Williamson v. Citrix Online, LLC, No. 13-1130 (Fed. Cir. 2014)
Annotate this CaseWilliamson's patent describes methods and systems for “distributed learning” that utilize industry standard computer hardware and software linked by a network to provide a virtual classroom). The system includes a presenter computer that controls information that appears on the audience member’s computer screen, audience member computers that display the presentation and can communicate with the presenter and other audience members, and a distributed learning server that implements a “virtual classroom” over a network, such as the Internet.. Williamson accused defendants of infringement based on their alleged manufacture, sale, use, and importation of systems and methods of online collaboration. The district court construed “graphical display representative of a classroom” and “first graphical display comprising . . . a classroom region” as requiring “a pictorial map illustrating an at least partially virtual space in which participants can interact, and that identifies the presenter(s) and the audience member(s) by their locations on the map.” The court concluded that the limitation, “distributed learning control module,” was a means-plus-function term under 35 U.S.C. 112(6) and that the specification failed to disclose necessary algorithms for performing all claimed functions, so that claims were invalid as indefinite. The Federal Circuit vacated, finding the constructions erroneous.
The court issued a subsequent related opinion or order on June 16, 2015.
The court issued a subsequent related opinion or order on June 16, 2015.
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