System and method for developing and implementing intellectual property marketing

• US 7,653,554 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2008
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Frank, Scott M., Beckham, Carol T., McLendon, Martin L., Short, Shannon M., Bishop, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): OUELLETTE, JONATHAN P
• Application Number:
  US12/045,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20080154682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for the development and implementation of intellectual property marketing. A targeted innovation to fulfill an internal need is developed. Actions are taken to legally protect the targeted innovation as an intellectual property asset. The intellectual property asset is analyzed to determine a marketing assessment. A decision is made whether to market the intellectual property asset based at least in part on the marketing assessment. If the marketing assessment meets a predetermined threshold, the intellectual property asset is marketed.

Claims

1. A method operable with a computer-based system that includes at least one processor, wherein the processor is configured to manage internally targeted innovations, the method as performed by the processor comprising:

receiving innovation information regarding a plurality of identified internally targeted innovations, wherein each identified internally targeted innovation of the plurality of identified internally targeted innovations is targeted for utilization by a customer internal to an organization;

receiving intellectual property asset protection data regarding intellectual property rights protecting the plurality of identified internally targeted innovations; and

automatically determining, by the processor of the computer-based system, whether to market intellectual property licensing rights for an identified internally targeted innovation associated with the intellectual property asset protection data relative to customer utilization in a market external to the organization.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to receive information representing an innovation disclosure from an innovator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to determine whether to market intellectual property rights for an identified internally targeted innovation based on an absolute marketing assessment with a predetermined threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor is operative to determine whether to market intellectual property rights for an identified internally targeted innovation based on a relative marketing assessment that is independent of any predetermined threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operative to receive intellectual property asset marketing assessment information based at least in part the intellectual property asset protection data associated with the innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to the organization.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the processor is operative to receive the intellectual property asset marketing assessment information through a graphical user interface from a user, and wherein the intellectual property asset marketing assessment information is based at least in part upon user analysis of the intellectual property asset protection data associated with the innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to the organization.

7. At least one computer-readable storage medium containing a computer program of executable instructions that, when loaded into at least one processor and executed, cause the processor to manage internally targeted innovations, the computer program comprising:

logic receiving innovation information regarding a plurality of identified internally targeted innovations, wherein each identified internally targeted innovation of the plurality of identified internally targeted innovations is targeted for utilization by a customer internal to an organization;

logic receiving intellectual property asset protection data regarding intellectual property rights protecting the plurality of identified internally targeted innovations; and

logic determining whether to market intellectual property licensing rights for an identified internally targeted innovation associated with the intellectual property asset protection data relative to customer utilization in a market external to the organization.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the logic receiving innovation information includes logic receiving an innovation disclosure from an innovator.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the logic determining whether to market intellectual property rights for an identified internally targeted innovation is based on an absolute marketing assessment with a predetermined threshold.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the logic determining whether to market intellectual property rights for an identified internally targeted innovation is based on a relative marketing assessment that is independent of any predetermined threshold.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, further including logic receiving intellectual property asset marketing assessment information based at least in part the intellectual property asset protection data associated with the innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to the organization.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the computer program receives the intellectual property asset marketing assessment information through a graphical user interface from a user, and wherein the intellectual property asset marketing assessment information is based at least in part upon user analysis of the intellectual property asset protection data associated with the innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to the organization.

13. A system for managing internally targeted innovations, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one computer-readable storage medium coupled to communicate with the processor, wherein the computer-readable storage medium contains a computer program of executable instructions that, when loaded into the processor and executed, transform the processor to

receive innovation information regarding a plurality of identified internally targeted innovations, wherein each identified internally targeted innovation of the plurality of identified internally targeted innovations is targeted for utilization by a customer internal to an organization;

receive intellectual property asset protection data regarding intellectual property rights protecting the plurality of identified internally targeted innovations; and

determine whether to market intellectual property licensing fights for an identified internally targeted innovation associated with the intellectual property asset protection data relative to customer utilization in a market external to the organization.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions transforming the processor to receive innovation information include instructions transforming the processor to receive an innovation disclosure from an innovator.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions transform the processor to determine whether to market intellectual property rights for an identified internally targeted innovation based on an absolute marketing assessment with a predetermined threshold.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the instructions transforming the processor to determine whether to market intellectual property fights for an identified internally targeted innovation based on a relative marketing assessment that is independent of any predetermined threshold.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising instructions that transform the processor to receive intellectual property asset marketing assessment information based at least in part on the intellectual property asset protection data associated with the innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to the organization.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the instructions transforming the processor to receive the intellectual property asset marketing assessment information include instructions transforming the processor to receive the intellectual property asset marketing assessment information through a graphical user interface from a user, and wherein the intellectual property asset marketing assessment information is based at least in part upon user analysis of the intellectual property asset protection data associated with the innovation targeted for utilization by a customer internal to the organization.