System design rights management

• US 8,543,372 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2001
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fernandez & Associates LLP
• Original Assignee: Fernandez & Associates LLP
• Inventors: Fernandez, Dennis S., Hu, Irene Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALHIJA, SAIF A
• Application Number:
  US09/955,664
• Time in Patent Office: 4,388 Days
• Field of Search: 703/26, 703/13
• US Class Current: 703/26
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management

Abstract

Development software compares prototype functionality to module library to pre-qualify design rights. Functional equivalence is determined at different abstraction levels. When equivalence is determined at one level, but not another level, functionality may be modified. Software may configure actual prototype per modified design. Network database provides on-line transaction and delivery of licensed design, preferably according to manufacturing parameters.

Claims

1. In a computer-assisted product rights system comprising a processor and a storage coupled thereto, a software-implemented method for managing product rights, comprising the steps of:

generating by a processor a first data structure representing a product module and;

comparing by the processor a functionality of the first data structure to at least one compared functionality provided in a rights database provided in a storage and, the comparison of the functionality of the first data structure and the at least one compared functionality provided in the rights database being performed on at least one corresponding functional abstraction level; and

providing an equivalence determination between the functionality of the first data structure and the at least one compared functionality provided in the rights database on at least one corresponding abstraction level, the equivalence determination permitting implementation of at least one permitted product right; and

coupling via a network to a prototype to enable functional implementation of the at least one permitted product right, whereby the prototype comprises at least one of a product coupled to an appliance, the at least one of a product coupled to an appliance being at least one of configured for operation using a data structure and programmed for operation using a data structure, the-data structure being provided by the processor for functional implementation for the prototype in accordance with the at least one permitted product right; and

the functionality of the first data structure and the at least one compared functionality provided in the rights database on a plurality of corresponding functional abstraction levels, the processor comparing the functionality of the first data structure and the at least one compared functionality provided in the rights database on at least one corresponding functional abstraction level; and

generating by the processor a modified data structure representing a modified product module, the modified data structure having a modified functionality which is equivalent to the functionality of the first data structure at a first corresponding functional abstraction level, but the modified functionality not being equivalent to the functionality of the first data structure at a second corresponding functional abstraction level; and

coupling the processor to a product module; and

electrically configuring the product module according to the modified functionality.

2. A computer-aided product rights management system comprising:

a processor;

a storage coupled thereto; and

a program provided in the storage and executable by the processor for functional comparison to a rights library at least one functionality of at least one of an electronic circuit and a software design, the functional comparison being performed on at least one corresponding level of functional abstraction to determine whether the at least one functionality of the at least one of an electronic circuit and a software design is provided equivalently in the rights library, thereby managing rights by enabling selective application of corresponding rights information on the at least one level of functional abstraction about the at least one of an electronic circuit and a software design to at least one respective tool;

wherein the processor is coupled via a network effectively to provide at least one right in at least one of a product and appliance that is at least one of configurable for operation and programmable for operation using a data structure from the processor;

wherein the program determines functional equivalence at multiple abstraction levels;

the program generating at least one of a modified circuit and a software design being functionally equivalent to the at least one of an electronic circuit and a software design at one abstraction level, but not functionally equivalent thereto at another abstraction level;

the processor being coupled to a product module, and the program causing the product module to be configured electrically according to the at least one of a modified circuit and a software design.