SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLECTING AND VALIDATING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSET DATA

• US 20110154476A1
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Thomas, Tracey R.
• Application Number:
  US12/640,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20110154476A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing, by a computer, a template, wherein the template includes fields which request standardized data for characterizing intellectual property (IP) assets;

receiving, by the computer, IP documentation for an IP asset, wherein at least a portion of the IP documentation includes the standardized data;

validating, by the computer, the IP documentation; and

receiving an IP owner approval of the IP documentation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the template is a standardized disclosure questionnaire.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the template comprises providing a plurality of questions and receiving a plurality of responses.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the template comprises determining a second question based at least partially upon a first response to a first question.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the template is based at least partially upon a business rule of an organization associated with the IP owner.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the template is based upon an IP asset type to be documented.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the IP asset type comprises at least one of a patent, a trademark, a trade dress, a copyright, trade secret and know-how.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the template includes a plurality of questions based upon a plurality of characteristics associated with an IP asset database.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the validating comprises validating data submitted in the IP documentation.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising parsing the IP documentation into IP asset data elements.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the IP owner approval is based upon the IP owner approval of the IP asset data elements.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising at least one of decrypting the IP documentation and encrypting the IP asset data elements.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an approval request to the IP owner.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the IP owner approval comprises enabling an approval workflow based upon an IP owner process.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the IP owner process is defined during a registration process.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the computer and based upon the IP documentation, an IP asset rating of the IP asset.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the computer and based upon the IP documentation, an IP asset valuation.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving an inquiry from a buyer, wherein the inquiry comprises requested IP asset attributes;

determining a match between the IP asset and the requested IP asset attributes; and

identifying the IP asset to the buyer.

19. A system comprising:

a network interface;

a processor configured to execute a computer program;

a memory; and

the computer program configured to;

provide a template, wherein the template includes fields which request standardized data for characterizing intellectual property (IP) assets;

receive IP documentation for an IP asset, wherein at least a portion of the IP documentation includes the standardized data;

validate the IP documentation; and

receiving an IP owner approval of the IP documentation.

20. A tangible computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

providing, by a computer, a template, wherein the template includes fields which request standardized data for characterizing intellectual property (IP) assets;

receiving, by the computer, IP documentation for an IP asset, wherein at least a portion of the IP documentation includes the standardized data;

validating, by the computer, the IP documentation; and

receiving an IP owner approval of the IP documentation.