Systems and methods for patent portfolio management

Abstract

Systems and methods for patent portfolio management are proposed. In one example embodiment, a system or method includes maintaining or accessing a database including data relating to patent maintenance fees and due dates. An interactive interface is presented to a user, the interface including a display of a maintenance fee and a due date for at least one patent in the database. The interactive interface allows a user to request a maintenance-fee cost projection for a selected group or portfolio of patents in the database. A notification selection element allows a user to request notification of maintenance fee payments coming due.

1 . A method comprising:
 monitoring at least one patent requiring an annuity payment to remain in force;   maintaining a database including patent owner contact details for a patent owner of the at least one patent, the patent owner contact details including at least one of the following elements with respect to the patent owner: owner name, employer details, physical address, postal address, email address, text message address, mobile number, land line number, or social security number;   including in the database, back-up contact details for at least one back-up contact for the patent owner, the back-up contact details including at least one of the following elements with respect to the at least one back-up contact: name, postal address, email address, text message address, mobile number, land line number, or social security number;   using one or more of the patent owner contact details, automatically pinging the patent owner on a periodic basis by sending a communication via at least one of an e-mail, telephone call, or text message and monitoring for receipt of a reply to the communication within a first predetermined time period; and   in response to not receiving a reply to the communication from the patent owner within the first predetermined time period, using one or more of the back-up contact details of at least one back-up contact to automatically ping at least one of the back-up contacts by sending at least one of an e-mail, telephone call, or text message to the at least one back-up.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating a reminder of the annuity payment to the patent owner via at least one social media site. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating a reminder of the annuity payment to the patent owner via an application on a mobile device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 identifying a lack of at least one of the elements of the patent owner contact details; and   using one or more of the back-up contact details of at least one back-up contact, automatically pinging at least one of the back-up contacts until the at least one of the elements of the patent owner contact details is identified.   
     
     
         5 . A system comprising:
 a database including database entries that include:
 patent owner contact details for an owner of a patent, the patent owner contact details including at least one or more of the following elements: owner name, employer details, physical address, postal address, email address, text message address, mobile number, land line number, or social security number; and 
 back-up contact details for at least one back-up contact for the patent owner, the back-up contact details including at least one or more of the following elements: name, postal address, email address, text message address, mobile number, land line number, or social security number; 
   a storage device with computer-readable instructions stored thereon;   at least one processor, wherein when the instructions are executed by the at least one processor the at least on processor configured to:
 monitor at least one patent requiring an annuity payment to remain in force; 
 use one or more of the patent owner contact details, to automatically ping the patent owner on a periodic basis by sending a communication via at least one of an e-mail, telephone call, or text message and monitor for receipt of a reply of the communication within a first predetermined time period; and 
 in response to not receiving a reply to the communication from the patent owner within the first predetermined time period, use one or more of the back-up contact details of at least one back-up contact to automatically ping at least one of the back-up contacts by sending at least one of an e-mail, telephone call, or text message to the at least one back-up. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured, when executing the instructions to:
 communicate a reminder of the annuity payment to the patent owner via at least one social media site.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured, when executing the instructions to:
 communicate a reminder of the annuity payment to the patent owner via an application on a mobile device.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured, when executing the instructions to:
 identify a lack of at least one of the elements of the patent owner contact details; and   use one or more of the back-up contact details of at least one back-up contact, to automatically ping at least one of the back-up contacts until the at least one of the elements of the patent owner contact details is identified.   
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium, including instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, causing the at least one processor to perform the operations of:
 monitoring at least one patent requiring an annuity payment to remain in force;   maintaining a database including patent owner contact details for a patent owner of the at least one patent, the patent owner contact details including at least one of the following elements with respect to the patent owner: owner name, employer details, physical address, postal address, email address, text message address, mobile number, land line number, or social security number;   including in the database, back-up contact details for at least one back-up contact for the patent owner, the back-up contact details including at least one of the following elements with respect to the at least one back-up contact: name, postal address, email address, text message address, mobile number, land line number, or social security number;   using one or more of the patent owner contact details, automatically pinging the patent owner on a periodic basis by sending a communication via at least one of an e-mail, telephone call, or text message and monitoring for receipt of a reply of the communication within a first predetermined time period; and   in response to not receiving a reply to the communication from the patent owner within the first predetermined time period, using one or more of the back-up contact details of at least one back-up contact to automatically ping at least one of the back-up contacts by sending at least one of an e-mail, telephone call, or text message to the at least one back-up.   
     
     
         10 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising communicating a reminder of the annuity payment to the patent owner via at least one social media site. 
     
     
         11 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising communicating a reminder of the annuity payment to the patent owner via an application on a mobile device. 
     
     
         12 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 identifying a lack of at least one of the elements of the patent owner contact details; and   
       using one or more of the back-up contact details of at least one back-up contact, automatically pinging at least one of the back-up contacts until the at least one of the elements of the patent owner contact details is identified.