Ex Parte 7,577,316 B2 et alDownload PDFPatent Trial and Appeal BoardAug 15, 201695000683 (P.T.A.B. Aug. 15, 2016) Copy Citation UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARKOFFICE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Patent and Trademark Office Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450 www.uspto.gov APPLICATION NO. FILING DATE FIRST NAMED INVENTOR ATTORNEY DOCKET NO. CONFIRMATION NO. 95/000,683 08/17/2012 7,577,316 B2 13557-105153.R2 1052 23363 7590 08/15/2016 Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP PO BOX 29001 Glendale, CA 91209-9001 EXAMINER FOSTER, ROLAND G ART UNIT PAPER NUMBER 3992 MAIL DATE DELIVERY MODE 08/15/2016 PAPER Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding. The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication. PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07) UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE ____________ BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD ____________ GOOGLE INC. Requester, v. Patent of VEDERI, LLC, Patent Owner. ____________ Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 Technology Center 3900 ____________ Before DENISE M. POTHIER, ERIC B. CHEN, and IRVIN E. BRANCH, Administrative Patent Judges. POTHIER, Administrative Patent Judge. DECISION ON APPEAL Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 2 I. STATEMENT OF CASE Google Inc. (Requester) made a third party request for inter partes reexamination of U.S. Patent No. 7,577,316 B2 (“the ’316 patent”) to Enrico Di Bernardo and Luis F. Goncalves, entitled System and Method for Creating, Storing and Utilizing Images of a Geographic Location, issued August 18, 2009, and assigned to Vederi, LLC. Claims 1, 6, 8–10, 13, and 16–24 were the subject of the original reexamination. Claims 36–43 were added. PO App. Br. 3; 3PR App. Br. 1–2.1 Claims 1, 6–10, 16, 17, 26, and 29 have been canceled. Id. The Examiner’s Answer incorporates the RAN by reference (Ans. 1), which rejects claims 13, 18–24, 36, 37, 39–41, and 43 and determines claims 38 and 42 are patentable (RAN 1). Patent Owner appeals the decision in the RAN rejecting claims 13, 18–24, 36, 37, 39–41, and 43 of the ’316 patent. PO App. Br. 3. Requester responded, and Patent Owner rebutted. See generally 3PR Resp. Br. and PO Reb. Br. Requester cross appeals the decision in the RAN determining claim 42 of the ’316 patent is patentable. 3PR App. Br. 2. Patent Owner responded, and Requester rebutted. See generally PO Resp. Br. and 3PR Reb. Br. Claim 38 has been indicated as patentable and is not argued by Requester. 1 Throughout this Opinion, we refer to: (1) the Action Closing Prosecution (“ACP”) mailed September 24, 2013, (2) the Right of Appeal Notice (“RAN”) mailed June 4, 2014, (3) the Patent Owner’s Appeal Brief (“PO App. Br.”) filed September 3, 2014, (4) the Requester’s Respondent Brief (“3PR Resp. Br.”) filed October 2, 2014, (5) the Patent Owner’s Rebuttal Brief (“PO Reb. Br.”) filed May 22, 2015, (6) the Requester’s Appeal Brief (“3PR App. Br.”) filed September 8, 2014, (7) the Patent Owner’s Respondent Brief (“PO Resp. Br.”) filed October 9, 2014, (8) the Requester’s Rebuttal Brief (“3PR Reb. Br.”) filed May 21, 2015, and (9) the Examiner’s Answer (“Ans.”) mailed April 21, 2015. Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 3 RAN 1, 4; see 3PR App. Br. 2. An oral hearing was conducted on April 27, 2016. The transcript of the oral hearing has been made of record. We have been informed that the ’316 patent is the subject of litigation, Vederi, LLC v. Google Inc., Case No. 2:10-CV-07747 (C.D. Cal.) and Vederi, LLC v. Google Inc., Case Nos. 13-1057 and 13-1296.2 PO App. Br. 2; 3PR App. Br. 1, 22, Related Proceedings App’x. Additionally, we have been informed that this appeal is related to: (1) U.S. Patent No. 7,805,025 B2, which is the subject of inter partes reexamination having been assigned Control No. 95/000,681,3 (2) U.S. Patent No. 7,239,760 B2, which is the subject of inter partes reexamination having been assigned Control No. 95/000,682,4 and (3) U.S. Patent No. 7,813,596 B2, which is the subject of inter partes reexamination having been assigned Control No. 2 Cases Nos. 13-1057 and 13-1296 were decided on March 14, 2014 and concerned U.S. Patent Nos. 7,239,760 B2, 7,577,316 B2, 7,805,025 B2, and 7,813,596 B2. Vederi, LLC v. Google Inc., 744 F.3d 1376 (Fed. Cir. 2014), rh’g en banc and cert denied. The Federal Circuit reversed the claim construction of the district court, vacated the judgement, and remanded for further proceedings. See id. at 1385; see also PO App. Br. 2. Notably, the disputed claim language addressed by the Federal Circuit differs from the instant appeal. 3 The Board rendered an opinion in this inter partes reexamination, affirming the Examiner’s decision to reject certain claims. Google Inc. v. Vederi, LLC, Appeal No. 2015-001495, 2015 WL 4038967 at *17 (PTAB June 26, 2015). On request for rehearing from both Google and Vederi, we maintained our position. Google Inc. v. Vederi, LLC, Appeal No. 2015-001495, 2016 WL 807721 (PTAB February 29, 2016) 4 The Board rendered an opinion in this inter partes reexamination, reversing the Examiner’s decision to confirm certain claims and entering new grounds of rejection. See Google Inc. v. Vederi, LLC, Appeal No. 2015-004309, 2016 WL 3958474 at *9–10 (PTAB June 26, 2015). Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 4 95/000,684.5 PO App. Br. 2; 3PR App. Br. 1. Requester further indicates (1) the ’316 patent is a continuation of U.S. Patent Nos. 7,239,760 B2 and (2) each of U.S. Patent Nos. 7,805,025 B2 and 7,813,596 B2 is a continuation of the ’316 patent. PO App. Br. 2; 3PR Resp. Br. 1. We have jurisdiction under 35 U.S.C. §§ 134(b) and 315. We affirm in part the Examiner’s decision to reject or not to reject claims 13, 18–24, and 36–43. Canceled claim 1 and dependent claim 13 are reproduced below with emphasis added: 1. [Canceled] In a system including an image source and a user terminal having a screen and an input device, a method for enabling visual navigation of a geographic area from the user terminal, the method comprising: receiving a first user input specifying a first location in the geographic area; retrieving from the image source a first image associated with the first location, the image source providing a plurality of images depicting views of objects in the geographic area, the views being substantially elevations of the objects in the geographic area, wherein the images are associated with image frames acquired by an image recording device moving along a trajectory; displaying an icon associated with an object in the geographic area; receiving a user selection of the icon; and identifying a second location based on the user selection. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first image is a composite image created by processing pixel data of a plurality of the image frames. The ’316 patent 15:41–57, 16:37–39; PO App. Br. 46, Claims App’x. 5 This reexamination is currently on appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and has been assigned Appeal No. 2016-002008. Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 5 A. Prior Art Relied Upon Either the Examiner or Requester relies on the following as evidence of unpatentability: Lachinski6 US 5,633,946 May 27, 1997 Murphy US 6,282,362 B1 Aug. 28, 2001 Michael J. Shiffer, Augmenting Geographic Information with Collaborative Multimedia Technologies, 11 Proc. Auto Carto 367-376 (1993) (“Shiffer.”) Frank Yee, GPS & Video Data Collection In Los Angeles County: A Status Report, Position Location And Navigation Symposium, IEEE Position Location and Navigation Symp. 388–393 (1994) (“Yee”). J. Dykes, An Approach To Virtual Environments For Visualization Using Linked Geo-referenced Panoramic Imagery, Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 24 Computers, Env’t and Urb. Systems 127-152 (2000) (“Dykes”). Kheir Al-Kodmany, Using Web-Based Technologies and Geographic Information Systems in Community Planning, 7 J. Urb. Tech. 1–31 (Apr. 2000) (“Al- Kodmany.”) Nada Bates-Brkljac & John Counsell, Issues in Participative Use of an Historic City Millennial Web Site, IEEE Proc. Int’l Conf. Info. Visualization 119–125 (July 2000) (“Bates.”) 6 Requester indicates that Lachinski was cited in its Comments to rebut Patent Owner’s response and to explain how Yee’s four-view images are created. 3PR Resp. Br. 21–22; May 22, 2013 Third Party Requester Comments 27–28. Although not relying on Lachinski in the rejection, the Examiner discusses Lachinski, indicating the reference was properly cited under 37 C.F.R. §1.948(a)(2). See RAN 20. Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 6 B. Adopted Rejections The Examiner maintains the following proposed rejection, for which Patent Owner appeals: Reference(s) Basis Claims RAN Dykes § 102(a) 13 6–8 Al-Kodmany § 102(a) 13 8–10 Bates § 102(a) 13 10–12 Yee and Dykes § 103(a) 13, 18–24, 36, 37, 39–41, 43 12–15 Murphy and Yee § 103(a) 13, 187–24 16–17 Shiffer and Yee § 103(a) 13, 18–24 18–19 PO App. Br. 5. II. ISSUES ON APPEAL We review the appealed rejections for error based upon the issues identified by Owner, and in light of the arguments and evidence produced thereon. Cf. Ex parte Frye, 94 USPQ2d 1072, 1075 (BPAI 2010) (precedential) (citing In re Oetiker, 977 F.2d 1443, 1445 (Fed. Cir. 1992)). “Any arguments or authorities not included in the brief permitted under this section or [37 C.F.R.] §§ 41.68 and 41.71 will be 7 Both the Examiner and Patent Owner include claims 16 and 17 in this rejection as well as the § 103 rejection based on Shiffer and Yee. PO App. Br. 5; RAN 16, 18. Because claims 16 and 17 have been canceled (PO App. Br. 3), we presume these inclusions are typographical errors and render such errors harmless. Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 7 refused consideration by the Board, unless good cause is shown.” 37 C.F.R. § 41.67(c)(1)(vii). Based on the disputed errors presented by Patent Owner and Requester, the main issues on appeal are: (1) Did the Examiner err in rejecting claims 13, 18, 19, 23, 24, 36, 39–41, and 43 by finding Yee and Dykes teach “a composite image created by processing pixel data of a plurality of the image frames,” giving this phrase its broadest reasonable interpretation in light of the disclosure; (2) Did the Examiner err in rejecting claims 20–24 by finding Yee and Dykes teach or suggest and “the first location specified by the first user input is an arbitrary address entered via the first user input, the entered arbitrary address specifying information selected from a group consisting of street name, city, state, and zip code”? (3) Did the Examiner err in not adopting the proposed rejection of claim 42 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) based on Yee and Dykes? III. ANALYSIS A. Claim Construction During examination of a patent application, a claim is given its broadest reasonable construction “in light of the specification as it would be interpreted by one of ordinary skill in the art.” In re Am. Acad. of Sci. Tech Ctr., 367 F.3d 1359, 1364 (Fed. Cir. 2004) (internal citations and quotations omitted). There is a presumption that a claim term generally carries its ordinary and customary meaning. See In re Translogic Tech., Inc., 504 F.3d 1249, 1257 (Fed. Cir. 2007). A patentee may rebut this presumption, however, by acting as his own Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 8 lexicographer, providing a definition of the term in the specification with “reasonable clarity, deliberateness, and precision.” In re Paulsen, 30 F.3d 1475, 1480 (Fed. Cir. 1994). In the absence of such a definition, limitations are not to be read from the specification into the claims. In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 1184 (Fed. Cir. 1993). Patent Owner and Requester discuss the limitations of claims 13 and 20 in their respective appeal briefs. We note that independent claim 1 has been canceled. RAN 1. However, the claims on appeal depend directly or indirectly from claim 1. Thus, each appealed claims have the recitations in claim 1. 1. “a composite image created by processing pixel data of a plurality of the image frames” of claim 13 Claim 13 depends from claim 1 and recites “a composite image created by processing pixel data of a plurality of the image frames.” PO App. Br. 46, Claims App’x. Claims 18, 23, and 36 indirectly depend claim 1 and recite similar limitations to claim 13. Id. at 47, 49, Claims App’x; see also PO App. Br. 17. We select claim 13 as representative. See 37 C.F.R. § 41.67(c)(1)(vii). Patent Owner disputes the claim construction of the particular phrase, “composite image,” by the Examiner. PO App. Br. 17–21; PO Reb. 7–10. Patent Owner argues that The composite image depicts a single new view of the objects in the geographical area. The single new view is different from any of the views depicted in any one of the image frames from which the composite image is created, e.g., it can be a wider view. Moreover the new view is from a single location as if the viewer [was] at that location. PO App. Br. 17; see also PO App. Br. 19 and PO Reb. Br. 7–8. To support this position, Patent Owner cites to Figure 2 of the ’316 patent and composite Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 9 image 40. PO App. Br. 17–18. Patent Owner further contends that “[n]othing in the ’316 patent suggests that two or more separate and independent images depicting separate and distinct views of different objects is a ‘composite image’ as used in the ’316 patent simply because they are displayed simultaneously on a screen.” Id. at 21. The Examiner, on the other hand, finds the phrase, “composite image,” includes combining four images into a single image. See RAN 29–30 (incorporating the Requester’s November 25, 2013 Comments on pages 17 through 19). In the incorporated comments, Requester states that (1) Yee’s four-view images are composite images under the broadest reasonable interpretation standard, (2) Yee does not use “composites” to refer to “side-by-side views,” “4- view,” or “curbside views,” and (3) the recited “composite image” does not require a single, new view. See 3PR November 25, 2013 Comments 17–19 (citing Yee 389); 3PR Resp. Br. 8–9. Upon review, we agree with the Examiner and Requester. When considering the disclosure, the ’316 patent discusses creating “composite images” by synthesizing images, image data, or image frames. The ’316 patent, Abstract, 2:20–22, 33–35, 3:46–49, 5:45–47. This disclosure also states image data from each selected image frame is extracted and combined to form the composite image. Id. at 5:66–6:1. None of these discussions state that the composite image is a “new view” or that the view is “different from any of the views depicted in any one of the image frames” as Patent Owner contends. PO App. Br. 17; see also PO App. Br. 19 and 3PR November 25, 2013 Comments 19. Patent Owner further points to other discussions in the ’316 patent, contending these portions provide context for the term “composite image” as Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 10 something different from those described in the Background of the Invention section. PO Reb. Br. 7–8 (quoting the ’316 patent 1:48–52, 56–58, 2:35–38). Yet, claim 13 does not reflect the noted differences (e.g., a single image or an image having a wider field of view than any acquired image). Additionally, the portion cited by the Patent Owner to support an understanding that the recited “composite image” has a wider field of view is described as a preference. The ’316 patent 2:35–38 (stating “[p]referably, the composite image . . .”) (emphasis added). Also, most of the discussion in the ’316 patent does not address how the images are synthesized or combined to form the composite image. See the ’316 patent 2:20–22, 33–35, 3:46–49, 5:45–47. Other portions of the ’316 patent state preferences that the composite image provides a panoramic view or a field of view that is wider than that of a single image acquired by an image recording device, or details how image data extracted from each image frame creates a composite image on a column-by-column basis. Id. at Abstract, 2:35–38, 5:47–51, 6:1–5; Fig. 2. We stress, however, that the ’316 patent describes these characteristics and how to combine the information as preferences of a composite image. See id. Patent Owner even further discusses Provisional Application No. 60/238,490 (“the ’490 provisional application”) to which the ’316 patent claims priority. PO App. Br. 19. According to Patent Owner, there is a discussion in the ’490 provisional application of a composite image that provides a 360º view. PO App. Br. 19 (citing U.S. Provisional App. No. 60/238,490, p. 8). Yet, the ’316 patent does not define a “composite image” to have these characteristics. Moreover, claim 13 has no language that the “composite image” is an image that provides 360 degrees of view. Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 11 Accordingly, we determine the disclosure of the ’316 patent does not define the phrase “composite image” with the reasonable precision necessary to require this phrase to mean a single, new, single, different, or 360º view. The plain and ordinary meaning of “composite” includes “something that is made up of different parts.”8 A single image consisting of data from four reduced image frames is something made from different parts (e.g., a composite). Also, an ordinary meaning of (1) “synthesize” 9 includes “to make (something) by combining different things” or “to combine (things) in order to make something new,” and (2) “combine,”10 includes “to unite into a single number or expression.” In other words, given its broadest, reasonable construction consistent with the disclosure, the phrase “composite image” includes an image created by combining different image data or by uniting image data. Accordingly, we agree that Patent Owner’s position imports limitations from disclosed embodiments of the ’316 patent improperly into the recited phrase, “composite image.” Patent Owner does not dispute the remainder of claim 13’s language of “each composite image is created by processing pixel data of a plurality of the 8 Definition of “composite” (noun). Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, 11th ed., available at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/composite (last visited July 1, 2016). 9 Definition of “synthesize.” Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, 11th ed., available at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synthesize (last visited July 1, 2016). 10 Definition of “combine” (def. 1c). Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, 11th ed., available at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combine (last visited July 1, 2016). Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 12 image frames.” To be sure, Patent Owner discusses an image having “pixel values that are computed from pixel values of each of the image frames from which the composite image is created.” PO App. Br. 18. But, Figure 2 and its description in the ’316 patent are described as an illustration of a composite image (the ’316 patent 5:52) and a preference— not a requirement —to extract column image data from each image frame. The ’316 patent 5:52–54, 6:1–5. Patent Owner further refers to the district court proceeding, Vederi, LLC v. Google Inc., Case No. 2:10-CV-07747 (C.D. Cal.). PO App. Br. 17 n.1. In that proceeding, Patent Owner and Requester agreed that a “a composite image created by processing pixel data of a plurality of the image frames” means “an image formed by combining two or more image frames at the pixel level.” Although noted, we are not obligated to follow the same claim construction as the district court. See In re Trans Texas Hold’gs Corp., 498 F.3d 1290, 1298 (Fed. Cir. 2007) (citation omitted) (noting the PTO was not a party to the district court litigation and that “[c]laims are given ‘their broadest reasonable interpretation, consistent with the specification, in reexamination proceedings.’”). The ’316 patent describes how image data is extracted from each frame and the composite image is created on a column-by-column basis on a pixel level. The ’316 patent 6:1–15. Yet, this passage discusses a preferred technique of how image data is combined. See id. Granted, the claims require “processing pixel data of a plurality of image frames.” But this recitation does not recite how the pixel data of the images frames are processed, such that the image frames must be combined at the pixel level or that pixel values of the composite image are computed from pixel values of two or more image frames. We see no specific limitation that “processing” involves generating pixel values for the composite Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 13 image, such that pixel data of the composite image must be computed from two or more image frames. See PO App. Br. 18. Applying the ordinary meaning of “processing,” claim 13 requires no more than taking in and using the pixel data from two or more image frames to create a composite image. We therefore, construe the limitation of “processing pixel data of a plurality of image frames” requires no more than taking in and using pixel data from two or more image frames to create the composite image, which includes an image created by combining different image data or by uniting image data as previously discussed. 2. “the first location specified by the first user input is an arbitrary address entered via the first user input, the entered arbitrary address specifying information selected from a group consisting of street name, city, state, and zip code” of claim 20 Claim 20 depends from claim 1 and further recites “the first location specified by the first user input is an arbitrary address entered via the first user input, the entered arbitrary address specifying information selected from a group consisting of street name, city, state, and zip code.” PO App. Br. 47, Claims App’x. Patent Owner argues that the recited “arbitrary address” means “‘any potential addresses (assigned and unassigned) in the geographic area, not preselected or constrained by the system.’” PO App. Br. 21. Patent Owner further argues that the ordinary meaning and the ’316 patent’s disclosure support this understanding. PO App. Br. 22–23. The Examiner determines that an “arbitrary address” does not require a database having images of both assigned and unassigned addresses, but “means arbitrary to someone’s perspective and that perspective may broadly and reasonably belong to a user.” RAN 30. Requester further asserts that an “arbitrary Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 14 address” includes “an address selected from a group of addresses.” 3PR Resp. Br. 9 (citing ACP 24). Specifically, Patent Owner also asserts that the district court construed the term “arbitrary to mean “assigned and unassigned addresses” (PO App. Br. 21) and that an ordinary meaning of this term “refers to any member of a set of potential or possible ‘somethings’” (PO App. Br. 22). However, Patent Owner provides no citations to an ordinary meaning for “arbitrary” or a citation to the district court’s understanding, amounting to mere attorney argument that cannot take the place of evidence in the record. See Estee Lauder Inc. v. L'Oreal, S.A., 129 F.3d 588, 595 (Fed. Cir. 1997). As such, this part of the argument is not probative. Moreover, as previously noted, we are not obligated to follow the same claim construction as the district court. See Trans Texas, 498 F.3d at 1298. Patent Owner also cites to various columns for support. PO App. Br. 22–23 (citing the ’316 patent 2:45–49, 6:37–47, 7:15–20, 13:21–14:14). Column 7 of the ’316 patent does not discuss addresses but rather “an arbitrary value” for a time phase. The ’316 patent 7:15–20, cited at PO App. Br. 22. In fact, when discussing entering an address, there is no mention that the address is arbitrary or unassigned by the system as argued. See PO Resp. Br. 6–7. Rather, the ’316 patent discusses entering “an address of the location”— not some random address —and returning a map corresponding to the address. The ’316 patent 11:45–46, 12:20–26, 32–35, 13:23–37, 55–61. Cited portions column 2, lines 45 through 49 also do not describe selecting a potential address without one-to-one correspondence as Patent Owner contends. PO App. Br. 22. Similarly, cited portions column 13, line 21 through column 14, line 14 do not describe a user entering an address “regardless of whether that address actually Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 15 exists.” PO App. Br. 23 (citing the ’316 patent 13:21–14:14). Claim 20 also does not recite showing an image of the location along a street where the address would be located “[i]f the selected address does not correspond to an address assigned to an actual building.” PO App. Br. 22. We thus are not persuaded that the phrase “arbitrary address” in claim 20 must be any potential address which is not constrained by the system, including those that are unassigned, in the geographic area. Furthermore, using an ordinary understanding of “arbitrary”11 and Patent Owner’s analogy of a person picking any number between 1 and 100 is an “arbitrary number” (PO App. Br. 22), an arbitrary address depends on the user’s discretion. See 3PR Reb. Br. 3. As such, the Examiner’s position that the address is arbitrary to someone’s perspective is reasonable. RAN 30. Additionally, the Examiner states an arbitrary address can include “one from a group of tagged images.” See id. Because the ’316 patent’s disclosure does not limit the understanding of “arbitrary” and claim 20 does not further define how the address is “arbitrary,” we agree. Accordingly, we determine “an arbitrary address’ includes an address selected from a group of addresses and can include an assigned address. B. Did the Examiner err in determining that Yee and Dykes teach the composite image as recited in claim 13? 1. Lachinski 11Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, definitions [3a] of “arbitrary,” available at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arbitrary (last visited July 8, 2016) (defining “arbitrary” as “based on or determined by individual preference or convenience rather than by necessity or the intrinsic nature of something.”) Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 16 At the outset we address a procedural issue raised by Patent Owner. Patent Owner argues that the citation to Lachinski by Requester was improper and should be excluded from consideration. PO App. Br. 30–31; PO Reb. Br. 10–11. According to the Examiner, Lachinski was cited by the Requester to explain Yee’s mobile mapping system and various features disclosed. See RAN 20. Requester contends that its reliance on and discussion of Lachinski is proper under 37 C.F.R. § 1.948(a)(2). 3PR Resp. Br. 21–22 (citing May 22, 2013 Comments 27). The propriety of whether a reference was properly submitted under § 1.948 is a petitionable matter. Because this issue is not appealable, the Board will not decide this issue. See MPEP §§ 1002 and 1201, 9th ed. (Oct. and Nov. 2015 respectively); see also In re Hengehold, 440 F.2d 1395, 1403 (CCPA 1971) (stating that there are many kinds of decisions made by examiners, “which have not been and are not now appealable to the board or to this court when they are not directly connected with the merits of issues involving rejections of claims, but traditionally have been settled by petition to the Commissioner.”) 2. “Composite Image” of Claim 13 Claims 13, 18–24, 36, 37, 39–41, and 43 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) based on Yee and Dykes. RAN 12–15. Except for claims 20 and 21, the claims are argued collectively. PO App. Br. 31–37. We select claim 13 as representative of claims 13, 18, and 19. 37 C.F.R. § 41.67(c)(1)(vii). To repeat, claim 13 recites “the first image is a composite image.” In rejecting claim 13, the Examiner relies on Yee and Dykes. RAN 15 (incorporating and adopting Request 98–128 and Claim Chart CC-D). The Request refers to Yee and the teaching of “composites of them.” Request 113 Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 17 (citing Yee 389). Claim Chart CC-D similarly cites Yee to teach the composite image. Request, Ex. CC-D 12. Notably, Patent Owner does not dispute that Yee discloses the “Image Frames Limitation” that recites “wherein the images are associated with image frames acquired by an image recording device moving along a trajectory.” See PO App. Br. 31–34; see also 3PR Resp. Br. 2–7 (referring to the “Image Frames Limitation.”) That is, Yee discloses image frames captured while an image recording device moves along a trajectory. Yee 390 (discussing taking 30 frames per second while moving down the road); see also 3PR Resp. Br. 13 (citing Yee 388–89). However, Patent Owner argues that the Examiner has relied upon Yee to define the term “composites” and change the meaning of the term. PO App. Br. 19–20; PO Reb. Br. 8–9. Specifically, Patent Owner further contends that Yee uses the term “composite” improperly to include side-by-side views and 4-views. PO App. Br. 20 n. 2 (citing a “Geospan Brochure”12), 20–21. Patent Owner asserts that the ’316 patent requires the composite image be a single view and not “two or more separate and independent images depicting separate and distinct views of different objects.” PO App. Br. 21. We find this argument unavailing. As discussed above in the Claim Construction section, we determine the phrase “composite image” includes a single image created by combining different image data or by uniting image data but does not require a single new image with a single new view as urged by Patent Owner. PO App. Br. 17; 3PR Resp. Br. 14. Moreover, as for the remaining phrase that 12 Patent Owner refers to “the Geospan Brochure” as Exhibit C filed January 2, 2013. However, our records indicate Exhibit C was filed January 8, 2013 and is entitled “Drive around town on your PC with GEOVISTA – Visual Geographic Information.” Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 18 “each composite is created by processing pixel data of a plurality of the image frames,” we determine that the recitation does not recite how the pixel data of the images frames are processed, such that the acquired image frames must be combined at the pixel level or that pixel data of the composite image must be computed from two or more image frames. Rather, claim 13 requires only using pixel data from two or more image frames to create the composite image. Based on this understanding, we determine Yee teaches the recited “composite image” recitation. Yee states “[s]ome of the specific data to be collected and made available . . . include: curbside view, front and back; street view, front and back; real estate view left and right; real estate and address zoom, 4-view; and composites of them.” Yee 389 (emphasis added). The Examiner finds that this portion of Yee explicitly discloses a composite image (i.e., “composite of them”) (RAN 29), such as “a composite display of (for example) a curbside view with a front and back view [that] is a new view manipulated at the pixel level and synthesized from multiple images” (RAN 30). Given how the language “composite of them” is separate from the other described views, including the 4- view, we determine the Examiner’s position is reasonable. Moreover, the view in the described “Geospan Brochure” is just one image example of GEOVISTA data, which was acquired by GEOSPAN Corporation discussed in Yee. See, e.g., Yee 392. But, as previously stated, Yee discloses various examples, including a “composites of them” separate from the “4-view.” Yee 389. Yee explicitly discloses “composites” (id.; see RAN 29) and “them” refers back to the other views, including a front and back curbside view, a front and back street view, a left and right real estate view. Thus, Yee teaches creating “composites” of these various views. Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 19 As for the “4-view” example in Yee, Yee does not provide any more details how the view is formed. Yee 389. Even so, Patent Owner presumes the example in the described “Geospan Brochure” is the only “4-view” that Yee envisions and argues this is not “a composite image created by processing pixel data of a plurality of image frames.” PO App. Br. 20–21, 32. Although asserting that Lachinski should not be considered (PO App. Br. 30–31), Patent Owner relies on Lachinski’s example in arguing that Yee’s “4-view” is not a composite image as recited. PO App. Br. 32. We are not persuaded for the above-stated reasons. Moreover, Lachinski is not part of the rejection. Nevertheless, some similarities exist between what is shown in Patent Owner’s example and what Yee and Lachinski disclose. Yee discusses “images can be displaced as rolling video of four views in a frame . . . .” Yee 392. Lachinski further states: The four-view generator 62 has four inputs 82, allowing signals from four of the video cameras 50 to be input simultaneously. The generator 62 reduces the image represented by each signal to one-fourth of its original size and then combines the reduced images to form a single video image by placing each of the reduced images into one of the four corners of an output image. Lachinski, 5:25-31 (emphasis added), cited in 3PR Resp. Br. 13; Lachinski, Fig. 3. This supports that the 4-view discussed in Yee (Yee 389) includes four images, one in each of four corners that is reduced in size. Lachinski, 5:25-31; Fig. 3. Lachinski also states the generator produces “a single video image” that includes four reduced size images. Id. Moreover, Yee teaches that data from the four images, which includes its pixel data, are used to create the reduced-sized images. The “four views in a frame” discussed in Yee (Yee 392) or the “single video image” with four-views, each one-fourth of its original size that form “reduced images,” is further explained Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 20 in Lachinski (Lachinski 5:25–31). This image is a single image that is made up of different parts or image frames (e.g., image data from multiple views) and uses or combines pixel data from each of the different view image frames to create the single image. Yee therefore teaches “a composite image” as broadly as recited. Patent Owner contends the Examiner changes the meaning of composite in determining Yee teaches the recited “composite image.” PO App. Br. 20. We are not persuaded and find no deviation in Yee from the ordinary meaning of the term “composite.” As previously stated, Yee explicitly teaches the collected data includes composites of them, which refers back to the various other described views (e.g., curbside, front and back, street, real estate view left and right, and 4-views). Yee 389. Importantly, identity of terminology is not required, but Yee actually uses the term, “composites.” See In re Bond, 910 F.2d 831 (Fed. Cir. 1990). Additionally and although not required by the claim, the Examiner finds and we agree that Yee provides a “composite” that includes, for example, “a curbside view with a front and back view” as “a new view.” RAN 30. The argument that Yee’s discussion to include composites “teaches away from creating composite images with its process” is unavailing. PO App. Br. 32–33. In particular, as already stated, Yee discloses composites (Yee 389) and the images are acquired as the vehicle moves down the road (Yee 390). Patent Owner contends that the user would “manually review[] the raw image frames and select[] the most appropriate image” which is slow and costly. PO App. Br. 33. However, insufficient support for the assertion that Yee’s review would be performed manually, would be costly, and would require modification has been Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 21 provided in the record. PO App. Br. 32–34.13 In any event, Lachinski, which addresses a GeoSpan system at least similar to Yee, discusses the manual process is not used to generate composites. Lachinski 5:25–40 (discussing using generator 62 to form a single video image), cited in 3PR Resp. Br. 14. We thus, are unpersuaded that Yee teaches away from creating a composite image with its process as argued. Even so, the limitation “each composite is created by processing pixel data of a plurality of the image frames” in claim 13 does not exclude involving inputting some data manually. Moreover, many of the disputed features (e.g., slow, cost, precision, complexity) (PO App. Br. 32–33) are not commensurate in scope with claim 13. Lastly, Patent Owner argues that one skilled in the art would not have combined Dykes with Yee to arrive at the claimed invention. PO App. Br. 32, 34. Patent Owner asserts Dykes concerns 360 degree panoramas and thus does not teach “the desirability of acquiring image frames for creating composite images ‘by an image recording device moving along a trajectory.’” PO App. Br. 32. Patent Owner contends that Dykes does not cure the deficiencies of Yee and “there is no rational reason why a person of skill in the art would have combined Yee and Dykes to arrive at the embodiment of claim[] 13.” PO App. Br. 34. To the contrary, Yee is not deficient as argued by Patent Owner. Even so and although not relied upon in the rejection, Dykes teaches another known technique of creating “composites” by combining images to produce a panorama. 13 Patent Owner footnotes a reference entitled “GEN-2 City Tour BBC & CNBC 1995, January 1, 2004” (PO App. Br. 33 n.2) and states the reference was submitted January 7, 2013. We are not able to locate this reference. At best, we have located a reference entitled, “City Tour – User Guide and Tutorial” submitted January 8, 2013, copyrighted 1996 by GEOSPAN Corporation. Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 22 Dykes 132–34. When substituting one known element for another known in the art (e.g., Yee’s composite for Dykes’ panoramic technique of forming a composite), “the combination must do more than yield a predictable result.” KSR Int’l Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 416 (2007). Also, both the Examiner and Requester have provided reasons with some rational underpinning to combine Dykes with Yee. Exemplary reasons include (1) providing symbols in Yee’s map system to enable a user to navigate locations by visualization, (2) creating an environment in Yee’s system that is easy to set up due to minimal data and metadata used, and (3) providing a degree of future proofing in Yee’s map system. RAN 13–15 (citing Request 98–100 and Dykes 139–40); 3PR Resp. Br. 14–15 (citing Request 98–99, Yee 391–92, and Dykes 139–40). Accordingly, we determine that the Examiner has not erred in rejecting claim 13 and claims 18, and 19 not argued separately. 3. “Arbitrary Address” of Claim 20 Claim 20 depends from claim 1 and is argued separately. PO App. Br. 34–36. Claim 20 recites “wherein the first location specified by the first user input is an arbitrary address entered via the first user input, the entered arbitrary address specifying information selected from a group consisting of street name, city, state, and zip code.” PO App. Br. 47, Claims App’x. Based on the Patent Owner’s argued claim construction, Patent Owner contends that the recited “arbitrary address” is “any one of all the potential addresses (assigned and unassigned) in a geographic area” and that “the image database must have images of both assigned and unassigned addresses.” PO App. Br. 35; PO Resp. Br. 6–7. For this reason, Patent Owner argues Yee fails to disclose the recitation of claim 20. Id. We are not persuaded. Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 23 As explained above, we disagree that the recited “arbitrary address” when considered in light of the disclosure must include unassigned addresses. Patent Owner’s assertions amount to mere attorney argument that cannot take the place of evidence in the record. See Estee Lauder, 129 F.3d at 595. As such, this portion of the argument is not probative. Also, as explained above, when considering the ’316 patent’s disclosure, “an arbitrary address” includes an address selected from a group of addresses and need not include unassigned addresses. See the ’316 patent 11:45–46, 12:20–26, 32–35, 13:21–24. Moreover, and when discussing entering an address, there is no discussion that the address is arbitrary or unassigned. PO Resp. Br. 6–8; 3PR Reb. Br. 2–3. We thus are not persuaded that the phrase “arbitrary address” in claim 20 must be any potential addresses, including those that are unassigned, in the geographic area. Additionally, there is no recitation concerning a database of an arbitrary addresses in claim 20 as argued by Patent Owner. PO App. Br. 35. As such, we determine that Patent Owner’s contentions concerning the Yee system and related documents discussed do not demonstrate that a user of the Yee system is unable to enter an “arbitrary address” as broadly as recited. As for teaching the “arbitrary address” limitation, the Examiner cites to the Request to teach the disputed recitation. RAN 15 (incorporating and adopting Request 98–128); Request 122 (citing Yee 391–92). In particular, Yee discusses a “[s]treet address entry” (Yee 392) and street name recording. See Yee 391–92. Thus, entering a street address, such as in Yee, is “arbitrary” because the address is an address selected by the user from a group of addresses. See Yee 392. Additionally, using an ordinary understanding of “arbitrary” and Patent Owner’s analogy of a person picking any number between 1 and 100 is an “arbitrary Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 24 number” (PO App. Br. 22), Yee’s entered address is an arbitrary address because the entered address depends on the user’s discretion to enter such address. Lastly, Requester points out and we agree that Yee allows the user to select a point of a street segment or a location on a map (e.g., an arbitrary address of a first location specified by the first user input and specifies at least a city or state) and to retrieve information for that location. 3PR Reb. Br. 3 (citing Yee 391–92). We agree. Patent Owner further argues Lachinski and Dykes do not cure the purported deficiency. PO App. Br. 35–36. On the other hand, Requester discusses Lachinski to support its position. 3PR Resp. Br. 15–16; 3PR Reb. Br. 3–4. Dykes was not relied upon to teach the “arbitrary address” feature. Request 122, Ex. CC-D 19–20. Also, Lachinski was not cited in the proposed rejection. Moreover, to the extent that Requester is relying on Lachinski to demonstrate an inherent property of Yee (3PR Resp. Br. 15–16), the Examiner has not relied on these teachings in rejecting claim 20. Also, although there are many similarities between Lachinski and Yee (e.g., describing the vehicle that captures images with multiple camera and GPS data developed by GeoSpan), we also cannot state with certainty that all the details in Lachinski describe the “same” system as Yee, including how the addresses are matched to geography. For the above reasons, we determine that the Examiner has not erred in rejecting claim 20 and dependent claims 36, 37, 39–41, and 43 that are not separately argued. 4. Claims 21–24 Patent Owner further argues claim 21, which depends from claim 20. PO App. Br. 36–37. Claim 21 recites segmenting the trajectory on which the image recording devices move, into a plurality of segments; Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 25 correlating the plurality of segments to a plurality of street segments in a geographic information database; identifying one of the plurality of street segments based on the arbitrary address; retrieving the first image based on the identified one of the plurality of street segments; and outputting the first image onto an image display device. Patent Owner asserts that claim 21 “describes a method whereby the houses and other structures do[ not] need to be individually tagged to an image.” PO App. Br. 37. Yet, claim 21 does not include a limitation that excludes tagging images. To extent that this argument concerns the “arbitrary address” limitation of claim 20, we are not persuaded. As previously discussed, Yee teaches this feature. By reciting “identifying one of the plurality of street segments based on the arbitrary address,” Patent Owner contends that the claim 21’s process associates first and second locations with a street segment and not a specific image. PO App. Br. 37. Patent Owner contends Yee is deficient, and Lachinski does not disclose this step. Id. We disagree and refer to the Examiner’s explanation. RAN 15 (incorporating and adopting the rejection in Request 123–25, which cites Yee 388– 89, 391–92); see also 3PR Resp. Br. 16–18 (discussing a user can point to a road segment (e.g., a location) on a computerized map and display image of the segment, which is discussed at ACP 24–25, which cites Yee 391–92). Lastly, Patent Owner argues that Yee, even when supplemented by Lachinski, does not disclose “the three step retrieval process of claim 21.” PO App. Br. 37. We find this argument unavailing given that claim 21 recites five steps and only one “retrieving” step. That is, we are not clear as to what portion of claim 21 is “the three step retrieval process.” Other than the previously discussed argument concerning the “identifying” step and Lachinski, Patent Owner does not Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 26 articulate clearly any step in claim 21 that the cited art fails to teach. See PO App. Br. 36–37. We additionally refer to the Examiner’s finding concerning claim 21 and the adopted Rejection in the Request. ACP 24–25; Request 123–125 (citing Yee 388–89, 391–92). Accordingly, we determine that the Examiner has not erred in rejecting claim 21 and dependent claims 22–24, which are not separately argued. REQUESTER’S CROSS APPEAL The Examiner did not adopt the following proposed rejection,14 for which Requester appeals: Reference(s) Basis Claims RAN Yee and Dykes § 103(a) 42 RAN 4 3PR App. Br. 2, 4. Claim 42 indirectly depends from claim 20 and further recites “[t]he method of claim 36 wherein the image source comprises images comprising views of substantially all the static objects in the geographic area.” PO App. Br. 50, Claims App’x. Regarding this claim, the Examiner found that this claim is patentable because “[c]laim 42 limits the image source to ‘images comprising view[s] of substantially all the static objects in the geographic area.’” RAN 4. Requester 14 This rejection was proposed by Requester in comments after the ACP on November 25, 2013. 3PR November 25, 2013 Comments 49. Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 27 argues the Examiner erred in concluding this claim is patentable over Yee and Dykes. 3PR App. Br. 4–18. We agree. Patent Owner does not rebut the findings concerning Yee for claim 42 or Requester’s claim construction for claim 42. See generally PO Resp. Br. Specifically, when addressing claim 42, Patent Owner disputes that Dykes—not Yee— fails to teach the “substantially all the static objects in a geographic area.” PO Resp. Br. 11. Patent Owner also repeats arguments concerning claim 13, which has similar limitations to claim 36, and claim 20. PO Resp. Br. 6–8 (discussing the “arbitrary address” limitation), 8–10 (discussing the “composite image” limitation). We are not persuaded for the previous-stated reasons. We additionally refer to the Requester’s mapping of the claim limitations in this regard. 3PR App. Br. 4–13; 3PR Reb. Br. 2–7. Turning to the ’316 patent to construe claim 42’s limitations, the disclosure discusses the static objects at two locations. First, as noted by Requester, the disclosure repeats what is recited or that the image database (e.g., an image source) contains substantially all of the static objects in the geographic area to allow for visually navigation. The ’316 patent 2:45–48, cited in 3PR App. Br. 13 and 3PR Reb. Br. 8. Second, the ’316 patent discusses a database that provides a visual representation of at least the static objects in the entire area without the “substantially all” language. The ’316 patent 10:12–15. Unfortunately, neither portion of the ’316 patent describes what is meant by “substantially all.” Requester does not provide us with evidence of an ordinary understanding of the phrase, “substantially all,” but asserts that it means “a sufficient quantity of images of objects are stored in the image database (or ‘image source’ in claim 42) to allow the user to visually navigate the area” in the context of the claim. 3PR Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 28 App. Br. 13–14 (bolding omitted). Additionally, Requester states that the “substantially all” does not require capturing “every conceivable object in a geographic area.” 3PR Reb. Br. 8. Our understanding is aligned with Requester. An ordinary meaning for “substantial” includes “considerable in quantity: significantly great” and “being largely but not wholly that which is specified.”15 As such, claim 42 requires the image source to have a considerable number of static objects— but not all — in the geographic area to allow a user to visually navigate the area from the user terminal. Yee teaches its database includes data concerning accurate street location and names, selected infrastructure items such as power poles, street lights, traffic signals, guard rails, highway striping, etc[.]; houses; pavement conditions; individual house addresses; and intelligent vehicle highway systems data such as speed limits, speed zones, turn restrictions, oneway street data and street signs can be viewed and further located if desired. Yee 389, quoted in 3PR App. Br. 14 and 3PR Reb. Br. 9. As such, Requester provides adequate evidence that a considerable quantity of static objects are captured in Yee’s system. See id. Additionally, Yee discusses a visual interface system allowing a user to navigate geographic areas. Yee 391–92, cited in 3PR App. Br. 15 and 3PR Reb. Br. 9. Furthermore, the proposed rejection additionally addresses Dykes in this regard. 3PR App. Br. 15–17 (citing Dykes 134, 139–40, Fig. 2); 3PR Reb. Br. 7–9. Requester indicates that Dykes teaches creating panoramas that include rocks or landscape and thus include a considerable number of the static objects. See 15 Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, definitions [3b] and [5] of “substantial,” available at http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/substantially (last visited July 11, 2016) Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 29 Dykes 134, Fig. 2 (reproduced at 3PR App. Br. 16 and 3PR Reb. Br. 8). We agree that this figures illustrates “images comprising views of substantially all the static objects in the geographic area” as recited. Requester also points to Dykes’s teachings of providing a panorama that allows the user to navigate across the virtual space between features further teaches claim 42’s recitations. 3PR App. Br. 15–17 (citing Dykes 139–40). Regarding claim 42, Patent Owner asserts Dykes’ panoramas are taken at various locations but does not disclose the “substantially all the static objects” limitation. PO Resp. Br. 11. Patent Owner argues that Dykes does not demonstrate that substantially all static objects between locations where the panoramas are taken were captured. Id. We disagree. Figure 2 demonstrates that a considerable number of the static objects in the geographic area were captured and thus includes “substantially all static objects in the geographic area” as recited. Dykes, Fig. 2, reproduced in 3PR App. Br. 16. Moreover, as noted above, this argument fails to rebut the findings concerning Yee related to the “substantially all static objects” limitation. Accordingly, the Examiner erred in determining Yee and Dykes do not render claim 42 obvious. REMAINING REJECTIONS The above discussions address all the claims on appeal and are dispositive, rendering it unnecessary to reach the propriety of any remaining contentions. See Beloit Corp. v. Valmet Oy, 742 F.2d 1421, 1423 (Fed. Cir. 1984); see also Vivid Techs., Inc. v. Am. Sci. & Eng’g, Inc., 200 F.3d 795, 803 (Fed. Cir. 1999). Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 30 IV. CONCLUSION The Examiner’s decision to reject claims 13, 18–24, 36, 37, 39–41, and 43 based on Yee and Dykes is affirmed. The Examiner’s decision that claim 38 is patentable is affirmed. We do not sustain the Examiner’s decision determining claim 42 is patentable. We present a new ground of rejection for claim 42. V. TIME PERIOD FOR RESPONSE Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 41.77(a), the above-noted reversal constitutes a new ground of rejection. Section 41.77(b) provides that “[a] new ground of rejection . . . shall not be considered final for judicial review.” That section also provides that Patent Owner, WITHIN ONE MONTH FROM THE DATE OF THE DECISION, must exercise one of the following two options with respect to the new grounds of rejection to avoid termination of the appeal proceeding as to the rejected claims: (1) Reopen prosecution. The owner may file a response requesting reopening of prosecution before the examiner. Such a response must be either an amendment of the claims so rejected or new evidence relating to the claims so rejected, or both. (2) Request rehearing. The owner may request that the proceeding be reheard under § 41.79 by the Board upon the same record. The request for rehearing must address any new ground of rejection and state with particularity the points believed to have been misapprehended or overlooked in entering the new ground of rejection and also state all other grounds upon which rehearing is sought. Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 31 In accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 41.79(a)(1), the “[p]arties to the appeal may file a request for rehearing of the decision within one month of the date of: . . . [t]he original decision of the Board under § 41.77(a).” A request for rehearing must be in compliance with 37 C.F.R. § 41.79(b). Comments in opposition to the request and additional requests for rehearing must be in accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 41.79(c)–(d), respectively. Under 37 C.F.R. § 41.79(e), “[t]he times for requesting rehearing under paragraph (a) of this section, for requesting further rehearing under paragraph (c) of this section, and for submitting comments under paragraph (b) of this section may not be extended.” An appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit under 35 U.S.C. §§ 141–144 and 315 and 37 C.F.R. § 1.983 for an inter partes reexamination proceeding “commenced” on or after November 2, 2002 may not be taken “until all parties’ rights to request rehearing have been exhausted, at which time the decision of the Board is final and appealable by any party to the appeal to the Board.” 37 C.F.R. § 41.81; see also MPEP §§ 2682, 2683 (8th ed., Rev. 8, July 2010). No time period for taking any subsequent action in connection with this appeal may be extended under 37 C.F.R. § 1.136(a). Requests for extensions of time in this inter partes reexamination proceeding are governed by 37 C.F.R. § 1.956. See 37 C.F.R. § 41.79. In the event neither party files a request for rehearing within the time provided in 37 C.F.R. § 41.79, and this decision becomes final and appealable under 37 C.F.R. § 41.81, a party seeking judicial review must timely serve notice on the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. See 37 C.F.R. §§ 90.1 and 1.983. Appeal 2016-002084 Reexamination Control 95/000,683 Patent 7,577,316 B2 32 AFFIRMED-IN-PART 37 C.F.R. § 41.77(b) FOR PATENT OWNER: LEWIS ROCA ROTHGERBER CHRISTIE LLP PO Box 29001 Glendale, CA 91209-9001 FOR THIRD-PARTY REQUESTER: STEPTOE & JOHNSON LLP 1330 Connecticut Avenue N.W. Washington, DC 20036 Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation