Patent Publication Number: US-2019180396-A1

Title: Intellectual property support system, intellectual property support method and computer readable medium storing intellectual property support program

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates to an intellectual property support system, an intellectual property support method and a computer readable medium storing an intellectual property support program. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Management apparatuses that centrally manage information on intellectual property have been developed. Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2007-193847 (JP 2007-193847 A) discloses an intellectual property management apparatus that stores information on intellectual property and manages deadlines and file wrappers of the intellectual property. When patent prosecution information is registered, the intellectual property management apparatus disclosed in JP 2007-193847 A automatically transmits and receives e-mails of inquiries related to the prosecution and automatically collects replies for the prosecution. JP 2007-193847 A discloses that the intellectual property management apparatus as above configured reduces burdens on a person engaged in the intellectual property management tasks and improves the efficiency of the intellectual property management tasks. 
     The procedures of the intellectual property are often performed by an agent such as a patent attorney and a lawyer, and most procedures for a patent office and a court abroad need to be performed by a foreign agent. Accordingly, it is important for the agent to quickly and efficiently obtain information on the procedures of the intellectual property. However, information on the procedures for the patent office and the court abroad is often notified through a domestic agent to the foreign agent in most cases. This needs time and costs for the foreign agent to obtain the information on the procedures. 
     JP 2007-193847 A only discloses that the intellectual property management apparatus automatically transmits and receives e-mails of the inquiries related to the prosecution and automatically collects responses for the prosecution. That is, the intellectual property management apparatus fails to allow the agent to obtain the responses on the prosecution. Accordingly, the intellectual property management apparatus disclosed in JP 2007-193847 A fails to allow the agent to obtain the information on the procedures of the intellectual property, and thus fails to solve a problem in that the time and costs are needed for the agent to obtain the information on the procedures of the intellectual property. 
     It could therefore be helpful to provide an intellectual property support system, an intellectual property support method and a computer readable medium storing an intellectual property support program that reduce time and costs needed to allow an agent to obtain information on procedures of intellectual property. 
     SUMMARY 
     Our intellectual property support system includes: a communication unit configured to receive information on intellectual property transmitted from a user terminal operable by a user; a generating unit configured to generate display data for displaying a chat room that allows the user to exchange information; a processing unit configured to transmit the display data for displaying the chat room including the information on the intellectual property received by the communication unit to the user terminal via the communication unit; an input receiving unit configured to receive the information on the intellectual property; and a storage unit configured to store the information on the intellectual property. The generating unit displays a certain question on the intellectual property on the chat room, and the storage unit automatically stores a response of the user to the certain question received via the communication unit. The system further includes an IP liaison unit, which supplies a result of executing a prior art document search with respect to the response. 
     The intellectual property support system may further include an input receiving unit, which receives a correction or an additional request for the information on the intellectual property from a manager for operating the intellectual property support system. The processing unit may be configured to notify the request received from the input receiving unit to the user terminal via the communication unit. 
     The processing unit may be configured to translate the information on the intellectual property into a certain foreign language based on a certain rule in which an item specific to the information on the intellectual property is predetermined and a translation model that has statistically machine learned a past translation result. 
     When certain information on a moving image received from the user terminal in advance is consistent with information included in a certain moving image published on a network, the processing unit may notify the user terminal of the certain information on the moving image. 
     The certain information may correspond to information on a change in color included in the moving image or information on a sound included in the moving image, and when the certain moving image published on the network includes the information on the change in color included in the moving image or the information on the sound included in the moving image, the processing unit may be configured to notify the user terminal of the information on the certain moving image. 
     The processing unit may be configured to create the information on the intellectual property based on a question made by the manager for operating the intellectual property support system and a response of the user to the question on the chat room. 
     The processing unit may be configured to search for a prior art document related to the information on the intellectual property based on the information on the intellectual property received from the user terminal, and the generating unit may be configured to generate display data for displaying a relevance between the prior art document searched by the processing unit and the information on the intellectual property on a map. 
     The generating unit may be configured to generate display data for displaying certain information set by each of a plurality of agents, and the processing unit may be configured to notify at least a part of the information on the intellectual property to an agent terminal operable by one of the agents selected by the user based on the certain information. 
     The generating unit may be configured to create display data for displaying a deadline of the information on the intellectual property received from the input receiving unit for each chat room on a calendar, which allows a management of the deadline. 
     Our intellectual property support method includes: receiving information on intellectual property transmitted from a user terminal operable by a user as a communicating step; generating display data for displaying a chat room that allows the user to exchange the information as a generating step; transmitting the display data for displaying the chat room including the information on the intellectual property received in the communicating step to the user terminal as a processing step; receiving the information on the intellectual property as an input receiving step; and storing the information on the intellectual property as a storing step. The generating step displays a certain question on the intellectual property on the chat room, and the storing step automatically stores a response of the user to the received certain question. The method further includes outputting an execution result of a prior art document search for the response as an IP liaison step. 
     Our non-transitory computer readable medium stores a program causing a computer to execute: a communication function configured to receive information on intellectual property transmitted from a user terminal operable by a user; a generating function configured to generate display data for displaying a chat room that allows the user to exchange information; a processing function configured to transmit the display data for displaying the chat room including the information on the intellectual property received by the communication function to the user terminal; an input receiving function configured to receive the information on the intellectual property; and a storing function configured to store the information on the intellectual property. The generating function displays a certain question on the intellectual property on the chat room, and the storing function automatically stores a response of the user to the received certain question. The computer is further caused to execute an IP liaison function configured to output an execution result of a prior art document search for the response. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of examples in the disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating flows of procedures in a foreign country according to a first example. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an intellectual property system according to the first example. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a server device according to the first example. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a user terminal according to the first example. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a top screen according to the first example. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a main screen according to the first example. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a calendar screen according to the first example. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a folder screen according to the first example. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a liaison screen according to the first example. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a procedure flow screen according to the first example. 
         FIG. 11  is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation example of the intellectual property system according to the first example. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an intellectual property system according to a second example. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a server device according to the second example. 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the server device according to the second example. 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the server device according to the second example. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First Example 
     A first example will be described with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating flows of procedures in a foreign country. The flow A in  FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating a flow of conventional procedures. A user that wishes to perform procedures with a foreign patent office or a court exchanges information on the procedures with an agent (a patent attorney or a lawyer) of a foreign patent firm through a domestic patent firm or a law firm to perform the procedures with the foreign patent office or the court. Although  FIG. 1  illustrates the flow of the procedures in a foreign country as an example, the first example is applicable to not only the procedures in a foreign country, but also the domestic procedures. 
     The user may be a natural person or a corporation. The term domestic is directed to a country where the user&#39;s address or residence is present. The phrase foreign country is directed to a country other than the country where the user&#39;s address or residence is present. 
     As shown in the flow A of  FIG. 1 , first, the user uses a user terminal  2 , for example, to exchange information on the procedures for the foreign patent office or the court with the staff of the domestic patent firm or the law firm. For example, when the user files a patent application in a foreign country, regarding the invention according to the patent application, the user first exchanges information on the invention with the staff of the domestic patent firm or the law firm. 
     The staff of the domestic patent firm or the law firm then transfers the information on the procedures exchanged with the user to the foreign patent firm or the law firm. For example, the domestic patent firm or the law firm translates the information on the patent application exchanged with the user to a local language such as English and transfers the translated information to the foreign patent firm or the law firm. The transfer may be performed by using an e-mail, facsimile, and a telephone, for example, or through a meeting in person. 
     The agent (a patent attorney or a lawyer) of the foreign patent firm or the law firm then performs the procedures as an agent for a foreign patent office or a court. For example, the foreign patent firm or the law firm files a patent application as an agent with the foreign patent office. 
     As described above, when the user performs the procedures for the foreign patent office or the court, the user exchanges information on the procedures with the foreign patent firm or the law firm through the domestic patent firm or the law firm to perform the procedures for the foreign patent office or the court. 
     Accordingly, the user pays expenses to the foreign patent firm or the law firm as a compensation for the agent of the procedures for the foreign patent office or the court. In addition, the user also pays expenses to the domestic patent firm or the law firm as a compensation for the exchange and the translation of the information on the procedures. 
     The user must perform the procedures for the foreign patent office or the court through the foreign lawyer or the patent attorney, and exchange the information on the procedures with the agent (a lawyer or a patent attorney) of the foreign patent firm or the law firm. Accordingly, the user needs to pay expenses as a compensation for the agent to the foreign patent firm or the law firm. 
     However, when the user performs the procedures with the foreign patent office or the court, the user need not perform the procedures through the domestic patent firm or the law firm. When the user performs the procedures without going through the domestic patent firm or the law firm, the user need not pay expenses to the domestic patent firm or the law firm. 
     The first example thus provides an intellectual property system  100  that allows the user to exchange the information on the procedures directly with the agent of the foreign patent firm or the law firm. As described above, the intellectual property system  100  according to the first example is applicable to not only the foreign agent but also the domestic agent. 
     The flow B in  FIG. 1  is an example of when a user performs procedures with a foreign patent office or a court by using the intellectual property system  100  according to the first example. The user exchanges information on the procedures directly with the agent of the patent firm or the law firm through a server device  1  included in the intellectual property system  100 . The procedures are related to intellectual property, for example, and specifically to procedures such as a patent application, a design registration application, a trademark registration application, and a prosecution related to such applications. Further, the procedure may be related to a lawsuit associated with intellectual property. Moreover, the procedures need not be related to the intellectual property. The procedures may correspond to any procedures. 
     The agent (a patent attorney or a lawyer) of the patent firm or the law firm performs the procedures as an agent with the patent office or the court based on the information on the procedures exchanged directly with the user. 
     This allows the user, for example, as illustrated in the example of the flow B in  FIG. 1 , to perform the procedures with the foreign patent office or the court without going through the domestic patent firm or the law firm. Accordingly, the user need not pay expenses for the domestic patent firm and the law firm paid in the flow A. This reduces the costs needed for the user to perform the procedures with the foreign patent office or the court. 
     In contrast, in the flow B, since the user exchanges the information directly with the foreign agent, the foreign agent may inform the user of information where the user fails to know how to deal with the information. Further, the information that the user notifies the foreign agent may be insufficient in contents or the contents may be incorrect. In such cases, in the flow B, the manager or the staff of the server device  1 , or the server device  1  automatically checks the information received from the user or the foreign agent, and when the information is insufficient or incorrect, notifies and requests the user to correct or add the contents. Moreover, of the information received from the foreign agent, for the information that is considered to be hard for the user to recognize how to deal with, information for describing the information or the way to deal with the information to be performed by the user may be added to the information and transmitted to the user terminal  2 . This allows the user to perform the procedures smoothly and quickly. 
     The intellectual property system  100  according to the first example also reduces the costs for translation of the information on the procedures by, for example, employing a translation service provided at a lower cost than when the translation is requested to the patent firm or the law firm. In the intellectual property system  100 , the translation service provides a translation suitable for intellectual property, achieving an accurate translation of wordings and expressions specific to the intellectual property. This reduces or eliminates the costs and time needed for the user to correct the translated documents. 
     Configuration of Intellectual Property System  100   
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the intellectual property system  100  according to the first example. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the intellectual property system  100  includes a server device  1 , a user terminal  2 , a network (NW)  3 , and an agent terminal  4 . The agent terminal  4  connects to a certain terminal of the patent office or the court. 
     The server device  1  connects to the user terminal  2  via the NW  3  and provides the services of the intellectual property system  100  to the user terminal  2 . The server device  1  may include a server device or a computer (e.g., a desktop, a laptop, and a tablet), for example. In the first example, the server device  1  is not limited to these. 
     The server device  1  also connects to the agent terminal  4  via the NW  3 . The server device  1  transfers the information received from the user terminal  2  to the agent terminal  4 . For example, the server device  1  receives information on a patent application from the user terminal  2  and transfers the information on the patent application to the agent terminal  4  via the NW  3 . Further, the server device  1  transfers the information received from the agent terminal  4  to the user terminal  2 . 
     Further, the server device  1  transmits new information obtained by modifying, changing, or updating the information that has been received from the user terminal  2  to the agent terminal  4 . For example, the manager of the server device  1  (intellectual property system  100 ), the staff of a company or a corporation that provides intellectual property services using the server device  1 , or the server device  1  automatically receives the information from the user terminal  2 , and when certain items are insufficient in the information, the manager or the staff supplements the information with the insufficient items and transmits the information to the agent terminal  4 . Further, when the information received from the user terminal  2  is incorrect, the manager or the staff, or the server device  1  automatically modifies the information to be correct and transmits the information to the agent terminal  4 . 
     Also, when the manager or the staff, or the server device  1  automatically considers the information received from the user terminal  2  to be insufficient or incorrect to be notified to the agent, the manager or the staff, or the server device  1  automatically requests the user to correct or add the contents of the information via the user terminal  2 . 
     Further, the server device  1  transfers new information obtained by translating the information on the patent application received from the user terminal  2  to the agent terminal  4 . 
     In the same manner, the server device  1  transmits new information to the user terminal  2 , which new information is obtained by the manager or the staff of the server device  1 , or the server device  1  automatically modifying, changing, or updating the information that has been received from the agent terminal  4 . 
     Further, the server device  1 , of the information received from the agent terminal  4 , determines information that is considered to be hard to be recognized by the user, and notifies text information illustrating the contents of the determined information that the server device  1  wishes the user to deal with to the user terminal  2  as well as the information received from the agent terminal  4 . 
     As described above, in the intellectual property system  100  according to the first example, the manager of the server device  1  or the staff of the company or the corporation that provides intellectual property services using the server device  1 , or the server device  1  automatically checks the information received from the user terminal  2 , and when the information is insufficient or incorrect, prompts the user to modify, change, or add the contents of the information. Further, of the information received from the agent terminal  4 , when information that the user may recognize hard to deal with is detected, information for illustrating the meaning and the contents of the information is added and notified to the user terminal  2  as well as the received information. In this way, in the intellectual property system  100 , the manager or the staff of the server device  1 , or the server device  1  automatically provides a service such as a concierge that supports the user on the information on the procedures. Such a service may be referred to as IP concierge. 
     Further, the server device  1  provides various services included in the intellectual property system  100  in response to requests received from the user terminal  2 . For example, the server device  1  receives a request for using the calendar function from the user terminal  2  and provides the calendar function to the user terminal  2 . Moreover, the server device  1 , for example, receives a request for using the TV conference function from the user terminal  2  and provides the TV conference function to the user terminal  2 . 
     The server device  1  may be located anywhere as long as it connects to the user terminal  2  and the agent terminal  4  via the NW  3 . In the example in  FIG. 2 , although the intellectual property system  100  includes one server device  1 , the intellectual property system  100  may include a plurality of server devices  1 . 
     The user terminal  2  corresponds to a device that connects to the server device  1  via the NW  3  and transmits information on the procedures to the server device  1 . The user terminal  2  may include a computer (e.g., a desktop, a laptop, and a tablet), a smartphone, a cell phone (e.g., a feature phone), a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a wearable terminal. In the first example, the user terminal  2  is not limited to these. 
     The user terminal  2  transmits various pieces of information received from the user to the server device  1 . The user terminal  2 , for example, transmits the information on the procedures received from the user to the server device  1 . The user terminal  2 , for example, receives information on a patent application to be filed in a foreign country from the user and transmits the information on the patent application to the server device  1 . The user terminal  2 , for example, receives and transmits information on the invention to the server device  1 . The information that the user terminal  2  transmits to the server device  1  is not limited to information on the procedures, and may be any information. 
     The NW  3  connects the server device  1  with the user terminal  2 , and the server device  1  with the agent terminal  4  to provide a connection path through which data is mutually transmitted and received. 
     The NW  3  corresponds to a wired network or a wireless network and may include an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), Internet, a public switched telephone network (PSTN), integrated service digital networks (ISDNs), wireless LANs, long term evolution (LTE) code division multiple access (CDMA), BLUETOOTH (registered trademark), and satellite communication. In the first example, the NW  3  is not limited to these. 
     The agent terminal  4  corresponds to a device that connects to the server device  1  via the NW  3  and receives information that has been transmitted by the user of the user terminal  2  from the server device  1 . The agent terminal  4 , for example, may include a computer (for example, a desktop, a laptop, and a tablet), a smartphone, a cell phone (e.g., a feature phone), a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a wearable terminal. In the first example, the agent terminal  4  is not limited to these. 
     The agent terminal  4  may also serve to file a document with the foreign patent office or the court, which document has been formed based on the information on the procedures received from the server device  1  to be submitted to the foreign patent office or the court. In the foreign patent firm or the law office, the agent terminal  4  that receives information on the procedures from the server device  1  and a device for filing a document with the foreign patent office or the court may be independently provided. 
     Configuration of Server Device 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the server device  1 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the server device  1  includes a communication unit  10 , a control unit  11 , a storage unit  15 , a display unit  16 , and an input receiving unit  17 . 
     The communication unit  10  transmits and receives certain information via the NW  3 . Communications of the communication unit  10  may be performed by either wired or wireless, and any communication protocol may be used as long as mutual communication is performed. The communication unit  10  connects to the user terminal  2  and transmits and receives the information on the procedures. Further, the communication unit  10  connects to the agent terminal  4  and transmits and receives information related to the procedures. The communication unit  10  transmits and receives certain information according to an instruction from the control unit  11 . Further, the communication unit  10  transmits certain information received from the user terminal  2  and the agent terminal  4  to the control unit  11  and the storage unit  15 . 
     The control unit  11  that performs a function embodied by a code or a command included in the program may include a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, a processor core, a multiprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA), for example. In this disclosure, the control unit  11  is not limited to these. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the control unit  11  includes a processing unit  12 , a generating unit  13 , and a storage processing unit  14 . 
     The processing unit  12  performs a certain process in response to certain information received from the user terminal  2  or the agent terminal  4 . For example, when the processing unit  12  receives the information on the procedures from the user terminal  2 , the processing unit  12  instructs the generating unit  13  to generate display data for displaying the information on the procedures on the display unit  16 . Further, for example, when the processing unit  12  receives the information on the procedures from the user terminal  2 , the processing unit  12  instructs the storage processing unit  14  to store the received information on the procedures in the storage unit  15 . Also, when the processing unit  12  receives the information on the procedures from the user terminal  2 , for example, the processing unit  12  performs processes for transferring the received information on the procedures through the communication unit  10  to the agent terminal  4 . 
     Further, in response to the request received from the user terminal  2 , the processing unit  12  performs processes for providing a service corresponding to the request. When the processing unit  12  receives a request to use the TV conference function from the user terminal  2 , for example, the processing unit  12  performs a process for using the TV conference function. When the processing unit  12  receives a request to use the TV conference function from the user terminal  2 , for example, the processing unit  12  instructs the generating unit  13  to generate display data for displaying a screen display for a TV conference. 
     The processing unit  12  instructs the generating unit  13  to generate display data for displaying various types of text information entered by the user using the user terminal  2 . Further, the processing unit  12  instructs the generating unit  13  to generate display data for displaying the text information received from the input receiving unit  17 . The text information received from the input receiving unit  17  corresponds to, for example, text information for a manager (owner) of the server device  1  to respond to the text information and the information on the procedures received from the user terminal  2 . The processing unit  12  may automatically respond to the text information and the information on the procedures received from the user terminal  2 . 
     Also, the processing unit  12  instructs the generating unit  13  to generate display data that displays text information and information on the procedures received from the agent terminal  4 . Further, for example, when the processing unit  12  receives the information on the procedures from the agent terminal  4 , the processing unit  12  instructs the storage processing unit  14  to store the received information on the procedures in the storage unit  15 . 
     The processing unit  12  transmits the display data generated by the generating unit  13  to the user terminal  2  and/or the agent terminal  4  via the communication unit  10 . This allows the user terminal  2  and/or the agent terminal  4  to display various screen displays generated by the generating unit  13 . 
     The processes of the processing unit  12  are not limited to the above examples. The processing unit  12  performs processes for providing various services included in the intellectual property system  100 . 
     In accordance with the instruction from the processing unit  12 , the generating unit  13  generates display data to display on the screen display. The generating unit  13  transmits the generated display data to the user terminal  2  and/or the agent terminal  4  via the communication unit  10 . Also, the generating unit  13  writes the display data in the frame buffer and displays it on the display unit  16 . 
     The generating unit  13 , for example, generates display data to display the text information and the information on the procedures received from the user terminal  2  or the agent terminal  4  in a chat room. Also, the generating unit  13  generates display data to display a screen display to perform a TV conference, for example. This disclosure is not limited to these examples. The display unit  13  generates various display data to be displayed on the user terminal  2 , the agent terminal  4 , and the display unit  16 . 
     The storage processing unit  14  stores the information received from the user terminal  2  or the agent terminal  4  in the storage unit  15  based on the instruction from the processing unit  12 . The storage processing unit  14  stores the information on the patent application from the user terminal  2  or the agent terminal  4  in the storage unit  15  based on the instruction from the processing unit  12 . 
     The storage processing unit  14 , for example, stores the information received from the user terminal  2  in the storage unit  15  for each user terminal  2 . The storage processing unit  14 , for example, stores the information received from each of the user terminals  2  in different areas of the storage unit  15 . The storage processing unit  14  stores the information received from one of the user terminals  2  in the storage unit  15  in a manner in which the other user terminals  2  cannot access the information received from the one of the user terminals  2 . 
     The storage unit  15  has a function of storing various programs and various data needed for operations of the server device  1 . Further, the storage unit  15  stores the information received from the user terminal  2  based on the instruction from the storage processing unit  14 . The storage unit  15  is embodied by various storage media such as an HDD, an SSD, and a flash memory. However, in the first example, the storage unit  15  is not limited to these. 
     The display unit  16  displays a certain screen display in accordance with the display data written in the frame buffer. The display unit  16  is embodied by a device that displays data such as images and text information, which device may include a monitor (a liquid crystal display and an organic electroluminescence display OELD) and a head mounted display (HMD). In the first example, the display unit  16  is not limited to these. 
     The input receiving unit  17  receives various operations on the server device  1 . The input receiving unit  17 , for example, receives an input from the manager (owner) of the server device  1  and transmits the information on the input to the control unit  11 . The input receiving unit  17  may include, for example, a hardware key such as a touch panel and a keyboard typically, a pointing device such as a mouse, a camera (operation input via a moving image), and a microphone (operation input by voice). However, in the first example, the input receiving unit  17  is not limited to these. 
     The manager or the staff of the server device  1  enters information to be notified to the user or the foreign agent through the input receiving unit  17 . The intellectual property system  100  checks the information received from the user terminal  2 , and when the information is insufficient or incorrect, the intellectual property system  100  prompts the user to modify, change, or add the contents of the information. Further, of the information received from the agent terminal  4 , when information that the user may recognize hard to deal with is detected, information for illustrating the meaning and the contents of the information is added and notified to the user terminal  2  as well as the received information. Such information that the manager or the staff notifies the user is entered through the input receiving unit  17  to the server device  1 . 
     Configuration of User Terminal  2  and Agent Terminal  4   
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the user terminal  2 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the user terminal  2  includes a terminal communication unit  20 , a terminal control unit  21 , a storage portion  25 , a terminal display unit  26 , and an operation receiving unit  27 . The agent terminal  4  has the same configuration as that of the user terminal  2 . In the following, a configuration of the user terminal  2  will be described as an example. Since the configuration of the agent terminal  4  is the same as that of the user terminal  2 , a detailed description thereof will be omitted. 
     The terminal communication unit  20  transmits and receives certain information via the NW  3 . Communications of the terminal communication unit  20  may be performed by either wired or wireless, and any communication protocol may be used as long as mutual communication is performed. The terminal communication unit  20  connects to the server device  1  and transmits and receives certain information. 
     The terminal control unit  21  may include a central processing unit, a microprocessor, a processor core, a multiprocessor, an ASIC, and an FPGA, for example, that perform functions embodied by codes or instructions included in the program. In this disclosure, the control unit  21  is not limited to these. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the terminal control unit  21  includes a transmission processing unit  22 , a display processing unit  23 , and a storage processing unit  24 . 
     The transmission processing unit  22  transmits, for example, the text information received from the operation receiving unit  26  through the terminal communication unit  20  to the server device  1 . Further, the transmission processing unit  22  transmits various requests received from the operation receiving unit  27  to the server device  1 . 
     The display processing unit  23  performs processes of displaying the display data received from the server device  1  on the terminal display unit  26 . The display processing unit  23 , for example, performs processes of displaying display data that display the text information received from the server device  1  on the terminal display unit  26 . The display processing unit  23  writes the display data in the frame buffer and displays it on the terminal display unit  26 . 
     The storage processing unit  24  performs processes of storing the text information and the information on the procedures received from the server device  1  in the storage portion  25 . 
     The terminal display unit  26  displays a certain screen display according to the display data written in the frame buffer. The terminal display unit  26  is embodied by a device that displays data including images and text information, which device may include a monitor (liquid crystal display or an OELD) and a head mounted display (HIVID), for example. In the first example, the terminal display unit  26  is not limited to these. 
     The operation receiving unit  27  receives various operations on the user terminal  2 . The operation receiving unit  27 , for example, receives an input from the user and transmits the information on the input to the transmission processing unit  22 . The operation receiving unit  27  may include, for example, a hardware key such as a touch panel and a keyboard typically, a pointing device such as a mouse, a camera (operation input via a moving image), and a microphone (operation input by voice). However, in the first example, the operation receiving unit  27  is not limited to these. 
     The storage portion  25  has a function of storing various programs and various data needed for operations of the user terminal  2 . Also, the storage portion  25  stores the information received from the server device  1  based on the instruction from the storage processing unit  24 . The storage portion  25  is embodied by various storage media such as an HDD, an SSD, and a flash memory. However, in the first example, the storage portion  25  is not limited to these. 
     The terminal display unit  26  displays a certain screen display according to the display data written in the frame buffer. The terminal display unit  26  is embodied by a device that displays data including images and text information, which device may include a monitor (liquid crystal display or an OELD) and a head mounted display (HMD), for example. In the first example, the terminal display unit  26  is not limited to these. 
     The operation receiving unit  27  receives various operations on the user terminal  2 . For example, the operation receiving unit  27  receives an input from the user and transmits the information on the input to the terminal control unit  21 . The operation receiving unit  27  may include, for example, a hardware key such as a touch panel and a keyboard typically, a pointing device such as a mouse, a camera (operation input via a moving image), and a microphone (operation input by voice). However, in the first example, the operation receiving unit  27  is not limited to these. 
     Screen Display 
       FIGS. 5 to 9  are schematic diagrams illustrating examples of screen displays displayed on the terminal display unit  26  of the user terminal  2  based on the display data generated by the generating unit  13  of the server device  1 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a top screen  200  on the web page to provide the services of the intellectual property system  100  by the server device  1 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the top screen  200  includes an explanation area  201  introducing the intellectual property system  100  and icons  202  corresponding to the various services. 
     The explanation area  201  includes information introducing the various services provided by the intellectual property system  100  with texts and illustrations. Further, the explanation area  201  may include link information to a home page HP in which the description illustrating the intellectual property system  100  is made. Clicking the link information by the user allows the user to move to the HP. The explanation area  201  is not limited to these examples. Any information such as how to use the intellectual property system  100  may be posted. 
     Further, the top screen  200  includes the icons  202  corresponding to the various services provided by the intellectual property system  100 . The various services may include, for example, a patent application, a design registration application, a trademark application, and a lawsuit. Clicking the icon  202  corresponding to one of the various services included in the top screen  200  by the user allows the user to move to the page for the service corresponding to the icon  202 . The intellectual property system  100  may be configured such that clicking the icon  202  corresponding to one of the various services allows the user to move to a login screen for logging in the intellectual property system  100 . 
     The top screen  200  may include an icon  203  corresponding to link information for a user to move to a page for logging in the intellectual property system  100 . The user clicks the icon  203  included in the top screen  201 , moves to a login screen (not shown), enters data such as a user ID and a password, and logs in the intellectual property system  100 . After logging in the intellectual property system  100 , the user selects (clicks) one of the icons  202  corresponding to the various services provided by the intellectual property system  100  on the top screen  200  displayed after the login, allowing the user to move to a page for providing the service corresponding to the icon  202 . 
     The top screen  201  may include various information and icons other than the above examples. 
       FIG. 6  shows a main screen  301  of the intellectual property system  100 . The main screen  301  is provided for each of the services (such as a patent application and a design registration application) provided by the intellectual property system  100 . The main screen  301  may be provided not for each of the services but for each of the users. 
     The main screen  301  includes a chat room  302  for exchanging information with other users, foreign agents, and a manager of the intellectual property system  100 , for example. The chat room corresponds to an area that displays various information notified by the user, the other users, the foreign agents, and the manager of the intellectual property system  100 , for example, through the user terminal  2  and the agent terminal  4  to the server device  1 . The chat room displays information notified by the user, for example, for each of time sequences. 
     In the example in  FIG. 6 , the chat room  302  shows text information such as “The invention explanation that we consulted with you is uploaded.” and information on procedures such as “invention_explanation_0823” and “drawings_0823”. 
     Also, the chat room  302  shows, in association with the displayed information, information indicating the time when the information has been displayed, and “already read”, which serves as information indicating whether the other users have viewed the information. The phrase “already read” indicates that the information displayed in the chat room  302  has been displayed on a terminal other than the user terminal  2  or the agent terminal  4  through which the information had been transmitted. For example, when one user terminal  2  transmits text characters “The invention explanation that we consulted with you is uploaded.”, the phrase “already read” is displayed in response to a fact that another user terminal  2  has displayed the text characters “The invention explanation that we consulted with you is uploaded.” When a plurality of the users, for example, is participating in the chat room  302 , the number of the user terminals  2  on which the target information has been displayed is displayed around the phrase “already read.” 
     The chat room  302  may also display information indicating that the server device  1  has automatically responded to the information from the user terminal  2 . In the example of  FIG. 6 , the server device  1  automatically makes responses such as “Received” or “The received files are stored in the folder A.” 
     In the chat room  302 , the manager or the staff of the server device  1  checks the information received from the user terminal  2  and prompts the user to correct or add the contents of the information when the manager or the staff recognizes that the contents are insufficient or incorrect. For example, in the example of  FIG. 6 , ISHIHARA, that is the manager or the staff of the server device  1  checks the “invention_explanation_0823” and the “drawings_0823” received from the user terminal  2 , and if the manager or the staff recognizes that the “inventor information” is missing, the manager or the staff displays “Please let us know the information of the inventor,” which corresponds to information for requesting the user to add the contents of the insufficient information. 
     The main screen  301  may include an icon  303  corresponding to another user related to the user. The user selects the icon  303  corresponding to the other user on the main screen  301  and allows the selected other user to participate in the chat room  302 . For example, the user selects the icon  303  corresponding to the user A as the other user, and allows the user A to participate in the chat room  302 . This allows the other user that has participated in the chat room  302  to enter (upload) the text information and the information on the procedures in the chat room  302 . The main screen  301  may include an icon  303  corresponding to each of a plurality of other users. The icons  303  that cannot be displayed on the main screen  301  are displayed by the user scrolling the area where the icons  303  are displayed on the main screen  301 . 
     When the user selects the icon  303  corresponding to the other user on the main screen  301 , the chat room  302  to exchange certain information with the other user corresponding to the selected icon  303  is displayed in the area in which the chat room  302  is to be displayed. This allows the user to exchange the certain information with the other user corresponding to the selected icon  303  using the displayed chat room  302 . 
     The main screen  301  may include an icon  304  corresponding to a group including a plurality of users or foreign agents. The user transmits and receives text information and the information on the procedures with the users and the foreign agents that belong to the group in the chat room  302 . Selecting the icon  304  included in the main screen  301  allows the user to determine the group to exchange various information using the chat room  302 . The main screen  301  may include icons  304  corresponding to a plurality of groups. The icons  304  that cannot be displayed on the main screen  301  are displayed by the user scrolling the area where the icons  304  are displayed on the main screen  301 . 
     When the user selects the icon  304  corresponding to the group on the main screen  301 , the chat room  302  to exchange certain information with the users and the foreign agents that belong to the group corresponding to the selected icon  304  is displayed in the area in which the chat room  302  is to be displayed. This allows the user to exchange the certain information with the users and the foreign agents that belong to the group corresponding to the selected icon  304  using the displayed chat room  302 . 
     The main screen  301  may include an icon  305  corresponding to the calendar function. For the calendar function, for example, a calendar function provided at a low price or free of charge may be used. When the user selects the icon  305  corresponding to the calendar function, the user moves to a calendar screen  401 , which displays the calendar. 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of the calendar screen  401 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the calendar screen  401  displays the calendar on which various schedules related to the user are displayed. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the calendar screen  401  displays the contents of the procedures and the deadlines thereof for the foreign patent office. For example, the calendar screen  401  displays that August 7 (Monday) is the deadline of the procedure for the case PP011J to be filed with the patent office. Further, the calendar screen  401  displays, for example, that August 4 (Friday) 14:00 corresponds to the schedule of the meeting. 
     In the intellectual property system  100 , the schedules such as the deadline to be displayed on the calendar screen  401  are entered by the user on the calendar screen  401 . Further, the manager or the staff of the server device  1  may enter the schedules such as the deadline to be displayed on the calendar screen  401 . For example, when the server device  1  receives the information from the agent terminal  4  abroad, the manager or the staff of the server device  1  may check the information, check the deadline to be filed with the foreign patent office, and enter the schedule to the calendar. The schedules such as the deadline displayed on the calendar screen  401  may be automatically updated when the user uploads the information to the chat room  302 , for example. 
     In the intellectual property system  100 , the schedules displayed on the calendar screen  401  are not limited to the schedules related to the intellectual property, and any schedules may be included as long as they are schedules of the user. 
     The main screen  301  may include an icon  306  corresponding to the folder function. The folder function is for storing the information on the procedures uploaded by the user to the chat room  302 . When the user selects the icon  306  corresponding to the folder function, the user moves to a folder screen  501 , which displays folders. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of the folder screen  501 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , in the folder screen  501 , a folder  502  in which various files are stored is displayed. For example, the folder “folder_A_case_of_new_application” stores files such as documents concerning a new application. 
     The folder screen  501  stores the name of the folder  502 , the update date and time, which correspond to the time when the various files are registered in the folder  502 , and the size of the files stored in the folder  502 , which name, date and time, and size are associated with each other. The manager or the staff of the server device  1  may determine and enter the name of the folder  502 . 
     The files uploaded by the user or the foreign agent to the chat room  302  may be automatically stored in the folder. For example, the various information uploaded by the user in the chat room  302  titled New Application may be automatically stored in the folder  502  named New Application. The manager or the staff of the server device  1  may store the files uploaded by the user and the foreign agent to the chat room  302  and the name of the folder  502 . 
     Also, the user and the foreign agent open the files stored in the folder  502  of the folder screen  501  and modify or change the contents. Further, the user and the foreign agent may upload the files to the chat room  302 , or may designate the folder  502  on the folder screen  501  to store the files therein. 
     The main screen  301  may include an icon  307  corresponding to the translation function. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the main screen  301  includes Translation as the icon  307  corresponding to the translation function. 
     The translation function is for translating certain information uploaded by the user and the foreign agent. For example, when the user uploads a file described in Japanese to the chat room  302 , it serves to translate the file into English or Chinese. Also, it serves to translate a file written in English or Chinese uploaded by the foreign agent to Japanese. 
     It is desirable that the translation function be capable of accurately translating expressions and contents specific to the intellectual property. The translation function may be, for example, a hybrid machine translation that combines a rule-based machine translation that translates certain expressions and contents based on a predetermined rule and a statistical machine translation that performs translation by statistically learning translation models based on a large number of translated sentences (such as example sentences and past translation results). The rule-based machine translation performs translation according to a combination of words and grammar, for example, enabling translation of contents with reduced mistranslation even in the field of the intellectual property including specific expressions. Further, the statistical machine translation performs translation based on the mechanically learned translation models, enabling translation of contents with reduced mistranslation even in various technical fields. The translation function in the intellectual property system  100  performs translation based on the hybrid machine translation, enabling translation of contents even on the intellectual property including the various technical fields and the field of law with reduced mistranslation. 
     The translation function may be performed not based on the machine learning but by a translator. 
     When the user identifies the file uploaded to the chat room  302  on the chat room  302  and selects the icon  307 , the specified file is translated into a certain language. When the user selects the icon  307 , further tabs and icons for selecting a language to be translated may be displayed. When the user selects the tab or the icon corresponding to the language that the user desires to translate, the specified file is translated into the selected language. 
     In the intellectual property system  100  according to the first example, for example, a translation service provided at a low price or free of charge may be used for the translation of the file. 
     In the first example, when the user or the foreign agent uploads the file to the chat room  302 , the translation function may be automatically performed on the file. 
     The main screen  301  may include an icon  308  corresponding to each of a plurality of the foreign agents. The user selects the icon  308  and allows the foreign agent that the user requests the procedures to participate in the chat room  302  so that the user can exchange information with the foreign agent. The main screen  301  may include an icon  308  corresponding to each of a plurality of the foreign agents. The icons  308  that are not displayed on the main screen  301  are displayed by scrolling the area where the icons  308  are displayed on the main screen  301  by the user. 
     The icon  308  may display information on the agent. On the icon  308 , for example, the name of the agent or the name of the patent firm or the law firm to which the agent belongs may be displayed. Further, for each agent, the icon  308  may display the costs when the user requests the agent to perform the procedures, or the time needed for the procedures. This allows the user to check the costs and the time, for example, to select the agent that the user requests the procedures. 
     The intellectual property system may be configured such that clicking the icons  308  by the user to check detailed information on the agents allows the user to move to a page for checking the detailed information. The detailed information may include detailed contents of the patent firm and the law firm to which the agent belongs, the costs required for the procedures, and the career of the agent. For each of the agents, for example, the user can check the costs needed for the procedures and determine the agent to request the procedures. In contrast, the agent presents the costs of discounts, for example, so that the agent is selected by the user. 
     The main screen  301  may include an icon  309  corresponding to a function for a TV conference with the foreign agent. When the user specifies the icon  308  corresponding to the foreign agent that the user wishes to conduct the TV conference and selects the icon  309  corresponding to the TV conference, the user moves to the TV conference screen for conducting the TV conference with the specified foreign agent. 
     The TV conference with the foreign agent allows the user to directly obtain the explanation from the foreign agent concerning the contents on the procedures and the costs needed for the procedures. 
     Further, the main screen  301  may include an icon  310  corresponding to IP liaison and an icon  311  corresponding to flow of procedures as an option. The functions included in the option may be used only by the users that have paid for using the option, or may be available to all of the users. 
     The IP liaison is a service that draws out an invention from the inventor by asking the inventor certain questions. The IP liaison asks the inventor the certain questions such as “What is the feature of the invention?” and “What is the novel part of the invention?” and receives responses from the inventor to clarify the invention. The question to be given to the inventor in the IP liaison is not limited to these examples. Any questions may be used as long as the questions are to draw out the invention. The IP liaison asks the inventor various questions to clarify the invention to enable the patent application to be filed for the invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration example of a liaison screen  601  for providing the IP liaison function. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the liaison screen  601  includes a chat room  602  in which various questions related to the invention are made and the inventor responds to the questions. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the question to the inventor may be automatically made by the system or may be performed by the manager or the staff of the intellectual property system  100 . The inventor as a user answers the questions displayed on the chat room  602 . The answers from the inventor are automatically stored in the folder  502 . The files stored in the folder  502  allows the inventor as a user to check the invention and perform certain procedures related to the patent application. 
     A plurality of inventors are allowed to participate in the chat room  602  shown in  FIG. 9 , and the invention is clarified by the inventors cooperatively answering the questions. Further, the answers from the inventor in the chat room  602  shown in  FIG. 9  are stored in the folder  502  as well as the date and time, and the files stored in the folder  502  may also be used as a research note. 
     Further, the IP liaison function may be configured to perform the prior art document search based on the contents answered by the inventor. The server device  1  connects to various services that provide patent documents and articles, for example, via the NW  3  and performs the prior art document search based on the contents answered by the inventor. The server device  1  may automatically upload the found prior art documents to the chat room  602 . 
     Further, the IP liaison function may indicate the relevance between the invention of the user and the found prior art documents by a tree map on the chat room  602  or another page. The tree map allows the user to obtain the relevance between the invention of the user and the related documents, examine the patentability of the invention of the user, and even improve the invention of the user in consideration of the related documents. The IP liaison function is not limited to show the relevance to the invention of the user. The IP liaison may display the relevance between the prior art documents. Further, the IP liaison function may display the relevance by methods other than the tree map. 
     Further, the IP liaison function displays the similarity between the invention of the user and the prior art documents as a distribution map. For example, the center of the map is defined as the invention of the user, and the higher similarity the prior art documents have, the closer positions to the center the prior art documents may be plotted. The map allows the user to check the similarity between the invention of the user and a plurality of the prior art documents. The map also allows the user to find, for example, existing patents and articles that are appropriate as the prior art documents of the invention of the user. The map also allows the user to check the prior art documents that are similar to the invention of the user to determine the patentability of the invention of the user. For example, when a number of plots are shown close to the center (invention of the user) in the map, the user determines that a number of prior documents close to the invention of the user exists. This allows the user to consider additional ideas to improve the patentability of the invention of the user. Further, when less plots are shown at positions close to the center in the map, the user determines that less prior art documents that are similar to the invention of the user exists. This allows the user to consider filing a plurality of applications, and extend the scope of the invention of the application. 
     In addition, when a plurality of the inventions of the user is provided, the IP liaison function defines the inventions of the user as a cluster and shows a map allowing a plurality of prior art documents (cluster of the prior art documents) close to the cluster of the invention of the user to be viewed. 
     Further, the IP liaison function may be configured to specify researchers that conduct the same research and development as those of the inventor from the information on the inventors participating in the chat room  602 . The server device  1  connects through the NW 3  to a service that provides information on the inventors and specifies, for example, the researchers that conduct the same research and development as those of the inventors participating in the chat room  602 . The server device  1  may automatically upload the information on the specified researchers to the chat room  602 . 
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart schematically illustrating a configuration example of a procedure flow screen  701  providing the function of the flow of the procedures. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the procedure flow screen  701  displays to which part of the entire procedures from filing the application to acquiring the patent right the procedure related to the user currently performed corresponds. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the procedure flow screen  701  includes the entire flow of the procedures, among which the background of the flow corresponding to the procedure currently being performed by the user is highlighted. This allows the user to check the position of the procedure currently performed in the entire flow of the procedures. Further, checking the procedure flow screen  701  allows the user to obtain the procedure to be performed next. 
     The procedure flow screen  701  is provided for each procedure related to the user. For example, when the user files a patent application and a trademark registration application, a procedure flow screen  701  of the patent application and a procedure flow screen  701  of the trademark registration application are provided. 
       FIG. 11  is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation example of the intellectual property system  100  according to the first example. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the operation receiving unit  27  of the user terminal  2  receives an operation from the user (step S 101 ). The operation receiving unit  27  receives information on intellectual property, for example, from the user via a keyboard or a microphone. 
     The transmission processing unit  22  transmits the information on the intellectual property received from the user to the server device  1  (step S 102 ). The information on the intellectual property may include a file in a certain format and text information, for example. 
     The storage processing unit  14  of the server device  1  stores the information on the intellectual property received from the user terminal  2  in the storage unit  15  (step S 103 ). 
     Further, the generating unit  13  generates display data to display the information on the intellectual property (step S 104 ). The generating unit  13 , for example, generates display data to display a chat room including the information on the intellectual property. In the chat room, the user and the foreign agent exchange information with each other. 
     The processing unit  12  transmits the display data generated by the generating unit  13  through the communication unit  10  to the user terminal  2  and the agent terminal  4  (step S 105 ). 
     The user terminal  2  and the agent terminal  4  display the display screen on the display unit based on the received display data (step S 106 ). The user terminal  2  and the agent terminal  4  display the chat room based on the display data. 
     The agent terminal  4  requests at least a part of the information on the intellectual property to the server device  1  (step S 107 ). When the foreign agent selects information to be downloaded in the displayed chat room, the agent terminal  4  may transmit the request to the server device  1 . 
     In response to the request from the agent terminal  4 , the processing unit  12  of the server device  1  transmits at least a part of the information on the intellectual property to the agent terminal  4  (step S 108 ). 
     As described above, in the first example, the server device  1  transfers the information received from the user terminal  2  to the agent terminal  4 . This allows the intellectual property system  100  to reduce the time and costs needed for the agent to obtain the information on the intellectual property procedures. 
     Second Example 
     The second example shows when a server device  1  searches for illegally uploaded moving images and notifies the user and the foreign agent of the search result. 
       FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an intellectual property system  100  according to the second example. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the intellectual property system  100  includes a storage device  6 , which stores illegally uploaded moving images. The intellectual property system  100  may include a plurality of storage devices  6 . 
     The storage device  6  stores illegally uploaded TV programs and movies, for example. The storage device  6  may be provided in a country other than the country where the address or residence of the person that has uploaded the illegal moving image exists. The storage device  6  may store a plurality of illegally uploaded moving images. 
     The illegally uploaded TV programs and the movies are not uploaded as they are but are uploaded with certain modifications and changes. 
       FIG. 13  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an illegally uploaded moving image  801 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , in the illegally uploaded moving image  801 , for example, an area  803  that is not related to the TV programs and the movies is provided in the periphery of an area  802  for displaying the TV programs and the movies. Providing the area  803  that is not related to the TV programs and the movies prevents the illegally uploaded moving image from being consistent with the moving image shown on the area  802  to display the TV programs and the movies so that the moving image is hard to be detected. The TV programs and the movies  802  are provided at the lower right, the lower left, the upper right, the upper left, or the center of the illegally uploaded moving image  801 . The area other than the area  802  for displaying the TV programs and movies corresponds to the area  803  that is not related to the TV programs and the movies. 
     Accordingly, in the second example, an illegally uploaded moving image is specified based on a change in color (color scheme) included in the TV programs and the movies. 
       FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the server device  1  according to the second example. The control unit  11  of the server device  1  includes a specifying unit  18 . The specifying unit  18  specifies the illegally uploaded moving image stored in the storage device  6  based on the information on the moving image provided by the user. 
     The information on the TV programs and the movies received from the user may include information on blending of colors (color scheme) included in the TV programs and the movies, for example. The information on the blending of colors may include information on the blending of colors included in the TV programs and the movies, for example. Further, the information on the blending of colors is, for example, a ratio of the blending of colors on the screen that displays the moving image. For example, the information on the blending of colors is the ratio of the blending of colors in the RGB color model. The information on the TV programs and the movies may also include information on sounds included in the TV programs and the movies, for example. 
     The specifying unit  18  specifies the illegally uploaded moving image by using the information on the blending of colors (color scheme) and the information on sounds provided by the user. The specifying unit  18 , for example, specifies a moving image that includes the same blending of colors as the illegally uploaded moving image based on the information on the blending of colors (color scheme). 
     Further, the specifying unit  18  specifies a moving image that includes the same sounds as the illegally uploaded moving image based on the sounds included in the TV programs and the movies, for example. Even if the moving image includes the area  803  that is not related to the TV programs and the movies, the sounds of the moving image are the same as those included in the TV programs and the movies provided by the user, allowing the specifying unit  18  to identify the illegally uploaded moving image. 
     The information on the TV programs and the movies provided by the user may correspond to information on a change in color (color scheme) included in the TV programs and the movies, for example. 
     The specifying unit  18  specifies an illegally uploaded moving image using the change in color (color scheme) included in the TV programs and the movies or the sounds included in the TV programs and the movies provided by the user. The specifying unit  18  specifies a moving image including colors (color scheme) that change in the same manner as the illegally uploaded moving image based on the change in color (color scheme) included in the TV programs and the movies, for example. Even if the moving image includes the area  803  that is not related to the TV programs and the movies, the change in color (color scheme) of the area  802  that displays the TV programs and the movies is the same as the change in color (color scheme) included in the TV programs and the movies provided by the user, allowing the specifying unit  18  to identify the illegally uploaded moving image. 
     When the specifying unit  18  specifies the illegally uploaded moving image, the specifying unit  18  notifies the user terminal  2  and the agent terminal  4  of the information on the illegally uploaded moving image. For example, the specifying unit  18  notifies the user terminal  2  of the information on the illegally uploaded moving image. The information on the illegally uploaded moving image includes, for example, the URL of a page on which the illegally uploaded moving image is viewed. Also, the information on the illegally uploaded moving image may be an identifier (such as an IP address) capable of specifying the storage device  6  that stores the illegally uploaded moving image. 
     The user and the foreign agent that are notified of the information on the illegally uploaded moving image by the server device  1  request the manager that manages the storage device  6  to delete the illegally uploaded moving image. This also allows the user and the foreign agent to request a person that has illegally uploaded the moving image to delete the image or take a legal action on the person. 
       FIG. 15  is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of the server device  1  according to the second example. 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , the specifying unit  18  of the server device  1  receives the information on the TV programs and the movies from the user terminal  2  via the communication unit  10  (step S 201 ). The specifying unit  18 , for example, receives the information on the change in color (color scheme) included in the TV programs and the movies from the user terminal  2  via the communication unit  10 . Further, the specifying unit  18  receives, for example, the information on the sounds included in the TV programs and the movies from the user terminal  2  via the communication unit  10 . 
     The specifying unit  18  connects to the storage device  6  that provides various services to view the moving image, and determines whether a moving image that is consistent with the information on the TV programs and the movies received from the user terminal  2  exists in the services provided by the storage device  6  (step S 202 ). The specifying unit  18  determines, for example, the change in color (color scheme) in a moving image is consistent with the change in color (color scheme) included in the TV programs and the movies received from the user terminal  2  to specify whether such a moving image exists in the services provided by the storage device  6 . The specifying unit  18  may determine, for example, the sounds in a moving image are consistent with the sounds included in the TV programs and the movies received from the user terminal  2  to specify whether such a moving image exists in the services provided by the storage device  6 . 
     When a moving image that is consistent with the information on the TV programs and the movies received from the user terminal  2  exists in the services provided by the storage device  6  (YES in step S 202 ), the specifying unit  18  notifies the user terminal  2  and the agent terminal  4  of the URL of the page for viewing the moving image and the identifier capable of identifying the storage device  6  via the communication unit  10  (step S 203 ). 
     In contrast, if the moving image that is consistent with the information on the TV programs and the movies received from the user terminal  2  does not exist in the services provided by the storage device  6  (NO in step S 202 ), the specifying unit  18  terminates the process. 
     The server device  1  may specify, based on the change in color (color scheme) included in the TV programs and the movies and the sounds included in the TV programs and the movies, whether the moving image that is consistent with the information on the TV programs and the movies received from the user terminal  2  exists in the services provided by the storage device  6 . 
     When a plurality of storage devices  6  is provided, the server device  1  executes the processes in steps S 201  to S 203  on the storage devices  6  and specifies the illegally uploaded moving images. 
     As described above, in the second example, the server device  1  searches for an illegally uploaded moving image and notifies the user and the foreign agent of the search result. This allows the user and the foreign agent to request the person that has illegally uploaded the moving image to delete the image or take a legal action on the person. 
     Although this disclosure is described with reference to the drawings and the examples, it should be noted that those skilled in the art can easily make various deformations and modifications based on the disclosure. Therefore, it should be noted that the deformations and the modifications are included within the scope of this disclosure. For example, the functions included in the means and the steps, for example, are rearrangeable as long as the functions are logically consistent with each other, and a plurality of means and steps may be combined together or divided. Further, the structures illustrated in the examples may be appropriately combined.