Source code ch.21: Reading claims onto code

Source Code & Software Patents: A Guide to Software & Internet Patent Litigation for Attorneys & Experts
by Andrew Schulman (http://www.SoftwareLitigationConsulting.com)
Detailed outline for forthcoming book

Chapter 21: “Reading on”: comparing source code to claim limitations

21.1 Code/claim comparison skills

21.2 Code/claim comparison process

  • 21.2.0 Applicable to both infringement & invalidity charts, and to practicing/working charts
  • 21.2.1 Provisionally parse the claim into “limitations”
  • 21.2.2 Provisionally interpret each element of the claim (Provisional claim construction)
  • 21.2.3 Locate each limitation in the code
  • 21.2.4 Provisionally map code & limitation
  • 21.2.5 Verify code/claim mappings consistency
  • 21.2.6 Verify that all elements/steps are present (P showing infringement is AND; while D showing non-infringement is OR [show absence of any one element], D showing anticipatory prior art is AND: “all-elements rule”)
  • 21.2.7 Verify that components form a whole (no “bag of parts”, “laundry list”) [turning claim into “parts list” is important, but insufficient]
  • 21.2.8 Verify any specific connectives (the importance of small words)
  • 21.2.9 Verify that elements/steps “face in same direction” as claim [e.g. server- vs. client-based]
  • 21.2.10 Consider equivalence or obviousness

21.3 Equivalence

  • 21.3.1 Function: purpose, role
  • 21.3.2 Way: implementation
  • 21.3.3 Result: output, side-effect

21.4 Obviousness [combining multiple source-code references, and combining source-code with non-source references; actually, all charts will likely combine source with non-source references]

21.5 Analyzing code/claim matches

  • 21.5.1 Uncovering hidden assumptions
  • 21.5.2 Names & comments
  • 21.5.3 Standards & protocols
  • 21.5.4 Is this code actually important?
  • 21.5.5 Counts
  • 21.5.6 Non-infringing alternatives & design around
  • 21.5.7 Static & dynamic analysis
  • 21.5.8 Errors & exception handling
  • 21.5.9 Counts
  • 21.5.10 Counter-examples
  • 21.5.11 Non-infringing alternatives & design-around
  • 21.5.9 “Evidence of things unseen” (negative & “solely within” limitations; questions regarding what the examiner has not looked at)
  • 21.5.10 General questions source-code examiners should ask themselves

21.6 Thoroughness: Asking who, when, where, etc. questions

  • Who
  • What
  • So what?
  • What else
  • When
  • Where
  • Why & Why Not
  • How
  • Which