E-Numerate Solutions, Inc. v. United States

In the United States Court of Federal Claims
No. 19-859
(Filed: 22 March 2023)
***************************************
E-NUMERATE SOLUTIONS, INC., and *
E-NUMERATE SOLUTIONS, LLC, *
*
Plaintiffs, *
* Claim Construction; Markman Hearing;
v. * Plain and Ordinary Meaning; Intrinsic
* Record; Person Having Ordinary Skill in the
THE UNITED STATES, * Art.
*
Defendant. *
*
***************************************
Sean T. O’Kelly, O’Kelly & O’Rourke, LLC, with whom was Gerard M. O’Rourke, both
of Wilmington, DE, for plaintiffs.
Shahar Harel, Trial Attorney, Intellectual Property Section, with whom were Carrie
Rosato, Trial Attorney, Scott Bolden, Of Counsel, Nelson Kuan, Of Counsel, Gary L. Hausken,
Director, Commercial Litigation Branch, and Brian M. Boynton, Principal Deputy Assistant
Attorney General, Civil Division, U.S. Department of Justice, all of Washington, DC, for
defendant.
CLAIM CONSTRUCTION OPINION AND ORDER
HOLTE, Judge.
Plaintiffs e-Numerate Solutions, Inc. and e-Numerate, LLC 1 accuse the government of
patent infringement. The parties filed claim construction briefs seeking to construe the meaning
of various disputed claim terms and resolved construction of three terms amongst themselves.
The government argues fifteen claim terms are indefinite under 35 U.S.C. § 112 or must be
construed under § 112 ¶ 6. While the parties raised numerous terms for construction, the Court’s
procedures for claim construction, modeled after the rules of Judge Alan Albright of the United
States District Court for the Western District of Texas, aided the Court in efficiently handling
this claim construction. 2 The Court first held a Markman hearing to construe the disputed terms
not implicated by the government’s indefiniteness arguments, following agreement by the parties
1
This court’s CM/ECF system, which names plaintiff as “e-Numerate Solutions, LLC,” contradicts the parties’
briefing, which name plaintiff as “e-Numerate, LLC.”
2
See also Haddad v. United States, 164 Fed. Cl. 28 (2023); Giesecke & Devrient GmbH v. United States, 163 Fed.
Cl. 430 (2023); Wanker v. United States, 152 Fed. Cl. 219 (2021); Thales Visionix, Inc. v. United States, 150 Fed.
Cl. 486 (2020); CellCast Techs., LLC v. United States, 150 Fed. Cl. 353 (2020).
at a status conference to split the Markman hearing into two days. 3 This Claim Construction
Opinion and Order construes the parties’ disputed terms not implicating indefiniteness.
I. Background
A. Factual History
Plaintiff e-Numerate Solutions, Inc., the owner and assignee of the eight patents-in-suit
and plaintiff e-Numerate, LLC (collectively, “plaintiffs” or “e-Numerate”), the exclusive
licensee of the seven asserted patents, allege the government infringes the asserted patents.
Second Am. Compl. ¶¶ 3–4, ECF No. 53. The asserted patents generally relate to markup
languages. U.S. Patent No. 7,650,355 (“the ’355 Patent”) describes “provid[ing] macros and a
markup language . . . which allows numerical analysis routines to be written quickly, cheaply,
and in a form that is usable by a broad range of data documents[.]” ’355 Patent at [57]. The
’355 Patent “facilitates the browsing and manipulation of numbers, as opposed to text as in
[Hypertext Markup Language (‘HTML’)], and does so by requiring attributes describing the
meaning of the numbers to be attached to the numbers.” Id. U.S. Patent Nos. 8,185,816 (“the
’816 Patent”), 9,262,383 (“the ’383 Patent”), 9,262,384 (“the ’384 Patent”), 9,268,748 (“the ’748
Patent”), and 10,223,337 (“the ’337 Patent”) all relate to the same provisional applications as the
’355 Patent—“[p]rovisional application No. 60/135,525, filed on May 21, 1999, [and]
provisional application No. 60/183,152, filed on Feb. 17, 2000”—and address similar
technology. Id. at [60]; see ’816 Patent at [60]; ’383 Patent at [60]; ’384 Patent at [60]; ’748
Patent at [60]; ’337 Patent at [60]. U.S. Patent No. 9,600,842 (“the ’842 Patent”) describes
“allow[ing] users to efficiently manipulate, analyze, and transmit eXtensible Business Reporting
Language (‘XBRL’) reports” and “to automatically build financial reports that are acceptable to
governing agencies such as the [Internal Revenue Service].” ’842 Patent at [57].
Plaintiffs contend the government has assumed liability for various companies which
have infringed and continue to infringe the asserted patents through preparing and filing
documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Second Am. Compl.
¶¶ 51–52, 65–66, 82–83, 99–100, 113–114, 138–139, 152–153. Plaintiffs also argue the SEC
directly infringes the ’816 and ’383 Patents through analysis of infringing submissions. Id.¶¶ 73–74, 90–91. Plaintiffs further assert the SEC, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(“FDIC”), the Federal Financial Institutions Examining Council (“FFIEC”), the United States
Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”), the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”), the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”), and the United States Department of Energy
(“DOE”) directly infringe the ’748 and ’842 Patents by validating and processing infringing
filings. Id. ¶¶ 122–125, 132, 134–136.
B. Procedural History
Plaintiffs filed their complaint on 11 June 2019. See Compl., ECF No. 1. On 11 October
3
7 Oct. 2022 Status Conference Tr. (“SC Tr.”) at 101:14–19 (“THE COURT: So the Court hopes to divide the
Markman hearing into two days with . . . the terms in day one, as much as we can get through them, and then in day
two, indefiniteness. Does that make the most sense? [THE GOVERNMENT]: Yes. [PLAINTIFFS]: Yeah.”),
ECF No. 100.
-2-
2019, the government filed a motion to dismiss. See Def.’s Mot. to Dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6),
ECF No. 8. This case was reassigned to the undersigned Judge on 9 December 2019. See Order,
ECF No. 11. The Court denied the government’s motion to dismiss on 7 August 2020. See Op.
& Order, ECF No. 27.
Plaintiffs filed their opening claim construction brief, opening claim construction brief on
indefiniteness, and an appendix on 14 March 2022. See Pls.’ Opening Cl. Constr. Br. (“Pls.’ Cl.
Constr. Br.”), ECF No. 78; Pls.’ Opening Cl. Constr. Br. on Indefiniteness, ECF No. 79; App. in
Supp. of Pls.’ Opening Cl. Constr. Brs. (“App.”), ECF Nos. 80–81. The government filed its
responsive claim construction brief and responsive claim construction brief on indefiniteness on
29 April 2022. See Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br., ECF No. 82; See Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. on
Indefiniteness, ECF No. 83. On 1 June 2022, plaintiffs filed their reply claim construction brief
and reply claim construction brief on indefiniteness. See Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br., ECF No.
88; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. on Indefiniteness, ECF No. 89. The government filed a surreply
claim construction brief and a surreply claim construction brief on indefiniteness on 1 July 2022.
See Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br., ECF No. 90; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. on
Indefiniteness, ECF No. 91. On 15 July 2022, plaintiffs filed a surreply claim construction brief
on indefiniteness. See Pls.’ Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. on Indefiniteness, ECF No. 92. The parties
filed their joint claim construction statement on 18 August 2022. See J. Cl. Constr. Statement,
ECF No. 95.
The Court held a status conference on 7 October 2022 to discuss the parties’ joint claim
construction statement, plaintiffs’ plans to drop U.S. Patent No. 10,423,708 (“the ’708 Patent”)
from this case following reexamination, technology tutorials the parties submitted to the Court
via email, similarities in the specifications of the asserted patents, and logistics for a Markman
hearing. See Order, ECF No. 96; SC Tr. at 6:5–7:5. Following the status conference, the Court
issued an order directing the parties to file: (1) the reexamination certificate for the ’708 Patent;
(2) “[a] stipulation of dismissal with prejudice of Count 8 of the Second Amended Complaint . . .
to remove the ’708 Patent;” and (3) a revised joint claim construction statement. Order at 1, ECF
No. 97. The parties filed their joint stipulation of dismissal and the reexamination certificate on
18 October 2022, see J. Stipulation of Dismissal, ECF No. 101, and their revised joint claim
construction statement on 20 October 2022, see Rev. J. Cl. Constr. Statement Ex. A (“RJCCS”),
ECF No. 103-1. The Court held a Markman hearing on the disputed terms not implicating
indefiniteness on 16 November 2022. See Order, ECF No. 98; 16 Nov. 2022 Markman Hearing
Tr. (“Tr.”), ECF No. 106. Following the hearing, the Court allowed the parties to submit
supplemental briefing clarifying their arguments. See Order, ECF No. 104; Def.’s Suppl. Cl.
Constr. Br., ECF No. 107; Pls.’ Suppl. Cl. Constr. Br., ECF No. 108.
C. The Technology of the ’355 Patent Family
On 18 May 2000, e-Numerate Solutions, Inc. filed U.S. Patent Application No.
09/573,780, later issued on 19 January 2010 as the ’355 Patent. See ’355 Patent at [10],
[21]–[22], [45]. The ’355 Patent, titled “Reusable Micro Markup Language,” id. at [54], relates
to “data processing systems and, more particularly, to a computer markup language for use in a
data browser and manipulator.” Id. col. 1 ll. 24–26. “A markup language is a way of embedding
markup ‘tags,’ special sequences of characters, that describe the structure as well as the behavior
-3-
of a document and instruct a web browser or other program on how to display the document.”
Id. col. 1 ll. 32–36.
Two examples of markup languages are HTML and Extensible Markup Language
(“XML”). See id. col. 1 ll. 32, 61–62. HTML contains “a fixed set of tags with specific
purposes” mixed with the ordinary text in text files, and “XML is a free-form markup language
with unspecified tags, which allows developers to develop their own tags and . . . markup
languages.” Id. col. 1 ll. 39–40, 63–66. The background of the ’355 Patent explains limitations
of HTML and XML. See generally ’355 Patent col. 1 ll. 39–59, col. 2 ll. 1–11. HTML’s fixed
set of tags limits the language to only working with text and images, and HTML only instructs
browsers on reading and displaying a document’s characters—not understanding the data the
browser is displaying. See id. col. 1 ll. 39–44. HTML is incapable of interpreting numbers as
numbers—it only reads them as text—preventing users from being able to search through
numerical data or run it through “an analytical program without human intervention to
copy-and-paste.” Id. col. 1 ll. 44–59. XML falls short in two main areas. First, “XML describes
structure and meaning, but not formatting.” Id. col. 2 ll. 1–2. Second, individualized markup
languages the XML users develop from non-standardized tags are incompatible with each other
because “different users use the tags for different purposes.” Id. col. 2 ll. 7–11.
“Methods and systems in accordance with the [’355 Patent] provide a markup language,
referred to as Reusable Data Markup Language (“RDML”), that permits the browsing and
manipulation of numbers[,] and [these methods and systems] provide a related data viewer that
acts as a combination Web browser and spreadsheet/analytic application that may automatically
read numbers from multiple online sources and manipulate them without human intervention” to
provide a “chart view” display. Id. col. 3 ll. 51–58; see also ’355 Patent col. 3 ll. 58–61, col. 4 ll.
26–28. RDML is capable of making tags reflecting numerical values and their
characteristics—such as unit and magnitude—and understanding these numerical characteristics
rather than just reading text. See id. col. 3 ll. 65–67, col. 4 ll. 4–10.
D. The Technology of the ’816, ’383, ’384, ’748, and ’337 Patents
The ’355 Patent’s technology is representative of the technology claimed in the ’816,
’383, ’384, ’748, and ’337 Patents because they all relate to the ’525 and ’152 applications filed
on 21 May 1999 and 17 February 2000, respectively. See ’355 Patent at [60]; ’816 Patent at
[60]; ’383 Patent at [60]; ’384 Patent at [60]; ’748 Patent at [60]; ’337 Patent at [60]; cf. SC Tr.
at 53:12–17 (“[PLAINTIFFS]: [The ’525 and ’152 applications] were the provisionals that
underlie [the ’780] application, which issues as the ’355 [Patent].”). The ’355 Patent was
published first. Compare ’355 Patent at [45], with ’816 Patent at [45], ’383 Patent at [45], ’384
Patent at [45], ’748 Patent at [45], and ’337 Patent at [45]. Plaintiffs state “the ’355 covers the
’816, the ’383, the ’384, the ’748, and the ’337,” and the ’842 is separate from the others as it
contains additional disclosure. SC Tr. at 61:1–5; see also SC Tr. at 56:6–12 (“THE COURT:
. . . [T]he government’s responsive claim construction brief stated that all of the asserted patents
comprise disclosure substantially similar to the ’355 patent, but then goes on to say . . . the
’842 . . . patent[] comprise[s] additional disclosure. Do you agree with that? [PLAINTIFFS]:
Yes, the ’842 patent has additional disclosure than what is in the first series of patents.”).
-4-
E. The Technology of the ’842 Patent
Unlike the ’355 Patent and the related patents, the ’842 Patent is representative of a
separate patent family. See SC Tr. at 61:1–5. On 23 January 2002, plaintiffs filed U.S. Patent
Application No. 10/052,250, later issued on 21 March 2017 as the ’842 Patent. ’842 Patent at
[10], [21]–[22], [45]. The ’842 Patent is titled “RDX Enhancement of System and Method for
Implementing Reusable Data Markup Language (RDL).” Id. at [54]. The ’842 Patent relates to
“data processing systems and, more particularly, to a computer markup language for financial
accounting and a related data browser and manipulator.” Id. col. 1 ll. 39–43. The parties agree
there is a substantive difference between the ’355 and ’842 Patents. SC Tr. at 67:5–11, 67:23–25
(“THE COURT: [T]he ’842 Patent, which has an almost identical spec[ification], has priority of
January 2001. [THE GOVERNMENT]: Right. THE COURT: Does that result in a substantive
difference? [THE GOVERNMENT]: Yes . . . . THE COURT: [Plaintiffs], any
disagreement . . . ? [PLAINTIFFS]: . . . The ’355 patent and specification and the ’842
specification are different.); see also SC Tr. at 67:11–20 (the government’s explanation of the
differences); SC Tr. at 68:5–13 (plaintiffs’ explanation of the differences).
Considering markup languages beyond HTML and XML, the ’842 Patent incorporates
XBRL, “which has an underlying syntax defined in XML.” ’842 Patent col. 2 ll. 16–18; see also
SC Tr. at 67:11–20 (“[THE GOVERNMENT]: [T]he ’842 includes all the ’355, but it includes
significantly more . . . it may also incorporate by reference other references beyond the XML
Bible, certainly references as to the XBRL standard.”). “XBRL is an XML-based language used
for reporting financials such as balance sheets, cash flow reports, and the basic information that
is reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’).” ’842 Patent col. 5 ll. 16–19.
“XBRL includes two major elements: (1) a ‘taxonomy,’ which defines the financial terms which
can be reported and the interrelationships between these terms, and (2) an ‘instance document,’
which includes reported values for the terms of the taxonomy and references to the terms.” Id.col. 2 ll. 24–28. An XBRL “instance document is a report from a financial institution”
describing “quantitative values such as the currency (monetary types), precision (e.g., values
reported + or –10%), and magnitude (e.g., numbers in thousands, millions, etc.)”; the “XBRL
taxonomies form the context” for these reports by defining “the names, data types (e.g., textual,
monetary, numeric), and relationships (account/sub-account)” the reports can reference. Id. col.
2 ll. 34–50. XBRL lacks, however, the tools for users to build XBRL reports, automatically
schedule and transmit reports in XBRL format, automatically link a current accounting system to
an XBRL document, or automatically analyze and manipulate data in an XBRL document. Id.col. 5 ll. 27–36.
“Methods and systems consistent with the [’842 Patent] provide a data processing system
for developing reports,” allowing “users to efficiently build, manipulate, analyze and transmit
XBRL documents and reports” and “open[ing] analysis possibilities that would normally remain
closed to XBRL users.” Id. col. 5 ll. 42–43, col. 7 ll. 4–6, col. 8 ll. 35–36. In relation with the
’355 Patent’s RDML, ’842 Patent systems and methods allow for “transl[ation] of an XBRL
instance document into RDML format for the RDML system to analyze it”; such systems also
allow for manipulation of RDML text documents to create instance documents in alternative,
non-XBRL formats. Id. col. 7 ll. 16–19, col. 8 ll. 12–41.
-5-
F. Overview of Claims
1. ’355 Patent
Plaintiffs assert infringement of 39 claims of the ’355 Patent: 1, 2–15, 21, 25–42, 46, and
52–55. Second Am. Compl. ¶ 51. These claims are directed to methods and systems for
“provid[ing] macros and a markup language . . . which allows numerical analysis routines to be
written quickly, cheaply, and in a form that is usable by a broad range of data documents[.]”
’355 Patent at [57]. Asserted claims 2–4, 6–10, 12–15, 21, 25, and 55 depend on claim 1;
asserted claim 5 depends on claim 4; asserted claim 11 depends on asserted claim 9; asserted
claim 26 depends on asserted claim 25 and ultimately asserted claim 1; asserted claims 29–31,
33–37, 39–42, and 52 depend on asserted claim 28; asserted claim 32 depends on asserted claim
31 and ultimately asserted claim 28; asserted claim 38 depends on asserted claim 36 and
ultimately asserted claim 28; asserted claim 46 depends on claim 45 and ultimately asserted
claim 28; and asserted claim 53 depends on asserted claim 52 and ultimately asserted claim 28.
Id. col. 56 l. 34–col. 60 l. 61.
Based on the Court’s detailed review of the ’355 Patent, the disputed terms not
implicating indefiniteness appear in the asserted claims as follows:
Claim Disputed Term Applicable Claims
Term No. 4
2 “report” Claim 21
7 “macro” Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 25, 26, 27,
28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 52, 53, 54,
55
8 “tags” 5 Claims 1, 13, 14, 15, 27, 28,
40, 41, 42, 54
10J “series of numerical values having tags Claims 1, 27, 28, 54
indicating characteristics of numerical values”
14 “transform the series of numerical values into Claims 1, 27, 28, 54
a new representation of the series of numerical
values”
17 “generating at least one second title Claims 1, 28
corresponding to results of the operation”
Claim 1 of the ’355 Patent, reproduced below, provides a representative example of five
of the disputed claim terms (“macro,” “tags,” “series of numerical values having tags indicating
characteristics of numerical values,” “transform the series of numerical values into a new
representation of the series of numerical values,” and “generating at least one second title
4
The Court significantly altered the order of claim terms from the parties’ RJCCS to group similar terms together
and construe claim terms first which impacted later claim terms. The Court provided its revised numbering of the
claim terms to the parties via email before the Markman hearing and uses the revised numbering throughout this
Claim Construction Opinion and Order.
5
The government notes in its responsive claim construction brief it no longer seeks a construction of the singular
“tag,” so the Court construes only the plural, “tags.” Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 13 n.2.
-6-
corresponding to results of the operation”). Disputed terms are emphasized:
1. A computer-implemented method of processing tagged numerical data, the
method comprising:
receiving a series of numerical values having tags indicating characteristics of the
numerical values;
generating at least one first title corresponding to the series of numerical values;
receiving a macro defined to perform an operation on the series of numerical
values;
performing an operation defined by the macro on the series of numerical values to
transform the series of numerical values into a new representation of the series of
numerical values based on the tags;
generating at least one second title corresponding to results of the operation; and
displaying the results of the operation and the at least one second title, wherein:
the macro makes a copy of the series of numerical values before the operation is
performed,
the macro comprises at least one arithmetic statement, the at least one arithmetic
statement comprises a variable, the variable is referenced in a local or remote
document other than a document that contains the macro, and the step of receiving
the macro comprises receiving the macro including interpreted code, meta-data,
and error handling instructions.
Claim 21 of the ’355 Patent, reproduced below, provides a representative example of one
disputed claim term (“report”). The disputed term is emphasized:
21. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing
comprises the step of adding, to at least one of a chart, a report and a graph, at least
one of: overlays, datapoint notes, and footnotes.
2. ’816 Patent
Plaintiffs assert infringement of 23 claims of the ’816 Patent: 1, 3–10, 12–14, and 17–27.
Second Am. Compl. ¶¶ 65, 74. These claims are directed to methods and systems for
“provid[ing] a computer markup language . . . and a data viewer for retrieving, manipulating and
viewing documents and files in the RDML format that may be stored locally or over a network
(e.g., the Internet).” ’816 Patent at [57]. Asserted claims 3–9 depend on asserted claim 1;
asserted claims 12–14 depend on asserted claim 10; and asserted claims 18–25 depend on
asserted claim 17. Id. col. 55 l. 6–col. 58 l. 41.
Based on the Court’s detailed review of the ’816 Patent, the disputed terms not
implicating indefiniteness appear in the asserted claims as follows:
Claim Disputed Term Applicable Claims
Term No.
8 “tags” Claims 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25,
-7-
26, 27
9 “characteristic of the numerical value” Claim 27
10G “tags reflecting characteristics of the numerical Claims 1, 10, 17, 26, 27
values”
12 “wherein the characteristics indicate that the Claims 1, 10, 17, 26, 27
numerical values of the first markup document
differ in format from the numerical values of
the second markup document”
13A “automatically transforming/transforms the Claims 1, 10, 17, 26, 27
numerical values of at least one of the first
markup document and the second markup
document, so that the numerical values of the
first markup document and the second markup
document have a common format”
Claim 27 of the ’816 Patent, reproduced below, provides a representative example of five
disputed claim terms (“tags,” “characteristic of the numerical value,” “tags reflecting
characteristics of the numerical values,” “wherein the characteristics indicate that the numerical
values of the first markup document differ in format from the numerical values of the second
markup document,” and “automatically transforming/transforms the numerical values of at least
one of the first markup document and the second markup document, so that the numerical values
of the first markup document and the second markup document have a common format”).
Disputed terms are emphasized:
27. A method in a data processing system, comprising the steps of:
receiving a request for a numerical value, the request indicating at least one
characteristic of the numerical value;
receiving a first markup document and a second markup document, both the first
markup document and the second markup document containing numerical values
and tags reflecting characteristics of the numerical values, wherein the
characteristics indicate that the numerical values of the first markup document
differ in format from the numerical values of the second markup document, and
wherein at least one of the tags has the indicated characteristic of the requested
numerical value;
automatically transforming the numerical values of at least one of the first markup
document and the second markup document, so that the numerical values of the
first markup document and the second markup document have a common format;
combining the first markup document and the second markup document into a
single data set;
displaying the single data set; and
manipulating the display of the single data set using the tags reflecting the
characteristics of the numerical values.
3. ’383 Patent
Plaintiffs assert infringement of 14 claims of the ’383 Patent: 1, 3, 4, 6–12, 14, 15, 17
-8-
and 18. Second Am. Compl. ¶¶ 82, 91. These claims are directed to a system, method, and
computer program “for identifying a first markup document including first numerical values and
first tags reflecting first characteristics of the first numerical values associated with a first unit of
measure, and a second markup document including second numerical values and second tags
reflecting second characteristics of the second numerical values associated with a second unit of
measure.” ’383 Patent at [57]. Asserted claims 3, 4, 7, and 8 depend on asserted claim 1;
asserted claim 6 depends on asserted claim 5 and ultimately on asserted claim 1; asserted claims
9–11 depend on asserted claim 8 and ultimately on asserted claim 1; asserted claim 12 depends
on asserted claim 11 and ultimately on asserted claim 1; and asserted claims 14 and 15 depend
on asserted claim 13 and ultimately on asserted claim 1. Id. col. 143 l. 2–col. 146 l. 46.
Based on the Court’s detailed review of the ’383 Patent, the disputed terms not
implicating indefiniteness appear in the asserted claims as follows:
Claim Disputed Term Applicable Claims
Term No.
2 “report” Claim 14
3 “presentation” Claim 14
4A “rule” Claims 9, 10
8 “tags” Claims 1, 4, 17
10A “semantic tags” 6 Claims 1, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15,
17, 18
10H “first tags reflecting characteristics of the first Claims 1, 4, 17, 18
numerical values”
10I “second tags reflecting characteristics of the Claims 1, 4, 17, 18
second numerical values”
11 “wherein the first tags and the second tags each Claims 1, 17, 18
include computer-readable semantic tags that
describe a semantic meaning of a
corresponding one of at least one of the first
numerical values or the second numerical
values”
13B “automatic transformation of at least a portion Claims 1, 17
of the first or second numerical values of at
least one of the first markup document or the
second markup document, so that at least some
of the first numerical values of the first markup
document and at least some of the second
numerical values of the second markup
document have a common unit of measure”
15B “multiple hierarchical relationships between Claims 7, 8, 15
two line items of corresponding numerical
values”
6
Plaintiffs noted during the 7 October Status Conference the parties no longer dispute the singular form of the term,
“semantic tag,” so the Court construes only the plural, “semantic tags.” SC Tr. at 77:21–22.
-9-
16C “capable of including at least one of: multiple Claim 8
hierarchical relationships between two line
items of corresponding numerical values; or
computer-readable semantic tags that each
describe a semantic meaning of one or more of
corresponding numerical values”
16D “capable of including computer-readable Claim 15
semantic tags that each describe a semantic
meaning of one or more of the corresponding
numerical values”
Claim 1 of the ’383 Patent, reproduced below, provides a representative example of six
disputed claim terms (“tags,” “semantic tags,” “first tags reflecting characteristics of the first
numerical values,” “second tags reflecting characteristics of the second numerical values,”
“wherein the first tags and the second tags each include computer-readable semantic tags that
describe a semantic meaning of a corresponding one of at least one of the first numerical values
or the second numerical values,” and “automatic transformation of at least a portion of the first
or second numerical values of at least one of the first markup document or the second markup
document, so that at least some of the first numerical values of the first markup document and at
least some of the second markup document have a common unit of measure”). Disputed terms
are emphasized:
1. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable
medium comprising:
code for identifying a first markup document including first numerical values and
first tags reflecting first characteristics of the first numerical values associated with
a first unit of measure, and a second markup document including second numerical
values and second tags reflecting second characteristics of the second numerical
values associated with a second unit of measure, wherein the first tags and the
second tags each include computer-readable semantic tags that describe a
semantic meaning of a corresponding one of at least one of the first numerical
values or the second numerical values, via a computer-readable tagging association
therebetween, where the first characteristics of the first numerical values associated
with the first unit of measure are different from the second characteristics of the
second numerical values associated with the second unit of measure;
code for causing automatic transformation of at least a portion of the first or second
numerical values of at least one of the first markup document or the second markup
document, so that at least some of the first numerical values of the first markup
document and at least some of the second numerical values of the second markup
document have a common unit of measure;
code for processing at least a part of the first markup document and at least a part
of the second markup document, resulting in a single markup document; and
code for causing a display of at least a portion of the single markup document.
Claim 8 of the ’383 Patent, reproduced below, provides a representative example of three
disputed claim terms (“semantic tags,” “multiple hierarchical relationships between two line
- 10 -
items of corresponding numerical values,” and “capable of including at least one of: multiple
hierarchical relationships between two line items of corresponding numerical values; or
computer-readable semantic tags that each describe a semantic meaning of one or more of
corresponding numerical values”). Disputed terms are emphasized:
8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program
product is operable such that the single markup document includes a
XML-compliant data document that is capable of including at least one of:
multiple hierarchical relationships between two line items of corresponding
numerical values, or computer-readable semantic tags that each describe a
semantic meaning of one or more of corresponding numerical values.
Claim 9 of the ’383 Patent, reproduced below, provides a representative example of one
disputed claim term (“rule”). The disputed term is emphasized:
9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the computer program
product is configured for utilizing a plurality of computer-readable rules for
processing the XML-compliant data document, the computer-readable rules
including:
a computer-readable datatype rule for validation of a value type,
a computer-readable calculation rule for validation of a value calculation, and
a computer-readable unit rule for validation of a value unit.
Claim 14 of the ’383 Patent, reproduced below, provides a representative example of two
disputed claim terms (“report” and “presentation”). Disputed terms are emphasized:
14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer program
product is configured for outputting a presentation or report that is based on at least
a portion of the at least one object, the presentation or report capable of including
at least one of the first numerical values or the second numerical values, including
the original value, such that, based on the at least one reference of the at least one
object, a change to the original value results in a corresponding change in an
instance of the presentation or report.
Claim 15 of the ’383 Patent, reproduced below, provides a representative example of
three disputed claim terms (“semantic tags,” “multiple hierarchical relationships between two
line items of corresponding numerical values,” and “capable of including computer-readable
semantic tags that each describe a semantic meaning of one or more of the corresponding
values”). Disputed terms are emphasized:
15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer program
product is configured such that the single markup document includes a
XML-compliant data document that includes multiple hierarchical relationships
between two line items of corresponding numerical values, and is further capable
of including computer-readable semantic tags that each describe a semantic
meaning of one or more of the corresponding numerical values, wherein the
- 11 -
computer program product is further configured for outputting the XML-compliant
data document based on at least a portion of the at least one object, the
XML-compliant data document capable of including at least a portion of at least
one of the first numerical values or the second numerical values, including the
original value, such that, based on the at least one reference of the at least one
object, a change to the original value results in a corresponding change in an
instance of the XML-compliant data document.
4. ’384 Patent
Plaintiffs assert infringement of one claim of the ’384 Patent: 66. Second Am.
Compl. ¶ 99. This claim is directed to a system, method, and computer program “for use in
connection with at least one computer-readable Extensible Markup Language (XML)-compliant
data document capable of including: a plurality of line items with a plurality of data values, and
a plurality of computer-readable semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning of the data
values.” ’384 Patent at [57].
Based on the Court’s detailed review of the ’384 Patent, the disputed terms not
implicating indefiniteness appear in the asserted claim as follows:
Claim Disputed Term Applicable Claims
Term No.
2 “report” Claim 66
3 “presentation” Claim 66
5 “data values/values” Claim 66
6 “data structure” Claim 66
10A “semantic tags” Claim 66
10C “one or more computer-readable semantic Claim 66
tags”
Claim 66 of the ’384 Patent, reproduced below, provides a representative example of six
disputed claim terms (“report,” “presentation,” “data values/values,” “data structure,” “semantic
tags,” and “one or more computer-readable semantic tags”). Disputed terms are emphasized:
66. A computer program product embodied on at least one non-transitory computer
readable medium and configured to cause at least one hardware processor to
operate, the computer program product comprising:
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to identify at least parts of
a plurality of original documents including a plurality of original values, the
plurality of original documents including a first document including first values and
a second document including second values:
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to process at least a part of
the first document and at least a part of the second document, resulting in at least
one data structure including at least one of the plurality of original values of at least
- 12 -
one of the plurality of original documents:
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to identify one or more
indications for one or more of the original values for tagging, in connection with at
least one computer-readable Extensible Markup Language (XML)-compliant data
document, using a corresponding one or more computer-readable semantic tags;
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to associate the one or more
computer-readable semantic tags with the one or more original values such that the
one or more computer-readable semantic tags are computer-readably associated
with the one or more original values;
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to generate a presentation
utilizing at least a portion of the at least one data structure, the presentation capable
of including at least a portion of the original values including the at least one
original value, where the computer program product is configured such that,
utilizing the at least one data structure, a change to the at least one original value
results in a corresponding change in a subsequently generated presentation;
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to generate a report utilizing
at least a portion of the at least one data structure, the report capable of including
at least a portion of the original values including the at least one original value,
where the computer program product is configured such that, utilizing the at least
one data structure, a change to the at least one original value results in a
corresponding change in a subsequently generated report; and
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to generate the
computer-readable XML-compliant data document utilizing at least a portion of at
least one data structure, the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data
document capable of including a plurality of line items at least one of which
involves at least a portion of the original values including the at least one original
value and at least some of the one or more computer-readable semantic tags, where
the computer program product is configured such that, utilizing the at least one data
structure, a change to the at least one original value results in a corresponding
change in a subsequently generated at least one computer-readable XML-compliant
data document.
5. ’748 Patent
Plaintiffs assert infringement of 14 claims of the ’748 Patent: 1–5, 10–16, 19, and 20.
Second Am. Compl. ¶¶ 113, 122–25. These claims are directed to a system, method, and
computer program “for use in connection with at least one computer-readable Extensible Markup
Language (XML)-compliant data document capable of including: a plurality of line items with a
plurality of data values, and a plurality of computer-readable semantic tags that describe a
semantic meaning of the data values.” ’748 Patent at [57]. Asserted claims 2–5 and 10 depend
on asserted claim 1; and asserted claims 12–16 and 20 depend on asserted claim 11. Id. col. 141
- 13 -
l. 2–col. 147 l. 24.
Based on the Court’s detailed review of the ’748 Patent, the disputed terms not
implicating indefiniteness appear in the asserted claims as follows:
Claim Disputed Term Applicable Claims
Term No.
2 “report” Claims 11, 19, 20
3 “presentation” Claims 11, 19, 20
4A “rule” Claims 1, 12, 13, 14
5 “data values/values” Claims 1, 2, 4, 11, 12, 13, 14,
15, 19
10A “semantic tags” Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 14, 15,
16, 19, 20
10D “computer-readable semantic tags that describe Claim 1
a semantic meaning of the data values”
10E “computer-readable semantic tags that describe Claims 1
a semantic meaning of the data values and are
each computer-readably coupled to at least one
of the data values/the at least portion of the
original values” 7
15A “multiple hierarchical relationships between Claim 1
two line items”
16A “capable of including multiple hierarchical Claim 1
relationships between two line items”
Claim 1 of the ’748 Patent, reproduced below, provides a representative example of
seven disputed claim terms (“rule,” “data values/values,” “semantic tags,” “computer-readable
semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning of the data values,” “computer-readable semantic
tags that describe a semantic meaning of the data values and are each computer-readably coupled
to at least one of the data values/the at least portion of the original values,” “multiple hierarchical
relationships between two line items,” and “capable of including multiple hierarchical
relationships between two line items”). Disputed terms are emphasized:
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a device; and
an application including a network browser on the device for accessing a system
configured for:
identification of at least one computer-readable Extensible Markup Language
(XML)-compliant data document including:
a plurality of line items with a plurality of data values,
7
The Court notes the original language submitted by the parties after the slash did not correspond to a term in the
claims cited. The parties agreed at oral argument the Court corrects the typo by substituting the phrase “the at least
portion of the original values.” Tr. at 150:16–24 (“THE COURT: . . . would you assume the Court is correct in
correcting it so it does not end in ‘computer-readable semantic tags’? [PLAINTIFFS]: Yes. . . . [THE
GOVERNMENT]: Yeah.”).
- 14 -
and
a plurality of computer-readable semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning
of the data values and are each computer-readably coupled to at least one of the
data values, where the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data
document is capable of including multiple hierarchical relationships between two
line items;
parsing of the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data document;
accessing a plurality of computer-readable rules including:
a computer-readable datatype rule for validation of a type of data values,
a computer-readable calculation rule for validation of a calculation involving data
values, and
a computer-readable unit rule for validation of a unit of data values;
validation of the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data document by:
identifying at least a subset of the computer-readable rules including at least one
of:
the computer-readable datatype rule for validation of the type of data values,
the computer-readable calculation rule for validation of the calculation involving
data values, or
the computer-readable unit rule for validation of the unit of data values;
processing at least a portion of the data values of at least a portion of the line items
of the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data document, utilizing the
at least subset of the computer-readable rules and at least a portion of the
computer-readable sematic [sic] tags of the at least one computer-readable
XML-compliant data document;
said apparatus configured for:
accessing at least a portion of the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant
data document utilizing the application including the network browser.
Claim 20 of the ’748 Patent, reproduced below, provides a representative example of
three disputed claim terms (“report,” “presentation,” and “semantic tags”). Disputed terms are
emphasized:
20. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the computer program
product is configured such that at least one of:
said at least portion of the original values of the at least one computer-readable
XML-compliant data document include different instances of the same values as
the corresponding original values of the at least one original document;
said at least portion of the original values of the at least one computer-readable
XML-compliant data document include different instances of the same values as
the corresponding original values of the at least one object;
said at least some of the computer-readable semantic tags are each
computer-readably coupled to the at least one original value of the at least one
object;
said at least some of the computer-readable semantic tags are each
computer-readably coupled to the at least portion of the original values of the
presentation;
- 15 -
said at least some of the computer-readable semantic tags are each
computer-readably coupled to the at least portion of the original values of the
report;
said at least some of the computer-readable semantic tags are each
computer-readably coupled to the at least portion of the original values of the at
least one computer-readable XML-compliant data document;
said at least some of the computer-readable semantic tags are each
computer-readably coupled to the at least portion of the original values, utilizing
computer-readable code elements;
said at least some of the computer-readable semantic tags are each
computer-readably coupled to the at least portion of the original values, utilizing
computer-readable code elements including at least one of a computer-readable
semantic tag equal sign, a computer-readable semantic tag quotation, or
computer-readable semantic tag bracket;
said receipt of the user selection of the one or more of the original values is received
in connection with the at least one original document;
said receipt of the user selection of the one or more of the original values is received
in connection with the at least one object;
said receipt of the user selection of the one or more of the original values is received
in connection with the presentation;
said receipt of the user selection of the one or more of the original values is received
in connection with the report;
said receipt of the user selection of the one or more of the original values is received
in connection with the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data
document;
said mapping includes an association;
said at least some of the computer-readable semantic tags includes all of the one or
more of the computer-readable semantic tags subject to the mapping;
said at least one object includes at least one of metadata, information, a component
of a formatter, a storage object, or a database;
said at least portion of the original values includes only the at least one original
value;
said at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data document includes a
reusable data markup language (RDML) document;
said line items are associated with a record, row, table, or other entity of a relational
database;
said presentation, the report, and the at least one computer-readable
XML-compliant data document include the same at least portion of the original
values;
said presentation, the report, and the at least one computer-readable
XML-compliant data document include the same at least one original value;
said presentation, the report, and the at least one computer-readable
XML-compliant compliant data document are based on the same at least portion of
the at least one object;
said at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data document is based on the
at least portion of the at least one object by including the at least portion of the at
- 16 -
least one object;
said at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data document is based on the
at least portion of the at least one object by being generated utilizing the at least
portion of the at least one object;
said at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data document is based on the
at least portion of the mapping by including the at least some of the
computer-readable semantic tags;
said at least some of the computer-readable semantic tags are included in the line
items;
said change to the at least one original value of the at least one original document
is capable of being made in the at least one original document;
said corresponding change in the instance of the at least one computer-readable
XML-compliant data document includes a change to an instance of the at least one
original value in the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data
document;
said instance of the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data document
is subsequent to the change to the at least one original value of the at least one
original document; or
said computer-readable semantic tags are applied to the line items.
6. ’337 Patent
Plaintiffs assert infringement of one claim of the ’337 Patent: 1. Second Am.
Compl. ¶ 152. This claim is directed to a system, method, and computer program product “for
use in connection with at least one computer-readable Extensible Markup Language
(XML)-compliant data document capable of including: a plurality offline [sic] items with a
plurality of data values, and a plurality of computer-readable semantic tags that describe a
semantic meaning of the data values.” ’337 Patent at [57].
Based on the Court’s detailed review of the ’337 Patent, the disputed terms not
implicating indefiniteness appear in the asserted claim as follows:
Claim Disputed Term Applicable Claims
Term No.
1 “markup language” Claim 1
2 “report” Claim 1
3 “presentation” Claim 1
5 “data values/values” Claim 1
10A “semantic tags” Claim 1
10B “computer-readable semantic tags” Claim 1
Claim 1 of the ’748 Patent, reproduced below, provides a representative example of six
disputed claim terms (“markup language,” “report,” “presentation,” “data values/values,”
“semantic tags,” and “computer-readable semantic tags”). Disputed terms are emphasized:
1. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable
- 17 -
medium and configured to be executed by a system including at least one hardware
processor, the computer program product comprising instructions for:
storing a plurality of original documents including a plurality of original values,
including a first document including first values and a second document including
second values;
processing at least a part of the first document and at least a part of the second
document, resulting in at least one object including at least one reference to at least
one of the plurality of original values of at least one of the plurality of original
documents;
receiving a user selection of one or more computer-readable semantic tags;
receiving a user selection of one or more of the original values;
mapping the one or more of the computer-readable semantic tags to the one or
more of the original values;
outputting a presentation that is based on at least a portion of the at least one object,
the presentation capable of including at least a portion of the original values
including the at least one original value, where the system is configured to execute
the instructions such that, based on the at least one reference of the at least one
object to the at least one original value of the at least one original document, a
change to the at least one original value of the at least one original document results
in a corresponding change in a subsequent instance of the presentation;
outputting a report that is based on at least a portion of the at least one object, the
report capable of including at least a portion of the original values including the at
least one original value, where the system is configured to execute the instructions
such that, based on the at least one reference of the at least one object to the at least
one original value of the at least one original document, a change to the at least one
original value of the at least one original document results in a corresponding
change in a subsequent instance of the report; and
outputting at least one computer-readable Extensible Markup Language
(XML)-compliant data document that is produced using a markup language that
extends XML for reporting and that is not XML, Hypertext Markup Languange
[sic] (HTML), Extensible Style Language (XSL), nor Standard Generalized
Markup Language (SGML) and that is based on at least a portion of the at least one
object and at least a portion of the mapping, the at least one computer-readable
XML-compliant data document capable of including a plurality of line items with
at least a portion of the original values including the at least one original value and
at least some of the computer-readable semantic tags, where the system is
configured to execute the instructions such that, based on the at least one reference
of the at least one object to the at least one original value of the at least one original
document, a change to the at least one original value of the at least one original
document results in a corresponding change in a subsequent instance of the at least
one computer-readable XML-compliant data document.
7. ’842 Patent
Plaintiffs assert infringement of one claim of the ’842 Patent: 29. Second Am. Compl.
¶¶ 132, 134–36, 138. This claim is directed to methods and systems to “allow users to efficiently
- 18 -
manipulate, analyze, and transmit eXtensible Business Reporting Language (‘XBRL’) reports.”
’842 Patent at [57].
Based on the Court’s detailed review of the ’842 Patent, the disputed terms not
implicating indefiniteness appear in the asserted claim as follows:
Claim Disputed Term Applicable Claims
Term No.
2 “report” Claim 29
4B “rule” Claim 29
5 “data values/values” Claim 29
10A “semantic tags” Claim 29
10F “plurality of computer-readable semantic tags Claim 29
that describe a semantic meaning of the data
values”
15C “multiple hierarchical relationships between Claim 29
two of the plurality of line items”
16B “capable of including multiple hierarchical Claim 29
relationships between two of the plurality of
line items”
Claim 29 of the ’842 Patent, reproduced below, provides a representative example of
seven disputed claim terms (“report,” “rule,” “data values/values,” “semantic tags,” “plurality of
computer-readable semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning of the data values,” “multiple
hierarchical relationships between two of the plurality of line items,” and “capable of including
multiple hierarchical relationships between two of the plurality of line items”). Disputed terms
are emphasized:
29. A computer program product embodied on at least one non-transitory computer
readable medium and configured to cause at least one hardware processor to
operate, the computer program product comprising:
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to identify at least one
computer-readable Extensible Markup Language (XML)-compliant data document
that is eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL)-compliant and includes:
a plurality of line items with a plurality of data values, and
a plurality of computer-readable semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning
of the data values, where the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data
document is capable of including multiple hierarchical relationships between two
of the plurality of line items;
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to parse the at least one
computer-readable XML-compliant data document, by:
receiving the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data document,
identifying the multiple hierarchical relationships between the two line items, and
at least one of the computer-readable semantic tags that describes the semantic
- 19 -
meaning of at least one of the data values included in the at least one
computer-readable XML-compliant data document;
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to access a plurality of
computer-readable rules including:
a computer-readable datatype rule for validation of a type of data values,
a computer-readable calculation rule for validation of a calculation involving data
values, and
a computer-readable unit rule for validation of a unit of data values;
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to process the at least one
computer-readable XML-compliant data document, by:
identifying at least a subset of the computer-readable rules including at least one
of:
the computer-readable datatype rule for validation of the type of data values,
the computer-readable calculation rule for validation of the calculation involving
data values, or
the computer-readable unit rule for validation of the unit of data values; and
processing at least a portion of the data values of at least a portion of the plurality
of line items of the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data document,
utilizing the at least subset of the computer-readable rules, and at least a portion of
the computer-readable semantic tags of the at least one computer-readable
XML-compliant data document;
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to display a result of a
validation of the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data document;
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to develop a report, by:
identifying the at least one computer-readable semantic tag that describes the
semantic meaning of the at least one data value included in the at least one
computer-readable XML-compliant data document, and
retrieving data from one or more sources to represent the at least one data value in
the report.
II. Applicable Law for Claim Construction
A. Claim Term Interpretation
“[T]he interpretation and construction of patent claims, which define the scope of the
patentee’s rights under the patent, is a matter of law exclusively for the court.” Markman v.
Westview Instruments, Inc., 52 F.3d 967, 970–71 (Fed. Cir. 1995), aff’d, 517 U.S. 370 (1996).
“[T]he words of a claim ‘are generally given their ordinary and customary meaning’ . . . .
[which] is the meaning that the term would have to a person of ordinary skill in the art in
question at the time of the invention . . . .” Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312–13
(Fed. Cir. 2005) (quoting Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir.
1996)). “There are only two exceptions to this general rule: 1) when a patentee sets out a
- 20 -
definition and acts as his own lexicographer, or 2) when the patentee disavows the full scope of a
claim term either in the specification or during prosecution.” Thorner v. Sony Comput. Ent. Am.
LLC, 669 F.3d 1362, 1365 (Fed. Cir. 2012) (citing Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1580).
The analysis of any disputed claim terms begins with the intrinsic evidence of record, as
“intrinsic evidence is the most significant source of the legally operative meaning of disputed
claim language.” Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1582. Additional claims, whether asserted or not, “can
also be valuable sources of enlightenment as to the meaning of a claim term.” Phillips, 415 F.3d
at 1314. This includes consistent use throughout the patent, differences amongst particular
terms, and various limitations added throughout the dependent claims. Id. at 1314–15. The
claims do not stand on their own; “they are part of ‘a fully integrated written instrument,’
consisting principally of a specification that concludes with the claims.” Id. at 1315 (quoting
Markman, 52 F.3d at 978). The claims are therefore “read in view of the specification[.]”
Markman, 52 F.3d at 979. It is important limitations from preferred embodiments are not read
“into the claims absent a clear indication in the intrinsic record that the patentee intended the
claims to be so limited.” Liebel-Flarsheim Co. v. Medrad, Inc., 358 F.3d 898, 913 (Fed. Cir.
2004).
The Federal Circuit’s caselaw “instructs that different claim terms are presumed to have
different meanings.” MicroStrategy Inc. v. Bus. Objects Ams., 238 F. App’x 605, 609 (Fed. Cir.
2007) (citing CAE Screenplates Inc. v. Heinrich Fiedler GmbH & Co. KG, 224 F.3d 1308, 1317
(Fed. Cir. 2000) (“In the absence of any evidence to the contrary, we must presume that the use
of these different terms in the claims connotes different meanings.”); Applied Med. Res. Corp. v.
U.S. Surgical Corp., 448 F.3d 1324, 1333 n.3 (Fed. Cir. 2006) (“[T]he use of two terms in a
claim requires that they connote different meanings . . . .”)). The Federal Circuit, however,
“ordinarily interpret[s] claims consistently across patents having the same specification[.]” In re
Katz Interactive Call Processing Pat. Litig., 639 F.3d 1303, 1325 (Fed. Cir. 2011); see also
Callicrate v. Wadsworth Mfg., Inc., 427 F.3d 1361, 1369 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (applying construction
of term based on first patent to same term of different patent where the two patents were related
and had identical specifications).
B. Prosecution History Weight and Interpretation
The prosecution history may serve as an additional source of intrinsic evidence.
Markman, 52 F.3d at 979–80. The prosecution history “consists of the complete record of the
proceedings before the [United States Patent and Trademark Office (‘USPTO’)] and includes the
prior art cited during the examination of the patent.” Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1317. The
prosecution history “represents an ongoing negotiation between the [US]PTO and the applicant,
rather than the final product of that negotiation[.]” Id. The prosecution history therefore often
“lacks the clarity of the specification[,]” making it “less useful for claim construction purposes.”
Id. After considering all intrinsic evidence of record, the court has discretion to consider sources
of extrinsic evidence, such as dictionaries, treatises, and expert and inventor testimony, if the
court “deems it helpful in determining ‘the true meaning of language used in the patent claims.’”
Id. at 1317–18 (quoting Markman, 52 F.3d at 980). While sometimes helpful, extrinsic evidence
is “less significant than the intrinsic record in determining ‘the legally operative meaning of
claim language.’” Id. at 1317 (quoting C.R. Bard, Inc. v. U.S. Surgical Corp., 388 F.3d 858, 862
- 21 -
(Fed. Cir. 2004)).
“Prosecution disclaimer ‘preclud[es] patentees from recapturing through claim
interpretation specific meanings disclaimed during prosecution.’” Aylus Networks, Inc. v. Apple
Inc., 856 F.3d 1353, 1359 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (quoting Omega Eng’g, Inc. v. Raytek Corp., 334
F.3d 1314, 1323 (Fed. Cir. 2003)). Federal Circuit caselaw “requires that the alleged disavowing
actions or statements made during prosecution be both clear and unmistakable” to apply the
principles of prosecution disclaimer. Id. (internal quotations omitted) (quoting Omega Eng’g,
334 F.3d at 1325–26). “[W]hen the patentee unequivocally and unambiguously disavows a
certain meaning to obtain a patent, the doctrine of prosecution history disclaimer narrows the
meaning of the claim consistent with the scope of the claim surrendered.” Biogen Idec, Inc. v.
GlaxoSmithKline LLC, 713 F.3d 1090, 1095 (Fed. Cir. 2013). Further, “statements made by a
patent owner during an [inter partes review] proceeding can be considered during claim
construction and relied upon to support a finding of prosecution disclaimer.” Aylus, 856 F.3d at
1361. “Where the alleged disavowal is ambiguous, or even ‘amenable to multiple reasonable
interpretations,’” however, the Federal Circuit has “declined to find prosecution disclaimer.”
Avid Tech., Inc. v. Harmonic, Inc., 812 F.3d 1040, 1045 (Fed. Cir. 2016) (quoting Cordis Corp.
v. Medtronic AVE, Inc., 339 F.3d 1352, 1359 (Fed. Cir. 2003)).
In Iridescent Networks, Inc. v. AT&T Mobility, LLC, the district court construed the term
“high quality of service connection,” partially relying on the patentee’s own statements during
prosecution of the parent application. 933 F.3d 1345, 1349–50 (Fed. Cir. 2019). On appeal,
plaintiff contended “the prosecution history is irrelevant to the claim construction question
because there is no clear and unmistakable disavowal of claim scope.” Id. at 1352. The Federal
Circuit rejected this argument, stating, “[A]ny explanation, elaboration, or qualification
presented by the inventor during patent examination is relevant, for the role of claim construction
is to capture the scope of the actual invention that is disclosed, described, and patented.” Id. at
1352–53 (internal quotations omitted) (quoting Fenner Invs., Ltd. v. Cellco P’ship, 778 F.3d
1320, 1323 (Fed. Cir. 2015)). The Federal Circuit also noted “the disputed term [‘high quality of
service connection’] is a coined term, meaning it has no ordinary and customary meaning[.]” Id.
at 1353. The Federal Circuit held courts “may look to the prosecution history for guidance
without having to first find a clear and unmistakable disavowal” for terms which do not have
ordinary and customary meaning. Id.III. Disputed Claim Term #1: “markup language”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
A markup language is a computer language A markup language is a language that uses
that uses tags to define elements within a tags to define elements within a document.
document. It is human-readable, meaning Examples of markup languages include
markup files contain standard words, rather HTML, XML and XBRL.
than typical programming syntax. Examples
of markup languages include HTML, XML
and XBRL.
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claim 1 of the ’337 Patent.
- 22 -
RJCCS at 74–75.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
outputting at least one computer-readable Extensible Markup Language
(XML)-compliant data document that is produced using a markup language that
extends XML for reporting and that is not XML, Hypertext Markup Languange
[sic] (HTML), Extensible Style Language (XSL), nor Standard Generalized
Markup Language (SGML) . . . .
’337 Patent col. 111 ll. 53–59 (emphasis added).
A. Parties’ Arguments
Plaintiffs base their construction on a definition they put forward as representing the
“well-understood meaning in the art.” Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 42 (citing Per Christensson,
Markup Language, TechTerms.com (June 1, 2011),
https://techterms.com/definition/markup_language (“A markup language is a computer language
that uses tags to define elements within a document. It is human-readable, meaning markup files
contain standard words, rather than typical programming syntax. While several markup
languages exist, the two most popular are HTML and XML.”)). The government objects to
plaintiffs’ insertion of “computer language” because “a ‘computer language’ typically implies a
computer programming language which markup languages are not.” Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br.
at 43. Further, the government argues the second sentence of plaintiffs’ construction “raises
questions as to what ‘standard words’ and ‘typical programming syntax’ constitute.” Id. Rather
than the modern website used by plaintiffs, the government argues, a contemporary dictionary is
appropriate extrinsic evidence. Id. at 44 (citing Markup Language, Microsoft Computer
Dictionary (4th ed. 1999) (“A set of codes in a text file that instruct a computer how to format it
on a printer or video display or how to index and link its contents. Examples of markup
languages are Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Extensible Markup Language (XML),
which are used in Web pages, and Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML), which is
used for typesetting and desktop publishing purposes and in electronic documents. Markup
languages of this sort are designed to enable documents and other files to be
platform-independent and highly portable between applications.”)).
Plaintiffs object to any attempt by the government to use the declaration of Dr. David
Martin in support of its proposed construction. Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 43 (citing Decl. of Dr.
David Martin in Supp. of Def.’s Proposed Prelim. Cl. Constrs. (“Martin Decl.”) ¶¶ 48–49, ECF
No. 69-5). The government, however, does not cite the Martin declaration in its briefing on this
term. See Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 42–43; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 20. The
government further stated at the Markman hearing, “The primary argument is based on the
written record of the patent. [The Martin declaration] is supplemental testimony . . . .” Tr. at
12:5–8.
B. Analysis
- 23 -
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
Reviewing the intrinsic record first, the Court found the government’s construction to be well
supported, with slight modifications. Extrinsic evidence further bolstered the government’s
construction. As such, the Court decided upon the following preliminary construction: “Plain
and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is required: A language that uses tags to define
elements within a document. Examples of markup languages include Hypertext Markup
Language (HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), and Standard Generalized Markup
Language (SGML), and Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) (after 31 July 2000).”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 15:15–24. Both parties agreed with the Court “adding SGML as an example
and limiting XBRL by the date of publication of the first specification.” Tr. at 17:8–13
(plaintiffs), 17–19 (the government). The government suggested the Court clarify HTML, XML,
and SGML predate 21 May 1999, the priority date claimed for all asserted patents except the
’842 Patent, and plaintiffs agreed. 8 Tr. at 17:19–18:22 (the government), 18:24–19:5 (plaintiffs).
The Court accordingly alters the second sentence of its preliminary construction to read:
“Examples of markup languages that existed as of 21 May 1999 include Hypertext Markup
Language (HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), and Standard Generalized Markup
Language (SGML). Extensible Reporting Business Language (XBRL) is an example after 31
July 2000.”
During the Markman hearing, the parties came to agreement on the phrase
“nonprogramming computer language” to resolve their dispute regarding plaintiffs’ argument in
favor of “computer language” in the first sentence of the Court’s preliminary construction. Tr. at
104:10–19. The Court accordingly alters the first sentence of its preliminary construction to
read: “A nonprogramming computer language.”
Plaintiffs maintained markup languages are human-readable (as stated in their proposed
construction), citing the examples in the appendices for support. Tr. at 22:24–23:5. When asked
about attributes such as “li_mag” and “li_mod,” ’355 Patent col. 20 ll. 37–38, 9 however,
plaintiffs admitted they were “abbreviations or shorthand” rather than words from
8
Plaintiffs clarified they do not concede XBRL “was a known market language as of July 31st, 2000”—the
publication date of the first specification. Tr. at 26:18–27:4; Karen Kernan, The Story of Our New Language 17
(2009) (“On July 31, 2000, XBRL International published the XBRL 1.0 specification and a taxonomy (a list of
terms and associated computer code) defining 1,880 concepts for financial reporting of commercial and industrial
companies under U.S. GAAP.”).
9
As agreed by the parties during the 7 October Status Conference, the Court primarily uses the ’355
specification—plus the appendices which were included in the application for the ’355 Patent but not issued with the
patent as part of a printing error—for construction of terms from all asserted patents except the ’842 Patent because
all but the ’842 Patent have highly similar specifications. SC Tr. at 55:4–59:3 (“THE COURT: . . . [D]oes the ’355
Patent with the appendices that were part of the . . . ’780 application cover [the disputed claim terms] then?
[PLAINTIFFS]: It should. . . . [THE GOVERNMENT]: Yeah, that’s our understanding.”).
- 24 -
“conversational English.” Tr. at 23:14–24:16 (“[PLAINTIFFS]: They’re readable by somebody
. . . I hate to say they’re standard words, like conversational English, because they’re not. . . .
[T]hey’re abbreviations or shorthand for different numerical concepts.”). The government
contended whether or not a markup language is human-readable “depends on the specific
implementation”—an attribute could be written as “line item magnitude,” “li_mag,” or “xyz.”
Tr. at 24:18–25. The parties did not agree on whether markup languages are human-readable, so
the Court must determine whether the proposed limitation is supported by the specification. See
Tr. at 26:13–18. As plaintiffs cannot provide any specific support from the specification or
claim language for the “human-readable” limitation, and the examples contain more than only
“standard words,” the Court does not add the “human-readable” limitation to its final
construction. See Tr. at 22:24–24:16 (failing to provide support from the specification).
Implementing modifications based on the specification evidence and agreement between
the parties, the Court alters its preliminary construction and adopts the following final
construction: “Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed: A
nonprogramming computer language using tags to define elements within a document.
Examples of markup languages that existed as of 21 May 1999 include Hypertext Markup
Language (HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), and Standard Generalized Markup
Language (SGML). Extensible Reporting Business Language (XBRL) is an example after 31
July 2000.” See Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312–13 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (quoting
Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996)).
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
A markup language is a computer language A markup language is a language that uses
that uses tags to define elements within a tags to define elements within a document.
document. It is human-readable, meaning Examples of markup languages include
markup files contain standard words, rather HTML, XML and XBRL.
than typical programming syntax. Examples
of markup languages include HTML, XML
and XBRL.
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
A nonprogramming computer language using tags to define elements within a document.
Examples of markup languages that existed as of 21 May 1999 include Hypertext
Markup Language (HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), and Standard
Generalized Markup Language (SGML). Extensible Reporting Business Language
(XBRL) is an example after 31 July 2000.
IV. Disputed Claim Term #2: “report”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Document generated by combining an
XML-compliant document with a template.
The government disputes the construction of this claim term in the following claims:
- 25 -
claim 21 of the ’355 Patent; claim 14 of the ’383 Patent; claim 66 of the ’384 Patent; claims 11,
19, and 20 of the ’748 Patent; and claim 1 of the ’337 Patent. 10 RJCCS at 7.
The following claim limitations highlight selected usage of the term in context:
the step of performing comprises the step of adding, to at least one of a chart, a
report and a graph, at least one of overlays, datapoint notes, and footnotes[,]
’355 Patent col. 57 ll. 58–60 (emphasis added),
the computer program product is configured for outputting a presentation or report
that is based on at least a portion of the at least one object, the presentation or report
capable of including at least one of the first numerical values or the second
numerical values, including the original value, such that, based on the at least one
reference of the at least one object, a change to the original value results in a
corresponding change in an instance of the presentation or report.
’383 Patent col. 144 ll. 53–60 (emphasis added).
A. Parties’ Arguments
Plaintiffs argue “[t]here is no basis in the intrinsic record to depart from th[e] ordinary
meaning” of “report.” Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 17 (citing ’355 Patent col. 2 ll. 35–40). The
government’s construction, according to plaintiffs, “improperly attempts to limit the term
‘report’ to a preferred embodiment in the specification.” Id. Plaintiffs contend the specification
instructs style sheets are optional. Id. at 17–18 (citing ’355 Patent col. 9 ll. 36–52). The
government responds the use of the term in the claims and the specification supports its proposed
construction requiring documents and templates. Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 17. The
government points to several instances where the specification cites style sheets and templates in
reference to reports. Id. (citing ’355 Patent col. 9 ll. 36–52 (“Similarly, Reusable Data Style
Language (‘RDSL’) style sheets 106, another optional input to the data viewer 100, can be
applied to data documents to create specially-formatted output reports. . . . These RDSL
documents 106 are XSL-compliant style sheets which essentially act as report writers for RDML
data documents 102. . . . The RDML data viewer 100 automatically combines data documents
102 and style documents 106 to create reports.”) (emphasis in original), col. 12 ll. 4–7 (“a report
writer template written for one dataset cannot typically be used for another. RDML, however,
provides for reuse of style sheets in the same manner it provides reuse of data and macros”)
(emphasis in original), col. 16 l. 31 (“RDSL style sheets 106 act as templates for output
reports.”), col. 16 ll. 40–46 (“The style sheet editor 222 is basically a report-writer because the
user can graphically compose a report from a sample document, specify the types of RDML data
documents 102 that this report can apply to, automatically create a style sheet 106 when the
result is acceptable, and then use the resulting style sheet to create a report from any qualifying
RDML data document 102.”) (emphasis in original)). According to the government, reports
10
“Due to an oversight Defendant neglected to list ‘report’ from claim 29 in the ‘842 Patent as a term requiring
construction. It seeks the same construction for report in that patent as it does for the ‘355 Patent.” Def.’s Surreply
Cl. Constr. Br. at 10 n.2.
- 26 -
themselves, rather than style sheets as plaintiffs argue, are optional; “when that option is invoked
it always employs style sheets as templates.” Id. at 18 (emphasis omitted); see Def.’s Surreply
Cl. Constr. Br. at 7 (The specification “does not state that reports may be generated without style
sheets—the reports are optional features but when that feature is invoked it is through the use of
style sheets.”). Plaintiffs reply the government’s construction seeks “to limit the claim to a
preferred embodiment[,]” and they emphasize the specification’s application of the word
“optional” to style sheets. Pl.’s Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 7–8 (citing ’355 Patent col. 9 ll. 36–52).
Plaintiffs further argue claim differentiation prevents a construction requiring style
sheets, as dependent claims 32 and 33 of the ’842 Patent impose such a limitation. Pl.’s Cl.
Constr. Br. at 18. The government responds the ’842 Patent comes from a separate family than
the other asserted patents, so claim differentiation does not apply, and the specific claims cited
by plaintiffs provide other limitations—requiring multiple style sheets for claim 32 and regarding
“certain data within the template that also appears in the report” for claim 33. Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 18.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
The Court looked to a contemporary dictionary to understand the plain and ordinary meaning of
the term at the time of filing. The Microsoft Computer Dictionary defines “report”: “The
presentation of information about a given topic, typically in printed form.” Report, Microsoft
Computer Dictionary (4th ed. 1999). “Presentation” is a disputed claim term often used in
similar contexts to “report,” see ’383 Patent col. 144 ll. 53–60 (“the computer program product is
configured for outputting a presentation or report that is based on at least a portion of the at least
one object, the presentation or report capable of including at least one of the first numerical
values or the second numerical values, including the original value, such that, based on the at
least one reference of the at least one object, a change to the original value results in a
corresponding change in an instance of the presentation or report”), so the Court did not use
“presentation” in its preliminary construction to avoid conflating the terms. The Court instead
substituted a phrase describing a “report” from the specification, “specially-formatted output,”
’355 Patent col. 9 ll. 38–39. The Court also removed the phrase “typically in printed form” from
the dictionary definition because the technology of the patents is digital rather than print media.
Reviewing the specification, the Court found a “report” was consistently discussed as a
combination of data and a style reference. E.g., ’355 Patent col. 9 ll. 50–52 (“The RDML data
viewer 100 automatically combines data documents 102 and style documents 106 to create
reports.”). The Court therefore incorporated the phrase “combining data documents with style
documents” into its preliminary construction.
The Court adopted the following preliminary construction: “A specially formatted output
of information about a given topic by combining data documents with style documents.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
- 27 -
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 27:10–16. The parties raised several issues with the preliminary
construction at oral argument. First, the government asserted neither “data documents” nor
“style documents” should be plural as the patent does not require multiple of either to generate a
report, and plaintiffs agreed. Tr. at 27:17–28:7 (the government), 33:7–9 (plaintiffs). As the
specification sometimes refers to data or style sheets in the singular with reference to a “report,”
see ’355 Patent col. 16 ll. 32–34 (“RDML data object . . . can be placed into a report using one or
more different style sheets”), 36–38 (“a style sheet written for one RDML document . . . can be
used for another”), 45–46 (“use the resulting style sheet to create a report from any qualifying
RDML data document”), the Court alters its preliminary construction from plural to singular for
the data and style components of a “report.”
Second, the government argued for the insertion of “generated” before “by combining,”
emphasizing the importance of the process which produces a “report.” Tr. at 28:9–16. A
“report” and a “presentation” “can both look alike,” according to the government, but a “report”
is different from a “presentation” “because it was produced by this process.” Tr. at 37:12–14. In
supplemental briefing following the Markman hearing, the government states “generated by
applying . . . to”—rather than “combining . . . with”—should be the construction, citing the
specification. Def.’s Suppl. Cl. Constr. Br. at 1 (citing ’355 Patent col. 9 ll. 46–48 (“single
RDML data document . . . may contain a set of financial statements, but several different style
sheets could be applied”)) (emphasis added). The Court finds this proposed construction
supported by the specification and therefore alters its preliminary construction to read “generated
by applying . . . to.” ’355 Patent col. 9 ll. 46–48.
Third, the government contended the limitation “about a given topic” was inappropriate
because a “report” in the patents is more general. Tr. at 28:17–29:4, 29:19–30:2. A “report”
about multiple topics would raise the issue of whether it was one report or several, the
government argued. Tr. at 29:12–16. As the limitation “about a given topic” came from the
extrinsic dictionary definition and the specification and claim language do not provide a similar
limitation, the Court removes the phrase “about a given topic” from its preliminary construction.
Fourth, plaintiffs asserted data used for a “report” need not be in a “data document” and
more generally the construction of “report” should not be limited to a particular generation
method. Tr. at 33:3–6, 34:18–25. The government disagreed. Tr. at 39:19–22. The Court notes
plaintiffs suggest data used for a “report” could be stored in memory rather than a document, but
plaintiffs provide no support from the claim language or specification. Tr. at 51:1–6 (“THE
COURT: So where does the data value come from? [PLAINTIFFS]: In this particular claim, it
happens to be in a data document as specified in the identifying phrase, but it doesn’t have to be
if it just was stored in the memory.”). The specification, however, frequently refers to “data
documents.” E.g., ’355 Patent col. 8 ll. 53–56 (“The RDML data viewer works with
RDML-formatted data documents, which are files that may be stored locally, over a network,
including the Internet, or in any combination of sources.”), col. 9 ll. 1–21 (“Generally, data
viewer 100 may be software that resides in the memory of a computer and accepts several types
of input 102, 104 and 106, one of which is the RDML data document 102. The RDML data
document 102 may be an ASCII text document formatted with RDML tags which are compliant
- 28 -
with XML version 1.0. In one implementation consistent with the present invention, the tags of
an RDML data document 102 are advantageously structured to include documentation of the
data and arrange data in ‘line items,’ a collection of data values that is similar to a ‘record’ or
‘row’ in a relational database (discussed below). . . . RDML documents 102 contain sets of line
items, such sets being analogous to ‘tables’ in relational databases, and documentation
(‘metadata’) regarding the ‘line item sets.’ The RDML data document 102 is read by the RDML
data viewer 100 which stores the data internally, making it available to a number of ‘views’ 108,
which present the data in different ways (charts, tables, etc.) to a user (not shown).”). The Court
therefore retains the “data document” language from the specification. See, e.g., ’355 Patent col.
9 ll. 50–52 (“The RDML data viewer 100 automatically combines data documents 102 and style
documents 106 to create reports.”).
In supplemental briefing following the Markman hearing, plaintiffs further cite Figure 14,
reproduced below, of the ’842 Patent and associated explanation in the specification for the
premise style sheets are optional: “An XBRL instance document 222 or report is developed as
illustrated in FIG. 14. FIG 14 illustrates an exemplary section 1402 of an XBRL instance
document 222 generated without a specified optional stylesheet filename. There, exemplary
section 1402 is essentially displayed as a text document without much formatting.” Pls.’ Suppl.
Cl. Constr. Br. at 5 (emphasis in original) (citing ’842 Patent col. 20 ll. 29–34).
’842 Patent fig.14.
As the government notes, plaintiffs fail to explain how a non-familial patent, the ’842 Patent, can
- 29 -
support their claim differentiation argument regarding the ’355 Patent and others in its family.
See generally Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br.; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br.; Pls.’ Suppl. Cl. Constr. Br. The
’842 specification is different from the ’355 specification and others in its family, so there may
be reason to construe a claim term from the ’842 Patent differently than the ’355 family.
Additionally, as plaintiffs point out, “the Government had not sought construction of ‘report’ in
the ‘842 patent until a footnote in its sur-reply claim construction brief.” Pls.’ Suppl. Cl. Constr.
Br. at 5. In fact, neither party initially requested construction of “report” for the ’842 Patent, so
the Court construes the term only for the requested patents. See Rembrandt Pat. Innovations,
LLC v. Apple, Inc., 716 F. App’x 965, 974 n.3 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (declining to rely on an argument
raised by a party for the first time in a trial court reply brief in reaching a decision on claim
construction); see generally Pl.’s Cl. Constr. Br.; Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. Even if the Court
construed the term for the ’842 Patent, Figure 14 and its explanation contemplate a default style
sheet to generate a report “without much formatting”—impliedly still with some formatting—as
evidenced by “10E-BalSheet.xsl” listed on the second line of Figure 14. ’842 Patent col. 20 ll.
30–34, fig.14. Figure 14 therefore supports a construction of “report” requiring a style sheet. Id.The Court disagrees with plaintiffs’ assumption claims 32 and 33 of the ’842 Patent refer to style
sheets. See Tr. at 51:10–20 (“[PLAINTIFFS]: . . . Claim 32 says, okay, in connection with that
report, you’re going to use a template, which is analogous to what the parties have—here, the
Court and the parties have been referring to style sheets or style documents.”). “Template” is
used more broadly in the ’355 Patent. For example, the ’355 specification discusses a “string
providing a template for the default representation of the x-axis values” and provides “formatting
templates are regular expression strings,” contemplating templates at the
value-level—strings—rather than the document-level—style sheets. ’355 Patent col. 24 ll.
36–37, col. 40 ll. 18–20. In the ’842 Patent, “template” is used in the context of “document
templates” as distinguished from style sheets. ’842 Patent col. 9 ll. 28–45 (discussing “document
templates”), col. 15 ll. 1–4 (discussing “document template”), ll. 4–33 (separately discussing
style sheet)). The Court therefore understands claim 32—“The computer program product of
claim 29, wherein the computer program product is configured such that one or more templates
are used to develop the report.”—and claim 33—“The computer program product of claim 32,
wherein the computer program product is configured such that the one or more templates contain
particular data that is inserted into the report and instructions enabling the data from the one or
more sources to be inserted into the report.”—to add requirements relating to document
templates, overcoming any claim differentiation argument plaintiffs advance relating to “report”
and the use of style sheets. ’842 Patent col. 84 ll. 45–52.
Implementing modifications based on the specification evidence and agreement between
the parties, the Court alters its preliminary construction and adopts the following final
construction: “A specially formatted output of information generated by applying one or more
data documents to one or more style documents.” See DeMarini Sports, Inc. v. Worth, Inc., 239
F.3d 1314, 1327 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (“We note that claim terms are not construed in a vacuum.
Rather, to interpret claim terms we look to all of the intrinsic evidence as it pertains to the terms
in question.”).
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning Document generated by combining an
XML-compliant document with a template.
- 30 -
Court’s Final Construction
A specially formatted output of information generated by applying one or more data
documents to one or more style documents.
V. Disputed Claim Term #3: “presentation”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning A visualization of the object that is displayed
The government disputes the construction of this claim term in the following claims:
claim 14 of the ’383 Patent; claim 66 of the ’384 Patent; claims 11, 19, and 20 of the ’748 Patent;
and claim 1 of the ’337 Patent. RJCCS at 31–32.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
the computer program product is configured for outputting a presentation or report
that is based on at least a portion of the at least one object, the presentation or report
capable of including at least one of the first numerical values or the second
numerical values, including the original value, such that, based on the at least one
reference of the at least one object, a change to the original value results in a
corresponding change in an instance of the presentation or report.
’383 Patent col. 144 ll. 52–60 (emphasis added).
A. Parties’ Arguments
The parties dispute whether “presentation” needs a construction beyond plain and
ordinary meaning to preserve a distinction between “presentation” and “report.” See generally
supra Section IV. Plaintiffs seek a plain and ordinary construction, arguing “the specification
makes clear that ‘presentation’ is used in its ordinary sense.” Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 29. The
government responds, “[T]he relevant claims and the specification . . . indicate that a
‘presentation’ is a visualization of an object that is displayed”—urging the Court to use “object”
in the construction to differentiate between claim terms “report” and “presentation.” Def.’s
Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 28–29 (quoting ’383 Patent col. 144 ll. 52–55) (“For example, Claim 14
of the [’]383 Patent recites in part ‘wherein the computer program product is configured for
outputting a presentation or report that is based on at least a portion of the at least one
object. . .’”); see also id. at 29 (quoting ’383 Patent col. 7 ll. 25–29, col. 18 ll. 28–30, col. 29 ll.
19–21, col. 33 ll. 34–36, col. 41 ll. 36–37). Plaintiffs assert none of the citations the government
cites use the term “presentation,” and the government concedes the cited terms are variations of
“presentation”—“presentations,” “present,” and “presents.” Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 14;
Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 16.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
- 31 -
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
The Court first noted both parties argue about whether the term needs to be construed but focus
their contention on whether the construction should contain the term “information” or “object.”
Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 28. The government cites instances in the patents where it
contends the specification provides support for using “object” in construing presentation; these
instances are variations of “presentation”—i.e., “presentations,” “present,” “presents,” and
“presented.” Id. at 29; see, e.g., ’383 Patent col. 7 ll. 25–29 (“The RDML data document 102 is
read by the RDML data viewer 100 which stores the data internally, making it available to the
number of ‘views’ 108, which present the data in different ways (charts, tables, etc.) to a user.”)
(emphasis omitted)). While the Court found “presentations” is synonymous as “presentation” as
they are both nouns with only a singular/plural variation, the government’s reference to
“present,” “presents,” and “presented” are inapplicable to this construction because the terms are
verbs holding a different meaning than the noun “presentation”—the verbs are the actions
generating the display whereas the nouns describe the display itself. In addition to the
government’s references to the ’383 Patent specification, the Court identified multiple other
instances where “presentation(s)” is in the specification. See, e.g., ’383 Patent col. 144 ll. 55–60
(“[T]he presentation or report capable of including at least one of the first numerical values or
the second numerical values, including the original values, such that, based on the at least one
reference of the at least one object, a change to the original value results in a corresponding
change in an instance of the presentation or report.”), col. 8 ll. 17–23 (“RDML incorporates
several important types of metadata: . . . information needed to produce the various
presentations.”). Based on the claim language and specification, the patents use “information” to
describe what the “presentation” is displaying, and this “information”—such as values—is based
on the “objects” at issue. See ’383 Patent col. 144 ll. 54–60 (“[B]ased on the at least one
reference of the at least one object, a change to the original value results in a corresponding
change in an instance of the presentation or report.”). The Court found the use of “information”
in the patents with the term “presentation” shows the “presentation” is displaying the
“information,” and the displayed “information” references the “objects.”
The Court then looked to a contemporary dictionary to seek to understand the plain and
ordinary meaning of the term at the time of filing. The Court was unable to find a contemporary
dictionary definition for “presentation” but was able to for “presentation graphics” and
“presentation layer,” which are instructive. Specifically, the Microsoft Computer Dictionary
defines “presentation graphics” as “The representation of business information, such as sales
figures and stock prices, in chart form rather than as lists of numbers.” Presentation graphics,
Microsoft Computer Dictionary (4th ed. 1999) (emphasis added). Within its definition of
“presentation layer,” the Microsoft Computer Dictionary notes “The presentation layer is
responsible for formatting information so that it can be displayed or printed.” Presentation
layer, Microsoft Computer Dictionary (4th ed. 1999) (emphasis added). Finding the
interpretation of “presentation” in these definitions accorded with the patents’ use of
“presentation,” the Court determined these interpretations reinforced a construction using
“information” over “object” and conformed with the plain and ordinary meaning of the term
“presentation.”
The Court evaluated whether the construction should use the word “visualization,” as the
- 32 -
government proposed in its construction. Looking to the ’383 specification, the Court noted the
use of “visually displays,” “visual components,” “visual clues,” “shows . . . visually,” “visually
designate,” and “visual link.” ’383 Patent col. 4 l. 46, col. 11 l. 47, col. 35 l. 12, col. 41 ll. 40,
42, 67, col. 42 l. 44, col. 43 l. 64. The ’383 specification does not use the word “visualization”
but does repeatedly use “visual(ly)” to describe the information. “Visual” is an adjective
describing what the invention is displaying whereas “visualization” is a noun which the
government argues the invention displays. Webster’s Third New International Dictionary
(2002). Per the specification, the Court found the adjective “visual” conforms with the plain and
ordinary meaning of “presentation” by describing the “visual” character of the information the
invention displays.
The Court then looked to a modern dictionary to further determine how “visualization”
from the government’s proposed construction and “visual” from the specification differ. The
Court was able to find a modern dictionary definition for both “visualization” and “visual.”
Specifically, the Webster’s Third New International Dictionary defined “visualization” as “the
act or power of forming mentally visual images of objects not presented to the eye” and “visual”
as “capable of being seen.” Visualization, Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (2002)
(emphasis added). Per the Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, “visualization” is a
noun containing a feature of mental imagery, which the Court found does not conform with the
specification’s use of “visually” and “visual”—in addition to the specification not using
“visualization.” Visualization, Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (2002); see also
’383 Patent col. 4 l. 46, col. 11 l. 47, col. 35 l. 12, col. 41 ll. 40, 42, 67, col. 42 l. 44, col. 43 l. 64.
Unlike “visualization,” “visual” is an adjective describing the characteristic of “being seen.”
Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (2002). “Visual” is also the same as or
synonymous to the relevant adjectives used in the specification. See generally ’383 Patent col. 4
l. 46, col. 11 l. 47, col. 35 l. 12, col. 41 ll. 40, 42, 67, col. 42 l. 44, col. 43 l. 64 (using “visual”
and “visually”). The Court determined the definition for the adjective “visual” reinforced a
construction using “visual” over “visualization” and conformed with the plain and ordinary
meaning of the term “presentation.” The Court, accordingly, adopted the following preliminary
construction: “Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed: A visual display
of information.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 56:4–7. The parties agreed to the Court’s preliminary construction. 11 Tr. at
64:13–18. The Court accordingly adopts its preliminary construction as final: “Plain and
ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed: A visual display of information.” See
Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312–13 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (quoting Vitronics Corp. v.
Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996)); Tr. at 64:13–18.
11
The government argued “A report is a report because of the way it was generated,” indicating the government
differentiated “report” and “presentation” by defining “report” according to how the document is generated and
“presentation” according to what is on display. Tr. at 63:22–23. The government stated it agrees with the Court’s
preliminary construction for “presentation” as the Court adopts the government’s construction for term 2, “report.”
Tr. at 59:7–60:8; see generally supra Section IV.
- 33 -
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning A visualization of the object that is displayed
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
A visual display of information.
VI. Disputed Claim Term #4A: “rule” (in re the ’383 and ’748 Patents)
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning (i.e., not limited Constraint listed in a Document Type
to being in the Document Type Definition Definition (DTD)
(DTD))
The government disputes the construction of this claim term in claims 9 and 10 of the
’383 Patent and claims 1, 12, 13, and 14 of the ’748 Patent. RJCCS at 29–30.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
the computer program product is configured for utilizing a plurality of
computer-readable rules for processing the XML-compliant data document, the
computer-readable rules including: a computer-readable datatype rule for
validation of a value type, a computer-readable calculation rule for validation of a
value calculation, and a computer-readable unit rule for validation of a value unit.
’383 Patent col. 144 ll. 12–21.
A. Parties’ Arguments
While both parties propose the plain and ordinary meaning of the term “rule,” the parties
dispute whether the disputed term is required to be located in the Document Type Definition
(“DTD”). The government proposes the plain and ordinary meaning requires “rule” to be limited
to the DTD. Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 25–26. Plaintiffs, citing Liebel-Flarsheim Co. v.
Medrad, Inc., 358 F.3d 898, 913 (Fed. Cir. 2004), argue the government’s proposal “improperly
attempts to limit the construction to a preferred embodiment.” Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 26; see
Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 12. Plaintiffs assert the specification expressly indicates “one
implementation” places the rules in the DTD, but it is only a single embodiment of the invention.
Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 26 (quoting ’383 Patent col. 19 ll. 26–29) (internal quotations omitted).
Plaintiffs point to language in the ’842 Patent as further evidence confining a “rule” to the DTD
is an embodiment, not a limitation of the invention. Id. at 27 (citing ’842 Patent at col. 13 ll.
57–67). Plaintiffs argue the government’s construction violates the doctrine of claim
differentiation because “dependent claims of the related [’]748 [P]atent make explicit that a rule
need not be in the [DTD].” Id. (citing ’748 Patent col. 142 ll. 24–48); see Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr.
Br. at 12–13. Plaintiffs argue, if “rule” was limited to the DTD, dependent claim 9 of the ’748
would be rendered meaningless, and the construction would violate claim differentiation in the
- 34 -
individual patents and across the familial patents. Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 27–28 (citing Acumed
LLC v. Stryker Corp., 483 F.3d 800, 806 (Fed. Cir. 2007); Trs. of Columbia Univ. v. Symantec
Corp., 811 F.3d 1359, 1369 (Fed. Cir. 2016)). Plaintiffs rebut the government’s contention
“rule” should be construed differently in the ’842 Patent because it is “directed to a different
invention”—the ’842 Patent was terminally disclaimed over the ’383 Patent, so “rule” should not
be construed differently across the patents. Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 13. Plaintiffs also
argue the government’s construction erroneously relies on Dr. Martin’s conclusory opinion,
contravening Phillips and contradicting plaintiffs’ expert, Dr. Smith. Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 28
(citing Philips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1318 (Fed. Cir. 2005)).
The government argues, relying on Bell Atlantic, its proposed construction limiting “rule”
to within the DTD is “consistent with the way this term is repeatedly used throughout the claims
and the specification” of the asserted patents except the ’842. Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at
25–26 (citing ’383 Patent col. 13 ll. 45–48, col. 19 ll. 27–29, 51–52, col. 47 ll. 49–51; ’748
Patent col. 13 ll. 41–48; Bell Atl. Network Servs., Inc. v. Covad Communs. Grp., Inc., 262 F.3d
1258, 1271 (Fed. Cir. 2001)); see Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 14. The government asserts
the XML Bible’s introduction on DTDs show a “rule” must be located within the DTD. Def.’s
Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 26–27; see Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 13–14. The government
contends while one embodiment explicitly uses a specific exemplary DTD, other embodiments
“may use other DTDs.” Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 26–27. The ’842 Patent offering
supplemental rules outside of the DTD context evidences a “rule” must be in the DTD in the
’383 and ’748 Patents, the government argues. Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 27; see Def.’s
Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 14–15. The government rejects plaintiffs’ claim differentiation
argument because claim 9 of the ’748 Patent is from a different patent and plaintiffs “overlook[]
meaningful distinctions between independent claim 1 . . . and dependent claim 9 of [the] patent.”
Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 27–28. Additionally, the government asserts claim differentiation
does not apply across non-familial patents. Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 14–15.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
The Court first addressed the parties’ dispute regarding whether a “rule,” as used consistently, is
located in the DTD. The claim language includes three types of rules: (1) “a computer-readable
datatype rule for validation of a value type[; (2)] a computer-readable calculation rule for
validation of a value calculation[;] and [(3)] a computer-readable unit rule for validation of a
value unit.” ’383 Patent col. 144 ll. 17–21. All three “rule” types target validation of a particular
data value or characteristic. See id. Datatype rules, however, are usually constrained by a DTD
or a schema document. See Elliotte Rusty Harold, XML Bible 191 (1999). In contrast, unit or
calculation rules would not have any relationship to a DTD. The different types also necessitate
different validation. A DTD lays out the parameters for an RDML document and allows for a
syntactical check. See id. A DTD would have no impact on the validation of a characteristic of
a data value because the DTD specifies the structure of a document, not the accuracy of
calculations within the document. See id. A calculation rule instead would rely on human
- 35 -
validation or a different software validation method. The Microsoft Computer Dictionary also
supports the use of “rule” in various contexts: “In expert systems, a statement that can be used to
verify premises and to enable a conclusion to be drawn.” Rule, Microsoft Computer Dictionary
(4th ed. 1999). The disputed term “rule,” therefore, is not used consistently within a DTD
context throughout the patents, as evidenced by the calculation and unit rule examples.
The Court next addressed whether the embodiment of the ’383 Patent limits the
construction of “rule.” The Federal Circuit has instructed preferred embodiments are not read
“into the claims absent a clear indication in the intrinsic record that the patentee intended the
claims to be so limited.” Liebel-Flarsheim Co., 358 F.3d at 913. The government cites to
column 19, lines 27–29 of the ’383 Patent to support limiting “rule” to within DTD. Def.’s
Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 25–26. The cited lines, however, explicitly state, “In one implementation
consistent with the present invention, RDML documents 102 conform to the rules provided by
the DTD[.]” ’383 Patent col. 19 ll. 27–29 (emphasis added). While a “rule” may be limited in
the DTD in an embodiment, as it is here, a mere embodiment cannot limit the entire invention.
Liebel-Flarsheim Co., 358 F.3d at 913. Further, the intrinsic evidence does not clearly indicate
the embodiment should limit the claims but rather indicates “rule” should not be construed so
narrowly. Indeed, if the Court construed a “rule” to only include the DTD, the phrase “rules for
processing the XML-compliant data document” would become redundant because rules to
process the XML-compliant data document can include a DTD or a schema, but the limitation
does not require the computer-readable “rule” itself to only include constraints listed in the DTD.
Given claims are presumed to have different scopes, construing “rule” so narrowly would create
redundancy in the claims. See AK Steel Corp. v. Sollac & Ugine, 344 F.3d 1234, 1242 (Fed. Cir.
2003) (citing RF Del., Inc. v. Pac. Keystone Techs., Inc., 326 F.3d 1255, 1264 (Fed. Cir. 2003)
(stating an independent claim is usually accorded a scope greater than its dependent claims); 35
U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 4 (2000) (“[A] claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim
previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim
in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim
to which it refers.”)) (“[D]ependent claims are presumed to be of narrower scope than the
independent claims from which they depend.”). The ’355 family patents, therefore, do not
support limiting a “rule” to only existing in the DTD as in the example ’383 embodiment, and
the additional discussion of the term in the ’842 Patent does not change the fact the ’355 family
patents contemplate a “rule” existing outside the DTD. Liebel-Flarsheim Co., 358 F.3d at 913;
see AK Steel, 344 F.3d at 1242 (citing RF Del., 326 F.3d at 1264; 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 4).
The Court adopted the following preliminary construction: “Plain and ordinary meaning.
Insofar as a definition is needed: A predetermined guideline or condition provided for a specific
reason—including, but not limited to, verifying constraints listed in the Document Type
Definition.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 65:6–12. The government continued to assert a “rule” must be constrained
within the DTD. The government pointed to the ’383 Patent specification to support the premise
“a valid document . . . conform[s] with the rules in the DTD.” Tr. at 77:1–25; see Def.’s Suppl.
- 36 -
Cl. Constr. Br. at 3. The government also attempted to distinguish between processing rules and
validating rules. The government argued the rules in claim 9 of the ’383 Patent relate to
processing and are broader than the DTD. Tr. at 69:7–9, 70:11–13 (“THE COURT: . . . The
preamble in claim 9 is broader than just the DTD? [THE GOVERNMENT]: Correct.”). In
contrast, validating rules are restricted to the DTD, according to the government. Tr. at
70:21–23 (“[THE GOVERNMENT]: Rules for processing . . . I’ll distinguish . . . with rules for
validating.”), 73:6–8 (“THE GOVERNMENT]: All of the rules for validations need to be within
the DTD, yes. An instruction is a rule for processing.”); see Def.’s Suppl. Cl. Constr. Br. at 2–3
(“the only validation disclosed is based on the rules with a DTD”) (emphasis altered). The
government emphasized the additional disclosure of the ’842 Patent indicates “rules outside of
the DTD were not contemplated within the original patents[,]” and the ’842 Patent supplements
the ’355 Patent family. Tr. at 66:19–67:3; see Def.’s Suppl. Cl. Constr. Br. at 3. Plaintiffs
argued the what the government characterizes as a “preamble” is a substantive limitation because
it is part of the dependent claim, prefacing the enumerated “rule” types with “comprising.” Tr. at
71:8–15.
The government also relied on the knowledge of a person having ordinary skill in the art
(“PHOSITA”) and the XML Bible, which was incorporated into the asserted patents, to support
the importation of a limitation from one exemplary embodiment. Tr. at 78:15–79:20 (“THE
COURT: . . . [I]f there’s a strict limitation, as you’re suggesting, it has to be clear, right? [THE
GOVERNMENT]: We maintain . . . this would be clear to a person of ordinary skill in the art,
especially when . . . we have . . . a 1,000-page book that proclaimed itself to be ‘the Bible,’
which the patentee incorporated by reference.”), 66:13–18. Plaintiffs argued reliance on the
XML Bible creates a Finjan issue because the specification is broader than the XML Bible. Tr.
at 74:9–13; see Finjan LLC v. ESET, LLC, 51 F.4th 1377, 1382–83 (Fed. Cir. 2022) (finding the
trial court “erred because it viewed the differing definitions throughout the patent family as
competing and determined that the asserted patents should be limited to the most restricted
definition of the term”).
The Court finds the government’s arguments unpersuasive. Claim terms are “normally
used consistently throughout the patent,” Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1314, and “ordinarily interpret[ed]
. . . consistently across patents having the same specification[.]” In re Katz Interactive Call
Processing Pat. Litig., 639 F.3d 1303, 1325 (Fed. Cir. 2011); see also Callicrate v. Wadsworth
Mfg., Inc., 427 F.3d 1361, 1369 (Fed. Cir. 2005). Applying the three types of rules (datatype,
calculations, and value) to the government’s narrow construction of “rule,” the government was
unable to confirm whether a unit rule or a calculation rule would be located within the DTD. See
Tr. at 73:4–77:25. Comparing the claim language, a DTD may specify rules for a datatype
validation but does not contain calculation rules. The XML Bible also confirms this idea: “A
document type definition provides a list of the elements, attributes, notations, and entities
contained in a document, as well as their relationships to one another. DTDs specify a set of
rules for the structure of a document.” Harold, supra, at 191 (emphasis added). The XML Bible
bolsters the Court’s construction because DTDs specify rules for structure of the document, not
calculation type rules. Id. Further, the XML Bible contemplates the existence of rules outside
the DTD: “[An example] style sheet contains style rules for elements that aren’t present in the
DTD . . . .” Id. at 211–12 (emphasis added). While style rules are not at issue for this disputed
term, the XML Bible’s reference to any rule outside of a DTD contradicts the government’s
- 37 -
argument the XML Bible supports its limited interpretation. When pressed on whether a
calculation could be in the DTD, the government stated “[w]hether there actually could be a
calculation rule in the DTD is ultimately a question for expert discovery[,]” alongside the issues
of enablement and written description. Tr. at 75:7–9, 17–19. The Federal Circuit, however, has
“not endorsed a regime in which validity analysis is a regular component of claim construction.”
Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1327. The Court, therefore, does not address enablement or written
description arguments at this stage of litigation.
The language the government uses to support its construction highlights the DTD has
rules rather than showing rules are required to be in the DTD. Tr. at 77:3–78:16 (“THE
COURT: Well, it’s that the DTD has rules, not that rules must be in the DTD. [THE
GOVERNMENT]: . . . I agree with you that it says that the DTD has rules . . . .”). The language
used, moreover, is an embodiment. A single embodiment cannot be imported without clear
evidence from the patent; the government failed to provide clear evidence supporting a DTD
limitation on “rule.” See supra Section VI.B.1; Liebel-Flarsheim Co., 358 F.3d at 913.
The government’s attempt to distinguish “validating rules” from “processing rules” does
not support the government’s proposed construction either. See Tr. at 70:21–23. The
government posits claim 9 is broader than the DTD. Tr. at 70:8–9 (“[THE GOVERNMENT]:
. . . [W]e read the preamble to be broader tha[n] DTD rules[.]”). This notion, however, supports
the Court’s construction because “rule” must be able to accommodate a broad context to be read
“consistently throughout the patent” without being confined to the DTD. Phillips, 415 F.3d at
1314. In sum, the government does not know if unit or calculation rules can even be in the DTD,
and it cannot point to language within the specification, besides an embodiment, to bolster the
argument a “rule” must be contained in the DTD. See id.; Liebel-Flarsheim Co., 358 F.3d at
913. The Court accordingly rejects the government’s limitation.
In addition to the government’s DTD limitation arguments—which the Court rejects—the
government objected to certain terminology in the Court’s preliminary construction. The
government specifically disagreed with the use of the words “guideline” and “verifying” and
with the inclusion of the phrase “provided for a specific reason.” Tr. at 67:4–15, 81:6–14
(discussing term 4B). The government asserted “guideline” implies a suggestion rather than a
requirement. Id. “A rule is something that’s validated[,]” the government stated, and is
therefore required. Id. Further, the government argued the phrase “provided for a specific
reason” “invites argument about . . . what the reason is for a rule.” Id. The government also
disagreed with using “verifying” because the claim language uses validation rather than
verification. Id. While plaintiffs agreed to the preliminary construction, plaintiffs also agreed to
language modifications describing “rule” as a requirement. Tr. at 72:3–14 (“THE COURT: . . .
Are you happy with guideline or condition, or could we change that to requirement or some other
word? [PLAINTIFFS]: . . . Your Honor’s construction is fine. Guideline . . . could say
requirement or condition. It’s fine that way. The whole concept is it has to meet a certain test.
As long as . . . you have to meet a test for data type unit and calculations, and as long as that
concept is embodied with guideline or condition . . . that would be sufficient.”). Looking to the
claim language, the Court accordingly alters its preliminary construction by using the words
“requirement” and “validating” instead of “guideline” and “verifying,” respectively, and
removing the phrase “provided for a specific reason” to avoid unduly limiting the plain meaning
- 38 -
of the term.
Rejecting the government’s DTD limitation and implementing modifications based on
clarity and the claim language evidence, the Court alters its preliminary construction and adopts
the following final construction: “Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
A predetermined requirement including but not limited to validating constraints listed in the
Document Type Definition.” See Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1312–13 (quoting Vitronics Corp. v.
Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996)).
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning (i.e., not limited Constraint listed in a Document Type
to being in the Document Type Definition Definition (DTD)
(DTD))
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
A predetermined requirement including but not limited to validating constraints listed in
the Document Type Definition.
VII. Disputed Claim Term #4B: “rule” (in re the ’842 Patent)
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning (i.e., not limited Plain and ordinary meaning
to being in the Document Type Definition
(DTD))
The government disputes the construction of this claim term in claim 29 of the ’842
Patent. RJCCS at 29–30.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to access a plurality of
computer-readable rules including: a computer-readable datatype rule for
validation of a type of data values, a computer-readable calculation rule for
validation of a calculation involving data values, and a computer-readable unit rule
for validation of a unit of data values . . . .
’842 Patent col. 83 ll. 58–67.
A. Parties’ Arguments
In the briefs, the parties argued the constructions of the terms 4A and 4B together,
presenting no arguments unique to this term. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 40–41; Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 42; Pl.’s Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 19; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 19; Def.’s
Suppl. Cl. Constr. Br. at 2–4. As such, the Court refers to the parties’ arguments section of
- 39 -
disputed term 4A, supra Section VI.A, in construing this term.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
As the parties argued the constructions of terms 4A and 4B together, and the Court
preliminarily found the DTD limitation not supported by any of the asserted patents, see supra
Section VI.B.1, the Court preliminarily construed the terms together. As such, the Court refers
to its preliminary construction section of term 4A, supra Section VI.B.1.
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 80:9–16. Plaintiffs agreed with the Court’s preliminary construction with
the modifications discussed supra Section VI.B.2. Tr. at 84:6–12. The government agrees to a
plain and ordinary meaning construction here but raised the same language objections at oral
argument as it did for term 4A. Tr. at 81:6–14. Additionally, the government argued “rule”
should be construed differently in the ’355 Patent family and the ’842 Patent. Tr. at 81:22–25;
see Def.’s Suppl. Cl. Constr. Br. at 3–4. The government asserted because the ’842 Patent has
additional disclosure in the specification, it should be construed differently from the patents in
the ’355 family, despite being related and using nearly identical claim language referring to the
three types of rules. Tr. at 81:22–82:25. Compare ’383 Patent col. 144 ll. 17–21 (“a
computer-readable datatype rule for validation of a value type, a computer-readable calculation
rule for validation of a value calculation, and a computer-readable unit rule for validation of a
value unit”), with ’842 Patent col. 83 ll. 62–67 (“a computer-readable datatype rule for validation
of a type of data values, a computer-readable calculation rule for validation of a calculation
involving data values, and a computer-readable unit rule for validation of a unit of data values”).
When asked what caselaw supports the argument, the government was unable to identify any.
See Tr. at 83:10–21 (“THE COURT: Well, since the patents are from the same family, is there
any Federal Circuit case that would support construing these differently? [THE
GOVERNMENT]: I can’t—I don’t have a specific case in my head . . . .”). Claim terms are
“normally used consistently throughout the patent,” Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1314, and “ordinarily
interpret[ed] . . . consistently across patents having the same specification[.]” In re Katz
Interactive Call Processing Pat. Litig., 639 F.3d 1303, 1325 (Fed. Cir. 2011); see also Callicrate
v. Wadsworth Mfg., Inc., 427 F.3d 1361, 1369 (Fed. Cir. 2005). The Court, therefore, rejects the
government’s arguments this claim term should be construed differently for the ’842 Patent.
Implementing modifications based on the final construction of term 4A, see supra
Section VI.B.2, the Court alters its preliminary construction and adopts the following final
construction: “Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed: A predetermined
requirement including but not limited to validating constraints listed in the Document Type
Definition.”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning (i.e., not limited Plain and ordinary meaning
- 40 -
to being in the Document Type Definition
(DTD))
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
A predetermined requirement including but not limited to validating constraints listed in
the Document Type Definition.
VIII. Disputed Claim Term #5: “data values/values”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning Plain and ordinary (i.e., not limited to
numerical values)
Both parties dispute the construction of this claim term in the following claims: claim 66
of the ’384 Patent; claims 1, 11, and 19 of the ’748 Patent; claim 29 of the ’842 Patent; and claim
1 of the ’337 Patent. RJCCS at 42–43.
The following claim limitations highlight selected usage of the term in context:
the plurality of original documents including a first document including first values
and a second document including second values[,]
’384 Patent col. 93 ll. 33–35 (emphasis added),
a plurality of line items with a plurality of data values, and a plurality of
computer-readable semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning of the data
values and are each computer-readably coupled to at least one of the data values,
’748 Patent col. 141 ll. 9–15 (emphasis added),
mapping the one or more of the computer-readable semantic tags to the one or more
of the original values . . . .
’337 Patent col. 111 ll. 29–30 (emphasis added).
A. Parties’ Arguments
Plaintiffs argue the context of the patents makes clear (data) values referred to are
numerical. Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 33 (citing ’384 Patent col. 3 l. 3–col. 5 l. 53, col. 28 ll. 41–51,
col. 30 ll. 3–15). The Court, however, does not need “to adjudicate the difference between the
parties because they both agree that the terms should have ‘plain and ordinary meaning,’”
plaintiffs assert. Id. at 33–34. The government argues (data) values are not limited to numerical
values because “some of [plaintiffs’] claims specifically recite ‘numerical values’ and other[s]
recite the more generic ‘values.’” Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 35. The government also
points to a specific example in the ’384 Patent of nonnumerical values. Id. at 36 (citing ’384
- 41 -
Patent col. 56 ll. 17–18 (showing a element with company abbreviation values “AUD,
BSYS, CEN, CSC, CVG, DST, EDS, FISV, GLC, PAYX, TSG, SDS”)). The government
contends the parties’ dispute over whether values must be numerical should be resolved under
O2 Micro. Id.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
The Court first looked to a contemporary dictionary as both parties agree the term should have its
plain and ordinary meaning. “Data value” is defined as “[t]he literal or interpreted meaning of a
data item, such as an entry in a database, or a type, such as an integer, that can be used for a
variable.” Data value, Microsoft Computer Dictionary (4th ed. 1999). The contemporary
definition is not limited to numerical values, and in fact contemplates nonnumerical values
through its reference to a type, which can include nonnumerical character strings and Booleans
as well as integers. The Court found the definition supported the evidence from the
specification, which includes an example of nonnumerical values. ’384 Patent col. 56 ll. 17–18.
The final phrase of the Microsoft Computer Dictionary definition, “that can be used for a
variable,” however, adds scope to the patents, which do not necessarily contemplate storing
(data) values as variables. The Court therefore removed this phrase when crafting its preliminary
construction.
The Court adopted the following preliminary construction: “Plain and ordinary meaning.
Insofar as a definition is needed: The literal or interpreted meaning of a data item, such as an
entry in a database, or a type, such as an integer, not limited to numerical values.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 85:18–23. Plaintiffs continued to argue for limiting the construction to
numerical values at the hearing. First, plaintiffs contended the phrase the Court removed from
the Microsoft Computer Dictionary definition, “that can be used for a variable[,]” supported their
position because “variable” implies a numerical value. Tr. at 86:14–21. The Court, however,
removed this phrase out of concern for importing a particular storage requirement; as the Court
analyzes supra Section VIII.B.1, “a type . . . that can be used for a variable” could be
nonnumerical, such as a Boolean, so the presence of the word “variable” in this definition does
not imply only numerical values. Data value, Microsoft Computer Dictionary (4th ed. 1999)
(emphasis added). Plaintiffs further argued “any [PHOSITA] reading the patent would very
much think it’s relating to numbers, even though the claim language uses the term ‘data value or
values’ without—while other claims use the term ‘numerical values.’” Tr. at 86:21–25. When
asked regarding the “tag where the only used attributed is x_TitleCompany and the
contents of the tag appear to be company abbreviations. . . . Are those data values?” plaintiffs’
counsel stated, “I think those probably would not be, but . . . They should be—if you construe
‘data values’ as numerical values, no, they’re not, but I understand what the Court is saying.” Tr.
- 42 -
at 91:5–18. Plaintiffs are not able to overcome the appendix example of nonnumerical data
values, so the Court does not add a numerical-only limitation to the plain and ordinary meaning
of the term. The Court accordingly adopts its preliminary construction as final: “Plain and
ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed: The literal or interpreted meaning of a data
item, such as an entry in a database, or a type, such as an integer, not limited to numerical
values.” See Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312–13 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (quoting Vitronics
Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996)).
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning Plain and ordinary (i.e., not limited to
numerical values)
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
The literal or interpreted meaning of a data item, such as an entry in a database, or a
type, such as an integer, not limited to numerical values.
IX. Disputed Claim Term #6: “data structure”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
An organizational scheme that can be applied Plain and ordinary meaning
to data to facilitate interpreting the data or
performing operations on it
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claim 66 of the ’384 Patent.
RJCCS at 44.
The following claim limitations highlight selected usage of the term in context:
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to process at least a part of
the first document and at least a part of the second document, resulting in at least
one data structure including at least one of the plurality of original values of at least
one of the plurality of original documents
’384 Patent col. 93 ll. 36–42,
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to generate a presentation
utilizing at least a portion of the at least one data structure, the presentation capable
of including at least a portion of the original values including the at least one
original value, where the computer program product is configured such that,
utilizing the at least one data structure, a change to the at least one original value
results in a corresponding change in a subsequently generated presentation . . . .
’384 Patent col. 93 l. 58–col. 94 l. 7.
- 43 -
A. Parties’ Arguments
Plaintiffs argue their proposed construction, in accord with the well-understood meaning
of the term, should be adopted. Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 34 (citing Data structure, Microsoft
Computer Dictionary (4th ed. 1999) (“An organizational scheme, such as a record or array, that
can be applied to data to facilitate interpreting the data or performing operations on it.”)). Plain
and ordinary meaning, plaintiffs contend, does not resolve the parties’ dispute as to the scope of
the claim term. Id.; see Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 16–17. The government responds plaintiffs
have not “presented an actual dispute arising from this term that would actually implicate O2
Micro and require construing this term.” Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 37; see Def.’s Surreply
Cl. Const. Br. at 18.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
The Court found the government’s proposed construction of plain and ordinary meaning
supported by the intrinsic evidence and found plaintiffs’ proposed construction, using part of a
definition from the Microsoft Computer Dictionary, an appropriate explication of the plain and
ordinary meaning. See ’384 Patent col. 19 ll. 6–9, col. 28 ll. 1–10, 22–30, col. 31 ll. 26–29, col.
46 ll. 61–63, col. 52 ll. 45–50. As such, the Court adopted the following preliminary
construction: “Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed: An organizational
scheme that can be applied to data to facilitate interpreting the data or performing operations on
it.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
The Court provided the parties with its preliminary construction. Tr. at 6:8–10. At the
Markman hearing, the parties came to an agreement on the construction of this term, using the
Microsoft Computer Dictionary’s full definition, including the phrase “such as a record or
array.” Tr. at 96:19–20, 97:25–98:10. The Court accordingly adopts the following final
construction: “Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed: An organizational
scheme, such as a record or array, that can be applied to data to facilitate interpreting the data or
performing operations on it.” See Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312–13 (Fed. Cir.
2005) (quoting Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996)).
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
An organizational scheme that can be applied Plain and ordinary meaning
to data to facilitate interpreting the data or
performing operations on it
Court’s Final Construction
- 44 -
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
An organizational scheme, such as a record or array, that can be applied to data to
facilitate interpreting the data or performing operations on it.
X. Disputed Claim Term #7: “macro”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Interpreted code that performs one or more Short program which performs one or more
well-defined, generally limited tasks well-defined, generally limited tasks
Both parties dispute the construction of this claim term in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 25, 26, 27,
28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 52, 53, 54, and 55 of the ’355 Patent. RJCCS at 4.
The following claim limitations highlight selected usage of the term in context:
receiving a macro defined to perform an operation on the series of numerical
values; performing an operation defined by the macro on the series of numerical
values to transform the series of numerical values into a new representation of the
series of numerical values based on the tags . . . .
’355 Patent col. 56 ll. 40–45.
A. Parties’ Arguments
Plaintiffs argue in favor of “interpreted code” “because the claims explicitly say that the
macro contains interpreted code.” Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 15 (citing ’355 Patent col. 56 ll.
34–56). The government responds this insertion “unnecessarily adds a limitation” as the claim
language refers to macros “including” and “compris[ing]” interpreted code. Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 15 (citing ’355 Patent col. 56 ll. 34–56, col 58 ll. 22–45). Plaintiffs reply the
government ignores the specification’s references to an interpreter which receives a macro. Pls.’
Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 5–6 (citing ’355 Patent col. 2 ll. 54–62, col. 7 ll. 37–39, col. 13 ll. 27–43,
col. 53 ll. 22–32).
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
The Court found the government’s proposed construction supported by the intrinsic evidence
with one modification. The government’s proposed construction utilizes language from the
specification, see ’355 Patent col. 2 ll. 55–57, but the specification also uses broader language to
refer to macros. See id. col. 2 ll. 54–55 (“Analysis routines in conventional spreadsheets
typically take the form of ‘spreadsheet macros.’”), col. 10 ll. 60–63 (“Furthermore, analytic
routines (macros) can be combined, applied successively, or used by inheritance to create new
- 45 -
routines.”). As such, the Court adopted the following preliminary construction: “Plain and
ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed: Analysis (or analytic) routine which
performs well-defined, generally limited tasks.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
The Court provided the parties with its preliminary construction. Tr. at 6:8–10. At the
Markman hearing, plaintiffs agreed to the government’s proposed construction rather than the
Court’s preliminary construction. Tr. at 98:11–22. The Court accordingly adopts the following
final construction: “Short program which performs one or more well-defined, generally limited
tasks.” See DeMarini Sports, Inc. v. Worth, Inc., 239 F.3d 1314, 1327 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (“We
note that claim terms are not construed in a vacuum. Rather, to interpret claim terms we look to
all of the intrinsic evidence as it pertains to the terms in question.”).
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Interpreted code that performs one or more Short program which performs one or more
well-defined, generally limited tasks well-defined, generally limited tasks
Court’s Final Construction
Short program which performs one or more well-defined, generally limited tasks.
XI. Disputed Claim Term #8: “tags”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Markup language tags Markup language tags. Further, a markup
language is “a language that uses tags to
define elements within a document.
Examples of markup languages include
HTML, XML and XBRL.”
The government disputes the construction of this claim term in the following claims:
claims 1, 13, 14, 15, 27, 28, 40, 41, 42, and 54 of the ’355 Patent; claims 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10,
17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 of the ’816 Patent; and claims 1, 4, and 17 of the ’383
Patent. RJCCS at 3–4.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
receiving a series of numerical values having tags indicating characteristics of the
numerical values . . . .
’355 Patent col. 56 ll. 36–37.
A. Parties’ Arguments
Plaintiffs argue “[t]here is no need to define the contours of a ‘markup language’ here
where the claim at issue does not contain that term.” Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 14. The government
responds clarity is needed on the meaning of “markup language” in the context of this term
- 46 -
because plaintiffs referenced “tags” in their motion to dismiss arguments on invalidity and must
therefore “propose a construction of ‘tags’ that explains what limitations distinguish
these ‘tags’ over prior art markup language tags or acknowledge that its ‘tags’ are no different
than prior art markup language tags[.]” Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 14. Plaintiffs further
argue “markup language” should be addressed as it is used in the ’337 Patent. Pls.’ Reply Cl.
Constr. Br. at 5.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
The Court first looked to a contemporary dictionary to understand the plain and ordinary
meaning of the term at the time of filing. The Microsoft Computer Dictionary defines “tag” as
“[i]n markup languages such as SGML and HTML, a code that identifies an element in a
document, such as a heading or a paragraph, for the purposes of formatting, indexing, and
linking information in the document.” Tag, Microsoft Computer Dictionary (4th ed. 1999). The
Court found this definition generally supported by the specification but found “code” to be vague
in this context. The Court therefore added a phrase describing “tags” from the specification:
“special sequences of characters.” ’355 Patent col. 1 ll. 32–36 (“A markup language is a way of
embedding markup ‘tags,’ special sequences of characters, that describe the structure as well as
the behavior of a document and instruct a web browser or other program on how to display the
document.”). The Court accordingly adopted the following preliminary construction,
incorporating its preliminary construction of “markup language”: “Plain and ordinary meaning.
Insofar as a definition is needed: Code or special sequences of characters identifying an element
within a document in a markup language. Further, a markup language is a language that uses
tags to define elements within a document. Examples of markup languages include Hypertext
Markup Language (HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), and Standard Generalized
Markup Language (SGML).”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 99:7–17. Both parties agreed to the Court’s preliminary construction with
the modification of incorporating the agreed-upon final construction of “markup language,” see
supra Section III. Tr. at 106:4–19. The Court accordingly adopts the following final
construction: “Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed: Code or special
sequences of characters identifying an element within a document in a markup language.
Further, a markup language is a nonprogramming computer language using tags to define
elements within a document. Examples of markup languages that existed as of 21 May 1999
include Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Extensible Markup Language (XML), and
Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML). Extensible Reporting Business Language
(XBRL) is an example after 31 July 2000.” See Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312–13
(Fed. Cir. 2005) (quoting Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir.
1996)).
- 47 -
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Markup language tags Markup language tags. Further, a markup
language is “a language that uses tags to
define elements within a document.
Examples of markup languages include
HTML, XML and XBRL.”
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
Code or special sequences of characters identifying an element within a document in a
markup language. Further, a markup language is a nonprogramming computer
language using tags to define elements within a document. Examples of markup
languages that existed as of 21 May 1999 include Hypertext Markup Language (HTML),
Extensible Markup Language (XML), and Standard Generalized Markup Language
(SGML). Extensible Reporting Business Language (XBRL) is an example after 31 July
2000.
XII. Disputed Claim Term #9: “characteristic of the numerical value”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
An attribute that explains the meaning of the Plain and ordinary meaning
numerical value
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claim 27 of the ’816 Patent.
RJCCS at 17.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
receiving a request for a numerical value, the request indicating at least one
characteristic of the numerical value . . . .
’816 Patent col. 58 ll. 20–21.
A. Parties’ Arguments
Plaintiffs argue “[t]he Government’s construction is vague and gives no effect to the ‘816
patents [sic] teachings about the use of attributes to explain the meaning of numerical values.”
Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 23. The government responds the “x_prec” attribute from the
specification provides an example of an attribute regarding the visual display rather than
meaning of the number, so plaintiffs’ proposed construction is too limiting. Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 22 (citing ’816 Patent col. 24 ll. 40–50, col. 4 ll. 31–33). The government further
contends “explains” is inappropriate because the specification uses “describes.” 12 Id. at 22–23
12
The government also raises an indefiniteness issue with plaintiffs’ proposed construction. Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr.
Br. at 23. The Court does not address the indefiniteness argument at this time as it construes only disputed terms not
implicating indefiniteness in this Opinion and Order.
- 48 -
(citing ’816 Patent at [57], col. 4 ll. 31–33, col. 8 ll. 41–43, col. 10 ll. 7–10). Plaintiffs reply the
“x_prec” attribute gives the precision of a number—how many significant digits it has—rather
than mere formatting. Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 2–3, 10–11. The government contends even
this explanation relates to the appearance rather than meaning of the number. Def.’s Surreply Cl.
Const. Br. at 1–2.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
The Court first looked to the specification, which provides: “Methods and systems in
accordance with the present invention provide a chart view that automatically manipulates and
graphically displays numerical data. The manipulation and display is based on attributes
associated with the numerical data describing characteristics of the numerical data.” ’355 Patent
col. 4 ll. 26–35. In view of the specification, the Court found a PHOSITA would understand
attributes are “associated with” and provide additional information about numerical values. As
some attributes are used for information related to format rather than meaning, the Court could
not limit the information to only relating to meaning. See id. col. 24 ll. 50–57 (“The x_prec
attribute describes the precision or number of significant digits for purposes of axis label display.
In this attribute, negative numbers cause rounding of amounts greater than zero. For example, a
precision of ‘2’ will display a number as ‘8.254.43’. That same number with a precision of ‘-2’
will be displayed as ‘8,300.’ The underlying representation of the number will be the full value;
only the formatting and representation on the screen will change.”). The Court accordingly
adopted the following preliminary construction: “Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a
definition is needed: An attribute providing additional information about a numerical
value—including but not limited to describing the meaning of the numerical value.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 106:21–107:1. The government continued to argue the term does not require
construction, asserting the “plain English meaning of characteristic” suffices, and raising the
concern “attribute” could be overloaded between the plain English and the computer science
meanings. Tr. at 109:4–16. Plaintiffs contended “attribute” was used only in the computer
science meaning and agreed to the Court’s preliminary construction after adding “[a] tag
attribute” to clarify which sense of the word is meant. Tr. at 111:6–18 (“THE COURT: So if we
add a tag attribute, are you okay with the Court’s preliminary construction? [PLAINTIFFS]:
Yes.”). The government asserted “characteristics” are not necessarily associated with a tag based
on the language of the claim cited for this term. Tr. at 110:15–111:3. The claim language,
however, explicitly associates tags with “characteristics”: “wherein at least one of the tags has
the indicated characteristic of the requested numerical value[.]” ’816 Patent col. 58 ll. 29–30
(emphasis added). Further, the specification associates characteristics with tag attributes. See
’355 Patent col. 4 ll. 31–33 (“The manipulation and display is based on attributes associated with
the numerical data describing characteristics of the numerical data.”); see also Tr. at 112:14–20
- 49 -
(“[PLAINTIFFS]: . . . The specification is very clear that it’s referring to characteristics, it’s
referring to attributes within the markup language tag to provide meaning to the numbers.”). The
government further cited examples from the specification of transforming series of numerical
values for the premise characteristics are not necessarily related to tags, but the cited portions of
the specification either do not use the term “characteristic” or use it explicitly in association with
tags and attributes. Tr. at 117:1–118:13 (citing ’355 Patent col. 5 ll. 19–52), 119:6–120:1 (citing
’355 Patent col. 4 ll. 26–43 (“The manipulation and display is based on attributes associated with
the numerical data describing characteristics of the numerical data. . . . In accordance with an
implementation of the present invention, a method in a data processing system having a display
showing a chart is provided that receives a series of numerical values with tags indicating
characteristics of the numerical values and displays the numerical values on the chart.”)). As the
claim language and specification describe “characteristics” as associated with tag attributes, the
Court accordingly alters its preliminary construction to begin “A tag attribute.” See DeMarini
Sports, Inc. v. Worth, Inc., 239 F.3d 1314, 1327 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (“We note that claim terms are
not construed in a vacuum. Rather, to interpret claim terms we look to all of the intrinsic
evidence as it pertains to the terms in question.”).
The government also contested the inclusion of “additional” in the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 111:1–4 (“[THE GOVERNMENT]: . . . [A]nother issue with the
construction is ‘additional information.’ Additional beyond what?”). The Court considers the
numerical value itself to be information, so any information regarding the meaning, format, etc.,
of the numerical value is in addition to the numerical value itself. The Court accordingly retains
the word “additional.” See Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312–13 (Fed. Cir. 2005)
(quoting Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996)).
Implementing a modification based on clarity as well as the specification and claim
language evidence, the Court alters its preliminary construction and adopts the following final
construction: “Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed: A tag attribute
providing additional information about a numerical value—including but not limited to
describing the meaning of the numerical value.” See Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1312–13 (quoting
Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1582).
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
An attribute that explains the meaning of the Plain and ordinary meaning
numerical value
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
A tag attribute providing additional information about a numerical value—including but
not limited to describing the meaning of the numerical value.
XIII. Disputed Claim Term #10A: “semantic tags”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
“Semantic tag” should not be construed as a A “semantic tag” should be construed as
stand-alone term because e-Numerate has “markup language tag with one or more
- 50 -
identified a phrase for construction. In attributes that describe the meaning of the
addition, the claim language uses the term tagged value(s).” and “semantic tags” should
“semantic tags” in the plural. To the extent be construed as “Markup language tags with
“semantic tags” is construed, e-Numerate one or more attributes that describe the
contends that the term “semantic tags” should meaning of the tagged value(s).”
be construed as “markup language tags
wherein the markup language tags for the one
or more numerical values have more than one
attribute that explains the meaning of the
numerical values.”
The government disputes the construction of this claim term in the following claims:
claims 1, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15, 17, and 18 of the ’383 Patent; claim 66 of the ’384 Patent; claims 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 14, 15, 16, 19, and 20 of the ’748 Patent; claim 29 of the ’842 Patent; and claim 1
of the ’337 Patent. RJCCS at 24–26.
The following claim limitations highlight selected usage of the term in context:
wherein the first tags and the second tags each include computer-readable semantic
tags that describe a semantic meaning of a corresponding one of at least one of the
first numerical values or the second numerical values,
’383 Patent col. 143 ll. 10–15 (emphasis added),
a plurality of computer-readable semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning of
the data values . . . .
’748 Patent col. 141 ll. 11–12 (emphasis added).
A. Parties’ Arguments
The parties dispute whether a semantic tag needs more than one attribute within the tag,
or if one attribute alone can suffice for a semantic tag. Plaintiffs argue the specification is clear
more than one attribute is required, and “[t]he use of multiple attributes permits the processing
recited in the claim.” Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 10–11 (citing ’355 Patent at [57]). The
government responds the specification’s statements regarding document type definitions suggest
“any possible number of attributes” would be allowed. Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 9 (quoting
’355 Patent col. 21 ll. 31–33) (emphasis omitted) (“‘[T]he DTD 702 specifies which attributes
are required and which are optional for any embodiment of the DTD. Depending on design
constraints, the required and optional elements may vary.’”).
The government also contests plaintiffs’ use of “explain” over its preferred “describe.”
“[T]he specification[,]” the government argues, “only discusses attributes that ‘describe’ the
meaning or characteristic of the values.” Def.’s Cl. Constr. Br. at 11–12 (citing ’355 Patent at
[57] (“attributes describing the meaning of the numbers to be attached to the numbers”)
(emphasis altered)). Plaintiffs respond, “The Court could choose either word in its construction
- 51 -
and there would be no material difference in meaning.” Pl.’s Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 4.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
The Court first noted both parties construe “semantic tags” as tags with attributes “explaining”
(plaintiffs) or “describing” (the government) the meaning of the values. The claim language,
however, appears to render this limitation redundant. For example, the ’748 Patent claims “a
plurality of computer-readable semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning of the data
values.” ’748 Patent col. 141 ll. 11–12 (emphasis added). Substituting the parties’ definitions
with the explaining/describing limitation would provide: “a plurality of computer-readable
[markup language tags with attribute(s) that explain/describe the meaning of the values] that
describe a semantic meaning of the data values.” The Court, therefore, did not include a
requirement but rather an exemplary embodiment involving description—the language used in
the specification and claims—of the tag values in its preliminary construction to avoid
redundancy.
The Court then looked to a contemporary dictionary to understand the plain and ordinary
meaning of the term at the time of filing. The Court did not find a contemporary dictionary
definition for “semantic tag”—and accordingly did not adopt a construction of plain and ordinary
meaning—but did find a definition for “semantics.” Specifically, the Microsoft Computer
Dictionary defines “semantics” as “In programming, the relationship between words or symbols
and their intended meanings.” Semantics, Microsoft Computer Dictionary (4th ed. 1999).
Finding this definition accorded with the patents’ “semantic tags,” the Court incorporated this
definition to clarify how a tag’s attributes give meaning to its values.
The parties additionally dispute whether semantic tags require “more than one” or “one
or more” attributes. The specification, however, refers to attributes in relation to data elements
in the plural form. For example, the specification of the ’355 Patent states, “The element tags
may also include attributes to be applied to the data elements, a description of what sub-elements
may be found within an element, and vocabulary choices for different attribute values.” ’355
Patent col. 20 ll. 13–16 (emphasis added); see also id. col. 20 ll. 56–59 (“In [an] example [of a
line item], the 18 lines with an ‘=’ are ‘attributes’ of the element, and essentially, the
attributes provide machine-readable documentation for the data values specified in the
sub-element .” (emphasis added)). Additionally, the abstract of the ’355 Patent states,
“Generally, RDML facilitates the browsing and manipulation of numbers, as opposed to text as
in HTML, and does so by requiring attributes describing the meaning of the numbers to be
attached to the numbers.” ’355 Patent at [57] (emphasis added). The appendices further provide
multiple attributes for each exemplary tag. See, e.g., ’748 Patent cols. 67–88. Although the
specification uses the language “in one embodiment” or “in one implementation” when referring
to multiple attributes, recent Federal Circuit precedent suggests a plural use of a claim term
refers to multiple of the described items. See Apple Inc. v. MPH Techs. Oy, 28 F.4th 254,
261–62 (Fed. Cir. 2022) (“On claim construction, Apple claims there is a presumption that a
- 52 -
plural term covers one or more items. It suggests that patentees can overcome that presumption
by using a word, like plurality, that clearly requires more than one item. Apple misstates the
law. In accordance with common English usage, we presume a plural term refers to two or more
items.”). The Federal Circuit, however, has also implied context surrounding a plural claim term
can allow for one or more of the described terms. See Versa Corp. v. Ag-Bag Int’l Ltd., 392 F.3d
1325, 1330 (Fed. Cir. 2004) (“[I]n supporting the district court’s opinion, [defendant] also argues
that the claim limitation’s use of ‘channels’ in the plural suggests that both perforated pipe and
flutes are required structure since a perforated pipe does not create multiple channels. However,
the use of ‘channels’ in the plural does not imply that multiple channels are required by the
claim.”). As the specification and the appendices always include multiple attributes for tags and
the descriptions of semantic tags always include the plural form of “attributes,” in the context of
the specification and the claim language, the Court preliminarily construed semantic tags as
having more than one attribute.
The Court adopted the following preliminary construction: “Markup language tags with
more than one attribute including, for example, a description of a relationship between words or
symbols and the intended meaning of numerical values contained within tags.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 122:2–10. As a preliminary matter, the Court adds “tag” in front of
“attribute” to clarify “attribute” is meant in the context of computer science and markup
languages rather than a general context. See Tr. at 111:6–12 (“[PLAINTIFFS]: We understood
. . . your definition, use of the word ‘attribute’ to be referring to the word ‘attribute’ in a markup
language sense . . . THE COURT: A tag attribute? [PLAINTIFFS]: Yes, that’s the way we
understood it.”).
The government disputed the limitation of “numerical” to describe values in the Court’s
preliminary construction. On this issue, the government makes the same arguments as it does in
reference to claim term 5, “data values/values.” See Tr. at 137:2–16 (“[THE GOVERNMENT]:
. . . [I]t doesn’t have to be numerical values. This goes back to the Court’s claim construction of
term 5 . . . .”). For the same reasons the Court agrees with the government’s arguments
regarding “numerical” supra Section VIII, the Court finds the values of “semantic tags” are not
limited to numerical values and removes the “numerical” limitation from its construction.
Expanding on the argument expressed in briefing, the government argued for “one or
more” rather than “more than one” attribute. An attribute, the government contended, can
describe many characteristics, which could obviate the need for more than one attribute per
semantic tag. See Tr. at 125:12–18. The government provided the example of a date of birth—a
single attribute—disclosing birth month, birth year, and astrological sign—multiple
characteristics. Tr. at 125:19–126:6. The government also pointed to column 20 of the ’355
Patent, which has a y-axis title attribute the government asserts discloses the same information as
two other attributes, magnitude and unit. Tr. at 129:22–130:16. This argument, however,
misunderstands the Court’s reasoning; the Court’s requirement of “more than one” attributes in
its preliminary construction was not based on how many characteristics are associated with a tag
- 53 -
value but rather on the consistent use of the plural “attributes” in the specification and the
exemplary semantic tags in the appendices. Whether attributes may disclose multiple
characteristics does not affect whether the claim term requires multiple attributes. The
government further cited sentences from the specification it argues allow for one attribute per
value: “RDML generally facilitates numerical browsing by associating numbers with attributes
describing the meaning of the numbers”; and “The DTD 702 specifies which attributes are
required and which are optional for any embodiment of the DTD.” Tr. at 130:17–131:16 (citing
’355 Patent col. 8 ll. 38–40); Tr. at 154:3–155:22 (citing ’355 Patent col. 21 ll. 30–32). Plaintiffs
responded they cited the first sentence frequently as support for requiring more than one attribute
because the term appears in the plural form. Tr. at 132:4–12. The Court notes the government
could not provide an example in the patents of a semantic tag having only one attribute, Tr. at
154:3–155:22; these sentences from the specification are amenable to an interpretation contrary
to the government’s interpretation because of their use of the plural form of attributes, see ’355
Patent col. 8 ll. 38–40 (“RDML generally facilitates numerical browsing by associating numbers
with attributes describing the meaning of the numbers.”) (emphasis added), col. 21 ll. 30–32
(“The DTD 702 specifies which attributes are required and which are optional for any
embodiment of the DTD.”) (emphasis added). The government’s arguments do not overcome
the specification and appendices evidence, so, with agreement from plaintiffs, see Tr. at
128:12–129:12, the Court retains the “more than one” limitation. See Apple Inc., 28 F.4th at
261–62; DeMarini Sports, Inc. v. Worth, Inc., 239 F.3d 1314, 1327 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (“We note
that claim terms are not construed in a vacuum. Rather, to interpret claim terms we look to all of
the intrinsic evidence as it pertains to the terms in question.”).
Both parties disagreed with the portion of the Court’s preliminary construction relying on
the Microsoft Computer Dictionary’s definition of semantics. Tr. at 133:22–24 (“[THE
GOVERNMENT]: . . . [The government] prefer[s] ‘describes the meaning’ rather than a
description of a relationship between words or symbols and the intended meaning.”), 136:10–13
(“[PLAINTIFFS]: . . . you could say markup language tags with more than one tag attribute that
describes the meaning of the numerical values contained within the tags . . . .”). Responding to
the Court’s redundancy concern, 13 the government argued some of the claims do not have the
potential redundancy and suggested “inelegant claiming” was to blame. Tr. at 134:10–135:5.
Plaintiffs asserted “elegant variation” rather than “inelegant claiming” but agreed the repetition
creates no issue. Tr. at 135:7–21. On the issue of “describing” versus “explaining,” plaintiffs
agreed to the government’s word choice, Tr. at 136:6–13, so the Court replaces the phrase
“including, for example . . . intended meaning of” with “that describes the meaning of.”
13
The Court identified two more potential drafting issues in the patents regarding semantic tags. First, the ’355
Patent states, “RDML encapsulates machine-readable documentation with the data. The data and its documentation
(metadata) are used together by the data view 100 to interpret what the numbers mean, how they are to be used, and
how they are to be displayed.” ’355 Patent col. 10 ll. 2–7. Metadata, used in this context, appeared to subsume the
function of a “semantic tag.” Both parties, however, agreed during the Markman hearing “metadata” is broader than
“semantic tags” and refers to document-level data in this context. Tr. at 142:24–143:4 (plaintiffs), 143:14–144:4
(the government). Second, in view of the specification and intrinsic evidence, “level tag” in claim 5 of the ’748
Patent appeared to be a typographical error and instead should be read as “level attribute.” The parties agreed with
this assessment during the Markman hearing. See Tr. at 140:17–23 (“[PLAINTIFFS]: Yeah, it probably should
have been ‘level attribute’ . . . . ”); see also Pavo Sols. LLC v. Kingston Tech. Co., 35 F.4th 1367, 1373 (Fed. Cir.
2022) (quoting Novo Indus., L.P. v. Micro Molds Corp., 350 F.3d 1348, 1357 (Fed. Cir. 2003)) (“A [trial] court may
correct ‘obvious minor typographical and clerical errors in patents.’”)
- 54 -
Implementing modifications based on clarity, the specification and appendices evidence,
and agreement between the parties, the Court alters its preliminary construction and adopts the
following final construction: “Markup language tags with more than one tag attribute that
describes the meaning of the values contained within tags.” See DeMarini Sports, 239 F.3d at
1327 (“We note that claim terms are not construed in a vacuum. Rather, to interpret claim terms
we look to all of the intrinsic evidence as it pertains to the terms in question.”).
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
“Semantic tag” should not be construed as a A “semantic tag” should be construed as
stand-alone term because e-Numerate has “markup language tag with one or more
identified a phrase for construction. In attributes that describe the meaning of the
addition, the claim language uses the term tagged value(s).” and “semantic tags” should
“semantic tags” in the plural. To the extent be construed as “Markup language tags with
“semantic tags” is construed, e-Numerate one or more attributes that describe the
contends that the term “semantic tags” should meaning of the tagged value(s).”
be construed as “markup language tags
wherein the markup language tags for the one
or more numerical values have more than one
attribute that explains the meaning of the
numerical values.”
Court’s Final Construction
Markup language tags with more than one tag attribute that describes the meaning of
the values contained within tags.
XIV. Disputed Claim Term #10B: “computer-readable semantic tags”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Markup language tags for one or more values Plain and ordinary (incorporating Defendant’s
that have more than one attribute that explains construction of “semantic tags”)
the meaning of the values
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claim 1 of the ’337 Patent.
RJCCS at 71–74.
The following claim limitations highlight selected usage of the term in context:
receiving a user selection of one or more computer-readable semantic tags . . . .
’337 Patent col. 1 ll. 25–26,
mapping the one or more of the computer-readable semantic tags to the one or
more of the original values . . . .
id. col. 1 ll. 29–30.
- 55 -
A. Parties’ Arguments
In the briefs, the parties argued the constructions of terms 10A and 10B together,
presenting no arguments unique to this term. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 41; Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 42; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 20; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 19. As
such, the Court refers to the parties’ arguments section of disputed term 10A, supra Section
XIII.A, in construing this term.
B. Analysis
At the Markman hearing, the parties agreed the Court’s construction of disputed claim
term 10A should apply to the constructions of terms 10B–10F. Tr. at 145:20–146:2.
Accordingly, as agreed by the parties, the Court incorporates by reference the analysis of
disputed claim term 10A and construes this term consistently with the construction of term 10A.
Id.
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Markup language tags for one or more values Plain and ordinary (incorporating Defendant’s
that have more than one attribute that explains construction of “semantic tags”)
the meaning of the values
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed, the Court uses the construction
of “semantic tags”:
Markup language tags with more than one tag attribute that describes the meaning of
the values contained within tags.
XV. Disputed Claim Term #10C: “one or more computer-readable semantic tags”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
One or more markup language tags for one or Plain and ordinary (incorporating Defendant’s
more values that have more than one attribute construction of “semantic tags”)
that explains the meaning of the values.
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claim 66 of the ’384 Patent.
RJCCS at 44–47.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
code stored on the at least one non-transitory computer readable medium and
configured to cause the at least one hardware processor to associate the one or more
computer-readable semantic tags with the one or more original values such that the
one or more computer-readable semantic tags are computer-readably associated
with the one or more original values.
’384 Patent col. 93 ll. 51–57.
- 56 -
A. Parties’ Arguments
In the briefs, the parties argued the constructions of terms 10A and 10C together,
presenting no arguments unique to this term. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 35; Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 37; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 17; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 19. As
such, the Court refers to the parties’ arguments section of disputed term 10A, supra Section
XIII.A, in construing this term.
B. Analysis
At the Markman hearing, the parties agreed the Court’s construction of disputed claim
term 10A should apply to the constructions of terms 10B–10F. Tr. at 145:20–146:2.
Accordingly, as agreed by the parties, the Court incorporates by reference the analysis of
disputed claim term 10A and construes this term consistently with the construction of term 10A.
Id.
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
One or more markup language tags for one or Plain and ordinary (incorporating Defendant’s
more values that have more than one attribute construction of “semantic tags”)
that explains the meaning of the values.
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed, the Court uses the construction
of “semantic tags”:
One or more markup language tags with more than one tag attribute that describes the
meaning of the values contained within tags.
XVI. Disputed Claim Term #10D: “computer-readable semantic tags that describe a
semantic meaning of the data values”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Markup language tags for one or more data Plain and ordinary (incorporating Defendant’s
values that have more than one attribute that construction of “semantic tags”)
explains the meaning of the data values.
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claims 1, 11, and 19 of the ’748
Patent. RJCCS at 47–50.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
a plurality of computer-readable semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning
of the data values and are each computer-readably coupled to at least one of the
data values . . . .
’748 Patent col. 141 ll. 12–15.
- 57 -
A. Parties’ Arguments
In the briefs, the parties argued the constructions of terms 10A and 10D together,
presenting no arguments unique to this term. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 36; Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 38; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 17; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 19. As
such, the Court refers to the parties’ arguments section of disputed term 10A, supra Section
XIII.A, in construing this term.
B. Analysis
At the Markman hearing, the parties agreed the Court’s construction of disputed claim
term 10A should apply to the constructions of terms 10B–10F. Tr. at 145:20–146:2.
Accordingly, as agreed by the parties, the Court incorporates by reference the analysis of
disputed claim term 10A and construes this term consistently with the construction of term 10A.
Id.
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Markup language tags for one or more data Plain and ordinary (incorporating Defendant’s
values that have more than one attribute that construction of “semantic tags”)
explains the meaning of the data values.
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed, the Court uses the construction
of “semantic tags”:
Markup language tags with more than one tag attribute that describes the meaning of
the values contained within tags.
XVII. Disputed Claim Term #10E: “computer-readable semantic tags that describe a
semantic meaning of the data values and are each computer-readably coupled to at least
one of the data values/the at least portion of the original values”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Markup language tags for one or more data Plain and ordinary (incorporating Defendant’s
values that have more than one attribute that construction of “semantic tags”)
explains the meaning of the data values.
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claims 1, 11, and 19 of the ’748
Patent. RJCCS at 47–50.
The following claim limitations highlight selected usage of the term in context:
a plurality of computer-readable semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning
of the data values and are each computer-readably coupled to at least one of the
data values[,]
- 58 -
’748 Patent col. 141 ll. 12–15,
wherein at least some of the computer-readable semantic tags are each
computer-readably coupled to the at least portion of the original values of at least
one computer-readable XML-complaint data document . . . .
id. col. 145 ll. 52–55.
B. Parties’ Arguments
In the briefs, the parties argued the constructions of terms 10A and 10E together,
presenting no arguments unique to this term. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 36; Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 38; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 17; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 19. As
such, the Court refers to the parties’ arguments section of disputed term 10A, supra Section
XIII.A, in construing this term.
B. Analysis
At the Markman hearing, the parties agreed the Court’s construction of disputed claim
term 10A should apply to the constructions of terms 10B–10F. Tr. at 145:20–146:2.
Accordingly, as agreed by the parties, the Court incorporates by reference the analysis of
disputed claim term 10A and construes this term consistently with the construction of term 10A.
Id.
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Markup language tags for one or more data Plain and ordinary (incorporating Defendant’s
values that have more than one attribute that construction of “semantic tags”)
explains the meaning of the data values.
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed, the Court uses the construction
of “semantic tags”:
Markup language tags with more than one tag attribute that describes the meaning of
the values contained within tags.
XVIII. Disputed Claim Term #10F: “plurality of computer-readable semantic tags that
describe a semantic meaning of the data values”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
More than one markup language tags for one Plain and ordinary (incorporating Defendant’s
or more data values that have more than one construction of “semantic tags” below)
attribute that explains the meaning of the data
values
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claim 29 of the ’842 Patent.
RJCCS at 64–67.
- 59 -
The following claim limitations highlight selected usage of the term in context:
a plurality of computer-readable semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning
of the data values and are each computer-readably coupled to at least one of the
data values . . . .
’842 Patent col. 83 ll. 40–41.
A. Parties’ Arguments
In the briefs, the parties argued the constructions of terms 10A and 10F together,
presenting no arguments unique to this term. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 39–40; Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 41; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 19; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 19. As
such, the Court refers to the parties’ arguments section of disputed term 10A, supra Section
XIII.A, in construing this term.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
Relying on Federal Circuit precedent, the Court preliminarily construed “plurality” to mean “two
or more.” Dayco Prod., Inc. v. Total Containment, Inc., 258 F.3d 1317, 1327–28 (Fed. Cir.
2001) (“In accordance with standard dictionary definitions, we have held that ‘plurality,’ when
used in a claim, refers to two or more items, absent some indication to the contrary.”); see also
York Prods., Inc. v. Cent. Tractor Farm & Family Ctr., 99 F.3d 1568, 1575 (Fed. Cir. 1996)
(“The term means, simply, ‘the state of being plural.’”). Incorporating its preliminary
construction of “semantic tags,” the Court accordingly adopted the following preliminary
construction: “Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed, the Court
incorporates its preliminary construction of ‘semantic tags’: Two or more markup language tags
with more than one attribute including, for example, a description of a relationship between
words or symbols and the intended meaning of numerical values contained within tags.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the parties agreed the Court’s construction of disputed claim
term 10A should apply to the constructions of terms 10B–10F. Tr. at 145:20–146:2. The parties
additionally agreed Federal Circuit caselaw requires a construction of “two or more” for
“plurality,” focusing on the “markup language tags.” Tr. at 151:3–21. Accordingly, as agreed
by the parties, the Court incorporates by reference the analysis of disputed claim term 10A and
construes this term consistently with the construction of term 10A and caselaw on “plurality.”
Tr. at 145:20–146:2; see Dayco Prod., 258 F.3d at 1327–28.
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
- 60 -
More than one markup language tags for one Plain and ordinary (incorporating Defendant’s
or more data values that have more than one construction of “semantic tags”)
attribute that explains the meaning of the data
values
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed, the Court uses the construction
of “semantic tags”:
Two or more markup language tags with more than one tag attribute that describes the
meaning of the values contained within tags.
XIX. Disputed Claim Term #10G: “tags reflecting characteristics of the numerical
values”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Markup language tags wherein the markup Plain and ordinary meaning (incorporating
language tags for the one or more numerical Defendant’s construction of “[]tags”)
values have more than one attribute that Defendant maintains that . . . “tags” [should
explains the meaning of the numerical values be construed] as “markup language tags.”
Further, a markup language is “a language
that uses tags to define elements within a
document. Examples of markup languages
include HTML, XML and XBRL.” To the
extent this term is construed, Defendant
proposes: “Markup language tags wherein
the markup language tags for the one or more
numerical values have one or more attributes
that describe the meaning of the numerical
values.”
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claims 1, 10, 17, 26, and 27 of the
’816 Patent. RJCCS at 8.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
receiving a first markup document and a second markup document, both the first
markup document and the second markup document including numerical values
and tags reflecting characteristics of the numerical values . . . .
’816 Patent col. 55 ll. 8–12.
A. Parties’ Arguments
Plaintiffs highlight the same issues raised under other disputed claim terms: whether tags
require multiple attributes and whether the government inappropriately inserts a construction of
“markup language” into this term. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 19–20. The parties do not raise
- 61 -
any further issues in briefing. See Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 19; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br.
at 9; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 10.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
The Court preliminarily found “semantic tags” does not have a plain and ordinary meaning, see
supra Section XIII.B.1, but preliminarily found “tags reflecting characteristics of the numerical
values” does have a plain and ordinary meaning because the composite terms were known in the
art at the time. The Court understood from the 7 October Status Conference both parties
advocated construing this term the same as other tag-related terms, see SC Tr. at 82:13–20
(“THE COURT: So is there agreement between ‘tags indicating characteristics of the numerical
values’ and ‘computer-readable semantic tags’? [PLAINTIFFS]: From our standpoint, they
mean the same thing. THE COURT: . . . [Does the government] disagree? [THE
GOVERNMENT]: No, I believe for those we point to the same construction.”), so the Court
adopted the following preliminary construction, incorporating its preliminary construction of
“semantic tags”: “Plain and ordinary meaning (incorporating the Court’s preliminary
construction of ‘semantic tags’). Insofar as a definition is needed: Markup language tags with
more than one attribute including, for example, a description of a relationship between words or
symbols and the intended meaning of numerical values contained within tags.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with an update to the Court’s
preliminary construction based on arguments made during the hearing for term 10A, “semantic
tags”: “markup language tags with more than one tag attribute that describes the meaning of the
values contained within tags.” Tr. at 151:22–152:2.
Plaintiffs’ only objection to the Court’s updated construction was not matching the claim
term language of “numerical value.” Tr. at 152:10–18. Although the Court finds “semantic
tags” are not limited to “numerical values,” see supra Section XIII.B.2, the Court finds the
limitation “numerical values” is justified here and for the following claim terms where the terms
themselves contain the phrase “numerical values.” The Court accordingly alters its construction
to include the phrase “numerical values” and plaintiffs agree to the construction with this
modification. See Tr. at 152:23–153:2.
The government raised the previously discussed issue regarding “one or more” rather
than “more than one” attribute. Tr. at 153:8–9. For the same reasons the Court agrees with
plaintiffs’ arguments regarding “more than one” supra Section XIII.B, the Court retains the
“more than one” limitation in its construction.
In a reversal from its position in briefing and the 7 October Status Conference, the
government argued this term should be construed differently from “semantic tags” and attempted
- 62 -
to disavow the final phrase of its alternate construction, “that describe the meaning of the
numerical values.” Compare RJCCS at 8–9 (“To the extent this term is construed, Defendant
proposes: ‘Markup language tags wherein the markup language tags for the one or more
numerical values have one or more attributes that describe the meaning of the numerical
values.’”), with Tr. at 156:7–158:7 (“[THE GOVERNMENT]: . . . ‘[T]ags reflecting
characteristics of numerical value’ need not be ‘semantic tags.’ It could . . . also cover
formatting and display.”). The government, however, has already conceded this term has the
same meaning as semantic tags—describing the meaning of numerical values. SC Tr. at
82:13–20 (“THE COURT: So is there agreement between ‘tags indicating characteristics of the
numerical values’ and ‘computer-readable semantic tags’? [PLAINTIFFS]: From our
standpoint, they mean the same thing. THE COURT: . . . [Does the government] disagree?
[THE GOVERNMENT]: No, I believe for those we point to the same construction.”); RJCCS at
8–9 (“To the extent this term is construed, Defendant proposes: ‘Markup language tags wherein
the markup language tags for the one or more numerical values have one or more attributes that
describe the meaning of the numerical values.’”). The Court therefore declines to construe this
term differently from term 10A, with the exception of the modification to accommodate the
claim language “numerical values.” See In re Katz Interactive Call Processing Patent Litig., 639
F.3d 1303, 1325 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (finding a court should “ordinarily interpret claims consistently
across patents having the same specification”); see also Callicrate v. Wadsworth Mfg., Inc., 427
F.3d 1361, 1369 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (applying construction of term based on first patent to same
term of different patent where the two patents were related and had identical specifications).
Implementing modifications based on the claim language and the final construction of
term 10A, see supra Section XIII.B.2, the Court alters its preliminary construction and adopts the
following final construction: “Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
Markup language tags with more than one tag attribute that describes the meaning of the
numerical values contained within tags.” See Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312–13
(Fed. Cir. 2005) (quoting Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir.
1996)).
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Markup language tags wherein the markup Plain and ordinary meaning (incorporating
language tags for the one or more numerical Defendant’s construction of “[]tags”)
values have more than one attribute that Defendant maintains that . . . “tags” [should
explains the meaning of the numerical values be construed] as “markup language tags.”
Further, a markup language is “a language
that uses tags to define elements within a
document. Examples of markup languages
include HTML, XML and XBRL.” To the
extent this term is construed, Defendant
proposes: “Markup language tags wherein
the markup language tags for the one or more
numerical values have one or more attributes
that describe the meaning of the numerical
values.”
Court’s Final Construction
- 63 -
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
Markup language tags with more than one tag attribute that describes the meaning of
the numerical values contained within tags.
XX. Disputed Claim Term #10H: “first tags reflecting characteristics of the first
numerical values”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Markup language tags wherein the markup Plain and ordinary (incorporating Defendant’s
language tags for the one or more numerical construction of . . . ”tags”). Defendant
values have more than one attribute that maintains that . . . “tags” should be construed
explains the meaning of the numerical values as “markup language tags.” Further, a
markup language is “a language that uses tags
to define elements within a document.
Examples of markup languages include
HTML, XML and XBRL.” To the extent the
Court construes the entire term, Defendant
proposes “Markup language tags wherein the
markup language tags for the one or more
numerical values have one or more attributes
that describe the meaning of the numerical
values.”
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claims 1, 17, and 18 of the ’383
Patent. RJCCS at 17–19.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
code for identifying a first markup document including first numerical values and
first tags reflecting first characteristics of the first numerical values associated with
a first unit of measure, and a second markup document including second numerical
values and second tags reflecting second characteristics of the second numerical
values associated with a second unit of measure, wherein the first tags and the
second tags each include computer­readable semantic tags that describe a semantic
meaning of a corresponding one of at least one of the first numerical values or the
second numerical values . . . .
’383 Patent col. 143 ll. 4–14.
A. Parties’ Arguments
In the briefs, the parties argued the constructions of terms 10G and 10H together,
presenting no arguments unique to this term. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 23; Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 23; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 11; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 12. As
such, the Court refers to the parties’ arguments section of disputed term 10G, supra Section
- 64 -
XIX.A, in construing this term.
B. Analysis
At the Markman hearing, plaintiffs agreed to the Court’s updated construction based on
arguments made for other tag-related terms: “First set of markup language tags with more than
one tag attribute that describes the meaning of the numerical values contained within the first
tags.” Tr. at 162:6–13 (“[PLAINTIFFS]: . . . [T]hat sounds correct.”). The government had no
further argument on this term. Tr. at 162:25–163:3 (“[THE GOVERNMENT]: . . . [W]e don’t
have any further argument beyond— THE COURT: So it’s the same argument as 10G? [THE
GOVERNMENT]: Right.”). Accordingly, the Court incorporates by reference the analysis of
disputed claim term 10G and construes this term consistently with the construction of term 10G.
Tr. at 162:2–163:3.
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Markup language tags wherein the markup Plain and ordinary (incorporating Defendant’s
language tags for the one or more numerical construction of . . . ”tags”). Defendant
values have more than one attribute that maintains that . . . “tags” should be construed
explains the meaning of the numerical values as “markup language tags.” Further, a
markup language is “a language that uses tags
to define elements within a document.
Examples of markup languages include
HTML, XML and XBRL.” To the extent the
Court construes the entire term, Defendant
proposes “Markup language tags wherein the
markup language tags for the one or more
numerical values have one or more attributes
that describe the meaning of the numerical
values.”
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed, the Court uses the construction
of “tags reflecting characteristics of the numerical values”:
First set of markup language tags with more than one tag attribute that describes the
meaning of the numerical values contained within the first tags.
XXI. Disputed Claim Term #10I: “second tags reflecting characteristics of the second
numerical values”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Markup language tags wherein the markup Plain and ordinary (incorporating Defendant’s
language tags for the one or more numerical construction of . . . ”tags”). Defendant
values have more than one attribute that maintains that . . . “tags” should be construed
explains the meaning of the numerical values as “markup language tags.” Further, a
markup language is “a language that uses tags
to define elements within a document.
- 65 -
Examples of markup languages include
HTML, XML and XBRL.” To the extent the
Court construes the entire term, Defendant
proposes “Markup language tags wherein the
markup language tags for the one or more
numerical values have one or more attributes
that describe the meaning of the numerical
values.”
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claims 1, 17, and 18 of the ’383
Patent. RJCCS at 20–21.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
code for identifying a first markup document including first numerical values and
first tags reflecting first characteristics of the first numerical values associated with
a first unit of measure, and a second markup document including second numerical
values and second tags reflecting second characteristics of the second numerical
values associated with a second unit of measure, wherein the first tags and the
second tags each include computer­readable semantic tags that describe a semantic
meaning of a corresponding one of at least one of the first numerical values or the
second numerical values . . . .
’383 Patent col. 143 ll. 4–14.
A. Parties’ Arguments
In the briefs, the parties argued the constructions of terms 10G and 10I together,
presenting no arguments unique to this term. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 24; Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 23; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 11; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 12. As
such, the Court refers to the parties’ arguments section of disputed term 10G, supra Section
XIX.A, in construing this term.
B. Analysis
At the Markman hearing, plaintiffs agreed to the Court’s updated construction based on
arguments made for other tag-related terms: “Second set of markup language tags with more
than one tag attribute that describes the meaning of the numerical values contained within the
second tags.” Tr. at 163:4–11 (“[PLAINTIFFS]: I believe that’s correct.”). The government
had no further argument on this term. Tr. at 163:12–14 (“[THE GOVERNMENT]: . . . [W]e
would have the same objection we have for 10G.”). Accordingly, the Court incorporates by
reference the analysis of disputed claim term 10G and construes this term consistently with the
construction of term 10G. Tr. at 163:4–14.
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Markup language tags wherein the markup Plain and ordinary (incorporating Defendant’s
- 66 -
language tags for the one or more numerical construction of . . . ”tags”). Defendant
values have more than one attribute that maintains that . . . “tags” should be construed
explains the meaning of the numerical values as “markup language tags.” Further, a
markup language is “a language that uses tags
to define elements within a document.
Examples of markup languages include
HTML, XML and XBRL.” To the extent the
Court construes the entire term, Defendant
proposes “Markup language tags wherein the
markup language tags for the one or more
numerical values have one or more attributes
that describe the meaning of the numerical
values.”
Court’s Preliminary Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed, the Court uses the construction
of “tags reflecting characteristics of the numerical values”:
Second set of markup language tags with more than one tag attribute that describes the
meaning of the numerical values contained within the second tags.
XXII. Disputed Claim Term #10J: “series of numerical values having tags indicating
characteristics of the numerical values”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
A set of one or more numerical values having Plain and ordinary meaning (incorporating
markup language tags wherein the markup Defendant’s construction of “[]tags”).
language tags for the one or more numerical Defendant maintains that the term . . . “tags”
values have more than one attribute that [should be construed] as “markup language
explains the meaning of the numerical values tags.” Alternatively, to the extent the term is
construed as a whole, Defendant proposes
“A set of one or more numerical values
having markup language tags wherein the
markup language tags for the one or more
numerical values have one or more attributes
that describe the meaning of the one or more
numerical values.”
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claims 1, 27, 28, and 54 of the
’355 Patent. RJCCS at 2–3.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
A computer-implemented method of processing tagged numerical data, the method
comprising: receiving a series of numerical values having tags indicating
characteristics of the numerical values . . . .
- 67 -
’355 Patent col. 56 ll. 34–37.
A. Parties’ Arguments
The parties’ briefs highlight the same issues raised under other disputed claim terms:
whether tags require multiple attributes and whether characteristics provide information relating
to only meaning or also to format. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 10–13; Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr.
Br. at 7–12; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 2–4; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 1–4; see supra
Section XIX.A.
B. Analysis
At the Markman hearing, plaintiffs agreed to the Court’s updated construction based on
arguments made for other tag-related terms: “Set of numerical values associated with markup
language tags with more than one tag attribute that describes the meaning of the numerical
values contained within tags.” Tr. at 163:15–164:11 (“[PLAINTIFFS]: . . . [T]hat sounds
correct . . . .”). The government had no further argument on this term. Tr. at 164:12–14 (“THE
COURT: . . . [S]ame objections as 10G? [THE GOVERNMENT]: Right.”). Accordingly, the
Court incorporates by reference the analysis of disputed claim term 10G and construes this term
consistently with the construction of term 10G. Tr. at 163:15–164:14.
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
A set of one or more numerical values having Plain and ordinary meaning (incorporating
markup language tags wherein the markup Defendant’s construction of “[]tags”).
language tags for the one or more numerical Defendant maintains that the term . . . “tags”
values have more than one attribute that [should be construed] as “markup language
explains the meaning of the numerical values tags.” Alternatively, to the extent the term is
construed as a whole, Defendant proposes
“A set of one or more numerical values
having markup language tags wherein the
markup language tags for the one or more
numerical values have one or more attributes
that describe the meaning of the one or more
numerical values.”
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed, the Court uses the construction
of “tags reflecting characteristics of the numerical values”:
Set of numerical values associated with markup language tags with more than one tag
attribute that describes the meaning of the numerical values contained within tags.
XXIII. Disputed Claim Term #11: “wherein the first tags and the second tags each include
computer-readable semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning of a corresponding one
of at least one of the first numerical values or the second numerical values”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
- 68 -
Markup language tags wherein the markup Plain and ordinary (incorporating Defendant’s
language tags for the one or more numerical constructions of “[]tags” and “[]semantic
values have more than one attribute that tags”) . . . . To the extent the Court construes
explains the meaning of the numerical values the term as a whole, Defendant proposes
“Markup language tags wherein the markup
language tags for the one or more numerical
values have one or more attributes that
describe the meaning of the numerical
values.”
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claims 1, 17, and 18 of the ’383
Patent. RJCCS at 22–24.
The following claim limitations highlight selected usage of the term in context:
code for identifying a first markup document including first numerical values and
first tags reflecting first characteristics of the first numerical values associated with
a first unit of measure, and a second markup document including second numerical
values and second tags reflecting second characteristics of the second numerical
values associated with a second unit of measure, wherein the first tags and the
second tags each include computer­readable semantic tags that describe a
semantic meaning of a corresponding one of at least one of the first numerical
values or the second numerical values . . . .
’383 Patent col. 143 ll. 4–14.
A. Parties’ Arguments
In the briefs, the parties argued the constructions of terms 10A and 11 together, generally
presenting no arguments unique to this term. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 24–25; Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 23–24; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 11. As such, the Court refers to the parties’
arguments section of disputed term 10A, supra Section XIII.A, in construing this term. The
government raises one additional argument in its surreply brief: plaintiffs’ use of “each include”
is ambiguous because it could refer to “(1) the collective plural ‘first tags’ and the collective
plural ‘second tags’; or (2) each individual single tag from the collection of ‘first tags’ and the
collection of ‘second tags.’” Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 12.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
The Court looked to the surrounding claim language and found construing “include” in this claim
term to mean “comprise” could create redundancy because the claim already describes the first
and second tags as “reflecting [first/second] characteristics of the [first/second] numerical
- 69 -
values,” which the Court preliminarily construed as plain and ordinary meaning, incorporating
the preliminary construction of “semantic tags” based on the parties’ arguments. ’383 Patent col.
143 ll. 4–14; see supra Sections XIX.B.1, XX, XXI. Instead of construing the clauses
introducing the first and second tags and the wherein clause as both incorporating the
preliminary construction of “semantic tags” with minimal alteration, the Court preliminarily
construed “include” in the wherein clause as adding hierarchy to the tags through nesting,
avoiding redundancy. See ’383 Patent col. 143 ll. 4–14 (“first tags reflecting first characteristics
of the first numerical values . . . and second tags reflecting second characteristics of the second
numerical values . . . wherein the first tags and the second tags each include computer­readable
semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning of a corresponding one of at least one of the first
numerical values or the second numerical values”); DeMarini Sports, Inc. v. Worth, Inc., 239
F.3d 1314, 1327 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (“We note that claim terms are not construed in a vacuum.
Rather, to interpret claim terms we look to all of the intrinsic evidence as it pertains to the terms
in question.”). The Court accordingly adopted the following preliminary construction,
incorporating its preliminary construction for “semantic tags”: “Plain and ordinary meaning
incorporating the Court’s preliminary construction of ‘semantic tags.’ Insofar as a definition is
needed: First tags and second tags, within each are nested markup language tags with more than
one attribute, including for example, a description of a relationship between words or symbols
and the intended meaning of numerical values contained within tags.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 164:15–25. Both parties requested the Court remove the clause regarding
nesting and the comma preceding it—“, within each are nested markup language tags.” Tr. at
165:5–17 (plaintiffs), 166:1–4 (the government). In addition to modifications based on the
parties’ arguments from other tag-related terms, the government proposed changing “within
tags” to “within first and second tags” for added clarity; plaintiffs stated this change was not
necessary but did not disagree with it. Tr. at 167:2–168:8. With these modifications, plaintiffs
agreed to the Court’s construction, and the government objected only to “more than one” rather
than “one or more” attributes as they did for other tag-related terms. Tr. at 168:2–13 (“THE
COURT: ‘First markup language tags and second markup language tags with more than one tag
attribute that describes the meaning of the numerical values contained within first and second
tags.’ Is that correct? [PLAINTIFFS]: Yeah, I believe that’s correct, and I think you could have
just said ‘within tags.’ . . . [THE GOVERNMENT]: . . . [W]e still object to the ‘more than one
attribute.’”). For the same reasons the Court agrees with plaintiffs’ arguments regarding “more
than one” supra Section XIII.B, the Court retains the “more than one” limitation in its
construction.
Implementing modifications based on clarity and agreement between the parties, the
Court alters its preliminary construction and adopts the following final construction,
incorporating the final construction of “tags reflecting characteristics of the numerical values”:
“Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed, the Court uses the construction of
‘tags reflecting characteristics of the numerical values’: First markup language tags and second
markup language tags with more than one tag attribute that describes the meaning of the
numerical values contained within first and second tags.”
- 70 -
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Markup language tags wherein the markup Plain and ordinary (incorporating Defendant’s
language tags for the one or more numerical constructions of “[]tags” and “[]semantic
values have more than one attribute that tags”) Defendant maintains that “tag[s]” and
explains the meaning of the numerical values “semantic tag[s]” should be construed. To the
extent the Court construes the term as a
whole, Defendant proposes
“Markup language tags wherein the markup
language tags for the one or more numerical
values have one or more attributes that
describe the meaning of the numerical
values.”
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed, the Court uses the construction
of “tags reflecting characteristics of the numerical values”:
First markup language tags and second markup language tags with more than one tag
attribute that describes the meaning of the numerical values contained within first and
second tags.
XXIV. Disputed Claim Term #12: “wherein the characteristics indicate that the numerical
values of the first markup document differ in format from the numerical values of the
second markup document”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
One or more attributes for the numerical Plain and ordinary meaning
values in the first markup document are
different from one or more attributes for the
numerical values in the second markup
document
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claims 1, 10, 17, 26, and 27 of the
’816 Patent. RJCCS at 10.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
receiving a first markup document and a second markup document, both the first
markup document and the second markup document including numerical values
and tags reflecting characteristics of the numerical values, wherein the
characteristics indicate that the numerical values of the first markup document
differ in format from the numerical values of the second markup document . . . .
’816 Patent col. 55 ll. 8–16.
A. Parties’ Arguments
- 71 -
Plaintiffs argue the ’816 Patent teaches “numerical values differ in format when their
attributes are different.” Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 20 (citing ’816 Patent col. 8 ll. 28–43 (“After
receiving any requested sets of numerical data, the data viewer may automatically transform and
combine them even if they are in different formats (i.e., one in thousands of U.S. dollars and
another in hundreds of French francs) on a single graphical display without requiring the user to
make manual adjustments. The user may then make single-click adjustments to the display (e.g.,
adjust for inflation, currencies, time periods, number precision, etc.) to see different aspects of
the received information. RDML generally facilitates numerical browsing by associating
numbers with attributes describing the meaning of the numbers.”)). The government responds
“there are attributes not directed to the format of the number[,]” so plaintiffs broaden the scope
of the claims by considering any change in attribute to be a change in format. Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 19–20. Further, the government argues the two documents may have different
attributes which conflicts with plaintiffs’ construction. Id. at 20.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
The Court looked to the specification for guidance on how characteristics “differ in format.”
Figure 10 of the ’816 Patent, reproduced below, shows the transformation process to which this
claim term relates.
- 72 -
’816 Patent fig.10.
The specification, describing Figure 10, instructs:
The data viewer . . . accesses the unit, magnitude, modifier, scale, measure and
adjustment attributes of the document or line item to be transformed (step 1010).
Using these attributes, the data viewer . . . determines the conversion factors, if any,
for each (step 1012). These conversion factors may be stored locally or retrieved
online over a network . . . . The data viewer . . . then multiplies the conversion
factors to transform the numerical data into the desired display (step 1014) and
displays the transformed line item or document (step 1016). . . . [I]f more than one
document . . . needs to be transformed, the steps may be repeated for each
document. In this way, documents . . . having different numerical sets may be
automatically manipulated for simultaneous display or quick transformation of
display format without human intervention. The system automatically resolves
conflicts between different documents in different formats by transforming them
into one desired form.
- 73 -
Id. col. 26 ll. 11–30 (emphasis added). The Court found Figure 10 and its explanation instructive
in understanding the types of attributes accessed for transformations when documents “differ in
format.” Id. The Court accordingly adopted the following preliminary construction: “Plain and
ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed: In two markup documents containing
characteristics of numerical values, the characteristics are different in format, exemplified by
attributes such as magnitude, scale, modifier, unit, or measure which distinguish the
representation of numerical values from one markup document to the other markup document.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 168:15–22. The parties agreed the second instance of “characteristics” in the
Court’s preliminary construction should be “one or more characteristics” to clarify the minimum
number of different characteristics between the two documents is one rather than two. Tr. at
170:15–21 (the government), 170:23–25 (plaintiffs). The Court accordingly alters its
preliminary construction to clarify a minimum of one characteristic must differ in format.
Implementing a modification based on clarity as well as agreement by the parties, the
Court alters its preliminary construction and adopts the following final construction: “Plain and
ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed: In two markup documents containing
characteristics of numerical values where one or more of the characteristics are different in
format, exemplified by attributes such as magnitude, scale, modifier, unit, or measure which
distinguish the representation of numerical values from one markup document to the other
markup document.” Tr. at 173:7–24; see Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312–13 (Fed.
Cir. 2005) (quoting Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996)).
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
One or more attributes for the numerical Plain and ordinary meaning
values in the first markup document are
different from one or more attributes for the
numerical values in the second markup
document
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
In two markup documents containing characteristics of numerical values where one or
more of the characteristics are different in format, exemplified by attributes such as
magnitude, scale, modifier, unit, or measure which distinguish the representation of
numerical values from one markup document to the other markup document.
XXV. Disputed Claim Term #13A: “automatically transforming/transforms the
numerical values of at least one of the first markup document and the second markup
document, so that the numerical values of the first markup document and the second
markup document have a common format”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
- 74 -
Automatically converting/converts at least a Plain and ordinary meaning.
portion of the first or second numerical values
and one or more attributes for the numerical
values in the first or second markup document
to create new numerical values and common
attributes for the numerical values
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claims 1, 10, 17, 26, and 27 of the
’816 Patent. RJCCS at 10–11.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
receiving a first markup document and a second markup document, both the first
markup document and the second markup document including numerical values
and tags reflecting characteristics of the numerical values, wherein the
characteristics indicate that the numerical values of the first markup document
differ in format from the numerical values of the second markup document;
automatically transforming the numerical values of at least one of the first markup
document and the second markup document, so that the numerical values of the
first markup document and the second markup document have a common format
....
’816 Patent col. 55 ll. 8–21.
A. Parties’ Arguments
Plaintiffs argue the specification supports the premise the numerical values themselves
are changed as part of the transformation: “[T]he method determines conversion factors for the
magnitude, scale, modifier, units, measure, adjustment and aggregation tags to accomplish the
transformation to the new characteristics and multiplies the set of numerical values by the
determined conversion factors to transform the set of numerical values to reflect the new
characteristics.” Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 21 (quoting ’816 Patent col. 4 ll. 22–28) (emphasis
altered) (internal quotations omitted). The government, however, does not object to requiring a
change in the numerical values but rather to requiring a change in the attributes. Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 21. Further, the government asserts plaintiffs have no support for the broadening
clause “at least a portion of” in their proposed construction, and the plain reading of the claim
language “requires transforming no less than all of the numerical values.” 14 Id. at 20–21.
Plaintiffs reply by stating the claim language does not use the word “all,” so not all of the
numerical values must be transformed. Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 10.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
14
The government also raises an indefiniteness issue with plaintiffs’ proposed construction. Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr.
Br. at 21–22. The Court does not address the indefiniteness argument at this time as it construes only disputed terms
not raising indefiniteness arguments in this Opinion and Order.
- 75 -
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
The Court looked to the specification for explanation of the transformation process. As Figure
10, see supra Section XXIV.B.1, and its explanation in the specification show, transformation
involves applying “conversion factors” based on certain kinds of attributes to “numerical values”
so that the documents are in “one desired form.” ’816 Patent fig.10, col. 26 ll. 11–30.
Incorporating language from the specification, the Court accordingly adopted the following
preliminary construction: “Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
Automatically converting/converts the numerical values, contained in at least two markup
documents, using attributes (such as unit, magnitude, modifier, scale, measure, and adjustment)
and conversion factors to one common format of numerical values.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 173:25–174:9. The parties agreed to the Court’s construction with several
modifications to clarify singular versus plural: “at least one of two markup documents”; “one or
more attributes”; and “one or more conversion factors.” Tr. at 174:11–177:1.
Implementing modifications based on agreement by the parties, the Court alters its
preliminary construction and adopts the following final construction: “Plain and ordinary
meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed: Automatically converting/converts the numerical
values, contained in at least one of two markup documents, using one or more attributes (such as
unit, magnitude, modifier, scale, measure, and adjustment) and one or more conversion factors to
one common format of numerical values.” See Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312–13
(Fed. Cir. 2005) (quoting Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir.
1996)).
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Automatically converting/converts at least a Plain and ordinary meaning.
portion of the first or second numerical values
and one or more attributes for the numerical
values in the first or second markup document
to create new numerical values and common
attributes for the numerical values
Court’s Preliminary Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
Automatically converting/converts the numerical values, contained in at least one of two
markup documents, using one or more attributes (such as unit, magnitude, modifier,
scale, measure, and adjustment) and one or more conversion factors to one common
format of numerical values.
XXVI. Disputed Claim Term #13B: “automatic transformation of at least a portion of the
first or second numerical values of at least one of the first markup document or the second
- 76 -
markup document, so that at least some of the first numerical values of the first markup
document and at least some of the second numerical values of the second markup
document have a common unit of measure”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Automatically converting at least a portion of Plain and ordinary (incorporating the parties’
the first or second numerical values and one agreed construction of “markup document” as
or more attributes for the numerical values in “a document that contains markup language
the first or second markup document to create tags.”)
new numerical values and common attributes
reflecting a unit of measure for the numerical
values
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claims 1 and 17 of the ’383
Patent. RJCCS at 27–28.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
code for causing automatic transformation of at least a portion of the first or second
numerical values of at least one of the first markup document or the second markup
document, so that at least some of the first numerical values of the first markup
document and at least some of the second numerical values of the second markup
document have a common unit of measure . . . .
’383 Patent col. 143 ll. 21–27.
A. Parties’ Arguments
In the briefs, the parties argued the constructions of terms 13A and 13B together,
presenting no arguments unique to this term. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 25; Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 24; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 11; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 13. As
such, the Court refers to the parties’ arguments section of disputed term 13A, supra Section
XXV.A, in construing this term.
B. Analysis
At the Markman hearing, the parties agreed to the Court’s updated construction based on
arguments made for Term 13A: “Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
Automatic conversion of at least a portion of the numerical values, contained in at least one of
two markup documents, using one or more attributes (such as unit, magnitude, modifier, scale,
measure, and adjustment) and one or more conversion factors to one common unit of measure of
numerical values.” Tr. at 177:10–23 (“[PLAINTIFFS]: That sounded correct . . . . [THE
GOVERNMENT]: We agree.”). Accordingly, the Court incorporates by reference the analysis
of disputed claim term 13A and construes this term consistently with the construction of term
13A. Tr. at 177:10–23.
- 77 -
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Automatically converting at least a portion of Plain and ordinary (incorporating the parties’
the first or second numerical values and one agreed construction of “markup document” as
or more attributes for the numerical values in “a document that contains markup language
the first or second markup document to create tags.”)
new numerical values and common attributes
reflecting a unit of measure for the numerical
values
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
Automatic conversion of at least a portion of the numerical values, contained in at least
one of two markup documents, using one or more attributes (such as unit, magnitude,
modifier, scale, measure, and adjustment) and one or more conversion factors to one
common unit of measure of numerical values.
XXVII. Disputed Claim Term #14: “transform the series of numerical values into a new
representation of the series of numerical values”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Converting the series of one or more Plain and ordinary meaning
numerical values and one or more of the
attributes for the numerical values into a new
series of one or more numerical values and
one or more attributes that reflects the
operation
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claims 1, 27, 28, and 54 of the
’355 Patent. RJCCS at 5.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
performing an operation defined by the macro on the series of numerical values to
transform the series of numerical values into a new representation of the series of
numerical values based on the tags . . . .
’355 Patent col. 56 ll. 42–45.
A. Parties’ Arguments
Plaintiffs cite the specification to support their argument the attributes are transformed as
well as the numerical values. Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 15–16 (citing ’355 Patent col. 4 ll. 6–30).
The government raises the same singular versus plural attributes issue discussed supra for other
terms. Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 15 (“e-Numerate’s construction requires that both the
original series of numerical values and the transformed series of numerical values both have
attributes. As discussed in the context of Term 1, the series of numerical values may have a
- 78 -
single attribute (and still meet the requirements directed to characteristics).”) (emphasis omitted).
Further, the government objects to the phrase “that reflects the operation” in plaintiffs’ proposed
construction “when ‘the operation’ is not even part of the term e-Numerate seeks to construe”
and such a limitation is not supported by the claim language or specification. Id. at 15–16.
Plaintiffs reply by quoting a limitation from claim 1 of the ’355 Patent, which includes both
“operation” and the claim term: “performing an operation defined by the macro on the series of
numerical values to transform the series of numerical values into a new representation of the
series of numerical values based on the tags.” Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 6 (citing ’355 Patent
col. 56 ll. 42–45). The government argues “reflects” is inappropriate and leads to ambiguity.
Def.’s Surreply Cl. Const. Br. at 6.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
The Court looked to the specification for explanation of the transformation process. As Figure
10, see supra Section XXIV.B.1, and its explanation in the specification show, transformation
involves applying “conversion factors.” ’355 Patent fig.10, col. 26 ll. 16–35. Substituting
“convert” for “transform” based on this explanation and using plain meaning for the rest of the
claim term, the Court accordingly adopted the following preliminary construction: “Convert the
series of numerical values into a new representation of the series of numerical values.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 177:24–178:4. Plaintiffs disputed whether the transformation of this claim
term changes the attributes as well as the numerical values. Tr. at 178:12–186:18
(“[PLAINTIFFS]: . . . [W]e think that this should also mention changing not just the numbers,
but the attributes as well.”). The issue, however, is a dispute over the functionality of the claim
language following this term—“values based on the tags”—and whether those tags are pre- or
post-transformation. See Tr. at 186:19–22 (“THE COURT: . . . [I]t seems to me that this is a
functionality issue, but it’s based off of language that’s outside the claim term. It’s based on
‘values based on the tags’ that comes afterwards.”), 187:9–13 (“[PLAINTIFFS]: I understand
that [‘based on the tags’ is] not in the term. We probably should have put in ‘based on the tags’
in the provision that was being advocated for construction here because we think it’s understood
that that’s what the claim is saying.”). As “values based on the tags” is not part of the term
proposed for construction, the Court does not rule on the parties’ functionality dispute, and the
parties may raise this issue again in future briefing if appropriate. The Court accordingly adopts
its preliminary construction as final: “Convert the series of numerical values into a new
representation of the series of numerical values.” See DeMarini Sports, Inc. v. Worth, Inc., 239
F.3d 1314, 1327 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (“We note that claim terms are not construed in a vacuum.
Rather, to interpret claim terms we look to all of the intrinsic evidence as it pertains to the terms
in question.”).
- 79 -
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Converting the series of one or more Plain and ordinary meaning
numerical values and one or more of the
attributes for the numerical values into a new
series of one or more numerical values and
one or more attributes that reflects the
operation
Court’s Preliminary Construction
Convert the series of numerical values into a new representation of the series of
numerical values.
XXVIII. Disputed Claim Term #15A: “multiple hierarchical relationships between two
line items”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
e-Numerate has identified a phrase that At least two relationships between two line
includes “capable of including” in addition to items where one relationship is expressed as a
this language and has provided a construction parent-child relationship between the two line
therefore. items and the other is based on a common
ancestor between the two line items
(incorporating parties’ agreed construction of
“line items”)
The government disputes the construction of this claim term in claim 1 of the ’748 Patent.
RJCCS at 51–53.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
a plurality of computer-readable semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning of
the data values and are each computer-readably coupled to at least one of the data
values, where the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data document is
capable of including multiple hierarchical relationships between two line items
....
’748 Patent col. 141 ll. 11–18.
A. Parties’ Arguments
Plaintiffs argue their construction “embraces the conventional hierarchical tree structures
described and shown in the ‘383 patent.” 15 Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 29–30 (citing ’383 Patent col.
41 ll. 35–47, col. 27 ll. 25–49, fig.14A). The government’s construction, plaintiffs assert, “is
confusing, non-sensical, and appears to be designed to exclude conventional hierarchical tree
15
The parties briefed the terms by patent in chronological order and therefore provided their relevant arguments
under related term 15B from the ’383 Patent. As the asserted patents in the ’355 series all have similar
specifications, see supra note 9, the Court accepts the arguments regarding the familial specification.
- 80 -
structures such as that shown in at least Figure 14A.” Id. at 31. The government contends the
asserted patents describe “intersecting hierarchies structures” and distinguish them from
“conventional tree structures.” Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 29–30. The specification’s
statement “the relationship attribute specifies the nature of the relationship, such as whether the
line item is a child of another line item or contained by another,” ’383 Patent col. 27 ll. 42–44,
“points to the presence of an additional relationship” which moves beyond the conventional tree
structure, the government argues, allowing for multiple, overlapping hierarchies. Def.’s Resp.
Cl. Constr. Br. at 30–31. The government also asserts multiple hierarchies would arise if a
parent line item had some children with the child attribute and others with the member attribute.
Id. at 31. Further, “it is unclear what are all the relevant line items and hierarchies that undergird
[plaintiffs’] exemplary view” in Figure 14A, the government states. Id. at 32. Plaintiffs reply
the government ignores the explanation of Figure 14A in the specification in describing
plaintiffs’ understanding of the figure as “unclear.” Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 14 (citing ’383
Patent col. 41 ll. 35–46).
The government also contends the idea of overlapping hierarchies was known in the art
and appears in the prosecution history of the ’383 Patent. Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 32–34
(citing U.S. Patent No. 5,940,822; U.S. Patent Application No. 60/219,796; Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. Ex. D (“2007-3-26 Amendment to Claims (10/052,250 Appl.)”), ECF No. 82-4;
Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. Ex. E (“2009-1-22 Reply Brief from ’250 App.”), ECF No. 82-5).
Plaintiffs assert the government’s argument based on prosecution history is inapposite because
the referenced claim recites a “second hierarchy” that is “not present in the claim at issue.” Pls.’
Cl. Constr. Br. at 32. Further, plaintiffs point out the claim the government references from the
prosecution history was canceled and the application eventually became the ’842 Patent, which
issued after the ’383 Patent. Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 15. Finally, plaintiffs object to the
government using its expert declaration to support its proposed construction. Pls.’ Cl. Constr.
Br. at 32.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
Looking first to the plain language of the term, the Court found it supported two potential
constructions based on how the phrase is parsed: line item A has at least two different
relationships (with line items B, C, etc.); or line item A has at least two relationships (both with
line item B). See ’748 Patent col. 141 ll. 11–18 (“multiple hierarchical relationships between
two line items”). The Court then looked to the specification for support. Figure 14A,
reproduced below, contains a tree view.
- 81 -
’748 Patent fig.14A.
“FIGS. 14A-F depict . . . the tree view 720 in the lower half.” Id. col. 34 ll. 21–22. “The tree
view presents a hierarchical view of the data. . . . The user can see the dependency relationships,
identify from icons and visual cues how the different line items are related to their parents, peers,
and children.” Id. col. 41 ll. 2–10. The specification also states “[t]he data viewer 100 uses the
level attribute and the relationship attribute to create a hierarchical tree” and discusses how the
level attribute and relationship attribute affect a line item’s relationship to another line item. Id.col. 26 l. 56–col. 27 l. 13. Figure 14A and the specification indicate the patents teach a
conventional tree structure rather than the intersecting hierarchies the government proposes. See
id. fig.14A, col. 41 ll. 2–10, col. 26 l. 56–col. 27 l. 13. The Court therefore preliminarily found
the first potential construction—line item A has at least two different relationships (with line
items B, C, etc.)—appropriate.
The Court also examined the prosecution history cited by the government. The specific
claim the government cites was canceled on 21 December 2015, and the applicant added a new
claim set with none of the same claim language to the application for the ’842 Patent. See
2007-3-26 Amendment to the Claims (10/052,250 Appl.) at 15 (“62. . . . provides for the creation
of a second hierarchy . . . .”); 21 Dec. 2015 Amendment to Claims (10/052,250 Appl.) at 1
(“1.-85. (Cancelled)”). The prosecution history cited by the government is therefore misleading
and not persuasive on the Court. See Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1317 (Fed. Cir.
2005) (“Yet because the prosecution history represents an ongoing negotiation between the PTO
and the applicant, rather than the final product of that negotiation, it often lacks the clarity of the
specification and thus is less useful for claim construction purposes.”); see also Mass. Inst. of
- 82 -
Tech. v. Shire Pharm., Inc., 839 F.3d 1111, 1120 (Fed. Cir. 2016) (finding unpersuasive
prosecution history arguments based on statements “made in the context of different claims that
did not include the terms” for construction).
The Court adopted the following preliminary construction: “A line item with more than
one type of hierarchical relationship with another line item, conveying information such as
dependency on other line items and relation of different line items to their parents, peers, and
children. Examples of relationships between two line items include parent-child, siblings, and
grandparent-grandchild.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 189:6–13. In supplemental briefing following the Markman hearing,
plaintiffs emphasized the importance of the construction encompassing Figures 14A of the ’383
and ’748 Patents and Figure 15 of the ’842 Patent because they “are the only embodiments of
financial reports contained in the specifications of the patents-in-suit.” Pls.’ Suppl. Cl. Constr.
Br. at 2 (citing ’355 Patent col. 49 ll. 51–57 (“RDML permits records to be arranged
hierarchically within a table. Although not a standard approach for relational tables, this permits
multiple levels of information to be placed in a single two-dimensional table. Users desire this,
for example, when viewing financial statements, where a single line item 55 (e.g., ‘Equipment
leasing’) may have several sub-components (‘Autos,’ ‘Trucks,’ ‘Office Equipment.’)”)
(emphasis omitted), col. 9 ll. 44–52, col. 11 ll. 38–48, col. 23 ll. 33–50, col. 27 l. 67–col. 28 l. 6).
Plaintiffs also described their understanding of the “multiple hierarchical relationships” in the
figures: “[I]n Figure 14A of the ‘383 patent, ‘Total Receipts’ is a sibling [of] ‘Total Outlays’
and a child of ‘Summary of Receipts, Outlays.’ In Figure 15 of the ‘842 patent, ‘Cash and
Balances Due From Depository Institutions’ is a sibling of ‘Interest Bearing Balances’ and a
child of ‘Total Assets.’” Id. at 3–4. The government’s construction, plaintiffs assert,
“improperly attempts to add the words ‘with each other’ into the claim.” Id. at 4.
The central issue for this term is whether the construction must encompass Figures 14A
of the ’383 and ’748 Patents and Figure 15 of the ’842 Patent. “A claim construction that
excludes the preferred embodiment ‘is rarely, if ever, correct and would require highly
persuasive evidentiary support.’” Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, Inc. v. Perrigo Co., 616 F.3d
1283, 1290 (Fed. Cir. 2010) (quoting Vitronics Corp. v. Conceptronic Inc., 90 F.3d 1576,
1583–84 (Fed. Cir. 1996)). The Federal Circuit “normally do[es] not interpret claim terms in a
way that excludes embodiments disclosed in the specification.” Oatey Co. v. IPS Corp., 514
F.3d 1271, 1276–77 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (citing Verizon Servs. Corp. v. Vonage Holdings Corp., 503
F.3d 1295, 1305 (Fed. Cir. 2007) (rejecting proposed claim interpretation that would exclude
disclosed examples in the specification); Invitrogen Corp. v. Biocrest Mfg., L.P., 327 F.3d 1364,
1369 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (finding district court’s claim construction erroneously excluded an
embodiment described in an example in the specification, where the prosecution history showed
no such disavowal of claim scope)); see also Nobel Biocare Servs. AG v. Instradent USA, Inc.,
903 F.3d 1365, 1382 (Fed. Cir. 2018) (“there is a strong presumption against a claim
construction that excludes a disclosed embodiment”) (quoting In re Katz Interactive Call
Processing Patent Litig., 639 F.3d 1303, 1324 (Fed. Cir. 2011)). As a threshold matter, the
- 83 -
government agrees the Court can look to the specification in the case of ambiguous language.
Tr. at 213:4–8 (“THE COURT: . . . [I]f the claim language is for some reason ambiguous on
what is or is not included, then we can look to the specification in order to understand what it
means? [THE GOVERNMENT]: Sure.”). The specification discusses Figure 14A as
representing the hierarchical relationships of the claimed invention. ’748 Patent col. 41 ll. 2–10;
see supra Section XXVIII.B.1. Prosecution history arguments based on a canceled claim set and
extrinsic references to what was known in the art do not reach the level of “highly persuasive
evidentiary support” required for the Court to construe the term to exclude the embodiment
disclosed in Figure 14A. Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1583–84.
At the Markman hearing, plaintiffs suggested several language changes to the Court’s
preliminary construction to clarify the multiple relationships do not have to be between the same
two line items. First, plaintiffs suggested “relationships to other line items” rather than
“relationship with another line item” because “another line item” implies only one other line item
is the subject of both relationships. Tr. at 204:12–25. Second, plaintiffs suggested changing
“with more than one type” to “in various types.” Id. Finally, plaintiffs suggested omitting the
clause in the first sentence of the Court’s preliminary construction beginning with “conveying”
as it is unnecessary. Tr. at 206:5–9. The government objected to these changes and argued for
retaining the first clause of the Court’s preliminary construction—“A line item with more than
one type of hierarchical relationship with another line item”—to indicate multiple relationships
between the same two line items are required. See Tr. at 206:17–208:3, 209:7–16. The Court,
however, finds plaintiffs’ suggested changes helpful in clarifying the Court’s intended meaning
as well as supported by the specification. The Court, therefore, alters the first sentence of its
preliminary construction to read: “A line item in various types of hierarchical relationships with
other line items.”
The parties agreed on two changes to the last sentence of the Court’s preliminary
construction to clarify the exemplary relationships. Instead of “siblings,” the parties agreed to
“sibling-sibling.” Tr. at 206:11–14 (the government), 207:24–208:2 (plaintiffs). The parties also
agreed to add “member-collection.” Tr. at 206:15–17 (the government), 207:18–23 (plaintiffs).
The Court accordingly alters the last sentence of its preliminary construction to read: “Examples
of relationships between two line items include parent-child, sibling-sibling,
grandparent-grandchild, and member-collection.” With these changes, plaintiffs agreed to the
Court’s construction in full. See Tr. at 208:15–21 (plaintiffs agreeing to first sentence of
construction), 208:25–209:4 (plaintiffs agreeing to second sentence of construction).
Implementing modifications based on clarity, the specification evidence, and agreement
between the parties, the Court alters its preliminary construction and adopts the following final
construction: “A line item in various types of hierarchical relationships with other line items.
Examples of relationships between two line items include parent-child, sibling-sibling,
grandparent-grandchild, and member-collection.” See Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, 616
F.3d at 1290 (quoting Vitronics, 90 F.3d at 1583–84); Oatey, 514 F.3d at 1276–77 (citing
Verizon Servs., 503 F.3d at 1305; Invitrogen, 327 F.3d at 1369); Nobel Biocare Servs. AG, 903
F.3d at 1382 (quoting In re Katz Interactive Call Processing Patent Litig., 639 F.3d at 1324).
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
- 84 -
e-Numerate has identified a phrase that At least two relationships between two line
includes “capable of including” in addition to items where one relationship is expressed as a
this language and has provided a construction parent-child relationship between the two line
therefore. items and the other is based on a common
ancestor between the two line items
(incorporating parties’ agreed construction of
“line items”)
Court’s Final Construction
A line item in various types of hierarchical relationships with other line items. Examples
of relationships between two line items include parent-child, sibling-sibling,
grandparent-grandchild, and member-collection.
XXIX. Disputed Claim Term #15B: “multiple hierarchical relationships between two line
items of corresponding numerical values”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
As used in claims 7 and 15, Plaintiffs contend “at least two relationships between two line
that the phrase should contain the word items of corresponding numerical values
“includes” before “multiple” and should be where one relationship is expressed as a
construed as “includes a line item in various parent-child relationship between the two line
types of hierarchical relationships with other items and the other is based on a common
line items. By way of example, parent-child, ancestor between the two line items”
siblings, grandparent-grandchild, etc.” Claim
8 uses the term “capable of”. e-Numerate has (incorporating above construction of “line
previously provided a construction for the items”)
phrase including “capable of.”
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claims 7, 8, and 15 of the ’383
Patent. RJCCS at 32–34.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
The computer program product is configured such that the single markup document
includes a XML-compliant data document that includes multiple hierarchical
relationships between two line items of corresponding numerical values . . . .
’383 Patent col. 143 ll. 63–67.
A. Parties’ Arguments
In the briefs, the parties argued the constructions of terms 15A and 15B together,
presenting no arguments unique to this term. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 44; Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 45; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 21; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 19; Pls.’
Suppl. Cl. Constr. Br. at 1–4. As such, the Court refers to the parties’ arguments section of
disputed term 15A, supra Section XXVIII.A, in construing this term.
- 85 -
B. Analysis
At the Markman hearing, the parties agreed the Court’s construction of disputed claim
term 15A should apply to the constructions of terms 15B–15C. Tr. at 189:19–190:2.
Accordingly, as agreed by the parties, the Court incorporates by reference the analysis of
disputed claim term 15A and construes this term consistently with the construction of term 15A.
Tr. at 189:19–190:2.
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
As used in claims 7 and 15, Plaintiffs contend “at least two relationships between two line
that the phrase should contain the word items of corresponding numerical values
“includes” before “multiple” and should be where one relationship is expressed as a
construed as “includes a line item in various parent-child relationship between the two line
types of hierarchical relationships with other items and the other is based on a common
line items. By way of example, parent-child, ancestor between the two line items”
siblings, grandparent-grandchild, etc.” Claim
8 uses the term “capable of”. e-Numerate has (incorporating above construction of “line
previously provided a construction for the items”)
phrase including “capable of.”
Court’s Final Construction
A line item in various types of hierarchical relationships with other line items. Examples
of relationships between two line items include parent-child, sibling-sibling,
grandparent-grandchild, and member-collection.
XXX. Disputed Claim Term #15C: “multiple hierarchical relationships between two of
the plurality of line items”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plaintiffs have proposed a construction of this At least two relationships between two line
phrase including the words “capable of items where one relationship is expressed as a
including”. Plaintiffs incorporate that parent-child relationship between the two line
construction by reference. items and the other is based on a common
ancestor between the two line items.
(incorporating above construction of “line
items”)
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claim 29 of the ’842 Patent.
RJCCS at 68–70.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
a plurality of computer-readable semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning of
the data values, where the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data
document is capable of including multiple hierarchical relationships between two
- 86 -
of the plurality of line items . . . .
’842 Patent col. 83 ll. 40–45.
A. Parties’ Arguments
In the briefs, the parties argued the constructions of terms 15A and 15C together,
presenting no arguments unique to this term. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 40; Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 41; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 19; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 19; Pls.’
Suppl. Cl. Constr. Br. at 1–4. As such, the Court refers to the parties’ arguments section of
disputed term 15A, supra Section XXVIII.A, in construing this term.
B. Analysis
At the Markman hearing, the parties agreed the Court’s construction of disputed claim
term 15A should apply to the constructions of terms 15B–15C. Tr. at 189:19–190:2.
Accordingly, as agreed by the parties, the Court incorporates by reference the analysis of
disputed claim term 15A and construes this term consistently with the construction of term 15A.
Tr. at 189:19–190:2.
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plaintiffs have proposed a construction of this At least two relationships between two line
phrase including the words “capable of items where one relationship is expressed as a
including”. Plaintiffs incorporate that parent-child relationship between the two line
construction by reference. items and the other is based on a common
ancestor between the two line items.
(incorporating above construction of “line
items”)
Court’s Final Construction
A line item in various types of hierarchical relationships with other line items. Examples
of relationships between two line items include parent-child, sibling-sibling,
grandparent-grandchild, and member-collection.
XXXI. Disputed Claim Term #16A: “capable of including multiple hierarchical
relationships between two line items”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
May include a line item in various types of Has the ability to include at least two
hierarchical relationships with other line relationships between two line items where
items. By way of example, parent-child, one relationship is expressed as a parent-child
siblings, grandparent-grandchild, etc. relationship between the two line items and
the other is based on a common ancestor
between the two line items
(incorporating parties’ agreed construction of
- 87 -
“line items”)
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claim 1 of the ’748 Patent.
RJCCS at 50–51.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
a plurality of computer-readable semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning of
the data values and are each computer-readably coupled to at least one of the data
values, where the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data document is
capable of including multiple hierarchical relationships between two line items
....
’748 Patent col. 141 ll. 11–18.
A. Parties’ Arguments
Plaintiffs argue their proposed construction of “may include” accords with Federal
Circuit precedent on the construction of “capable of including.” Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 25–26
(citing Finjan, Inc. v. Secure Computing Corp., 626 F.3d 1197 (Fed. Cir. 2010), Intel Corp. v.
U.S. Int’l Trade Comm’n, 946 F.2d 821, 832 (Fed. Cir. 1991)). The government asserts under
plaintiffs’ proposed construction of “capable of including,” “the resulting claim may both
include or not include the relevant functionality—as opposed to always allowing for the relevant
functionality.” 16 Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr. Br. at 25. A PHOSITA, the government argues, would
understand the plain and ordinary meaning of “capable of including” to be “has the ability to
include.” Id. at 24.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
The Court looked to Federal Circuit caselaw on the meaning of “capable.” Although the
procedural posture relates to infringement rather than claim construction, the Federal Circuit
stated in Finjan, “[T]o infringe a claim that recites capability and not actual operation, an
accused device ‘need only be capable of operating’ in the described mode.” 626 F.3d at 1204(quoting Intel, 946 F.2d at 832); see also Revolution Eyewear, Inc. v. Aspex Eyewear, Inc., 563
F.3d 1358, 1369–70 (Fed. Cir. 2009) (finding a claim only required “capacity to perform a
function: ‘capable of engaging’”). Similarly, the Circuit found in Hilgraeve Corp. v. Symantec
Corp. “an accused device may be found to infringe if it is reasonably capable of satisfying the
claim limitations, even though it may also be capable of non-infringing modes of operation.”
265 F.3d 1336, 1343 (Fed. Cir. 2001). These statements on capability support the government’s
16
The government also raises an indefiniteness issue with plaintiffs’ proposed construction. Def.’s Resp. Cl. Constr.
Br. at 24–25. The Court does not address the indefiniteness argument at this time as it construes disputed terms not
implicating indefiniteness in this Opinion and Order.
- 88 -
position on the meaning of “capable,” pointing to a latent ability rather than a potential ability as
plaintiffs propose with their construction of “may.” The Court found no reason to expand the
plain and ordinary meaning of “capable” by construing it using the broader “may” but found the
words “has the ability to” conveyed the plain and ordinary meaning of “capable.” The Court
accordingly adopted the following preliminary construction: “Plain and ordinary meaning.
Insofar as a definition is needed: Capable of including (or have the ability to include) multiple
hierarchical relationships between two line items.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 213:16–20. The parties confirmed their only dispute for terms 16A–D
relates to the construction of “capable of,” Tr. at 214:2–6, and both agreed to the Court’s
preliminary construction, Tr. at 214:25–215:6. The Court accordingly adopts its preliminary
construction as final: “Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed: Capable
of including (or have the ability to include) multiple hierarchical relationships between two line
items.” See Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303, 1312–13 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (quoting Vitronics
Corp. v. Conceptronic, Inc., 90 F.3d 1576, 1582 (Fed. Cir. 1996)); see also Finjan, 626 F.3d at
1204 (quoting Intel, 946 F.2d at 832); Hilgraeve, 265 F.3d at 1343; Revolution Eyewear, 563
F.3d at 1369–70.
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
May include a line item in various types of Has the ability to include at least two
hierarchical relationships with other line relationships between two line items where
items. By way of example, parent-child, one relationship is expressed as a parent-child
siblings, grandparent-grandchild, etc. relationship between the two line items and
the other is based on a common ancestor
between the two line items
(incorporating parties’ agreed construction of
“line items”)
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
Capable of including (or have the ability to include) multiple hierarchical relationships
between two line items.
XXXII. Disputed Claim Term #16B: “capable of including multiple hierarchical
relationships between two of the plurality of line items”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
May include a line item in various types of Has the ability to include at least two
hierarchical relationships with other line relationships between two line items where
items. By way of example, parent-child, one relationship is expressed as a parent-child
siblings, grandparent-grandchild, etc. relationship between the two line items and
the other is based on a common ancestor
- 89 -
between the two line items.
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claim 29 of the ’842 Patent.
RJCCS at 67–68.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
a plurality of computer-readable semantic tags that describe a semantic meaning of
the data values, where the at least one computer-readable XML-compliant data
document is capable of including multiple hierarchical relationships between two
of the plurality of line items . . . .
’842 Patent col. 83 ll. 40–45.
A. Parties’ Arguments
In the briefs, the parties argued the constructions of terms 16A and 16B together,
presenting no arguments unique to this term. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 40; Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 41; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 19; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 19. As
such, the Court refers to the parties’ arguments section of disputed term 16A, supra Section
XXXI.A, in construing this term.
B. Analysis
At the Markman hearing, the parties agreed the Court’s construction of disputed claim
term 16A should apply to the constructions of terms 16B–16D. Tr. at 213:21–214:1.
Accordingly, as agreed by the parties, the Court incorporates by reference the analysis of
disputed claim term 16A and construes this term consistently with the construction of term 16A.
Tr. at 213:21–214:1.
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
May include a line item in various types of Has the ability to include at least two
hierarchical relationships with other line relationships between two line items where
items. By way of example, parent-child, one relationship is expressed as a parent-child
siblings, grandparent-grandchild, etc. relationship between the two line items and
the other is based on a common ancestor
between the two line items.
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
Capable of including (or having the ability to include) multiple hierarchical relationships
between two of the plurality of line items.
XXXIII. Disputed Claim Term #16C: “capable of including at least one of: multiple
hierarchical relationships between two line items of corresponding numerical values; or
computer-readable semantic tags that each describe a semantic meaning of one or more of
- 90 -
corresponding numerical values”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plaintiffs contend that “capable of including” Defendant maintains that “capable of
should be construed as “may include.” including” has its plain and ordinary meaning
Plaintiffs have previously provided their of “has the ability to include.” Defendant has
constructions for the other phrases in this provided constructions for other terms
claim and incorporate those by reference. including “multiple hierarchical relationships
between two line items of corresponding
numerical values” and “semantic tags” and
incorporates those herein. The remaining
terms should be construed according to their
plain and ordinary meaning.
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claim 8 of the ’383 Patent.
RJCCS at 28–29.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
wherein the computer program product is operable such that the single markup
document includes a XML-compliant data document that is capable of including at
least one of: multiple hierarchical relationships between two line items of
corresponding numerical values, or computer-readable semantic tags that each
describe a semantic meaning of one or more of corresponding numerical values.
’383 Patent col. 144 ll. 4–11.
A. Parties’ Arguments
In the briefs, the parties argued the constructions of terms 16A and 16C together,
presenting no arguments unique to this term. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 37; Def.’s Resp. Cl.
Constr. Br. at 39; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 15; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 17. As
such, the Court refers to the parties’ arguments section of disputed term 16A, supra Section
XXXI.A, in construing this term.
B. Analysis
At the Markman hearing, the parties agreed the Court’s construction of disputed claim
term 16A should apply to the constructions of terms 16B–16D. Tr. at 213:21–214:1.
Accordingly, as agreed by the parties, the Court incorporates by reference the analysis of
disputed claim term 16A and construes this term consistently with the construction of term 16A.
Tr. at 213:21–214:1.
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plaintiffs contend that “capable of including” Defendant maintains that “capable of
should be construed as “may include.” including” has its plain and ordinary meaning
- 91 -
Plaintiffs have previously provided their of “has the ability to include.” Defendant has
constructions for the other phrases in this provided constructions for other terms
claim and incorporate those by reference. including “multiple hierarchical relationships
between two line items of corresponding
numerical values” and “semantic tags” and
incorporates those herein. The remaining
terms should be construed according to their
plain and ordinary meaning.
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
Capable of including (or having the ability to include) multiple hierarchical relationships
between two line items or computer-readable semantics tags that each describe a
semantic meaning of one or more of corresponding numerical values.
XXXIV. Disputed Claim Term #16D: “capable of including computer-readable semantic
tags that each describe a semantic meaning of one or more of the corresponding values”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plaintiffs contend that “capable of including” Defendant maintains that “capable of
should be construed as “may include.” including” should have its plain and ordinary
e-Numerate has previously provided its meaning of “has the ability to include.”
constructions for the other phrases in this Defendant previously identified a
claim. construction for “semantic tags” and that term
should be construed. The remaining verbiage
in this term should be construed according to
its plain and ordinary meaning.
Plaintiffs dispute the construction of this claim term in claim 15 of the ’383 Patent.
RJCCS at 34–36.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
wherein the computer program product is configured such that the single markup
document includes a XML-compliant data document that includes multiple
hierarchical relationships between two line items of corresponding numerical
values, and is further capable of including computer-readable semantic tags that
each describe a semantic meaning of one or more of the corresponding numerical
values . . . .
’383 Patent col. 144 l. 61–col. 145 l. 1.
A. Parties’ Arguments
In the briefs, the parties argued the constructions of terms 16A and 16D together,
presenting no arguments unique to this term. See Pls.’ Cl. Constr. Br. at 32; Def.’s Resp. Cl.
- 92 -
Constr. Br. at 35; Pls.’ Reply Cl. Constr. Br. at 15; Def.’s Surreply Cl. Constr. Br. at 17. As
such, the Court refers to the parties’ arguments section of disputed term 16A, supra Section
XXXI.A, in construing this term.
B. Analysis
At the Markman hearing, the parties agreed the Court’s construction of disputed claim
term 16A should apply to the constructions of terms 16B–16D. Tr. at 213:21–214:1.
Accordingly, as agreed by the parties, the Court incorporates by reference the analysis of
disputed claim term 16A and construes this term consistently with the construction of term 16A.
Tr. at 213:21–214:1.
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plaintiffs contend that “capable of including” Defendant maintains that “capable of
should be construed as “may include.” including” should have its plain and ordinary
e-Numerate has previously provided its meaning of “has the ability to include.”
constructions for the other phrases in this Defendant previously identified a
claim. construction for “semantic tags” and that term
should be construed. The remaining verbiage
in this term should be construed according to
its plain and ordinary meaning.
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
Capable of including (or having the ability to include) computer-readable semantics tags
that describe a semantic meaning of one or more of corresponding values.
XXXV. Disputed Claim Term #17: “generating at least one second title corresponding to
results of the operation”
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning Generating at least one second title based on
the results of the operation and the tags
The government disputes the construction of this claim term in claims 1 and 28 of the
’355 Patent. RJCCS at 5.
The following claim limitation highlights selected usage of the term in context:
generating at least one first title corresponding to the series of numerical values;
receiving a macro defined to perform an operation on the series of numerical values;
performing an operation defined by the macro on the series of numerical values to
transform the series of numerical values into a new representation of the series of
numerical values based on the tags; generating at least one second title
corresponding to results of the operation; and displaying the results of the operation
and the at least one second title . . . .
- 93 -
’355 Patent col. 56 ll. 38–48.
A. Parties’ Arguments
Plaintiffs argue “this term should be given its plain and ordinary meaning.” Pls.’ Cl.
Constr. Br at 16. Plaintiffs oppose the government’s construction because it “simply restates the
claim language and attaches the language ‘and the tags’ onto the claim language.” Id. Plaintiffs
contend “the Government’s construction is also vague because it does not specify which tags are
used to generate the second title (tags for the pre-transformed or post-transformed numbers).”
Id. at 17. The government states “[t]he main issue with this term is whether e-Numerate is held
to the disclosure of its patent or if it may leave open the possibility that it can later improperly
expand the scope of this claim term (beyond what was intended in the intrinsic record).” Def.’s
Resp. Cl. Constr. Br at 16. The government asserts its “proposed construction refers to the
original (pre-transformation) tags and since those are the only tags recited in the claim, referring
to them as ‘the tags’ is appropriate.” Id.
B. Analysis
1. The Court’s Preliminary Construction
Before the Markman hearing, the Court considered the parties’ claim construction briefs
and all referenced materials in full in reaching a preliminary construction for this disputed term.
The Court looked to the plain and ordinary meaning of the term as well as prior claim limitations
for clarity on “operation.” Claim 1 specifies “an operation defined by the macro on the series of
numerical values into a new representation of the series of numerical values based on the tags.”
’355 Patent col. 56 ll. 42–45 (emphasis added). The government’s addition of “and the tags” is
unnecessary because the “operation” is inherently based on the tags. See id. The Court offered
clarification by incorporating claim language preceding the term which provides the “results of
the operation”—“a new representation of the series of numerical values,” id. col. 56 ll.
44–45—in the following preliminary construction: “Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a
definition is needed: Generating at least one second title corresponding to new representation of
the series of numerical values from the results of the macro-defined transformation operation.”
2. The Court’s Final Construction
At the Markman hearing, the Court provided the parties with the Court’s preliminary
construction. Tr. at 215:11–16. The parties agreed to the Court’s preliminary construction. Tr.
at 215:17–25. The Court accordingly adopts its preliminary construction as final: “Plain and
ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed: Generating at least one second title
corresponding to new representation of the series of numerical values from the results of the
macro-defined transformation operation.” Tr. at 215:17–25.
Plaintiffs’ Proposed Construction Defendant’s Proposed Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning Generating at least one second title based on
the results of the operation and the tags
- 94 -
Court’s Final Construction
Plain and ordinary meaning. Insofar as a definition is needed:
Generating at least one second title corresponding to new representation of numerical
values from the results of the macro-defined transformation operation.
XXXVI. Conclusion
The disputed terms not implicating indefiniteness are interpreted by the Court in this
Claim Construction Opinion and Order. The Court adopts the construction of the terms as set
forth herein. The government SHALL FILE its supplemental brief of up to 20 pages regarding
the indefiniteness terms and supplemental expert report on or before 5 April 2023; plaintiffs
SHALL FILE their response of up to 20 pages on or before 19 April 2023. 17
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Ryan T. Holte
RYAN T. HOLTE
Judge
17
The parties agreed to the timeline and page limits for supplemental briefing at the Markman hearing. Tr. at
216:5–221:14.
- 95 -