JP2003076816A - Statute-dependent object management program, statute- dependent object management system and statute database update server - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that, for a conventional statute-dependent object management system (for instance, patent management system), a considerable amount of man-hour is required for precise and speedy version upgrade of the system package by a vendor at every statute revision, and a user also necessitates a considerable amount of man-hour for customizing associated with the version upgrade. SOLUTION: A statute-dependent object management program is separated into a business logic check program and a statute logic check program, further, the statute logic check program is separated into a statute logic check common part and a statute logic check customizing part, and a statute database part is separated from the statute logic check program, so that the range of version upgrade at the statute revision can be limited to the statute logic check program, the statute logic check common part and the statute database part, revision misses can be reduced, and the man-hour can be reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the construction of a law-dependent property management system for managing law-dependent properties (for example, applied patents) like a patent management system for managing the consequences of patents filed in-house by technology development companies. Technology, especially
The present invention relates to a technology for efficiently increasing the system level according to the revision of laws and regulations.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the age of global competition for technological development, the patent strategy has become an important part of management strategy, especially in technological development companies. Technology development companies in the world market strategically apply for patents not only in Japan but also in the United States, Europe, and Asia to obtain appropriate rights. In a company with a large number of applications like this,
In order to promote patent strategy, we have systematized patent management operations using IT technology. Figure 2 (a) shows the overall picture of systematization of such patent management work.

As shown in the figure, as a typical system, 1. Known example search system: It has a function of accumulating and searching for CD-ROM gazettes, and is used by the inventor and the in-house examination department when examining their own patent ideas. . 2. Inventor application support system: It has functions such as in-house application request, PC application, office cooperation, etc. to support application practice. 3. Patent management system: In-house acceptance of application requests from the inventor, progress management, pension management, expense management, etc., and management of the history of application patents. 4. Baggage management system: Electronic storage of application documents and procedural documents, a search function, and a tool for problem patents and patent disputes.

The present invention relates to the patent management system 3. within the above range. The patent management system manages the return history during the life cycle of the patent from the birth of the patent to the expiration of the patent in the patent database. The system includes many patent management operations in accordance with the patent life cycle, and Fig. 2 (b) shows a typical list of operations. The present invention includes the patent database P-DB of the patent management system.
Related to patent management work for updating
The part marked with is described later.

Many technology development companies have introduced these patent management systems, but most of them purchase a patent management system package provided by a system vendor and conform to their own environment or in-house patent management policies and rules. We operate this system by customizing it. However, many laws and regulations (hereinafter referred to as patent laws and regulations) that define industrial property rights, including patent rights, differ from country to country, and there are many types of patent rights, trademark rights, etc. It has adopted more than 100 kinds of patent laws in more than one country. System vendors support all of these, of course.

Further, reflecting the era of pro-patent, these laws are frequently revised including small revisions and major revisions. For example, the Japanese Patent Law has recently been revised in 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999,
Continues. Moreover, the current Japanese patent period is 2 from the application
As in 0 years, patent management generally requires long-term management, so management of case patents applying the patent law of generations before is necessary.

Like the patent management system described above, the law-dependent property management system that manages properties that depend on a large number of laws (for example, applied patents) has various related laws as described above. We encounter revisions once or twice a year, and the system vendor needs to immerse themselves in the version upgrade work of each revision. Furthermore, when applying the version upgrade system to the user, the user needs to customize the customization part of the user. Each time, it was necessary to carry out new customization work to match the version upgrade.

[0008]

As described above, in the law-dependent property management system represented by the conventional patent management system, the vendor is required to update the system package accurately and promptly every time the law is revised. There is a problem in that man-hours are required, and the user also needs a lot of man-hours for customization accompanying this version upgrade.
An object of the present invention is to solve such problems, and to provide a law-dependent property management system that further reduces the package version upgrade range associated with law revisions, reduces the number of work steps, and reduces revision revision omissions due to mistakes. To do. Another object of the present invention is to provide a law-dependent property management system that reduces the number of man-hours required for user customization that accompanies a package version upgrade.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] As shown in FIG. 1, the above problem has a law-dependent property database P-DB that stores the history of the return of law-dependent properties, and manages necessary procedures based on the law. In the law-dependent property management system that consists of the law-dependent property management server 2 and one or more law-dependent property management clients 1 that register and update data in the law-dependent property database P-DB, A law-dependent property management program for causing the computer of the management server 2 to execute law-dependent property management information processing. Data registration and update from the law-dependent property management client 1 to the law-dependent property database P-DB For the data input for the check, it is checked according to the business logic that is a predetermined rule in management work, and the error is If so, a business logic check program that prompts re-entry and causes a computer to function as a business logic check means 21 that accepts only error-free data as business logic, and a law logic that is a predetermined rule in law for the data input. A legal logic check program that causes a computer to function as the legal logic check means 22 that accepts only data that has no legal logic error and prompts re-entry if there is an error in light of the above-mentioned business logic check program and the legal logic. It is solved by the law-dependent property management program, which is separate from the check program.

The business logic check function (function of the business logic check means 21) is a business logic check common part which is a set of abstract class objects that commonly describe business logic check processing.
Consists of BC-K and a business logic check customizing section BC-C that is customized to match the system environment and business conditions of each user and consists of an execution class for executing the business logic check common section BC-K. The legal logic check function (the function of the legal logic check means 22) realized by the implemented program is an abstract class object set that commonly describes the legal logic check processing.
-K and the legal logic check customizing section LC-C that is customized to suit the system environment and business conditions of each user and consists of an execution class for executing the legal logic check common section LC-K. The above-mentioned problems are solved by the law-dependent property management program realized by the program.

The law logic check function (the function of the law logic check means 22) is a law logic check function for a law database L-DB configured as a set of items suitable for causing a computer to perform a logic check of a predetermined description of a law. The above problem is solved by the law-dependent property management program that is held separately from the common part LC-K.

In addition, the revised law registration means 32 for registering the prescribed description of the revised law as revised law database information configured as a set of items suitable for causing a computer to perform a logic check, and the law-dependent property management system The law database receiving / updating means for receiving the revised law database information through the internet from the law database updating server 3 having the revised law database information transmitting means 31 for transmitting the revised law database information through the internet and updating the law database L-DB. The above problem is solved by a law-dependent property management system having 24.

The above operation will be described in detail below with reference to an embodiment.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a law-dependent property management program, a law-dependent property management system, and a law database updating server according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the computer processing in the present invention is executed by a computer program on the main storage device of the computer, and the provision form of the computer program includes an auxiliary storage device connected to the computer, a CD-ROM, and the like. It is provided by being stored in each recording medium such as a portable storage device or a main storage device and an auxiliary storage device of another computer connected to a network.
When executing this computer program, it is loaded into the main memory of the computer and executed.

As described above with reference to FIG. 2B, there are various types of patent management work for updating the patent database P-DB. The following is an excerpt of the outline of the work: Confirmation of publication (input of the publication number and publication date of the application patent), judgment of examination request (necessity of examination request of application patent by internal examination, request time, input of judgment result of amendment) ), Request for examination (input billing date, other administrative data), notification processing of office (input of acceptance of various notifications such as notification of reasons for refusal), intermediate processing (input of judgment result of corresponding action to department by internal department in charge), correction procedure ( Amendment, submission of opinion, office name, etc.).

The system vendor packages these services and delivers them to the user company, but these services are usually customized to suit the environment of the user company and the internal patent management policy and rules. Jobs marked with * in Fig. 2 (b) are considered to have a large amount of user customization. On the other hand, in these operations, the input to the patent database P-DB is a promise determined in the business environment of the company (in this specification, this is called business logic).
2) is required, and this consistency check is called a business logic check and is shown in FIG. 2 (b). Is there an input from an intellectual property representative as an example of business logic check? Is the total inventor contribution rate within 100? , Is the decision whether or not to make a request one year before the examination request deadline? , And so on. Normally, these business logic checks are subject to user customization.

Further, since these services are under the laws and regulations on which the subject invention relies, the input to the patent database P-DB must not violate the logic stipulated by the laws and regulations, and the required laws and regulations for each business. Perform logic check. For example, does the applicant country have a disclosure system? , How many days are left before the deadline for requesting examination? , And so on. Figure 2 (b)
As shown in, there are various kinds of legal logic checks such as Japanese Patent Law, Japanese Utility Model Law, United States Patent Law, European Patent Convention (Patent Law of each country), and vendors support all of these, but users apply for their own. We are customizing the system to include only the countries in which we operate. It should be noted that each time the patent law is revised, the types of application will increase. For example, in the 1994 revision of the Japanese Patent Law, July 1st, 1995
The patents filed on or after the date of application have a term of 20 years, but the old law is applied to the patents filed before that date, so the vendor incorporates both types and determines the law to apply based on the filing date of the applicable invention. Logic must be added.

As described above, each business of the patent management system has an element of business logic check and an element of legal logic check. In the conventional system, each business program is created by combining these so as to conform to business specifications. Was there. Fig. 3 (a) shows an example of the configuration of a conventional patent management system. This is a patent management system customized for a user company (call it u). The patent management client 1'has front-end checking means 11 ', which includes the front-end checking program FC (u). Here, FC (u) indicates that the front end check program FC provided by the vendor is customized for user u. Similarly, in the patent management server 2 ', the publication confirmation program GP01, the examination request judgment program GP02 (u), the examination request program GP03, the agency notification processing program GP04, the intermediate processing program GP05 (u) under the business program selection unit. , Amendment procedure program GP06, trial procedure program GP07, registration confirmation program GP08 (u), pension management program GP09, maintenance necessity judgment program GP10 (u), right expiration processing program GP11,
It is configured with the abandonment processing program GP12 (u). In this example, for example, the disclosure confirmation program GP01 remains the vendor-provided package, but the examination request determination program GP02
(u) is a program that customizes the vendor-provided package.

This situation will be described more concretely with reference to an example of the configuration of the examination request judgment program GP02 (u) as an example in FIG. Fig. 4 (a) shows the examination request judgment specifications of two users a and b. That is, the user a classifies the invention into the (priority levels a, b, c) as the in-house examination classification and determines (correction required / not required: request required / not required). And important point a
Is an instant rule, priority b is a request at the primary time point, and priority c is a request at the secondary time point. For this user, the primary time is defined as 3 years after the application and the secondary time is defined as 6 years after the application. On the other hand, according to the user b's examination request judgment specification, the invention is determined as the in-house examination classification (amendment required or not) and (immediate examination request, pending until one year's review, no request required).

Business program GP that reflects these specifications
A configuration example of 02 (a) and GP02 (b) is as shown in FIG. 4 (b). The routines K1, K2, K3 and K4 form the core of the GP02 program provided by the vendor, and the contents are shown in FIG. 3 (c). That is, the routine K1 receives the reference number and in-house examination classification of the invention from the patent management client 1 ', and obtains the filing date and the current date of the invention. Routine K2 consists of primary date, secondary date, deadline for requesting examination,
Calculate the remaining days at the primary time, the remaining days at the secondary time, the remaining days on the deadline, the year before the deadline, and the remaining days on the year before the deadline. Here, first, the applicable law is searched for from the application date, the examination request deadline date determined by the applicable law is calculated, and the date of the primary time point, the secondary time point, etc. determined by the in-house rule is calculated based on this.
In designing the routine K2, it is devised to give various points as primary and secondary points so as to satisfy all users' wishes.

Business program GP02 of user a in FIG. 4 (b)
In (a), after checking the deadline by routines K1 and K2, the invention is sorted into (priority a, b, c, billing unnecessary, deadline error) in the sorting routine S (a). This part is a routine customized for user a's internal specifications. Then, the routine of the core part of the GP02 program
K3 (prompt for retry in case of error due to deadline, proceed to next in case of confirmation click) and routine K4 (call patent database updating means 23 'to update the database) and terminate.

On the other hand, in the business program GP02 (b) of the user b in FIG. 4 (b), the routines K1, K2, K3, and K4 are part of the user a.
However, only the sorting routine S (b) is different from the sorting routine S (a).
Unnecessary, deadline error). This part is a routine customized for user b's internal specifications. Returning to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 (b) shows the necessary work involved in version updating in the case where there is a legal revision in the conventional system as shown in FIG. 3 (a). Required work is version update work v-wk and customization work c-wk for each user. As for version update work v-wk, legal logic check is involved in all operations of the provided package, so it is necessary to review all core parts. Furthermore, when applying this to users, the customization program of the corresponding user (examination request judgment program GP02 (u), intermediate processing program GP05 (u), registration confirmation program GP08 (u), maintenance required in the example of FIG. 3 (a)) Rejection judgment program GP10 (u), abandonment processing program GP12
(u)) requires customization work c-wk for each user.

The present invention intends to reduce the work range associated with such revision of laws and regulations, thereby reducing the number of work steps and the omission of revision reflection due to mistakes. Using the conventional example of the examination request judgment program GP02 (u) shown in Fig. 4,
An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. In the present invention, first,
As shown in Fig. 5 (a), review the conventional business program,
Take a program style that separates the underlying business logic and legal logic. Specifically, in the example of FIG. 4, since the routines K1 and K3 do not include the law logic, they are the business logic section, and the routine K4 is the law logic section, but the routine K2 and the sorting routines S (a), S (b )
Since the legal logic part is mixed in, separate it as shown in the figure.

That is, a routine for calculating a deadline date, which is a legal logic portion, is separated from the routine K2 as a routine K2L, and the rest is made a business logic routine K2B. It is represented schematically as K2 = K2B + K2L. Similarly, it is separated from the sorting routine S = the sorting business logic routine SB + the law logic routine SL. That is, schematically
S (a) = SB (a) + SL and S (b) = SB (b) + SL. Here, SL is a legal logic check part common to users regarding sorting, and is a part that depends on the law but does not depend on user specifications.

By thus creating the program by separating the business logic check part and the law logic check part from each other, the version update range at the time of revision of the law can be reduced. This will be described with reference to FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 6A, the patent management system of the present invention has the business logic check means 21 (program BC (u)) and the law logic check means 22 (program LC (u)) separately. With such a configuration, the version update range when the law is revised is as shown in Fig. 6 (b). Comparing this with Fig. 3 (b) of the conventional example, the LC core size is generally
<(GP01 + GP02 + ... + GP12) Since the core size is established, the range of version update work v-wk in the vendor is reduced, and the workload is reduced. Also, regarding the customized part, generally LC (u) size <(GP01 (u)
+ GP02 (u) + ... + GP12 (u)) size, so (LC (a) + ...
+ LC (e)) size <((GP01 (a) + GP02 (a) + ... + GP12 (a))
The size is + ... + (GP01 (e) + GP02 (e) + ... + GP12 (e)). Therefore, customization work for each user due to the revision of laws c-
The wk load is also being reduced.

Returning to FIG. 5 again, the structure of customization for each user of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5 (b). The programs that actually operate the business program GP02 (a) for user a are K1, K2B, K2L, SB (a), SL, and
It can be seen that they are K3 and K4. Of these, K1, K2B, SB (a), K
3 is included in the business logic check means 21, and K2L, S
As described above, L and K4 are included in the legal logic check means 22. Business logic check means
Focusing on K1, K2B, SB (a), K3 in 21, K1, K2B, K3 are the core parts, and only SB (a) is the customization part for user a. In the present invention, these routines are implemented as an object set by the object-oriented technology.
Then, customizing the core object is realized by using the inheritance relationship between the objects.

The mechanism will be described with reference to FIG.
In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the business logic check means 21 is provided with the business logic check customization section BC-C.
And business logic check common part BC-K.
Further, the law logic check means 22 is also separated into a law logic check customizing section LC-C and a law logic check common section LC-K. At this time, the object that contains the effective method provided by the vendor is an abstract class, and this is a common part (for example, business logic check common part BC-K, legal logic check common part LC-K),
An execution class as an interface for executing this is customized (for example, business logic check customizer BC-C, legal logic check customizer.
Provided as LC-C). The object of the execution class provided in this way does not have a built-in method itself, and when an activation message is received, it follows the abstract class that is the parent class and executes the method of the corresponding object. If customization is required, the execution class object of the customization section is replaced with a customization object that describes the customization content as a method.

The above relationships are related to the business program for user a.
Explaining in case of GP02 (a), as shown in Fig. 5 (b), K1, K2B, K3, SB for business logic check common block BC, K2L, SL for legal logic check common block LC-K. , K4 abstract class object is prepared. And the corresponding execution class objects K1 ', K2B', K3 ', SB', K2
L ', SL', K4 'are prepared in the customization department. On the other hand, when the user a wants to change the common part sorting routine SB + SL to SB (a) + SL according to the user specifications, instead of changing the abstract class SB, the execution class SB ′ is changed to SB (a) + SL.
Replace with (a).

As a result, the user a and user b systems have a common business logic check common part BC-K and a legal logic check common part LC-K, and the vendor has only one common business logic check common part for all users. BC-K, legal logic check common part LC-K should be supported. And business logic check common section BC-K
Has a structure that is not affected by the revision of laws and regulations, the vendor may perform version update work v-wk for only one law-logic check common part LC-K when the law is revised. Further, in this structure, the contents of revision of the law are automatically reflected in the user customization section due to the inheritance relationship of the objects.

If the above explanation is repeated with reference to FIG. 7, in the system of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7A, the business logic check means 21 of the patent management server 2 has the business logic check customizing section BC-C and the business logic check common section BC. -K and a separate structure, the law logic check means 22 is separated into a law logic check customization section LC-C and a law logic check common section LC-K. Figure 7 shows the scope of legal revision version update work in this state.
As shown in (b), the front end check common part FC-K,
Since it is limited to the business logic check common part BC-K and the law logic check common part LC-K, the range of version update work v-wk is reduced and the work load is reduced. Furthermore, FC-C (u), BC-C (u), LC-C (u)
Is an execution class that inherits the contents of FC-K, BC-K, LC-K version update work v-wk, so there is no need to change it due to revision of laws,
Therefore, a user customization man-hour is unnecessary.

Further, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The patent management system of FIG. 8 (a) has a structure in which the law database L-DB is further separated in the law logic check means 22. The law database L-DB is configured as a set of items suitable for causing a computer to perform a logic check on a prescribed description of a law, and FIG.
Shows an example of the structure.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, as shown in FIG. 10A, the law database L-DB is a database file (Japanese patent law .db, US patent law .db, ...) Corresponding to each law.
Is a set of. For example, the structure of the law database L-DB corresponding to the Japanese Patent Law includes all revisions in the past, as shown in FIG. 10 (b). The figure is an example at the time of revision in 1994. As shown in the figure, the items required for legal logic check are organized into large items, medium items, and small items, and each item is created in multiple columns as necessary. For example, the examination request deadline is "7 years from the application date" before the 1993 revision, and it remains unchanged even after the 1994 revision. Therefore, this field is filled with "ap --- 07y00m00d". Only one cell is needed. However, since the revision in 1999 will be “3 years from the date of application,” the 1999 revision will reflect “application date <2001
If it is October 1, it will be 7 years from the application date ”,“ Application date> October 2001
If it is 1 day, 3 years from the application date ”must be selected and applied. When this is reflected in the law database L-DB, "Applicable rule: ap, 011001, deadline: ap --- 07y
00m00d ”and“ Applicable rule: 011001, ap, Deadline: ap--
-03y00m00d ”will be rewritten into 2 items and 2 columns.

Returning to FIG. 8, in the patent management system configured as shown in FIG. 8 (a), as shown in FIG. 8 (b), even the LC-K even the legal logic check common section LC-K is updated when the law is revised. Law database, not the target of work
Only L-DB can be the scope of version update work v-wk. This is a revision to the extent that the legal framework does not change.For example, in the case of a major revision where the examination request system itself disappears or a new procedure is inserted, the version is also updated to LC-K, the common section of the legal logic check. It is expected that updating work will be required, but the actual changes in the framework to date can be dealt with by changing the legal database L-DB.

Next, the law database L- associated with the law revision
Consider DB modification work. The present invention proposes a law database update server 3 for updating the law database L-DB as shown in FIG. Next, an operation example of the law database updating server 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The process for updating the revised law registration will be described with reference to the operation flow of FIG. The law database update server 3 has a revised law registration means 32, and the revised law registration means 32 reads the revised law database information L-DB ′ and stores it in the law database update server 3 in step S1201. The revised law database information L-DB 'is created by the vendor engineer as information for rewriting only the data portion that is changed to suit the structure of FIG. Next, the e-mail means (not shown) of the law database updating server 3 extracts the user who is using the revised law this time from the support user list in step S1202 according to the operator's instruction. This support user list is recorded and updated in the law database update server 3 every time the patent management system is delivered to the user from the vendor, along with the customization information, the user responsible email address, the user responsible email address, and the like. Next, the mail means (not shown) of the law database updating server 3 generates and prints the unreceived user list as the users to be transmitted in step S1203, and prints the undetermined user list in step S1203.
In 04, an update guide mail is created for these users and automatically sent to the user contact mail address. The content of the update guide is
For example, it informs the revision outline, application start date, download method, installation method, and the like.

The person in charge of the user who has received the mail sends a download request to the home page of the law database updating server 3 to start the download request receiving process shown in FIG. 12 (c). The revised law database information transmitting means 31 of the law database update server 3 checks the download requesting user in step S1209, and confirms by the authentication process that the user is the correct user and that the contract relationship of the download cost has been processed.
If the result is determined in step S1210 and it is determined that the transmission is permitted, the revised law database information transmitting means 31 transmits the revised law database information L-DB 'in step S1211. Then, if the transmission is successful, the transmission completion is recorded in the unreceived user list and erased, and the unreceived user list is updated.

Further, the common control unit (not shown) of the law database updating server 3 activates the daily processing shown in FIG. 12B at a fixed time every day during the operator designated period. That is, the alarm destination determination means 33 of the law database updating server 3 displays the unreceived user list at the present time in step S1205, calculates the number of remaining days until the revised law applying date in step S1206, and the remaining number of days is 30 days. If there is, step S1207 is started, and if the number of remaining days is 15 days, step S1208 is started.

In step S1207, the alarm notification means 34 of the law database updating server 3 automatically sends an alarm mail to the person in charge and the person in charge of the unreceived user. As the contents, show the scope of impact and responsibilities when the relevant law revision is not applied, the revised law database information L-DB 'installation, the expected test period, etc., and request a reply. Although not shown in FIG. 12, when it is confirmed from the above response that the user has not received the message, the operator of the law database updating server 3 manually deletes the user from the unreceived user list. Step S1208
Then, the alarm notification means 34 automatically sends a contact request mail to the sales manager in charge of the vendor who supports the unreceived user and the sales staff. The content of the e-mail requests that the user be contacted to take immediate action.

In contrast to the law database updating server 3 described above, in the embodiment of the patent management system of the present invention shown in FIG. 9, the patent management server 2 has law database receiving and updating means 24, and the law database updating server The revised law database information L-DB 'from 3 is received and the law database L-DB is overwritten. In such an embodiment, the revised law database information L-DB '
Version update work v-wk to update L-DB can be executed at the user site. Therefore, the user does not have to pay the vendor the cost of installing the update package as in the conventional case.

Although the data format of the revised law database information L-DB 'is arbitrary, an example of representation of the revised law database information L-DB' in XML format as shown in FIG. 11 will be described as an embodiment of the present invention. . This format corresponds to the data structure of FIG. 10 (b), and the data value is described between the start / end tags with the item names of the large item, the medium item, and the small item as tags.

FIG. 11 (a) is an example of excerpt of the revised law database information L-DB 'at the time of revision in 1994. The state in which this revised law database information L-DB' is stored is shown in FIG. 10 (b). Corresponds to the expiration rule part. Also, the above-mentioned Heisei 11
An excerpt of the revised law database information L-DB 'corresponding to the * mark in Figure 10 (b) of the year revision is shown in Figure 11 (b). Ap, pb, rg, or in the data are variable names indicating the filing date, the publication date, the registration date, and the standard filing date. For example, the three expiration rules A, B, and C in Fig. 11 (a) are as follows. It expresses a rule like. Expiration rule A: This rule is activated by the action of entering the publication date in the patent database P-DB, and the filing date <1994
If it is January 1st of the year, set 15 years from the date of publication as expiration. Expiration Rule B: This rule is activated by the action of entering the date of publication in the patent database P-DB, January 1, 1994
If date <application date <July 1, 1995, set the shorter of 20 years from the application date and 15 years from the date of publication as the expiration date. Expiration rule C: This rule is activated by the action of entering the registration date in the patent database P-DB, and it was activated on July 1, 1995.
If date <application date, set 20 years from the basic application date as expiration.

By adopting such a format, it is possible to send only the rewriting necessary items in an easy-to-understand form. Further, such open format data can be applied as data other than the patent management system of the present invention, and generally has the possibility of distribution as pay content. (Supplementary Note 1) A law-dependent property management server that has a law-dependent property database that stores the return history of law-dependent properties, manages necessary procedures based on laws, and registers and updates data to the law-dependent property database. Input 1
A law-dependent property management system for causing a computer of a law-dependent property management server to execute law-dependent property management information processing in a law-dependent property management system including one or more law-dependent property management clients. For the data entry from the dependent property management client to the law-dependent property database and data input for updating, check according to the business logic that is a predetermined rule in management work,
If there is an error, the business logic check program that prompts re-entry and causes the computer to function as a business logic check means that accepts only error-free data as business logic; A legal logic check program that causes a computer to function as a legal logic check means that prompts re-entry if there is an error in the light of a certain legal logic, and accepts only data that does not have a legal logic error. A law-dependent property management program characterized by being separated from the law logic check program.

(Supplementary Note 2) The business logic check program further executes the business logic check common part, which is an abstract class object set that commonly describes the business logic check processing, and the business logic check common part. It is a program that is separated into a business logic check customization section that is customized to suit the system environment and business conditions of each user, and the law logic check program further shares the law logic check processing. It is made up of a set of abstract class objects that are described in an abstract manner and a legal logic check common part, and an execution class for executing the legal logic check common part, which is customized to suit the system environment and business conditions of each user. The law-dependent property management program described in appendix 1, characterized in that it is a program that is separated into a legislative logic check customization section.

(Supplementary Note 3) The common law logic check section further has a law database externally configured as a set of items suitable for causing a computer to perform a logic check of a predetermined description of a law, and the law database is provided. The law-dependent property management program described in appendix 2, characterized in that the law logic check is performed by reference.

(Supplementary Note 4) A law-dependent property management server that has a law-dependent property database that stores the history of the return of law-dependent properties, and manages necessary procedures based on laws, and data to the law-dependent property database. A law-dependent property management system consisting of one or more law-dependent property management clients that perform registration and update input,
Front-end check means for registering data in the law-dependent property database, performing format check of data input for updating, prompting re-input if there is an error, and accepting only data without format error,
A law-dependent property management system, comprising: a business logic check unit that functions according to the law-dependent property management program described in appendix 1 or 2; and a law-dependent property management server having a law logic check unit.

(Supplementary Note 5) The revised law registration means and the law-dependent property management system for registering as the revised law database information configured as a set of items suitable for causing a computer to perform a logic check on the prescribed description of the revised law A revised law database updating server having a revised law database information transmitting means for transmitting the revised law database information to the Internet.

(Supplementary Note 6) The law database updating server according to Supplementary Note 5, further comparing the customized information of the law-dependent property management system, the revised law database information, the current date and time, and the transmitted history, An alarm notification is sent to the law-dependent property management system that extracts the law-dependent property management system that needs to receive the revised law database information but has not yet received, and the law-dependent property management system extracted by the alarm destination determination unit. A law database updating server comprising: an alarm notifying means.

(Supplementary Note 7) A law-dependent property management system characterized by having a law database receiving / updating means for receiving revised law database information from the law database updating server according to Appendix 5 or 6 via the Internet and updating the law database. (Supplementary Note 8) A law-dependent property management server that has a law-dependent property database that stores the history of the return of law-dependent properties, and manages necessary procedures based on laws, and registers and updates data in the law-dependent property database. Input 1
A law-dependent property management method of a law-dependent property management system consisting of one or more law-dependent property management clients, wherein data registration in the law-dependent property database and data input format check for updating are performed, If there is an error, prompt the re-entry and accept only the data without format error, front-end check stage, and data entry from the law-dependent property management client to the law-dependent property database, data input for updating The business logic check stage that checks according to business logic that is a predetermined rule in management work, prompts re-input if there is an error, and accepts only error-free data as business logic, and the law regarding the data input Predetermined in Prompting reenter any errors in light of the law logic is the rule, law dependence property management method characterized by having a law logic check out only accept no law logic error data.

(Supplementary Note 9) A computer-readable recording medium recording the law-dependent property management program according to Supplementary Note 1, 2 or 3. (Supplementary note 10) A law database update server program for causing a law database update server to execute information processing for supplying revised law database information to a law-dependent property management system, wherein a predetermined description of revised law is written in a computer. A revised law registration stage of registering as revised law database information configured as a set of items suitable for checking, and a revised law database information transmission stage of transmitting the revised law database information to the law-dependent property management system via the Internet. A law database update server program for causing a law database update server to execute.

(Supplementary Note 11) The law database updating server program according to Supplementary Note 10, further comparing the customization information of the law-dependent property management system, the revised law database information, the current date and time, and the transmitted history, An alarm destination determination step for extracting a law-dependent property management system that has not yet received the revised law database information, and an alarm notification is sent to the law-dependent property management system extracted by the alarm destination determination means. A law database update server program characterized by causing a law database update server to execute the alarm notification step to be performed.

(Supplementary Note 12) Law-dependent Property Management System A law-dependent property management program for causing a computer to execute law-dependent property management. A law-dependent property management program characterized by causing a computer to execute the law database reception / update step of receiving and updating the law database.

[0051]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the patent management system that further reduces the version upgrade range of a package due to the revision of laws and regulations, reduces the man-hours required and misses the revision reflection due to mistakes. Can be provided. Further, there is an effect that it is possible to provide a patent management system that can reduce the number of man-hours required for user customization accompanying a package version upgrade. Further, although the details of the patent management system have been described in the embodiments of the present invention, not only the patent management system but also a law-dependent property management system for managing law-dependent properties that generally perform necessary procedures based on laws and regulations. This is generally true.

[Brief description of drawings]

[FIG. 1] Configuration example of a law-dependent property management system and a law database update server of the present invention

[Fig. 2] List of patent management operations for updating the patent database P-DB

[Fig. 3] Conventional patent management system and example of work range at version update

[Fig. 4] Example of conventional business program (GP02 (u) examination request judgment)

FIG. 5 is a structural example of a (GP02 (u) examination request judgment) portion in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example of a work range at the time of version update in the first embodiment of the patent management system.

FIG. 7 is an example of a work range at the time of version update in the second embodiment of the patent management system.

FIG. 8 is an example of a work range at the time of version update in the third embodiment of the patent management system.

FIG. 9 is an example of a work range at the time of version update in the fourth embodiment of the patent management system.

[Figure 10] Example of structure of law database L-DB

[Figure 11] Revised law database information in XML format L-
DB 'example

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of an operation example of the law database updating server.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Law-dependent property management client (patent management client) 2 Law-dependent property management server (patent management server) 3 Law database update server 11 Front-end check means 21 Business logic check means 22 Law logic check means 23 Law-dependent property database update means ( Patent database update means) 24 Law database reception update means 31 Revised law database information transmission means 32 Revised law registration means 33 Alarm destination judgment means 34 Alarm notification means FC-K Front end check common part FC-C Front end check customized part BC- K Business logic check common part BC-C Business logic check customizing part LC-K Legal logic check common part LC-C Legal logic check customizing part L-DB Legal database L-DB 'Revised legal database information P-DB Legal dependency Case database (patent database)

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kuniaki Ito             Nagano-shi Nagano-shi large Tsuruga character Nabeyada 1403-3               Fujitsu Nagano System Engineer Co., Ltd.             In the ring (72) Inventor Akito Ogawa             Nagano-shi Nagano-shi large Tsuruga character Nabeyada 1403-3               Fujitsu Nagano System Engineer Co., Ltd.             In the ring (72) Inventor Ken Takehara             4-1, Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa             No. 1 within Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor Yutaka Abe             Nagano-shi Nagano-shi large Tsuruga character Nabeyada 1403-3               Fujitsu Nagano System Engineer Co., Ltd.             In the ring

Claims (9)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A law-dependent property management server that has a law-dependent property database that stores the return history of law-dependent properties, manages necessary procedures based on laws, and registers data in the law-dependent property database. In a law-dependent property management system consisting of one or more law-dependent property management clients that perform update input, a law-dependent property management program that causes the computer of the law-dependent property management server to execute law-dependent property management information processing. Therefore, the data registration and update data input from the law-dependent property management client to the law-dependent property database is checked according to the business logic that is a predetermined rule in the management work, and an error is detected. If so, it prompts for re-entry, and there is no error as business logic. Business logic check program that causes a computer to function as a business logic check means that accepts only data, and prompts for re-entry if there is an error in light of the above-mentioned data input in accordance with the law logic that is a predetermined rule in the law. A law logic check program that causes a computer to function as law logic check means that accepts only data with no logic error, and the business logic check program and the law logic check program are separated. Dependent property management program. 2. The business logic check program further includes a business logic check common part, which is an abstract class object set that commonly describes business logic check processing, and an execution class for executing the business logic check common part. It is a program that is separated into a business logic check customization section that is customized to suit the system environment and business conditions of each user, and the law logic check program further performs common law logic check processing. It is composed of an abstract class object set to describe the legal logic check common part, and an execution class for executing the legal logic check common part, which is customized to suit the system environment and business conditions of each user. Claim 1 wherein laws dependent property management program, characterized in that the logic checking customization part, in a separate program. 3. The statutory logic check common unit further has an external statute database configured as a set of items suitable for causing a computer to perform a logic check of a prescribed description of a statute, and refers to the statute database. The law-dependent property management program according to claim 2, wherein the law-based property management program is configured to perform a logic check. 4. A law-dependent property management server that has a law-dependent property database that stores the history of the return of law-dependent properties, manages necessary procedures based on laws, and registers data in the law-dependent property database. A law-dependent property management system consisting of one or more law-dependent property management clients that perform update input. Data registration to the law-dependent property database, format check of data input for update, error checking If there is, there is a front-end check means that prompts re-entry and accepts only data without format errors, and a business logic check means and a law logic check means that function with the law-dependent property management program according to claim 1 or 2 or 3. Having a legally dependent property management server Legal dependent property management system to butterflies. 5. A revised law registration means for registering revised law database information configured as a set of items suitable for causing a computer to perform a logic check of a prescribed description of a revised law, and a law-dependent property management system. A law database updating server having a revised law database information transmitting means for transmitting the revised law database information through the Internet. 6. The law database updating server according to claim 5, further comprising: comparing the customization information of the law-dependent property management system, the revised law database information, the current date and time, and the transmitted history, and revising the revision. An alarm destination determination means for extracting a law-dependent property management system that needs to receive the law database information but has not been received, and an alarm for notifying the law-dependent property management system extracted by the alarm destination determination means A law database updating server comprising: a notifying means. 7. A law-dependent property management system comprising law database receiving and updating means for receiving revised law database information from the law database updating server according to claim 5 or 6 through the Internet and updating the law database. 8. A law-dependent property management server that has a law-dependent property database that stores the history of the return of law-dependent properties, manages necessary procedures based on laws, and registers data in the law-dependent property database. A law-dependent property management method for a law-dependent property management system comprising one or more law-dependent property management clients that perform update input, including data registration to the law-dependent property database and data input for updating. Performs a format check, prompts for re-entry if there is an error, and accepts only data with no format error in the front-end check stage, and for registering and updating data from the law-dependent property management client to the law-dependent property database. It is a predetermined rule in management work for data input Business logic check stage that checks according to business logic, prompts re-entry if there is an error, and accepts only error-free data as business logic, and legal logic that is a predetermined rule in the law for data input A law-dependent property management method characterized by having a law logic check stage that prompts re-entry if there is an error and accepts only data with no law logic error. 9. A computer-readable recording medium in which the law-dependent property management program according to claim 1, 2 or 3 is recorded.