System and method for managing intellectual property life cycles

• US 8,190,532 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property Management Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bishop, Michael, Sharpley, Maia Y., Frank, Scott M., Beckham, Carol T., McLendon, Martin L., Short, Shannon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ouellette, Jonathan
• Application Number:
  US12/642,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20100100491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/310
• 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 and systems for managing intellectual property assets. In an embodiment, an intellectual property protection life cycle of an intellectual property asset is managed, and an intellectual property marketing life cycle of the intellectual property asset is managed.

Claims

1. A method for marketing an intellectual property rights asset, the method comprising:

receiving, at a processor, data associated with the intellectual property rights asset analyzing, by the processor, the data associated with the intellectual property rights asset;

providing, by the processor, a project plan for marketing the intellectual property rights asset based on analysis of the data associated with the intellectual property rights asset, the project plan comprising a task associated with marketing the intellectual property rights asset; and

providing, by the processor, information to assist in completing the task.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the task is associated with a plurality of events, the plurality of events comprising a predefined duration to complete the task, a projected start date for starting the task, a projected finish date for finishing the task, a preceding task, a succeeding task, a percentage complete indicator defining an amount of the task completed, an indicator related to a deliverable associated with the task, and a resources indicator defining resources needed to complete the task.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the task comprises a plurality of tasks, the plurality of tasks comprising conduct initial research, conduct market research and analysis, complete and approve a pre-transaction report, develop a marketing plan and package, sell a product related to the intellectual property asset, negotiate a contract, complete and approve a transaction report, execute the contract, set up a maintenance plan, and close out the project plan.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information provided to assist in completing the task of conduct initial research comprises a client interview questionnaire form.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the information provided to assist in completing the task of conduct market research and analysis comprises an assess competitive environment checklist and an assess internal marketing issues form.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the information provided to assist in completing the task of sell a product related to the intellectual property asset comprises a license agreement term sheet form.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising duplicating the project plan for each customer of the intellectual property rights asset.

8. A system for marketing an intellectual property rights asset, the system comprising:

a memory, having stored thereon computer-readable instructions for marketing the intellectual property rights asset, the computer-readable instructions, when executed on a processor associated with a computer, causing the computer to;

receive data associated with the intellectual property rights asset, analyze the data associated with the intellectual property rights asset, provide a project plan for marketing the intellectual property rights asset based on analysis of the data associated with the intellectual property rights asset, the project plan comprising a task associated with marketing the intellectual property rights asset, and provide information to assist in completing the task; and

the processor, functionally coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to execute the computer-readable instructions.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the task is associated with a plurality of events, the plurality of events comprising a predefined duration to complete the task, a projected start date for starting the task, a projected finish date for finishing the task, a preceding task, a succeeding task, a percentage complete indicator defining an amount of the task completed, an indicator related to a deliverable associated with the task, and a resources indicator defining resources needed to complete the task.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the task comprises a plurality of tasks, the plurality of tasks comprising conduct initial research, conduct market research and analysis, complete and approve a pre-transaction report, develop a marketing plan and package, sell a product related to the intellectual property asset, negotiate a contract, complete and approve a transaction report, execute the contract, set up a maintenance plan, and close out the project plan.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the information provided to assist in completing the task of conduct initial research comprises a client interview questionnaire form.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the information provided to assist in completing the task of conduct market research and analysis comprises an assess competitive environment checklist and an assess internal marketing issues form.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the information provided to assist in completing the task of sell a product related to the intellectual property asset comprises a license agreement term sheet form.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer-readable instructions further cause the computer to duplicate the project plan for each customer of the intellectual property rights asset.

15. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:

receiving data associated with an intellectual property rights asset;

analyzing the data associated with the intellectual property rights asset;

providing a project plan for marketing the intellectual property rights asset based on analysis of the data associated with the intellectual property rights asset, the project plan comprising a task associated with marketing the intellectual property rights asset; and

providing information to assist in completing the task.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the task is associated with a plurality of events, the plurality of events comprising a predefined duration to complete the task, a projected start date for starting the task, a projected finish date for finishing the task, a preceding task, a succeeding task, a percentage complete indicator defining an amount of the task completed, an indicator related to a deliverable associated with the task, and a resources indicator defining resources needed to complete the task.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the task comprises a plurality of tasks, the plurality of tasks comprising conduct initial research, conduct market research and analysis, complete and approve a pre-transaction report, develop a marketing plan and package, sell a product related to the intellectual property asset, negotiate a contract, complete and approve a transaction report, execute the contract, set up a maintenance plan, and close out the project plan.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the information provided to assist in completing the task of conduct initial research comprises a client interview questionnaire form.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the information provided to assist in completing the task of conduct market research and analysis comprises an assess competitive environment checklist and an assess internal marketing issues form.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the information provided to assist in completing the task of sell a product related to the intellectual property asset comprises a license agreement term sheet form.