Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
  • G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
  • G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
  • G06Q10/103—Workflow collaboration or project management
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
  • G06Q10/10—Office automation; Time management
  • G06Q10/107—Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q50/00—Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
  • G06Q50/10—Services
  • G06Q50/18—Legal services
  • G06Q50/184—Intellectual property management

Definitions

• TITLE COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR INSTRUCTING AN INTELLECTUAL
• the present invention relates to a computer system for instructing an intellectual property (IP) filing.
• IP intellectual property
• 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 instructions 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 message to the instructor to confirm that the case has been filed.
• Step 8 The instructor then updates the status of the case in his/her docketing system to confirm that the case has been filed.
• IP intellectual property
• IP order database being adapted to store a plurality of IP order records, each including:
• the instruction tool being adapted to send an email containing a URL corresponding to a particular IP order record, to a corresponding receiving agent email address.
• the system updates the updatable status corresponding to the particular IP order record.
• a URL which, when activated, automatically modifies the status of an updatable status field of a particular IP order record stored in an IP order database.
• an intellectual property 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
• 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.
• the web services response comprises an XML file containing at least the following information:
• a web services response comprising an XML file containing at least the following information:
• IP intellectual property
• IP order database configuring the IP order database to store a plurality of IP order records, each including:
• an intellectual property docketing method including:
• IP order database providing an IP order database 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
• the web services response processor 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.
• IP intellectual property
• IP order database being adapted to store a plurality of IP order records, each including:
• the instruction receiving tool being adapted to receive an email containing a URL corresponding to a particular IP order record, from a corresponding sending agent email address.
• Figure 1 is a block diagram of a computer system, according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 2 is a block diagram of a computer system, according to a further embodiment of the invention.
• country to indicate a jurisdiction to which an intellectual property right, or an application for an intellectual property right, pertains. It will be appreciated that, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, this term country is intended to also cover “region” or multiple countries if such an intellectual property has a nature which extends or applies to such a region or countries.
• the computer system includes an IP order database 1 storing a plurality of order records 5.
• the order records relate to an order for the foreign filing of a piece of intellectual 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 filing.
• 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 office.
• 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:
• stage 7 of the Country3 record in the IP order database 1 is updated from “sent” to "received.”
• 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:
• a receiving agent can confirm safe receipt of instructions from the instructor and the IP order database can be updated
• the instruction tool 2 includes a global instruction interface 15.
• the interface 15 contains a country list 16 corresponding to the country records 6 in a particular order 5.
• 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 countries
• the interface includes a document attachment section 18 adapted to allow the upload of documents needed by the receiving agent, such as the specification or the IPRP.
• the global special instructions section 19 provides the ability to insert text which will accompany instructions to all the receiving agents.
• the instructor details 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.
• This interface 22 includes a plurality of country-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 section 24 and a China section 25.
• the instruction tool 2 populates the various fields with appropriate information for that country.
• the PCT application number will be universal to all sets of instructions, but the country listed in the subject will differ for each country.
• the instruction email section 26 not only contains information from the global special instruction section 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 amended 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 sending.
• the send button 30 generates and sends instruction emails 3 to each of the receiving agent email addresses 8.
• FIG. 4 An example instruction email 3 is shown in Figure 4. Importantly, the instruction email contains, in this example, two encoded URLs 4' and 4.” In this example, whilst the recipient sees the words “I confirm 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 receiving agent is able to click a single link to acknowledge safe receipt of the IP instructions, rather than drafting an emailed reply.
• the IP instruction tool in response to the activation of any encoded URL 4, sends a confirmation email 31 to the receiving agent email address 8.
• a confirmation email 31 to the receiving agent email address 8.
• An example of such confirmation email appears in Figure 5.
• 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.
• a similar email is not sent to the instructing user, as part of the aim of this invention is to cut down email traffic returning from foreign patent agents. Most foreign patent agents, however, like to receive such confirmations for their files.
• the above instruction tool allows the streamlined creation of multiple instruction 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 updating 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 attorneys 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.
• the encoded URL 4 corresponds to a status update page 32 corresponding 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 protection) is desired.
• the instruction email 3 includes the encoded URL 4 as previously discussed.
• the encoded URL 4 When the encoded URL 4 is activated it simulates, at a server 9, a web services request 10 (not shown). In response, the server produces a web services response 1 1 containing stage update information corresponding to:
• the web services response 1 1 is adapted to be processed by a webservices response processor (not shown) and takes the form of an XML file.
• WebServices response 1 1 corresponds to the validation in Germany of European patent number EP0501 100 in the name of Arcades Corporation. This particular response 1 1 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 foreign patent filing into a selected set of countries. However, different unique identifiers for different intellectual property filings and steps are also envisaged.
• the receiving agent docketing 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 1 1 , it would:
• FILING_RECEIPT_EP0501 100_pdf FILING_RECEIPT_EP0501 100_pdf with a particular order or stage.
• that page also involves the ability to attach a document, such as a filing receipt or a copy of the translated specification.
• a document such as a filing receipt or a copy of the translated specification.
• the docketing system may instead be updated via a batch process.
• a batch process would include the provision of a bulk XML file including the updates status of any pending applications.
• the format would be similar to the format of the webservices response 1 1 described above, but between the ⁇ ns2:patents> tags a plurality of patents and their corresponding statuses would be provided.
• 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:
• embodiments of this invention substantially reduce 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.
• the duplicated effort of manually updating 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 webservices response 1 1 .
• 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 process, 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 (e.g. office action issues, response to office action, further 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.
• steps e.g. office action issues, response to office action, further office action issues etc.
• processor may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes electronic data, e.g., from registers and/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that, e.g., may be stored in registers and/or memory.
• a "computer” or a “computing machine” or a “computing platform” may include one or more processors.
• 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 capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken are included.
• 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 processing 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 includes an input device such as one or more of an alphanumeric input unit such as a keyboard, a pointing control device such as a mouse, and so forth.
• 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.
• computer-readable code e.g., software
• the software 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.
• the memory and the processor also constitute computer-readable carrier medium carrying computer-readable code.
• 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 peer-to-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 Digital Assistant (PDA), a cellular telephone, a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions
• 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 others.
• the term comprising, when used in the claims should not be interpreted as being limitative to the means or elements or steps listed thereafter.
• the scope of the expression a device 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.

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• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
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• General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Data Mining & Analysis (AREA)
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Priority Applications (12)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=48168676

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 2012
  • 2012-10-26 SG SG11201401261WA patent/SG11201401261WA/en unknown
  • 2012-10-26 JP JP2014537426A patent/JP6180035B2/ja active Active
  • 2012-10-26 CA CA 2853185 patent/CA2853185A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-10-26 US US14/354,847 patent/US20140289137A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-10-26 KR KR20147013853A patent/KR20140084260A/ko not_active Ceased
  • 2012-10-26 WO PCT/AU2012/001307 patent/WO2013059874A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2012-10-26 CN CN201280052191.5A patent/CN104246776B/zh active Active
  • 2012-10-26 EP EP12843901.5A patent/EP2748734A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-10-26 AU AU2012327867A patent/AU2012327867A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2014
  • 2014-03-31 IL IL231831A patent/IL231831A/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2014-04-11 ZA ZA2014/02667A patent/ZA201402667B/en unknown
• 2018
  • 2018-09-25 AU AU2018236729A patent/AU2018236729A1/en not_active Abandoned

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