corresponds to the function. Facebook relies on its interpretation of the function to argue that the '216
The parties propose two versions of the structure corresponding to the two embodiments described in the specification. In the first embodiment, the remote user is "prompted for the name of the user" to whom permission is to be given. '216 Patent col. 10 ll. 19-20. In the second embodiment, the "remote user is prompted to send an electronic mail message to the user to whom the remote user wishes to give permission." Id. at col. 10 ll. 39-41.
Facebook proposes the following structures:
TPI's proposed constructions are as follows:
One point specifically disputed by the parties is whether "user ID" should be included in the structure. In its description of the process for granting permission, the specification states that "the remote user may be prompted for the name of the user to whom the remote user wishes to give permission." '216 Patent col. 10 ll. 19-21. As discussed in Section III.B infra, "user ID" is an equivalent or alternative to the "name" of the remote user, and as a result, it should be included in the construction of the structure here.
With respect to the other differences between the parties' proposed structures, Facebook's construction more accurately reflects the structure of the function. It closely tracks the language in the specification at col. 10 and includes certain clarifying language provided by TPI in the reexamination process, see supra n.6, and its proposed structure more accurately reflects the corresponding function. The explanation of "security attribute" in Facebook's proposed construction is, however, unnecessarily repetitive.
Accordingly, I construe the structure of the six claim elements to include:
The terms "security parameters" and "security attributes" are used in claim elements 1(f), 1(g), 10(e), 16(f), 21(e), 21(f), 29(e), 29(f), 32(e), and 32(f). The claims appear to use the terms interchangeably, and the parties agree that they are synonymous.
Facebook construes these terms as "information consisting of the name of the page-creating remote user wishing to give permission and the name of the remote user to whom permission is given." TPI argues that these terms do not need to be construed, because they can be understood from their plain meaning and context and are defined in the claims in which they appear. TPI further alleges that Facebook construes the term too narrowly because it includes only user names and excludes user IDs.
The claims only explain that the entering of security attributes/parameters authorizes
'216 Patent col. 10 ll. 17-26.
Facebook argues that the quoted language defines security attributes/parameters as consisting only of remote user names, and that the terms "User ID" and "Viewer ID" are merely labels applied to the remote users' names. However, this proposed treatment of "User ID" conflicts with other portions of the specification and must therefore be rejected. The paragraph immediately preceding the quoted language, id. at col. 10 ll. 6-14, references a User Information Table
Viewed in the context of the entire specification, the parenthetical "(User ID
With respect to the parenthetical "(Viewer ID
I also find that a "security attribute" or "security parameter" consists of information about two remote users because the specification describes "a permission attribute" as "consisting of the name of the remote user ... and the user to whom permission is given." '216 Patent col. 10 ll. 23-25 (emphasis added).
For these reasons I construe "security parameters" and "security attributes" as "information consisting of both (1) the name or User ID of the page-creating remote user, and (2) the name or Viewer ID of the user to whom permission is given, where the User ID and Viewer ID are a unique user identification name or `handle.'"
Claim 32 recites "a system for providing a personal page comprising: ... (f) means for storing the security parameters in one or more databases." The parties agree that the claimed function of element 32(f) is "storing the security parameters in one or more databases," but disagree as to its structure.
In identifying the structure, Facebook relies on the specification's description of the Security Attribute Table, which states that "a permission attribute ... may then be stored in a database
TPI objects to Facebook's reference to "CGI." According to TPI, CGI (which stands for the "Common Gateway Interface") is an "interface standard used to provide programming which can interface with Web pages," and "a tool that enables the claimed steps" which is not a part of the algorithm. TPI describes the structure as:
The parties dispute the reference to a CGI processor and/or program in several of the claim constructions, and so I discuss the issue here as it relates to all claims terms.
As a preliminary matter, the parties refer to both "CGI Programs" and a "CGI Processor." The specification is internally inconsistent with respect to the use of these two terms. In particular, Figure 2 indicates that item
TPI argues that the CGI program is not a part of the algorithm and should be excluded from the structure, relying on Harris Corp. v. Ericsson Inc., 417 F.3d 1241 (Fed.Cir.2005), to support the proposition that something that enables the performance of an algorithm is not part of the structure. Although Harris provides that "[a] computer-implemented means-plus-function term is limited to the corresponding structure disclosed ... and the corresponding structure is the algorithm," id. at 1253, this statement must be considered in context. The Federal Circuit was not speaking to the hardware associated with performing the structure in Harris; it was responding to an argument that the structure is limited to the ion made this explicit by identifying the "structure for the" claimed means as "a microprocessor programmed to carry out a two-step algorithm...." Id. at 1254.
Here, we are not dealing with hardware, but rather a type of program for passing information between the remote user and the Web server, and so TPI's argument is even more strained. TPI points out that Facebook may be including CGI in its proposed claim term because it utilizes an alternate standard. TPI's argument that the CGI program provides the same structure as other interfaces is appropriately reserved for questions of infringement. At that stage, a plaintiff must show, as proof of infringement of a means-plus-function claim, "that the accused device performs the recited function through structure that is the same as or equivalent to the corresponding structure set forth in the specification." Baran, 616 F.3d at 1316-1317. It may be the case that a CGI program is equivalent to other types of programs, but that question is not before me as part of, nor necessary to, the claim construction.
Because the CGI program is specifically called out in the specification, I find no basis for de-linking it from the algorithm. The structure for the 32(f) claim element, as reflected in the specification at col. 10 ll. 23-27 and the description of the CGI program at col. 6 l. 46-col. 7 l.8, is: "a CGI program that accesses a database on the local computer network for storing permission attributes."
Six means-plus-function claims or claim elements describe means for the page-creating remote user to access profile information of other remote users, for the purpose of selecting which of those remote users will be permitted access to the page-creating remote user's personal page. The claims are:
The parties agree that the function of each claim element is reflected in the language following the term "means for."
Facebook argues that these elements are indefinite because there are no corresponding structures in the specification for performing the recited functions. TPI contends that the elements are definite and proposes the following corresponding structures:
In support of its construction, TPI cites to portions of the specification which describe the general apparatus for providing a personal page to users. See '216 Patent col. 5 ll. 40-42; col. 6 l. 16-col. 7 l. 18; col. 7 l. 31-34. The specification's only mention of searching is a statement that "[t]he [Personal On-Line Network] may provide searching facilities which allow users of the system to search other users' profiles in an attempt to find a match." Id. col. 7, ll. 16-18. This statement, along with the description of the apparatus cited by TPI, does not adequately describe the structure of the claimed function and does not contain the language TPI proposes for the structure.
With respect to these claims and claim elements, "[t]he specification contains no description of the structure or the process," in this case, the algorithm, that the system "uses to perform the ... function." Blackboard, Inc. v. Desire2Learn, Inc., 574 F.3d 1371, 1383 (Fed.Cir.2009) (finding a means-plus-function claim indefinite where the proposed structure "is simply an abstraction that describes the function of controlling access to course materials, which is performed by some undefined component of the system"). As a result, claims and claim elements 10(d), 16(e), 23, 24, 29(d), and 32(d) are indefinite, and therefore invalid. EON Corp. IP Holdings LLC v. AT&T Mobility LLC, 785 F.3d 616, 620-23 (Fed.Cir.2015) (noting that means-plus-function element involving computer-implemented functions can be invalidly indefinite unless the patentee meets its "obligation of disclosing a sufficient algorithm as a responding structure."). See generally, Nautilus, Inc. v. Biosig Instruments, Inc., ___ U.S. ___, 134 S.Ct. 2120, 189 L.Ed.2d 37 (2014); Robert Bosch, LLC, v. Snap-On Inc., 769 F.3d 1094 (Fed.Cir.2014).
Dependent claim elements 31 and 34 describe searching claim elements as follows:
The parties again agree that the function consists of the language following "means" in the two claims, and they make the same (or similar) arguments as those described supra at Section III.D for the selecting means. Facebook argues that the claims are indefinite for failure to describe adequately, and TPI proposes the structure of "at least one Web page programmed to search profile information of other users and to display that profile information found in the search for selection of another remote user." As with the claims rejected in Section III.D. above for indefiniteness, I reject TPI's proposed structure and find that claims 31 and 34 are indefinite because they are not tied to a disclosed algorithm.
Dependent claim 27 claims "[t]he method of claim 1, further comprising providing means for the page-creating remote user to include a voice greeting in the personal page." The parties agree that the function of this means-plus-function claim is described by the language following "means for."
Facebook argues that this term is indefinite because the specification discloses no corresponding algorithm. TPI proposes the following structure:
In support of its proposed structure, TPI cites the specification's statement that "[t]he [Personals On-Line Network] may also provide a method and apparatus for storing voice greetings. Such voice greetings may be made accessible from the personal page of the invention." '216 Patent col. 7 ll. 21-23. TPI also points to Figure 1, which shows a network for receiving and storing personal advertisements and storing responses to advertisements, id. col. 3 ll. 32-34, and the description of Audio Text System ("ATS") machines. ATS machines coupled to the network via communications links record, store, and make accessible "telephone responses to personals." Id. col. 4 ll. 36-45.
Again, the specification does not describe a structure — that is, an algorithm — for including a voice greeting on the personal page in the provisions cited by TPI or elsewhere. This claim element is therefore indefinite and invalid.
Claim element 16(b) recites a "means for providing a page-creating remote user with a plurality of pre-stored page templates for selection for the personal page." The parties agree that the function for this claim element is described by the language following "means for." They also agree that the term "template" means "a World Wide Web style page design which includes graphics and page layout information" and that a "plurality of
Facebook argues that there is no corresponding structure for this function, and that the claim element is therefore indefinite. TPI proposes the following structure:
TPI cites the following passage of the specification to support its proposed structure:
'216 Patent col. 8 ll. 42-46, 55-57.
Unlike the prior three claim elements, I find that this claim element is definite because it is tied to a disclosed algorithm. It is properly construed, in reference to the cited provision of the specification, as follows: "a Web page programmed to present to the remote user with a plurality of page templates, finite in number, for selection by the remote user for the personal page."
Claim limitations 16(a) and 32(a) relate to the storing of profile information. Limitation 16(a) recites "means for storing profile information relating to each remote user," and 32(a) recites "means for storing profile information relating to each remote user, the profile information being accessible to other remote users of the system." The parties agree that the function of these claim elements consist of the language following "means for." The term "profile information," is construed infra at Section III.R as "information regarding the remote user and regarding the type of person that the remote user would like to meet, which may be accessible and/or searchable by other remote users."
Facebook argues that there is no corresponding structure for the functions and the claims are indefinite. TPI's position is that the structure for both claims is "a Web server that executes a program to pass profile information of the remote user to one or more databases that store said information together with the name or user ID of the remote user."
The bulk of the specification provisions cited by TPI in support of its construction describes generally the "apparatus for providing a personal page." Id. at col.6 l.16-col.7 l.8. TPI also cites the following passage:
Id. at col. 7 ll. 11-16, 31-34. TPI argues that "a variety of information relating to users of the system" includes a user's profile information. TPI's logic is that a Personals On-Line Network "may include ... personal information," Id. at col. 7 ll. 13-14, "may be implemented over the Internet using HTML pages and CGI programs," id. at col. 7 ll. 11-12, and may use a User Information Table to store the profile information. The description of a User Information Table goes on to say that "[f]or the purposes of the invention... [it] may include" certain fields, id. at col. 7 ll. 34-50, but none of the fields are explicitly linked to profile information. Even so, I find it clear enough in context that profile information can be included in the User Information Tool or other database structure.
I therefore find that the structure of this claim is definite but reject the proposed construction offered by TPI. In particular, I find that the CGI program performs the function, and I reject TPI's reference to "name" and "user Id" as extraneous. The corresponding structure is "a CGI program which accesses a database on the local computer network for storing profile information."
Two claim limitations recite means-plus-function elements related to the creation of a personal page having personal information:
The parties agree that the functions consist of the language following "means" in the two claim elements. They also agree that the term "personal page" means "a page that includes information entered by a page-creating remote user." Facebook suggests that the function's corresponding structure is "a Web server
Figure 4, which Facebook relies upon in proposing its structure, depicts a flow-chart presented as an "exemplary method for providing a personal page," Id. at col. 8 l. 24. The chart depicts discrete steps for providing a personal page, where each step may be represented as separate Web pages, id. at col. 8 l. 26-28. These steps consist of choosing a template, choosing a background, choosing an image, and entering text. See id. at Figure 4, col. 8 l. 42-co.9 l. 43. Facebook takes the position that the function of creating a personal page also includes the storing of "attributes" corresponding to the selections and entries, which is performed by a CGI processor
TPI asserts that Facebook's structure incorporates
unnecessary limitations into the claim element. In particular, TPI objects to the inclusion of template selection as part of the structure, or in particular as the first step, and argues that the specification merely makes template selection permissive. See id. at col. 8 l. 43 (stating that the remote user "may be presented with" a page for choosing a template). TPI further asserts that the claimed Personal Page is a page "having personal information," and no more.
The specification and claims generally describe a process for creating personal page that includes the selection of a template. See, e.g., id. claim elements 1(b), 10(a), 16(b), and 21(a); col. 2 ll. 40-41; col. 3 ll. 2-4; col. 7 ll. 24-26; col. 7 l. 52-col. 8 l. 2; col. 8 ll. 42-65. Despite these repeated references to template selection, the Summary of the Invention implies it is not necessary, stating that the invention "includes means for displaying at a user site at least one template." Id. at col. 2 ll. 24-25. The Summary goes on to reference an embodiment involving the selection of a template. Id. at col. 2 ll. 40-41.
Although the patent frequently discusses the selection of templates and the preferred embodiment includes the selection of templates, the claims cannot be construed as so limited in light of the Summary of the Invention. See Laryngeal Mask Co. Ltd. v. Ambu A/S, 618 F.3d 1367, 1371-72 (Fed.Cir.2010) (finding that, although the specification was "replete with discussion of a tube joint" and "[t]he preferred embodiment states that the backplate has a tube joint," the term backplate was not limited to include a tube joint because there was no mention of a tube joint in the claim, only one place in the specification indicated the tube joint was part of the backplate, and because the
With respect to the storage of attributes, it is clear from both the claims and the specification that this step is separate from the "creation" of the personal page, which involves the selection of certain features, entering of information, and acceptance of the personal page. See '216 Patent col. 9 ll. 49-56. Prior to this step, the attributes are "stored temporarily," id. at col. 9 l. 47, and "[i]f the remote user chooses to accept the personal page that the remote user has created or edited ... the attributes of that personal page are stored in database
For these reasons, I reject the structure proposed by Facebook. TPI's briefs do not press any portion of the specification in support of its proposed structure. I adopt language which more closely mirrors that which appears in the specification at col. 2 ll. 22-28 and col. 7 ll. 24-29:
Claim elements 10(b) and 16(c) recite means-plus-function limitations related to the contribution of text to the personal page as follows:
The two parties agree that the claimed functions in the two elements consist of the language following "means for."
Facebook identifies the corresponding structure as "a series of Web pages programmed to allow the remote user to enter text, or a single Web page with a series of fields for entering text, depending on the template selected by the page-creating remote user." TPI proposes that the structure is "at least one Web page having at least one field to receive text from the page-creating remote user for display on the personal page."
Both parties rely on the specification's description of the Enter Text page (labeled
Because the claimed element does not address templates, I reject the inclusion of
Claim elements 10(c), 16(d), and dependent claim 33 contain means-plus-function limitations relating to the page-creating remote user's contribution of graphics to the personal page. These limitations are as follows:
Facebook and TPI agree that the claimed functions are reflected in the language following "means for." Facebook proposes the following corresponding structure for all three functions:
TPI proposes a structure consisting of
Facebook relies on the specification's description of the Choose Background and Choose Images pages at col. 8 l. 66-col. 9 l. 30. Unlike TPI, Facebook alleges that the selection of "background graphics" described as part of the "Choose Background" step should be included in the structure for the contribution of graphics. Facebook again advances the argument (described supra at Section III.J with regard to the contribution of texttribution of graphics is dependent on the template chosen, the selection of the template should be incorporated in the structure.
For the reasons discussed above, I again reject Facebook's inclusion of the last sentence of its proposed structure. I also find that the claim elements' reference generally to the contribution of "graphics" encompasses both "background graphics" and "images." See '216 Patent col. 8 l. 66-col. 9 l. 30. I therefore find that the corresponding structure is
Limitation 32(c) recites a "means for storing attributes representing the personal information in the page-creating remote user's personal page in one or more databases." The parties agree that the claim function consists of the language following "means for" but disagree as to the corresponding structure.
Facebook proposes a structure of "a Web server including database
The specification's description of attribute storage, referenced in Facebook's construction, provides that
'216 Patent col. 10 ll. 8-15.
In light of the apparatus described at col. 5 l. 59-col. 7 l. 8, and the description of the storage of attributes at col. 10 ll. 6-14, and the database tables in col. 7, I find that the corresponding structure of this claim element is "a CGI program to store attributes representing the personal information entered and selections made by the remote user for the display of the personal page in a database on the Local Computer Network by inserting rows containing the information into a User Information Table
Claim element 16(g) recites a "means for displaying the personal page only to authorized remote users." The parties agree that the claimed function for this element is the language following "means for" but they disagree as to the corresponding structure.
Facebook argues that the structure is properly construed as "Display 308 and CGI processor
The specification describes the following process, which Facebook cites as part of its proposed structure:
'216 Patent col. 11 ll. 4-21. Facebook's proposed structure includes this algorithm, as well as CGI processor and the viewing user's computer screen, display
The structure of this claim element must include the "only to authorized remote users" limitation, as TPI's construction does, description of how the display of personal pages is limited to authorized users is:
Incorporating this aspect of the claim element, along with the algorithm property identified by Facebook, I find that the structure is properly construed as
The term "prompting" appears in claim elements 1(b), 1(c), and 1(d), while the term "prompt" appears in 21 (a), 21(b), and 22(c). All six claim elements involve "prompting" the remote user to undertake a task, and the full text of the relevant elements of Claim 1 is as follows:
The Claim 21 elements contain almost identical language prefaced by "prompt" instead of "prompting."
Facebook construes this term as "requiring (a remote user) to make a selection, give an answer, or enter information." Facebook argues that "prompting" is a term of art and cites to the MICROSOFT
The uses of "prompt" and "prompting" in the claims and specification do little to illuminate their meaning,
In addition, although "urge" may be a synonym for "prompt" in certain contexts, this is not one of them. Urge connotes a manner of "prompting." This manner is described in WEBSTER'S THIRD NEW INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY 2521 (1986) as "an earnest or pressing manner," and is not implicated by the context of the term in the claims or specification. I construe the term instead in neutral terms as "requesting that (a remote user) provide information."
The term "page" is used in several contexts in the claims, including "page-creating remote user," "personal page," and "page template." TPI construes the term as "Web page," and Facebook argues that there is no need to construe this term. TPI's construction appears to respond to a construction that Facebook previously proposed but has since abandoned. I find no need to construe the term because it is clear from the context of the patent that "page" refers to a "Web page." In addition, replacing "page" with "Web page" would only serve to obscure its meaning. For example, the term "Web page-creating remote user," could be read to refer to a user who creates a generalized Web page, rather than the specific type of page discussed in the '216 Patent.
As noted, the parties agree that a "template" is "a World Wide Web style page design which includes graphics and page layout information." They disagree on the construction of "page template" or "page templates," a term appearing throughout the claims and claim elements. Facebook construes the term as "a template with a number of fields that may include user entries or selections for personalizing the personal page." TPI argues the term requires no construction apart from the individual constructions of the words "page" and "template" and therefore construes the term as "a Web page having a World Wide Web style page design which includes graphics and layout information."
The specification provides that the "template may be designed to include a
I construe this term as "a template with at least one field for the inputting of the remote user's personal information." Facebook's specific reference to the personal page is unnecessary, as the claims themselves make it clear that the page templates are "for the personal page."
Claim elements 1(b), 10(a), 16(b), and 21(a) each recite a term involving the "providing" or "prompting" of the page-creating remote user "with a plurality of page templates." As previously noted, the parties have agreed that a "plurality of page templates" means "two or more page templates."
TPI argues that this term does not need a separate construction from the constituent terms. Facebook argues that TPI narrowed the scope of the claim before the BPAI, which the BPAI subsequently adopted, to require that multiple templates be presented to the user and that mere customization of a personal page does not suffice. Thus, Facebook proposes that the element should be construed as "requiring a page-creating remote user to choose a page template from two or more different page templates, each page template specifying one or more categories of information for placement on the personal page and the location of the categories on the personal page." Facebook proposes that customizing a personal page through a user's entry or selection of information is excluded from the scope because the BPAI suggested that such customization by data entry, rather than by selection of a template from multiple options, would be anticipated by de Hond.
I find that TPI narrowed its claim before the BPAI, and it is bound by that construction. Before the BPAI, TPI argued that de Hond did not anticipate the '216 Patent because in de Hond, "the template of the page doesn't change.... The user isn't selecting different page templates that give different layouts to the information." See Dkt. No. 282 Ex. C at 24-25; see also id. at 26 (arguing that de Hond "doesn't show a plurality of page templates that a user can select between"). The BPAI subsequently adopted this reasoning in its decision. See BPAI Decision at 9 ("W]hile the Examiner finds that de Hond provides for customized pages, which is the purpose of the page templates in the instant invention, we do not find that the same result belies the same method. The cited independent claims recite the use of page templates and any anticipatory reference must teach or make inherent the presentation of multiple page templates to a user.").
Thus, I construe the element as Facebook does, as "requiring a page-creating remote user to choose a page template from two or more different page templates, each page template specifying one or more categories of information for placement on the personal page and the location of the categories on the personal page."
The terms "Profile information," and "profile information ... accessible to
TPI argues that the term "profile information" needs no construction but would construe the two terms together as "information that can be viewed by remote users including remote users who have not been authorized to view the information owner's personal page (if any)." TPI suggests its construction properly distinguishes between profile information and a user's personal page as separately accessible because otherwise, the '216 Patent would not accomplish the system's stated goal of making profile information available while still allowing the user to keep his personal page restricted. For example, TPI notes that claim 10 provides "the page-creating user with a means for accessing profile information of other remote users for selecting other remote users to whom the page-creating remote user may wish to allow access to the personal page." '216 Patent col. 13, ll. 50-54. That claim, TPI contends, makes clear that the profile information and personal page are separately accessible, a distinction that is only properly reflected in its own proposed construction.
Facebook construes "profile information" as "information regarding a remote user and regarding the type of person that the remote user would like to meet," and argues that no separate construction is needed for the longer phrase. TPI argues that Facebook's proposed construction improperly ignores the context of the surrounding phrase.
The specification states that
'216 Patent at col. 7, ll. 13-16. This passage provides a definition and also explains the purpose of "profile information." TPI argues that the phrase "may include" should be read as permissive and should not restrict the definition of "profile information" to the above cited specification language. This argument is flawed because "may" does not address what profile information "may" include but rather what the Personals On-Line Network "may" include.
I construe "profile information" as "information regarding the remote user and regarding the type of person that the remote user would like to meet, for the purpose of making it accessible and/or searchable by other remote users." There is no need to separately construe the term "profile information ... accessible to other remote users," as the term "accessible to other remote users" may be understood from its ordinary meaning in this context.
The term "attributes" appears in claim elements 1(e), 5, 6, 8, 10(e), 13, 15, 16(f), 19, 20, 21(d), 22, 29(c), 32(c). The term "security attributes" is separately construed supra at Section III.A. Facebook argues that the term does not require construction, while TPI would construe the term as "representations of information used to display the personal page."
TPI's construction relies on the Summary of the Invention, which states:
'216 Patent col. 2 ll. 44-53.
The specification goes on to describe the process whereby attributes are generated from the remote user's activity and stored in databases. See id. at col. 8 l. 55-col. 10 l. 46. Because the '216 Patent does not use the term "attribute" in its ordinary sense, it requires construction. As Facebook notes in its briefing, an "attribute" as described in the Patent represents selections made by the user. I construe this term as "representation."
I reject the additional explanation of the term proposed by TPI, because the information it provides is superfluous and repetitive of the information provided by the claim terms themselves, which explain what is represented by the attributes and how they are used. See, e.g., id. Claims 1(e), 15, 20, 21(d), 22, 32(c).
The term "displaying" and/or "display" appears in claims and claim elements 1(h), 8, 10(f), 15, 16(g), 20, 21(g) and 22. All uses of the term relate to the displaying of the personal page. Facebook argues that the term should be construed according to its ordinary meaning as "visually presenting." TPI proposes the construction of "serving a Web page," arguing that, because the '216 Patent is written from the "perspective of one or more Web servers" the term should be construed from that perspective.
The specification describes the "CGI program ... executed on a server ... to display the personal page to the remote user." Id. at col. 11 ll. 7-8. In the final step of that process, "[t]he program then assembles all of the fields corresponding to the personal page and `prints' them in the manner of a World Wide Web page to be viewed by the remote user having permission to view the personal page." Id. at col. 18-21.
TPI's position is taken in reference to Facebook's noninfringement contentions, in which Facebook argues that the "displaying" occurs only on a remote user's computer screen. Facebook's Response to TPI's Claim Construction Brief confirms that it understands the "displaying" to occur on the user's "display."
"Displaying" is an activity undertaken by the claimed system, as described in the specification. As a result, I adopt the specification's language and find that the term is properly construed as "`printing,' in the manner of a World Wide Web page."
The term "accessing (by a remote user)" or "access (by a remote user)" appears in claim elements 10(d) and 15 (e). The similar term "accessible (to a remote user)" appears in the preambles of claims 1, 10, and 16 and claim elements 29(a) and 32(a). Facebook argues that the term needs no construction, and TPI construes the term as "viewing (by the remote user)." TPI argues that the two words "access" and "view" are used interchangeably in the '216 Patent, pointing to a passage that uses both with reference to the personal page. However, the term "accessing" is only used in the claims with respect to profile information, not the personal page ("access" is used in reference to both). It is unclear from the context of the claims that the term "accessing" is in fact interchangeable
The terms "authorization" and/or "authorized" appear in claims and claim elements 1(f), 8, 15, 16(f), 20, 21(e), 22, 23, 29(e), and 32(e). "Authorizing" appears at claim elements 10(e) and 16(f). TPI takes the position that these terms do not need to be construed. Facebook construes "authorization" and "authorized" as "the state in which the system allows a remote user to access the personal page," and "authorizing" as "setting the state in which the system allows a remote user access to the personal page." Facebook advances these constructions in light of TPI's infringement claims. According to Facebook, these allegations necessitate the clarification that the '216 Patent describes authorization granted solely by the page-creating remote user.
Irrespective of the infringement claims and defenses anticipated by the parties, it is not necessary to construe these terms, as they can be understood from their ordinary meanings, which would only be obscured by the construction Facebook proposes.
The term "remote user" is used throughout the claims and specification. Facebook construes this term as "a person who is able to create or view a personal page," while TPI construes it as "a person who is able to use a claimed system or method over a computer network." Facebook's construction is overly limiting. A remote user is described in certain of the claim terms as merely "having profile information." See id. Claims 1, 10, 16. As a result, I adopt TPI's construction and construe "remote user" as "a person who is able to use a claimed system or method over a computer network."
The final disputed claim term, "page-creating remote user," appears throughout the claims and specification. Facebook construes this term as "a remote user who is creating a personal page," while TPI construes it as "a remote user who is creating or has created a personal page by entering information for display on the personal page."
Facebook argues that its construction mirrors the term itself, which uses the present tense of the word "creating." TPI argues that the construction must include "has created" because the claim terms describe the page-creating remote user's inputting or entering of security parameters or attributes, which occurs after the page is created. See id. Claims 1(f), 10(e), 16(f), 21(e), 29(e), and 32(e). The specification refers to the storing of the attributes of the "personal page ... that the remote user has created" and then goes on to describe the granting of permission to other users. Id. at col. 10 ll. 6-21. As a result, a page-creating remote user is not only a user who is creating a personal page, but may also be one that has created a personal page.
TPI includes the phrase "by entering information for display on the personal page" in its construction to respond to an argument advanced by Facebook in its infringement defense. I find that the phrase is unnecessary and extraneous when considered in the context of the claims. As a result, I construe the term as "a remote
For the reasons set out more fully above, I CONSTRUE the terms of the various disputed claims as set forth in this Memorandum and as summarized in Appendix A, attached hereto.
'216 Patent col. 7 ll. 24-30.