JP2012083811A - Information management system of industrial property rights - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a management system of industrial property rights that is capable of efficiently executing business relating to acquisition, maintenance and/or use of industrial property rights.SOLUTION: An information management system of industrial property rights comprises: a database server 12 for managing a database 41 where business data relating to industrial property rights are recorded; client terminals 52, 53, and 54 that are operated by users accessible to the database 41; access permission means 21 for individually permitting each user to access the database from the client terminals 52, 53, and 54; business process management means 22 for displaying information on multiple business processes relating to business of industrial property rights and managing the business processes; and business process generation means 23 for, when separation processing of business processes is executed at the client terminal which is permitted to access, automatically generating information on a next business process and displaying the information on the next business process generated at the client terminal.

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for managing information related to industrial property rights such as patent rights, utility model rights, design rights, and trademark rights.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technology related to a system that manages information related to acquisition, maintenance, and / or use of industrial property rights such as patent rights, utility model rights, design rights, and trademark rights has been developed. An example of such a system is disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.

JP 2002-251508 A

Regarding acquisition and maintenance of industrial property rights, not only parties such as applicants and rights holders, but also various collaborators (for example, patent offices, patent attorneys, translation companies and translators, drawing makers and drawing creators, etc.) It is important to work in conjunction with.
However, in the general system as disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, it is difficult for the parties and the collaborators to collaborate and efficiently proceed with the business relating to the acquisition, maintenance and / or use of industrial property rights. There is a problem.

In particular, when an agent receives a notice, assessment, order, etc. (hereinafter also simply referred to as “notification”) from the Patent Office, the parties generally do not know this fact. For this reason, after receiving a notification from the agent, the party needs to start a task for which the notification is to be performed, which leads to a decrease in business efficiency.
Furthermore, when the party is a corporation (for example, a company), a department (for example, the Intellectual Property Department) that comprehensively handles industrial property rights in the corporation and a department in the field (for example, developing patent technology) In many cases, there are separate development departments and design departments that create trademarks and designs. In such a case, it is also required that the intellectual property department, the development department, the design department, and the patent office work together to efficiently carry out related work related to industrial property rights.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and provides an information management system for industrial property rights that can efficiently perform operations relating to acquisition, maintenance and / or use of industrial property rights. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information management system for industrial property rights according to the present invention comprises a database server that manages a database in which business data relating to industrial property rights is recorded, and is communicably connected to the database server. A client terminal operated by a user who can access the database, an access permission means for individually permitting access to the database from the client terminal for each user, and direct or indirect regarding the business of the industrial property right In particular, a part of or all of information of a plurality of business processes linked with the business is displayed on the client terminal, and the business process management means for managing the plurality of business processes, and access to the business data by the access permission means When the demarcation process of the business process is performed in the client terminal that is permitted to Both are characterized by comprising an operational step generating means for displaying the information of the automatically generated following the work process to the client terminal by automatically generating the information in the following the operational steps the business process management unit.

It is preferable that the demarcation process of the business process includes a process in which a trigger data file (for example, a data file of a notice of reasons for rejection) is registered in the database from the client terminal.
Moreover, it is preferable that the division process of the business process includes an end process of any of the plurality of business processes.

In this case, the business process management means includes a selection means capable of selecting the next work in each business process, and a confirmation means for confirming the next work selected by the selection means. When the next work is determined by the above, it is preferable to display information on the next work process predetermined according to the next work in accordance with the end process of the predetermined work process.
Alternatively, when the end process in any one of the plurality of business processes is executed, the business process generation means performs a next business process other than the business process for which the end process has been executed (for example, determination of an intermediate charge, etc.) It is preferable that a plurality of pieces of information are generated and displayed simultaneously.

In this case, the business process generation means displays a part or all of the information of the next business process generated simultaneously at only the client terminal operated by the user who is the owner of the business data. Is preferred.
The business process controlled by the business process management means preferably includes a plurality of main processes related to the business of the industrial property right and a plurality of sub-processes respectively belonging to the plurality of main processes.

In this case, the business process generation means has a first sub-process and a second sub-process belonging to any of the plurality of main processes, and after the first sub-process separation process is executed, It is preferable to automatically generate information on two sub-processes.
Alternatively, the business process generation means may execute a third sub-process belonging to another main process to which the first sub-process does not belong after the first sub-process delimiting process belonging to any of the plurality of main processes is executed. It is preferable to automatically generate the information.

  The client terminal includes a first client terminal operated by a first user who is an owner of the business data, and a second client terminal operated by a second user who is not the owner of the business data. Preferably, the business process management means displays the business processes necessary for the first client terminal and the second client terminal, respectively, and manages the business processes.

The business process management means displays on the screen whether each business process is a business on the first client terminal side or a business on the second client terminal side (for example, a color ball). It is preferable to provide.
Further, the business process generation means automatically executes at least information on the next business process when at least one of the first client terminal and the second client terminal performs a process process separation process. Generating and displaying the automatically generated information on the next business process on the client terminal responsible for the next business process among the first client terminal and the second client terminal by the business process management means. preferable.

According to the industrial property right management system of the present invention, since the information on the next business process is automatically generated and displayed as the business process separation process is performed, the business efficiency of the user can be improved.
If the process for dividing the business process includes a process for registering the trigger data file in the database or a process for ending the business process, the business efficiency can be further improved.

Along with the completion process of the business process when the selected next work is confirmed, the information on the next business process predetermined according to the next work is displayed, or the termination process in any of the business processes is executed. Then, it is also possible to improve business efficiency by simultaneously generating and displaying a plurality of pieces of information on the next business process other than the business process for which the termination process has been executed.
In this case, the user can concentrate on the work to be performed by displaying only a part or all of the information of the next business process generated simultaneously at the client terminal operated by the user who is the business data owner. , Work efficiency can be improved.

In addition, when a business process has a plurality of main processes related to the business of industrial property rights and a plurality of sub-processes belonging to the plurality of main processes, the business processes are subdivided and the progress of the business processes becomes clearer. Users' business efficiency is improved.
In this case, it has a first sub-process and a second sub-process belonging to any of a plurality of main processes, and after the delimiting process of the first sub-process is executed, information on the second sub-process is automatically generated Or automatically generating information on the third sub-process belonging to another main process to which the first sub-process does not belong after the delimitation process of the first sub-process belonging to any of the plurality of main processes is executed. As a result, the progress in the main process becomes clear and the user's work efficiency improves.

In addition, by displaying necessary information on the first client terminal and the second client terminal, respectively, it is possible to manage each user for the necessary work process and improve work efficiency. .
In this case, if each business process is a business on the first client terminal side or a business on the second client terminal side, each user can immediately recognize his or her business. The business efficiency can be further improved.

  Further, by displaying the automatically generated information on the next business process on the client terminal responsible for the next business process among the first client terminal and the second client terminal, it is possible to further improve the business efficiency of each user.

It is a block diagram of the management system of the industrial property right concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the work process display screen of the work stage "intermediate correspondence G1" in the 1st client terminal (IP department terminal) concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the work process display screen of the work stage "intermediate correspondence G1" in the 2nd client terminal (office terminal) concerning one Embodiment of this invention. Using the sub-process “response policy creation” in the main process “intermediate document M1” of the work stage “intermediate response G1” according to an embodiment of the present invention, as an example, a correspondence selection button (selection means), a confirmation button (confirmation means), FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the work process display screen of the 1st client terminal (IP part terminal) of the information management system of the industrial property right of this invention, Comprising: The intermediate | middle corresponding | compatible G1 is demonstrated to illustrate the flow of the work of a main process and a sub process. It is a figure (1st example) to do. It is a schematic diagram which shows the work process display screen of the 1st client terminal (IP part terminal) of the information management system of the industrial property right of this invention, Comprising: The intermediate | middle corresponding | compatible G1 is demonstrated to illustrate the flow of the work of a main process and a sub process. It is a figure (2nd example) to do. It is a schematic diagram which shows the work process display screen of the 1st client terminal (IP part terminal) of the information management system of the industrial property right of this invention, Comprising: The intermediate | middle corresponding | compatible G1 is demonstrated to illustrate the flow of the work of a main process and a sub process. It is a figure (3rd example) to do. It is a schematic diagram which shows the work process display screen of the 2nd client terminal (office terminal) of the information management system of the industrial property right of this invention, Comprising: The intermediate | middle corresponding | compatible G1 is demonstrated to illustrate the flow of the work of a main process and a sub process. It is a figure (1st example) to do. It is a schematic diagram which shows the work process display screen of the 2nd client terminal (office terminal) of the information management system of the industrial property right of this invention, Comprising: The intermediate | middle corresponding | compatible G1 is demonstrated to illustrate the flow of the work of a main process and a sub process. It is a figure (2nd example) to do. It is a schematic diagram which shows the work process display screen of the 2nd client terminal (office terminal) of the information management system of the industrial property right of this invention, Comprising: The intermediate | middle corresponding | compatible G1 is demonstrated to illustrate the flow of the work of a main process and a sub process. It is a figure (3rd example) to do. It is a mimetic diagram explaining the middle correspondence as an example about the breakdown of the work process concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a typical flowchart explaining the process by the information management system of the industrial property right of this invention taking the intermediate | middle correspondence G1 as an example.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In the present embodiment, the patent right is exemplified and described as an industrial property right. Needless to say, the industrial property right includes other rights such as a utility model right, a design right, and a trademark right. In the present embodiment, explanation will be given as a corporation and agent in Japan, but the country of use of the information management system for industrial property rights is not particularly limited to Japan. Either the legal entity or the agent may be used in Japan and the other may be used overseas, or both the legal entity and the agent may be used overseas.

1. Overall Configuration The industrial property right information management system according to the present embodiment includes a corporation (here, “Company A”) that is the owner or applicant (applicant) of the industrial property right, and an industrial property from this corporation. It can be used for a patent agent (in this case, “B Patent Office”) acting as a proxy for a part of the right-related business to advance the patent business. In this information management system, company A is a first user and B patent office is a second user, and hardware constituting the system is deployed to these first and second users.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the information management system can communicate with the database server 12 that manages the database 41 in which business data relating to industrial property rights is recorded, and the database server 12 via the first management server 11A. The first client terminals 52 and 53 that are connected and operated in the company A 101 as the first user, and the database server 12 are communicably connected to the database server 12 via the second management server 11B, and the B patent office 104 as the second user. And a second client terminal 54 operated at the same time.

  The first management server 11A, the database server 12, and the first client terminals 52 and 53 provided in the A company 101 are all connected to each other by a local area network (LAN) 13 in the A company 101 so as to be able to communicate with each other. ing. The LAN 13 is connected to a second management server 11B provided in the A company 101 via a firewall 14A, and the second management server 11B is connected to the Internet 100 via the firewall 14B.

2. Client terminal Since the first client terminal 52 is deployed in the intellectual property unit 102 of the company A 101 as the first user, it is also referred to as an intellectual property unit terminal hereinafter. This intellectual property terminal 52 may be provided individually for each employee belonging to the intellectual property department 102, or may be configured to use one or more terminals jointly. Since the first client terminal 53 is deployed in the research / development department (hereinafter referred to as the development department) 103 of the company A 101 as the first user, it is also referred to as a development department terminal hereinafter. The development unit terminal 53 may also be provided individually for each employee belonging to the development unit 103, or may be configured to use a single terminal or a plurality of terminals together.

  The second client terminal 54 provided in the B patent office 104 is also connected to the Internet 100. As will be described in detail later, when the second client terminal 54 succeeds in authentication by the second management server 11B of the A company 101 connected to the Internet 100 via the firewall 14B, the second client terminal 54 is managed by the database server 12 of the A company 101. The database 41 can be accessed.

Since the second client terminal 54 is deployed in the B patent office 104 that is the second user, it is also referred to as an office terminal hereinafter. The office terminal 54 may be provided individually for each member belonging to the B patent office 104, or may be configured to use a single terminal or a plurality of terminals jointly.
Further, the first client terminals 52 and 53 of the company A 101 and the second client terminal 54 of the patent office 104 are both general-purpose personal computers (PCs) and can use a web browser. It can be done. The processing result by the web browser is displayed on each of the monitors 52a to 54a of the client terminals 52 to 54.

  The office terminal 54 of the B patent office 104 is installed with a software program used for transmitting and receiving data to and from a server (not shown) of the Japanese patent office 105. Therefore, the office terminal 54 can electronically receive documents (for example, notice of reasons for refusal, decision of refusal, examination, etc.) sent from the patent office 105.

  In the present embodiment, the document sent from the patent office 105 is also referred to as “office document”. Further, the office terminal 54 of the B patent office 104 is also installed with a software program for converting the office document into a data file in an electronic document format. Therefore, the client terminal 54 can convert a document (for example, an application document, an intermediate processing related document, etc.) into a data file in an electronic document format and electronically submit it to the Patent Office 105.

3. Database Server The database server 12 is provided with a database 41 in which business data relating to industrial property rights is recorded. The database server 12 manages the extraction of data from the database 41 and the writing and rewriting of new data to the database 41 in response to requests from the client terminals 52 to 54.

4). Management Server The first management server 11A and the second management server 11B are web servers each having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) not shown, and are client terminals Processing according to requests from 52 to 54 is performed, and processing results can be output to the web browsers of these client terminals 52 to 54.

  Further, in each HDD of the first management server 11A and the second management server 11B, access management units (access permission units) 21A and 21B and a business process management unit (business process management unit) are provided as software programs. ) 22A, 22B, business process generation units (business process generation means) 23A, 23B, and automatic storage units (automatic storage means) 24A, 24B are provided.

4.1 Access Management Unit The access management unit 21A of the first management server 11A accesses the database server 12 from the intellectual property terminal (first client terminal) 52 or the development unit terminal (first client terminal) 53 for each accessor. Manage (permit or deny). The access management unit 21B manages (permits or denies) access from the office terminal (second client terminal) 54 to the database server 12 for each accessor.

  Specifically, when the accessor tries to access the database server 12 by a login operation for inputting the personal user ID and password, the access management units 21A and 21B use the personal user ID and password input by the accessor in advance. The accessor is authenticated by comparing it with the personal user ID and password information registered in this information management system. If the input information matches the registered information as a result of the verification, access is permitted and must match. Deny access.

Further, when access from the intellectual property department terminal 52 or the development department terminal 53 is permitted, the access management unit 21A falls within the authority of the authorized accessor (first user) (the accessor is the intellectual property department). The access is permitted within the range of authority of the staff U102 for the staff U102 of 102, and within the range of authority of the staff U103 for the staff U103 of the development unit 103.
Similarly, when access from the office terminal 54 is permitted, the access management unit 21B of the second management server 11B is within the authority of the accessor (second user) in the staff U104 of the B patent office 104. To permit access to the database server 12 individually.

  The above-mentioned “within the scope of authority” means that the information management system set for each user (here, staff U102 of the intellectual property department, staff U103 of the development department 103, staff U104 of the B patent office 104). The access authority that allows the information stored in the database 41 to be browsed, edited, added, and the like. This access authority includes the work contents (patent application, intermediate correspondence, etc.) performed by the accessor and each user's View, edit, and add in the role of this information management system (IP manager, IP manager, development manager, development manager, patent office technical manager, patent office clerks, etc.) Etc. are set finely.

  For this reason, even when the staff U102 of the intellectual property unit 102 inputs the personal user ID and password of the staff U102 itself from the development unit terminal 53, the access management unit 21A of the management server 11A Since the access to the database server 12 is individually permitted within the range of authority given to the staff U102 of 102, the intellectual property business from the development department terminal 53 without any particular inconvenience while meeting with the staff U103 of the development department 103 Can be carried out.

  However, the staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102, the staff U103 of the development department 103, and the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 operate the client terminals 52 to 54 installed in places other than their own organization. Since this is rare, in this embodiment, the staff U102 of the intellectual property unit 102 will be described as performing a login operation at the intellectual property terminal 52 of the intellectual property unit 102. In addition, the staff U103 of the development unit 103 will be described as performing a login operation at the development unit terminal 53 of the development unit 103. Similarly, the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 will be described as performing a login operation at the office terminal 54 of the B patent office 104.

  Since these staffs U102 to U104 are all users of the database server 12, "user" may be described as a generic term for these staffs U102 to U104. The business data recorded in the database 41 is owned by the company A 101. The staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102 and the staff U103 of the development department 103 belong to the A company 101.

In addition, if the login operation of the staff U102 of the intellectual property section 102 is normal, the access management unit 21A receives data (patent data) relating to patent work recorded in the database 41 of the database server 12 with respect to the staff U102. ) Is granted the right to access.
In addition, if the login operation of the staff U103 of the development unit 103 is normal, the access management unit 21A may, for the staff U103, out of the business data recorded in the database 41 of the database server 12 to the development unit 103. The authority to access only those related to the staff U103 is given.

In addition, if the login operation of the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 is normal, the access management unit 21B may use the B patent of the business data recorded in the database 41 of the database server 12 for the staff U104. The authority to access only those related to the office 104 is given.
The access management units 21A and 21B are configured to reject all access to the database server 12 if the login operation is illegal.

4.2 Business Process Management Department The business process management departments 22A and 22B roughly divide a series of business processes related to acquisition and maintenance of industrial property rights (for example, “domestic application” and “examination request”). , “Intermediate response”, “registration”, etc.), a part or all of the information of a plurality of business processes that are directly or indirectly linked to each “business stage” is transferred to the IP department terminal (first (Client terminal) 52 and office terminal (second client terminal) 54 to manage the plurality of business processes simultaneously.

  As will be described in detail later, the business process management units 22A and 22B, for example, illustrate the business process illustrated in FIG. 2 on the monitor 52a of the intellectual property terminal 52 and the monitor 54a of the office terminal 54 illustrated in FIG. The staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102 and the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 respectively display the progress status of the currently engaged industrial property right on the screen from each terminal. You can check it. A specific description of the business process illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described later.

  In the present embodiment, the development unit terminal 53 does not display the business process, and uses a method other than the business process (e-mail or notification on another screen other than the business process display screen). The description will be made on the assumption that the staff U103 and the staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102 cooperate (inquiry and reply of business), but the authority of the staff U103 of the development department 103 (view / edit / It may be set so that the business process is displayed within the range of (addition etc.).

4.3 Business Process Generation Unit The business process generation units 23A and 23B are the business processes displayed on the first client terminal 52 and the second client terminal 54 that are permitted to access the database server 12 by the access management units 21A and 21B. When a business process separation process, which will be described later, is performed from any of the process screens, information (display data) of at least the next business process of the business process in which this separation process has been performed is automatically generated and automatically generated. The information on the next business process is displayed on the client terminal of the user in charge of at least the next business process by the business process management units 22A and 22B.

  That is, for example, when the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 performs a business process separation process on the monitor 54a of the office terminal 54, information (display data) of the next business process is automatically generated. If the business process is a business handled by the user of the intellectual property terminal 52 (the staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102), at least information on the next business process is displayed on the monitor 52a of the intellectual property terminal 52.

  In this case, the business process generation units 23A and 23B directly receive information on the next business process for a user who is not in charge of the business process (for example, the user of the office terminal 54; the staff U104 of the B patent office 104). If it is unnecessary information, the information on the next business process is not displayed on the terminal (office terminal 54), and conversely, the information on the next business process is directly for the user who is not in charge of this business process. Alternatively, if the information is indirectly necessary, the business process management units 22A and 22B display information on the next business process on the terminal (for example, the office terminal 54).

  Here, for example, a process for dividing a business process includes a process (“trigger event”) in which a trigger data file is registered in the database 41 from either the first client terminal 52 or the second client terminal 54, or a client terminal. Includes a termination process for any of the plurality of business processes ("main process (main process)" and "sub-process (sub-process)" described later).

  Specifically, the latter end process will be described. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the business process management units 22 </ b> A and 22 </ b> B have correspondence selection buttons (selection means) having a function of selecting the next work in each business process. 50 and a confirmation button (confirmation means) 55 having a function of confirming the next work selected by the correspondence selection button 50, a process for confirming the current work by the confirmation button 55 and shifting to the next work. Is the end process.

  The business process management units 22A and 22B cause the client terminal to display information on the next business process predetermined in accordance with the next work set in the correspondence selection button 50 in accordance with the end process of the predetermined business process. . The selection button 50 can be used to select a selection item by a mouse click operation or a touch operation that directly touches the screen, and the confirmation button 55 is a touch operation that directly clicks the mouse or touches the screen. A confirmation operation is executed by an operation or the like.

4.4 Automatic Storage Units The automatic storage units 24A and 24B are part of the functions of the information management system. For example, the automatic storage units 24A and 24B are stored in advance in each terminal from the display on any screen of the client terminals 52 and 54. When an office document data file is selected and registered (uploaded), the agency document data file is automatically collated with the case already managed by the information management system, and properly stored in the database 41 of the database server 12. It is to save automatically.

5. Flow of Business Process Next, the flow of processing related to the business process by the information management system will be described by taking the “business stage” of “intermediate response” G1 as an example. Here, the “intermediate response” G1 refers to a service for responding to a notice of reasons for refusal or a decision of refusal to obtain rights after requesting examination of a domestic patent application or the like.
First, with reference to FIG. 11, the breakdown of the business stage “intermediate correspondence” G1 (“main process (main process)” and “sub process (sub process)”) will be described. Here, the “main process” refers to each business process in which the processing in the corresponding “business stage” is divided by, for example, the processing order or the person in charge of the process. This is a business process divided for each business to be exchanged in large units between internal departments and inside / outside of A company 101 (that is, between A company 101 and B patent office 104). The “sub-process” means, for example, a business process obtained by further subdividing the work performed in each department such as the intellectual property department 102 of the company A 101 or the B patent office 104 by the work unit of the “main process”. That is.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the “intermediate correspondence” G1 (business stage) is provided with two “main processes” such as “intermediate document” M1 and “intermediate response” M2 in the lower layer. Below the “main process” called “intermediate document” M1, there are four “sub-processes” called “intermediate charge decision” SU1, “office opinion” SU2, “response policy creation” SU3, and “inquiry form” SU4. It is done. In the lower layer of the “main process” called “intermediate response” M2, “response instruction” SU5, “response instruction document” SU6, “response document-accepted delivery” SU7, “response document-check” SU8, “submission by the agency” There are six “sub-processes” of “instructions” SU9 and “office submission-received delivery” SU10.

  Here, the flow of business process processing (“intermediate response”) by the information management system will be described. As shown in FIG. 12, the office terminal (second client terminal) 54 of the B patent office 104 is connected to the JPO. When the office document data is received from 105 (step S11), the office document data received by the office terminal 54 is converted into a data file in an electronic document format (step not shown).

Thereafter, the URL of the management server 11 of the A company 101 is input to the web browser of the office terminal 54 of the B patent office 104, and then acquired from the A company 101 in advance to the web browser of the office terminal 54 as a login operation. The personal user ID and password of the staff U104 who have been selected are input (step S12).
The input personal user ID and password are authenticated by the access management unit 21B of the management server 11B of the company A 101 using the personal user ID and password input in step S12 (step S13). If this authentication is successful, the staff U104 is permitted to access the database 41 of the database server 12 via the office terminal 54 (step S14). If this authentication fails, the office terminal 54 operated by the staff U104 is prohibited from accessing the database 41 of the database server 12 (step not shown).

After that, in the database server 12 accessed from the office terminal 54 operated by the staff U104 who has received the authentication permission (step S15), the electronic file format data file DF of the rejection notice is registered in the database 41. (Step S16).
Here, the phenomenon of “a data file of the reason for refusal notice being stored in the database 41” shown as step S16 corresponds to the “trigger event” described above.

  Accordingly, the business process generation unit 23B is caused by the occurrence of the trigger event. Depending on the type of the trigger event, the business process generation unit 23B, for example, as shown in FIG. Then, information (display data) of “sub-processes” “intermediate charge determination” SU1 and “office view” SU2 is automatically generated, and the management is started by the business process management units 22A and 22B (step S17).

  At this time, the “intermediate charge determination” SU1 (“sub-process” for determining who of the staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102 performs the business processing of the office document) is a work related only to the intellectual property department 102. Displayed only on the intellectual property department terminal 52 (first client terminal) by the business process management sections 22A and 22B. The “Office Opinion” SU2 (the “sub-process” that confirms that the B Patent Office 104 has created a counter-argument against the Office documents such as the notice of reasons for refusal and the decision of refusal and registered it in the database 41) Although it is a business of the office 104, since it is shared information that needs to inform the staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102 of the creation status of the corresponding proposal in the B patent office 104, the intellectual property department terminal 52 and the office terminal 54 Is displayed. That is, the business process management units 22A and 22B appropriately display a plurality of “sub-processes” belonging to the “main process” on some or all of the client terminals 52 and 54 (steps S18 and S19).

5.1 Specific Process of Business Process Next, the flow of the process of the business process in the information management system described above, specifically, the process for the notification of reasons for refusal from the JPO 105 (“intermediate response” G1) 2, 3, 5 to 10, the business process display screen (FIG. 2, FIG. 5 to FIG. 7) of the intellectual property department terminal 52 and the business process display screen (FIG. 3) of the office terminal 54. FIG. 8 to FIG. 10) will be described as an example. However, description of the processing flow (steps S11 to S15) until the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 receives access permission is omitted here.

  The staff U104 of the B patent office 104 that is permitted to access the database server 12 of the company A 101 receives the office document data (data file DF in the form of an electronic document in a notice of reasons for refusal) from the patent office 105. (After saving the data file DF in the office terminal 54), the data file DF is automatically created using a file registration screen (automatic saving unit) (not shown) displayed on the monitor 54a of the office terminal 54. The data is stored in the database 41 of company A 101. Then, the registration of the data file DF in the database 41 is successful (separate process and “sub-process” which is a “sub process” of the “intermediate document” M1 (main process) as a new rejection case P1 related to the notice of reasons for refusal. Information (display data) of “Decision” SU1 and “Office Opinion” SU2 is automatically generated.

  Then, as described above, the “intermediate charge determination” SU1 is displayed only on the monitor 52a of the intellectual property terminal 52 (FIG. 2). The “office view” SU2 is displayed on the monitor 52a of the intellectual property terminal 52 and the monitor 54a of the office terminal 54, respectively (FIGS. 2 and 3). At this time, the monitors 52a and 54a of each terminal include not only the “work name” 63 of “sub-process” such as “determination of intermediate charge” SU1 and “office opinion” SU2, but also the “case management number” of the rejection case P1. 60, “four methods” 61 indicating the type of intellectual property right, “invention name” 62, “start date” 64 indicating the date on which management of the rejection case P1 was started by this information management system (data file DF database) 41), “target date” 65 indicating the target date of completion of the work of each “work name”, “expiration date” 66 indicating the agency deadline of the rejection case P1, and “response” indicating the response of the rejection case P1. "67 (display of response selection button 50 and confirmation button 55, display of progress of response, etc.)" and "intellectual property person in charge" 68 indicating the name of the person in charge of staff U102 of intellectual property department 102 actually in charge of rejection case P1 Is also displayed at the same time

  In the present embodiment, the “start date” 64 and the “target date” 65 are automatically set according to the progress of the “sub process” (switching of “sub process”) by the business process generation units 23A and 23B, and the “expiration date” 66 is automatically set for each item by a trigger event. The “target date” 65 and “expiration date” 66 indicate the background color or the date color when the target date or the expiration date is exceeded or close to the target date or the expiration date (for example, two days ago). Is set step by step so that the user can easily manage the work. As will be described later, “correspondence” 67 changes the display content according to the state of the “sub-process” and the user.

  Accordingly, the staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102 and the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 confirm that the rejection case P1 related to the new notice of reasons for refusal has been issued by the Patent Office 105 on the respective monitors 52a and 54a. The information can be recognized and information can be shared between the staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102 and the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 without any special contact, and the work of the rejection case P1 can be started quickly.

  Further, in this embodiment, after the trigger event (separation process) by the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 is performed, the staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102 of the A company 101 is particularly contacted (such as transmission of a telephone or an e-mail). ), The man-hours of the staff U102 and U104 can be reduced, and the mailing of documents is not necessary, so it is more environmentally friendly than conventional systems, and also leads to cost savings (cost reduction). Is.

  In addition, the business process screen displayed on the monitor of each terminal in the information management system is provided with color balls (display means) C1 to C3 indicating which of the “sub process” is to perform the work independently. The color balls C1 to C3 have the color “red” for the work / work that they perform independently, and the color of the color balls C1 to C3 automatically switches to “green” for the work that the other party performs. Is set.

  For example, in the case of the present embodiment, “Office Opinion” SU2 is a business that the B Patent Office 104 is actively engaged in, so the office terminal 54 uses the color of the rejection case P1 as shown in FIG. The ball C3 has a first color (here, “red”), and the IP terminal 52 has a second color (here, “green”) as shown in FIG. Become. As a result, even if there are multiple rejection cases received from the JPO 105 in the “main process” at the same time, each staff U102, U104 can clearly understand the work to be done by the color of the color ball, and quickly start the work. Business efficiency.

  The work in the intellectual property unit 102 of the “intermediate charge determination” SU1 will be described. The information (display data) of this “sub process” is displayed on the intellectual property terminal 52 when automatically generated by the trigger event of the B patent office 104 as described above. Manager, etc.) MG recognizes on the monitor 52a of the IP department terminal 52 that the new refusal case P1 has been issued by the JPO 105 (if necessary, the reason for refusal saved by the staff U104 of the B patent office 104) The data file DF of the notification form is confirmed), the person in charge of the rejection case P1 is selected from the person in charge of the staff U102 (not shown) from the correspondence selection button 50 (selection means), and the confirmation button 55 (confirmation means) is pressed. Thus, the person in charge (intermediate person) CT of the intellectual property section 102 of the rejection case P1 is determined.

  The determination process of “intermediate charge determination” SU1 (the process of pressing the confirmation button 55) is the completion process (separation process) of this work process (“sub process”). The information display disappears from the monitor 52a of the intellectual property terminal 52, and the intellectual property display area 68 in the “office view” SU2 already displayed on the intellectual property terminal 52 and the office terminal 54 displays the intellectual property. The name of the person in charge (intermediate charge) CT of the section 102 is automatically displayed. In addition, a person-in-charge determination e-mail indicating that the person-in-charge has been determined is transmitted from the information management system to the person-in-charge CT of the intellectual property department 102. For this reason, the staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102 knows that the “sub-process” called “intermediate charge determination” SU1 has been completed, and the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 has received from the staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102. It is possible to know who is the person in charge CT of the intellectual property section 102 of the rejection case P1 in a timely manner without receiving any particular contact.

“Office Opinion” SU2 will be described. The information (display data) of this “sub process” is automatically generated by the trigger event by the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 as described above, and is displayed on the monitor 54a of the office terminal 54 and the monitor 52a of the intellectual property terminal 52. The
On the other hand, after the B patent office 104 completes the creation of the counter-arrangement A1 of the rejection case P1 and registers it in the database 41 through this information management system, the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 selects the response. When “Done” (meaning that registration of counter-argument A1 has been registered in the database 41) is selected from the button (selection means) 50 in advance for each “sub-process” and the confirm button is pressed, “Office” Opinion ”SU2 end processing is executed, and“ Office Opinion ”SU2 is automatically switched to“ Sub-process ”called“ Create Response Policy ”SU3, and a new“ Start Date ”(separated date) and The “target date” for the new “sub-process” (here, “response policy creation” SU3) based on the “start date” is automatically set and is simultaneously set in the IP department terminal 52 and the office terminal 54. Shown (FIG. 5 (a), and FIG. 8 (a)).

  In this “response policy creation” SU3, the person in charge (intermediate charge) CT of the intellectual property department 102 examines the counter-arrangement A1 created in the B patent office 104, and finally responds to the rejection case P1 (refutes) This is a “sub-process” that decides (and accepts). For this reason, on the monitor 52a of the intellectual property department terminal 52, as shown in FIG. 5A, the correspondence selection button 50 is displayed so that the person in charge CT of the intellectual property department 102 can determine the response policy. The color of C10 is “red”. On the monitor 54a of the office terminal 54, as shown in FIG. 8 (a), the person in charge CT of the intellectual property department 102 is compatible. At this time, the color ball C50 is “green”.

  In the “response policy creation” SU3, whether the person in charge CT of the intellectual property unit 102 makes an inquiry to the staff U103 of the development unit 103 (specifically, the inventor I1 of the rejection case P1) in order to determine the response policy. In order to allow the user to select whether or not to work, “response to the inventor” for inquiring the inventor I1 of the development unit 103 about the response of the rejection case P1 to the response selection button 50 and the rejection request P1 to the B patent office 104 The option of “Do not query” is set to proceed to the next sub-process “response instruction” for giving an instruction to

  The person in charge CT of the intellectual property department 102 confirms the counter-arrangement A1 of the B patent office 102 and inputs the opinion of the intellectual-property department 102 based on the counter-arrangement A1 to a predetermined area (not shown) of the information management system. Thereafter, “inventor inquiry” is selected by the correspondence selection button 50. Then, when the confirmation button 55 is pressed, the confirmation button 55 is switched to an approval button (not shown), and the manager MG of the intellectual property unit 102 selects the approval button so that the person in charge CT of the intellectual property unit 102 selects it. Work is approved. When the administrator MG of the intellectual property department 102 presses the approval button, the work process display screen on the monitor 52a of the intellectual property department terminal 52 is displayed as “inquiry form” with “work name” 63 as shown in FIG. 5B. “Sub-process” is displayed, and “correspondence” 67 is displayed as “inventor I1 corresponding”. In addition, the “start date” 64 has a new “start date” (date when the end processing is performed) and a new “target date” for the next “inquiry form” SU4 in accordance with the end processing of “response policy creation” SU3. Set automatically. The color ball C15 at this time is “green”.

  The inventor I1 of the development unit 103 receives an inquiry (“inquiry form”) for the rejection case P1 of the intellectual property unit 102 from the monitor 53a of the development unit terminal 53 by a method other than the business process described above, and then the inventor I1. Sends an answer to the rejection case P1 (an answer to the “inquiry form”) to the intellectual property unit 102 via the information management system. When the person in charge CT of the intellectual property department 102 receives the reply to the rejection case P1 from the inventor I1 of the development department 103 on the monitor 52a of the intellectual property department terminal 52, again as shown in FIG. The selection button 50 and the confirmation button 55 are switched to the screen displayed in the “correspondence” 67. Thereafter, the person in charge CT of the intellectual property department 102 confirms the answer from the inventor I1 of the development department 103, and in order to instruct the B patent office 104 to respond to the rejection case P1, the response selection button 50 displays “ When “not inquiry” is selected and the confirmation button 55 is pressed, the confirmation button 55 is switched to an approval button. When the administrator MG of the intellectual property unit 102 presses the approval button 55, the “inquiry form” SU4 end processing The information (display data) of the “response instruction” SU5, which is a “sub process” of the “main process” called “intermediate response” M2, which is set separately from the “intermediate document” M1, is automatically generated. As shown in (c), it is displayed on the monitor 52a of the intellectual property department terminal 52. The color ball C20 at this time is “red”.

  On the monitor 54a of the office terminal 54, while the “responsibility policy creation” SU3 and “inquiry form” SU4 are being performed by the person in charge CT of the intellectual property department 102, the figure is similar to that of the intellectual property department terminal 52. As shown in FIG. 8B, the “inquiry form” SU4 is switched, and the display of “correspondence” 67 is automatically switched to “inventor I1 corresponding”. As a result, the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 can grasp the current working state of the intellectual property 102 (inquiry to the inventor I1) in a timely manner. The color ball C55 at this time is “green”. Then, when the completion process of the “inquiry form” SU4 is performed in the intellectual property unit 102, the business process display screen of the monitor 54a of the office terminal 54 is also “intermediate response” M2 as shown in FIG. 8C. Is switched to a “sub process” called “response instruction” SU5. The color ball C60 at this time is also “green”.

  In “response instruction” SU5 of “intermediate response” M2, a correspondence selection button is selected so that the person in charge CT of the intellectual property department 102 can select a final response (response instruction to the B patent office 104) for the rejection case P1. In 50, the objection P1 is objected (submitting an opinion or amendment to the Patent Office 105) and “responding” to instruct the B Patent Office 104; On the other hand, “Accept” is set to instruct the B patent office 104 not to refute. Here, taking the case where the person in charge CT of the intellectual property department 102 refutes the rejection case P1 (selecting “Respond” from the response selection button 50), the explanation of the next business process will be advanced.

  When the person in charge CT of the intellectual property section 102 selects “Respond” from the correspondence selection button 50 and presses the confirmation button 55, the confirmation button 55 is switched to an approval button and is approved by the administrator MG of the intellectual property section 102. (End processing of “response instruction” SU5 is executed). Then, information (display data) of the “response instruction” is automatically generated, and the business process display screen of the intellectual property terminal 52 is switched as shown in FIG. Further, the business process display screen of the office terminal 54 is switched as shown in FIG. At this time, the color ball C25 of the intellectual property department terminal 52 is switched from “red” to “green”, and the “correspondence” 67 is displayed as “B patent office currently being supported”. Further, the color ball C65 of the office terminal 54 is switched from “green” to “red”, and a “selection” button 50 and a confirmation button 55 are displayed in “correspondence” 67. The correspondence selection button 50 confirms that the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 has received the response instruction sheet A2 of the intellectual property section 102 (ends the “response instruction sheet” SU6). Is set.

  When the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 receives a response instruction from the intellectual property department 102 (an opinion on the counter-argument A1), the staff U104 selects “Done” from the corresponding selection button 50 and presses the confirm button 55. Then, the end process (separation process) of the “response instruction sheet” SU6 is executed, and the information (display data) of the next “response document—accepted delivery” SU7 is automatically generated and is respectively transmitted to the intellectual property department terminal 52 and the office terminal 54. It is displayed (FIG. 6 (b), FIG. 9 (b)). At this time, “start date” 64 and “target date” 65 are also newly set in the same manner as the next “sub-process”. The confirmation button 55 displayed on the office terminal 54 of the B patent office 104 is not a business process that requires approval, unlike the confirmation button 55 displayed on the intellectual property department terminal 52. Instead, information (display data) of the next business process (“sub process”) is automatically generated as it is.

  This “response document—accepted delivery” SU7 registers the draft of the opinion document and the procedure amendment draft created by the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 based on the response instruction A2 of the intellectual property department 102 in the database 41, This is a business process (“sub process”) for delivering a draft of opinion and a procedure amendment to the intellectual property department 102. As shown in FIG. The correspondence selection button 50 and the confirmation button 55 are displayed in the area “67”, and the newly set “start date” 64 and “target date” 65 are displayed. The color ball C70 at this time is “red”. On the monitor 52a of the intellectual property department terminal 52, as shown in FIG. 6B, the display of “B patent office is currently being supported” is displayed in the area “corresponding” 67, and the color ball C30 is “green”.

  At "Response Document-Acceptance Delivery" SU7, the staff U104 of the B Patent Office 104 creates a draft opinion and a procedure amendment draft, saves it in a certain area (in the database 41) of this information management system, and then responds When “Done” set in advance in the selection button 50 is selected and the confirm button 55 is pressed, information (display data) of “response document-check” SU8 which is the next “sub process” is automatically generated. (C), as shown in FIG. 9 (c). This “response document-check” SU8 is a business process in which the intellectual property department 102 confirms the contents of the draft of the opinion and the procedure amendment delivered from the B patent office 104, as shown in FIG. 6 (c). “The color ball C35 is“ red ”.

In this “response draft draft-check” SU8, the staff draft U102 (intermediate charge) of the intellectual property department 102 is a draft reply draft A3 (draft opinion draft or draft of procedure amendment) saved in the database 41 by the staff U104 of the B patent office 104. The process is completed by confirming the contents of, and returning the result to the B patent office 104.
Specifically, after the staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102 confirms the draft opinion and the procedure amendment draft, the “agency submission instruction” or “redelivery” preset from the correspondence selection button 50 shown in FIG. Select one of the “instructions” measures. “Office submission instruction” is an operation to instruct the B patent office 104 to submit to the Patent Office 105 based on the response draft A3. “Redelivery instruction” is incomplete in the contents of the response draft A3, etc. This is an operation for instructing the B patent office 104 again with the draft response document A3.

  When the person in charge CT of the intellectual property department 102 selects “re-delivery instruction”, the B patent office 104 again delivers the response draft A3 to the intellectual property department 102. The response document-check "SU8" returns to the "response document-accepted delivery" SU7 and is displayed on the screen on each terminal. That is, when “re-delivery instruction” is selected with the correspondence selection button 50, the business process (“sub process”) of “response document—accepted delivery” SU7 and “response document—check” SU8 is repeated. At the office terminal 54, in the case of “response document-check” SU8, as shown in FIG. 9C, “corresponding” 67 is displayed as “corresponding to person in charge CT” (color ball C75 is “green” ") When there is a" re-delivery instruction "from the intellectual property department 102, the" sub-process "is switched to" response document-acceptance delivery "in FIG. C70 becomes “red”.

Here, a case will be described in which the person in charge CT of the intellectual property unit 102 selects “Office submission instruction” in the case of “response document-check” SU8.
After the person in charge CT of the intellectual property department 102 confirms that there is no problem in the response document draft A3 for the rejection case P1, the “chosen submission instruction” is selected from the response selection button 50 and the confirmation button 55 is pressed. The confirmation button 55 is switched to an approval button, and when the administrator MG of the intellectual property unit 102 presses the approval button, the “response document-check” SU8 end processing is executed, and the next “office submission instruction” SU9 Information (display data) is automatically generated, and “office submission instruction” SU9 is displayed on the business process display screens of the intellectual property department terminal 52 and the office terminal 54 (FIGS. 7A and 10A). At this time, the color ball C40 displayed on the intellectual property terminal 52 is “green”, and the color ball C80 displayed on the office terminal 54 is “red”. This “office submission instruction” SU9 is a response to the response form draft A3 from the intellectual property section 102, and is similar to the business process of the “response instruction” SU6 described above.

  In the “Office Submitting Instructions” SU9, the staff U104 of the B Patent Office 104 downloads the electronic document data file of the response instructions stored in the database 41 from the database server 12 to the office terminal 54, or the Office Submitting Instructions The staff U104 directly opens and browses the data file to confirm the instruction content from the intellectual property unit 102. Here, if there is no problem, the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 selects “Done” from the correspondence selection button 50 and presses the confirm button 55, thereby completing the processing of this “sub process” (separation). Processing), “start date” and “target date” are newly set, and information (display data) of “sub process” of the next “aggregate submission-accepted delivery” SU10 is automatically generated, and the intellectual property department terminal 52 and The “sub-process” of the office terminal 54 is switched (FIG. 7B, FIG. 10B). At this time, the color ball C45 displayed on the intellectual property terminal 52 is “green”, and the color ball C85 displayed on the office terminal 54 is “red”.

  This “office submission-received delivery” SU10 is a business process of delivering the office documents submitted to the patent office 105 by the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 to the intellectual property department 102. Specifically, the electronic document of the response A4 (for example, opinion document, procedure amendment document, etc.) actually submitted to the Patent Office 105 based on the instruction received by the B Patent Office 104 in the “Office Submitting Instruction” SU9 When the staff U104 of the patent office 104 registers a data file from the monitor 54a of the office terminal 54 from a file registration screen (automatic saving unit) (not shown) (trigger event), the data file of the response A4 is stored in the database. It is automatically stored in the database 41 of the server 12.

  That is, the “office submission-received delivery” SU 10 stores the electronic document data file of the actual response letter A 4 submitted to the JPO 105 from the office terminal 54 in the database 41 of the database server 12 of the company A 101 ( Uploading) completes the process of this business process (“sub process”) (separation process). For this reason, when a trigger event occurs at the B patent office 102, the color ball C85 of the office terminal 54 is changed from “red” to “green”, and the display of “correspondence” 67 is “preparing for registration of agency documents”. Change to “Completion of Office Document Registration”.

  In the intellectual property terminal 52, the color of the color ball C45 is switched from “green” to “red”, and the correspondence selection button 50 and the confirmation button 55 are newly displayed. For this reason, the person in charge CT of the intellectual property department 102 submits the response A4 to the Patent Office 105 at the B patent office 104, and the electronic document data file of the response A4 is stored in the database 41 of the information management system. It can be seen from the business process display screen of the intellectual property terminal 52 that it has been saved.

  The person in charge CT of the intellectual property department 102 confirms the electronic document data file of the response sheet A4 stored in the database 41, and if there is no problem, selects the “done” button from the correspondence selection button 50 and presses the confirm button 55 is pressed to end the “Submission for Office-Received Delivery” SU10. As a result, the business process (“sub process”) of the rejection case P1 displayed on the monitors 52a and 54a of the IP department terminal 52 and the office terminal 54 disappears from the screen, and a series of “intermediate correspondence” G1 ( The business process processing in the business stage) is completed (finished). The intellectual property department 102 and the B patent office 104 can know in a timely manner from the terminals 52 and 54 that the rejection case P1 has been properly processed (the business has been completed).

6). Operation and Effect Since the information management system for industrial property rights according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, the following operation and effect are achieved.
A first user who owns business data related to industrial property rights (the staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102 in this embodiment) or a second user who does not own this business data (the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 in this embodiment) The information (display data) of the main process or sub-process (including individual work) at the work stage is automatically generated on the client terminal of at least the other user by the electronic file registered by any one of the users, and the other user However, it should be possible to proceed to the next work in a certain business stage.

  Therefore, according to the information management system for industrial property rights according to the present embodiment, the client terminals 52 to 54 and the database server 12 that manages the database 41 in which data relating to patent work are recorded are connected to be communicable. In the HDDs of the management servers 11A and 11B, an access management unit 21 is recorded as a software program. The access management unit 21 accesses the database 41 of the database server 12 from the client terminals 52 and 53 belonging to the A company 101, and the client terminals belonging to the B patent office 104 which is an external organization different from the A company 101. 54, the access to the database 41 of the database server 12 is individually permitted or prohibited.

In addition, business process management units 22A and 22B are also recorded as software programs in the HDDs of the management servers 11A and 11B. The business process management units 22A and 22B manage a main process composed of a plurality of sub-processes related to patent business.
Furthermore, business process generation units 23A and 23B are also recorded as software programs in the HDDs of the management servers 11A and 11B. The business process generation units 23A and 23B are converted into business data in the database 21 by the access management unit 21. When the trigger data file is registered in the database 41 from any one of the first client terminals 52 and 53 and the second client terminal 54 that are permitted to access, the work contents of the next process among the plurality of sub-processes are shown. Generate individual work. For example, when the data file of the reason for rejection notice is registered in the database 41 as the trigger data file from the second client terminal 54, an individual work indicating the work contents of the staff U102 and U103 who are employees of the company A 101 is generated. Further, the business process generation units 23A and 23B appropriately display the generated individual work indicating the work contents on the client terminals 52 and 53 of the A company 101 and the client terminal 54 of the B patent office 104.

  As described above, since the client terminal 54 operated by the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 which is an external organization different from the A company 101, the business process related to the patent work of the A company 101 is directly managed. Operations relating to acquisition, maintenance and / or use of rights can be efficiently performed between the staff U102, U103 of the A company 101 and the staff U104 of the B patent office 104.

  Further, a process management start unit 25 (not shown) is recorded in the HDD of the management server 11 as a subprogram of the business process generation units 23A and 23B. The process management start unit 25 newly displays work contents (for example, intermediate charge determination) to be processed first among the plurality of sub-processes belonging to the main process (for example, intermediate document) on the client terminals 52 and 53. At the same time, management of the main process is started by the business process management units 22A and 22B. That is, the management of the main process related to the patent work of the A company 101 is directly started by the client terminal 54 operated by the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 which is an external organization different from the A company 101.

As a result, the patent right of the A company 101 can be obtained in a timely manner without the operation of the client terminal 52 by the staff U102 belonging to the intellectual property unit 102 of the A company 101 or the operation of the client terminal 53 by the staff U103 belonging to the development unit 103. Patent operations such as acquisition, maintenance and / or use of
In addition to the above-described process for registering the trigger data file in the database, there is also an end process for one of the business processes, and the display information of the next business process is generated and displayed together with the end process. Therefore, business efficiency can be further improved.

In this case, in accordance with the end process of the business process when the selected next work is confirmed, the information on the next business process predetermined according to the next work is displayed, or the end process in any of the business processes When is executed, a plurality of pieces of information on the next business process other than the business process for which the termination process has been executed can be simultaneously generated and displayed to improve the business efficiency.
In this case, by displaying only a part or all of the next work process information generated simultaneously at the first client terminal 52, it is possible to concentrate on the work to be performed by the second user and to improve the work efficiency. it can.

In addition, when the business process has a plurality of main processes related to the business of industrial property rights and a plurality of sub-processes belonging to each of the plurality of main processes, the business process is subdivided and the progress of the business process becomes clearer. Users' business efficiency is improved.
Further, the business process generation units 23A and 23B, regarding a plurality of sub-processes belonging to any one main process among the plurality of main processes, execute a separation process of any one of the sub-processes. Other sub-processes (sub-process display data) subsequent to are automatically generated. Therefore, the progress in the main process becomes clear and the user's business efficiency is improved.

  In addition, when a final sub-process among a plurality of sub-processes belonging to one main process is completed, a plurality of sub-processes belonging to another main process (other main processes to which the final sub-process does not belong) following this The first sub-process (sub-process display data) is automatically generated. Therefore, it is clear that the process has progressed from one main process to the next main process, and the user's work efficiency can be further improved.

Furthermore, when each business process is displayed on the screen to indicate whether the business process is the business on the first client terminal side or the business on the second client terminal side, each user can immediately recognize his / her business, Business efficiency can be further improved.
In the sub-process name (work name) column, color coding is used as a display means for displaying on the screen whether each business process is a business on the first client terminal side or a business on the second client terminal side. Since the color ball for identification display is displayed, each user can immediately recognize his or her business and the business efficiency can be further improved.

7). Others Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
In the above-described embodiment, the business relating to the acquisition of the patent right (“intermediate response” G1) has been described as the business relating to the industrial property right. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It can also be applied to operations related to maintenance and / or use of patent rights. The system of the present invention can be used not only for business related to patent rights, but also for business related to acquisition, maintenance and / or use of utility model rights, design rights, and trademark rights. It can be assumed that the definition of industrial property rights will change over time. However, even in such a case, the present invention can be used for a business related to acquisition, maintenance, and / or use of rights equivalent to patent rights, utility model rights, design rights, and trademark rights.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, the file registration of the data file DF of the notice of reasons for refusal by the B patent office 104 is exemplified as the demarcation process of the business process. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the “business stage” is “domestic application”, the staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102 receives / receives an invention proposal from the staff U103 (inventor) of the development department 103 via this information management system. Thus, business process information (display data) may be automatically generated and displayed (the next business process is started). If the “business stage” is “foreign application”, the staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102 of the A company 101 or the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 uses this information management system to create a data file of related documents. Is manually registered in the database 41 in a predetermined area so that business process information (display data) may be automatically generated and displayed.

  Moreover, in the above-mentioned embodiment, between the intellectual property department terminal 52 (first client terminal) of the intellectual property department 102 of the A company 101 and the office terminal 54 (second client terminal) of the B patent office 104 Although the business process management has been described, it is not limited to this. For example, the business process may be displayed on the development unit terminal 53 (first client terminal) of the development unit 103 to manage the business process between the intellectual property terminal 52 and the development unit terminal 53. Business process management between the development department terminal 53 and the office terminal 54 may be performed. Further, for example, a client terminal is provided in an organization (for example, a translation company, a drawing creation company, a technical research company, etc.) different from the B patent office 104, and this client terminal is connected to the management server 11B of the A company 101 via the Internet. You may be able to communicate with. The same applies to another “organization” described here, which is an “individual” (eg, translator, drawing creator, technical researcher, etc.).

In the above-described embodiment, only the B patent office 104 is shown and described as the patent office. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, the information management system of the present invention can be applied even when there are a plurality of patent offices other than the B patent office 104.
In the above-described embodiment, the staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102, the staff U103 of the development department 103, and the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 are given as examples of users of the database server 12, that is, users. Although described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be a person belonging to a different department from the intellectual property department 102 or the development department 103 in the company A 101.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the staff U102 of the intellectual property department 102 logs in, the use is permitted for all patent business data recorded in the database 41 of the database server 12 from the intellectual property department terminal 52. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is within the scope of authority permitted by the access management unit described above. For example, the staff U102 of the intellectual property unit 102 performs a predetermined main process or sub-process. The editing of the patent business data stored in the database 41 is disabled, and the range of editing of the patent business data is determined according to the role among the manager, the staff U102 and the staff in the staff U102. It may be changed. Further, the office terminal 54 of the B patent office 104 is permitted to use the patent business data for a case where the patent business of the A company 101 is required to cooperate with the A company 101. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the usage range of patent work data is changed according to the work scope of each person in charge of the staff U104 of the B patent office 104 (technical staff or clerical staff). You may do it.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the management servers 11A and 11B and the database server 12 are provided in the intellectual property unit 102 of the A company 101 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be provided in another department (for example, an information system department), or may be provided in another company that has been managed by Company A 101.
In the above embodiment, the intellectual property department, the development department, the design department of the corporation (Company A 101) and the patent office cooperate with each other to advance the related business concerning industrial property rights. The client terminal is applied only in the corporation (company A 101), for example, in the case where the related business related to the industrial property right is advanced in cooperation only between the intellectual property department, the development department, and the design department. You can also.

In the above-described embodiment, the management servers 11A and 11B are web servers, and the client terminals 52 to 54 access the management server 11 using a web browser. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Not what you want.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, management servers are provided separately for the management server 11A for the company A 101 and the management server 11B for the outside, and firewalls 14A and 14B are provided respectively. However, a private network or the like is constructed. By doing so, the management server can be shared and the firewall can be unified.

  The present invention can be used in industries that require management of information related to acquisition, maintenance, and / or use.

11A, 11B Management server 12 Database server 14A, 14B Firewall 21A, 21B Access management unit (access management means)
22A, 22B Business process management department (business process management means)
23A, 23B Business process generator (Business process generator)
24A, 24B Automatic storage unit (automatic storage means)
41 Database 52, 53 First client terminal 54 Second client terminal 100 Internet C1 to C3, C10 to C85 Color ball (display means)
U102 Intellectual Property Department staff (first user)
U103 Development Department staff (first user)
U104 B Patent Office staff (second user)

Claims (12)

A database server for managing a database in which business data relating to industrial property rights is recorded;
A client terminal that is communicatively connected to the database server and operated by a user capable of accessing the database;
Access permission means for individually permitting access to the database from the client terminal for each user;
A business process management means for displaying a part or all of information of a plurality of business processes that are directly or indirectly linked to the business of the industrial property right on the client terminal and managing the plurality of business processes;
When the demarcation processing of the business process is performed in the client terminal that is permitted to access the business data by the access permission means, at least the next business process information is automatically generated and the business process management means An industrial property right information management system comprising: business process generation means for displaying information on the next business process automatically generated on a client terminal.   2. The industrial property information management system according to claim 1, wherein the demarcation process of the business process includes a process of registering a trigger data file in the database from the client terminal.   2. The industrial property right information management system according to claim 1, wherein the division process of the business process includes an end process of any of the plurality of business processes.   The business process management means includes a selection means capable of selecting a next work in each business process, and a confirmation means for confirming the next work selected by the selection means, and the end processing is performed by the confirmation means. The information on the next business process predetermined according to the next work is displayed in accordance with the end process of the predetermined business process when the process is finalized. Information management system.   When the end process in any one of the plurality of business processes is executed, the business process generation means simultaneously generates and displays a plurality of pieces of information on the next business process other than the business process for which the end process has been executed. The industrial property right information management system according to claim 3.   The business process generation means displays a part or all of the information of the next business process generated simultaneously at only the client terminal operated by a user who is the owner of the business process. The information management system according to claim 5.   The business process controlled by the business process management means includes a plurality of main processes related to the business of the industrial property right and a plurality of sub-processes respectively belonging to the plurality of main processes. Information management system for industrial property rights.   The business process generation means includes a first sub-process and a second sub-process belonging to any of the plurality of main processes, and the second sub-process is executed after the delimiting process of the first sub-process is executed. The information management system for industrial property rights according to claim 7, wherein the information is automatically generated. The business process generation means performs information on the third sub-process belonging to another main process to which the first sub-process does not belong after the first sub-process delimiting process belonging to any of the plurality of main processes is executed. The information management system for industrial property rights according to claim 7, wherein: The client terminal includes a first client terminal operated by a first user who is an owner of the business data, and a second client terminal operated by a second user who is not the owner of the business data,
2. The industrial property right information management system according to claim 1, wherein the business process management means displays the business processes necessary for the first client terminal and the second client terminal, respectively, and manages the business processes. .   The business process management means includes display means for displaying on the screen whether each business process is a business on the first client terminal side or a business on the second client terminal side. 11. The information management system for industrial property rights according to claim 10.   The business process generation means automatically generates information on at least the next business process when at least one of the first client terminal and the second client terminal performs the process process separation process. The automatically generated information on the next business process is displayed on the client terminal responsible for the next business process among the first client terminal and the second client terminal by the business process management means. The information management system for industrial property rights according to claim 11.

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