Patents Assigned to BLACK HILLS IP HOLDINGS, LLC
  • Patent number: 10922344
    Abstract: Methods and systems for importing docketing data are provided. The method includes retrieving, from a storage device, a first data structure that includes docketing information for a plurality of matters from a source docketing system; searching a publicly available database to retrieve information associated with the first matter; verifying that data in at least one field of the first matter matches data in a corresponding field of the retrieved information; automatically detecting existence of an error in the first matter based on a combination of two or more fields of the first matter; and storing the first matter in a target docketing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Lundberg, Thomas G. Marlow
  • Patent number: 10909188
    Abstract: Methods and systems for automatically detecting docketing data anomalies are provided. The method includes storing in a docketing system docketing information for a plurality of matters, each of the plurality of matters including a plurality of activities and a plurality of documents. Retrieving a first document from the plurality of documents associated with a first matter of the plurality of matters. Determining a document type of the first document. Extracting one or more features from the first document and the plurality of activities associated with the first matter. Training a machine learning model, based on the extracted features and the document type of the first document, to determine one or more expected docketing activities for a new document determined to match the document type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Lundberg, Thomas G. Marlow
  • Patent number: 10885078
    Abstract: An apparatus and computer implemented method that include obtaining, into a computer, text of a patent, automatically finding and extracting, using the computer, a set of claim text from the patent text, identifying, using the computer, text of independent claims from the set of claim text, displaying in a first row on a computer monitor the text of the independent claims, automatically determining a plurality of preliminary scope-concept phrases from the text of the independent claims, displaying in a second row on the computer monitor the text of the plurality of preliminary scope-concept phrases, eliciting and receiving user input to specify a first one of the plurality of preliminary scope-concepts phrases, and highlighting each occurrence of the specified first one of the plurality of preliminary scope-concept phrases in a plurality of the independent claims displayed in the first row. A scope concept builder tool is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Steven W. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 10860657
    Abstract: System and method permit patent mapping. A method may comprise maintaining a database of patent portfolios and a database of patents with each patent stored in the database of patents associated with one or more patent portfolios stored in the database of patent portfolios. A target subject matter to be mapped is identified and a search query associated with the target subject matter is received. Search results are generated to define a first patent portfolio in the database with the search results including one or more patent claims associated with the search query. The one or more patent claims are mapped to a patent concept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Steven W. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 10810693
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a system and method to provide cross-referencing of important IP relationships. The system comprising software executing on a computing platform for displaying relationships between various domains of IP information selected from the group of claims, prosecution history, products, concepts or art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Lundberg, Janal M. Kalis
  • Patent number: 10803073
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for automatically proofing the patent specification of a granted patent issued on a patent application. The method comprises the steps of scanning amendments made to the patent application during prosecution; assembling the most recent claims, based on the scanned amendments, to create a test claim set of the claims; comparing the test claim set to the claims of the issued patent as published; and identifying any differences between the compared sets of claims and communicating the differences to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Steven W. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 10671574
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system are provided for monitoring developments in a field of prior art. The method comprises using one or more processors receive a search query including a first patent concept related to the field of prior art; search the Internet as a function of the search query; generate a first set of search results; store the first set of search results in a database; conduct a subsequent search on the Internet as a function of the search query; generate a second set of search results; compare the first and second sets of search results to identify differences in the results; and communicate the differences to a user. An ontology of patent concepts may be stored in a system database. The searches may be conducted automatically on a regular basis thereby notifying the user of any intervening changes in the field of prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Steven W. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 10628429
    Abstract: A system and method for patent mapping are provided. The system comprises a database of patent sets and a database of patents, each patent stored in the database of patents associated with one or more patent sets stored in the database of patent sets; and one or more modules to perform a portion of one or more of the following: receive input identifying a set of keyword source claims associated with a first patent set; automatically extract at least one keyword from the source claims; receive or formulate a search query associated with the first patent set, the search query including the at least one keyword; search the entire first patent set as a function of the search query; generate search results, the search results including one or more patent claims associated with the search query; and map the one or more patent claims to a patent concept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Lundberg, Lars Olof Hugo Svensson
  • Patent number: 10614082
    Abstract: A computer implemented method and system for patent mapping comprises maintaining a database of patent portfolios and a database of patents, each patent stored in the database of patents associated with one or more patent portfolios stored in the database of patent portfolios; receiving a search query associated with a first patent portfolio; searching the first portfolio as a function of the search query; generating search results, the search results including one or more patent claims associated with the search query; mapping the one or more patent claims to a patent concept; highlighting any claim terms associated with the patent scope across a number of claims; storing the associations; and displaying the highlighted claim terms to a user when subsequently displaying the one or more mapped patent claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Lundberg, Tyler L Nasiedlak
  • Patent number: 10585904
    Abstract: System and methods for analyzing patents and prior art in a patent management system are disclosed herein. In an example embodiment, a computer-implemented method of determining a potential point of novelty for an identified patent comprises retrieving at least one independent claim of the patent in the claim form as issued; retrieving at least one independent claim of the patent in the claim form as published; and automatically comparing the issued claim to the published claim by identifying unique keywords present in the issued claim but not present in the published claim and flagging the unique keywords to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Steven W. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 10579662
    Abstract: Systems and methods for calculating a patent claim scope rating are disclosed. In an example embodiment, a method of calculating a patent claim scope rating includes identifying patent references cited in examination of a subject patent and storing the identified patent references as an applied art list, identifying first backward references for the patent references in the applied art list and storing the first backward references as a first backward list, identifying second backward references for the first backward references in the first backward list and storing the second backward references as a second backward list, identifying forward references for the patent references in the applied art list and storing the forward references as a forward list. A patent claim scope rating is based on a calculation including at least a partial combination listing of the applied art list, the first and second backward lists, and the forward list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Lundberg, Lars Olof Hugo Svensson
  • Patent number: 10546273
    Abstract: System and method permit patent mapping. A method may comprise maintaining a database of patent portfolios and a database of patents with each patent stored in the database of patents associated with one or more patent portfolios stored in the database of patent portfolios. A search query may be received associated with a first patent portfolio and the first portfolio may be searched as a function of the search query. Search results may be generate which include one or more patent claims associated with the search query. The one or more patent claims may be mapped to a patent concept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Lundberg, Thomas G. Marlow
  • Patent number: 10268731
    Abstract: A system and computer implemented method are provided. The method comprises maintaining a database of patent portfolios and a database of patents, with each patent stored in the database of patents being associated with one or more patent portfolios stored in the database of patent portfolios. The method includes receiving a search query associated with a first patent portfolio; searching the first portfolio as a function of the search query; generating a seed set of search results including one or more patent claims associated with the search query, the patent claims including terms from the search query; automatically generating an expanded set of search results including one or more patent claims further associated with the search query or associated with the patent claims in the seed set of search results; and mapping the one or more patent claims to a patent concept.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Steven W. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 10242066
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for automatically proofing the patent specification of a granted patent issued on a patent application. The method comprises the steps of scanning amendments made to the patent application during prosecution; assembling the most recent claims, based on the scanned amendments, to create a test claim set of the claims; comparing the test claim set to the claims of the issued patent as published; and identifying any differences between the compared sets of claims and communicating the differences to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Steven W. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 9940363
    Abstract: A user-interface system is provided for a patent management system having access to at least one patent matter database and at least one reference database. The user interface system comprises a first user interface element allowing selection of data stored in the at least one patent matter database, a second user interface element allowing selection of data stored in the at least one reference database, a third user interface element for linking at least one reference stored in the at least one reference database with at least one patent in the patent matter database, a fourth user interface element allowing the selection for storage of further references into the at least one reference database, and a fifth user interface element allowing analysis of at least one of the linked references.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Steven W. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 9904726
    Abstract: An apparatus and computer implemented method that include obtaining, into a computer, text of a patent, automatically finding and extracting, using the computer, a set of claim text from the patent text, identifying, using the computer, text of independent claims from the set of claim text, displaying in a first row on a computer monitor the text of the independent claims, automatically determining a plurality of preliminary scope-concept phrases from the text of the independent claims, displaying in a second row on the computer monitor the text of the plurality of preliminary scope-concept phrases, eliciting and receiving user input to specify a first one of the plurality of preliminary scope-concepts phrases, and highlighting each occurrence of the specified first one of the plurality of preliminary scope-concept phrases in a plurality of the independent claims displayed in the first row. A scope concept builder tool is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC.
    Inventor: Steven W. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 9858319
    Abstract: Systems and computer implemented methods for patent mapping are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises a database of patent portfolios and a database of patents, each patent stored in the database of patents associated with one or more patent portfolios stored in the database of patent portfolios, and one or more specially-configured modules, each including a computer processor executing on software, to perform certain operations. The operations include highlighting claim terms associated with a patent concept across a number of patent claims; storing the associations; and displaying one or more mapped patent claims and the highlighted claim terms associated with the patent concept to a user in a graphic user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC.
    Inventors: Steven W. Lundberg, Tyler L Nasiedlak
  • Patent number: 9767190
    Abstract: Systems and methods for calculating a patent claim scope rating are disclosed. In an example embodiment, a method of calculating a patent claim scope rating includes identifying patent references cited in examination of a subject patent and storing the identified patent references as an applied art list, identifying first backward references for the patent references in the applied art list and storing the first backward references as a first backward list, identifying second backward references for the first backward references in the first backward list and storing the second backward references as a second backward list, identifying forward references for the patent references in the applied art list and storing the forward references as a forward list. A patent claim scope rating is based on a calculation including at least a partial combination listing of the applied art list, the first and second backward lists, and the forward list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Steven W. Lundberg, Lars Olof Hugo Svensson
  • Patent number: 9679019
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for analyzing patents and prior art in a patent management system are described herein. Claims of an issued and a published patent may be retrieved. The claims may be compared to identify a unique keyword present in the issued claim but not present in the published claim. The unique keyword may be cross-referenced to a passage in a specification of the issued patent. A first and second prior art document may be identified. Overlap scores may be calculated for the first and second prior art document based on the occurrence of the unique keyword. A ranking may be calculated based on a comparison of the overlap scores. The overlap score of the first prior art document, the overlap score of the second prior art document based on the ranking and the passage in the specification of the issued patent may be displayed in a user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Steven W. Lundberg
  • Patent number: 9652546
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system are provided for monitoring developments in a field of prior art. The method comprises using one or more processors receive a search query including a first patent concept related to the field of prior art; search the Internet as a function of the search query; generate a first set of search results; store the first set of search results in a database; conduct a subsequent search on the Internet as a function of the search query; generate a second set of search results; compare the first and second sets of search results to identify differences in the results; and communicate the differences to a user. An ontology of patent concepts may be stored in a system database. The searches may be conducted automatically on a regular basis thereby notifying the user of any intervening changes in the field of prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Black Hills IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Steven W. Lundberg