Method and system to provide subsequent history field for intellectual property document

Abstract

An apparatus and method of searching and organizing intellectual property (IP) formulates and facilitates searches for intellectual property and organizes results of such searches. In an exemplary embodiment, a search and organization server is provided with one or more modules to create and process search queries to be run on local or remote database systems. A class search can provide on-line access to classification information and facilitate searching of intellectual property using classifications. An IP thesaurus can provide for developing a list of elements found in IP information. The list of elements may be used as an aid in learning a new technology, as a search tool to refine search queries or criteria. A field-of-search can be based on search information identified from select IP information. Optional modules can formulate, store, organize, and output search results.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A computer-implemented method of providing electronic intellectual property (IP) information, the method being executed on a computer and comprising:
 receiving as input, in a computer processor device, a search criteria that defines intellectual property (IP) documents to be returned as search results;   searching, in the computer processor device, an electronic storage of IP documents based on the search criteria, to generate search results; and   displaying, in the computer processor device, the search results,   wherein   the search results which are displayed include: (i) the IP documents corresponding to the search criteria and (ii) a result item for at least one of the IP documents corresponding to the search criteria,   the result item for at least one of the IP documents includes:   subsequent history information relating to administrative or legal proceedings of which at least one of the IP documents forms a basis, the administrative or legal proceedings being subsequent to the at least one of the IP documents.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the search criteria which is input and used in the searching is content which appears in pre-defined fields within the IP documents to be located in the search and returned as the search results. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the search criteria which is input and used in the searching is data representative of a classification system including at least one of classification numbers, a classification index, classification headings, sub-classifications, classification definitions, classification titles, and cross-reference classification. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the IP documents in the electronic storage and returned in the search results are at least one of: patent documents, patent application documents, trademark documents, trademark application documents, copyright documents, trade secret documents and license documents. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the subsequent history information of the result item indicates one or more of: a post-grant proceeding, a pending re-examination, a completed re-examination, a reissue, an opposition, a cancellation, an arbitration, a litigation, an administrative proceeding, an assignment, a securitization, a collateral loan agreement, and a license. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the subsequent history of the result item includes a link to electronically retrieve a document in the subsequent history, including at least one of: a post-grant proceeding document, a re-examination certificate, a file history that cites or refers to the at least one of the located documents, a reissue, official filings in a litigation, official filings in an administrative proceeding, an assignment, an agreement, and a license agreement. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising a forward reference field of the result item that provides information which indicates at least one of: a subsequent patent, a subsequent publication, and a subsequent notice, that cites or refers to the at least one of the located documents. 
     
     
         38 . A system, implemented on at least one computer, for providing electronic intellectual property (IP) information, comprising:
 an electronic storage configured to store electronic IP documents; and   a processor cooperatively operable with the electronic storage, the processor being configured to
 receive as input, a search criteria that defines IP documents to be returned as search results; 
 search the electronic storage of IP documents based on the search criteria, to generate search results; and 
 facilitate displaying the search results, 
   wherein   the search results which are displayed include: (i) the IP documents corresponding to the search criteria and (ii) a result item for at least one of the IP documents corresponding to the search criteria,   the result item for at least one of the IP documents includes:
 subsequent history information relating to administrative or legal proceedings of which at least one of the IP documents forms a basis, the administrative or legal proceedings being subsequent to at least one of the IP documents. 
   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the search criteria which is input and used in the searching is content which appears in pre-defined fields within the IP documents to be located in the search and returned as the search results. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the search criteria which is input and used in the searching is data representative of a classification system including at least one of classification numbers, a classification index, classification headings, sub-classifications, classification definitions, classification titles, and cross-reference classification. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the IP documents in the electronic storage and returned in the search results are at least one of: patent documents, patent application documents, trademark documents, copyright documents, trade secret documents and license documents. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the subsequent history information of the result item indicates one or more of: a post-grant proceeding, a pending re-examination, a completed re-examination, a reissue, an opposition, a cancellation, an arbitration, a litigation, an administrative proceeding, an assignment, a securitization, a collateral loan agreement, and a license. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the subsequent history information of the result item includes a link to electronically retrieve a document in the subsequent history, including at least one of: a post-grant proceeding document, a re-examination certificate, a file history that cites or refers to the at least one of the located documents, a reissue, official filings in a litigation, official filings in an administrative proceeding, an assignment, an agreement, and a license agreement. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 38 , further comprising a forward reference field in the result item that provides information which indicates at least one of: a subsequent patent, a subsequent publication, and a subsequent notice, that cites or refers to the at least one of the located documents. 
     
     
         45 . A computer program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium with a method of providing electronic intellectual property (IP) information, the program comprising computer-executable steps for:
 receiving as input, a search criteria that defines intellectual property (IP) documents to be returned as search results;   searching an electronic storage of IP documents based on the search criteria, to generate search results; and   displaying the search results,   wherein   the search results which are displayed include: (i) the IP documents corresponding to the search criteria and (ii) a result item for at least one of the IP documents corresponding to the search criteria,   the result item for at least one of the IP documents includes:
 subsequent history information relating to administrative or legal proceedings of which at least one of the patent documents forms a basis, the administrative or legal proceedings being subsequent to the at least one of the patent documents. 
   
     
     
         46 . The computer program of  claim 45 , wherein the search criteria which is input and used in the searching is content which appears in pre-defined fields within the IP documents to be located in the search and returned as the search results. 
     
     
         47 . The computer program of  claim 45 , wherein the search criteria which is input and used in the searching is data representative of a classification system including at least one of classification numbers, a classification index, classification headings, sub-classifications, classification definitions, classification titles, and cross-reference classification. 
     
     
         48 . The computer program of  claim 45 , wherein the IP documents in the electronic storage and returned in the search results are at least one of: patent documents, patent application documents, trademark documents, trademark application documents, copyright documents, trade secret documents and license documents. 
     
     
         49 . The computer program of  claim 45 , wherein the subsequent history information of the result item indicates one or more of: a post-grant proceeding, a pending re-examination, a completed re-examination, a reissue, an opposition, a cancellation, an arbitration, a litigation, an administrative proceeding, an assignment, a securitization, a collateral loan agreement, and a license. 
     
     
         50 . The computer program of  claim 49 , wherein the subsequent history of the result item includes a link to electronically retrieve a document in the subsequent history, including at least one of: a post-grant proceeding document, a re-examination certificate, a file history that cites or refers to the at least one of the located documents, a reissue, official filings in a litigation, official filings in an administrative proceeding, an assignment, an agreement, and a license agreement. 
     
     
         51 . The computer program of  claim 45 , further comprising a forward reference field in the result item which provides information that further indicates at least one of: a subsequent patent, a subsequent publication, and a subsequent notice, that cites or refers to the at least one of the located documents.