Intellectual Property Management System

Abstract

To provide an intellectual property management system for managing intellectual property rights of multiple applicants, the system being suitable for handling an intellectual property right of an applicant who desires to submit a delivery file on the basis of an original file name rule.SOLUTION: An intellectual property management system manages intellectual property rights of multiple applicants together with a bibliographic database on which bibliographic items of intellectual property rights are recorded, and includes delivery files for each of users with a first file name. The intellectual property management system includes: a rule storage unit which stores rules, for each applicant, of file names each including one or more file-name constituent items included in the file name and an order thereof; and a file output unit which outputs a delivery file directly or indirectly to an intellectual property system of each user. The file output unit converts the file name of the delivery file from the first file name to second file name formed by arranging the one or more file-name constituent items in a designated order on the basis of the rule.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an intellectual property management system. [Background technology]

[0002] A single applicant may hold a large number of intellectual property rights, such as patent rights and design rights. In order to manage such a large number of intellectual property rights across multiple departments, Patent Document 1 discloses a file name creation device that creates unique and consistent file names. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-133609 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An attorney acts as an intermediary between an applicant and the patent office, providing intellectual property services such as handling procedures before the patent office on behalf of the applicant. An intermediate attorney also acts as an intermediary between an applicant and a local agent in a foreign country, assisting the applicant with foreign intellectual property procedures. Such attorneys and intermediate attorneys generally deal with multiple applicants and manage multiple intellectual property rights owned by each applicant. In accordance with the delivery rules specified by each applicant, the attorney delivers files related to the applicant's intellectual property cases to the applicant as needed.

[0005] In such a situation, if each applicant specifies their own rules for file delivery, agent case management becomes complicated. For example, even for cases involving the same applicant, some applicants may set their own rules for changing the file names of files delivered depending on the department or person in charge to which the case is delivered, the timing of delivery, and the case status. The more applicants an agent deals with, the greater the number and variety of delivery rules the agent must comply with, and the higher the agent's administrative costs.

[0006] The present disclosure aims to provide an intellectual property management system that manages the intellectual property rights of multiple applicants, and that is suitable for handling the intellectual property rights of applicants who request that files be delivered using their own file name rules. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The intellectual property management system of the present disclosure includes: An intellectual property management system that manages intellectual property rights of a plurality of applicants together with a bibliographic database that records bibliographic information of the intellectual property rights, and has delivery files for a plurality of users, each of which has a first file name, a rule storage unit for storing file name rules for each applicant, including one or more file name configuration items included in the file name and their order; a file output unit that outputs the delivery file directly or indirectly to each of the users' intellectual property systems; The file output unit converts the file name of the delivery file from the first file name to a second file name in which one or more file name constituent items are arranged in a specified order based on the rule. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, an intellectual property management system for managing the intellectual property rights of multiple applicants is provided, which is suitable for handling the intellectual property rights of applicants who request that delivery files be delivered using their own file name rules. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an intellectual property management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an intellectual property management system. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an example of a bibliographic database in the intellectual property management system of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an example of a rule database in the intellectual property management system of FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the process executed by the intellectual property management system. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows an example of the login screen for an intellectual property management system. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows an example of the display screen of the intellectual property management system after login. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows an example of processing executed by the file output unit of the intellectual property management system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an intellectual property management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The intellectual property management system 1 is a system managed and operated by an agent. The intellectual property management system 1 is configured to manage the intellectual property rights of multiple applicants. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the intellectual property management system 1 is communicatively connected to each of the multiple applicants' intellectual property systems via a network. Specifically, applicant A manages and operates intellectual property system A100. applicant B manages and operates intellectual property system B100. applicant C manages and operates intellectual property system C100. Each of intellectual property systems A100, B100, and C100 may be configured as a single server, multiple servers, or a cloud-based computer. The intellectual property management system 1 is communicatively connected to each of intellectual property system A100, intellectual property system B100, and intellectual property system C100. An applicant is an example of a user. The term "communicatively connected" may include both wired and wireless connections.

[0011] Intellectual property rights in this disclosure include patent rights, utility model rights, design rights, and trademark rights. Intellectual property rights may be any intellectual property rights defined as such under the laws of each country. Services related to intellectual property rights include managing information and documents related to the application procedures for patent rights, utility model rights, design rights, and trademark rights, procedures that occur while a patent application, utility model application, design application, or trademark application is pending with the patent office, and procedures for maintaining patent rights, utility model rights, design rights, and trademark rights.

[0012] The information includes bibliographic information on intellectual property rights, deadline information for various procedures, status information, submission dates to the Patent Office, and the date and time of reports to the applicant. The documents include documents to be submitted to the Patent Office, their draft documents, various instruction documents, and reference materials.

[0013] When an applicant files an application for intellectual property rights with a patent office, preparing documents in accordance with the patent office's detailed rules and formats can incur significant administrative costs. Furthermore, if an applicant holds a large number of intellectual property rights, each case requires different procedures at different times, making it difficult to manage the deadlines for these procedures. In such situations, an agent may act as an intermediary between the patent office and the applicant to assist in managing the applicant's intellectual property rights. In other words, an agent provides various intellectual property services to the applicant at the applicant's request. For example, an agent may handle various procedures with various patent offices, such as intellectual property acquisition procedures, based on the applicant's request. Furthermore, when an applicant files an application for intellectual property rights in a country other than their own, an intermediary agent may act as an intermediary between the applicant and the local agent, assisting the applicant in managing the applicant's intellectual property rights overseas. For example, an agent or intermediary agent may receive documents issued by the patent office and provide the applicant with an overview of the procedures and necessary documents.

[0014] Figure 2 is a block diagram of the intellectual property management system 1. As shown in Figure 2, the intellectual property management system 1 includes a file storage unit 2, a receiving unit 3, a file output unit 4, a bibliographic database 5, a rule acquisition unit 6, and a rule database 7. Details of each unit and database are explained below.

[0015] The file storage unit 2 is configured to store a single delivery file containing electronic data related to each applicant's intellectual property rights in the intellectual property management system 1. A delivery file is an electronic file delivered by an agent to an applicant in connection with the services provided by the agent. In this example, the delivery file may be a single electronic file or an archive file containing multiple electronic files. For example, the delivery file may be text data, HTML data, or image data. The delivery file may include a draft application specification, application specifications, various signed documents, documents from the Patent Office, citations, documents prepared by the agent, invoices, and various data files related to intellectual property rights.

[0016] The file format of the delivery file is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, pdf, xls, xlsx, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, txt, csv, tsv, htm, html, jwx, jws, xml, or zip. The delivery file may be received from an external system or may be created within the intellectual property management system 1. A first file name is assigned to the delivery file. In other words, the file storage unit 2 stores delivery files to be sent to each applicant under the first file name.

[0017] The receiving unit 3 is configured to receive a download request to the intellectual property management system 1. The receiving unit 3 may receive the download request from a person in charge of each applicant via a network, or may receive the download request from each applicant's intellectual property system. The receiving unit 3 may also receive a download request from a person in charge of an attorney's office. Upon receiving a download request, the receiving unit 3 is configured to notify the file output unit 4 that the download request has been received.

[0018] Upon receiving the notification from the receiving unit 3, the file output unit 4 is configured to output the delivery file directly or indirectly to each applicant's intellectual property system. Furthermore, the file output unit 4 is configured to convert the file name of the delivery file from a first file name to a second file name. The detailed processing of the file output unit 4 will be described later.

[0019] The bibliographic database 5 is configured to record bibliographic information for each intellectual property case at the attorney. Figure 3 shows an example of the bibliographic database 5. As shown in Figure 3, the bibliographic database 5 in this example records the correspondence between data number, attorney reference number, jurisdiction code, application number, filing date, applicant ID, user name, applicant reference number, status, and deadline. The data number is a number used by the attorney to identify each electronic data. The attorney reference number is the attorney's number that identifies the case. The jurisdiction code is a symbol indicating the type of intellectual property right related to the case. For example, the jurisdiction code for patents is "P" and the jurisdiction code for designs is "D." The application number and filing date are numbers assigned by the Patent Office and the filing date of the application. If a corresponding case has not been filed with the Patent Office, the application number and filing date fields are left blank. The applicant ID is a code used by the attorney to identify each applicant. The user name is information entered by each applicant when logging in to the intellectual property management system 1. The applicant reference number is the applicant's number that identifies the case. The status indicates the progress of the corresponding case. Examples of the status include "new request," "application discontinued," "instruction received," "approved," "abandoned," and "withdrawn." The deadline indicates the deadline date for the procedure related to the corresponding case. Note that each item in the bibliographic database 5 shown in Figure 3 is an example. The bibliographic database 5 may include more information or may only include some of the items shown in Figure 3.

[0020] The rule acquisition unit 6 is configured to acquire, from each applicant's intellectual property system, rules related to file names that are desired by that applicant. For example, when an agent manages a case for a new applicant, the rule acquisition unit 6 may acquire the delivery rules desired by the new applicant. Also, when an agent manages a case for an existing applicant and has already acquired delivery rules from the existing applicant, the existing applicant may wish to change the delivery rules. In such a case, the rule acquisition unit 6 may also acquire the changed delivery rules. The rules acquired by the rule acquisition unit 6 are recorded in the rule database 7.

[0021] The rule database 7 is configured to store, for each applicant, filename rules, including one or more filename components to be included in the filename and their order. Figure 4 shows an example of the rule database 7. As shown in Figure 4, the rule database 7 records the correspondence between applicant IDs, filename rules desired by the applicant, and update dates indicating when the rules were updated. For example, applicant A's applicant ID is A001. Applicant A requests his agent to include the applicant reference number, date, and event name as items to be included in the filename. Applicant A also requests that the folder name be listed after the applicant reference number, followed by the date, and the event name. This rule has been in effect since 20XX / YY / ZZ. When delivering a folder to applicant A, the agent is required to name the folder "applicant reference number_date_event name." A filename in which the items specified in the bibliographic database 5 are arranged in the specified order based on the rules is an example of a second filename.

[0022] The date may be the date the delivery file was created or the date the download request was received. An event represents various procedures that occur during the acquisition and maintenance of intellectual property rights. An event may also be a status recorded in the bibliographic database 5. Event names include, for example, application procedures, responses to instructions from the office, maintenance annuity payments, requests for examination, and payments of various fees to the intellectual property office. Event names vary depending on the country of application. The intellectual property management system 1 may further include an event database that records the correspondence between statuses in the bibliographic database 5 and customer-specified event names. The customer-specified event name may be included in the second file name by referencing the event database. Note that the items in the rule database 7 shown in Figure 4 are merely examples. The rule database 7 may include additional information or only some of the items shown in Figure 4. The rule database 7 is an example of a rule storage unit.

[0023] The file name components include at least the bibliographic information recorded in the bibliographic database 5 and the date. For example, the file name components include the name of one intellectual property management system, the name of the applicant system, the applicant's name, the applicant's department name, the applicant's contact person name, the agent's name, the intermediary agent's name, the local agent's name, various bibliographic information for the application (including the four legal types of the application, the application country name, the application number, the application date, the publication number, the number after granting rights such as a patent number, and the application status), the applicant's serial number, the agent's serial number, various date and time information (including the file creation date and time, the file download date and time, the deadline for responding to the instruction, and the deadline for the applicant's response to the agent), information on whether a response from the applicant to the agent is required, information on whether the delivered file contains billing information, and the event name of an event related to the delivered file. The file name may include one or more of any file name components.

[0024] Next, we will explain the processing executed by the intellectual property management system 1. Hereinafter, we will explain the case where an agent acts as an intermediary between the Patent Office and Applicant A and supports the management of the intellectual property rights of Applicant A. The support for Applicant B and Applicant C is similar to the support for Applicant A, so we will omit the explanation.

[0025] In the following, we will explain an example in which an instruction is issued in a patent case involving applicant A. When a written instruction is issued, the agent prepares multiple electronic files related to the written instruction. The multiple electronic files include, for example, an electronic file of the written instruction issued by the Patent Office, an electronic file of cited documents, and an electronic file of the agent's report. The agent then compiles these multiple electronic files into a single archive file, which is then used as the delivery file. The agent then assigns the first file name to the delivery file, "agent reference number_event name_date." For example, the first file name could be "XXXXXX_received instruction_20XXYYZZ." The date is, for example, the date the delivery file was created. The created delivery file is then stored in the file storage unit 2 with the first file name "agent reference number_event name_date" assigned.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the process executed by the intellectual property management system 1. First, the intellectual property management system 1 performs a login process to confirm that applicant A has logged in (step S01). FIG. 6 is an example of a login screen of the intellectual property management system 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the login screen shows a username field 10 for entering a username, a password field 11 for entering a password, and a login button 12. Applicant A enters a preset username ABCD in the username field 10, enters the password in the password field 11, and presses the login button 12. If the username and password are correct and the login button 12 is pressed, the intellectual property management system 1 permits applicant A to log in.

[0027] In this example, logging in to the intellectual property management system 1 is an example of a download request for a delivery file. Specifically, when applicant A logs in to the intellectual property management system 1, the receiving unit 3 receives the login as a download request and notifies the file output unit 4 of the download request.

[0028] After the login process is completed, the intellectual property management system 1 identifies applicant A based on the entered user name ABCD (step S02). More specifically, the user name ABCD entered by applicant A is recorded in association with applicant ID A001 in the bibliographic database 5 (FIG. 3). The intellectual property management system 1 refers to the bibliographic database 5 to identify applicant ID A001 associated with user name ABCD, and identifies that it is applicant A who has logged in to the intellectual property management system 1.

[0029] After identifying applicant A, the intellectual property management system 1 references the bibliographic database 5 to identify applicant A's cases and the delivery files for those cases (step S03). Figure 7 shows an example of a display screen of the intellectual property management system 1 displayed to applicant A after logging in. As shown in Figure 7, the display screen displays a download button 13, the delivery files for each case, their status, and bibliographic information. Here, three cases, applicant reference numbers A012JP00, A023JP00, and A105JP00, are identified and displayed as intellectual property rights owned by applicant A. For example, the display shows that the delivery file for applicant reference number A012JP00 contains three electronic files, that the delivery files have not yet been downloaded, the date the delivery files were uploaded, the applicant reference number, and the attorney reference number. Meanwhile, the display shows that the delivery file for applicant reference number A105JP00 contains two electronic files, that the delivery files have already been downloaded, the upload date, the applicant reference number, and the attorney reference number. Note that the display screen shown in Figure 7 is an example. The display screen may include additional items and information, or may only include some of the items shown in FIG.

[0030] Next, the intellectual property management system 1 determines whether a rule for applicant A is recorded (step S04). Specifically, the identified applicant ID A001 is recorded in the rule database 7 in association with the file name rule that applicant A requests from the agent (FIG. 4). The intellectual property management system 1 refers to the rule database 7, and if there is a rule associated with applicant ID A001 (YES in step S04), it reads out the rule "applicant serial number_date_event name" (step S06).

[0031] The intellectual property management system 1 refers to the rule database 7, and if there is no rule associated with the applicant ID (NO in step S04), the rule acquisition unit 6 of the intellectual property management system 1 acquires a rule related to the file name from the applicant (step S05). The rule acquired by the rule acquisition unit 6 is recorded in the rule database 7, and the intellectual property management system 1 reads out the rule (step S06).

[0032] Next, based on the download request notified from the receiving unit 3, the file output unit 4 converts the file name of the identified delivery file from the first file name to a second file name in which the items specified in the bibliographic database 5 are arranged in the specified order based on the read rule (step S07). Figure 8 is an example of processing executed by the file output unit 4. As shown in Figure 8, the file output unit 4 converts the file name of the delivery file stored in the file storage unit 2 from the first file name "XXXXXX_Instruction Receipt_20XXYYZZ" to the second file name "20XXYYZZ_A012JP00_Instruction".

[0033] Next, the intellectual property management system 1 determines whether the download button 13 has been pressed (step S08). If the download button 13 has been pressed (YES in step S08), applicant A can download multiple cases that have not yet been downloaded all at once (step S09). In the example of FIG. 7, the delivery files for A012JP00 and A023JP00 that have not yet been downloaded are downloaded at once, and the intellectual property management system 1 ends the processing. If the download button 13 has not been pressed (NO in step S08), the intellectual property management system 1 returns to before step S08 and waits until the download button 13 is pressed.

[0034] As described above, the intellectual property management system 1 of this example manages the intellectual property rights of multiple applicants A, B, and C together with a bibliographic database 5 that records bibliographic information about the intellectual property rights. The intellectual property management system 1 is communicatively connected to the intellectual property systems of each applicant A, B, and C. The intellectual property management system 1 has delivery files for each applicant A, B, and C with first file names. The intellectual property management system 1 includes a rule database 7 that stores file name rules for each applicant, including one or more file name constituent items to be included in the file name and their order, and a file output unit 4 that directly or indirectly outputs delivery files to each applicant's intellectual property system. The file output unit 4 converts the file names of the delivery files from the first file names to second file names in which the file name constituent items, including items specified from the bibliographic database 5 based on the rules, are arranged in a specified order.

[0035] According to the intellectual property management system 1 of this example, the file output unit 4 converts the first file name to the second file name, so that the delivery file can be delivered with a file name that complies with the delivery rules required by each applicant. For an agent who manages the intellectual property rights of multiple applicants A, B, and C, there are many delivery rules that must be observed, but the file output unit 4 converts the file name of the delivery file into a second file name, which reduces the administrative work and cuts down on administrative costs. In addition, the agent can handle the delivery file names handled within the office using a first file name that is convenient within the office, and when delivering the files to the applicant, can deliver them using a second file name that is convenient for the applicant. The agent may store the delivery file in the system with the first file name as a delivery record, or may store the delivery file in the system with the second file name, or may store both the delivery file with the first file name and the delivery file with the second file name in the intellectual property management system 1.

[0036] According to the intellectual property management system 1 of this example, when the file output unit 4 receives a download request from each applicant's intellectual property system, it converts the file name of the delivered file from the first file name to the second file name. This allows the agent to handle the delivered file with the first file name that is convenient for the agent until the download request is received, which is very convenient.

[0037] The intellectual property management system 1 of this example is equipped with a rule acquisition unit 6 that acquires the rules of each applicant. This allows delivery files to be output that reflect the rules required by each applicant. In particular, even if an existing applicant with multiple cases requests changes to the delivery rules, the changed delivery rules can be reflected in all cases, increasing immediacy.

[0038] The rules may be stored in the rule database 7 by a person who has an account on the intellectual property management system 1 based on instructions from each applicant. An agent may set up an account on the intellectual property management system 1 for each applicant, allowing each applicant to store the rules in the rule database 7 themselves. An agent may set up an account for each applicant in a separate system such as an electronic file exchange system, allowing each applicant to store the rules in the separate system themselves, and linking the separate system to the rule database 7 of the intellectual property management system 1 to store the rules. Each applicant may store the rules in their own intellectual property system, and linking their intellectual property system to the rule database 7 of the intellectual property management system 1 to store the rules.

[0039] The intellectual property management system 1 of this example may also include a file creation unit 8 that creates a single delivery file containing electronic data related to the intellectual property rights of each applicant (FIG. 1). The file creation unit 8 may assign a first file name to the created delivery file. When the intellectual property management system 1 includes the file creation unit 8, it is easy to link with the file storage unit 2, and convenience is improved.

[0040] In the rule database 7 described above, one rule is stored in association with one applicant ID, but the number of rules recorded is not limited to one per applicant ID. Some applicants may require different delivery rules depending on the jurisdiction, status, or deadline. In such cases, multiple rules may be recorded for one applicant ID. When multiple rules exist, the intellectual property management system 1 references the condition items and conditions in the rule database 7 (Figure 4) and extracts multiple cases from the bibliographic database 5 that have bibliographic information that matches the conditions. The file output unit 4 may convert the file names of the delivery files for each of the extracted multiple cases from a first file name to a second file name.

[0041] For example, applicant C requests that the second file name be "applicant reference number_deadline_agent reference number" when the jurisdiction is P (patent), and that the second file name be "applicant reference number_date_status" when the jurisdiction is D (design) (FIG. 4). In this situation, when the intellectual property management system 1 reads the multiple rules (step S06 in FIG. 5), it references the rule database 7 and identifies "jurisdiction" as a condition item. After identification, the intellectual property management system 1 references the bibliographic database 5 and extracts cases whose jurisdiction is P (patent) and cases whose jurisdiction is D (design). After extraction, the file output unit 4 converts the first file name to the second file name "applicant reference number_deadline_agent reference number" for files delivered in the jurisdiction P (patent), and converts the first file name to the second file name "applicant reference number_date_status" for files delivered in the jurisdiction D (design). With this configuration, it is possible to efficiently output a delivery file that reflects the more detailed delivery rules required by the applicant.

[0042] While the file output unit 4 described above outputs electronic files related to one case in a single delivery file, it may also output electronic files related to multiple cases in a single delivery file. For example, if multiple cases with a status of "New Request" are managed in the intellectual property management system 1, applicant N requests that electronic files of the signed documents for those multiple cases be output in a single delivery file. In this situation, when the intellectual property management system 1 reads the multiple rules (step S06 in FIG. 5), it references the rule database 7 and identifies "status" as a condition item. After identification, the intellectual property management system 1 references the bibliographic database 5 to extract cases with a status of "New Request." After extraction, the file output unit 4 collects the electronic data of the signed documents related to the extracted multiple cases, stores them in a single delivery file, and converts the file name of the delivery file from a first file name to a second file name. This configuration uses common bibliographic information to output a single delivery file for multiple cases, eliminating the need to output each delivery file individually and improving the efficiency of delivery work.

[0043] In the above embodiment, applicant A logs in to the intellectual property management system 1 and downloads the delivery file, but if multiple applicants share one intellectual property right, those multiple applicants may also log in to the intellectual property management system 1 and download the delivery file. In this case, the intellectual property management system 1 manages one intellectual property right using a lead applicant ID, and the multiple applicants log in to the intellectual property management system 1 using different user names and passwords. With this configuration, even if multiple applicants share one intellectual property right, delivery files can be efficiently output by reflecting the delivery rules required by each applicant.

[0044] Furthermore, users of the intellectual property management system 1 are not limited to applicants, but may also be attorney-at-law staff. The attorney-at-law staff may log in to the intellectual property management system 1 and download the delivery files. Some applicants may request that their attorneys deliver the files via email or an electronic file exchange system. In such cases, the attorney-at-law staff uses the intellectual property management system 1 to convert the file name of the delivery file to a second file name and download the delivery file. The office staff delivers the downloaded delivery files to each applicant via email or an electronic file exchange system. In this way, the intellectual property management system 1 may indirectly deliver the delivery files to the applicant's intellectual property system via email or an electronic file exchange system.

[0045] For example, applicants S and Q share a single patent application. Applicant S requests that the second file be named "applicant reference number_date_status" (Figure 4). Applicant S also directly logs in to the intellectual property management system 1 and downloads the delivery file. When applicant S logs in to the intellectual property management system 1, applicant S uses the username SSS. When applicant S logs in to the intellectual property management system 1, the receiving unit 3 of the intellectual property management system 1 receives a download request from applicant S. In this situation, when the intellectual property management system 1 reads the rules for applicant S (step S06 in Figure 5), it refers to the rule database 7 and identifies "user name" as a condition item. After identification, the intellectual property management system 1 refers to the bibliographic database 5 and extracts cases with the username SSS. After extraction, the file output unit 4 converts the file name of the delivery file for the case with the username SSS from the first file name to the second file name "applicant reference number_date_status." Applicant S downloads the delivery file converted to the second file name "applicant reference number_date_status."

[0046] On the other hand, applicant Q requests that the second file name be "Application Number_Event Name_Deadline" (Figure 4). Furthermore, applicant Q requests that the agent not log in to the intellectual property management system 1 to download the delivery file, but rather that the agent's office staff deliver the delivery file to applicant Q via the electronic file exchange system. In this situation, the office staff in charge of applicant Q uses the username PPP when logging in to the intellectual property management system 1. When the office staff logs in to the intellectual property management system 1, the receiving unit 3 of the intellectual property management system 1 receives a download request from the office staff. When the intellectual property management system 1 reads the rules for applicant Q (step S06 in Figure 5), it refers to the rule database 7 and identifies "user name" as a condition item. After identification, the intellectual property management system 1 refers to the bibliographic database 5 and extracts cases with the username PPP. After extraction, the file output unit 4 converts the file name of the delivery file for the case with the username PPP from the first file name to the second file name "Application Number_Event Name_Deadline". The office staff downloads the delivery file that has been converted to the second file name "Application number_Event name_Deadline". The office staff then delivers the downloaded delivery file to Applicant Q via Applicant Q's electronic file exchange system. With this configuration, even for applicants who request delivery using the electronic file exchange system, it is possible to output a delivery file with the second file name requested by the applicant, thereby reducing the administrative costs of the agent.

[0047] Although the above-described embodiment illustrates an example in which each applicant has an intellectual property system, this is not limiting. Even if an applicant does not have an intellectual property system, the applicant may have a system for receiving electronic data, including delivery files. The intellectual property management system 1 may be directly or indirectly connected to the applicant's system. For example, the mail server of the applicant's system and the mail server of the agent's system may be connected via a network such as the Internet. An Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system may be interposed between the applicant's system and the agent's intellectual property management system 1, and connected via a network such as the Internet. The Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system may be operated and managed by the agent, the applicant, or a third party.

[0048] In the above-described embodiment, the download request for the delivery file is made by logging in to the intellectual property management system 1, but this is not limiting. The download request for the delivery file may be made by operating the download button 13. That is, before the download button 13 is pressed and the receiving unit 3 receives the download request (step S08 in FIG. 5), the file output unit 4 may convert the file name of the delivery file from the first file name to the second file name.

[0049] In the above-described embodiment, the intellectual property management system 1 converted the file name of the delivery file from the first file name to the second file name based on a download request. However, the intellectual property management system 1 may convert the file name based on another file name exchange request. The file name exchange request may include, for example, a file name conversion instruction or a file transfer instruction. The download request or file name exchange request may be received from a user or an applicant. The intellectual property management system 1 may assign an account to the applicant, and the applicant may send the file name exchange request directly to the intellectual property management system 1. The applicant may also use another system as an intermediary between the intellectual property management system 1 and the intellectual property management system 1 and send the file name exchange request via that other system. For example, the applicant may connect their system to the intellectual property management system 1, or may send the file name exchange request via another system such as an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) tool.

[0050] If the applicant is a corporation, users of the intellectual property management system 1 include not only the corporation itself but also personnel in departments such as the intellectual property department that handles intellectual property within the corporation. Also, if the intellectual property department of a parent company handles intellectual property rights of affiliated companies such as subsidiaries of the corporation, personnel in the intellectual property department of the parent company can use the management system of this example as users, even though the applicant is an affiliated company.

[0051] In the above-described embodiment, the intellectual property management system 1 converts the file name of a single electronic file, but the file name conversion is not limited to this. The intellectual property management system 1 may electronically copy a single electronic file and assign a file name to the copied electronic file in accordance with the rules. The intellectual property management system 1 may also archive multiple electronic files using a method such as ZIP compression and assign a file name to the archive file in accordance with the rules.

[0052] Rules may be stored in the rule database 7 by a person with an account for the intellectual property management system 1 based on instructions from each applicant. Each applicant may obtain an account for the intellectual property management system 1 and store the rules in the rule database 7 themselves. Each applicant may obtain an account for another system, such as an electronic file exchange system, store the rules themselves, and link these stored rules to the rule database 7 of the intellectual property management system 1. Each applicant may store the rules in their own intellectual property system and link these stored rules to the rule database 7 of the intellectual property management system 1. If the applicant stores the file name rules directly or indirectly in the rule database 7 without the intervention of a user of the intellectual property management system 1, the rules can be changed at any time without the intervention of a user of the intellectual property management system 1.

[0053] The present disclosure also includes the following aspects. (1) If the agent downloads the delivery file and manually sends it to the applicant via EDI or email: In this mode, the agent manually retrieves the delivery file stored in the intellectual property management system 1 from the intellectual property management system 1 and sends it to the applicant via EDI or email. In this case, the agent can change the file name in advance, but it is preferable that the file name be changed when the agent downloads the delivery file. (2) When assigning an account in the Intellectual Property Management System 1 to an applicant: In this embodiment, an account in the intellectual property management system 1 is assigned to the applicant, and the applicant logs in to the intellectual property management system 1 as needed to download the delivery file. When a new delivery file is saved in the intellectual property management system 1, the file name may be converted immediately after the saving. It is more preferable that the file name be converted when the applicant downloads the delivery file. Furthermore, when a new delivery file is saved in the intellectual property management system 1, an email may be sent to the applicant urging the applicant to download it. (3) When assigning an account in another system, such as an electronic data interchange system, to the applicant and enabling the other system to be connected to the intellectual property management system 1: In this embodiment, the applicant logs in to another system such as an electronic data interchange system as needed to download the delivery file. When a new delivery file is saved in the intellectual property management system 1, it is preferable that the file name is converted following the saving, and the delivery file with the converted file name is transferred to the other system. Furthermore, when the new delivery file has been transferred to the other system, an email may be sent to the applicant urging the applicant to download it. (4) When the intellectual property management system 1 and the applicant's intellectual property management system can be connected: In this embodiment, when a new delivery file is saved in the intellectual property management system 1, the file name is converted after saving and then transferred to the applicant's intellectual property system. The delivery file may be transferred automatically or when authorized by the applicant. The intellectual property management system 1 and the applicant's intellectual property system do not need to be connected all the time, but may be connected only when necessary, such as when transferring a delivery file. The form of connection is not particularly limited, and may include, for example, connection via an application programming interface (API).

[0054] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the technical scope of the present disclosure should not be interpreted as being limited by the description of the present embodiments. The present embodiments are merely examples, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications of the embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims. The technical scope of the present disclosure should be determined based on the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1: Intellectual property management system 2: File storage unit 3: Receiver 4: File output section 5: Bibliographic database 6: Rule acquisition section 7: Rules database 8: File creation section 10: User name field 11: Password field 12:Login button 13: Download button A, B, C, S, Q: Applicant A100, B100, C100: Intellectual Property System

Claims

1. An intellectual property management system that manages intellectual property rights of a plurality of applicants together with a bibliographic database that records bibliographic information of the intellectual property rights, and has delivery files for a plurality of users, each of which has a first file name, a rule storage unit for storing file name rules for each applicant, including one or more file name configuration items included in the file name and their order; a file output unit that outputs the delivery file directly or indirectly to each of the users' intellectual property systems; the first file name is formed by arranging one or more file name constituent items in a first order, The file output unit converts the file name of the delivery file from the first file name to a second file name in which one or more file name constituent items are arranged in a second order different from the first order based on the rules associated with each user to which the delivery file is output.

2. 2. The intellectual property management system of claim 1, wherein when the file output unit receives a download request from the intellectual property system of each of the users, it converts the first file name to the second file name based on the rule associated with the user who made the download request.

3. 3. The intellectual property management system according to claim 1, further comprising a rule acquisition unit that acquires the rules of each of the users.

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