Prior art

To identify the most relevant prior art for US Patent 8,112,504, we will examine the patent's own citations. The patent has 130 patent citations and 5 non-patent citations. Given the "Expired - Fee Related" status and the invalidation of claims in IPR proceedings, a full review of all 130 patent citations is extensive. Instead, we will focus on the foundational prior art, especially those explicitly mentioned in the patent text or its prosecution history as being closely related. The priority date for US 8,112,504 is October 2, 1996.

The patent US 8,112,504 is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/782,546, filed on Feb. 13, 2001, which itself is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/724,813, filed on Oct. 2, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,076. This chain of applications indicates that U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,076 and its parent applications are highly relevant prior art.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 8,112,504:

1. U.S. Patent No. 6,199,076 (Logan et al.)

• Full Citation: U.S. Patent No. 6,199,076 (Logan et al.)
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed on October 2, 1996.
• Brief Description: This patent, "System for disseminating media content representing episodes in a serialized sequence," shares the same priority date and inventors as US 8,112,504, and is identified as the parent patent in the divisional chain. Its claims would cover a system for delivering serialized media content, managing user preferences, and tracking usage, similar to the scope of US 8,112,504.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a direct parent and claiming the same invention date, this patent likely encompasses the core elements of the claims of US 8,112,504. It would directly anticipate or render obvious many, if not all, of the claims of US 8,112,504, particularly claims related to the system, method, and media player for distributing and playing serialized media content. This is because US 8,112,504 is a divisional application, meaning it claims subject matter disclosed in the parent application that was not claimed in the parent patent itself. Therefore, the disclosures of U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,076 are directly incorporated by reference into US 8,112,504.

2. U.S. Patent No. 5,371,551 (Logan and Goessling)

• Full Citation: U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,551 issued to James Logan and Daniel F. Goessling.
• Publication/Filing Date: Issued on December 6, 1994. This predates the priority date of US 8,112,504.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system for the "downloading and playing [of information]... concurrently by placing the downloaded information into a memory buffer to which the downloaded program segment is written as it is concurrently read for reproduction." This directly addresses the technical aspect of real-time streaming or progressive downloading.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent directly anticipates aspects of US 8,112,504 related to the efficient delivery and concurrent playback of media segments. Specifically, Claim 1 (a server configured to send program segments to a client, and the client configured to request and receive program segments not already stored locally) and Claim 26 (a media player with a communications port configured to receive program files and store them in memory, and an output unit to reproduce the media) are potentially anticipated. The concept of concurrent downloading and playback is explicitly taught.

3. Real Audio (Progressive Networks)

• Full Citation: Real Audio program offered by Progressive Networks.
• Publication/Filing Date: Introduced in April 1995. This predates the priority date of US 8,112,504.
• Brief Description: Internet radio sources like Real Audio made files of audio program material available for downloading on the World Wide Web, using conventional web browsers to locate and request specific files which were then played in real time by special programs. The patent notes that "Internet radio systems make it possible to deliver a richly diverse selection of audio programs to interested listeners on request, including specialized information not offered by conventional broadcast media." However, it also highlights the impracticality of using a visual web browser for routine desktop or automobile use.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Real Audio directly anticipates the concept of a server disseminating audio content over a network and a client playing that content. This would potentially anticipate elements of Claim 1 (system for distributing media content) and Claim 26 (media player for acquiring and reproducing media program files), especially the aspects of server-side storage and client-side playback of audio content via the Internet. It also provides a foundational system for the distribution of "program segments" and a "program catalog" accessible via a network.

4. ENCO America, DADpro Digital Audio Delivery System

• Full Citation: Enco America, DADpro Digital Audio Delivery System, March 1996.
• Publication/Filing Date: March 1996. This predates the priority date of US 8,112,504.
• Brief Description: This is a digital audio delivery system. While specific details of its functionality regarding serialized content or user interaction are not extensively described in the provided patent text, its existence as a "digital audio delivery system" in March 1996 indicates the state of the art in professional audio broadcasting and delivery solutions. Another related system, "The DAD486X Digital Audio Delivery System, Operation Manual Version 6.0A," from June 30, 1995, is also cited.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): These systems potentially anticipate elements of Claim 1 (system for disseminating media content) and Claim 18 (method for distributing media content) related to the delivery and management of digital audio program segments. Depending on their specific features, they could also bear on aspects of a "program catalog" or "session schedule" for professional broadcasting environments.

It's important to note that while these references are highly relevant for a 35 U.S.C. § 102 anticipation analysis, the PTAB ultimately found claims of US 8,112,504 unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. § 103 (obviousness) based on a combination of prior art.