System & Method For Compiling Intellectual Property Asset Data

• US 20120191757A1
• Filed: 01/20/2012
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: J Nicholas and Kristin Gross Trust U/A/D APR 13 2010
• Original Assignee: Patent Savant LLC
• Inventors: GROSS, JOHN NICHOLAS, Sale, Ken, Meyer, Alan, Boasso, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 9,305,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

An access server computing system scrapes a set of records maintained by a target computing system in a database which is only made accessible over the Internet with a limited protocol query and an access challenge. The access server accesses the target computing system through an Internet browser interface based on emulating a user query made through the limited protocol, including by automatically passing locator identifier fields to retrieve a corresponding set of record which are stored in the first database.

Claims

1. A method of operating an access computing system comprising:

using the access computing system to access a set of records maintained by a target computing system in a first database associated with a first entity over an internet based network, said first database being configured to respond to user queries for said records over said network using a first query protocol presented in a first interface;

wherein said target computing system first query protocol restricts a user to using a first set of N parameters (N>

=1) for locating matching records in said first database;

further wherein said first interface of said target computing system constrains the user to use said first query protocol when accessing records in said first database;

configuring a second database with the computing system to store said set of records;

configuring a second interface for accessing said of records in said second database, said second interface including a second query protocol which includes both said first set of N parameters for locating matching records in said second database as well as at least one search parameter in addition to said first set of N parameters;

wherein said access computing system allows access to the set of records maintained at the target computing system using a different interface and a different protocol which emulates and enhances access options for querying the set of records.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein at least said first interface operates within a web browser.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said N parameters are data fields associated with the set of records.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said data fields include a single numerical entry field.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said single numerical entry field is an identification number used by the United States Patent &

Trademark office to designate a serial number for an application, a control number for a reexamination, a patent number or a publication number.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said second interface is also configured to permit the user to browse multiple records in sequence and without requiring a second query.

7. The method of claim 1 further including steps:

identifying text content associated with image files in said records; and

permitting a user to search said text as part of a query in said second interface.

8. In a networked computing system including a set of records maintained by

a first entity in a target computing system in a first database over an internet based network, the first database being configured to respond to user queries for said records over said network using a first query protocol presented in a first interface, and wherein the first query protocol restricts a user to using a first set of N parameters (N>

=1) for locating matching records in said first database, the improvement comprising;

configuring a second database with a second computing system to store said set of records;

wherein said second computing system is maintained by a second entity separate from and not controlling the first entity;

configuring a second interface for accessing said of records in said second database, said second interface including a second query protocol which includes both said first set of N parameters for locating matching records in said second database as well as at least one search parameter in addition to said first set of N parameters;

wherein said second computing system allows access to the set of records maintained at the target computing system using a different interface and a different protocol which emulates and enhances access options for querying the set of records.

9. A method of operating an access computing system under control of a first entity comprising:

configuring a first access server computing system and a first database coupled to said first access server under control of said first entity;

using said first access computing system to access a set of records maintained by a target computing system in a second database over an internet based network, said second database being configured and controlled by a second entity to respond to a user query for said records over said network using a first query protocol presented in a first browser interface which restricts access to no more than one record at one time;

wherein said first access computing system accesses said target computing system through an Internet browser interface based on emulating said user query, including by automatically passing a plurality of single locator identifier fields to said first query protocol to retrieve a corresponding plurality of records in said set of records;

storing said set of records in said first database.

10. The method of claim 9 including a step:

automatically updating said first database in response to changes in said second database in accordance with a priority schedule on a periodic basis.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said periodic basis is at least daily.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein said priority schedule is determined by ranking records in said second database in accordance with a likelihood of a change occurring for said records.

13. The method of claim 10 further including a step:

generating an alert to one or more users in response to detecting one or more updates matching said users'"'"' alert criteria.

14. The method of claim 10, further including a step:

defining a queue of requests used by said first access computing system for retrieving said corresponding plurality of records.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said queue includes a list of one or more of the following:

patent application numbers, patent reexamination numbers, or patent numbers.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said queue of requests is prioritized based on activity in said set of records.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said queue of requests is made to a patent information retrieval (PAIR) database, an assignment database, a maintenance fee database, or an appeals board decision database.

18. The method of claim 14 further including a step:

measuring a response time or availability of said target computing system and adjusting said first access computing system access to said target computing system based on results of said measuring.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein said alert criteria include one of the following events:

a) a patent being abandoned;

b) a patent likely to go abandoned;

c) a patent application being abandoned;

d) a patent application likely to be abandoned;

e) a patent application to issued;

f) a patent application likely to be issued;

g) an entity status change;

h) a change in attorneys;

i) a rejection of the claims.

20. A system for indirectly analyzing and predicting behavior of a target organization, which target organization processes input submissions from third parties using a staff of human personnel in accordance with a first rule set to generate output events, the system comprising:

a first access server computing system and a first database operatively connected to a network;

first module for configuring said first access server computing system and said first database under control of said first entity;

a second module adapted to use said first access computing system to access a set of records maintained by a target computing system in a second database over an internet based network, said second database being configured and controlled by a second entity to respond to a user query for said records over said network using a first query protocol presented in a first browser interface which restricts access to no more than one record at one time;

wherein said first access computing system accesses said target computing system through an Internet browser interface based on emulating said user query, including by automatically passing a plurality of single locator identifier fields to said first query protocol to retrieve a corresponding plurality of records in said set of records;

a third module for storing said set of records in said first database.