Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-01766/USCOURTS-cand-5_05-cv-01766-8/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 830
Nature of Suit: Patent
Cause of Action: 35:271 Patent Infringement

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG

United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

E-FILED on 10/22/07

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN JOSE DIVISION

COMPUTER CACHE COHERENCY

CORPORATION,

Plaintiff,

v.

VIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC. and VIA

TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (USA),

Defendants.

No. C-05-01668 RMW

ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND

ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY

JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED ON

INDEFINITENESS

[Re Docket Nos. 45, 52, 63, 94]

COMPUTER CACHE COHERENCY

CORPORATION,

Plaintiff,

v.

INTEL CORPORATION,

Defendant.

No. C-05-01766 RMW

ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION

[Re Docket Nos. 66, 71, 74]

(Cases consolidated for claim construction)

The parties briefed the issue of construction of U.S. Patent No. 5,072,369 ("the '369 patent")

and filed several motions for summary judgment. The court held a claim construction hearing which

included a tutorial and heard argument on claim construction and the summary judgment motions. 

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 2

After considering the positions of all parties, the court construes the terms at issue and rules on the

Via's motion for summary judgment of invalidity of the '369 patent for indefiniteness (docket no.

94), which presents an issue that is intertwined with claim construction. A separate order will be

issued on the remainder of the summary judgment motions.

I. BACKGROUND

The '369 patent discloses an interface circuit that permits devices connected to two different

buses to utilize a main memory on one of the two buses, where the main memory on that bus has a

cache memory. The invention purports to solve, in the context of two buses, a "cache coherency"

problem wherein a device requesting data from memory that has been cached is able to access the

most current data in memory, whether that data is stored in main memory or in cache memory. 

Specifically, the patent describes the cache coherency problem in the context of a single bus as

follows:

To provide faster memory access, a computer processor on the bus may copy a block

of data from an area of the low speed main memory into a higher speed cache

memory and thereafter read and write access the data in the cache memory rather than

in main memory. However, if another computer processor on the bus subsequently

read accesses the same area of main memory, data read may be "obsolete" because it

was not updated when corresponding data stored in cache memory was updated.

Also, if another computer processor on the bus writes data to the area of main

memory, corresponding data in cache memory becomes obsolete.

'369 patent at 1:25-35.

Plaintiff Computer Cache Coherency Corporation ("CCCC") owns by assignment the '369

patent and has sued defendants Via Technologies, Inc. and Via Technologies, Inc. (USA)

(collectively, "Via") in one action for infringing the '369 patent, and similarly has sued defendant

Intel Corporation ("Intel") in another action. The defendants filed counterclaims seeking a

declaratory judgment that the '369 patent is invalid, unenforceable, and not infringed. These two

actions have been consolidated for claim construction.

CCCC asserts only the rather lengthy first claim of the '369 patent in this action. Claim 1

reads:

An apparatus for providing data communication between first and second buses, 

the first bus providing a first plurality of bus masters connected thereto with data

read and write access to first data storage locations mapped to separate addresses

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 3

within a first address space, wherein one of said first plurality of bus masters

writes data to a first particular one of said first data storage locations by placing

on the first bus an address to which the first particular one of said first data

storage locations is mapped and transmitting the data via said first bus, and

wherein one of said first plurality of bus masters reads data from a second

particular one of said first data storage locations by placing on the first bus an

address to which the second particular one of said first storage locations is

mapped and receiving data via said first bus, 

the second bus providing a second plurality of bus masters connected thereto with

data read and write access to second data storage locations mapped to separate

addresses within a second address space, wherein one of said second plurality of

bus masters writes data to a first particular one of said second data storage

locations by placing on the second bus an address to which the first particular one

of said second data storage locations is mapped and transmitting the data via said

second bus, and wherein one of said second plurality of bus masters reads data

from a second particular one of said second data storage locations by placing on

the second bus an address to which the second particular one of said second

storage locations is mapped and receiving data via said second bus, 

wherein one of said second plurality of bus masters connected to said second bus

caches data read out of a subset of said second data storage locations, said second

bus including means for conveying a SNOOP signal with an address appearing on

the bus, the SNOOP signal telling said one of said second plurality of bus masters

when to write cached data to the address appearing on the bus, 

the apparatus comprising: 

first mapping means coupled to said first bus for mapping first addresses within

the first address space to second addresses within the second address space, for

asserting an indicating signal and for generating one of said second addresses in

response to one of said first addresses transmitted on said first bus from one of

said first plurality of bus masters, said first mapping means also generating a

SNOOP signal of a state indicating when a generated second address is mapped to

one of said particular subset of the second data storage locations, and 

bus interface means connected to said first and second buses for responding to the

first indicating signal when said one of said first plurality of bus masters is

reading data by placing the generated second address and SNOOP signal on the

second bus, receiving data from a second data storage location mapped to said

second address, and transmitting the received data to said one of said first

plurality of bus masters via said first bus when the said one of said first plurality

of bus masters is reading data. 

II. ANALYSIS

A. Preamble

As a preliminary matter, the parties dispute whether the preamble to the claim is limiting.

CCCC contends that the court need not decide whether the preamble of claim 1 is limiting because

the two terms from the preamble that the defendants seek to have construed need no construction;

this assertion is CCCC's entire opposition to whether the preamble of claim 1 is limiting. However,

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 4

whether terms of the preamble need to be construed is a separate issue from whether the preamble is

limiting; plain language that needs no construction is still capable of being a claim limitation. 

"Whether to treat a preamble as a claim limitation is determined on the facts of each case in

light of the claim as a whole and the invention described in the patent." Storage Technology Corp.

v. Cisco Systems, Inc., 329 F.3d 823, 831 (Fed. Cir. 2003). A preamble may limit the invention if it

"recites essential structure or steps, or if it is necessary to give life, meaning, and vitality to the

claim." Catalina Mktg. Int'l v. Coolsavings.com, Inc., 289 F.3d 801, 808 (Fed. Cir. 2002). Further,

"dependence on a particular disputed preamble phrase for antecedent basis may limit claim scope

because it indicates a reliance on both the preamble and claim body to define the claimed invention." 

The preamble also limits claim scope "when the preamble is essential to understand limitations or

terms in the claim body" or "when reciting additional structure or steps underscored as important by

the specification." Id.

A preamble is not limiting, however, "where a patentee defines a structurally complete

invention in the claim body and uses the preamble only to state a purpose or intended use for the

invention." Id. Thus, "a preamble generally is not limiting when the claim body describes a

structurally complete invention such that deletion of the preamble phrase does not affect the

structure or steps of the claimed invention" or where the preamble "extoll[s] benefits or features of

the claimed invention." Id. at 809 Further, "preambles describing the use of an invention generally

do not limit the claims because the patentability of apparatus or composition claims depends on the

claimed structure, not on the use or purpose of that structure." Id.

The preamble of claim 1 of the '369 patent describes the two buses and attached devices that

are the setting in which the "interface circuit," the apparatus explicitly claimed, functions. The

preamble could thus be seen as merely explaining the use of the claimed apparatus, favoring a

finding that the preamble is not limiting. However, the preamble is longer than the claim body. 

Compare '369 patent at 12:41-13:14 with id. at 13:15-14:12. Several terms in the claim body—such

as "said first bus," "the first address space," "the second address space," "said first plurality of bus

masters," "SNOOP signal," and "said particular subset of the second data storage locations"—have

their antecedents in the preamble. For example, to literally infringe, a "first mapping means" must

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1

 Because from the parties' original filings and arguments it was unclear the precise definition of

"parallel bus" that one skilled in the art would have used in the context of the '369 patent at the time

its application was filed, the court ordered the parties to file supplemental declarations on the

definitions of "parallel bus" and the related term "serial bus," as well as certain other bus-related

terms the parties believed would be helpful to the court to understand. From the supplemental

declarations the parties filed, it appears that they generally agree on the applicable definitions of

"parallel bus" and "serial bus." In its filing in response to the court's order, Salik Decl. (dkt. # 198),

CCCC included in its declaration information beyond that requested by the court. Defendants also

object on several grounds—such as relevance, and lack of factual support—to CCCC's supplemental

declaration. Defendants' objections are all well-taken and sustained. 

ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 5

be "coupled to said first bus" in an accused device. See '369 patent at 13:16. Likewise, the "bus

interface means" has to be "connected to said first and second buses." Id. at 14:3-4. Any accused

device must be so "coupled" and "connected" but cannot be without the first and second buses

described in the preamble. The claim body is not structurally complete without reference to the

preamble. Thus, the preamble is necessary to give meaning to claim 1 and is therefore limiting.

B. Construction of Specific Terms and Phrases

A court's claim construction analysis begins with the words of the claim. Nystrom v. Trex

Co., Inc., 424 F.3d 1136, 1142 (Fed. Cir. 2005). For each term to be construed, the court must

determine "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, 1313 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en

banc). 

1. "Bus"

Term VIA & Intel’s Proposal CCCC's Proposal

"bus" "A set of parallel conductors that

is capable of transmitting signals

between two or more modules

(such as computer processors and

local memories) connected to

these conductors."

"One or more conductors used

for transmitting signals or power

from one or more sources to one

or more destinations."

i. Serial or Parallel

The parties' primary disagreement about the term "bus" is whether, as used in the patent,

"bus" refers to any sort of bus, or only a parallel bus.1

 One definition of bus circa 1998, as

provided by IEEE, is as CCCC proposes: "one or more conductors used for transmitting signals or

power from one or more sources to one or more destinations." Buses may be classified as either

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2

 This declaration was docketed only in case C-05-01766. All other references to docket numbers in

this order are those used for case C-05-01668

ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 6

"serial" or "parallel." Levy Decl. (dkt. # 1302) ¶¶ 3-4. A parallel bus is one containing more than

one conductor used simultaneously to transmit data, while a serial bus has only one conductor for

data. Id. ¶¶ 5-6. 

The dispute over whether the construction of bus is limited to parallel buses is informed by

reviewing the use of "bus" and "parallel bus" in the specification. CCCC argues that since the term

"parallel bus" appears in certain places in the patent, the drafter clearly intended "bus" alone to not

be limited to a parallel bus. Defendants, on the other hand, contend that all uses of "bus" refer to

"parallel buses." 

The defendants are correct that at least some uses of "bus" necessarily refer to a parallel bus. 

For example, the background section of the patent states:

When various computer processors employ differing parallel buses, it is not possible

to directly connect the computer processors to the same bus. In such case, the

processors must operate within separate computer systems utilizing separate buses

and accessing separate local memories.

'369 patent at 1:53-58. The first sentence contemplates a situation involving "differing parallel

buses," and the second sentence, in explaining the limitations of such a situation, refers merely to

"buses," even though these "buses" are those discussed in the first sentence and as a result,

necessarily parallel. However, the background section specifies parallel buses twice, but mentions

buses without further specification eleven other times.

It is not clear that each mention of "bus" should be taken to be a reference to a parallel bus. 

For example, the background section begins with the sentence: "[t]he present invention relates in

general to interface circuits providing communication between computer systems and in particular

to an interface circuit permitting a bus master connected to one computer bus to directly access data

stored in a memory connected to another bus." '369 patent at 1:10-15. This sentence does not

clearly refer only to parallel buses. 

Defendants nevertheless argue that the patent's references to "bus" refers to parallel buses. 

First, they argue that the specification sets forth the problem to be solved in the prior art only in

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 7

terms of parallel buses. However, the problem to be solved need not necessarily limit the patent

claims. See, e.g., Brookhill-Wilk 1, LLC v. Intuitive Surgical, Inc., 334 F.3d 1294, 1301 (Fed. Cir.

2003). Further, it does not appear that the patentee has acted as his own lexicographer, providing a

clear definition of "bus" as a parallel bus. See Rambus Inc. v. Infineion Technologies AG, 318 F.3d

1081, 1094-95 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (references to "multiplexed bus" in specification does not limit

"bus" as used in claims to a "multiplexed bus"); Multiform Desiccants Inc. v. Medzam Ltd., 133

F.3d 1473, 1477 (Fed. Cir. 1998) (any special meaning assigned to a term "must be sufficiently

clear in the specification that any departure from common usage would be so understood by a

person of experience in the field of the invention."). Nor does it appear that the defendants'

narrower construction of "bus" is necessary to preserve the validity of the claim. As CCCC points

out, the problem of cache coherency is not necessarily limited to the parallel buses, even if the

problem to be solved and preferred embodiment are stated in the context of parallel buses. Thus,

because the patent specification refers to both "buses" and "parallel buses" and because there is no

special definition of "bus" clearly defined in the specification, the court concludes that "bus" is not

limited solely to a parallel bus.

ii. Signal or Power

The parties also disagree as to whether "bus" should be defined as transmitting signals only

or "signals or power." The patent clearly contemplates information passing through the bus, so it is

undisputed that a bus transmits signal. The patent does not disclose power passing through the bus. 

CCCC's proposed construction, using "signals or power," is too broad because it would

allow a bus that is only used for transmitting power and not signal. While it is true that a signal,

which is an electrical current, carries power, albeit a very small amount (P = I2

R or power = current

squared multiplied by resistance), defining the term as transmitting either "signal or power" implies

that the bus can solely transmit power, which is not disclosed. Therefore, although it is implicitly

understood that a signal carries power, it should not be defined to be "signal or power."

iii. Transmission 

CCCC proposes the use of one of many available IEEE dictionary definitions to construe

"bus." Defendants argue that in light of the Federal Circuit in Phillips, it is inappropriate to just

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

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JAH/MAG 8

select the broadest possible dictionary definition. The focus is on how the particular claim term is

used in the patent claims and specification. Upon review of the available IEEE definitions circa

1998, IEEE definition number 2, which relates to a "microcomputer system bus," defines "bus" to

be "a signal line or set of lines used by an interface system to connect a number of devices and to

transfer information." See Salik Decl. (dkt. # 46), Ex. 10. This definition of bus, which describes a

shared bus, is more appropriate in light of the claim language. The preamble specifies "the first bus

providing a first plurality of bus masters connected thereto", '369 patent at 12:43-4, and "the second

bus providing a second plurality of bus masters connected thereto", '369 patent at 12:58-9. It is

thus clear from the claim language that the patent contemplates shared buses—buses that are

connected to a plurality of bus masters such that the buses connect multiple devices—and not buses

that connect a single source to a single destination. Indeed, all uses of "bus" in the claims and the

specification of the '369 patent describe a shared structure to which multiple bus masters are

connected.

iv. Construction

Based on the foregoing, the court construes "bus" as "a signal line or set of signal lines used

by an interface system to connect a number of devices and to transfer information between the

devices." The parties have agreed that the construction of "first bus" and "second bus" follows the

construction of "bus."

2. "Address Space"

Term VIA & Intel’s Proposal CCCC's Proposal

"address space" "A set of addresses that may be

represented on a particular bus."

"A set of addresses that may be

associated with one or more

buses."

According to Claim 1, each "bus" provides "bus masters connected" to it with access to "data

storage locations mapped to separate addresses within" an "address space." '369 patent at 12:43-46,

58-61. The parties agree that "address" means "an identification, such as a label, number, or name

that designates a particular location in storage or any other data destination or source." Accordingly,

the court will construe "address space" as "a set of addresses."

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3

 There is a portion of the claims from which it might appear that a "first" reference is used

inconsistently with the association set forth above. At column 12 lines 58-67, the patent reads, "the

second bus providing a second plurality of bus masters connected thereto with data read and write

access to second data storage locations mapped to separate addresses within a second address space,

wherein one of said second plurality of bus masters writes data to a first particular one of said

second data storage locations by placing on the second bus an address to which the first particular

one of said second data storage locations is mapped and transmitting the data via said second bus." 

The "first particular one" is not inconsistent because it refers to the first of a number of second data

storage locations that are mapped on the second address space. 

ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 9

But as demonstrated by the parties' differing proposed constructions, the real dispute is over

whether the first address space must be associated with the first bus and the second address space

must be associated with the second bus. Basically, the parties disagree whether an address space is

necessarily associated with only one bus or may be associated with multiple buses. The language of

the patent resolves this disagreement. The description of the preferred embodiment makes clear that,

at least for the preferred embodiment, each address space is associated with only one bus: 

The interface circuit 8 maps a portion of VMEbus address space onto a portion of

Futurebus address space so that when computer 2 read or write accesses selected

addresses on the VMEbus, the interface circuit 8 implements the read or write access

on corresponding addresses in a device on Futurebus 12 such as main memory 3. 

'369 patent at 3:35-41. However, limitations from the preferred embodiment may not be read into

the claims. Primos, Inc. v. Hunter's Specialties, Inc., 451 F.3d 841, 848 (Fed. Cir. 2006). 

Nevertheless, the claims discuss the first address space along with the first bus and

components connected to the first bus. The preamble to claim 1 sets forth a first bus providing a

first plurality of bus masters to first data storage locations mapped to separate addresses within a

first address space. In identical fashion, the second address space is discussed along with the second

bus and components attached to the second bus; the preamble sets forth a second bus providing a

second plurality of bus masters to second data storage locations mapped to separate addresses within

a second address space. This discussion clearly demonstrates that an "address space" when modified

by either "first" or "second" is associated with the corresponding bus.3

Based on the foregoing, the court construes "address space" as "a set of addresses." Further,

the court construes "first address space" as an address space that necessarily refers to addresses

represented on the first bus and "second address space" as an address space that necessarily refers to

addresses represented on the second bus.

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

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3. "SNOOP Signal"

Term VIA & Intel’s Proposal CCCC's Proposal

"SNOOP signal" "A signal indicating whether a

generated second address

references a cached data storage

location."

"A signal that triggers a

determination of whether the

data corresponding to an address

in cacheable memory is cached."

The main dispute between the parties appears to be whether a "SNOOP signal" indicates

whether an address refers to a cached memory or whether it merely triggers that determination. The

proper construction of SNOOP signal can be ascertained by reviewing the specification and asserted

claim of the patent. First, in the Background section of the patent, the term SNOOP signal is

introduced in the context of prior art where a bus master asserts a SNOOP signal on a single bus to

check whether "a second bus master [. . .] is using a cache memory for data stored at that memory

address." '369 patent at 1:36-45. Next, the Summary section explains in the context of a two-bus

system that the SNOOP signal is a signal "indicating whether the Futurebus address references a

cached data storage location on the Futurebus." '369 patent at 2:19-30. This portion of the

Summary makes it clear that two buses are involved: the first address originates from the VMEbus

and the Futurebus address corresponds to a second address. Finally, in the claims, SNOOP is again

defined as a signal "indicating when a generated second address is mapped to one of said particular

subset of the second data storage locations." '369 patent at 13:23-14:2. This language is consistent

with that set forth in the Summary section. In either the context of single bus (prior art) or two buses

(the invention), the SNOOP signal indicates whether an address references a cached storage

location, it does not merely trigger a determination whether data is cached.

Defendants' proposed claim construction seeks to limit a SNOOP signal to determining

whether a "second generated address" references a cached location. However, as plaintiff points out,

part of the claim specifies that the first mapping means generates "a SNOOP signal of a state

indicating when a generated second address is mapped to one of said particular subset of the second

data storage locations." '369 patent at 13:24-14:12. Because this portion of the claim specifies that a

SNOOP signal must be in a particular state "indicating when a generated second address is mapped"

to a cached location, it cannot be that the general definition of SNOOP signal must always include

determining whether a "second generated address" references a cached location. However, although

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

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the construction of term "SNOOP signal" is not limited to indicating whether a second generated

address references a cached data storage location, the language of the claim itself requires the first

mapping means to generate a SNOOP signal with the particular "state indicating when a generated

second address is mapped to one of said particular subset of second data storage locations." '369

patent at 13:23-14:2.

Based on the foregoing, the court construes "SNOOP signal" as "a signal indicating whether

an address references a cached data storage location." 

Term VIA & Intel’s Proposal CCCC's Proposal

"the SNOOP signal

telling said one of

said second

plurality of bus

masters when to

write cached data

to the address

appearing on the

bus"

"The SNOOP signal indicating to

one of the bus masters on the

second bus when to write cached

data to one of the second data

storage locations at the address

appearing on the bus."

"The SNOOP signal indicating

to a bus master when it may be

required to write cached data to

the address appearing on the

second bus."

The language here, "the SNOOP signal telling said one of said second plurality of bus

masters when to write cached data to the address appearing on the bus," is describing actions taking

place on the second bus, as illustrated in the bottom portion of Fig. 1. To properly construe this

language, however, it is necessary to look at the context in which the disputed language arises.

This disputed language (underlined below) appears as part of a wherein clause in the

preamble. The antecedent basis for this wherein clause is found in the prior paragraph of the claim

preamble. Together these paragraphs read: 

the second bus providing a second plurality of bus masters connected thereto with

data read and write access to second data storage locations mapped to separate

addresses within a second address space, wherein one of said second plurality of bus

masters writes data to a first particular one of said second data storage locations by

placing on the second bus an address to which the first particular one of said second

data storage locations is mapped and transmitting the data via said second bus, and

wherein one of said second plurality of bus masters reads data from a second

particular one of said second data storage locations by placing on the second bus an

address to which the second particular one of said second storage locations is mapped

and receiving data via said second bus,

wherein one of said second plurality of bus masters connected to said second bus

caches data read out of a subset of said second data storage locations, said second bus

including means for conveying a SNOOP signal with an address appearing on the

bus, the SNOOP signal telling said one of said second plurality of bus masters when

to write cached data to the address appearing on the bus

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 12

'369 patent at 12:58-13:13 (emphasis added). 

It is clear from the claim language that the SNOOP signal indicates to one of the bus masters

on the second bus when to write cached data to an address appearing on the second bus. This is

nearly a direct transcription of the claim language "wherein one of said second plurality of bus

masters connected to said second bus." '369 patent at 13:6-7. But there appears to an issue

regarding whether the cached data writing is limited to the second data storage locations on the

second bus. Defendants correctly argue that because the "wherein" clause describes the SNOOP

signal on the "second bus" to which the "second plurality of bus masters" that cache data read out of

"second data storage locations" is connected, it must follow that "the address appearing on the bus"

immediately preceding the disputed claim term should also be construed to originate from a device

on the second bus. Thus, in light of the preceding paragraph of the preamble, the court concludes

that the claim requires that a SNOOP signal indicate to the bus master on the second bus when to

write cached data to the corresponding second storage location at the address on the second bus.

Accordingly, the court construes the language "the SNOOP signal telling said one of said

second plurality of bus masters when to write cached data to the address appearing on the bus" as

saying "the SNOOP signal indicating to one of the bus masters on the second bus when to write

cached data to the one of the second data storage locations at the address appearing on the second

bus." 

Term VIA & Intel’s Proposal CCCC's Proposal

"a SNOOP signal of

a state indicating

when a generated

second address is

mapped to one of

said particular

subset of the second

data storage

locations"

"a SNOOP signal of a state

indicating when the generated

second address belongs to the

particular subset of the second data

storage locations."

"A SNOOP signal of a state

indicating that a bus master has

accessed an address that maps to

a particular subset of the second

data storage locations."

Based upon the foregoing constructions of "SNOOP signal," "second," and "mapped," no

further construction of this language is necessary.

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 13

Term VIA & Intel’s Proposal CCCC's Proposal

"said second bus

including means for

conveying a

SNOOP signal with

an address

appearing on the

bus"

This phrase should be construed in

accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112 

6. The function is "conveying a

SNOOP signal with an address

appearing on the bus." The

corresponding structure is the

Futurebus as illustrated in Figures

1 and 2, reference numeral 12. 

The claim limitation covers this

corresponding structure and its

equivalents. 

Plaintiff does not believe that this

phrase should be read as a

"means-plus-function" clause in

accordance with 35 U.S.C.

§ 112(6), because the claim

identifies sufficient structure for

performing the recited function,

namely, the "second bus." If

construed as a

"means-plus-function" clause in

accordance with 35 U.S.C. §

112(6), plaintiff proposes the

corresponding structure consists

of a conductor or conductors

within the second bus.

To begin with, the parties dispute whether "means for conveying" should be construed as a

means-plus-function limitation. A claim limitation containing the word "means" is presumptively a

means-plus-function limitation. Sage Prods. v. Devon Indus., 126 F.3d 1420, 1427 (Fed. Cir. 1997). 

Nevertheless, CCCC contends that "means for conveying" need not be construed as a means-plusfunction term because a bus inherently includes the structure for conveying a signal. Specifically,

CCCC argues:

[b]y definition, a bus includes one or more conductors for transmitting signals. 

Because a bus inherently has structure sufficient for conveying a signal (namely, a

conductor), the recited second bus inherently has the structure sufficient for

performing the identified function. No need exists to look to the specifications for

additional structure.

CCCC Claim Constr. Br. (dkt. # 45) at 19. The court agrees that a bus has a means for conveying

signal, but that is not all that the disputed term requires; it also requires a means for conveying a

SNOOP signal, or a particular type of signal. As a means for conveying a SNOOP signal is not

inherent in a bus, the court proceeds to the required analysis for a means-plus-function limitation. 

The parties dispute exactly what the "means for conveying" is. As the Federal Circuit has

explained, "Claim construction of a means-plus-function limitation includes two steps. First, the

court must determine the claimed function. Second, the court must identify the corresponding

structure in the written description of the patent that performs that function." Applied Med. Res.

Corp. v. U.S. Surgical Corp., 448 F.3d 1324, 1332 (Fed. Cir. 2006) (citations omitted). 

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 Intel's citation to Comark Commications v. Harris Corp., 156 F.3d 1182, 1187 (Fed. Cir. 1998)

("There is presumed to be a difference in meaning and scope when different words or phrases are

used in separate claims."), does not support Intel's argument that "the patent uses the terms 'mapping'

and 'translating' synonymously." See Intel Opp'n (dkt. # 71) at 16. In Comark, the Federal Circuit

held that a term in an independent claim should presumptively not be defined in such a way as to

render a dependent claim "completely superfluous and redundant." Id.

ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 14

The first step, identifying the function, is simple. The parties to do not dispute that the

function of the "means" is precisely what claim 1 recites: "conveying a SNOOP signal with an

address appearing on the bus." The second step, identifying the corresponding structure, is the

subject of the parties' disagreement. Defendants argue that because the only embodiment of the

"second bus" disclosed in the specification is the "Futurebus," the structure associated with "means

for conveying" must be taken to be the Futurebus. 

The resolution to the disputed construction appears in the preamble, which describes that

requirement of having a first and second bus. The disputed language of the claim limits the second

bus to one that includes means for conveying a SNOOP signal. In the preferred embodiment, this

means for conveying a SNOOP signal is the Futurebus. The Futurebus was known in the art as a bus

capable of conveying a SNOOP signal. Therefore court identifies the structure of the "means for

conveying a SNOOP signal with an address appearing on the bus" the Futurebus and its

equivalents."

4. "Mapping"

Term VIA & Intel’s Proposal CCCC's Proposal

"mapping" "Translating" "Establishing a correspondence

between the elements of one set

and elements of another set."

The parties agree that "mapped" means "established correspondence between the elements of

one set and the elements of another set." Nevertheless, defendants propose construing "mapping" as

"translating."

Defendants face an uphill battle to show that "mapping" should not be construed in an

analogous fashion to "mapped" because "claim terms are normally used consistently throughout the

patent."4

 Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1314. The prosecution history of U.S. Patent No. 5,088,028, to which

defendants cite, is of questionable relevance when construing the terms of the '369 patent because

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 The court understands defendants' argument that as a matter of policy, a patentee should not be

able to benefit from improperly failing to alert the PTO to the fact that on the same day, the same

inventors filed two separate patent applications containing substantially overlapping specifications

and claim language. (The application for the '369 patent and the parent application of the '028 patent

were both filed on April 7, 1989.) Even assuming the defendants are correct that the '369 and '028

patents should have been related during prosecution and that the prosecution history of the '028

could therefore in theory be used to narrow the scope of the '369 patent, the argument of the patentee

they quote,

Applicants' claimed invention is an interface circuit 8 for communicating between

two computer systems having respective bus masters (2;4) and system buses (10;12),

the two systems having different protocols, such as VMEbus and Futurebus. An

address on the first bus intended for a device on the second bus is detected and

translated into an address on the second bus by V-F translator 18 and address

generator 47 while a first local bus request signal V-LREQ is generated, 

Ochs Decl. (dkt. # 54), Ex. 4 at 5, is consistent with mapping taking place once initially and

translating taking place each time cross-bus access is sought. The court therefore need not try to

predict whether the Federal Circuit would, upon consideration of the facts of this case, expand the

rule of Goldenberg to cover the instant situation.

ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 15

the two patents, although having similar specifications, were not formally related.5 See Goldenberg

v. Cytogen, Inc., 373 F.3d 1158, 1167-68 (Fed. Cir. 2004). While "mapping" and "translating" both

appear in the patent, they are not, as defendants assert, used as synonyms. The description of the

preferred embodiment contains the following language:

When a device on VMEbus 10 seeks to read or write access an address mapped to

Futurebus address space, a VMEbus-to-Futurebus (V-F) translation circuit 18, coupled to VMEbus 10 by a buffer 20, translates the upper portion A(12:31) to a

corresponding upper portion of the Futurebus bus address, and a buffer 22 selectively

places this portion of the Futurebus address on local address bus 16.

'369 patent at 4:11-18. In the context this passage, it appears that VMEbus addresses have already

been mapped to Futurebus addresses ("When a device on VMEbus seeks to read or write access an

address mapped to Futurebus address space"), but that the translating must be done each time a

device on the VMEbus wishes to access a mapped address ("a [V-F] translation circuit . . . translates

the upper portion . . . to a corresponding upper portion of the Future bus address"). The patent thus

makes clear that mapping and translating in some instances take place at different times and

therefore cannot be synonyms. The court adopts CCCC's proposed construction of "mapping"

because it is consistent with both the parties' agreed-upon definition of "mapped" and the language

of the patent. "Mapping" is "establishing a correspondence between the elements of one set and

elements of another set."

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 16

Term VIA & Intel’s Proposal CCCC's Proposal

"mapping first

addresses within

the first address

space to second

addresses within

the second address

space"

"Translating first addresses within

the first address space to second

addresses within the second

address space."

"establishing a correspondence

between a first address within a

first address space to a second

address within a second address

space."

Intel has dropped its request that the explanatory phrase "e.g., converting or relocating a

VMEbus address to a Futurebus address" be included in its proposed construction of this language. 

Thus, each side's proposed construction follows from its proposed construction of "mapping." In

light of the court's construction of "mapping" above, no further construction is necessary.

5. "First Mapping Means"

Term VIA & Intel’s Proposal CCCC's Proposal

"first mapping

means"

The corresponding structure

cannot be precisely determined

due to the indefiniteness of the

claim element "means for asserting

an indicating signal" and the

inadequacies in the specification. 

To the extent any corresponding

structure can be identified for the

remaining functions of the

element, it generally includes the

interface circuit, including

particularly the V-F translation

circuit and Futurebus, as shown in

Figures 1 and 2, and equivalents

thereof.

In the specification of the ‘369

patent, structure(s) for performing

the function(s) recited in this

claim limitation is/are the

circuitry described as the

mapping circuit, V-F

TRANSLATION 18 and Address

Generator 47 and equivalents

thereof.

The parties agree that "first mapping means" is a means-plus-function limitation. 

Defendants, however, contend that this clause is indefinite. "Under 35 U.S.C. § 112 ¶ 2 and ¶ 6, a

means-plus-function clause is indefinite if a person of ordinary skill in the art would be unable to

recognize the structure in the specification and associate it with the corresponding function in the

claim." Allvoice Computing PLC v. Nuance Communications, Inc., ___ F.3d ___, 2007 WL

2963933, *3 (Fed. Cir. 2007).

Claim 1 recites, in relevant part, a:

first mapping means coupled to said first bus 

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 17

for mapping first addresses within the first address space to second addresses

within the second address space, for asserting an indicating signal and for

generating one of said second addresses in response to one of said first

addresses transmitted on said first bus from one of said first plurality of bus

masters, said first mapping means also generating a SNOOP signal of a state

indicating when a generated second address is mapped to one of said

particular subset of the second data storage locations

'369 patent at 13:16-14:2. The "first mapping means" has four separate functions: (1) mapping first

addresses to second addresses, (2) asserting an indicating signal, (3) generating second addresses in

response to first addresses transmitted on the first bus from a first bus master, and (4) generating a

SNOOP signal. 

CCCC argues that the following portion of the summary of the invention section of the

specification links the functions of the mapping means to the structure of the "mapping circuit":

[T]he interface circuit includes a mapping circuit that maps each of a set of VMEbus

addresses to corresponding Futurebus addresses. When a computer processor on the

VMEbus attempts to read or write access any one of the set of VMEbus addresses,

the mapping circuit generates a corresponding Futurebus address and a SNOOP

signal indicating whether the Futurebus address references a cached data storage

location on the Futurebus. 

'369 patent at 2:15-23. The first sentence of this passage links the "mapping circuit" to function (1),

while the last sentence of this passage links the "mapping circuit" to functions (3) and (4). However,

this particular passage does not discuss the "asserting" of function (2). As the Federal Circuit stated

in Medical Instrumentation & Diagnostics Corp. v. Elekta AB:

The public should not be required to guess as to the structure for which the patentee

enjoys the right to exclude. The public instead is entitled to know precisely what

kind of structure the patentee has selected for the claimed functions, when claims are

written according to section 112, paragraph 6. . . . If our interpretation of the statute

results in a slight amount of additional written description compared with total

omission of structure, that is the trade-off necessitated by an applicant's use of the

statute's permissive generic means term.

344 F.3d 1205, 1220 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (quoting, in part, Atmel Corp. v. Info. Storage Devices, 198

F.3d 1374, 1382 (Fed. Cir. 1999)). 

Of course, section 112 ¶ 6 cannot be satisfied when there is a total omission of structure. 

Atmel, 198 F.3d at 1378. However, the patent specification must be read as a whole to determine

structure capable of performing the function claimed in a means plus-function limitation. Budde v.

Harley-Davidson, Inc., 250 F.3d 1369, 1379 (Fed. Cir. 2001). The corresponding structure need not

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 The mapping circuit is broken into these two components in the preferred embodiment because the

VMEbus address is broken up into an upper and lower portion in order to accomplish the mapping:

V-F translation circuit 18 translates the upper portion of the address; address generator 47 translates

the lower portion of the address.

ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 18

include all things necessary to enable the claimed invention to work, rather it must include all

structure that actually performs the recited function. 

Here, upon reading the patent specification as a whole it is apparent that the mapping circuit

is the general structure within the disclosed interface circuit that corresponds to the first mapping

means. Although the specification does not explicitly link the mapping circuit to a specific

structure, it is unmistakable that V-F translation circuit 18 and address generator 47 together

constitute a preferred embodiment describing the mapping circuit.6

 

The "mapping circuit" comprised of the V-F translation circuit 18 and address generator 47 is

associated with the first bus (VMEbus) in the preferred embodiment. The preferred embodiment and

the figures clearly describe and illustrate that the mapping circuit performs all four functions that a

mapping means is claimed to perform in claim 1. The mapping circuit (1) maps the first addresses to

second addresses by establishing a correspondence as defined above under "mapping," (2) asserts an

indicating signal (specifically, V-LREQ as discussed below in "indicating signal"), (3) generates a

second address in response to a first address transmitted on the first bus from a first bus master, and

(4) generates a SNOOP signal. Figure 5, which illustrates these functions performed by the V-F

translation circuit, is especially helpful in determining that this structure is the mapping means. 

 The court thus concludes that term "first mapping means" is not indefinite. As set forth

above, the function of the "first mapping means" is as follows: "(1) mapping the first addresses to

second addresses, (2) asserting an indicating signal, (3) generating a second address in response to a

first address transmitted on the first bus from a first bus master, and (4) generating a SNOOP signal"

and its structure is "the V-F translation circuit 18 and address generator 47 and equivalents thereof." 

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 19

6. "Indicating Signal"

Term VIA & Intel’s Proposal CCCC's Proposal

"indicating signal" This term is indefinite. To the

extent the Court opts to provide a

construction, Intel and VIA offer

the following alternative to

CCCC’s proposal: "a signal that

triggers the actions of placing the

generated second address together

with the SNOOP signal on the

second bus, receiving data from a

second data storage location

mapped to the generated second

address, and transmitting the

received data to a requesting bus

master via a first bus."

"A signal that results when an

address in a first address space

has been mapped to an address in

a second address space."

Via has separately moved for summary judgment that the patent is invalid for indefiniteness. 

It asserts, inter alia, that the term "indicating signal" cannot be construed because, aside from the

claims, there is no other description of the "indicating signal" in the patent. This section addresses

both Via's motion for summary judgment and the construction, if one is possible, of "indicating

signal."

The term "indicating signal" appears as part of the first mapping means in the asserted claim

as follows:

first mapping means coupled to said first bus for mapping first addresses within the

first address space to second addresses within the second address space, for asserting

an indicating signal and for generating one of said second addresses in response to

one of said first addresses transmitted on said first bus from one of said first plurality

of bus masters, said first mapping means also generating a SNOOP signal of a state

indicating when a generated second address is mapped to one of said particular subset

of the second data storage locations

'369 patent at 13:15-14:6 (emphasis added). The parties have agreed that "indicating signal" is part

of a means-plus-function claim, thus the corresponding structure must be identified to construe this

term. A challenge to a claim containing a means-plus-function limitation as lacking structural

support requires a finding, by a clear and convincing evidence, that the specification lacks disclosure

of structure sufficient to be understood by one skilled in the art as being adequate to perform the

recited function. Intell. Prop. Dev., Inc. v. UA-Columbia Cablevision of Westchester, Inc., 336 F.3d

1308, 1319 (Fed. Cir. 2003); see also Allvoice Computing, ___ F.3d at ___, 2007 WL 2963933, *3. 

Where a means-plus-function claim is not "amenable to construction," it is invalid as indefinite

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 20

under 35 U.S.C. § 112 ¶ 2. Exxon Research & Eng'g Co. v. United States, 265 F.3d 1371, 1375

(Fed. Cir. 2001). 

The indicating signal must satisfy requirements set forth in the claims. First, it has to be

asserted by the mapping means. Second, the bus interface means has to respond to this signal as

described in the last paragraph of claim 1. '369 patent at 14:3-8 ("bus interface means connected to

said first and second buses for responding to the first indicating signal when said on of said first

plurality of bus masters is reading data . . .").

The first step to identifying which signal is the claimed "indicating signal" is determining

which structure corresponds to the "mapping means" because pursuant to the claim language, the

indicating signal is asserted by the mapping means. '369 patent at 13:16-19 ("first mapping means

coupled to said first bus . . . for asserting an indicating signal . . ."). As discussed above, the

structure that corresponds to the mapping means for asserting the indicating signal is the mapping

circuit or, in the preferred embodiment, the V-F translation circuit or address generator. 

In its motion for summary judgment, Via challenges the asserted claim as indefinite because,

it argues, it is not clear what the "indicating signal" refers to. As set forth in the claims, however,

the indicating signal indicates a request which then initiates a sequence of steps related to arbitration

and control that results in placing the translated address onto the second bus. See '369 patent at

14:3-12.

Via further contends that based on CCCC's proposed construction ("A signal that results

when an address in a first address space has been mapped to an address in a second address space"),

any number of the following signals discussed in the patent could be the indicating signal: the

SNOOP signal, the V-LREQ request signal, the EN4 enable signal, the LOC_AS local address

strobe signal, the L-FREQ request signal, the EN6 enable signal, the BT block transfer indicating

signal. However, of the candidate signals suggested by Via, only SNOOP, BT, and V-LREQ are

asserted by the V-F translation circuit. 

Of the signals asserted by the V-F translation circuit, SNOOP could not be the indicating

signal because the claim specifically distinguishes between SNOOP and indicating signal. The

claim states that one of the responses to an indicating signal is "placing the generated second address

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 21

and SNOOP signal on the second bus." '369 patent at 14:5-7. Because the SNOOP signal is placed

in response to the indicating signal, these signals cannot be the same. The BT signal also cannot be

the indicating signal because the BT signal only applies when VMEbus wishes to perform a block

transfer wherein it read or write accesses a variable number of up to 256 data bytes at successive

addresses on Futurebus, thus limiting it to a specific application. See '369 patent at 6:18-25. 

It is suggested by both experts that V-LREQ may be the indicating signal. Indeed, this signal

satisfies all the requirements that an indicating signal must have. It is asserted by the mapping

circuit, it is understood to indicate a request to the VMEbus arbitration and control circuit, which

then initiates a sequence of steps related to arbitration and control. The bus interface subsequently

responds to this signal. This V-LREQ signal is shown in the patent figures as starting a cascade of

commands that occur to place the translated address on the second bus. See Fig. 2. Thus, the court

construes "indicating signal" as the "V-LREQ request signal" which is a signal that requests control

of the first bus. See '369 patent at 5:5-28 ("V-F translation circuit 18 determines whether the VME

address bus has been addressed to a corresponding Futurebus address, and if so, transmits a request

signal V-LREQ to VMEbus arbitration and control circuit 38.").

Term VIA & Intel’s Proposal CCCC's Proposal

"responding to the

first indicating

signal when said

one of said first

plurality of bus

masters is reading

data by placing the

generated second

address and

SNOOP signal on

the second bus"

"responding to the first indicating

signal when one of the bus masters

connected to the first bus has

initiated a read transaction by

placing the generated second

address together with the SNOOP

signal on the second bus."

"Responding to the indicating

signal when a bus master is

reading data by placing an

address and a SNOOP signal on

the second bus."

Via separately asserts in its motion for summary judgment that because there is no "second

indicating signal," the "first indicating signal" referenced in this disputed language, claim 1 is

indefinite. The court does not find this argument persuasive. As set forth above, the patent

specification does not refer to an indicating signal. "Indicating signal" appears twice in claim 1: 

"first mapping means . . . for asserting an indicating signal . . ." and "bus interface means . . . for

responding to the first indicating signal." '269 patent at 13:16-19; 14:3-4. CCCC has presented

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 22

evidence that a person of ordinary skill in the art would readily understand that the "first indicating

signal" is in reference to the prior use of "indicating signal" in claim 1. Dubois Decl. (dkt. # 160) ¶

13. Via presents no evidence to the contrary. 

Further, neither side's proposal provides any particularly helpful clarification to the claim

language at issue. However, as CCCC's proposed construction eliminates any reference to the "first

plurality of bus masters," the court feels it necessary to construe the use of "first" and "second" in

this disputed claim language. Consistent with its discussion of "first" and "second" above in

conjunction with the construction of "address space," the court construes "responding to the first

indicating signal when said one of said first plurality of bus masters is reading data by placing the

generated second address and SNOOP signal on the second bus" to mean "responding to the

indicating signal from the first bus when one of the bus masters connected to the first bus is reading

data by placing the generated second address and SNOOP signal on the second bus."7

7. Bus Interface Means

Term VIA & Intel’s Proposal CCCC's Proposal

"bus interface

means"

To the extent any corresponding

structure can be identified, it

generally includes circuitry within

the interface circuit 8.

In the specification of the ‘369

patent, structure(s) for

performing the function(s)

recited in this claim limitation

are the circuitry described as

buffer 22, local bus 16, buffer

49, buffer 24, buffer 36, local

bus 14, buffer 32 and Futurebus

Arbitration and Control 40 in

interface circuit 8 shown in

Figure 2 and equivalents thereof.

As with the "first mapping means," the parties agree that "bus interface means" is a meansplus-function limitation with multiple functions. Defendants contend, however, that there is no

corresponding structure disclosed in the specification and that, accordingly, the claim is invalid as

indefinite. Claim 1 recites a:

bus interface means connected to said first and second buses for responding to the

first indicating signal when said one of said first plurality of bus masters is reading

data by placing the generated second address and SNOOP signal on the second bus,

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

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receiving data from a second data storage location mapped to said second address,

and transmitting the received data to said one of said first plurality of bus masters via

said first bus when the said one of said first plurality of bus masters is reading data. 

'369 patent at 14:3-12. The "bus interface means" thus has three separate functions: (1) responding

to the first indicating signal when a first bus master reads data by placing the generated second

address and SNOOP signal on the second bus, (2) receiving data from a memory on the second bus,

and (3) transmitting the received data to a first bus master. 

The corresponding structure in the specification is identified as a general structure, the "bus

interface circuit." '369 patent at 2:22. CCCC identifies a collection of structures that comprise the

"bus interface means." The portions of the interface circuit 8 that CCCC argues make up the "bus

connection means" are set forth in Figure 2. 

As CCCC asserts, buffer 22, buffer 24, buffer 32, buffer 36, buffer 49, local data buses 14

and 16, and Futurebus arbitration and control circuit 40 collectively make up the structure associated

with function (1). Responding to the first indicating signal, which the court has construed to be the

V-LREQ request signal, involves returning the data requested by the first bus master when it places

the mapped addresses on the second bus through buffer 22, buffer 49, buffer 24, buffer 36, local data

bus 14, buffer 32, and Futurebus arbitration and control circuit 40. See '369 patent at 4:11-37 & fig.

2. 

CCCC identifies a subset of the parts associated with function (1)—buffer 32, buffer 36,

local data bus 14, and Futurebus arbitration and control circuit 40—that collectively make up the

structure associated with functions (2) and (3). Indeed, "receiving" and "transmitting" both involve

sending the requested data to the first bus through buffer 36, local data bus 14, buffer 32, and

Futurebus arbitration and control circuit 40.

The court thus concludes that term "bus interface means" is not indefinite. As set forth

above, the function of the "bus interface means" is as follows: "(1) responding to the first indicating

signal when a first bus master reads data by placing the generated second address and SNOOP signal

on the second bus, (2) receiving data from a memory on the second bus, and (3) transmitting the

received data to a first bus master" and its structure is "buffer 22, buffer 49, buffer 24, buffer 36,

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 24

local data buses 14 and 16, buffer 32, and Futurebus arbitration and control circuit 40 and

equivalents thereof."

III. ORDER

For the foregoing reasons, the court 

1. adopts the following construction of terms in the '369 patent:

Term Construction

"bus" "A signal line or set of signal lines used by an

interface system to connect a number of devices

and to transfer information between the devices."

"address space", "first address space",

"second address space"

"A set of addresses." "First address space" is an

address space that necessarily refers to addresses

represented on the first bus; "second address

space" is an address space that necessarily refers

to addresses represented on the second bus.

"SNOOP signal" "A signal indicating whether an address references

a cached data storage location."

"the SNOOP signal telling said one of

said second plurality of bus masters

when to write cached data to the address

appearing on the bus"

"The SNOOP signal indicating to one of the bus

masters on the second bus when to write cached

data to the one of the second data storage locations

at the address appearing on the second bus." 

"a SNOOP signal of a state indicating

when a generated second address is

mapped to one of said particular subset

of the second data storage locations"

(no construction necessary)

"said second bus including means for

conveying a SNOOP signal with an

address appearing on the bus"

"A second bus with the function of conveying a

SNOOP signal with an address appearing on the

bus and having the structure of a Futurebus or its

equivalents."

"mapping" "Establishing a correspondence between the

elements of one set and elements of another set."

"mapping first addresses within the first

address space to second addresses

within the second address space"

(no construction necessary)

"first mapping means" Function: (1) mapping the first addresses to

second addresses, (2) asserting an indicating

signal, (3) generating a second address in response

to a first address transmitted on the first bus from

a first bus master, and (4) generating a SNOOP

signal.

Structure: the V-F translation circuit 18 and

address generator 47 and equivalents thereof.

"indicating signal" "V-LREQ request signal" which is a signal that

requests control of the first bus.

"responding to the first indicating signal

when said one of said first plurality of

bus masters is reading data by placing

the generated second address and

SNOOP signal on the second bus"

"Responding to the indicating signal when one of

the bus masters connected to the first bus is

reading data by placing the generated second

address and SNOOP signal on the second bus."

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Term Construction

ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

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"bus interface means" Function: (1) responding to the first indicating

signal when a first bus master reads data by

placing the generated second address and SNOOP

signal on the second bus, (2) receiving data from a

memory on the second bus, and (3) transmitting

the received data to a first bus master.

Structure: buffer 22, buffer 49, buffer 24, buffer

36, local data buses 14 and 16, buffer 32, and

Futurebus arbitration and control circuit 40 and

equivalents thereof.

2. sustains defendants' objections to the January 15, 2007 declaration of Omer Salik (dkt. # 198);

and

3. denies Via's motion for summary judgment that the '369 patent is invalid as indefinite.

DATED: 10/22/07

RONALD M. WHYTE

United States District Judge

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ORDER ON CLAIM CONSTRUCTION AND ASSOCIATED MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT OF INVALIDITY BASED

ON INDEFINITENESS—No. C-05-01668 RMW; No. C-05-01766 RMW

JAH/MAG 26

Notice of this document has been electronically sent to:

Counsel for Plaintiff:

Roderick G. Dorman dormanr@hbdlawyers.com

Lawrence M. Hadley hadleyl@hbdlawyers.com

Omer Salik saliko@hbdlawyers.com

Counsel for Defendants:

James P. Bennett jbennett@mofo.com

Juanita R. Brooks brooks@fr.com

Joseph V Colaianni , Jr Colaianni@fr.com

Paul Forrest Coyne pcoyne@mofo.com

John Michael Farrell jfarrell@fr.com

Karl J. Kramer kkramer@mofo.com,sdevol@mofo.com

Jennifer A. Ochs jochs@wsgr.com,lwang@wsgr.com

Timothy Wayne Riffe Riffe@fr.com,conway@fr.com,gwilliams@fr.com

Thomas L. Treffert TTreffert@mofo.com 

Counsel are responsible for distributing copies of this document to co-counsel that have not

registered for e-filing under the court's CM/ECF program.

Dated: 10/22/07 /s/ MAG

Chambers of Judge Whyte

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