Abstract:
The method of the present invention allows inventors to orally document innovative concepts. The method reduces the need to have inventors write out details of an invention in an invention disclosure form. The method also assists inventors in quickly and conveniently recording ideas and preparing invention disclosure forms based on the ideas. In some example forms, inventors are able to pick up a telephone and connect to a network. Once connected to the network an inventor can dictate the concepts of the idea over the network. The dictation is converted into text, such as by a voice analysis program, and then inserted into an invention disclosure form which is dated and archived.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   One of the reasons that companies hire employees, such as scientists and engineers, is to develop new ideas (i.e., innovate). Innovation may be done to improve existing products, methods or processes, or to develop new products, methods or processes. Companies often convert the ideas that are conceived and documented by employees into intellectual property (e.g., patents) to protect the innovations. 
   Most companies have processes in place to obtain intellectual property for the innovations that are made by employees. When an employee comes up with an innovation, the employee usually documents the idea in an invention disclosure form that is reviewed by others in the company. A typical invention disclosure form includes questions that illicit responses from the employee/inventor relating to the idea and it&#39;s application. 
   One drawback with invention disclosure forms is that employees often fail to fill them out. When an employee fails to document and submit an idea on an invention disclosure form, a company often times never gets the opportunity to convert the idea into valuable intellectual property. 
   Employees often fail to document their ideas on invention disclosure forms because filling out such forms can be an intimidating and time-consuming process for individuals. Filling out an invention disclosure form can be especially intimidating to individuals that are unfamiliar with such forms or lack the capacity to adequately write down their ideas. 
   In addition, an individual may conceive of an idea when the individual is away from a laboratory notebook or computer that could be used to document the idea. There are times when individuals are unable to document their ideas and the ideas are irreparably lost (i.e., forgotten). 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The method of the present invention overcomes such drawbacks by allowing inventors to orally document innovative concepts. The method reduces the need to have inventors immediately write out details of an idea in an invention disclosure form. The method also assists inventors in quickly and conveniently recording ideas and preparing invention disclosure forms based on the ideas. 
   In some example forms of the method, inventors are able to pick up a telephone and connect to a network by dialing a number. Once connected to the network, an inventor can dictate the concepts of the idea over the network. The dictation is converted into text, such as by a voice analysis program, and then inserted into an invention disclosure form which is dated and archived. 
   In some forms, the present invention relates to a method of filling out an invention disclosure form. The method includes receiving dictation from an inventor over a network; converting the dictation to text; and placing the text within the invention disclosure form. 
   In another form, the method includes receiving dictation from a plurality of inventors over a network; converting the dictation to text, the text identifying each inventor&#39;s contribution to the dictation; and placing the text within the invention disclosure form. 
   In still another form, the method includes receiving a request from an inventor to connect to a network; supplying oral queries to the inventor over the network; receiving dictation from the inventor over the network in response to the oral queries; converting the dictation to text; and placing the text within the invention disclosure form. 
   In yet another form, the method includes receiving dictation from an inventor over a network; receiving oral requests from the inventor for files over the network; converting the dictation to text; retrieving the files over the network; placing the text within the invention disclosure form; and attaching the files to the invention disclosure form. 
   In some forms, the present invention relates to a method of documenting an invention. The method includes receiving dictation from an inventor over a network; converting the dictation to text; and transmitting the text to an intended recipient. 
   It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a further understanding of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be more fully understood, and further features will become apparent, when reference is made to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. The drawings are merely representative and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. Like parts depicted in the drawings are referred to by the same reference numerals. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a sample system that may be used to perform some example methods of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a method of filling out an invention disclosure form. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates another method of filling out an invention disclosure form. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates still another method of filling out an invention disclosure form. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates yet another method of filling out an invention disclosure form. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a method of documenting an invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which show specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes made, such that the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an example network-based system  10  that may be used to perform some methods of the present invention. The system  10  includes a network  120  that receives dictation from an inventor  20  through one or more devices (e.g, telephone  100 ) that are connected to the network  120  through a carrier switch  108 . The network  120  converts the dictation from the inventor  20  into text using known speech recognition software  124 , which is stored on the network  120 . The network  120  may transmit the text to a recipient&#39;s receiving apparatus  130  that is connected to the network  120  through a carrier switch  109 . It should be noted that network  120  may be any type of network-based system, including an integrated services provider network or a telephone network that provides interconnection between the inventor&#39;s telephone  100  and the recipient&#39;s receiving apparatus  130 . 
   The speech recognition software  124  may be capable of converting the dictation into a variety of different types of text that can be inserted into a document, such as an invention disclosure form. In addition, the speech recognition software  124  may be capable of translating the dictation from one language to another. In some example systems, the network  120  may further include software  126  that is capable of sending the text as part of an electronic mail (e-mail) message, or as a document that may be faxed to one or more recipients. The network  120  may also contain a variety of transmission equipment  128  that is adapted to transmit the text to the recipient&#39;s receiving apparatus  130 . 
   The recipient&#39;s receiving apparatus  130  may be a variety of different types of equipment (e.g., a personal computer or a facsimile machine). The apparatus  130  and the transmission equipment  128  on the network  120  need to be compatible so that the apparatus  130  is able to receive the particular type of information that is transmitted by the network  120 . 
   In some forms, the inventor  20  may be able to identify the individuals that are to receive the document (e.g., a filled out invention disclosure form) which is created from the dictation. As an example, if the document is to be e-mailed to multiple recipients, the software  126  on the network  120  may be able to determine each intended recipient&#39;s e-mail address. In some forms, the inventor  20  may orally input the e-mail address for each recipient as part of the dictation. The software  126  on the network  120  may even prompt the inventor to orally indicate each intended recipient&#39;s e-mail address. The software  126  may also identify a recipient&#39;s e-mail address when the inventor orally inputs the recipient&#39;s name. This type of information may be obtained by the network  120  from a database  122  that contains (among other information) identification information for potential recipients. 
   It should be noted that the speech recognition software  124  may contain specialized databases that improve the efficiency and accuracy of transcribing dictation to text. The specialized databases may be necessary because some technical areas include language that would not normally be recognized by most voice recognition software programs. 
   The system  10  may query the inventor  20  as to the type of technology involved with the idea. When the inventor  20  dictates a response that identifies the technology, the system  10  can select one or more specialized databases that are used by the voice recognition software  124 . 
   In some forms, the network  120  may be capable of attaching files to the invention disclosure form that is created from the dictation. The files may be selected from any number of sources  132 ,  133 ,  134  on the network  120 . The files may be text files, audio/video files, or any combination thereof. As an example, the network  120  may have access to other electronic files that are in the possession of the inventor  20  (e.g., those saved on the inventor&#39;s web page  135  or computer  136 ) such that the inventor  20  could attach these files to the invention disclosure form. 
   The software  126  may also permit the inventor  20  to request a search of one, some, or all of the sources (e.g., internal and external databases) on the network  120  for one or more files on the network  120 . As an example, the inventor  20  may request a search of all U.S. patents that include a particular patent number, a certain inventor, a certain phrase, or are owned by a particular company. Any files that are discovered during the search may be attached to the invention disclosure form that is created from the dictation. It should be noted that the scope of the search will only be limited by the sources that can be accessed from the network  120 . 
   After converting the dictation to text, the system  10  may audibly provide the inventor with one or more of the recipient&#39;s name, e-mail address (or fax number), identification of any attached documents and text content (among other pieces of information). Reviewing some, or all, of this information allows the inventor  20  to verify that the speech recognition software  124  has accurately converted one or more portions of the dictation. 
   In some forms, inventors may receive real-time transmission of the text at their own computer system  136 . In some forms, the text may already be inserted into an appropriate place in the invention disclosure. Providing text to the inventors in real-time allows the inventors to confirm dictation accuracy. This may be especially important when the inventors speak different languages. 
   The inventor  20  may modify any incorrect information before disconnecting from the network  120 . The system  10  may also be able to notify the inventor  20  that the invention disclosure has been sent to the recipient(s) if the inventor  20  is still connected to the network  120 . 
   The system  10  may also include a storage medium  138  that stores information related to submitting the dictation over the network  120 . As examples, the information may be in the form of data that indicates the time of the transmission, the inventor(s), the recipient(s), the documents attached, and the method of transmission (e.g., e-mail message or fax document). Additional information may also be stored onto the storage medium  138  depending upon the requirements of the inventor, the recipient, and the network service provider. 
   It should be noted that even though the network  120  is described as transmitting the text to a single recipient, the network  120  may be capable of transmitting the text to multiple recipients. In some forms, the inventor  20  may orally indicate a group-identifier that is recognized by the software  126  as designating a particular plurality of individuals as recipients. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates an example method  200  method of filling out an invention disclosure form. The method  200  includes  202  receiving dictation from an inventor over a network and  204  converting the dictation to text. The method further includes  206  placing the text within the invention disclosure form. It should be noted that  202  receiving dictation from an inventor over a network may include receiving dictation over a telephone transmission channel (among other types of networks). 
   The method  200  may further include  208  transmitting the invention disclosure form to a recipient (e.g., via e-mail or facsimile). In some forms, the invention disclosure form may be e-mailed to each inventor, one or more supervisors, a patent attorney or any other individual that might be interested in the concept described in the invention disclosure form. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates another example method  300  of filling out an invention disclosure form. The method  300  includes  302  receiving dictation from a plurality of inventors over a network and  304  converting the dictation to text. The text identifies each inventor&#39;s contribution to the dictation. In addition, each of the inventors may be speaking different languages such that some of the dictation may be translated as it is converted to text. It should be noted that the inventors may be at one or more locations when they are connected to the network. 
   The method further includes  306  placing the text within the invention disclosure form. 
   In some forms of the method  300 ,  302  receiving dictation from a plurality of inventors over a network may include (i) receiving instructions as to where to transmit the invention disclosure form; and/or (ii) receiving dictation over a telephone transmission channel. 
   The method  300  may further include  308  transmitting the invention disclosure form to one or more recipients. As examples, the recipients may include each inventor, one or more supervisors, a patent attorney or any other individual that might be interested in the concept described in the invention disclosure form. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates another example method  400  of filling out an invention disclosure form. The method  400  includes  402  receiving a request from an inventor to connect to a network and  404  supplying oral queries to the inventor over the network. The method further includes  406  receiving dictation from the inventor over the network in response to the oral queries and  408  converting the dictation to text. The method also includes  410  placing the text within the invention disclosure form. 
   It should be noted that  404  supplying oral queries to the inventor over the network may include supplying an oral query requesting a location as to where to transmit the invention disclosure form. In some forms, the queries may include a brief training period in which the inventor is asked to repeat several words or phrases to train the voice analysis software so that the software is able to properly interpret the speech of one or more inventors and indicates within the text how each inventor contributed to the dictation. 
   In addition, the queries may include a series of questions that are designed to draw out elements of the invention and provide information needed to fill out an invention disclosure form. As an example, the queries may ask the inventor to state (i) what problem is being solved by the invention; (ii) what elements, steps, or tools are used to solve the problem; (iii) how these elements, steps, or tools are used or combined to solve the problem; (iv) how the invention is different than the prior art; (v) the identity of any other inventors; and/or (vi) where any samples that embody the concepts are located. 
   The method  400  may further include  412  transmitting the invention disclosure form to one or more recipients. In addition,  402  receiving a request from an inventor to connect to a network may include receiving the request over a telephone transmission channel (among other types of networks). 
     FIG. 5  illustrates another example method  500  of filling out an invention disclosure form. The method  500  includes  502  receiving dictation from an inventor over a network and  504  receiving oral requests from the inventor for files over the network. The method further includes  506  converting the dictation to text and  508  retrieving the files over the network. The method also includes  510  placing the text within the invention disclosure form and  512  attaching the files to the invention disclosure form. 
     504  Receiving oral requests from the inventor for files over the network may include requesting a search to locate the files over the network. As an example, requesting a search to locate the files over the network may include locating prior art. In addition,  504  receiving oral requests from the inventor for files over the network may include requesting copies of patents (or other documents) over the network. It should be noted that any type of file may be requested, searched for, or attached, as long as the network is capable of finding, retrieving and transmitting the file. 
   The method  500  may further include  514  transmitting the invention disclosure form and attached files to one or more recipients (e.g., via e-mail or facsimile). In addition,  502  receiving dictation from an inventor over a network may include receiving dictation over a telephone transmission channel (among other types of networks). 
     FIG. 6  illustrates an example method  600  of method of documenting an invention. The method  600  includes  602  receiving dictation from an inventor over a network and  604  converting the dictation to text. The method further includes  606  transmitting the text to an intended recipient. 
   The method  600  may further include  606  transmitting the invention disclosure form to one or more recipients (e.g., via e-mail or facsimile). In addition,  602  receiving dictation from an inventor over a network may include receiving dictation over a telephone transmission channel (among other types of networks). 
   In some forms,  604  converting the dictation to text may include (i) placing a date and time in the text that indicates when the dictation was received; and/or (ii) placing the text into an invention disclosure form. It should be noted that the dictation from the inventor(s) may be converted into text and automatically placed in the appropriate fields of the invention disclosure form. In addition, a recording of the dictation may be time-stamped, and/or a corresponding document (e.g., an invention disclosure form) that is generated based on the dictation may also be archived and time-stamped. 
   The document may also be identified with an indicator (e.g., a serial number) such that one or more inventors can access the document in order supplement or amend the information contained in the document. The modified document may then again be archived and time-stamped. 
   The operations discussed above with respect to the described methods may be performed in a different order from those described herein. While the invention has been described in detail with respect to the specific aspects thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these aspects which fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, which should be assessed accordingly to that of the appended claims.