Abstract:
The present invention discloses an automatic method and system for generating and filtering out the innovation proposals. Particularly, it is about a system, which generates all the possible element code sets, compares them to the code sets of existing objects or documents, and then filters out the novel element code sets. The system comprises a standard element depository, a permutation and combination module, a testing object processing module, a matching module, a sifting module, and an output module.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a method and system for generating and filtering out creative proposals. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for automatically generating all the possible element code sets, comparing them to the code sets of existing objects or documents, and then filtering out the novel element code sets, and a system corresponding to the method. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    In the modern technique-intensive industries, RD has become an indispensable segment in all enterprises and the achievement of their researches and developments are generally protected by filing patent applications thereof. Some enterprises, such as Tessera Technologies Inc. in the US and Semiconductor Energy Laboratory (SEL) in Japan, who both have considerable sums of patents or patent applications, have even dismissed their production lines for only remaining RD staff to proceed with the advanced development on their specialties so as to continuously increase the amount of their patents or patent applications. However, it would be a real challenge to effectively manage disclosure concerning increasing innovative products and patents proposing novel technologies so as to transcend competitors by rapidly originating novel inventions and designs. Besides, in the technique-intensive industries where technologies vary from minute to minute, such as semiconductor process, semiconductor packaging or digital systems, there are numerous and promptly increasing inventions and patents. Therefore, a need exists for an approach to efficiently originate novel inventions and designs while ensuring the patantability of these inventions and designs. 
         [0005]    In view of the aforementioned problems and need, the present invention proposes a method for automatically generating all the possible element code sets, comparing them to the code sets of existing objects or documents, and then filtering out the novel element code sets, and a system corresponding to the method. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    For satisfying the above need, it is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a method for automatically generating all the possible element code sets and comparing them to the code sets of existing objects or documents so as to rapidly filter out the novel element code sets, and a system corresponding to the method, thereby accelerating RD achievements and innovation. 
         [0007]    Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method for rapidly generating and filtering out the novel element code sets, wherein the novel element code sets are not found in the prior arts and superior to the prior arts in novelty. 
         [0008]    To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides an automatic creative proposal generating and filtering system, which comprises a standard element depository, a permutation and combination module, a testing object processing module, a matching module, a sifting module, and an output module. Therein, the standard element depository defines and stores a plurality of elements with standard element codes, in which each said standard element comprises at least one feature and each said feature has an identification code (Z) corresponding thereto. The permutation and combination module permutes and combines the identification codes (Z) pertaining to one said standard element (X) in the standard element depository so as to form a plurality of featured elements (Xi), which are then permuted and combined to define all possible combinations of the featured elements (Xi) as featured element code sets that are afterward collected and stored in a featured element code sets storing module. The testing object processing module defines and store elements of a testing object by using the corresponding standard elements (X) and identification codes (Z) in the standard element depository as a testing object code set, which is then permuted and combined to generate a testing object code set of partial features. The matching module matches the code sets in the featured element code sets storing module with the code sets in the testing object processing module. The sifting module sifts matching results of the matching module to filter out a first code set portfolio that exists in both the featured element code sets storing module and the testing object processing module and to filter out a second code set portfolio that only exists in the featured element code sets storing module and does not exist in the testing object processing module. The output module outputs a sifting result that includes the first code set portfolio and the second code set portfolio, wherein the code sets represented by the second code set portfolio are novel code sets that have not been disclosed by the testing object and may be used as a reference for a creative proposal. 
         [0009]    The present invention further provides a multiple components combining method, which comprises: providing a database that contains a plurality of standard elements and serves to define and store the plural elements by using standard element codes, wherein, each said standard element comprises at least one feature and each said feature has at least one identification code (Z) corresponding thereto; providing a permutation and combination process to permute and combine the identification codes (Z) pertaining to one said standard element in the standard element depository so as to form a plurality of featured elements (Xi), which are then permuted and combined to get all possible combinations of the featured elements (Xi) as featured element code sets that are afterward collected and stored as a featured element code sets database that contains all possible combinations of the elements. 
         [0010]    The present invention further provides an automatic creative proposal generating and filtering method, which comprises: providing a standard element database containing a plurality of standard elements; providing a permutation and combination process; providing a testing objects database; providing a matching process; providing a sifting process; and providing an output process. Therein, for providing the standard element database containing the standard elements, a plurality elements are defined and stored by using standard element codes, wherein each said standard element comprises at least one feature and each said feature has an identification code (Z) corresponding thereto. In the permutation and combination process, the identification codes (Z) pertaining to one said standard element (X) in the standard element depository are permuted and combined so as to form a plurality of featured elements (Xi), which are then permuted and combined to get all possible combinations of the featured elements (Xi) as featured element code sets that are afterward collected and stored as a featured element code sets database. For providing the testing objects database that contains a plurality of testing objects, elements of each said testing object are defined by using the corresponding standard elements (X) and identification codes (Z) in the standard element depository and stored as a testing object code set, which is then permuted and combined to generate all possible testing object code sets of partial features. In the sifting process, matching results of the matching process are sifted to filter out a first code set portfolio that exists in both the featured element code sets database and the testing objects database and to filter out a second code set portfolio that only exists in the featured element code sets database and does not exist in the testing objects database, wherein the code sets represented by the second code set portfolio are novel code sets that have not been disclosed by the testing object and may be used as a reference for a creative proposal. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart of an automatic creative proposal generating and filtering method according to a first embodiment the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart of a multiple components combining method according to a second embodiment the present invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an automatic creative proposal generating and filtering system according to a third embodiment the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    While the present invention discloses an automatic creative proposal generating and filtering system and manufacturing method thereof, some of the implemented technologies, such as databases and storing module used therein are well known in the art and need not be discussed at length herein. Furthermore, the accompany drawings attached herewith are for illustrating features in connection with the present invention only. 
         [0016]    Please refer to  FIG. 1  for a flow chart of an automatic creative proposal generating and filtering method according to a first embodiment the present invention. Firstly, a standard element database  100  is built. The standard element database  100  contains a plurality of standard elements (X), wherein X=A, B, C, D . . . . Each said standard element is defined as at least one featured element (Xi) according to its distinctive feature. For describing the featured element (Xi) in a standardized manner, major features (Xj, k . . . ) contained in or related to the standard elements and eigenvalues corresponding to the features are further defined, wherein each said eigenvalue has an identification code (Z) corresponding thereto, thereby achieving a standardized feature defining system, wherein Z is an integer or a symbol. After the featured element (Xi) are analyzed regarding features thereof, selected identification code (zj) is substituted into the major feature (j) so as to establish a feature code of the elements in a form of Xzj,zk . . . . For example, A 1 =A 11 . The standardized feature defining and coding system is used as a basis for converting elements into codes. 
         [0017]    Then, a permutation and combination process  500  is provided for substituting various identification codes (zj,zk . . . ) into each of the features (Xj,k . . . ), respectively, so as to generate all possible combinations of the feature codes (Xzj,zk . . . ) of the elements so as to form a plurality of featured elements (Xi), wherein X=A, B, C, D . . . and i is an integer. After that, the plural featured elements (Xi) are processed by the permutation and combination process  500  to find out all possible featured element code sets  201 . For example, when  201 =A 1 +B 2 +C 1 , if A 1 =A 11 , B 2 =B 12  and C 1 =C 11 , it can be further defined that  201 =A 11 +B 12 +C 11 . The featured element code sets  201  are stored as a featured element code sets database  200  that contains all the possible featured elements (Xi) derived by permuting and combining the standard elements (X) and the identification codes (Z) in the standard element database  100  and all the possible featured element code sets  201  derived by permuting and combining the featured elements. 
         [0018]    Next, a testing objects database  300  is provided. Testing objects  301  stored in the database may be any public information collected by an enterprise and may be an article having a substantiality, a photo of an article having a substantiality, a diagram of an article, a design chart or a patent specification. The testing object  301  may also be one or a combination of the items recited above. After the testing objects database  300  is established, each said testing object  301  is analyzed regarding elements and features thereof. The elements of the testing objects  301  are converted into testing object code sets  401  by either a manual operation or an automatic conversion so as to find out the code sets having less novelty as compared with the testing object code sets  401 , namely a testing object code set of partial features  402  composed of part of the elements of the testing object code sets  401 . Steps for converting the elements of the testing object  301  into the testing object code sets  401  are described below. Each said testing object  301  is composed of at least one element (Y), wherein Y=a, b, c, d . . . . Assuming that the testing object  301  is composed of elements a, b and c, the testing object  301  can be expressed as  301 =a+b+c. Then the elements of the testing object  301  are matched with the standard elements (X) in the standard element database  100  so as to identify the standard element codes corresponding to the elements of the testing object  301 . For example, when the elements a, b and c are corresponding to the standard elements A, B and C, respectively, after the aforementioned conversion, it can be concluded that  301 =A jk +B jk +C jk , wherein the suffixes j and k represent identification codes that are defined according to the identification codes (Z) in the standard element database  100  through the analyses of the elements. If it is found that A jk =A 11 , B jk =B 12  and C jk =C 11  through the analyses of the elements of the testing object  301  from regarding its features, the testing object  301 , which is converted according to the testing object code sets  401 , can be described as  401 =A 11 +B 12 +C 11 . Then, to identify the code sets that are less novel as compared with the testing object code sets  401 , part of the elements in the testing object code sets  401  are taken out and further permutation as well as combination are conducted. For example, in the testing object code set  401 =A 11 +B 12 +C 11 , one of the elements C 11  is taken out to form a partial code set  402   a =A 11 +B 12 , or, alternatively, two of the elements A 11  and C 11  are taken out to form another partial code set  402   b =B 12 , and so forth. Thereby, a testing object code set of partial features  402  containing all possible combinations of the elements in the testing object code sets  401  can be derived. The testing object code sets  401  and the testing object code set of partial features  402  are both stored in the testing objects database  300 . 
         [0019]    After the featured element code sets database  200  is established, and the testing object code sets  401  and the testing object code set of partial features  402  in the testing objects database  300  are converted and combined, since the featured element code set  201  and the testing object code set  401  as well as the testing object code set of partial features  402  are all defined according to the standard elements (X) and identification codes (Z) in the standard element database  100 , when there is a said element existing in both, this element in the both code sets is defined as an identical said identification code (Z), so that a comparison between the both code sets is possible. Further, matching process  600  is provided for matching the featured element code sets  201  with the testing object code sets  401  and the testing object code set of partial features  402  in the testing objects database  300 . The matching process  600  may comprise a sequential matching process or a parallel matching process. 
         [0020]    Then a sifting process  700  is provided for sifting the code sets having novelty through the following steps. If one said code set exists in the featured element code sets database  200 , and also exists in the testing objects database  300 , it is verified that the elements and features represented by this very code set have been used in some prior disclosure and lack novelty. Then these elements and features are converged as a first code set portfolio  201 A. If one said code set exists in the featured element code sets database  200 , and does not exists in the testing objects database  300 , it is verified that the elements and features represented by this very code set have not been disclosed by any prior art recognized by this enterprise. In other words, these elements and features may have novelty and can be used as a reference for a creative proposal. Then these elements and features are converged as a second code set portfolio  201 B. However, further investigation or professional evaluation may be necessary to confirm whether these elements and features have not been disclosed in any public information and whether these elements and features satisfy the criteria of non-obviousness and industrial applicability. At last, the matching and sifting results, including the first code set portfolio  201 A and second code set portfolio  201 B are output through an output process  800  so as to accomplish the automatic creative proposal generating and filtering method of the present invention. 
         [0021]    Now referring to  FIG. 2 , in a second embodiment of the present invention, a multiple components combining method, namely a forming method for the foregoing featured element code sets database  200 , is provided and comprising: 
         [0022]    providing a standard element database  100 , which defines and stores a plurality of elements by using standard element codes, wherein, each said standard element comprises at least one feature and each said feature has an identification code (Z) corresponding thereto; 
         [0023]    providing a permutation and combination process  500  to permute and combine the identification codes (Z) pertaining to one said standard element (X) in the standard element database  100  so as to form a plurality of featured elements (Xi), which have their identification codes expressed as in a form of Xzj, zk . . . and are then further permuted and combined to get all possible combinations of the featured elements (Xi) as a plurality of featured element code sets  201 ; and 
         [0024]    storing the plural featured element code sets  201  as a featured element code sets database  200  that contains all the possible combinations of the elements. 
         [0025]    The present invention further provides a third embodiment, wherein an automatic creative proposal generating and filtering system as shown in  FIG. 3  is provided. The disclosed system comprises: 
         [0026]    a standard element depository  10 , for defining and storing a plurality of elements by using standard element codes, in which each said standard element comprises at least one feature and each said feature has an identification code (Z) corresponding thereto; 
         [0027]    a permutation and combination module  40 , for permuting and combining the identification codes (Z) pertaining to one said standard element (X) in the standard element depository so as to form a plurality of featured elements (Xi), which have their identification codes (Z) expressed in a form of Xzj, zk . . . and are then further permuted and combined to identify all possible combinations of the featured elements (Xi) as featured element code sets  201  that are afterward collected and stored in a featured element code sets storing module  20 ; 
         [0028]    a testing object processing module  30 , for defining elements of a testing object by using the corresponding standard elements (X) and identification codes (Z) in the standard element depository  10  to be stored as a testing object code set  401 , in which testing object code set  401  elements are permuted and combined to identified all possible testing object code sets of partial features  402  to be saved, wherein the testing object may be manually or automatically converted into the code sets and the testing object may be any kind of public information such as an article having a substantiality, a photo of an article having a substantiality, a diagram of an article, a design chart or a patent specification or a combination of the above; 
         [0029]    a matching module  50 , for matching the featured element code sets  201  in the featured element code sets storing module  20  with the testing object code sets  401  and the testing object code sets of partial features  402  in the testing object processing module  30 , wherein a matching process of the matching module  50  comprises a sequential matching process or a parallel matching process; a sifting module  60 , for sifting matching results of the matching module to filter out a first code set portfolio  201 A that exists in both the featured element code sets storing module  20  and the testing object processing module  30  and to filter out a second code set portfolio  201 B that only exists in the featured element code sets storing module  20  and does not exist in the testing object processing module  30 ; and 
         [0030]    an output module  70 , for outputting a sifting result that includes the first code set portfolio  201 A and the second code set portfolio  201 B, wherein the code sets represented by the second code set portfolio  201 B are novel code sets that have not been disclosed in the testing object and may be used as a reference for a creative proposal. 
         [0031]    Although the particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that numerous variations will be possible to the disclosed embodiments without going outside the scope of the invention as disclosed in the claims and the equivalents.