JP5226889B2 - Server machine for mediating patent search using the Internet, server machine information disclosure method, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide timely and precise information to both clients and searchers by using the Internet to intermediate between the clients who request patent search and the searchers who do the patent search. SOLUTION: This server machine, when intermediating between clients who request patent search by use of an Internet line 3 and searchers who do the patent search, collects requirements for the search from a plurality of clients as to the contents of the patent search presented via the clients' terminals 2a, and requests the searcher who presented requirements suitable for the clients to do the patent search.

Description

  The present invention relates to a server machine for mediating patent search in order to make a successful bid for a researcher who conducts a patent search using the Internet, an information display method thereof, and a program used for the server machine.

  In recent years, patent applications related to business models have been filed frequently, and IT-related business operators can apply for business model patents even when they have little patent-related knowledge when starting up their own business. More and more people think they need to apply. Such a business model patent application boom has spread not only to IT-related businesses but also to other businesses, and the number of patent applications tends to increase. In connection with this, before patent application is filed, the necessity of conducting a patent search to reduce the wasteful time and cost by filing a useless patent application is increasing.

  Patent search methods include electronic patent libraries on the Internet's patent office website, terminal searches using the Japan Patent Information Organization (JAPI) Patrice, etc., and libraries such as the Kansai Patent Information Center. For example, the patent gazette that has been published is turned over.

  Patent searches are conducted by patent experienced persons who are registered in patent departments such as patent offices and large corporations and have the know-how to conduct patent searches and adopt patent search methods according to their purposes.

  In this way, the know-how of patent search is known only to a limited extent, and the applicant himself / herself, such as an individual business owner who wants to apply for a patent, or a small and medium-sized company that does not have a patent special department, conducts a patent search. Therefore, even if it takes time to obtain patent knowledge, it takes a very long time to master the patent search know-how, so it is very difficult to do it in parallel with the work related to its own business. It is. For this reason, the applicant often requests a patent search from a patent office or a patent search company for a fee.

  However, such patent search is limited to those who have the know-how to conduct patent search as described above, and it takes a long time to acquire this know-how. The cost required for patent search is relatively high. In addition, there is often no idea what to do with the request for patent search, and if the request is not made, it is often unclear whether the search results are reliable. Moreover, it is often difficult for those who do not have patent knowledge to judge whether or not the search results are reliable.

  On the other hand, in recent years, there are many patent disputes between companies, and the number of cases developed into litigation cases tends to increase. However, the number of cases before the development into litigation cases, that is, patent license negotiations between companies, etc. is also increasing. As a result, companies that are alleged to have infringed their patents will be challenged by excuses such as non-infringement and invalidity of patents allegedly infringed. It is essential to conduct research. However, patents allegedly infringed are registered once after examination or trial by the JPO, and it is extremely difficult to find invalid materials even if invalidity investigation is conducted. Also, requesting such invalidity investigation to an external patent research company often requires a very high cost, and even if you conduct your own patent research, it will be a limited scope of research. It is easy to end up. In addition, patent invalidation claims are often made by each company, and this content is treated as confidential and is rarely transmitted to other companies as information. In some cases, a patent license fee is paid even though the patent is actually invalid.

  The present invention solves the problems as described above, and mediates between the requester side requesting the patent search and the searcher side performing the patent search using the Internet. The objective is to provide timely and accurate information to each of the sides.

  In the present invention, when intermediating between a requester who requests a patent search using the Internet and a searcher who conducts a patent search, a plurality of requesters can search each of the contents of the patent search presented by the requester. The so-called “patent search successful bid system” can be operated, for example, by collecting the conditions for performing and requesting the patent search to the investigator who gave the best conditions for the client.

  In addition, for example, collecting patent search results from multiple searchers for patent invalidity search contents requested by the client, showing a part of the patent search results, and allowing the client to determine whether it is necessary to obtain, Alternatively, the patent search results are examined on the server side, and the results of the examination are presented to the requester to determine whether it is necessary to obtain them. In other words, it will be possible to operate the “Nomination Arrangement Survey Material Prize Providing System”.

  In addition, for example, a wide range of introductions will be made to clients who want to obtain patent search results by commercializing and posting on the Internet an overview of the results of patent searches conducted independently by the investigator. By providing information such as comments on each patent search result to a client who has no knowledge, the client is provided with a patent search result that meets the client's needs, and the client's own patent search It is possible to obtain an opportunity to provide results to a larger number of clients.

  For the purpose of enabling the contents shown above, the following means are adopted in order to solve the above problems.

  In other words, the invention of claim 1 provides a plurality of investigations to be conducted with a client who requests a patent search in order to mediate a patent search in order to carry out a successful bid for a searcher who conducts a patent search using the Internet. A server machine that mediates with a user, the server machine being provided so as to be able to communicate with each of a plurality of terminals individually, and to be displayed on the display screen of the terminal connected to the communication While receiving information information from a terminal connected through communication, and (1) requested by the requester to each terminal of the plurality of investigators connected through communication. (2) Information data relating to conditions for conducting a search on the patent search content transmitted from each terminal of the plurality of searchers. Survey condition collective reception capability to receive, (3) Survey condition collective transmission capability to transmit information data related to the survey condition to the terminal of the requester connected via communication, (4) The requester of the client connected via communication A successful bid decision receiving capability for receiving information data related to the fact that a successful bid has been decided under the conditions for conducting the search from the terminal. Each function of requester-specific / successful bid individual transmission capability for selectively transmitting the determined content is provided.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to introduce the contents of the patent search requested by the client to a plurality of searchers through each terminal, and search from a plurality of searchers who wish to conduct a search on the contents of the patent search. By presenting the conditions for performing the survey, displaying the collected conditions for each survey to the client through each terminal, determining the survey conditions that the client himself wants to request, and receiving information data on this Since it becomes possible to make a successful bid for the search regarding the contents of patent search to the determined investigator, the requester can confirm various request conditions at once, and search for multiple investigators. This reduces the troublesome work and greatly expands the range of client requests for surveys.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the server machine according to claim 1, wherein the survey condition batch transmission capability is information data relating to at least one of a survey range, a survey fee, and a survey delivery date as a condition for performing the survey. It has the function to transmit.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the client can formally request the investigation after confirming the investigation scope, the investigation fee, the investigation delivery date, etc. as the conditions for requesting the investigation. It is possible to request an investigation under conditions that are convenient for the user.

  The invention of claim 3 is the server machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the condition for conducting the investigation is displayed on the display screen of the requester's terminal to which the information data relating to the condition for conducting the investigation is transmitted. In response, the requester himself / herself is prompted to input survey conditions desired.

  According to the invention of claim 3, a client who is presented with a plurality of conditions for conducting a survey can examine each content and present a survey condition that another client himself wishes to request. For example, by letting each researcher present the search conditions that the client wants to request, it becomes possible for the seller and buyer of the patent search to make a transaction. Can be further reduced.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the server machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the number of successful bids is calculated by accumulating data on the investigators who have been successful in patent research and / or the conditions for conducting the research. It is characterized in that information data relating to the contents of a patent search requested by a client is transmitted to a searcher with a large number of requests.

  According to the invention of claim 4, by listing the investigators with a large number of successful bids and making the client indicate that fact, the requester himself / herself can be examined as to which investigator is requested more. Therefore, it is possible to provide information that is very convenient for a client who does not have much knowledge and information about patents.

  The invention of claim 5 collects patent search results for patent search contents using the Internet, and conducts a patent search with a good content when mediating patent search in order to make a successful bid for an investigator with a good patent search result. A server machine that mediates between the client requesting the acquisition of the results and a plurality of investigators who wish to deliver the patent search results, and this server machine can be individually connected to each of a plurality of terminals. Provided, which transmits predetermined information data to be displayed on the display screen to the communication-connected terminal, while receiving predetermined information data from the communication-connected terminal. (1) Communication connection A search content batch transmission capability for transmitting information data relating to patent search content requested by the requester to each terminal of the plurality of searchers; and (2) the plurality of searchers. Search result collective reception capability for receiving information data related to patent search results sent from each terminal, and (3) information data related to the patent search results to the requester's terminal connected via communication. A search result batch transmission capability for transmitting a part of them, (4) an acquisition request search result reception capability for receiving information data relating to the patent search results desired to be obtained from the terminal of the requester connected via communication; A survey that selectively transmits the content requested to obtain the patent search results after the searcher who transmitted the patent search results desired to be obtained by the requester is connected via communication. It is characterized by each function of individual transmission ability and individual desired transmission ability.

  According to the invention of claim 5, the client is presented with the contents of the patent search requested by the client, and the client is presented with a part of the information related to the patent search regarding the patent search results collected from a plurality of researchers. Investigators who did not want to obtain the client after obtaining information by looking at the contents of the patent search because the client requested a rough estimate of the client's acquisition and then selectively received the request. This makes it possible to avoid a situation that is extremely unreasonable for the client, and also makes it possible for the client side to make an acquisition decision by receiving a standard for selection of acquisition of the patent search result to some extent.

  The invention of claim 6 is the server machine according to claim 5, wherein the content of the patent search result is displayed as a part of the information data related to the patent search result on the display screen of the client terminal. It is possible to display in a state of being classified according to the request, and to display a message prompting the client to select the level of detail desired to be obtained from the contents of the patent search result.

  According to the invention of claim 6, the client can confirm the contents of the patent search result in a state of being classified according to the degree of detail, and to what extent the details of the patent search are disclosed. It is possible to make an acquisition selection while taking into account whether or not it is necessary. For example, when the content of the search is an invalidity search, the above-mentioned level of detail simply indicates the patent gazette number, describes the applicable clause, and specifies the number (i) as the constituent elements of the claims in the patent gazette. For example, the degree of the number of description items of the patent search result, such as what is performed for each (invention specific matter), is taken as an example.

  The invention of claim 7 is the server machine according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the billing status to the client is determined according to the level of detail selected by the client on the display screen of the client's terminal It is characterized by displaying information indicating that the two are different.

  According to the invention of claim 7, it is possible for the client to confirm in advance how much cost is required to obtain the contents of the patent search result corresponding to the degree of detail required by the client.

  The invention of claim 8 includes a requester who wishes to request a patent search and a plurality of investigators who wish to conduct a patent search in order to mediate a patent search in order to make a successful bid for a searcher who conducts a patent search using the Internet. A server machine information display method for displaying predetermined information on a display screen of each terminal of a plurality of communicably connected investigators using a server machine that mediates between the above, Displaying information on the contents of the patent search requested by the requester on the display screen of each of the investigators, and displaying the information on the patent search on the display screen of the communication-connected investigator's terminal. The step of displaying information prompting the user to input the condition for conducting the survey, and the condition for conducting the survey entered by the investigator on the display screen of the terminal of the client connected through communication Displaying information to prompt, displaying information prompting to determine whether to request a patent search for the conditions for the search, on a display screen of the terminal of the client connected through communication, and a patent search And a step of displaying information for which a patent search request has been determined and a successful bid is displayed on the display screen of the terminal of the investigator for which the request has been determined.

  According to the invention of claim 8, it is possible to introduce the contents of the patent search requested by the requester to a plurality of searchers through each terminal, and to make a successful bid for the search regarding the contents of the patent search to the determined searcher. Since the requester can check various request conditions at the same time, the troublesome work of searching for multiple investigators is reduced, and the range of requestees of the requester's investigation is extremely wide. To spread.

  The invention of claim 9 collects patent search results for patent search contents using the Internet, and performs desired patent search results when mediating patent search in order to make a successful bid for an investigator with good contents of the patent search results. Using a server that mediates between the requester requesting the acquisition of the request and a plurality of searchers who wish to deliver the patent search results, the predetermined information is displayed on the display screen of the terminal of the requester connected via communication. An information display method for a server machine, the step of displaying information for prompting input of patent search contents desired to be requested on a display screen of a terminal machine of the client connected through communication, and the terminal of the client connected through communication A step of displaying a part of a patent search result for the contents of the patent search transmitted from each terminal of the plurality of investigators on the display screen of the plurality of searchers according to search items, and a communication connection On the display screen of the client's terminal is characterized by comprising a step of displaying the information for prompting the input of the patent search result to be obtained out of the said patent findings.

  According to the invention of claim 9, it is possible to avoid a very unreasonable situation for the investigator that the requester does not want to obtain the information after looking at the contents of the patent search result and obtains information. For this reason, it is possible to provide an information display that makes it possible to make an acquisition decision by receiving a certain degree of selection for obtaining the patent search result.

  The invention of claim 10 includes a requester who requests a patent search and a plurality of searchers who wish to conduct a patent search when mediating a patent search in order to make a successful bid for a searcher who conducts a patent search using the Internet. A program used in a server machine that mediates between the above, and transmitting information data relating to the contents of patent search requested by the requester to each of the terminals of the plurality of searchers connected via communication. On the other hand, information data related to the conditions for conducting a search on the contents of the patent search transmitted from each terminal on the plurality of investigator sides is received, and the search is performed on the terminal on the client side connected via communication. While transmitting information data on conditions, information data on determining successful bids under the conditions for conducting the investigation from the requester's terminal connected via communication. The content of the successful bid of the patent search is selectively received in response to the fact that the investigator who transmitted the conditions for conducting the search that was awarded to the requester among the plurality of investigators is connected to the communication. It is made to transmit.

  According to the invention of claim 10, it is possible to introduce the contents of the patent search requested by the requester to a plurality of searchers through each terminal, and to make a successful bid for the search regarding the contents of the patent search to the determined searcher. It becomes possible to perform.

  The invention of claim 11 collects patent search results for patent search contents using the Internet, and conducts a patent search in order to mediate a patent search in order to make a successful bid for an investigator with a good patent search result. A program used in a server machine that mediates between a requester who requests the acquisition of results and a plurality of investigators who wish to deliver patent search results, to each terminal of the plurality of investigators connected via communication Information data related to the contents of the patent search requested by the requester, while receiving information data related to the results of the patent search for the contents of the patent search transmitted from the terminals of the plurality of searchers. , The requester side connected to the communication side while transmitting information data related to the patent search result to the terminal of the requester side connected to the communication side Received information data on the patent search result to be obtained from the terminal of the client, and received a patent connection after the investigator who transmitted the patent search result requested to be obtained by the requester among the plurality of searchers It is characterized in that the contents desired to obtain the survey results are selectively transmitted.

  According to the invention of claim 11, it is possible to avoid a very unreasonable situation for the investigator that the requester does not want to obtain the information after looking at the contents of the patent search result, and the requester. Therefore, it is possible to make an acquisition decision after receiving a certain degree of selection for obtaining a patent search result.

  The patent search in the present invention includes various searches such as pre-patent application search, patent invalidity search, patent infringement search, patent search for collecting information on research and development, technology trend survey, company, applicant and inventor-specific search. include.

  In addition, as patent search results in the present invention, patent publications, public notices or registered gazettes, descriptions of names and page numbers of each document such as technical literature, catalogs, magazines, etc., and electronic data obtained by reading each document with a scanner or the like Etc. are used.

  The communication connection between the server machine and the terminal in the present invention is configured through radio using a radio wave or the like, or via a wire such as a telephone line. As the terminal in the present invention, various electronic devices such as laptop and desktop personal computers, mobile phones, home and portable game machines can be applied.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to introduce the contents of a patent search requested by a client to a plurality of researchers through each terminal, and the client confirms various request conditions from a plurality of researchers at once. This makes it possible to reduce the troublesome work of selecting and searching for a single investigator from a plurality of investigators, and the client can greatly increase the range of request destinations for requesting a survey.

It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the communication structure using the server machine and terminal in this embodiment. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function of the server machine in this embodiment. It is a modification of the server machine in the present embodiment, and is an explanatory diagram for explaining a communication configuration when a temporary storage unit is separately provided outside the server machine. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function of the personal computer machine as a terminal device in this embodiment. In the present embodiment, each of a plurality of investigators is allowed to transmit information data on the contents of a patent search requested by a requester, and then a plurality of investigators obtain a patent search from each terminal. It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow until it receives the information data regarding the conditions which investigate. In the present embodiment, the flow from sending information data related to the conditions for conducting a survey from each investigator to the client's terminal until displaying the successful bid information on the display screen of the investigator's terminal is shown. It is a flowchart figure. In this embodiment, after the requester's terminal display screen prompts the requester to input the survey conditions desired, the survey is performed from each investigator's terminal under the survey conditions desired by the client. It is a flowchart which shows the flow until it receives the information data regarding selection of whether to desire. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the display content of the homepage in this embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the display content of the homepage in this embodiment, and making a requester select the use. In this embodiment, it is explanatory drawing for demonstrating that the information which prompts a requester to input a registration number and a password is displayed. In this embodiment, it is explanatory drawing for demonstrating that the information which prompts the requester who requests a patent search newly to input personal information is displayed. In this embodiment, it is explanatory drawing for demonstrating that the information which prompts the investigator who wants to do a patent search to input an ID code and a registration number is displayed. In this embodiment, it is explanatory drawing for demonstrating displaying the information of a search request condition with respect to the investigator who wants to do a patent search. In this embodiment, it is explanatory drawing for demonstrating that the information which prompts the investigator to input the judgment result of desiring to conduct a survey is displayed. In this embodiment, it is explanatory drawing for demonstrating that the information which prompts the investigator to input the conditions which investigate is displayed. In this embodiment, it is explanatory drawing for demonstrating that the information regarding what investigation condition other investigators want to investigate is displayed with respect to the investigator. In this embodiment, it is explanatory drawing for demonstrating that the investigation condition information currently collected with respect to a requester is displayed. In this embodiment, it is explanatory drawing for demonstrating that the information regarding the survey successful bid condition is displayed with respect to the investigator. In this embodiment, it is explanatory drawing for demonstrating that the information which prompts the requester to input the new search request desired conditions is displayed. In the present embodiment, each of a plurality of investigators transmits information data related to patent search contents to each terminal until a requester's terminal transmits a part of information data related to patent search results. It is a flowchart figure which shows a flow. In the present embodiment, the contents of the patent search results are displayed on the display screen of the requester's terminal in a state of being classified according to the degree of detail, and then the contents of which the searcher's terminal is requested to obtain the patent search results It is a flowchart figure which shows the flow until it transmits selectively. In this embodiment, it is explanatory drawing for demonstrating that "WANTED information" is displayed as investigation request information with respect to an investigator. In this embodiment, it is explanatory drawing for demonstrating that the content of investigation and investigation conditions are displayed on the display screen of an investigator's terminal. In this embodiment, it is explanatory drawing for demonstrating that the information which prompts the input of a survey result with respect to the person who wants to sell a survey result is displayed. In this embodiment, it is explanatory drawing for demonstrating that the information which prompts selection of the survey result and item which wants to buy with respect to the person who wants to purchase a survey result is displayed. In this embodiment, it is explanatory drawing for demonstrating that the information regarding a survey successful bid state is displayed with respect to the person who wants to sell a survey result.

  Next, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a communication configuration using the server 1 and the terminal 2 in the present embodiment.

  The server machine 1 of this embodiment wants to conduct a patent search with a client who wants to request a patent search when mediating a patent search in order to conduct a successful bid for a searcher who conducts a patent search using the Internet line 3. It mediates between multiple investigators. The server machine 1 is provided so that it can be individually connected to each of the terminals 2a of the plurality of clients and each of the terminals 2b of the plurality of investigators, and is displayed on the display screens of the terminals 2a and 2b connected to each other. While the predetermined information data to be displayed is transmitted, the predetermined information data is received from the terminals 2a and 2b connected by communication.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the server machine 1 in the present embodiment.

  The server machine 1 of the present embodiment includes a transmission / reception unit 5 serving as an entrance / exit of information data for the terminals 2a, 2b, and a control unit for transmitting / receiving information data to / from the terminals 2a, 2b via the transmission / reception unit 5. 6 as a CPU.

  The control unit 6 has a search content batch transmission function for transmitting information data related to the content of patent search requested by the requester of the patent search to the terminals 2b of a plurality of investigators connected in communication. Search condition collective reception capability for receiving information data related to conditions for searching for patent search contents transmitted from the terminal 2b, and conditions for searching for the requested patent search to the terminal 2a of the client connected via communication Survey condition batch transmission capability for transmitting information data related to

  In addition, the control unit 6 receives a successful bid decision receiving ability for receiving information data related to the fact that a successful bid has been decided under the condition for conducting a search from the terminal 2a of the connected client, and the investigator who has determined the patent search request. In response to the communication connection of the terminal 2b, it has a client-by-requester / successful bid individual transmission capability to selectively transmit the contents determined by the successful bid of the patent search to the terminal 2b of the investigator.

  The control unit 6 in the present embodiment performs identification of each investigator's terminal 2b by receiving information data related to an ID code and a password input by the investigator through the terminal 2b. It is transmitted to the investigator's terminal 2b. In other words, if the purpose of the patent search is a preliminary search for filing a patent application, the content of the patent search itself may be a new invention to be applied for, and such a new invention may be transferred to a third party via the Internet. In order to avoid unconditionally disclosing the information, the ID code will be provided to the investigator who wishes to conduct a patent search in advance, swearing that he will not comply with confidentiality regarding patent search contents and will not file an approved application. In addition, a system like a membership system is adopted, in which a password is registered and no information is provided to other persons. Therefore, the control unit 6 has a function of transmitting information data related to the ID code to each investigator's terminal 2b and a function of receiving information data related to the password from each investigator's terminal 2b. The ID code and the password of the investigator are stored in the RAM as the temporary storage means 7 and collated with the ID code and password received from each investigator's terminal 2b, thereby identifying the investigator.

  The temporary storage means 7 stores the data regarding the conditions for performing the search on the patent search contents received by the control unit 6 so as to be stored in order, and the control unit 6 responds to the request from the client terminal 2a. It will be sent accordingly.

  In addition, the server machine 1 is provided with the server machine 1 in order to independently collect statistics on data of various information received from the terminals 2a and 2b, organize data, or perform maintenance. A keyboard as an input means 8 for an administrator to perform data processing input, an LCD device as a display unit 9 for displaying information contents to the administrator when data processing is performed, and generating sounds and voices at a predetermined timing A speaker device as the sound reproducing unit 10 to be played, and a ROM as the storage unit 11 in which a program for executing data processing by the control unit 6 is stored. Further, the server machine 1 serves as a storage medium reader 13 that can be detachably connected to an MO as an external storage medium 12 that stores a program related to transmission / reception of information data with the terminal 2 in the present embodiment. Equipped with MO drive.

  In the present embodiment, the temporary storage unit 7 is provided in the server machine 1, but the present invention is not limited to this, and FIG. 3 is a modification of the server machine 1 in the present embodiment. As shown in the explanatory diagram for explaining the communication configuration when the server is separately provided outside the server machine 1, a temporary storage server machine 1 a for storing data of information is provided separately from the server machine 1, and the control unit 6 When transmitting / receiving information data to / from the terminals 2a and 2b, the terminal is connected to the temporary storage server 1a to transmit necessary information data among the stored and stored information data. It is also possible to store data of information received from.

  Details of the external storage medium 12 will be briefly described. The external storage medium 12 transmits information data related to the contents of patent search requested by the requester to each of the terminals 2b of the plurality of investigators connected to each other, while each of the terminals of the plurality of searchers 2b receives information data relating to the conditions for conducting a search on the contents of the patent search transmitted from 2b, and transmits the information data relating to the conditions for conducting the search to the terminal 2a of the client connected to the communication, while the request for the communication connected The investigator who received the information data regarding the decision on the successful bid under the condition for conducting the survey from the user's terminal 2a and transmitted the condition for conducting the survey that was awarded to the client among the plurality of investigators was communicatively connected. In response to this, a program for selectively transmitting the contents determined by the successful bid for the patent search is stored.

  In addition, the external storage medium 12 of the present embodiment transmits information data related to the contents of the patent search requested by the client toward each terminal 2b of each of the plurality of investigators connected to each other. The information data related to the patent search result for the contents of the patent search transmitted from each of the terminals 2b is received, and the information data related to the patent search result is transmitted to the terminal 2a of the client connected to the communication, while the communication connection is established. Received from the requester's terminal 2a information data related to the patent search result to be received, and the patenter received the communication connection of the searcher who sent the request for the patent search request from the requester. Stores a program that selectively transmits the contents for which the survey results are desired. The case where this program is executed will be described later.

  In the present embodiment, a predetermined program is stored in the external storage medium 12 and connected to the server machine 1, but the predetermined program is stored in advance in the storage unit 11 of the server machine 1 without using the external storage medium. It is also possible to memorize.

  Next, functions of the desktop personal computer as the terminals 2a and 2b in this embodiment will be briefly described. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing functions of a personal computer as a terminal in this embodiment. The terminal 2 includes a transmission / reception unit 21 that transmits / receives information data from the server machine 1 and a CPU as a control unit 22 that executes transmission / reception of information data to / from the terminal 2 via the transmission / reception unit 21. In addition, the terminal 2 includes a ROM as a storage unit 23 in which programs for reading various application software and executing them under the instruction of the control unit are stored, and a temporary storage unit that stores data of information received from the server 1 The RAM as 24, the LCD device as the display unit 25 for displaying the received information data as information, the sound reproduction unit 26 for reproducing predetermined sounds and sounds based on a predetermined program, and the user of the terminal 2 And a keyboard as an input unit 27 for performing an input operation. Further, the terminal 2 is a storage medium to which an external storage medium 28 such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a CD-ROM, or a DVD-ROM in which various program data and data such as sound and images are stored is detachably connected. A reading device 29 is provided. The external storage medium 28 is a storage medium in which predetermined program data, image data, and the like are stored for the purpose of performing high-speed data processing without performing information data received from the server machine 1 each time. It is also possible to use it.

  In addition, the display unit 25 displays an image on the display screen 25a based on information-related data among information data received from the terminal 2 and information data stored in the storage unit 23, the temporary storage unit 24, and the like. The display drive circuit 25b is provided. The sound reproduction unit 26 also includes a sound reproduction circuit 26b that reproduces sound and sound via the speaker 26a based on sound data.

  In this embodiment, a desktop personal computer is used as the terminal 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and various electronic devices capable of communication can be used. For example, a laptop personal computer, a mobile phone, a communication It can be used widely such as possible electronic notebooks, home game machines and portable game machines.

  Next, transmission / reception of information data by communication connection between the server machine 1 and the client terminal 2a and the investigator terminal 2b in the present embodiment will be described by taking specific information examples. FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 are flowcharts for explaining the data transmission / reception of the server machine 1 and the contents displayed on the display screen 25a of the terminal machine 2 in chronological order in this embodiment. 8 to 18 are explanatory diagrams for specifically explaining information displayed on the display screen 25a of the terminal 2.

  First, information on the top page of the home page is displayed on the display unit 25 of each terminal 2 connected for communication. In this home page, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the target person is divided into a person who wants to request a patent search, a person who wants to conduct a patent search, a person who wants to purchase a patent search result, etc., and prompts the requester to input. In the present embodiment, a case where the client wants to request a patent search will be described. When “person who wants to request patent search” is selected, as shown in FIG. 10, it is determined whether a request for a new search or a request for a search has already been made on the display unit of the client terminal 2a. Information prompting you to enter is displayed. If a survey request has already been made, an information display prompting the requester to input a registration number and password is displayed. Then, when requesting a new patent search, as shown in FIG. 11, information prompting for input of name, telephone number, and e-mail address is displayed, and the contents of the search, the survey age, the target company, the purpose of the survey are displayed. Then, information is displayed prompting the user to input the desired delivery date or the desired survey price. Then, as the requester inputs the information and transmits it to the server machine 1, the server machine 1 receives information data relating to the requested patent search from the client terminal 2a.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the person who wants to conduct a patent search inputs information on each page shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 on the display screen 25a of the terminal 2b of the investigator. By displaying information prompting the user to enter an ID code and password, and by clicking on a predetermined position ("Non-member") for non-member investigators, information display prompting the member to join Let it be done.

  And the server machine 1 receives the information data regarding the ID code and the password from the investigator's terminal 2b, specifies the investigator's terminal 2b, and requests each of the plural investigators' terminals 2b from the requester. The information data on the contents of the patent search requested is transmitted, and the information on the contents of the patent search requested by the client is displayed on the display screen 25a of each terminal 2b. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, a list of survey contents is displayed as the survey request status on the display screen 25a of the investigator's terminal 2b, and information regarding the survey content list (described later) is displayed as the survey successful bid status. Make it. Each list of survey contents displayed as the survey request status is marked with a “detail” mark. Upon receiving a click input of the surveyor's “detail” mark, the display screen 25a of the surveyor's terminal 2b is displayed on the display screen 25a. More detailed information of the patent search as shown in FIG. 14 is displayed. As the detailed information, information such as survey contents, survey age, survey target company, survey purpose, desired delivery date or desired survey price is displayed. Then, as a result of the investigator confirming detailed information regarding the contents of the investigation through the display screen 25a, a click input of the “I want to investigate” mark is received by the researcher's selection.

  Next, on the display screen 25a of the investigator's terminal 2b, as shown in FIG. 15, an information display for prompting input of the conditions for conducting the survey, that is, the survey range, the survey fee, and the survey delivery date is displayed. In order to display information on what conditions other investigators are going to conduct the survey when the investigator inputs the conditions for conducting the survey, the display screen 25a of the investigator's terminal 2b displays “survey conditions”. The “View” mark is displayed. In response to the click input of the “view survey conditions” mark by the researcher, as shown in FIG. 16, the MAX value and MIN value of the survey fee, the shortest and longest survey delivery dates, the survey range, etc. are displayed for each item. Then, the researcher inputs and registers the conditions for conducting the survey shown in FIG. 15 with reference to the information data such as the survey request status. Then, on the display screen 25a of the requester's terminal 2a, the contents of the patent search transmitted from each of the terminals 2b of the plurality of investigators through the click input of the “already requested” mark in FIG. The information prompting the user to input which of the conditions to make a successful bid for the search and to decide the request for the patent search is displayed. In addition, information data related to the determination of a successful bid under the conditions for conducting a search is received from the terminal 2a of the client who is connected to the communication, and the patent search is subsequently sent to the terminal 2b of the investigator who determines the patent search request that is connected via communication. The contents of the successful bid are selectively transmitted. Then, on the display screen 25a of the terminal 2b of the researcher for whom the request for the patent search has been determined, as shown in FIG. Then, after the surveyor clicks on the “confirm” mark in FIG. 18, the survey successful bid is completed.

  In addition, the server machine 1 of the present embodiment can transmit information data relating to the conditions for conducting the investigation received from each investigator to the requester's terminal 2a and display the requester's terminal 2a. The screen 25a may be displayed for prompting the client himself / herself to input a new survey condition as shown in FIG. 19 when there is no survey condition that the client satisfies upon receiving the survey condition. Is possible.

  Furthermore, the server machine 1 according to the present embodiment accumulates data on the investigators who have been successful in patent research and / or the conditions for conducting the research, and give priority to the researcher who has made many successful bids. It is possible to transmit information data related to the contents of the requested patent search. This causes the display screen 25a of the investigator's terminal 2b to display the ID code and the password prompting the investigator to input the ID code and the password received by the investigator as shown in FIG. After identifying the searcher's terminal 2b by receiving the information data related to the password, the information data related to the contents of the patent search requested by the client is preferentially transmitted. That is, a privilege providing system for an excellent investigator is established, in which an investigator who has made a successful bid for survey conditions in the past is preferentially requested to make an investigation without making a successful bid. Note that the investigator for which a successful bid for patent search has been determined and / or the conditions for conducting the search are cumulatively stored in the temporary storage means 7 shown in FIG. 2, and information data relating to a request for patent search from the requester by the terminal 2a. Can be preferentially transmitted for a predetermined period of time.

  In this embodiment, a request for a patent search is accepted from the client via the Internet line 3 and the telephone line 4, but is not limited to this. For example, a patent search accepted by FAX, telephone or direct interview is possible. Even if the administrator of the server machine 1 directly inputs the contents of the request, the present invention can be applied to the present invention.

  Next, the server machine 1 of the present embodiment collects the patent search results for the contents of the patent search via the Internet line 3 and the telephone line 4, and conducts a patent search in order to make a successful bid for an investigator with a good patent search result. A description will be given of the case of mediating between a client who requests acquisition of a good patent search result and a plurality of searchers who wish to deliver the patent search result. In this case, it is very effective when a client who requests a patent search is looking for invalid material for a registered patent. In addition to patent gazettes, literature materials such as magazines, books, catalogs, and materials such as products already sold or exhibited can be applied as invalid materials.

  The server machine 1 causes each of a plurality of searchers connected to each other to transmit information data relating to the content of requesting a patent search for invalid material for a certain registered patent requested by the client, respectively. It has a search content batch transmission capability, and also has a search result batch reception capability for receiving information data related to patent search results for patent search content transmitted from each terminal 2b of a plurality of searchers.

  In addition, the server machine 1 has a search result batch transmission capability that allows the client terminal 2a of the communication connection to transmit a part of the information data related to the patent search result instead of all. This is to prevent the client from providing all of the patent search results unconditionally, and to allow the client to determine to some extent whether or not the patent search results should be obtained. That is, the server machine 1 can display the contents of the patent search results in a state divided according to the level of detail as a part of the information data related to the patent search results on the display screen 25a of the client terminal 2a. In addition, it has a search result collective transmission capability that causes the requester to select the level of detail desired to be obtained from the contents of the patent search results. The server machine 1 has a function of displaying information indicating that the billing status to the client is different on the display screen 25a of the client terminal 2a according to the level of detail selected by the client. Makes it possible to determine whether or not it is necessary to obtain the results of a patent search by using the billing status as one criterion.

  Furthermore, the server machine 1 is requested to be obtained by the requester among a plurality of investigators and the obtainment desired search result receiving ability for receiving information data related to the patent search results desired to be obtained from the terminal 2a of the requester connected via communication. In response to the fact that the investigator who transmitted the patent search result is connected to the communication, the searcher selectively obtains the individual search ability and the individual transmission ability desired to obtain the content desired to obtain the patent search result.

  Next, transmission / reception of information data by communication connection between the server machine 1 and the client terminal 2a and the investigator terminal 2b in the present embodiment will be described by taking specific information examples. FIGS. 20 and 21 are flowcharts for explaining the data transmission / reception of the server machine 1 and the contents displayed on the display screen 25a of the terminal machine 2 in chronological order in this embodiment. 22 to 26 are explanatory diagrams for specifically explaining information displayed on the display screen 25a of the terminal 2.

  First, as described above, the information related to the display contents of the home page shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is displayed on the terminal 2a of the requesting client, and the contents of the patent search contents to be requested as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 are displayed. Information prompting input is displayed on the display screen 25a of the client terminal 2a. The server machine 1 receives information data relating to the contents of patent search entered by the client.

  Next, information data relating to the contents of the patent search requested by the requester is transmitted to each terminal 2b of the plurality of searchers, and the searcher and the searcher's terminal 2b as shown in FIG. 12 are specified. Information for prompting the input of an ID code and a password for the user is displayed, and further, information relating to the contents of the patent search request as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 is displayed on the display screen 25a in each terminal 2b of a plurality of searchers. Let the client know the survey details.

  Then, after the investigator who has found the invalid material through the terminal survey or the turn-over survey has established communication connection using the terminal 2b, the display screen 25a of the investigator's terminal 2b is shown in FIG. Information that prompts the user to enter detailed survey results into detailed items.

  Further, after receiving information data related to the patent search result for the contents of the patent search transmitted from each terminal 2b of the plurality of searchers, the information data related to the patent search result is transmitted to the terminal 2a of the client who is connected to the communication. A state in which a part is transmitted and the content of the patent search result is classified according to the level of detail as part of the information data on the patent search result as shown in FIG. 25 on the display screen 25a of the client terminal 2a. To display information. In this embodiment, on the display screen of the client's terminal, information indicating that the billing status to the client is different is displayed according to the level of detail selected by the client, and it is desired to obtain the contents of the patent search results. Instructs the client to select the level of detail. In other words, the application provisions and issues of the materials found as a result of patent search are provided free of charge, and the material names such as patent publication numbers and the contents that are considered to be substantially the same are described for each component of the claims. Information on the determined billing status is displayed for each component requirement table that clearly indicates the location of the item, and for manuals related to these materials. Upon receiving such information display, the client clicks and inputs information on the patent search result to be obtained.

  Then, the server machine 1 receives information data on the patent search result desired to be obtained from the requester's terminal 2a, and sends the patent search result to the searcher's terminal 2b which has transmitted the patent search result desired to be obtained by the requester. The contents desired to be obtained are selectively transmitted, and the information desired to obtain the patent search results is displayed on the display screen of the investigator's terminal 2b as shown in FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Server machine 2a Requester's terminal 2b Researcher's terminal 3 Internet line 4 Telephone line 5 Transmission / reception part 6 Control part 7 Temporary storage means 8 Input means 9 Display part 10 Sound reproduction part 11 Storage means 12 External storage medium 13 Storage Medium reader 21 Transmission / reception unit 22 Control unit 23 Storage unit 24 Temporary storage unit 25 Display unit 25a Display screen 26 Sound reproduction unit 27 Input unit 28 External storage medium 29 Storage medium reader

Claims (4)

A request to collect patent search results with good content in order to collect patent search results for the content of patent search using the Internet and mediate patent search in order to make a successful bid for an investigator with good patent search results A server machine that mediates between a searcher and a plurality of searchers who wish to deliver patent search results,
This server machine is provided so that it can be individually connected to each of a plurality of terminals, and transmits predetermined information data to be displayed on the display screen of the terminal connected by communication, while the terminal connected by communication It receives predetermined information data from a machine and has the following configuration .
(1) A survey content batch transmission unit for transmitting information data related to patent search content requested by the requester toward each terminal of the plurality of investigators connected in communication,
(2) A patent search result for the content of the patent search sent from each terminal of the plurality of searchers, including a search content having a hierarchical structure for each applicable clause regarding the material found as the patent search result , A survey result receiving unit for receiving and storing information data,
(3) A part of information data related to the patent search result received and stored by the search result receiving unit in the communication-connected terminal of the requester, and found as the patent search result Survey results other than information for identifying the survey results, and a survey result batch transmission unit that transmits the survey content having a hierarchical structure for each applicable article in a state classified according to the hierarchy,
(4) An acquisition request search result receiving unit that receives information data related to the hierarchy related to the patent search result to be acquired from the terminal of the client who is connected through communication;
(5) Among the plurality of investigators, after the investigator who has transmitted the information data related to the hierarchy related to the patent search results requested by the requester is connected, the patent search results are obtained. Individual sending section for each researcher / request to send desired contents selectively. In the display screen in the client's terminal, according to a hierarchy for selecting the requester, the server machine according to 請 Motomeko 1 Ru to display information indicating that the charging status to the requester is different. A request to collect patent search results with good content in order to collect patent search results for the content of patent search using the Internet and mediate patent search in order to make a successful bid for an investigator with good patent search results Of a server machine that displays predetermined information on the display screen of each terminal of a plurality of communication-connected investigators using a server machine that mediates between the investigator and a plurality of investigators who wish to deliver patent search results An information display method, wherein the server machine
Displaying information on the contents of the patent search requested by the requester on the display screen of each of the plurality of investigators connected in communication;
Information data including a search result having a hierarchical structure for each applicable clause with respect to a document found as a result of the patent search on the display screen of each of the plurality of searchers on the display screen. Prompting for information, displaying information,
Information data including a search result having a hierarchical structure for each applicable clause with respect to a document found as a result of the patent search, which is a patent search result transmitted from each terminal of the plurality of investigators. Receiving and storing, and
A part of the information related to the patent search result received and stored on the display screen of the client terminal connected via communication, other than the information specifying the material found as the patent search result A step of displaying survey contents having a hierarchical structure for each applicable clause with respect to the found material in a state of being classified according to the hierarchy;
Displaying information prompting input of information data related to the hierarchy related to the patent search result that the client wants to obtain on the display screen in the terminal of the client who is connected in communication;
A display screen on the searcher's terminal in response to the communication connection of the searcher who has transmitted the information data related to the hierarchy related to the patent search result requested by the requester among the plurality of searchers in the patent findings information display method of the server machine to perform the steps of displaying the information data relating to said layers for the patent search results that are desired to obtain. A request to collect patent search results with good content in order to collect patent search results for the content of patent search using the Internet and mediate patent search in order to make a successful bid for an investigator with good patent search results Is a program used in a server machine that mediates between a searcher and a plurality of investigators who wish to deliver patent search results ,
Transmitting each piece of information data related to the contents of patent search requested by the requester toward each terminal of the plurality of searchers connected in communication ;
Information on a patent search for the contents of the patent search transmitted from each terminal of the plurality of searchers, including a search content having a hierarchical structure for each applicable clause with respect to the material found as the patent search result Receiving and storing data; and
A part of the patent search result received and stored in the terminal on the client side connected for communication, and the search content other than information specifying the material found as the patent search result, A step of transmitting a survey content having a hierarchical structure for each applicable article with respect to the found material in a state of being classified according to the hierarchy;
A step of Ru is receiving information data relating to the layers for the patent search results to be obtained from the communication-connected the requester side of the terminal,
Among the plurality of searchers, the contents of the request for obtaining the patent search result after the searcher who transmitted the information data related to the hierarchy relating to the patent search result desired to be obtained by the client is connected. Selectively transmitting the program.

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