Method of recording invention disclosures

• US 20050147214A1
• Filed: 12/24/2003
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Marvin, Jennifer, Morgenstern, James, Goerg, Charles H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,764,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.140
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/10 with dictation recording and playback systems

Abstract

The method of the present invention allows inventors to orally document innovative concepts. The method reduces the need to have inventors write out details of an invention in an invention disclosure form. The method also assists inventors in quickly and conveniently recording ideas and preparing invention disclosure forms based on the ideas. In some example forms, inventors are able to pick up a telephone and connect to a network. Once connected to the network an inventor can dictate the concepts of the idea over the network. The dictation is converted into text, such as by a voice analysis program, and then inserted into an invention disclosure form which is dated and archived.

Claims

1. A method of filling out an invention disclosure form, the method comprising:

receiving dictation from an inventor over a network;

converting the dictation to text; and

placing the text within the invention disclosure form.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting the invention disclosure form to a recipient.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein transmitting the invention disclosure form to a recipient includes transmitting the invention disclosure form via e-mail.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein transmitting the invention disclosure form to a recipient includes transmitting the invention disclosure form via facsimile.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving dictation from an inventor over a network includes receiving dictation over a telephone transmission channel.

6. A method of filling out an invention disclosure form, the method comprising:

receiving dictation from a plurality of inventors over a network;

converting the dictation to text, the text identifying each inventor'"'"'s contribution to the dictation; and

placing the text within the invention disclosure form.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

transmitting the invention disclosure form to a recipient.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein transmitting the invention disclosure form to a recipient includes transmitting the invention disclosure form to each inventor.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein receiving dictation from a plurality of inventors includes receiving instructions as to where to transmit the invention disclosure form.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein receiving dictation from a plurality of inventors over a network includes receiving dictation over a telephone transmission channel.

11. A method of filling out an invention disclosure form, the method comprising:

receiving a request from an inventor to connect to a network;

supplying oral queries to the inventor over the network;

receiving dictation from the inventor over the network in response to the oral queries;

converting the dictation to text; and

placing the text within the invention disclosure form.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

transmitting the invention disclosure form to a recipient.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein transmitting the invention disclosure form to a recipient includes transmitting the invention disclosure form via e-mail.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein supplying oral queries to the inventor over the network includes supplying an oral query requesting a location where to transmit the invention disclosure form.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein receiving the request from the inventor to connect to the network includes receiving the request over a telephone transmission channel.

16. A method of filling out an invention disclosure form, the method comprising:

receiving dictation from an inventor over a network;

receiving oral requests from the inventor for files over the network;

converting the dictation to text;

retrieving the files over the network;

placing the text within the invention disclosure form; and

attaching the files to the invention disclosure form.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

transmitting the invention disclosure form and attached files to a recipient.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein transmitting the invention disclosure form and attached files to an intended recipient includes transmitting the invention disclosure form and attached files via e-mail.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein receiving oral requests from the inventor for files over the network includes requesting a search to locate the files over the network.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein receiving oral requests from the inventor for files over the network includes requesting copies of patents over the network.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein receiving dictation from the inventor over the network includes receiving the dictation over a telephone transmission channel.

20. The method of claim 20 wherein requesting a search to locate the files over the network includes requesting a search to locate prior art over the network.

23. A method of documenting an invention, the method comprising:

receiving dictation from an inventor over a network;

converting the dictation to text; and

transmitting the text to an intended recipient.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein transmitting the text to an intended recipient includes transmitting the text via e-mail.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein receiving the dictation from the inventor over the network includes receiving dictation over a telephone transmission channel.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein converting the dictation to text includes placing a date and time in the text that indicates when the dictation was received.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein converting the dictation to text includes placing the text into an invention disclosure form.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein converting the dictation to text includes translating the dictation into text of a desired language.