NZ714220B2 - An intellectual property docketing system - Google Patents

Abstract

intellectual property (IP) docketing system for providing one or more IP records with an updated status is disclosed. The IP docketing system includes an IP order database stored in a computer readable medium, and a web services response processor. The IP order database is adapted to store a plurality of IP order records, each including an updatable status, and the web services response processor is adapted to update the updatable status of at least one IP order record in response to receiving a web services response. urality of IP order records, each including an updatable status, and the web services response processor is adapted to update the updatable status of at least one IP order record in response to receiving a web services response.

Description

TITLE: AN ECTUAL PROPERTY DOCKETING SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a computer system for instructing an intellectual property (IP) filing.

The invention has been developed ically for the filing of foreign patent applications and will be described below with reference to that ation. However, it will be iated that it is not limited to that particular use, and is also suitable for the ction of other types of intellectual property processes.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART When instructing the filing of a patent into, say, six foreign ies, the following steps (at a minimum) will normally need to be performed: Step 1: The instructor first creates a record for each country in his/her IP management system (often called “docketing systems”).

Step 2: The instructor then creates bundles of instructions and sends them to each of the foreign associates (here called “receiving agents”).

Step 3: Once each of the receiving agents receives the ctions they then create their own records of the case in their own docketing systems.

Step 4: The receiving agent sends a message to the instructor acknowledging receipt of the instructions.

Step 5: The instructor updates the status of the case in his/her docketing system to confirm that the instructions have been received.

Step 6: Once the case has been filed, the receiving agent updates the status of the case in his/her docketing system to confirm that the case has been filed.

Step 7: The receiving agent then sends a e to the instructor to confirm that the case has been filed. 206529NZA_ spec_20160224_PLH Step 8: The instructor then updates the status of the case in r docketing system to confirm that the case has been filed.

In the above exchange for a filing into six ies, there will have been a bare minimum of 18 messages exchanged and 36 status updates logged in docketing systems (18 by the instructor and 18 by the 6 receiving agents). A filing into 20 or 30 countries simultaneously would result in an exponential number of emails and status updates having to be manually processed.

This example illustrates the very large amount of communication traffic involved in instructing a foreign patent filing, along with the large amount of duplicated status updates required by every instructor and every receiving agent in the process.

Any discussion of the background art hout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art or to provide a useful ative.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a computer system for instructing an intellectual property (IP) filing including an instruction tool adapted to icate with an IP order se, the IP order database being d to store a plurality of IP order records, each including: (a) at least one receiving agent email address; and (b) an updatable status, the instruction tool being adapted to send an email containing a URL corresponding to a particular IP order record, to a corresponding ing agent email address.

Preferably, wherein when the d URL is activated the system updates the updatable status corresponding to the particular IP order record. 206529NZA_ spec_20160224_PLH ing to a second aspect of the t invention there is disclosed a URL which, when activated, automatically modifies the status of an updatable status field of a ular IP order record stored in an IP order database.

According to a third aspect of the t invention there is disclosed an intellectual ty docketing system including an IP order database and a web services response processor, the IP order database being adapted to store a plurality of IP order records, each including an updatable status, and the web services response processor being adapted to update the updatable status of at least one IP order record in response to receiving a web services response.

Preferably, the web services response comprises an XML file containing at least the following information: (a) in IP order identifier; and (b) a status update indicator.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a web services se comprising an XML file ning at least the following information: (a) in IP order identifier; and (b) a status update indicator.

According to a fifth aspect of the present ion there is disclosed a method for instructing an intellectual property (IP) filing including: providing an instruction tool adapted to communicate with an IP order database, configuring the IP order database to store a plurality of IP order records, each including: (a) at least one receiving agent email address; and (b) an updatable status, and 206529NZA_ spec_20160224_PLH uring the instruction tool to send an email containing a URL corresponding to a particular IP order record, to a corresponding receiving agent email address.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is disclosed an intellectual property docketing method including: providing an IP order se and a web services response processor, configuring the IP order database to store a plurality of IP order records, each including an updatable status, and configuring the web services response processor to update the updatable status of at least one IP order record in response to receiving a web services response.

According to a h aspect of the t invention there is disclosed a er system for receiving instructions for an intellectual property (IP) filing including an instruction receiving tool adapted to communicate with an IP order database, the IP order database being adapted to store a plurality of IP order records, each ing: (a) at least one receiving agent email address; and (b) an updatable status, the instruction receiving tool being adapted to receive an email containing a URL corresponding to a particular IP order record, from a corresponding g agent email address.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying gs in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of a computer system, according to an embodiment of the invention. [0018 A] Figure 2 shows an example of a global instruction interface. [0018 B] Figure 3 shows an example of a specific instruction interface.

NZA_ spec_20160224_PLH [0018 C] Figure 4 shows an example of an instruction email. [0018 D] Figure 5 shows an example of a confirmation email. [0018 E] Figure 6 shows an example of a status update page ponding to a particular patent number and a country pair.

Figure 7 is a block diagram of a computer system, ing to a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the description and claims use is made of the term “country” to indicate a jurisdiction to which an intellectual property right, or an application for an ectual property right, pertains. It will be appreciated that, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, this term country is intended to also cover n” or multiple countries if such an intellectual property has a nature which extends or applies to such a region or countries.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a first embodiment of a computer system for instructing an intellectual property (IP) filing. The computer system includes an IP order database 1 g a plurality of order records 5. The order records relate to an order for the foreign filing of a piece of ectual property, such as a patent, into a plurality of foreign countries. For each country record 6 there are a plurality of stages 7 that indicate the status of the . In this embodiment, the stage “sent” indicates that the instructing attorney has sent the instructions to the foreign receiving agent. The stage “received” means that the receiving agent has confirmed safe receipt of the instructions. The stage “filed” means that the patent application has been filed by the receiving agent with their local patent .

An instruction tool 2 is adapted to communicate with the IP order database. The instruction tool is adapted to send an instruction email 3 to at least one foreign receiving agent email address 8.

The instructing email 3 is adapted to include an encoded URL 4 which, when activated by a receiving agent user automatically updates the stage 7 corresponding to: (a) a particular order; NZA_ spec_20160224_PLH (b) a particular country; and (c) a particular stage.

For example, by clicking the URL, the stage 7 of the Country3 record in the IP order database 1 is updated from “sent” to “received.” A variety of other stages are also envisaged, some of which correspond to steps taken by the instructor and others taken by the receiving agent. A non-exhaustive list is as follows: i. Ordered ii. Ready to proceed iii. Instructed Agent iv. Instruction verified v. Agent ed vi. Agent Filed vii. Translation Filed viii. All done verified ix. Cancelled In this way, with one click, a receiving agent can confirm safe receipt of instructions from the instructor and the IP order database can be updated automatically.

An example instruction tool 2 is described below with reference to Figures 2 and 3 below.

Turning to Figure 2, the instruction tool 2 includes a global instruction ace . The interface 15 contains a country list 16 corresponding to the country s 6 in a particular order 5. In this e, five ies have been chosen and the instruction tool 2 is adapted to generate emails instructing the national phase entry into those five countries. A set of radio buttons 17 adjacent the country list 16 allows the user to generate instruction emails for some or all ies simultaneously. The interface includes a document attachment n 18 adapted to allow the upload of documents needed by the receiving agent, such as the specification or the IPRP. 206529NZA_ spec_20160224_PLH The global special instructions section 19 provides the ability to insert text which will any instructions to all the receiving agents. The instructor s section 20 is preferably populated from the IP order database and contains contact details of the person(s) with whom the receiving agent should communicate after the filing.

Upon clicking the “Generate draft emails” button 21, the user is ted with the specific instruction interface 22 shown in Figure 3. This interface 22 includes a plurality of y-specific sections 23, each relating to one of the countries selected on the global instruction interface 15. In this example, Australia and China were selected in figure 2 so there is an Australia n 24 and a China section 25.

In each of the country-specific sections 23 the instruction tool 2 populates the various fields with appropriate information for that country. For example, the PCT application number will be universal to all sets of instructions, but the country listed in the t will differ for each country. The instruction email section 26 not only contains information from the global special instruction n 19, but also allows the user to input instructions specific to that country. For example, the user may wish to amend the claims in China and would include instructions to that effect in the instruction email section 26 and would attach the d claims in the country-specific document upload section 27.

The save button 28 allows the user to save the information for later editing. The Approve button 29 allows a supervisor to review and approve draft instructions to confirm they are ready for g. The send button 30 generates and sends instruction emails 3 to each of the receiving agent email addresses 8.

An example instruction email 3 is shown in Figure 4. Importantly, the ction email contains, in this example, two encoded URLs 4’ and 4.’’ In this example, whilst he recipient sees the words “I m receipt of these instructions”, when they click the link the encoded URL 4’ https:/www.inovia.com/FJOY7678FJL is activated. By clicking that link, the system automatically updates the status of the corresponding order record 5 in the IP order database 1 to the status “Received”. In this way, the ing agent is able to click a single link to acknowledge safe receipt of the IP instructions, rather than drafting an emailed reply. 206529NZA_ spec_20160224_PLH Similarly, when the receiving agent has filed the case, they can click on the second encoded URL 4’’ by clicking the link they see as “I have filed this case”. When they click that link, the encoded URL 4’’ https:/www.inovia.com/FJOY7699FAS is activated. By clicking that link, the system automatically updates the status of the corresponding order record 5 in the IP order database 1 to the status “Filed”.

Preferably, the IP ction tool, in response to the activation of any encoded URL 4, sends a confirmation email 31 to the receiving agent email address 8. An example of such mation email appears in Figure 5. Note that in this red embodiment, the system acknowledges the status that has just been changed and provides a further encoded URL 4’’ corresponding to the next stage in the filing process that needs completing. ably a similar email is not sent to the instructing user, as part of the aim of this invention is to cut down email c returning from foreign patent agents. Most foreign patent agents, however, like to receive such confirmations for their files.

It will be understood by persons skilled in the art that the above instruction tool allows the streamlined on of multiple ction emails to multiple foreign attorneys simultaneously. Not only are the emails automatically populated with relevant bibliographic information, but they importantly contain encoded URLs which, once activated, allow the automatic ng of the order database 1 without the need for manual status updating on the part of the instructor. In addition, this system obviates the need for the instructor to receive emails from the foreign eys confirming that the various steps in the filing process have been completed, since he/she can simply look at the status of the case in the IP order database to see whether the case has been received/filed by the foreign agents in each country. This automatic status updating feature substantially reduces the workload of the instructor. Once they click the “send” button 30 in the instruction tool, they don’t need to do any further work. Each of the foreign agents, by clicking one or more of the encoded URL’s will automatically update the stages of the filing of their respective ies in the IP order database 1. The instructor need only check that all countries have been filed immediately before the deadline to ensure that all is in order. So in the background example of a filing into six countries, instead of the instructor exchanging 18 emails and updating the status 18 times, he/she only needs to click the “send button” 30 and the system takes care of the rest.

NZA_ spec_20160224_PLH In an alternative embodiment, shown in Figure 6, instead of the encoded URL automatically updating the status, the d URL 4 corresponds to a status update page 32 ponding to the particular patent No and country pair. On that page the receiving agent is able to confirm the completion of various stages of the filing process.

This embodiment is available in the event that additional security (such as password tion) is desired.

Turning to Figure 7, there is disclosed a further embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the instruction email 3 includes the encoded URL 4 as previously discussed.

When the d URL 4 is activated it simulates, at a server 9, a web services t 10 (not shown). In response, the server produces a web services response 11 containing stage update information corresponding to: (a) a ular order; (b) a particular country; and (c) a particular stage, and sends that web services response to an instructor docketing system 12 and a receiving agent docketing system 13. Preferably the web services response 11 is adapted to be processed by a webservices response processor (not shown) and takes the form of an XML file.

An example web services response 11 s below: <SOAP-ENV:Header/> <SOAP-ENV:Body> <ns2:WsOrderStatusResponse xmlns:ns2="http://inovia.com /orderPlaced"> <ns2:contact-id>contact@company.com</ns2:contact-id> <ns2:patents> <ns2:patent> <ns2:biblio-data> <ns2:patent-number>EP0501100</ns2:patent-number> <ns2:title>Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery</ns2:title> <ns2:applicant-name>Arcades Corporation</ns2:applicant-name> <ns2:agent-name>Miller, John E.</ns2:agent-name> <ns2:publication-language>English</ns2:publication-language> </ns2:biblio-data> <ns2:orders> rder> <ns2:id type="Order">a01Q0000003dkz2IAA</ns2:id> NZA_ spec_20160224_PLH <ns2:timestamp>04-Jul-2011 02:04:50</ns2:timestamp> <ns2:documents> <ns2:document type="invoice"> <ns2:description>Filing receipt for EP0501100</ns2:description> <ns2:name>FILING_RECEIPT_EP0501100_pdf</ns2:name> <ns2:url>http://inovia.s3.aws.com/ order%2F0014000034b5wDyAAI_00340002300mytgZAAQ.PDF</ns2:url> <ns2:size>333.5 2:size> <ns2:created-timestamp>201113 10:46:44</ns2:created-timestamp> </ns2:document> </ns2:documents> <ns2:status-items> <ns2:status-item> <ns2:name>Germany</ns2:name> <ns2:code>DE</ns2:code> <ns2:due-date>17-Jul-2011</ns2:due-date> <ns2:status>Filed</ns2:status> <ns2:last-updated-date>04-Jul-2011 02:04:51</ns2:last-updated-date> </ns2:status-item> </ns2:status-items> </ns2:order> </ns2:orders> </ns2:patent> patents> </ns2:WsOrderStatusResponse> -ENV:Body> </SOAP-ENV:Envelope> As will be understood by a person skilled in the art, the above WebServices response 11 corresponds to the validation in Germany of European patent number EP0501100 in the name of Arcades Corporation. This particular se 11 indicates that the status is “Filed.” Note that the order has an order identifier which is used to uniquely identify that order. In the present context, an order is a n patent filing into a selected set of countries. However, ent unique identifiers for different intellectual property filings and steps are also envisaged.

When the instructor docketing system 12 and the receiving agent docketing systems 13 receives the web services response 11 they tically update the stage 7 of the corresponding IP record 14, 14’ in their respective s.

By way of example, if the instruction email 3 contained the first instruction to file an IP application, the receiving agent ing system 13 would not include an IP record corresponding to that case. As such, when the receiving agent docketing system 13 received the web services response 11, it would: (a) create an IP record 14’ corresponding to the IP order record 5; 206529NZA_ spec_20160224_PLH (b) upload from the web services se any bibliographic ation 15 (not shown) corresponding to the IP order record 5; and (c) update the stage IP record 14’ to the equivalent of “received.” In the same example, because the instructions originated from an instructor it is likely that the instructor docketing system 12 already contained an IP record 14 corresponding to the order record 5 and the country records 6. In that case, upon receipt of the web services response 11 the instructor docketing system 12 would only update the stage IP record 14 to the equivalent of “received.” In this way, when a receiving agent clicks on the encoded URL, not only is the IP order database 1 updated, but also both the instructor docketing system 12 and the receiving agent docketing system 13 are also updated.

It can also be seen that the above WebServices protocol also allows for the association of a remotely stored document (in this example FILING_RECEIPT_EP0501100_pdf) with a particular order or stage. In the embodiment which allows a receiving agent to update a status on a status update page 32, that page also involves the y to attach a document, such as a filing receipt or a copy of the translated ication. By storing that document securely and remotely and by providing a link to that document, the user can gain access to those documents without having to receive them via email.

In an alternative embodiment, rather than updating the instructor ing system 12 “on the fly” the docketing system may instead be updated via a batch process. Such a batch process would e the provision of a bulk XML file including the updates status of any pending ations. The format would be similar to the format of the webservices response 11 described above, but n the <ns2:patents> tags a ity of patents and their corresponding statuses would be ed.

In a preferred embodiment a docketing system could choose a variety of ways to have its status updated by sending a Webservices request that includes one or more of: 1. A single order status for a specific order; in which case, the request should contain the following fields: a. Id 206529NZA_ spec_20160224_PLH b. patent-number c. contact-id 2. A bulk order status for a specific patent; in which case, the request should contain the following fields: a. patent-number b. contact-id 3. A bulk order status for a ic company/client; in which case, the request should contain the ing field: a. contact-id It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that this invention substantially reduces the email traffic going back from the receiving agents to the instructor, since the receiving agent simply needs to click on the encoded URL instead of sending an email to the instructor as each stage is performed.

Further, the duplicated effort of manually ng the status of the case in the instructor docketing system 12 and the receiving agent docketing system 13 is eliminated, as those systems are automatically updated by the vices se 11. In addition, by instructing both the instruction process and the updating of es the present invention substantially reduces the possibility of human error in the instruction process.

The present invention may also be applied to the filing of other types of IP such as trade marks and registered designs. Similarly, the invention may be applied to other parts of the IP s, such as reporting an office action. In most countries the process of prosecuting a patent, trade mark or design involves a series of clearly defined steps (eg office action issues, response to office action, r office action issues etc). As such, when sending out an office action along with an encoded URL via the present invention’s instruction tool, the receiving agent would simply click on the link and the status of the case would be updated automatically.

The term "processor" may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes electronic data, e.g., from ers and/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that, e.g., may be stored in registers and/or 206529NZA_ spec_20160224_PLH . A "computer" or a ting machine" or a "computing platform" may include one or more sors.

The methodologies described herein are, in one embodiment, performable by one or more processors that accept computer-readable (also called machine-readable) code containing a set of instructions that when executed by one or more of the processors carry out at least one of the methods described herein. Any processor e of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken are included. Thus, one example is a typical processing system that includes one or more processors. Each processor may include one or more of a CPU, a graphics processing unit, and a programmable DSP unit. The processing system further may include a memory subsystem including main RAM and/or a static RAM, and/or ROM. A bus subsystem may be included for communicating between the components. The processing system further may be a distributed sing system with processors coupled by a network. If the processing system requires a display, such a display may be included, e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a cathode ray tube (CRT) display. If manual data entry is required, the processing system also es an input device such as one or more of an alphanumeric input unit such as a keyboard, a ng control device such as a mouse, and so forth. The term memory unit as used herein, if clear from the context and unless itly stated otherwise, also encompasses a storage system such as a disk drive unit. The processing system in some configurations may include a sound output device, and a network interface device. The memory subsystem thus includes a computer-readable carrier medium that carries computer-readable code (e.g., software) including a set of instructions to cause performing, when executed by one or more processors, one of more of the methods described herein. Note that when the method es several elements, e.g., several steps, no ordering of such elements is d, unless specifically stated. The re may reside in the hard disk, or may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the RAM and/or within the processor during execution thereof by the computer system. Thus, the memory and the processor also constitute computer-readable carrier medium carrying computer-readable code.

In alternative embodiments, the one or more processors operate as a standalone device or may be connected, e.g., networked to other processor(s), in a networked deployment, the one or more processors may operate in the capacity of a server or a user machine in server-user network environment, or as a peer machine in a o- 206529NZA_ spec_20160224_PLH peer or distributed network environment. The one or more processors may form a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a Personal l Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or , or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or ise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine.

It will be understood that the steps of s discussed are performed in one embodiment by an appropriate processor (or processors) of a processing (i.e., computer) system executing instructions (computer-readable code) stored in storage. It will also be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular implementation or programming que and that the invention may be implemented using any appropriate techniques for implementing the functionality described herein. The invention is not limited to any particular programming ge or operating system.

It should be appreciated that in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various es of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, FIG., or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be reted as ting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims ing the Detailed Description are hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following , any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

In the claims below and the description herein, any one of the terms comprising, comprised of or which comprises is an open term that means including at least the elements/features that follow, but not excluding . Thus, the term comprising, when used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being tive to the means or ts or steps listed thereafter. For example, the scope of the expression a device 206529NZA_ spec_20160224_PLH comprising A and B should not be limited to devices consisting only of elements A and B. Any one of the terms including or which includes or that includes as used herein is also an open term that also means including at least the elements/features that follow the term, but not excluding others. Thus, including is synonymous with and means comprising.

Although the ion has been described with nce to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms, including but not limited to being ed as devices, systems and methods. 206529NZA_ spec_20160224_PLH Claims

Claims (5)

We claim:

1. An intellectual ty (IP) docketing system for providing one or more IP records with an updated status, the IP docketing system including an IP order database stored in a computer readable medium, and a web services response processor, the IP order database being adapted to store a plurality of IP order records, each including an updatable status, and the web services response sor being adapted to update the updatable status of at least one IP order record in response to receiving a web services response.

2. The IP docketing system of claim 1 wherein the web services response comprises an XML file including at least the following information: (a) in IP order identifier; and (b) a status update indicator.

3. The IP docketing system of claim 2 wherein the status update indicator is entative of a change in status from one stage to another of an IP order record corresponding to the IP order identifier.

4. The IP docketing system of claim 3 wherein the web services response processor is further adapted to create a new IP order record corresponding to the web services response in the IP order database.

5. An IP docketing system ing an IP order database stored in a computer readable medium, and a web es response processor as bed herein with reference to the drawings.