Computerized information system for creating patent data summaries and method therefor

Abstract

A computerized system and method for generating patent data summary reports for a target entity identified by the user. The information system contains a database containing patent document records. After a user selects the target entity, the system issues a query to the database to identify all entities having a association with patent documents associated with the specified target entity. For example, the user may wish to receive a report on all the clients of a specific attorney. The system would search the database to locate all assignees of all patents prosecuted by that attorney and return a ranked list of such assignees to the user. Optionally, the system may generate a graphical representation of the information in the report and provide it to the user. The report provided to the user may be interactive in a sense that various items of information within the report may be connected by way of links to additional reports with more specific information on those particular items. Additionally, the system may automatically update the patent document database with new records as they become available.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for generating a patent data summary report on a target entity, the target entity having an association with one or more patent documents, the method comprising:
 a. receiving first information from a user via computer network, wherein the first information is indicative of the target entity, wherein the target entity is of a first entity type;   b. issuing a database system query to a database system comprising at least one database table to identify a plurality of entities of a second entity type having a second association with at least one database record; wherein the at least one database record has a first association with the target entity;   c. incorporating information on the identified plurality of entities of the second entity type into the report; and   d. providing the report to the user via computer network.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one database record comprises patent document record. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying the target entity based on the first information. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the identifying the target entity comprises:
 i. searching database records in the database system using the received first information;   ii. ranking the identified database records;   iii. displaying the identified database records to the user in a ranked order;   iv. receiving second information from a user via computer network, wherein the second information identifies the target entity.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the first entity type is attorney/agent and the second entity type is assignee. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the first entity type is assignee and the second entity type is attorney/agent. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating graphical representation of the information on the identified plurality of entities of the second entity type and incorporating the generated graphical representation into the report. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the report comprises HTML code and is provided to a user via HTTP protocol. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising associating a link element with an information item in the report, wherein upon activation of the link element, the user is provided with a second report on the information item. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein the information item represents a number of patent documents and the second report comprises a listing of the patent documents. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , wherein the information item is selected from a group consisting of an attorney/agent, assignee, class/subclass, assignee country and inventor. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the report comprises a name of the target entity, a name of at least one of the plurality of entities and information on the patent documents associated with target entity and the plurality of entities. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of entities are listed in the report in a ranked manner. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising periodically updating records stored in the at least one database table. 
     
     
         15 . A computerized information system for providing a user with a report on a target entity, the target entity having an association with one or more patent documents, the computer system comprising:
 a. a database system, wherein the database system comprises at least one table for storing database records and wherein the database records comprise patent document records;   b. a processing unit for receiving instructions from the user, for processing received instructions and for generating the report on the target entity;   c. a network interface unit for coupling the computerized information system to a computer network and for receiving first information from the user and transmitting the report on the target entity to the user; and   d. a storage unit for storing a computer program for generating the report on the target entity, wherein the computer program causes the processing unit to:
 i. receive the first information from a user, wherein the first information is indicative of the target entity, wherein the target entity is of a first entity type; 
 ii. issue a database system query to a database system comprising at least one database table to identify a plurality of entities of a second entity type having a second association with at least one database record; wherein the at least one database record has a first association with the target entity; 
 iii. incorporate information on the identified plurality of entities of the second entity type into the report; and 
 iv. provide the report to the user. 
   
     
     
         16 . The computerized information system of  claim 15 , wherein the database system comprises a first table storing patent document information and a second table storing inventor information. 
     
     
         17 . The computerized information system of  claim 15 , wherein the computer program further causes the processing unit to associate a link element with an information item in the report, wherein upon activation of the link element, the user is provided with a second report on the information item. 
     
     
         18 . The computerized information system of  claim 17 , wherein the information item represents a number of patent documents and the second report comprises a listing of the patent documents. 
     
     
         19 . The computerized information system of  claim 17 , wherein the information item is selected from a group consisting of an attorney/agent, assignee, class/subclass, assignee country and inventor. 
     
     
         20 . A computer programming product for use in connection with a computer system, the computer programming product providing a user with a report on an entity, the entity having an association with one or more patent documents, the computer programming product causing the computer system to:
 a. receive first information from a user via computer network, wherein the first information is indicative of the target entity, wherein the target entity is of a first entity type;   b. issue a database system query to a database system comprising at least one database table to identify a plurality of entities of a second entity type having a second association with at least one database record; wherein the at least one database record has a first association with the target entity;   c. incorporate information on the identified plurality of entities of the second entity type into the report; and   d. provide the report to the user via computer network.