System and method to facilitate and support electronic communication of ideas
First Claim
1. A method for using a computer to facilitate and control access to a two-level information database created by inputs supplied by posting originators, comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving and storing in the database a plurality of two-part descriptions each supplied by an originator, each two-part description including a first-level element in the form of a basic description of each originator'"'"'s idea, and a second-level element in the form of a detailed description of each originator'"'"'s idea;
(b) permitting users to access without restriction only the first-level elements of the stored two-part descriptions; and
(c) permitting users to search the contents of the first-level and second-level elements of the two-part descriptions but disallowing visual access to the second-level elements, wherein the first-level elements and the second-levels elements are encrypted.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus effectuates bilateral commerce in ideas. An originator and user-driven on-line commercial network system is designed to facilitate idea submission, purchase, and licensing, and is easily adapted to business-to-business transfers of innovation as well as consumer-to-business transfers of innovation. The invention allows originators of ideas to communicate nondisclosing synopses of ideas globally to potential users, for users conveniently to search for relevant ideas and for users potentially to bind an originator to a limited duration license granting user the exclusive right to access and consider confidentially the originator'"'"'s fully disclosed idea. The invention also allows users to communicate confidentially or nonconfidentially unsolved problems or needs globally to potential originators, for originators conveniently to search for relevant unsolved problems or needs, and for originators to submit and communicate confidentially proposed solutions to the soliciting user.
56 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for using a computer to facilitate and control access to a two-level information database created by inputs supplied by posting originators, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving and storing in the database a plurality of two-part descriptions each supplied by an originator, each two-part description including a first-level element in the form of a basic description of each originator'"'"'s idea, and a second-level element in the form of a detailed description of each originator'"'"'s idea; (b) permitting users to access without restriction only the first-level elements of the stored two-part descriptions; and (c) permitting users to search the contents of the first-level and second-level elements of the two-part descriptions but disallowing visual access to the second-level elements, wherein the first-level elements and the second-levels elements are encrypted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for using a computer to facilitate and control access to a two-level information database created by inputs supplied by posting originators, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving and storing in the database a plurality of two-part descriptions each supplied by an originator, each two-part description including a first-level element in the form of a basic description of each originator'"'"'s idea, and a second-level element in the form of a detailed description of each originator'"'"'s idea; (b) permitting users to access and select without restriction only the first-level elements of the stored two-part descriptions; (c) providing selecting users with an option to access the second-level elements of the stored two-part descriptions that correspond to the selected first-level elements by agreeing to a license agreement specifying the terms of use for at least the second-level element; (d) providing license accepting users with access to the second-level elements of the stored two-part description corresponding to the selected first-level elements; and (e) restricting other users from selecting the idea for a duration specified in the license agreement. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for using a computer to facilitate and control access to a two-level information database created by inputs supplied by posting originators, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving and storing in the database a plurality of two-part descriptions each supplied by an originator, each two-part description including a first-level element in the form of a basic description of each originator'"'"'s idea, and a second-level element in the form of a detailed description of each originator'"'"'s idea; (b) permitting users to access and select without restriction only the first-level elements of the stored two-part descriptions; (c) providing selecting users with an option to access and respond to the originator'"'"'s idea by agreeing to a license agreement specifying the terms of use for at least the second-level element; and (d) restricting other users from selecting and responding to the idea for the duration of the term specified in the license agreement. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification