SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENABLING USER REQUESTED CHANNELS IN AN IP MARKETPLACE

• US 20120011028A1
• Filed: 09/12/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 8,656,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/26.61
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0627 using item specifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers

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 evaluated 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 computer-based method comprising:

determining, by a computer for intellectual property (IP), that no channel in a plurality of IP commercialization channels satisfies a user request for at least one of information and a service;

in response to the determining, providing, by the computer, a channel request interface to the user;

receiving, by the computer, new channel parameters via the channel request interface;

transmitting, by the computer, a service provider channel solicitation, wherein the service provider channel request comprises the new channel parameters;

receiving, by the computer, a service provider acceptance of the service provider channel solicitation, wherein the acceptance comprises service provider attributes; and

saving, by the processor and to the memory, a new channel comprising the new channel parameters and the service provider attributes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining search metadata for the new channel based on at least one of the new channel parameters and the service provider attributes.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining, by the processor and based on at least one of the new channel parameters and the service provider attributes, a first category to associate with the new channel.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising grouping, in a channel guide interface, the new channel based on the first category.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user request is received via a channel query interface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining comprises searching, based on the user request, channel data to determine search results, and wherein the search results comprise no channels.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the channel data comprises at least one of channel metadata, channel registration data, channel attributes and channel content.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the providing the channel request interface occurs in response to the search results comprising no channels.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing the channel request interface comprises:

presenting, a first question in a template, wherein the template includes fields which request standardized data for characterizing the channel;

receiving a first response to the first question.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining a second question based at least partially upon the first response to the first question;

presenting the second question in the template; and

receiving a second response to the second question.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the service provider attributes comprise at least one of a category, a link, a uniform resource locator (URL), a customized web page, a social networking web site, a priority order, a channel interface definition, a channel sponsor, a color, a logo, a graphic, a description, and an extensible markup language (XML) file.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, via a channel guide interface, input from the user indicating a selection of the new channel.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating the new channel based on the service provider attributes.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the initiating the new channel comprises at least one of opening a web page and executing a software module.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising sending channel input data to the new channel, wherein the channel input data comprises at least one of user profile data, IP asset data, IP portfolio data, company data, technology data and transaction data.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the service provider acceptance comprises receiving via a channel registration application programming interface (API).

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from the user, a channel search request and searching, based on the channel search request, channel data to determine search results, wherein the channel data comprises at least one of channel metadata, channel registration data, channel attributes and channel content.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the search results in a channel guide interface, wherein the plurality of channels comprises the new channel.

19. An IP commercialization system comprising:

a network interface communicating with a memory;

the memory communicating with a processor for IP commercialization, wherein the memory stores a computer program; and

the processor, when executing the computer program, performs operations comprising;

determining, by the processor, that no channel in a plurality of IP commercialization channels satisfy a user request for at least one of information and a service;

in response to the determining, providing, by the processor, a channel request interface to the user;

receiving, by the processor, new channel parameters via the channel request interface;

transmitting, by the processor, a service provider channel solicitation, wherein the service provider channel solicitation comprises the new channel parameters;

receiving, by the processor, a service provider acceptance of the service provider channel solicitation, wherein the acceptance comprises service provider attributes; and

saving, by the processor and to the memory, a new channel comprising the new channel parameters and the service provider attributes.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a computer for IP commercialization, causes the computer perform a operations comprising:

determining, by the computer, that no channel in a plurality of IP commercialization channels satisfy a user request for at least one of information and a service;

in response to the determining, providing, by the computer, a channel request interface to the user;

receiving, by the computer, new channel parameters via the channel request interface;

transmitting, by the computer, a service provider solicitation request, wherein the service provider channel solicitation comprises the new channel parameters;

receiving, by the computer, a service provider acceptance of the service provider channel solicitation, wherein the acceptance comprises service provider attributes; and

saving, by the processor and to the memory, a new channel comprising the new channel parameters and the service provider attributes.