JP2004046467A - Relegation method for pension management job - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pension management job relegation method which is efficient and hardly causes a mistake. <P>SOLUTION: A client, who owns a computer 3 having a storage means 13 storing a database 21 including bibliographic data on industrial property rights, an operation means 11 and an input means 15, inputs retrieval condition data from the input means 15. The operation means 11 compares the inputted retrieval condition data with the bibliographic data in the database 21 and extracts an industrial property right matching the retrieval condition. Electronic data on the extracted industrial property right are outputted and sent to an administrator. The administrator performs relegation processing. From the administrator to the client, the electronic data on the industrial property right for which the relegation processing has been completed are transmitted. On the basis of the electronic data, the operation means 11 updates the database 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for a client to transfer management of patent, utility model, design and trademark pensions (including renewal costs) to a manager.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Many companies seeking to obtain patents apply for patents on behalf of a patent firm patent attorney. Patent applications are examined by the Patent Office and only those patent applications for which there is no statutory objection are granted. Under the Japanese Patent Law, it is necessary to pay a registration fee (so-called registration fee) from the first year to the third year after the patent is granted. After this payment, the patent right is set and registered, and an exclusive right is generated. The procedure for paying the registration fee is usually performed by a patent attorney who is the application agent at the request of the company.
[0003]
After the fourth year, the patent will survive with the payment of an annual registration fee (hereinafter referred to as the "pension"). Payment of the pension may be made by a patent attorney representing the application process, or may be made by the company (the patentee). In each case, the company manages the payment deadline using a computer system. Pension management is labor intensive. Moreover, pension management does not allow mistakes. Pension management is an annoying task for companies.
[0004]
Some companies act as pension management services on behalf of companies. This management company has a computer system suitable for pension management, and manages pensions of many companies collectively. Management in a management company is more efficient and less costly than management in a company.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
To transfer the pension management business to the management company, the company first extracts the patent rights to be transferred from a database stored in its computer system. Then, the list of the extracted patent rights is sent to the management company. Based on the received list, the management company performs a process for putting the patent right under its control (specifically, an input operation to a computer system). The management company reports the completion of this processing to the company. Based on this report, companies update their databases. If the patent is managed by a patent attorney, the company will also report to the patent attorney that the transfer has been completed in order to prevent double payment of the pension. Upon receiving the report, the patent attorney removes the patent right from its pension management system. Through this series of operations, the responsibility for managing the pension for the patent right is transferred from the patent attorney to the managing company.
[0006]
These series of transfer operations are troublesome. In addition, this work involves factors that cause human error such as input error. Mistakes can lead to the extinction of patent rights due to non-payment of pensions, contrary to the company's intentions.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a method for transferring an annuity management business that is efficient and less likely to cause an error.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The method for transferring an annuity management business according to the present invention includes the following steps.
(1) An input step in which a client who has a computer having a storage unit storing a database having bibliographic data relating to industrial property, an arithmetic unit and an input unit inputs search condition data from the input unit.
(2) An extraction step in which the input search condition data and the bibliographic data in the database are compared with the calculation means, and an industrial property right matching the search condition is extracted.
(3) A transfer requesting step of transmitting the extracted electronic data relating to industrial property rights to a manager via a line.
(4) a receiving step of receiving electronic data relating to industrial property rights for which transfer processing has been completed by the manager from the manager via a line;
And (5) an updating step of causing the computer to update the database based on the received electronic data.
[0009]
In this method, pension management operations are efficiently transferred from a client (typically, a company that has industrial property rights) to a manager (typically, a company that operates pension management). Moreover, mistakes due to transfer are reduced.
[0010]
Preferably, in the transfer request step, the electronic data relating to the industrial property right is transmitted to the manager via the line, and in the receiving step, the electronic data relating to the industrial property right whose transfer processing has been completed is transmitted from the manager via the line. This method is more efficient.
[0011]
Preferably, the pension management business transfer method according to the present invention includes a search step (6) between the receiving step (4) and the updating step (5). In this search step (6), it is searched whether a record of the industrial property right corresponding to the electronic data received in the reception step exists in the database. In this pension management business transfer method, erroneous input is prevented.
[0012]
Preferably, the pension management business transfer method according to the present invention includes a transfer report step (7) after the update step (5). In the transfer report step (7), bibliographic data on the updated industrial property right is transmitted to the industrial property procedure agent via the line. With this method of transferring the pension management business, the burden on the client is further reduced.
[0013]
Preferably, in the transfer report step (7), when there are a plurality of procedure agents, a bibliographic data file is created for each procedure agent and a transfer report is made. Thereby, confusion of the procedural agent is suppressed.
[0014]
Other inventions made to achieve the above object are:
An input step of allowing a client having a computer having storage means, computing means and input means having stored therein a database having bibliographic data relating to industrial property to input search condition data from the input means;
An extraction step of comparing the input search condition data and the bibliographic data in the database with the arithmetic means, and extracting an industrial property right matching the search condition;
An output step of outputting the extracted electronic property-related electronic data to a manager for transmission;
Updating the database based on the electronic data regarding the industrial property rights received from the administrator who has completed the transfer process; and
It is.
[0015]
By executing this program, the pension management business is efficiently transferred from the client to the manager, and errors due to the transfer are reduced.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
[0017]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a system 1 used in a pension management business transfer method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, a requester computer 3, an administrator computer 5, and an agent computer 7 are shown. Each of the computers 3, 5, 7 is connected through the Internet 9. The client computer 3 is held by the client (typically, a company that is the patentee). The administrator computer 5 is held by an administrator (typically a pension management company). The agent computer 7 is owned by a patent attorney of a patent office.
[0018]
The client holds numerous patents. This patent right was obtained by a patent attorney holding the agent computer 7 on behalf of the application and other procedures. The patent attorney has also paid the registration fee. The patent attorney manages the pension payment deadline for the patent right, and plans to pay the pension as soon as the payment deadline approaches, unless the client instructs that payment is not required.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of the client computer 3 of the system 1 of FIG. The client computer 3 includes an arithmetic unit 11, a storage unit 13, an input unit 15, a display unit 17, and an output unit 19. The calculation means 11 is typically a CPU. The storage unit 13 is typically a hard disk. Examples of the input unit 15 include a keyboard, a mouse, a pen input device, a voice recognition device, a code reader, and a touch panel. The display means 17 is typically a display. The output unit 19 is typically a printer.
[0020]
The storage unit 13 stores a database 21. This database 21 has a large number of records. One record corresponds to one patent right. Each record is composed of a large number of bibliographic data. Bibliographic data includes reference number, application number, application date, applicant name, agent's name, inventor's name, publication number, publication date, examination request date, registration assessment date, set registration fee payment date, registration number, registration For example, the date, the due date of the next pension payment, the name of the person in charge of the pension, the transfer date, and the like are exemplified. Initially, the name of the patent office to which the patent attorney representing the application belongs is recorded as the pension officer. Initially, the transfer date is blank.
[0021]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method of transferring an annuity management business using the system 1 of FIG. In this pension management business transfer method, first, search condition data is input by the requester from the input means 15 (STP1). The input conditions are as follows:
(1) Settings have been registered,
(2) The number of days until the pension payment deadline is a predetermined number or more,
(3) the absence of a joint applicant;
(4) that the rights survive;
(5) not proceeding with the invalidation trial or the trial decision revocation
(6) The transfer has not already been made. Of course, the input conditions are appropriately determined according to the policy of the client and the circumstances of the manager.
[0022]
Next, the arithmetic unit 11 compares the search condition data input in the input step with the bibliographic data in the database 21 and selects a record that matches the search condition. In other words, the calculating means 11 extracts a patent right matching the search condition (STP2). The extracted patent rights are those that the client wishes to transfer to the administrator. The extracted list of patent rights is displayed on the display unit 17 (STP3), and is printed from the output unit 19 as necessary (STP4).
[0023]
The calculation means 11 further extracts necessary bibliographic data from the extracted records and creates a file. The file is stored on a medium such as a hard disk or a flexible disk (STP5).
[0024]
Next, this file is transmitted to the administrator computer 5 through the Internet 9 (STP6). The transmission is a transfer request from the requester to the manager. For transmission, software that the requester and the administrator have in common may be used, or electronic mail may be used. In either case, the administrator receives the patent right data as electronic data.
[0025]
The administrator who has received the electronic data performs a transfer process (STP7). This transfer processing is, specifically, data input to the administrator computer 5 by the administrator. Since the administrator holds the electronic data, the data input is completed by causing the administrator computer 5 to read the electronic data. This data entry is less likely to cause human error.
[0026]
Next, the administrator operates the administrator computer 5 to create a file of data relating to the patent right for which the transfer processing has been completed. The file is stored on a medium such as a hard disk or a flexible disk (STP8).
[0027]
Next, this file is transmitted to the client computer 3 via the Internet 9 (STP9). For transmission, software that the requester and the administrator have in common may be used, or electronic mail may be used. In either case, the requester receives, as electronic data, data relating to the patent right whose transfer processing has been completed.
[0028]
The requester who has received the electronic data operates the requester computer 3 and causes the computer to read the electronic data (STP10). In this operation, human error is unlikely to occur. The calculation means 11 of the client computer 3 searches whether or not a record of the patent right corresponding to the read electronic data exists in the database 21 (STP11). If the record does not exist, a warning is issued from the client computer 3 to the client (STP12). In the warning, a message such as “There is no corresponding data. Please contact the administrator.” Is displayed on the display unit 17. The requester receiving the message notifies the administrator that the transmitted electronic data is incomplete (STP13). The administrator who has received the notification redoes the file saving (STP8) and the file transmission (STP9). This operation prevents erroneous input. A list of patent rights subject to the warning may be printed from the output unit 19.
[0029]
In the search step (STP11), a link between the electronic data sent from the administrator and the record in the database 21 is required. In this link, the bibliographic data existing in both the electronic data sent from the administrator and the records in the database 21 are used as key items. As bibliographic data used as a key item, an application number is generally used. This is because the application numbers cannot be the same between different records. Of course, the reference number assigned by the client according to its own rules may be used as a key item. In the case of transferring the pension management business relating to foreign patents, it is preferable that the two key items are the country code and the application number. This is because there is a possibility that the application number may be accidentally positioned between patent rights having different application countries.
[0030]
Next, the arithmetic means 11 checks whether or not the transfer date data of the record extracted in the search step (STP11) is blank (STP14). If the pension management business has already been transferred for the patent right, the transfer date data is not blank. The fact that the transfer date data is not blank indicates that the electronic data transmitted this time is defective. If it is not blank, a warning is issued from the client computer 3 to the client (STP15). In the warning, a message such as “The transfer has already been completed. Please contact the administrator.” Is displayed on the display unit 17. Upon receiving the message, the requester notifies the administrator that the transmitted electronic data is incomplete (STP16). The administrator who has received the notification redoes the file saving (STP8) and the file transmission (STP9). This operation prevents erroneous input. A list of patent rights subject to the warning may be printed from the output unit 19.
[0031]
Next, the client updates the database 21 stored in the storage unit 13 (STP17). By the update, a part of the bibliographic data of the record is rewritten. Specifically, the name of the pension officer is rewritten from the name of the patent office to the name of the manager. In addition, the administrator is recorded as the pension officer.
[0032]
The patent right in which the name of the pension officer has been rewritten will not be hit even if the client subsequently performs the extraction work (STP2). In other words, the update (STP17) prevents the transfer request from the requester to the administrator from being made redundantly.
[0033]
Next, the client operates the client computer 3 to extract the patent right whose update (STP17) has been completed (STP18). The extracted patent right list is printed from the output unit 19 (STP19). The calculating means 11 of the client computer 3 further extracts necessary bibliographic data from the extracted records and creates a file. The file is stored on a medium such as a hard disk or a flexible disk (STP20). This file is transmitted to the agent computer 7 through the Internet 9 (STP21). For the transmission, software that the requester and the patent attorney have in common may be used, or electronic mail may be used. In each case, the patent attorney receives the patent data as electronic data. The transmission of the electronic data is a transfer report from the client to the patent attorney, and is an instruction to stop payment of the pension.
[0034]
The patent attorney receiving the electronic data operates the agent computer 7 to remove the patent right from its own control (STP22). This prevents double payment of the pension. An instruction to stop payment of the pension may be given by a printed list instead of electronic data.
[0035]
In the case where the client is performing an application procedure with a plurality of patent attorneys belonging to different patent offices as agents, a list is printed for each patent office (STP19) and a file is saved for each patent office (STP20). ) Is made. As a result, an instruction to stop payment of pensions can be issued for each patent office.
[0036]
If the patent right has been patented in a procedure without an agent, the processing (STP18 to STP22) subsequent to the update (STP17) is unnecessary.
[0037]
In this way, the pension management business is transferred to the manager. When the administrator has paid the pension after the transfer, it is preferable that electronic data relating to the payment be transmitted to the client via the Internet 9. The client receiving the electronic data causes the client computer 3 to read the electronic data and update the database 21. Thereby, human error is suppressed.
[0038]
In the system 1 of FIG. 1, the database 21 is stored in the client computer 3 connected to the Internet 9, but the computer connected to the Internet 9 and the computer storing the database 21 may be provided separately. Good. Further, the client computer 3 may be composed of a computer for transferring an annuity management business and a computer for performing a general patent management business. In this case, it is preferable that both computers are connected by a local area network or the like.
[0039]
In the system 1 of FIG. 1, each computer is connected through the Internet 9. Each computer may be connected by a wired or wireless line other than the Internet 9. The transfer of the electronic data may be performed not by a line but by a medium such as a flexible disk.
[0040]
Although the present invention has been described in detail with the patent right as an example, the method of transferring the pension management business according to the present invention is also applicable to the transfer of the management business of the utility model right and the design right pension and the trademark right renewal registration fee. Are suitable.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the pension management business transfer method according to the present invention is efficient and less prone to error.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a system used in a pension management business transfer method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration of a client computer of the system of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a method of transferring an annuity management business using the system of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... System 3 ... Client computer 5 ... Manager computer 7 ... Agent computer 9 ... Internet 11 ... Operation means 13 ... Storage means 15 ... Input means 17 ... Display means 19 ... Output means 21 ... Database

Claims (6)

An input step in which a requester holding a computer having a storage device storing a database having bibliographic data relating to industrial property rights, a calculation device and an input device inputs search condition data from the input device;
An extraction step of comparing the input search condition data and the bibliographic data in the database with the calculation means, and extracting an industrial property right that matches the search condition;
A transfer requesting step of sending the extracted electronic data relating to industrial property rights to a manager,
A receiving step of receiving electronic data relating to the industrial property right for which the transfer process has been completed by the manager from the manager;
An updating step of causing a computer to update a database based on the received electronic data. 2. The pension according to claim 1, wherein in the transfer requesting step, electronic data relating to industrial property rights is transmitted to a manager via a line, and in the receiving step, electronic data relating to industrial property rights for which transfer processing has been completed is transmitted from the manager via a line. How to transfer management duties. A search step is provided between the receiving step and the updating step. In this searching step, it is searched whether or not a record of the industrial property right corresponding to the electronic data received in the receiving step exists in the database. The pension management business transfer method according to claim 1 or 2. The pension management according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a transfer report step of transmitting bibliographic data on the industrial property right for which the updating step is completed to a procedure agent of the industrial property right through a line. Business transfer method. 5. The pension management business transfer method according to claim 4, wherein in the transfer report step, when a plurality of procedural agents are present, a bibliographic data file is created for each procedural agent and a transfer report is made. An input step of allowing a client, who has a storage device storing a database having bibliographic data relating to industrial property rights, a computer having an arithmetic device and an input device, to input search condition data from the input device;
An extraction step of comparing the input search condition data and the bibliographic data in the database with the calculation means, and extracting an industrial property right that matches the search condition;
An output step of outputting the extracted electronic property-related electronic data to a manager,
Updating a database based on electronic data on industrial property rights received from an administrator who has completed the transfer process.

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