Abstract:
The present invention provides systems and methods for displaying a map conveying data and information related to intellectual properties. The system and method allows for a user to choose criteria for a search, which results are graphically displayed. The system and method also provides for applying filtering to the results based on system parameters, such as access permissions.

Description:
[0001]    This Application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/450391 filed Feb. 26, 2003.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to systems and methods for processing data or information to create visual images and graphical displays that covey the data or information. This invention also relates to systems and methods for processing data or information using an operator interface to control the display of the data or information. In particular, this invention relates to systems and methods for processing data concerning intellectual property (i.e., trademarks) to create geographical maps that interactively convey the data.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Therefore, there is an ongoing need for systems and methods of quickly and easily conveying data and information concerning property, especially intellectual property, such as trademarks for example. In particular, there is a need for graphic interfaces that convey intellectual property data in geographical formats, which would certainly enhance a user&#39;s ability to manage extensive and diverse IP assets throughout the world.  
           [0006]    One type of graphic interface that conveys recorded data in a geographical format is a Geographic Information System. A Geographical Information Systems (GIS) stores, analyzes, and displays geographic data. The geographic data may be spatial (e.g., latitude and longitude) or descriptive (e.g., country names). The spatial data is in a common coordinate system, which is usually latitude and longitude on the earth. Topology is created in a GIS by defining relationships within the geographic data, such as relating the name of a country with coordinate points defining the boundaries of the country.  
           [0007]    Previously, GIS&#39;s have been used for scientific, educational, commercial, and military applications. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,019 to Davies describes an Object-based Geographic Information System (GIS) providing each geographical object with a complete geometry that can be stored in a buffer to make possible real-time display of the geographical object as the position of the user changes. For another example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,442,530 to Miller describes a Computer-Based System and Method for Mapping and Conveying Product Location that provides a location for a product as a point on a map. Not surprisingly, GIS&#39;s are primarily directed to quickly and clearly conveying data and information concerning geographical location, which requires detailed spatial data, but only a minimum of descriptive data, especially since most potential descriptions for a geographic area are unnecessary and undesirable for quickly and clearly conveying geographical location.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an IP GIS for displaying the geographic location of intellectual properties as a map. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an interactive method for using such an IP GIS system.  
           [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an IP management system that displays geographical maps based on descriptive data in a database. The geographical maps show spatial and/or descriptive data related to intellectual properties. The descriptive data may be displayed as charts, graphs, and tables concurrently with the geographical maps or separately from the maps. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an interactive method for using such an IP management system.  
           [0010]    In light of the foregoing background and objects, the present invention provides systems and methods for displaying a map conveying data and information related to intellectual properties. The system and method allows for a user to choose criteria for a search, which results are graphically displayed. The system and method also provides for applying filtering to the results based on system parameters, such as access permissions.  
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a chart of a property mapping system according to the present invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a flow chart of login, authorization, and initial display for the property mapping system of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a property name search process using the property mapping system of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a search process based on the company of a user of the property mapping system of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an advanced or category search process for the property mapping system of FIG. 1;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a search display format process for the property mapping system of FIG. 1; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a user administration process for the property mapping system of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing a process to edit user information for the property mapping system of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]    The present invention provides a geographic information system (hereinafter referred to as “the GIS”) for properties in general and, more specifically, intellectual properties, such as trademarks for example. The GIS is a particularly useful tool for companies and their representative who manage global property portfolios comprising a large number of properties and/or conflicts and competitors, as well as other complex intellectual property information in numerous countries. The properties and/or assets that are the focus of the GIS of the present invention may be, for example, real property, personal property, intellectual property, or any property or assets that may be established permanently and geographically. Thus, the GIS of the present invention is not used for tracking properties or assets that cannot be meaningfully set in a permanent geographic position. For example, it is not meaningful to set a permanent geographic position for temporary inventories, parcels of mail, or shipments of goods. Accordingly, the GIS of the present invention is not used for managing temporary inventories, parcels of mail, or shipments of goods. Nonetheless, the GIS of the present invention is adapted to “track” or account for changes to the properties and/or assets that are the focus of the GIS, such as, for example, changing visual indicia for a geographic area to indicate that the current primary trademark rights in the geographic area is owned by a competitor when the previously primary trademark rights of the concerned company has been sold or expired.  
         [0020]    Referring to FIG. 1, in a preferred embodiment, the GIS comprises at least a user interface  10 , a server processor  20 , and a trademark database  40 . For ease of use and administration, the user interface  10  is preferably located remotely from the server processor  20  and the trademark database  40 . More preferably, the user interface  10  is a remote client that accesses the server processor  20  and trademark database  40  via the Internet (i.e., via a web browser). Any suitable remote connection may be used, such as basic Internet, a virtual private network, wide area network, or another connection that can be configured for reasonably secure access of the trademark database  40 .  
         [0021]    The trademark database comprises information associated with each of the trademarks in a portfolio. The information associated with each trademark in the trademark database may include, but is not limited to: trademark name and/or a brief description of the trademark, graphic depiction of the trademark, the country of registration, application number, filing date, registration number, registration date, priority application number(s), priority application date(s), applicable trademark classes, a brief description of the goods covered in the applicable trademark classes, the current owner(s), the initial registrant(s) if different from the current owner(s), a case or docket number, any related trademarks, other countries in which the trademark is registered, actions currently pending or expected in the future (e.g., a payment of an annual tax), actual and potential competitors of the current owner(s) and/or initial registrant(s) in the country of registration or other countries, and actually and/or potentially conflicting trademarks, such as similar trademarks with earlier priority dates in the country of registration or other countries,.  
         [0022]    The preferred user interface of the GIS is a web-based application. Typical components of a web-based application are: forms that allow the user to input information or select certain on-screen data, scripts or program code that interprets and/or processes the input information and generates and/or retrieves results, and templates in which the results may be placed before onward transmission to the client browser by a web server. Any output from the system is rendered in a format understood by a web-browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.  
         [0023]    The GIS uses Java Server Pages and Java Servlet technology in order to provide the program code, hosted within a Tomcat Server. Forms and Output Templates are combined into a single data file by using XSL (i.e., an XML Style sheet). Communication with the databases through Microsoft ODBC connections is accomplished through use of a custom “proxy” that delivers results based on XML.  
         [0024]    For generation of graphical maps, HDTMS uses Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), which is an XML-based format, and currently populates a number of template versions of the base files using JavaScript within the client browser. The Final Map is rendered using Adobes SVG plug-in, freely available, and linked in such a way that it appears to render the image within the browser frame. Alternatively, the GIS may employ a more sophisticated level of programmatic access to the individual object elements, such as countries and regions on the maps. For example, if a greater level of access is desired, Batik.  
         [0025]    For generation of printable textual report, the GIS of the present invention uses FOP, which is an open-source framework that allows the combination of XSL Templates and XML data into a PDF format, read using an Adobe plug-in.  
         [0026]    All screens displayed in HDTMS are based on an XSL style sheet template. It is both preprocessed and post-processed by a custom written script (or program) written using Java Server Pages or Java Servlet format. The basic similarity of these two technologies is that the code structure conforms to the Java Programming Language and is either pre-compiled before deployment in the application or compiled to the Java byte-code standard by the web server host.  
         [0027]    Source code to each of these scripts is supplied in pre-compiled form to the customer along with the application and can be printed. Post-compiled form is a binary object file that complies with the Java byte-code standard, but could have a different software pattern depending on the Java language compiler.  
         [0028]    All data, except that entered by users in order to refine search criteria and add users, is stored in a database. It is transferred there using external programs drawing the information from another source system.  
         [0029]    Alternatively, any known and/or suitable web-based application may be used in the GIS of the present invention. For example, the GIS of the present invention can employ forms, scripts, and templates similar to those of common web-based search engines, which will be familiar to a user of the GIS of the present invention. The GIS of the present invention using forms, scripts, and templates similar to those of common web-based search engines, such as Yahoo and Google, with preferably include an single box for the user to enter simple text from which multiple results will be generated in an order weighted by the administrator of the system and/or by an algorithm that weights the results according to previous user input.  
         [0030]    Referring to the drawings, the following is a description of a preferred method for using the GIS.  
         [0031]    Referring to FIG. 2, there is a flow chart showing login, authorization, and initial display for the GIS. Upon access to the GIS, a prospective user of the GIS is presented with a login page  100  that prompts the prospective user to enter a user-name and password, or other security code(s). An authorization process  101  subsequently accesses a User Database  105 , which contains the names and passwords of all authorized users. Authorization process  101  compares the user-name and password entered by the prospective user against the User Database  105 . Preferably, there is no direct access to the database by the user and, in the production version; all data transmission between client and server is encrypted to ensure integrity. If the authorization process  101  cannot match the user-name and password entered by the prospective user to any authorized user in the User Database  105 , the prospective user cannot proceed past the login page  100 . If the user-name and password entered by the prospective user matches an authorized user in the User Database  105 , the authorization process  101  recognizes the prospective user as an authorized user and allows the authorized user to proceed to the menu system page  103 . Optionally, after the user is authorized by the authorization process  101 , one or more notices and/or disclaimers  102  may be displayed by the GIS. For example, the notices and/or disclaimers  102  may be a legal disclaimer or notices containing current information for the user (e.g., the pendency of a system update).  
         [0032]    The menu system page  103 , displays a menu that offers the user several different search tools, such as a Trademark Name Search Tool  106 , Company Search Tool  107 , and Advanced or Categories Search Tool  108 . In addition, if the user is a system administrator, the menu system page will display a menu that offers several different administration tools  109 , which are discussed in more detail hereinafter. The menu systems page also offers the user a logout  110  that logs the user out of the GIS.  
         [0033]    Referring to FIG. 3, there is a flow chart showing a search using the Trademark Name Search Tool  106 . Upon selecting the Trademark Name Search Tool  106 , the GIS obtains from a trademark database  200  all trademark name data  210  that the user is authorized to view. Then, the GIS uses the trademark name data  210  to present the user with a trademark name display  211 . As a default, the trademark name display  211  shows all trademark names that were obtained from the trademark database  200 .  
         [0034]    The user is prompted by the GIS to manually input a user selection  212 , which selection is one trademark name from the trademark name display  211 . Upon receiving the user selection  212 , the GIS invokes a criteria building process  213  that builds the search criterion(s) used to search the trademark database  200  for further information on the selected trademark name. For the Trademark Name Search Tool  106 , the only search criterion is the user-selected trademark name. As discussed in more detail in reference to the Search Display Formatting Tool  500  (see FIG. 5), the search criterion(s) are processed to get data from the trademark database, which data is displayed to the user in geographical or text format.  
         [0035]    Referring to FIG. 4, there is a flow chart showing a search using the Company Name Search Tool  107 . Upon selecting the Company Name Search Tool  107 , the GIS obtains from a trademark database  200  all company name data  310  that the user is authorized to view. The user in the Company Name Search Tool  107  may be presented with a display from which to select one or more companies. Since the GIS is preferably configured as a system remotely accessible by the representatives of client companies, the representatives of a particular client company that accesses the GIS will be authorized to view only that data in the trademark database  200  that concerns trademarks owned by the particular client company.  
         [0036]    The GIS invokes a criteria building process  312  that builds the search criterion(s) used to search the trademark database  200  for further information on the company. For the Company Name Search Tool  107 , the only search criterion is the company name. As discussed in more detail in reference to the Search Display Formatting Tool  500  (see FIG. 5), the search criterion(s) are processed to get data from the trademark database, which data is displayed to the user in geographical or text format.  
         [0037]    Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a flowchart of the Advanced or Category Search Tool  108 . An advanced search steers the user to a set of screens that allows the user to select categories of information from the trademark database. In addition to trademark name and company (owner), categories that may be selected in an advanced search include, but are not limited to, client name (different from owner name), agents or attorneys, countries or regions, and status. Users select each category as desired to form a search “criteria”.  
         [0038]    Upon selecting the Category Search Tool  108 , the GIS obtains category data  410  from the trademark database  200 . Then, the GIS uses the category data  410  to present the user with a category data display  411 . As default, the GIS obtains trademark name data and displays all the trademark names contained in trademark database  200 .  
         [0039]    The user is prompted by the GIS to make a search criterion selection  412  from the category data display  411 . Upon receiving the search criterion selection  412  from the user, the GIS invokes a search criteria building process  413  that builds the search criterion(s) used to search the trademark database  200 . Once built, the GIS will show the search criteria in a display  414  for review by the user. The user has the option of selecting multiple criterions from a given category data display. When the user has finished selecting the criterions from a given category data display, the user may review criterions from other categories by making a new category selection  415 . If the user makes a new category selection  415 , the GIS obtains category data and displays it to the user, who selects one or more criterion that are built into the search criteria. When the user has decided not to select another category, the search criteria are processed. As discussed in more detail in reference to the Search Display Formatting Tool  500  (see FIG. 5), the search criterion(s) are processed to get data from the trademark database, which data is displayed to the user in geographical or text format.  
         [0040]    As discussed above, each search tool  106 ,  107 , and  108  is designed to create search criterion(s). The search criterion from the Trademark Name Search Tool  106  is a user-selected trademark name. The search criterion from the Company Name Search Tool  107  is a company name that is either user-selected or pre-authorized. Alternatively, multiple company names may be used as search criteria in the Company Name Search Tool  107 . The search criterions from the Category Search tool  108  are selected by the user from various categories of data.  
         [0041]    Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a flowchart for displaying the results of a search. In general, once the GIS has built the search criterion(s), the user is asked to select the type of report they wish to display. After the user selects the type of report they wish to display, the search criterions are processed by the GIS to obtain the search results from the Trademark Database  200 , which search results are displayed in the user-selected format.  
         [0042]    As shown in FIG. 6, the Search Display Process  115  will be invoked after the search criteria are built (see FIG. 2, ref. no.  213 , FIG. 3, ref. no.  312 , and FIG. 4). A display  510  presents the user with the various report formats that the GIS can produce. Preferably, the various report formats include a geographical information format and a traditional chart format. After user selection  511 , wherein the user chooses the desired report format, a search process  512  uses the search criterions to search the trademark database  200 . The search process  512  returns search result data  513 . The search result data  513  are displayed to the user in the user-selected report format. The GIS may present the search results as a map display  514  or as a text display  515 . Each of the various report displays of the GIS preferably contains links to further refine the selection and/or display an alternate type of report display.  
         [0043]    The primary component of the geographical report format or map display  514  is a map projection of the earth showing the boundaries of all the countries thereof. Other relevant political or geographical boundaries or country-groups may be displayed, such as the European Union or PCT member states. Registrations and applications that match the search criterions are not directly reported in the map display  514 . Instead the map display  514  highlights or otherwise indicates the countries in which registrations and application matching the search criterions are issued or pending. Preferably, for ease of use, the names of the countries highlighted or otherwise indicated in the map display  514  are shown with a reference line connecting each country name to the correct part of the map projection. When two or more search criterions from a single category have been selected by the user, the map display  514  preferably distinguishes between the search criterions, for example, by color. For example, if the user desires to search for trademarks for two or more companies, the map display  514  may show countries having trademarks from the first of the two companies in red, while the countries having trademarks from the second of the two companies is shown in green. The names of the countries may also be shown in the applicable company color. If each company has a trademark in a given country, that country may be highlighted with stripes of red and green, or in some other distinguishable appearance.  
         [0044]    Referring to FIG. 7, there is illustrated a flowchart for user administration tool  108 . If the user is a system manager, upon selection of the User Administration Tool  108 , the GIS accesses the user database  105  and obtains a user list  610  that is presented to the system manager as a list  611 . The system manager may choose  613  to edit, add, or delete user data in the user database  105 . If the system manager makes the decision  614  to add a user, the GIS prompts the system manager to input  615  data regarding the user to be added, such as user-name and password. The data for the newly added user is stored in the user database  105 . If the system manager makes the decision  616  to delete a user, the user to be deleted is selected by the system manager and the GIS processes  617  the removal of all data regarding the deleted user from the user database  105 . The method for editing user information is described in reference to FIG. 7.  
         [0045]    Referring to FIG. 8, there is illustrated a flowchart for editing user information. If the system manager makes the decision  710  to edit user information contained in the user database  105 , the user to be edited is selected by the system manager and the GIS accesses the user database  105  and obtains detailed user data  711  that is presented to the system manager as a detailed user display  712 . The system manager inputs  713  new data and/or replaces old data regarding the user, and the edited user data is stored  715  in the user database  105  after the system manager is prompted  714  by the GIS to confirm the edited user data is to be saved.  
         [0046]    Although the best mode of the present invention has been described by way of illustration and examples, the description is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined herein.