Systems and methods for preparation of an intellectual property filing in accordance with jurisdiction-and/or agent-specific requirements

• US 20060173705A1
• Filed: 02/07/2006
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eugene M. Lee
• Original Assignee: Eugene M. Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Eugene M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,574,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

A facility has been developed whereby an applicant (or his representative) may file corresponding applications in multiple jurisdictions using multiple associates while automating the preparation of filings in accordance with jurisdiction- and/or associate-specific requirements and/or procedures. An intellectual property filing portal or hub is employed, which in some realizations is hosted on public, packet switched data network and communicates with both applicants (or representatives) and associates. The intellectual property filing portal facilitates selection, by applicants (or representatives) of particular jurisdictions and associates based at least in part on fee quotations in accordance with particulars of an intellectual property filing and in accordance with fee structures of the particular jurisdictions and foreign associates. In addition, the intellectual property filing portal facilitates registration of associate- and jurisdiction-specific form documents and fee schedules for at least partially automated preparation of formal documents.

Claims

1. A method of operating an information service to facilitate preparation of intellectual property documents suitable for filing in one or more of plural target jurisdictions, the method comprising:

registering for each of plural associates, at least one target jurisdiction and a computer readable encoding of a plurality of form documents corresponding to target jurisdiction and associate specifications therefor wherein the form documents include fields defined for completion of matter-specific information;

distributing at least a portion of the form documents to an originating filer for use in preparation of the intellectual property documents suitable for filing by respective ones of the associates wherein the distribution is at least one of (i) responsive to selection by the originating filer of one or more of the target jurisdictions and, for each selected target jurisdiction, a respective one of the associates, and (ii) periodic supply to the originating filer of the computer readable encoding of at least a portion of the form documents for each of plural associates;

receiving filing documents from the originating filer, wherein the filing documents comprise at least a portion of the form documents completed with matter-specific information from the originating filer; and

automatically determining, by a computer, responsive to the filing documents, respective associates for receipt of the filing documents, and forwarding the filing documents to the respective associates.

57. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of distributing, with the plurality of form documents, computer-executable formatting instructions, for the at least one target jurisdiction, for causing automatic formatting of technical documents associated with a particular matter;

and receiving, with the filing documents, matter-specific technical documents in accordance with the formatting instructions.

58. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of calculating, for respective ones of the associates, based on the filing documents received from the originating filer, at least one of the associate fee and government fee for filing the documents;

transmitting the at least one fee to the originating filer; and

receiving an authorization from the originating filer for respective ones of the associates, prior to forwarding the filing documents to the authorized respective ones of the associates.

59. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the originating filer, a computer readable encoding of intellectual property application data, and transforming the data for a format consistent with the requirements of the target jurisdiction and transmitting the transformed encoding to the respective associates.

2-4. -4. (canceled)

5. An information system for transacting an intellectual property filing with plural targets therefor, the information system comprising:

a network including an originating node and plural target nodes, the target nodes corresponding to associates licensed or otherwise authorized to make intellectual property filings in one or more target jurisdictions; and

an intellectual property filing portal coupled by the network to the originating node and at least a portion of the target nodes, the intellectual property filing portal responsive to a selection at the originating node of at least one target jurisdiction and at least one associate corresponding thereto for the intellectual property filing, automatically supplying the originating node with particularized requirements of the selected at least one target jurisdiction and at least one associate,

the intellectual property filing portal further responsive to receipt via the network of one or more intellectual property filings prepared in accordance with the particularized requirements of the selected at least one target jurisdiction and at least one associate, supplying corresponding ones of the target nodes with respective portions of the received one or more intellectual property filings for filing by respective ones of the selected at least one associate in respective ones of the selected at least one target jurisdiction.

6. The information system of claim 5,

wherein the selection at the originating node includes selection of two or more target jurisdictions.

7. The information system of claim 5, wherein for each selected at least one target jurisdiction and corresponding at least one associate, the particularized requirements include:

formatting requirements for filing of the intellectual property filing in the target jurisdiction; and

an encoding of at least one filing suitable for filing at the target jurisdiction.

8. The information system of claim 5, wherein for each selected at least one target jurisdiction and corresponding at least one associate, the particularized requirements include:

information characterizing one or more data fields for which values specific to the intellectual property filing are to be supplied from the originating node to allow preparation of documents for filing in the selected at least one target jurisdiction by the selected at least one associate.

9. The information system of claim 5, wherein for each selected at least one target jurisdiction and corresponding at least one associate, the particularized requirements include:

an encoding of at least one paper required by the selected at least one associate.

10. The information system of claim 5,

wherein the originating node includes a computer of a managing attorney or intellectual property owner;

and

wherein at least a portion of the target nodes include a computer of respective associate configured to electronically receive at least a portion of the intellectual property filing from the originating node via the intellectual property filing portal.

11. The information system of claim 5,

wherein the originating node includes a web browser;

wherein in the intellectual property filing portal includes a web server; and

wherein the selection of at least one target jurisdiction and at least one associate, the supplying of the particularized requirements, and the receipt of the one or more intellectual property filings prepared in accordance with the particularized requirements are achieved, at least in part, using internet protocol traffic between the web browser and the web server.

12. The information system of claim 5,

wherein the intellectual property filing portal is further responsive to registration by one or more of the associates of particularized requirements for the corresponding at least one target jurisdiction;

wherein the supplied particularized requirements include those registered by the selected at least one associate.

13. The information system of claim 5,

wherein the network includes one or more of a packet switched network segment, a circuit switched network segment, a public network segment, a private network segment, a public switched telecommunications network segment, and a virtual private network.

14. The information system of claim 5, wherein the received intellectual property filings include one or more of:

a computer readable encoding of a technical document including specification and claims formatted in accordance with the supplied particularized requirements of at least a first of the selected target jurisdictions; and

a computer readable encoding of information for completion of a filing paper, request for examination or transmittal in accordance with the supplied particularized requirements of the first selected target jurisdiction and the selected associate therefore.

15. A method of operating an intellectual property filing portal for servicing intellectual property filing transactions using a network accessible information service, the method comprising:

responsive to a selection by a user of at least one target jurisdiction and at least one associate corresponding thereto, supplying the user, from the information service via the network, with a computer readable encoding of one or more form documents, wherein the form documents are specific to the at least one target jurisdiction and at least one associate and wherein the form documents include fields defined for completion of matter-specific information; and

receiving from the user, at the information service via the network, one or more documents suitable for filing completed with matter-specific information for a corresponding matter, and in accordance with the one or more form documents, automatically determining, by a computer, the at least one associate corresponding thereto, and forwarding same to the selected corresponding at least one associate for filing in the selected at least one target jurisdiction.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

registering one or more associates for the making of intellectual property filings in respective one or more target jurisdictions, the registering including updating a data store with computer readable encodings of one or more form documents specific to at least one associate and the respective at least one target jurisdiction.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing one or more quoted fees associated with both the at least one target jurisdiction and the at least one associate, wherein the supplying of the computer readable encoding of one or more form documents is contingent upon authorization by the user of the quoted fees.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing one or more quoted fees associated with both the at least one target jurisdiction and the at least one associate substantially coincident with the selection; and

transacting the quoted fees substantially coincident with the one or more of the selection, the receiving of one or more documents and the filing in the selected target jurisdiction.

19. The method of claim 18,

wherein the transacting includes one or more of debiting a deposit account, executing a wire transfer, and electronically authorizing payment of the quoted fees using a credit card, debit card or other payment system.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

responsive to the selection by the user of the at least one target jurisdiction and the at least one associate corresponding thereto, retrieving a computer readable encoding of target jurisdiction filing requirements for technical documents;

retrieving a computer readable encoding of at least one technical document for the corresponding matter; and

preparing transforming the at least one technical documents of the one or more documents suitable for filing in accordance with the target jurisdiction filing requirements for technical documents.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

supplying the user, via the network, with the computer readable encoding of target jurisdiction filing requirements for technical documents;

performing the preparing at the user'"'"'s site using the computer readable encoding of target jurisdiction filing requirements;

receiving from the user, via the network, the prepared one or more technical documents complying with the target jurisdiction filing requirements; and

forwarding the one or more technical documents, together with the documents suitable for filing, to the corresponding at least one associate.

22. A computer implemented method of operating an intellectual property filing service, the method comprising:

receiving at a computer, a transmission from a user, having at least one selection of two or more target jurisdictions and corresponding associates for an intellectual property filing;

in response to the at least one selection, supplying a transmission from the computer to the user, of two or more target jurisdiction and associate specific documents for completion for each jurisdiction;

receiving at the computer, the completed two or more target jurisdiction and associate-specific documents; and

forwarding, from the computer, respective ones of the target jurisdiction and associate-specific documents, to each of the selected associates for filing in respective of the selected two or more target jurisdictions.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

providing one or more quoted fees associated with the selected two or more target jurisdictions and corresponding one or more associates, wherein the supplying of one or more target jurisdiction and associate-specific documents for completion is contingent upon authorization by the user of the one or more quoted fees.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

populating the one or more target jurisdiction and associate-specific documents with matter specific information.

25. A computer implemented method for initiating filing of one or more intellectual property related documents, said method comprising:

selecting two or more target jurisdictions from amongst a set of supported jurisdictions; and

responsive to each selected target jurisdiction,

obtaining a computer readable encoding of one or more form documents, wherein the one or more form documents are specific to the target jurisdiction and to a respective associate therefor; and

supplying at least a portion of a set of filing documents in accordance with the one or more form documents, for transfer to the respective associate suitable for filing in the selected target jurisdiction.

26. The computer implemented method of claim 25, further comprising for each selected target jurisdiction:

completing the one or more form documents in accordance with matter specific information retrieved from a data store.

27. The computer implemented method of claim 25, further comprising:

selecting the respective associate from amongst a set of supported associates.

28. The computer implemented method of claim 25,

wherein the obtaining is from an intellectual property filing portal;

and

wherein the supplying for transfer includes supplying a computer readable encoding to the intellectual property filing portal for forwarding to the respective associate.

29. The computer implemented method of claim 25,

wherein the obtaining is from an intellectual property filing portal.

30. The computer implemented method of claim 25,

wherein the supplying for transfer includes forwarding a computer readable encoding to the respective associate.

31. The computer implemented method of claim 25,

wherein the obtaining and the supplying are via a network;

and

wherein the supplied portion of the set of filing documents includes at least a computer readable encoding of one or more technical documents.

32. The computer implemented method of claim 25,

wherein the supplied portion of the set of filing documents includes one or more technical documents and completed ones of the one or more form documents.

33. A computer implemented method for initiating filing of one or more intellectual property related documents, said method comprising:

selecting one or more target jurisdictions from amongst a set of supported jurisdictions;

for at least one selected target jurisdiction, selecting from amongst one or more attorneys or agents available therefor; and

for each selected target jurisdiction,

automatically transforming, by a computer, a computer readable encoding of intellectual property application data to a format appropriate for filing and consistent with requirements of the selected target jurisdiction, the transforming being in accordance with a computer readable encoding of filing requirements for the selected target jurisdiction; and

electronically transmitting the transformed computer readable encoding to an attorney or agent for filing in the selected target jurisdiction.

34. The method of claim 33,

wherein the transforming is further in accordance with a computer readable encoding of the selected attorney or agent'"'"'s requirements.

35. The method of claim 33,

wherein the intellectual property application data includes contents of a priority application.

36. The method of claim 33,

wherein the intellectual property application data includes data retrieved from a docket system.

37. The method of claim 33,

wherein the electronically transmitting is via an information service intermediary;

and

further comprising receiving from the information service intermediary at least the computer readable encoding of filing requirements for the selected one or more target jurisdictions.

38. The method of claim 33,

wherein the electronically transmitting is via an information service intermediary;

and

wherein the transforming is performed by the information service intermediary.

39. The method of claim 33,

wherein the one or more intellectual property related documents include at least one of an intellectual property application, an amendment, a transmittal paper, an appointment of agent, and a legalization paper.

40. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

representing the intellectual property application data in a target-neutral format prior to the transforming thereof.

41. A computer implemented method of preparing one or more intellectual property filings, said method comprising:

receiving, at a target computer, a selection of two or more target jurisdictions from an originating computer system;

responsive to the receipt of the selection, supplying, from the target computer to the originating computer system, a computer readable encoding of filing requirements for the selected one or more target jurisdictions; and

receiving, at the target computer, in computer readable form, at least one document suitable for filing in respective ones of the selected two or more target jurisdictions and prepared at the originating computer system in accordance with the computer readable encoding of filing requirements.

42. The computer implemented method of claim 41, further comprising:

for each target jurisdiction selection, receiving a selection of at least one attorney and/or agent corresponding thereto,

wherein the computer readable encoding of filing requirements includes attorney- and/or agent-specific requirements for at least the selected at least one attorney and/or agent.

43. The computer implemented method of claim 41, further comprising:

transmitting, for at least one of the selected one or more target jurisdictions, a computer readable encoding of a technical document for filing in the selected one or more selected target jurisdictions.

44. An information system for preparing intellectual property filings for at least one target in accordance with requirements therefor, the information system comprising:

a selection facility by which a user thereof selects the at least one target;

a retrieval interface to intellectual property application data stored;

a retrieval interface to requirement data corresponding to the target;

a filing preparation facility responsive to the selection facility to

automatically transform, by a computer, the intellectual property application data into a target-specific intellectual property application filing format suitable for filing in accordance with the target requirement data; and

automatically prepare, by a computer, at least one additional document in accordance with the intellectual property application and suitable for filing in accordance with target requirement data for each target selected by the user.

45. The information system of claim 44, further comprising:

a communications interface for transmitting the transformed intellectual property application data and the at least one additional document for filing.

46. The information system of claim 44, further comprising:

a data store, responsive to the retrieval interface, for storing the intellectual property application data.

47. The information system of claim 44,

wherein the target includes a target jurisdiction and/or convention;

and

wherein the target requirement data includes filing requirements for the target jurisdiction and/or convention.

48. The information system of claim 47,

wherein the target further includes an attorney and/or agent;

and

wherein the target requirement data further includes attorney- and/or agent-specific requirements.

49. The information system of claim 44,

wherein the intellectual property application data includes a priority application data content corresponding to a previously filed intellectual property application.

50. The information system of claim 44,

wherein the target-specific intellectual property application filing format is an electronic format for transmission to the target.

51. The information system of claim 44, embodied as a client application executable on a originating computer and implementing:

the selection facility,

the retrieval interface to intellectual property application data,

the retrieval interface to requirement data; and

the filing preparation facility

and including a communications interface to a server application; and

wherein at least the requirement data is hosted by the server application.

52-53. -53. (canceled)

54. A method of making a computer readable encoding of one or more target jurisdiction- and associate-specific form documents, the method comprising:

maintaining a data store of target jurisdiction- and associate-specific form documents for transacting an intellectual property filing in the target jurisdictions using respective of the associates;

encoding, based on contents of the data store, an enumeration, for transmission to a computer, of at least a subset of the target jurisdictions and respective of the associates therefor;

receiving a selection of one or more of the target jurisdictions and respective associates;

automatically retrieving, by a computer, based on the selection, corresponding of the target jurisdiction- and associate-specific form documents; and

automatically encoding, by the computer as a response to the selection for transmission to the computer, the retrieved target jurisdiction- and associate-specific form documents.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

registering individual one or ones of the associates for fulfillment of intellectual property filings in respective of the target jurisdictions.

56. (canceled)