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Method and apparatus for a cryptographically assisted commercial network system designed to facilitate idea submission, purchase and licensing and innovation transfer

DC
  • US 7,043,454 B2
  • Filed: 05/25/2004
  • Issued: 05/09/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for using a computer to facilitate and control sequential access to a two-level information database created by inputs supplied by users, comprising the steps of:

  • (a) receiving and storing in the database a plurality of two-part descriptions each supplied by a user, each two-part description including a non-confidential first-level element in the form of a searchable and accessible basic description of a user'"'"'s unmet need or unsolved problem, and a confidential second-level element in the form of a searchable, but non-accessible detailed description of each user'"'"'s unmet need or unsolved problem;

    (b) permitting originators to access, search, review and select without restriction, only the non-confidential first-level elements of the stored two-part descriptions;

    (c) subsequently providing selecting originators with an option to access, search and review the confidential second-level elements of the stored two-part descriptions that correspond to the selected first-level elements by electronically submitting to each selecting originator a license agreement including a confidentiality provision and other previously supplied licensing terms;

    (d) receiving and storing in the computer an acceptance of the license agreement by each selecting originator; and

    (e) upon receipt of license acceptance, providing accepting originators with unrestricted access on a confidential basis via the computer to the confidential second-level elements of the stored two-part descriptions corresponding to the selected first-level elements.

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