Web-based method and system for identifying and searching patents

• US 20020169743A1
• Filed: 05/08/2001
• Published: 11/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Horton, Carl Blaine, Christensen, Dave Scot, Arnold, David
• Application Number:
  US09/681,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20020169743A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web

Abstract

A web-based method of obtaining recorded information based on a pre-defined search criteria includes the steps of receiving search criteria from a user through pull down menus, accessing a centralized database of recorded information, wherein the recorded information is linked to at least one identifier such as an identifier number, and comparing the search criteria with information in the database using identifiers to retrieve the requested information. Boolean logic operators are used to define logical relationships among various search criteria to conduct a more focused search and scheduled searching is used to provide updates of recently published recorded information.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating selection of recorded information using a web-based system including a server system and at least one client system connected to the server system via a network, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving search request criteria from a user;

optionally retrieving pre-determined search request criteria from an expert database and combining it with the search request criteria from a user;

accessing a centralized database of recorded information maintained including identifiers associated with each record of the recorded information;

comparing the search request criteria from a user against the recorded information maintained in the centralized database using the identifiers;

retrieving the recorded information to satisfy the search request criteria from a user;

downloading the recorded information to a first storage location; and

repeating the steps to search and procure recorded information.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of accessing a centralized database further comprises the step of accessing a centralized database of patent information.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of accessing a centralized database further comprises the step of accessing a centralized database of case law information.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of accessing a centralized database further comprises the step of accessing a centralized database of pertinent information.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of receiving search request criteria from a user further comprises the step of receiving at least one of a Requester'"'"'s Name, a Requester'"'"'s e-mail Address, a Requester'"'"'s Telephone Number, a Date on which a request is being submitted, a selection of a Relevant Business Technology out of various business technologies, a Short Descriptive Title of search for Archive, Boolean of Keywords that Describe Specific Area of Interest, a selection of Override Options, identification of Relevant Compendiums and a selection of a specific Database.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of receiving search request criteria from a user further comprises the step of selecting information through pull down menu choices for each search criteria.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of retrieving predetermined search request criteria from an expert database further comprises the step of defining a logical relationship among search terms defining a Boolean logic string request.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said step of defining logical relationship among search terms further comprises the step of defining a logical relationship at least between two of IPC Code, Technology Keywords, Competitor Assignees, an Item Number, a Name of the business, and an originator name.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of comparing the search request criteria against the recorded information maintained in the centralized database using the identifiers further comprises the step of comparing at least one of an IPC Code, Technology Keywords, Competitor Assignees, an Item Number, a Name of the business, and an originator name.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of comparing the search request criteria against the recorded information maintained in the centralized database using the identifiers further comprises the step of identifying the item by at least one of an IPC Code, Technology Keywords, Competitor Assignees, an Item Number, a Name of the business, and an originator name.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of comparing the search request criteria against the recorded information maintained in the centralized database using the identifiers further comprises the step of identifying the item by at least one relevant business technology.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of retrieving the recorded information further comprises the step of selecting at least one item from the database which meets the search criteria received from the user.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of retrieving the recorded information further comprises the step of selecting at least one case law from the database which meets the search criteria received from the user.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of retrieving the recorded information further comprises the step of retrieving patent information including at least one of a patent number, an abstract, a name of an assignee, a ranking of the assignee, an IPC code, an inventor'"'"'s full name, an inventor'"'"'s address, a portion of the patent text, and a patent illustration.

15. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of downloading the recorded information further comprises the steps of:

displaying the recorded information on a graphical user interface; and

printing the recorded information on a printer.

16. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

protecting the centralized database from access by unauthorized individuals; and

placing an authenticated request to search on-line to obtain recorded information.

17. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of receiving search request criteria from a user further comprises the step of receiving search request criteria from the user via a graphical user interface.

18. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of receiving search request criteria from a user further comprises the step of receiving search request criteria through a voice activated device.

19. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of utilizing a research service that provides human intervention to improve the search strategy.

20. A method for facilitating selection of recorded information using a web-based system including a server system and at least one client system connected to the server system via a network, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving search request criteria from a user;

optionally retrieving pre-determined search request criteria from an expert database and combining it with the search request criteria from a user;

accessing a centralized database of recorded information maintained including identifiers associated with each record of the recorded information;

comparing the search request criteria from a user against the recorded information maintained in the centralized database using the identifiers;

retrieving the recorded information to satisfy the search request criteria from a user;

downloading the recorded information to a first storage location;

sending the recorded information to the user; and

repeating the steps to search and procure recorded information.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein said step of sending the recorded information comprises sending the recorded information via an email message.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein said step of sending the recorded information via an email message further comprises the step of providing an electronic link between the recorded information in the email message and the recorded information in the centralized database of recorded information.

23. A method according to claim 20 wherein said step of downloading the recorded information further comprises the step of transferring the recorded information in the first storage location to a second storage location before downloading the recorded information to the first storage location.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein said step of transferring the recorded information to a second storage location further comprises the step of deleting that recorded information in the second storage location that has been publicly available for more than a pre-defined length of time.

25. A method according to claim 20 wherein said step of repeating the search and procurement of recorded information further comprises the step of repeating the search and procurement of recorded information at predefined intervals of time.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein said step of repeating the search and procurement of recorded information further comprises the step of terminating the repeating cycle after a pre-defined number of cycles.

27. A method according to claim 26 wherein said step of terminating the repeating cycle further comprises the step of canceling the terminating step.

28. A method according to claim 20 further comprising the step of recording the search request criteria from a user.

29. A method according to claim 28 further comprising the step of editing the recorded search request criteria from a user.

30. A web-based system for facilitating selection of recorded information, said system comprising:

a client system comprising a browser;

a centralized database comprising recorded information wherein the recorded information is linked to at least one identifier;

a server system connected to said client system and said centralized database, said server system configured to;

receive search request criteria from a user;

optionally retrieve pre-determined search request criteria from an expert database and combine it with the user search request criteria;

access a centralized database of recorded information maintained including identifiers associated with each record of the recorded information;

compare the user search request criteria against the recorded information maintained in the centralized database using the identifiers;

retrieve the recorded information to satisfy the user search request criteria;

download the recorded information to a first storage location; and

repeat the search and procurement of recorded information.

31. A system according to claim 30 wherein said server system further configured to access a centralized database of patent information.

32. A system according to claim 30 wherein said server system further configured to access a centralized database of case law information.

33. A system according to claim 30 wherein said server system further configured to receive at least one of a Requester'"'"'s Name, a Requester'"'"'s email Address, a Requester'"'"'s Telephone Number, a Date on which a request is being submitted, a selection of a Relevant Business Technology out of various business technologies, a Short Descriptive Title of search for Archive, Boolean of Keywords that Describe Specific Area of Interest, a selection of Override Options, identification of Relevant Compendiums and a selection of a specific Database.

34. A system according to claim 30 wherein said server system further configured to receive search request criteria from a user through pull down menu choices for at least one search request criteria.

35. A system according to claim 30 wherein said server system further configured to search criteria entered by the user against the centralized database of recorded information.

36. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server system further configured to analyze received search request criteria from a user to identify specific recorded information.

37. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server system further configured to compare the search request criteria against the recorded information maintained in the centralized database using the identifiers.

38. A system according to claim 31 wherein said server system further configured to record information including at least one of a patent number, a brief description of the patent, relevant business technology or technologies where the issued patent has relevance, a name of the assignee, an IPC code as it relates to each patent, technology key words describing the patented technology, an abstract, and other pertinent information relating to each patent number.

39. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server system further configured with patent information that includes a patent number assigned to a unique identifier and cross referencing relevant information relating to each patent to the patent number.

40. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server system further configured with pull down menu choices for each category of received search request criteria from a user.

41. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server system further configured to compare at least one of an IPC Code, Technology Keywords, Competitor Assignees, an Item Number, a Name of the business, and an Inventor name.

42. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server system further configured to define a logical relationship among search terms often defined as Boolean Logic.

43. A system according to claim 42 wherein said server system configured to define a logical relationship is further configured to define a logical relationship between at least two of an IPC Code, Technology Keywords, Competitor Assignees, an Item Number, a Name of the business, and an Inventor name.

44. A system according to claim 41 wherein said server system further configured to identify the patent by at least one of an IPC Code, Technology Keywords, Competitor Assignees, an Item Number, a Name of the business, and an Inventor name.

45. A system according to claim 41 wherein said server system further configured to identify a patent by a relevant business technology.

46. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server system further configured to select at least one patent from the database which meets the search criteria received from the user.

47. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server system further configured to retrieve recorded information including at least one of a patent number, an abstract, a name of an assignee, a ranking of the assignee, an IPC code, an inventor'"'"'s full name, an inventor'"'"'s address, a portion of the patent text, and a patent illustration.

48. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server system further configured to:

display the recorded information on a graphical user interface; and

print the recorded information on a printer.

49. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server system further configured to:

protect the centralized database from access by unauthorized individuals; and

place an authenticated request to search on-line to obtain recorded information.

50. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server system further configured to receive search criteria from the user via a graphical user interface.

51. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server system further configured to receive search criteria through a voice activated device.

52. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server system further configured to generate a report in a pre-determined format.

53. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server system further configured to accept search request criteria after the user has been authenticated against pre-determined criteria.

54. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server system further configured to display recorded information on a user'"'"'s graphical user interface and print the recorded information on a printer.

55. A system according to claim 33 wherein said server system further configured to protect the centralized database from access by unauthorized individuals.

56. A system according to claim 34 wherein said client system configured as a server system for a network of customer devices.

57. A system according to claim 34 wherein said server system and said device are connected via a network.

58. A system according to claim 55 wherein said network is one of a wide area network, a local area network and the Internet.

60. A system according to claim 59 wherein said server system configured to electronically send the recorded information is further configured to send the recorded information via an email message.

62. A system according to claim 59 wherein said server system configured to download the recorded information is further configured to transfer the recorded information in the first storage location to a second storage location before the recorded information is downloaded to the first storage location.

63. A system according to claim 62 wherein said server system configured to transfer the recorded information to a second storage location is further configured to delete that recorded information in the second storage location that has been publicly available for more than a pre-defined length of time.

64. A system according to claim 59 wherein said server system configured to repeat the search and procurement of recorded information is further configured to repeat the search and procurement of recorded information at pre-defined intervals of time.

65. A system according to claim 64 wherein said server system configured to repeat the search and procurement of recorded information is further configured to terminate the repeat cycle after a pre-defined number of cycles.

66. A system according to claim 65 wherein said server system configured to terminate the repeat cycle is further configured to cancel the termination of the repeat cycle.

67. A system according to claim 59 wherein said server system is further configured to record the search request criteria from a user.

68. A system according to claim 67 wherein said server system is further configured to edit the recorded search request criteria from a user.

59. A web-based system for facilitating selection of recorded information, said system comprising:

a client system comprising a browser;

a centralized database comprising recorded information wherein the recorded information is linked to at least one identifier;

a server system connected to said client system and said centralized database, said server system configured to;

receive search request criteria from a user;

optionally retrieve pre-determined search request criteria from an expert database and combine it with the user search request criteria;

access a centralized database of recorded information maintained including identifiers associated with each record of the recorded information;

compare the user search request criteria against the recorded information maintained in the centralized database using the identifiers;

retrieve the recorded information to satisfy the user search request criteria;

download the recorded information to a first storage location;

send the recorded information to the user; and

repeat the search and procurement of recorded information.

61. A system according to 60 wherein said server system is further configured to provide an electronic link between the recorded information in the email message and the recorded information in the centralized database of recorded information.

69. A method for facilitating selection of recorded information using a web-based system including a server system and at least one client system connected to the server system via a network, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving search request criteria from a user;

optionally retrieving pre-determined search request criteria from an expert database and combining it with the search request criteria from a user;

accessing a centralized database of recorded information maintained including identifiers associated with each record of the recorded information;

comparing the search request criteria from a user against the recorded information maintained in the centralized database using the identifiers;

retrieving the recorded information to satisfy the search request criteria from a user;

downloading the recorded information to a first storage location; and

sending the recorded information to the user.

70. A web-based system for facilitating selection of recorded information, said system comprising:

a client system comprising a browser;

a centralized database comprising recorded information wherein the recorded information is linked to at least one identifier;

a server system connected to said client system and said centralized database, said server system configured to;

receive search request criteria from a user;

optionally retrieve pre-determined search request criteria from an expert database and combine it with the user search request criteria;

access a centralized database of recorded information maintained including identifiers associated with each record of the recorded information;

compare the user search request criteria against the recorded information maintained in the centralized database using the identifiers;

retrieve the recorded information to satisfy the user search request criteria;

download the recorded information to a first storage location; and

send the recorded information to the user.

71. A data signal propagated over a propagation medium, said data signal including logical data, said data having been logically arranged by a method comprising the steps of:

receiving search request criteria from a user;

optionally retrieving pre-determined search request criteria from an expert database and combining it with the search request criteria from a user;

accessing a centralized database of recorded information maintained including identifiers associated with each record of the recorded information;

comparing the search request criteria from a user against the recorded information maintained in the centralized database using the identifiers;

retrieving the recorded information to satisfy the search request criteria from a user;

downloading the recorded information to a first storage location; and

sending the recorded information to the user.

72. The data signal according to claim 71 wherein said data having been logically arranged by a method further comprising the step of repeating the steps to search and procure recorded information.