Systems and processes for technology asset management

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for technology asset management. In an embodiment, the technology asset management system includes a web interface for technology asset management customers and a server back end database to store technology asset management information. The technology asset management system can also include one or more of a plurality of intercoupled technology asset management modules, wherein the technology asset management modules include one or more of an invention submission module, an innovation awards module, a portfolio management module, a patent strategy module, and an intellectual property licensing management module. The one or more technology asset management modules can be coupled to the web interface and the server back end database.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate to asset management. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and processes for technology asset management.

2. Background Information

Known systems for technology asset management, such as intellectual property management, include docketing systems. Docketing systems typically include a data record corresponding to an intellectual property asset such as a patent application, a trademark application, and so forth. The docketing data record includes information identifying the intellectual property asset and legal deadlines for taking actions related to prosecution and/or maintenance of the intellectual property asset. Docketing systems are usually directed to tracking an intellectual property asset after an application corresponding to the intellectual property asset has been filed, for example, with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Another example of a known technology asset management system can provide statistical information related to the patent prosecution of an invention disclosure. Examples of the statistical information include number of issued patents, number of specific patent application types, number of inventors, and so on.

These known systems do not, for example, manage information related to a substantial portion of developing, protecting, and obtaining value for the intellectual property asset. In view of the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a substantial need exists for systems and methods that can advantageously provide for technology asset management.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for technology asset management. In an embodiment, the technology asset management system includes a web interface for technology asset management customers and a server back end centralized database to store technology asset management information. The technology asset management system can manage the complete cycle of patent protection and it's interrelation between a company's technology and intellectual assets and licensing initiatives. The technology asset management system can also include one or more of a plurality of intercoupled technology asset management modules, wherein the technology asset management modules include one or more of an invention submission module, an innovation awards module, a portfolio management module, a patent strategy module, and an intellectual property licensing management module. The one or more technology asset management modules can be coupled with one another and to the web interface and the server back end database.

In another embodiment, a method for managing technology assets includes receiving technology asset information from a web interface for technology asset management customers and communicating at least a first subset of the technology asset information to one or more of a plurality of intercoupled technology asset management modules. The technology asset management modules can be selected from a group including an invention submission module, an innovation awards module, a portfolio management module, a patent strategy module, and an intellectual property licensing management module. The method can also include storing at least a second subset of the technology asset information in a technology asset management server.

A system for technology asset management, in another embodiment of the present invention, includes a means for receiving technology asset management information via a computer interface and means for processing the technology asset management information received via the means for receiving technology asset management information. The system also includes a means for storing at least a portion of the technology asset management information received via the means for receiving technology asset management information.

Before one or more embodiments of the invention are described in detail, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction, the arrangements of components, and the arrangement of steps set forth in the following detailed description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system can track and manage an invention disclosure's complete life cycle while integrating those phases into licensing initiatives. The system can include one or more modules (e.g., software modules) to track and manage elements of an invention disclosure's complete life cycle. Examples of elements of an invention disclosure's complete life cycle include:effectively managing a receipt and initial processing stage of an invention disclosure;determining (e.g., quickly and accurately) the status of a disclosure or technology asset in a patent prosecution/invention disclosure cycle;ascertaining correlations among legally protected intellectual property (IP) assets (e.g., all legally protected IP assets of a company);determining the correlation between the IP assets (e.g., company IP assets) and consumer products, business products, and other products;a user-friendly communication tool that allows independent search, submission, and review by IP asset development customers (e.g., inventors, employees, IP coordinators, and so on);effectively and automatically communicating necessary information at the appropriate (e.g., pre-determined) time;calculating and tracking a value of company patents; andensuring Information Disclosure Statement (“IDS”) compliance with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”).

Another embodiment of the present invention allows for tracking and managing a patent's complete life cycle (e.g., from idea to licensed patent) while integrating those phases into licensing initiatives. There are number of steps that must be effectively managed prior to the filing of a patent application, and embodiments of the present invention include modules corresponding to these steps.

These steps include process to:educate a potential inventor on intellectual property protection and the importance of such protection;research if the idea has already been submitted by another inventor for intellectual property protection;evaluate if a submitted invention disclosure is patentable;evaluate the commercial viability of a submitted disclosure;evaluate the type of protection to pursue;instruct an inventor how to write an effective invention disclosure;submit invention disclosures and track its processing, protection and prosecution status;retrieve and display information to support review of invention disclosures and decisions regarding whether patent protection is pursued;managing an incentive award program;determining patent mapping and expansion of submitted technology;develop cross-functional tools such that marketing, legal, and management teams/organizations are able to communicate (e.g., effortlessly) about technology assets (e.g., so that the respective teams are speaking the same language).disseminate information (e.g., automatically at the appropriate times) and extract customized information (e.g., status reports, portfolio reports, etc.).

Embodiments of the present invention can include one or more modules related to six phases of an invention disclosure's (e.g., a patent's) life cycle:a period prior to submission of the invention disclosure;invention disclosure submission;invention disclosure tracking prior to filing for intellectual property protection (patentability evaluation, invention disclosure status review, incentive awards status review);patent prosecution tracking (prosecution, law firm management, IDS compliance, patent mapping, incentive awards program, cost tracking);IP licensing (e.g., technology licensing prior to patent issuance, trademark licensing, cost tracking, revenue generation); andissued patent (e.g., infringement analysis, maintenance fees, licensing, incentive awards program, etc.)

In various ways, other known systems may address the last three phases of the life cycle. In particular, they typically focus more on the patent prosecution life cycle. Embodiments of the present invention can focus on all six phases of the life system and their interaction among one another thereby effectively managing up to the complete life cycle of an invention disclosure.

For example, customer service is a major component of the system. In many corporations intellectual property protection responsibilities can be the domain of an intellectual property protection entity (e.g., an intellectual property department, an intellectual property management corporation, or the general counsel's office), and the other constituent parts of the corporation (e.g., other departments, divisions, subsidiaries, employees, etc.) can be considered to be the customers of the intellectual property protection entity. An embodiment of the present invention (e.g., a Technology Asset Management System (“TAMS”) allows the independent searches, submissions, and status checks by an inventor, potential inventor, or customer. Additionally, the system provides robust communication by including customized reporting and auto communication dissemination (e.g., the entry of data in certain fields, triggering an auto response to the intended party, and so on). Additionally, embodiments of the present invention can integrate all six life cycle phases such that value information is retained through out and built upon to ensure an accurate, complete, and thorough system that limits the need for additional personnel.

FIG. 1is a high-level schematic of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. A web interface105can provide customers to access to a TAMS embodiment100. TAMS embodiment100can include an invention submission module110, an innovation awards module120, a portfolio management module130, a patent strategy module140, and an IP licensing management module150, each of which can be coupled to web interface105and to one another.

As used to describe embodiments of the present invention, the term “coupled” encompasses a direct connection, an indirect connection, or a combination thereof. Two devices that are coupled can engage in direct communications, in indirect communications, or a combination thereof. Moreover, two devices that are coupled need not be in continuous communication, but can be in communication typically, periodically, intermittently, sporadically, occasionally, and so on. Further, the term “communication” is not limited to direct communication, but also includes indirect communication.

FIG. 2is a schematic of modules illustrated inFIG. 1. In an embodiment, invention submission module110can include one or more of a web-enabled automated submission system111, an independent inventor profile updates module112, a system generated disclosure number module113, and an automated TAMS database population module114.

Innovations award module120can include track payments and eligibility module121, customer's independent status review module122, automated disclosure submission notification and award payment processing module123, and automated reporting system module124.

Portfolio management module130can include disclosure analysis module131, patent prosecution tracking module132, IDS compliance system module133, integrated external links and downloads module134, and law firm management module135.

Patent strategy module140can include identify patent families module141, link patents to IP and consumer products/technology module142, patent age analysis143, return-on-asset analysis module144, patent web analysis145, and competitor analysis module146.

IP licensing management module150can include contract management module151. In an embodiment, contract management module151can include sub-modules such as a trademark agreements sub-module, a non-disclosure agreements (“NDA”) sub-module, a patent and technology licensing deals sub-module, and so on. IP licensing management module150can also include a savings analysis module152, an agreement locator module153, and an automated reporting and notification module154.

For example, the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2can include data records to store a inventor profiles, a file history for each invention disclosure, and so on. Users can have a sign-on (e.g., user name, password, etc.) to access the system. When an invention disclosure is received via an e-mail submission, the system can put a disclosure number in the subject line (and/or have the system search the text/body of the email for a disclosure number) and/or include the name of the inventor in the subject line. The system would then create a link or place the email in the disclosure data record and under the inventor's profile.

A task list/information page can be created and/or displayed for each user where all the e-mail submissions are stored with a marker such as (i) Complete; (ii) Hold; (iii) Resolved; and (iv) Forwarded. Each marker can include a button (e.g., a graphical user interface hyperlink button) that can be selected when a user has reviewed the e-mail submission. If the Complete button is selected and activated the e-mail submission can drop off of the task list/information page (e.g., after a set period of time, be forwarded under the appropriate disclosure/inventor profile, etc.). Users can also have an option of forwarding other emails to their task list/information page. In an embodiment, additional categories can be created for emails to go into such as Disclosure Meeting Scheduling, Disclosure Status, and so on.

As another example, a disclosure review module can track and manage information so that a report is generated from the disclosures submitted. The report can notate an assessment of the strength of the invention disclosure such as:

2. Marketing Priority

4. Not Enough Information—Needs a Call

The rejection letter can include sample language regarding one or more of the following subjects:explaining that based on the content of the submission, there did not appear to be an invention;distinguishing an invention from an idea;giving an example of the proper way to submit an invention disclosure; andinviting the submitter to resubmit the invention disclosure if, based on the definition of invention and/or additional information, they have an invention.

The report can also include a review that assesses the concept (e.g., from an understanding standpoint) and the relevant prior art. In an embodiment, after such as report is generated, it can be linked or sent to a disclosure meeting scheduling module.

In an embodiment, the system can include a disclosure meeting scheduling module that allows auto report generation. The disclosure meeting scheduling report can include information regarding the meeting date and time, the responsible law firm or patent attorney, the invention disclosure case number, and so on. For example, the disclosure meeting scheduling module can retrieve information from the system to include in the disclosure meeting scheduling report such as the disclosure title, a list of all inventors, an identification of attending inventor together with their telephone number, e-mail address, mobile e-mail device address. The report can specify whether the meeting will be a face-to-face meeting, a conference call, a video conference, and so on. The disclosure meeting scheduling module can also send an e-mail to each user, inventor, or customer including the report or information from the report so that the appropriate scheduling analysis and adjustment can be undertaken.

As another example, the system can also include a preliminary disclosure meeting report module to generate a preliminary report regarding the disclosure meeting. Information that can be included in the preliminary disclosure meeting report may include an indication that the meeting was successfully conducted, whether a follow-up meeting is required, the name(s) of the patent attorneys or agents that attended the meeting, whether any potential statutory bar dates were determined, and so on.

An innovation awards/patent disclosure system module or modules can include an identification of each inventor or innovator so that each inventor or innovators contributions can be tracked and recognized. For example, a company may award employees or other inventors bonuses based on invention disclosures, patent application filings, and/or allowed patents.

Also, the innovation awards/patent disclosure system module can accommodate changes to inventorship by notifying individuals who have been added or deleted since the original submission of the invention disclosure. In an embodiment, the system will gray out the name (such that it's still visible but clear someone has been deleted, include a comment field next to name indicating “Reason for Change” and “Authorized/Verified by,” allow the user making the change to enter a reason for the change, capture the date the change was made, capture the initials of the user (e.g., administrator) making the change, and send a notice to the individual that he/she has been removed from the invention disclosure for the reason set forth in the comment field.

The system can also highlight if someone has been added since the original submission (e.g., by bolding or underlining the name of the added inventor or innovator), include a comment field next to name indicating “Reason for Change” and “Authorized/Verified by,” allow the person making the change to enter a reason for the change, capture the date the change was made, capture the initials of the administrator making the change.

The innovation awards/patent disclosure system module or modules can also include information to control payments or disbursements of innovation awards. For example, the innovation awards/patent disclosure system module can access a data record that includes one or more payment approval fields that require one or more users (e.g., a director of technology, an IP counsel, etc.) to approve payment of an innovation award. The approval can be conditioned, for example, on the innovator's employment status (e.g., at time of submission, at time of invention disclosure meeting, at time of filing of the IP application, etc.) on whether the assignment and declaration have been signed, whether the inventor comments were provided based on a draft application prepared by an IP counsel or agent (e.g., in-house counsel, outside counsel, etc.).

In an embodiment, the system can notify the newly added person just as if he/she would have been notified at the time of the original submission of the invention disclosure. For example, the notification can identify each listed inventor on the disclosure, the title of the invention, the invention disclosure number, the date the submission was received or the date the inventor change was made. When a newly added person is not already in the system, an inventor profile can be created and an inventor ID can be assigned and sent to the newly added inventor (e.g., via his or her email address). In an embodiment, the new inventor's profile must be created and completed before any award payments are made (as well as meeting the payment approval conditions recited above).

A patent disclosure system module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can track and manage information related to, among other things, managing a law firn's preparation and prosecution of applications based on invention disclosures. In an embodiment, the patent disclosure system module includes a marker that identifies provisional patent applications that have enough information (e.g., no further information regarding additional embodiments was strategically necessary) to be converted and filed as regular patent applications. The patent disclosure system module can generate a law firm management report that includes information such as:cycle time;list of all disclosures at a law firm;list of disclosures on hold with comment field for reason; andlist of closed disclosures.

In an embodiment, the patent disclosure system module can include or be coupled to an innovation disclosure module that can track and manage information related to invention disclosures. For example, the innovation disclosure module can allow an inventor to search a database of invention disclosures to ascertain what has already been submitted. An inventor can thereby access information related to the internal (e.g., intra-company) novelty and/or non-obviousness of an innovation disclosure. The innovation disclosure module also can allow a user (e.g., an intellectual property asset manager) to search the database of invention disclosures to ensure that a newly-submitted invention disclosure is not a duplicate and/or is novel and non-obvious as compared to prior invention disclosures.

FIG. 3is a high-level schematic of a system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. An intellectual asset management system300, in an embodiment, includes a web front end/database back end305coupled to a licensing deal database module310, an invention disclosures submissions database module320, an intellectual property awards database module330, a patent disclosure database module340, and a patent licensing database module350.

FIGS. 4A-4Bare schematics illustrating the database modules shown inFIG. 3. For example, licensing deal database310can include modules to: (i) identify and correlate IP and consumer products to legally protected IP assets; (ii) provide access to marketing database(s); (iii) retrieve contract(s) for each deal; (iv) analyze savings; and (v) locate agreement(s). As another example, invention disclosures submission database system320can include that (i) each inventor has a unique ID number and an inventor profile that can be updated by the inventor; (ii) inventor can submit disclosures via the Web; (iii) a disclosure number for each disclosure is generated; and (iv) information and data related to the submitted disclosure can auto populate a patent disclosure and awards database. In an embodiment, an intellectual property award database330stores invention disclosure incentive and award information and contains links to other databases. Patent disclosure database340can: (i) be separate from other databases (e.g., a legal database); (ii) guard against duplicate submissions; (iii) track disclosure titles and application titles; (iv) track first office actions; (v) set precautionary flags on specified data to trigger need for action; (vi) enables creation of a pipeline; (vii) includes links to other databases; and (viii) generates reports. Patent licensing database350can (i) identify patent families (e.g., by technology, by product/service, by related patents such as parent/child or related subject, etc.) (ii) identify experts (e.g., inventors, subject experts, industry experts, etc.); (iii) identify technology categories; (iv) deficiency analysis—patent voids; (v) enable wild card searches on patents and applications; (vi) allow viewing and searching of application abstracts; (vii) allow viewing and searching of patent abstract and first claim; (viii) provide electronic retrieval of patents and disclosures; (ix) conduct patent age analyses; (x) conduct Return On Asset (“ROA”) analyses; (xi) conduct competitor analyses; and (xii) conduct patent and technical strength analysis.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an invention disclosure form (“IDF”) is submitted. The IDF can explain that the United States is a “first to invent” patent system (unlike most countries which are “first to file” systems) and strongly encourage the inventor to formally document and submit the invention disclosure as soon as possible after the inventor(s) conceive the idea. The IDF can note that writing and submitting an effective invention disclosure is an essential step in protecting a company's intellectual property. This form can be used to communicate potentially useful innovations to the IP department of the company. The IDF allows the submitter to attach additional documents at the time of submission. Once submitted, the documents are associated with the record in TAMS.

In an embodiment, the IDF is a the Web-based IDF and to access the IDF the submitter (e.g., inventor) needs an email address, a user ID, or an Inventor ID number (“IIDN”). If the submitter does not have an IIDN, he/she will be prompted to enter/create the profile information. He/she will then be allowed to proceed with the process. If the submitter is not one of the inventors, the submitter should use the information of one of the inventors.

To enter inventor information on the disclosure form the submitter can enter a valid company email address. If one is not available, the submitter can enter the inventor's info in this sample format:

When the system recognizes the @IP.com format:

1. It will drop a list of all inventors in database with the same last name. The drop down list will include full name & company phone number. The system will allow the submitter to select from the list or select “No”. If “no” is selected, the system will prompt submitter to create inventor profile. Once either method is completed, the system will allow the submitter to continue with the rest of the form.

2. It will know not to send correspondence to this inventor via email. But instead will generate letter & mailing label to send via company mail.

3. A report will be/can be generated periodically allowing the IP department to check list and update inventor if a valid company email address is ultimately issued. The report should show, inventor's name, Inventor ID number, and @IP.com format. The system allows the IP department to link inventor profile to valid company email address, without it creating a new inventor ID, if one becomes available. In an embodiment, a system is needed that uses unique identifying information for inventors, yet the information can be common enough that another individual could submit on his/her behalf. Accordingly, the Firstname.Lastname@IP.com format was created.

The IDF can include a link to a document that explains what is an invention disclosure and how to write an effective invention disclosure. The IDF can include or prompt to

1.) Enter a Descriptive Name of the Invention (e.g., limited to ten words and have a Hyperlink “Descriptive Name” link that gives examples of appropriate and inappropriate titles).

2) Enter Total Number of Inventors. In an embodiment, if there are more than 4 inventors, each listed inventor will be interviewed before a patent application is filed to determine true inventorship.

3) Provide Inventor Name and Email Address (e.g., an can have a link to “Who is an Inventor?” document that explains the technical and legal factors considered with respect to determining who is an inventor).

4) Input or list any company employees, who are not co-inventors but who are familiar with this subject matter.

5) List 3-4 keywords associated with this invention. For example, a key word is a term illustrating the subject matter of the invention and the key words can be separated by a comma.

6) Technology Categories: (e.g., inventors can select from a given list used in disclosure marketing surveys)

A Description of the Invention section of the IDF can include or prompt for the following subjects and categories of information.

A. Type of Invention1. Is the invention a: [drop down menu]Way of doing business (process/business method)softwarehardwareequipmentservice(s)test toolsmethod of manufactureother

B. Problem to be Solved1. Describe the problem(s) to be solved.2. Provide, to the extent already known, a brief description of how the problem has been addressed in the past by the company or others, and include for each approach the limitations and disadvantages of what's been done in the past to solve this problem.3. Describe how does the invention advantageously solve the problem(s)?

C. Uses1. What are possible uses for the invention (in or outside the particular field or application area)?

D. How Does the Invention Work?1. Please describe the components involved in the invention, the operation, and how they work together to solve the problem?2. Please describe the sequential steps involved in your invention, identify the result of each interim step and how each result is used in the next step to ultimately solve the problem.

In an embodiment, the IDF must include at least one drawing of the invention. The inventors can be instructed that (i) referring to it throughout your description is extremely helpful; (ii) the drawing does not have to be formal, only legible and (iii) may be submitted electronically as part of this form or in hard copy as described in the instructions which follow at the end of this document. IDF instructions can explain that the inventor may use pre-existing documents or diagrams (e.g., an existing presentation), provided that the materials sufficiently describe the components/steps of the invention.

E. Inventiveness1. What features of the invention are believed to be new or provide the improvement over what has been done before to solve this problem(s)?

F. Related Subject Matter1. List the closest known technology and similar products.2. If the inventor is able to provide information on related technology, please describe how the invention differs from that technology and similar product(s).3. Have any other disclosures related to this invention been previously submitted? Yes/No? [drop down menu of Yes/No]

If yes:Please list the Invention Disclosure Number(s) and Invention name(s) of any related previously submitted inventions(s)

Public Disclosure

8) Has the invention been used or disclosed outside the company? Yes/No? [drop down menu of Yes/No]

If yes:Provide DatePlease briefly describe the circumstances (e.g., trade show, presentation, technical paper, field test, offered for sale, under confidentially agreement, etc.) and give the date(s) for each.

9) If previously not used or disclosed outside of company, when do you anticipate it will be used or disclosed (deployment date, trial date, public disclosure, offered for sale)? (if known)

10) Date the invention was first built and tested internally or under confidentially agreement including prototypes.Provide DatePlease briefly describe circumstances

11) Has the invention been offered for sale? (Yes/No)? [drop down menu of Yes/No]

If yes:Provide Date

12) Did the invention result from work on a development contract with another company/person? Yes/No? [drop down menu of Yes/No]

If yes:Who was the contracting (Company/Person)?What was the name of the contract or project?

Internal Tracking Information

13) List the company project and business unit names or acronyms?

A project is usually a team initiative whereby a process, product, or service could be an outcome. If no or unsure, please leave blank

14) Will/Could this disclosure ever be used in a company consumer product or service? [drop down menu of Yes/No-Unsure]Please explain.

15) Does this invention have any money-making potential and if so please describe and identify the most likely interested party. How do you see this fitting in a company business plan?

The IDF can also include submission instructions, such as the following:

I. Attach additional documents such as drawings, sketches, photographs, patent applications or any other descriptive material that would help us better understand the invention and/or where it stands relative to other technologies or similar products.

II. If additional documentation needs to be forwarded separately, please reference the disclosure number (which will be given once this form is submitted). Please send such documents to <name> at <name-email>@company.com or fax to (404) 555-1212.

III. When you click on the SUBMIT Form button, the contents of this completed disclosure form will be sent via internet or intranet to the IP department technology asset management system. Each listed inventor will receive confirmation of receipt and the assigned invention disclosure number via your provided email address(es).

IV. If you have any questions about the disclosure submission process, please call <name> at (404) 555-1212.

In a Web-based or computer-based version of an IDF, hyperlinks, such as [Submit Form] or [Save Form] or [Reset Form] can be included. The IDF can also include instructions or conditions such as: (i) contains private and/or proprietary information; and (ii) may only be used for authorized business purposes and only by authorized individuals. The IDF may also include hyperlinks such as [Link to Invention Disclosure Process] or [Link to Status Page].

In an embodiment, when the IDF is submitted, an internal report can be generated based on certain answer. For example, an internal report can be generated identifying those disclosures with a yes response to question 11 and periodically (e.g., once per quarter, etc.), this compiled report would be sent via email directly to an appropriate entity (e.g., person, department, etc.). As another example, an internal report can be generated identifying those disclosures with a yes response to question 12.

In another embodiment, the system includes a word counter for the “Description of the Invention” section. The counter would be based on the number words entered in the fields for items C, D, and E. If the combined total of words (characters) is not at least 100, when the submit button is depressed, it won't be submitted. Instead, a message will pop up which will tell the inventor something to the effect that “There may not be enough information to adequately review the patentable potential of your submission. Please review sections C, D, & E and try again.” In an embodiment, regardless of what, if anything, is added, we want the disclosure to go thru when the submit button is depressed the second time and also provide each inventor with a copy of the submitted disclosure form

In an embodiment, the system includes a technical terminology glossary/database. For example, the system can flag unidentified words in sections B, C, D, and E. If an unidentified word is detected, a pop up screen/field can ask the inventor to define it. The inventor will enter his/her response in that pop up field. The pop up field will occur each time it flags an unidentified word or acronym. The inventor will not be able to proceed unless this field is populated. The system will append the definitions at the bottom of the disclosure.

According to another embodiment, the system will also build or supplement the technical terminology glossary/database. Such that once that word/acronym has been identified, it will not demand a definition BUT will present the word with the definition that has been entered most frequently. The popup screen would ask the inventor if this is the definition that applies? If yes, the inventor can proceed. If no, the inventor should enter a definition as it relates to their subject matter. The system will accept it and append to the end of his/her disclosure, as described above. In an embodiment, the system will retain all definitions entered, but will only show the one entered most frequently.

Once an IDF submission has been accepted by the system, a notice should pop up that the disclosure was successfully received. The system should give the inventor a disclosure number at the conclusion of the process. The system should then send each listed inventor a confirmation letter informing them of:Each listed inventor on the disclosureTitle of the InventionInvention Disclosure NumberDate the submission was receivedEach inventor's unique inventor ID number with a reminder of the need to use it to check the status of this or any submitted disclosureA copy of the actual disclosure formThe next step in the process

Notification sent to any new inventor who has had a profile created along with the their inventor ID number and the need to use it in correspondence with us (disclosure number & inventor ID number)

As indicated above, in an embodiment, the system can accept attachments as part of the submission. Due to the complexity of certain embodiments of a disclosure form, the system will allow the inventor to save their work and come back to it later, if they can't complete everything at one time. However, the system will only “submit” the disclosure to the IP department once all required fields are completed.

An embodiment of the present invention can include a system “override”. There are times when a disclosure form will not exist (e.g., when a disclosure splits into multiple disclosures, when a Continuation Application or Divisional Application is filed, or when a disclosure is initially revealed to the attorneys at a disclosure meeting, etc.). All of these occurrences still mandate the need of a disclosure number being assigned and the existence of the “disclosure” being captured by the system.

Description of High-Level Business Requirements

The high-level business requirements for an embodiment of the present invention are now described. A business problem to be solved in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes the need to track and manage the complete life cycle of the invention disclosure process and its correlation between a company's technology assets and licensing initiatives, including, for exampleTo effectively manage the receipt and initial processing stage of an inventionTo determine quickly and accurately the status of a disclosure or technology asset in the patent prosecution/invention disclosure cycle.To reveal the correlation among all legally protected intellectual property (IP) assets.To develop a user-friendly communication tool that allows independent search, submission, and review by our customers (inventors, employees, and IP Coordinators)To develop a system which will effectively and automatically communicate necessary information at the appropriate (pre-determined) time.To develop a system that will calculate and track the value of company patents.To develop a system that will ensure IDS compliance with the USPTO.

A company's patent portfolio can steadily increase, where the portfolio consists of non-filed invention disclosures, patent applications and issued patents. Federal law mandates that each patent application filed with the USPTO disclose related, co-pending and pending applications. A misrepresentation, failure to disclose, or submission of false information could result in the company's patents being rendered invalid. This condition would not only adversely expose the corporation to weaker prospects in patent litigations, but it would also severely restrict the company's ability to successfully license our intellectual property. For these reasons, there exists a need to develop the integrated IDS compliance system.

The following table illustrates the types of benefits and measures that correspond to an embodiment of the present invention, i.e., a technology asset management system (“TAMS”).

Type of BenefitMeasuresIncreased sales revenueTAMS is a system which manages technology frominnovation to profits by identifying and correlating IP andconsumer products to legally protected IP assets. Itenables the company to better valuate patents andtechnology thereby maximizing generated revenue.Work reductionThrough its automated emailing and trackingfunctionality, TAMS will significantly reduce theworkload of current person by hundreds of man-hoursand eliminate the current need for additional headcount.Expense reductionIn order to comply with federal laws, a system of thisscope is necessary. Systems currently in existence do notconform to the specific needs of the company's patentprogram and they are cost prohibitive during thiseconomic climate. TAMS yields the exact functionality at verylow costs.Cycle time reductionPatent prosecution is an extremely time sensitive process.Our ability to respond to numerous deadlines is critical inprotecting the company's intellectual property. A majorcomponent of TAMS is to reduce prosecution cycle timeby up to 4 weeks of our current 13 week cycle time.Missed deadlines can be the difference between obtaininga patent and being barred from seeking patent protection.The ability to effectively reduce cycle time is critical inour business.Customer satisfactionThe success of patent program depends on the company'sinventors. The patent prosecution is at least a 36-monthprocess from the time an inventor submits an inventiondisclosure. Effective communication is critical as theinventor navigates through the process. Our currentpersonnel are unable to adequately manage the level ofcommunication necessary with our inventors. TAMS isdesigned to effectively address this concern.Increased qualityThe integration of TAMS ensures increased quality of thecompany's patent program. With its focus on work,expense, and cycle time reduction merged with increasedrevenues and customer satisfaction, the system as definedsignificantly increases the quality of the patent program.Employee satisfactionThe primary IP department users of TAMS are chargedwith the legal obligation to abide by federal law. Theseamless integration provided by this system will provideemployee satisfaction.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, business methods can provide technology asset management. For example,

1. A company employee goes to a web server using an IP department intranet site

2. He/she would create a profile in order to acquire a user name and password

3. The user name & password would be emailed back to the employee

4. Once received, he/she would then be able to go to the web server, via the IP intranet site, and submit an invention disclosure.a. The interactive invention disclosure form requests the name & email address of each co-inventor.b. If the system did not recognize the email address from the centralized database, it would provide a drop down list of everyone in the database with the same last name.c. The submitter would select the appropriate name or create the profile for the co-inventor if his/her name does not appear in the drop down list.i. The system would allow the submitter to continue entering the form, but would alsoii. Send an email to the co-inventor, whose profile was just created, informing him/her of their username & password to be usedd. The submitter would complete the disclosure form, attach any supporting documentation for the invention, and hit the submit buttoni. Or save the disclosure if he/she needs to come back at a later time to finishii. If he/she chooses to “save” the disclosure, the system would give a tracking number so that the submitter could recall his entry at a later time.iii. If the submitter selects “submit”, the system does a check to see that required fields are completed (to ensure the quality of the submission and to aid the submitter in determining if he/she has enough information to be considered an invention)

5. Once submitted, the system would automatically email a notice of receipt to each listed inventor on the disclosure form.

6. Once an inventor has a user name & password, he/she could:a. Check disclosure titles in the database to see if a similar or exact invention has already been submitted (to avoid duplicate submissions)b. Check the status of his/her invention disclosure (there are five stages in the process)c. Check the status of his/her innovation award payment

7. Once received, the system would:a. Assign a the company disclosure number to the inventionb. Populate the database with the disclosure number, disclosure title, names of the inventor(s), and Assign a status of “OPEN” in the databasec. Create a folder, on our internal drive, and place all the files associated with that disclosure numberd. Certain text of the disclosure form would go to specific areas of the Patent Strategy component of the database.e. Determine which Submission gift each listed inventor should receivef. Automatically generate and email a confirmation letter which would include:i. The name of each listed inventorii. The disclosure titleiii. The disclosure numberiv. The appropriate gift that particular inventor will receivev. Explanation of the patent processvi. Notice regarding inventorship issues & request to update profiles if necessary.vii. Reminder to use user name and password

8. Weekly reports are generated of newly submitted disclosures.

9. A Disclosure Review System is implemented to allow for:a. Marketing Lead & Processing Leadb. Priority Settingc. Disclosure Meeting Schedulingd. File History of the Disclosure

10. An Innovation Award Module can provide or include:Track Award Payments & EligibilityCustomer's Independent Status ReviewAutomated Disclosure Submission Notification & Award Payment ProcessingAutomated Reporting System

11. A Portfolio Management Module can include or provide:Disclosure AnalysisPatent Prosecution TrackingIDS Compliance SystemIntegrated External Links & DownloadsLaw Firm Management

12. A Patent Strategy Module can provide or include:Identify Patent FamiliesLink Patents to IP & Consumer Products/TechnologyPatent Age AnalysisReturn-on-Asset AnalysisPatent Web AnalysisCompetitor Analysis

An embodiment of the present invention includes an ASP application. For example, a TAMS application can be written in ASP 3.0 and is proposed to be hosted on a server. This embodiment can be a standard ASP application created in MS Visual Interdev, server side VB Script and use ActiveX Data Objects (“ADO”) to attach to a back end database. The back end database is created in MS Access 2000 .mdb format and can be upsized as required. In an embodiment, the application will require access to a mail server for outgoing auto-response and status update e-mails. The application can be internal to the Intellectual Property department apart from the Inventor Submissions and Processing web interface. This module can be hosted on a company intranet and available to all company employees. An embodiment can accommodate at least 8-10 unique employee submissions/queries per week. An ‘Inventor Web interface’ can require an Inventor to Login using their IP User Name (e.g., e-mail address) and a 5 digit password (e.g., an IP department assigned ‘Inventor ID Number’). The system can send reminder e-mails to registered Inventors who forget their password. Security can be enforced by the creation of an ASP session level variable after a successful login. This variable will be tested for in every secure page and use a response.redirect if the variable is not found. This will allow an Inventor once logged in to view only their personal IP data—the web consists of three main sections: (i) Maintain Profile; (ii) Submit Disclosure; and (iii) Disclosure Status.

FIG. 5illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. A technology asset management system includes a plurality of interconnected systems such as invention submission processing system510, a portfolio management system520, an innovation awards system530, a patent strategy system540, and an IP licensing system550.

In an embodiment, invention submission processing system510can include a web enabled automated submission system module, an independent inventor profile updates module, a system generated disclosure numbers automated population of patent disclosure & award databases module, and a processing system for invention evaluators and/or IP committee(s) module.

A portfolio management system520can include a quality assurance of duplicate submissions, duplicate subject matter, duplicate law firm assignment module, a means of capturing the disclosure title, and application title, and an enhanced disclosure status system module, a sets precautionary flags on specified data to trigger needed action module, an enable wild card search of titles, products, and keywords module, an identify patent families by technology, product/service, prosecution relation, related subject module, an allow viewing & links to disclosures & application abstracts module, a prosecution life cycle docketing module, a law firm and attorney performance monitoring module, and a reports generating module.

According to an embodiment, an innovation awards system530includes a duplicate entry control module, a automated reporting system module, a enable ip coordinators to independently access inventor statuses module, a independent ip coordinator updates module, and a automated disclosure submission notification & award payment processing module.

In another embodiment, a patent strategy system540, includes an identify patent families module, an identify & define technology categories module, a correlate patents to IP & consumer products module, an enable wild card searches on patents module, an enable viewing & searching of patent abstracts and first claim module, a provide electronic retrieval of disclosures & patents module, a patent age analysis module, a return-on-asset analysis module, a deficiency analysis (patent voids) module, and a competitor analysis module.

An IP licensing system550, in an embodiment, includes a identify & correlate IP & consumer products to legally protected IP assets module, a provide links to marketing DB, products DB, patent licensing DB, application abstracts, disclosures, patent pipeline (statuses) module, a enable wild card search on key words, technology, products, disclosure title, application title, and patent abstract or title module, a retrieve contract for each deal module, a saving analysis module, a agreement locator module, and an automated reporting and notification module.

FIG. 6is an illustration of a system in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. An embodiment of the present invention can manage the complete cycle of patent protection and it's interrelation between a company's technology assets and licensing initiatives. The system also includes a self-updating inventor email distribution feature such that inventor profile changes entered by the inventor are automatically captured. This provides an efficient address verification/update process.

System Components

A TAMS system600can be comprised of five modules:

For example, as illustrated inFIG. 6, technology asset management system600includes MOD 1 Licensing Deal Database610, MOD 2 Invention Submission & Processing Database620, MOD 3 Intellectual Property Awards Database630, MOD 4 Patent Disclosure Database640, and MOD 5 Patent Licensing Database650. One or more of the modules610-650can be coupled to one or more of web interface for TAMS customers605and Network Database Server for TAMS' Stewards.

TAMS system600can serve one or more of at least four basic functions:Patent Protection Tracking,Patent Mapping,Effective Communication, andValuation Determination.

Patent Protection Tracking (PPT)

PPT is a comprehensive disclosure-tracking tool to determine quickly and accurately the status of a disclosure(s) or technology in the patent prosecution lifecycle. A submitted disclosure is either active or inactive.

An inactive disclosure is an invention in which the IP department is no longer pursing patentability. The disclosure is either:Rejected—Submitted to the IP department but does not meet the IP department filing standard;Closed—Disclosure met initial criteria but no longer meets filing standard;Abandoned—A file application no longer pursued for patentability.

An active disclosure is an invention in which the IP department is pursing patentability. The active disclosure is either OPEN, Authorized, FILED or Issued.

Patent Mapping (PM)

PM is the relational component of the system. Its initial purpose is to show the correlation among all the company legally protected intellectual property (IP) assets and between those IP assets and the company products (IP products and consumer products). An IP product is a marketable entity pursued by the company Intellectual Marketing Corp (the IP department). A consumer product is a the company development or offering that will be (or is intended to be) marketed to commercial customers. Additionally, PM is an industry analysis tool. It takes the first component—the company interrelation, and incorporates it into the telecommunications industry as a whole. The purpose of this feature is to illustrate the company's technology strengths and weaknesses.

As a unit, the features will:Identify Technology Voids to enable technology deficiency analysisProvide Focused Protection enabling planned technology developmentIdentify Industry Leaders in Particular Technology AreasIdentify Related Patents and Applications byTechnologyProductsKey WordsPatent Family (parent/child relationship)

Effective Communication (EC)

TAMS is a web-enabled system providing user-friendly interaction with the end-user. The data comprising the backbone of the system will be managed in Microsoft Access. All modules have a web interface to ensure ease of use and aesthetic appeal to TAMS users. The system will provide:Automated submission of invention disclosures to better inventors and reduce redundancies of submissions and subject matter in the company patent portfolio.Enable independent disclosure and award payment status checks by inventors and IP CoordinatorsLinks to Existing Databases (IPAD, Patent Disclosure, Marketing, Products); the EXTRANET; Electronic copies of patent applications, issued patents, and invention disclosuresAbility to perform wild card searches on technology assetsProduce tailored reports

VD provides methods to calculate and track the value of the company patents based on:Technology StrengthPatent StrengthReturn-on-Asset (ROA) Analysis comprisingPatent CostGenerated Revenue by the Business Unit developing/using the technology and the IP department who licenses it.

As described above, A TAMS system600can be comprised of five modules: a Module 1 Licensing Deal Component610, a Module 2 Invention Submission & Processing Component620, a Module 3 Innovation Awards Component630, a Module 4 Patent Disclosure Component640, and a Module 5 Patent Licensing Component650. Each module is described in additional detail hereinafter.

Module DescriptionIdentifies and correlates IP and Consumer Products to Legally Protected IP Assets (mapping products to patents)Provide Access to:Marketing DatabaseProducts DatabasePatent Licensing DatabasePatent Pipeline (disclosure status)Link to Disclosures on Storage DeviceApplication abstract/summaryRetrieve Contract for each dealSavings AnalysisAgreement Locator (individual in Purchasing or Supply Chain who has possession)Wild Card Search based on:Disclosure TitleApplication Title and Abstract/summaryPatent Title and Abstract/summaryProductsKey WordsTechnology Category

Module Description

This module serves the inventors and Technology Dept in accurately and efficient transcend the initial disclosure process. For the inventor it provides: automated invention disclosure submission, independent inventor profile updating, and independent disclosure and payment status verification. For the IP Protection Entity, the system provides efficient management of those submissions and the ability to control duplicate submissions of disclosures: by same inventor, by different inventors, to different law firms.

Module Components and Functionalities

Embodiment I

1. System assigns a tracking number to the submitted disclosure. The tracking number can be listed in the Subject Line of submitted disclosure.

Sample Tracking Number Formats. The tracking number can be at least a five digit “number” as follows:

JAN011ST interactive disclosure submitted in JanuaryFEB044th interactive disclosure submitted in FebruaryMAR1919tth interactive disclosure submitted in MarchAPR1212th interactive disclosure submitted in AprilMAY2626th interactive disclosure submitted in MayJUN011st interactive disclosure submitted in JuneJUL5757th interactive disclosure submitted in JulyAUG8929tth interactive disclosure submitted in AugustSEP033rd interactive disclosure submitted in SeptemberOCT6262nd interactive disclosure submitted in OctoberNOV7676th interactive disclosure submitted in NovemberDEC9999th interactive disclosure submitted in December

In an embodiment, the letter changes on the first day of each month. If the disclosure is forwarded it gets a tracking number. The system would automatically assign this tracking number and put it in the subject line of the delivered email. In another embodiment the tracking number is a four digit “number” such as the following:

In an embodiment, the tracking number is not visible to the sender (e.g., inventor, forwarder, submitter, etc.). A reason for designating a tracking number is to aid in matching up submitted disclosures without the benefit of a disclosure number and aiding in the determination of the period in time a particular disclosure was submitted.

2. Extract from the submitted disclosure the following information:Tracking Number of Submitted DisclosureNames of each Listed InventorWork Phone of Each Listed InventorTitle of the DisclosureDate Submitted

3. Create a Weekly Submission Report in Excel which is emailed directly to IP department personnel:a. Report contains extracted info above.b. Disclosures are listed by Tracking Number

4. Attachments can be submitted and extracted through the interactive form.

5. A Submission Processed Report can lista. Tracking Number (once, not per listed inventor)b. Disclosure Number (once, not per listed inventor)c. Title (once, not per listed inventor)d. Inventor Name (1st & last)e. Eligible Gift Inventor is to Receivef. Report would contain a 2 blank columns with the following Heading:i. Priority/Meeting Dateii. Type of Meeting Necessaryg. Report Header will include: Report Title, Date Report Created/Completed or Week Ending Period

Embodiment II

Web Enabled Automated Invention Disclosure Submission

Inventor Creates a ProfileInventor enters email address (unique to each employee)Inventor hits SUBMIT buttonSystem assigns him/her a unique ID #System will have inventor create a question/answer profile in case he/she loses the ID #If inventor does lose, the system can give it to him/her againthe IP department will also receive a list of all ID #sInventor can always update his/her profile without submitting a disclosure

Inventor Submits DisclosureEnters inventor(s) name(s) AND ID #(s)Entry is similar to interactive form except it automatically populates the database with:Disclosure numberDisclosure TitleNames of inventor(s)OPEN disclosure statusDisclosure goes to storage with disclosure number as the file titleGoes to Patent Disclosure Database:Text of the description sectionDisclosure TitleInventorsDisclosure NumberThe profile is accessible and linked to the other MODs where appropriateAny attachments or additional documentation should be sent to the IP department with the disclosure number in the subject line. There will be a link to the storage for a copy/view of the full disclosure. When disclosure is submitted, each listed inventor on the form will receive:Confirmation letter with the disclosure # and gift to receive;Notification/warning about inventorship and request to address/correct; andNotification to send additional documentation to the IP department with the disclosure # in subject line.

Embodiment III

Disclosure Processing

The system will enable QA on identical submissions (by same inventor or different inventors) and identical subject matter submitted by different inventors or same inventors.

If a match is found, system prompts need to clarify difference.

The Invention Submission and Processing Database can also generate reports such as:Submission ReportsDisclosure Meeting Priority ReportsFollow-Up ReportsProcessed ReportsAccepted/RejectedGift/Letter Sent (date)Disclosure Meeting ScheduleDisclosure Meeting Status

Module 3 Intellectual Property Awards Database630

Module Description

This module is designed to track and manage information related to presenting awards to inventors for generating and submitting invention disclosures. Module 3 includes inventor profile information, gift eligibility and appropriate gift determination for each listed inventor on an invention disclosure form, projection and expense budget analysis, employment status of each listed inventor, award payment eligibility and status of payment for each inventor, and a docket of all submitted disclosures and their life cycle status for each listed inventor.

Module Components

Module 3 incorporates the following components and functions:Title search (QA function to control duplicate submissions into the database based on title),Automat reports currently generated manuallyAbility of IP Coordinators to check appropriate statuses of their inventors,Updating IP Coordinator list/info—adding or deleting individual as necessaryProviding list of inventors under each CoordinatorAutomatically generate the appropriate gift based on Module 2.Generates the letters and labels

Module Description

This module serves the IP department business and legal community as well as the company inventors. A current database was designed to track patent disclosures from the time they are disclosed to the IP department until they are filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). This module tracks patent disclosures from the time they are disclosed to the IP Protection Entity until they are filed with the PTO:Tracks the name, title, inventor, and filing information (filing dates, filing numbers, provisional/continuation/divisional, etc.) for a particular case.Tracks, other pertinent information such as the marketing effort associated with a disclosureStores law firm information including the lawyer working a particular case and a list of all the cases the lawyer has on his/her docket

Additionally, the module is capable of tracking the prosecution life cycle once filed with the PTO∴

All info may be searched in a friendly graphical environment. The user may search by disclosure, inventor, or lawyer (e.g. all of the cases for a particular inventor or all of the cases being handled by a particular lawyer or law firm).

Module Components

The MOD 4 incorporates the following components and functions:Guards against duplicate submissionWild Card Search on Title, Products, Key Words, and Partial Inventor NameCapture the Disclosure Title and Application TitleTrack First Office ActionsLink to EXTRANETLinks to Electronic Disclosure FilesDisclosureComplete Patent ApplicationCorrespondence on DisclosureAll Formal Papers regarding PTOSet Precautionary Flags on Specified Data to Trigger Need for ActionEnhanced Disclosure Status System enabling Creation of Pipeline

The following table show sample disclosure statuses, symbols, and symbol meanings for a disclosure state system pipeline.

DisclosureStatusSymbolMeaningOPENODisclosure Received & Processed but no Disclosure Mtg HeldAuthorizedADisclosure Meeting Held w / AttorneysAuth / DraftADAuthorized Disclosure w / a 1st Draft Sent to InventorsFILEDFApplication Filed w / USPTOCLOSEDCthe IP department no longer Pursuing Patent ApplicationAuth - OnAOLaw Firm has Placed Application On-HoldHoldAbandonedABApplication Filed w / PTO but Case has Gone AbandonedProv / No MtgPOProvisional Application Filed / But No Disclosure HeldProv / MtgPAProvisional Application Filed / Disclosure Meeting Held /No Ordinary Filing YetAuth CONACONAuthorized Disclosure which is a CONT of anotherDisclosureAuth CIPACIPAuthorized Disclosure that is a Continuation-In-Part ofanother DisclosureAuth DIVADIVAuthorized Disclosure that is a Divisional of anotherDisclosureFiled CONFCONFiled Application that is a Continuation of anotherDisclosure / ApplicationFiled CIPFCIPFiled Application that is a Continuation-In-Part of anotherDisclosure / ApplicationFiled DIVFDIVFiled Application that is a Divisional of anotherDisclosure / ApplicationNo Ord USPCT-PCT Filed Application / But No Ordinary US FilingFilingUSPCT & OrdPCTPCT Filed ApplicationUSGrantedGRPatent Granted / But Not IssuedIssuedISSUEPatent IssuedReady forROCThe Evaluator(s) and / or IP Committee has recommendedOutsidepatent filing with the PTOCounselAssignedASGDisclosure has been assigned to a firm, atty, or agent forfiling but no meeting has been scheduled or performedwith the inventor(s)First OfficeFOAPTO has mailed a first office action.ActionAutomated Status UpdateWhen the status changes to closed, the letter is automatically generated:Pulling disclosure #, disclosure title, and inventor nameA CLOSED report can be generatedWhen the filing date is entered, system automatically changes the status to FILEDWhen submission date is entered/disclosure created, system automatically inputs status to OPENWhen provisional date is entered, system automatically inputs status to PO & creates a target meeting date (4 months out)When meeting date entered, status auto changes to Authorized & creates 13 week time line (see Marcus' sheet)Links to other DatabasesImport of shared info from other databases in TAMSGeneration of Reports currently unavailableIdentify Patent Families by:TechnologyProduct/ServiceRelated Applications/DisclosuresParent/ChildRelated SubjectIdentify Technology Categories for ApplicationsEnable Wild Card Searches on text of Application summary/abstractAllow viewing & searching of Application AbstractLink to Electronic Application File (viewing privileges only to most)Link to Electronic DisclosuresCost of Filing

The MOD 4 Patent Disclosure Database640can also be accessed to generate various reports, such as an inventory pipeline report, a marketing pipeline report, and so on.

1.1 Inventory Pipeline Report

For example, an inventory pipeline report can include one or more of:Disclosure #;Disclosure Status;a Patent Protection Life Cycle legend (see below); andIP Product No.
In another embodiment, an inventor pipeline report can include one or more of:Disclosure #;Title (1st 31 characters);IP Product No.; andDisclosure Status.

Examples of Patent Protection Life Cycle Legends (“PPLC Legend”) are as follows:

L1Submission DateL2Expected Disclosure Mtg DateL3Disclosure Mtg DateL4Expected Draft DateL51st Draft ReceivedL6Anticipated Filing DateL7Filing DateL81st Office Action ExpectedL91st Office Action ReceivedL10Date GrantedL11Date IssuedL12No of Days from Submission-to-Disclosure MtgL13No of Days from Mtg-to-DraftL14No of Days from Mtg-to-FilingL15No of Days from Submission-to-FilingL16No of Days from Filing to 1st Office ActionL17No of Days from Filing to Issuance

1.2 Marketing Pipeline Report

For example, an inventory pipeline report can include and/or be run by one or more of:

TAMS Reports for Modules 1-5:

According to an embodiment of the present invention, all reports generated by TAMS has the ability to include the following fields and sort by the following fields:

BIPMAN/Law Firm Management

A. Life Cycle of Filed Patents and Issued Patents by year: total and per law firmNo of Days from OPEN date to:Ready for Outside CounselAssignedMeeting DateDraft Received DateFiling Date1stOffice ActionIssuanceNo of Days from Ready for Outside Counsel to:AssignedMeeting DateDraft Received DateFiling Date1stOffice ActionIssuanceNo of Days from Meeting Date to:Draft Received DateFiling Date1stOffice ActionIssuanceNo of Days from Draft Received Date to:Filing Date1stOffice ActionIssuanceNo of Days from Filing Date to:1stOffice ActionIssuanceNo of Days from 1 st Office Action to IssuanceNo of Days Since Meeting DateNo of Days from Provisional Filing to:Meeting DateNational Filing Date

B. Report & Graph Target Dates vs Actual Dates Overall and Per Law FirmExpected Draft Date/1st Draft ReceivedAnticipated Filing Date/Filing Date1st Office Action Expected/1stOffice Action ReceivedProvisional Filing/National Patent Filing

C. Monthly/Qrtly/Annual Protection Report1. Invention Disclosures (YTD Actual/YTD Target)2. Patent Applications in Progress (YTD)3. US Patent Applications Filed (YTD Actual/Target)4. Patents Pending at U.S. Patent Office5. Patents Issued (YTD Actual/Total)6. Invention Disclosures Submitted per Business Affiliate

D. Cases That Can Be FiledReport of Cases in which a First Draft has been received, but:The case is not “Filed”The case is not “Closed”The case is not “On Hold”

II. Inventor Report

A. Invention Submissions1. A Cumulative List of Every Inventor who has submitted a disclosure to BIPMAN2. The report would contain an alphabetical listing of names and the number of disclosures they have submitted. This is not a yearly report, but a cumulative report. Example:Invention SubmissionsInventor A (17)Inventor B (2)Inventor CInventor D (22)

B. Patent Filings1. A Yearly report of every person who was listed as an inventor on a filed US ordinary application, CIP, and DIV.2. The report would contain an alphabetical listing of names and the number of filings for the year. This is a yearly report. Example:2002 Patent FilingsInventor AInventor B (9)Inventor C (3)Inventor DInventor E (2)

C. Patent Issuances1. A report of every person who was listed as an inventor on an issued patent in a particular year.2. The report would contain an alphabetical listing of names and the number of issuances for that year. This is a yearly report. Example:2002 Patent IssuancesInventor AInventor B (10)Inventor C (2)Inventor D (4)

D. Inventor Achievement1. A report of every person who was listed as an inventor on an issued patent:5thIssuance,10thIssuance, and15th Issuance2. The report would contain an alphabetical listing of names and the number of issuances for that year. This is a yearly report. Example:2002 Inventor AchievementInventor A (15thPatent)Inventor B (5thPatent)

E. Publications1. A report of every person who received a publication award in a given year.2. The report would contain an alphabetical listing of names and the number of publication awards distributed for that year. This is a yearly report. Example:2002 PublicationsInventor AInventor B (2)

III. Disclosure Genealogy Report

A. Ability to Run Report by:Disclosure Parent #Disclosure Child #Technology Category or Key Word

IV. Provisional Report

A. Ability to Run Report by:Company File NumberIssuance DateVP/Dept Head's Name

B. Report Contains:Company File NumberPatent TitleFull Name of each InventorIssuance DateMaintenance Fee Due DatesPatent Aging Analysis (# of Years Left on Patent)

VI. Individual Patent Report

VII. Closed Report

VIII. Inventor Disclosure Status Report

If Status=OPEN,Then Comment Field=“Disclosure Under Technology Review”

If Status=CLOSED,Then Comment Field=BIPMAN will not pursue patent application.

If Status=ISSUED,Then Comment Field=Issuance Date, and“Payment To Eligible Inventors 6 weeks from Issuance Date”

IX. Inventor Payment Status Report

If Status=OPEN,Then Comment Field=“No Payment Due At this Time”

If Status=“Application In Progress”,Then Comment Field=“No Payment Due At this Time

If Status ISSUED,Then Comment Field=Issuance Date, and“Payment To Eligible Inventors 6 weeks from Issuance Date”, andIssuance Payment Processed mm/dd/yyyy”

X. Technology Products Report

XI. Valuation Report

For example, a valuation report can include and/or be run by one or more of:

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, systems and methods can assist in preparing patents for litigation. It can be important that when a company's patent portfolio is increasing and the company will soon enforce its patents, the company's patents be ready for litigation. A factor relating to whether a patent is ready for litigation includes whether those associated with prosecution of the patent have complied with the duty of disclosure to the PTO. The duty of disclosure relates to submitting to the PTO all information a reasonable examiner would consider important to patentability such as related patents, patents cited in co-pending applications, potentially pending applications, and so on.

Cross-citation of references, patents, and patent applications can assist in readying patents for litigation. In an embodiment of the present invention, a cross-citation Information Disclosure Statement (“IDS”) database (“CC IDS DB”) stores cross-citation information. A CC IDS DB can interface with outside counsel docketing an information systems so that outside counsel can provide input that the company manages. The CC IDS DB can include records for all company patents and patent applications according to technical and legal classifications. Related applications can be associated, and references can be cross-cited.

In an embodiment, the CC IDS DB can be implemented as part of or coupled to a technology mapping system which can graphically render company IP, overlay applications and patents on a schematic of the technical areas relevant to the company, visually display strengths and weaknesses of the company's IP position, and include comparisons to the IP positions of competitors.

FIG. 7is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

System700, in an embodiment, includes a computer710of a user. Computer710can include a processor711coupled via bus712to network port713and memory714. Processor711can be, for example, an Intel Pentium® 4 processor, manufactured by Intel Corp. of Santa Clara, Calif. As another example, processor711can be an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). An example of bus712is a peripheral component interconnect (“PCI”) local bus, which is a high performance bus for interconnecting chips (e.g., motherboard chips, mainboard chips, etc.), expansion boards, processor/memory subsystems, and so on.

Network port713can be an Ethernet port, a serial port, a parallel port, a Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) port, an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (“IEEE”) 1394 port, a Small Computer Systems Interface (“SCSI”) port, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (“PCMCIA”) port, and so on. Memory714of computer710can store a plurality of instructions configured to be executed by processor711. Memory714may be a random access memory (RAM), a dynamic RAM (DRAM), a static RAM (SRAM), a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, a flash RAM, polymer ferroelectric RAM, Ovonics Unified Memory, magnetic RAM, a cache memory, a hard disk drive, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, a magneto-optical storage device, or a combination thereof.

Computer710can be coupled to server770via network750. Server770can be, for example, a Windows NT server from Hewlett-Packard Company of Palo Alto, Calif., a UNIX server from Sun Microsystems, Inc. of Palo Alto, Calif., and so on. Server770can include a processor771coupled via bus772to network port773and memory774. Examples of network770include a Wide Area Network (WAN), a Local Area Network (LAN), the Internet, a wireless network, a wired network, a connection-oriented network, a packet network, an Internet Protocol (IP) network, or a combination thereof.

Server770and memory774can include a plurality of instructions adapted to be executed by processor771. The plurality of instructions can include invention submission instructions775, innovation awards management instructions776, portfolio management instructions777, patent strategy management instructions778, and IP licensing management instructions779.

Memory714of computer710can include web graphical user interface (“GUI”) instructions715. In an embodiment, web GUI instructions715can be client-side web GUI instructions (e.g., a web browser) that can manage at least in part communications between computer710and server770(e.g., a world wide web server, etc.). Examples of client-side web graphical user interface instructions include Internet Explorer 5.0 (or another version) from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., Netscape Navigator 4.72 (or another version) from Netscape Communications of Mountain View, Calif., and so on.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to data communications via one or more networks. The data communications can be carried by one or more communications channels of the one or more networks. A network can include wired communication links (e.g., coaxial cable, copper wires, optical fibers, a combination thereof, and so on), wireless communication links (e.g., satellite communication links, terrestrial wireless communication links, satellite-to-terrestrial communication links, a combination thereof, and so on), or a combination thereof. A communications link can include one or more communications channels, where a communications channel carries communications. For example, a communications link can include multiplexed communications channels, such as time division multiplexing (“TDM”) channels, frequency division multiplexing (“FDM”) channels, code division multiplexing (“CDM”) channels, wave division multiplexing (“WDM”) channels, a combination thereof, and so on.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, instructions configured to be executed by a processor to perform a method are stored on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium can be a device that stores digital information. For example, a computer-readable medium includes a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) as is known in the art for storing software. The computer-readable medium is accessed by a processor suitable for executing instructions configured to be executed. The terms “instructions configured to be executed” and “instructions to be executed” are meant to encompass any instructions that are ready to be executed in their present form (e.g., machine code) by a processor, or require further manipulation (e.g., compilation, decryption, or provided with an access code, etc.) to be ready to be executed by a processor.

Embodiments of systems and methods for technology asset management have been described. In the foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated, however, by one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, structures and devices are shown in block diagram form. Furthermore, one skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the specific sequences in which methods are presented and performed are illustrative and it is contemplated that the sequences can be varied and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In the foregoing detailed description, systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, the present specification and figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents.