Abstract: A database, such as a patent database, including a plurality of electronic documents, such as patents and patent applications, is described. The documents include words, phrases, and/or pictures that have been hyperlinked to advertisements or other documents. Also described are methods of indexing words and phrases in the documents and allowing advertisers, merchants, or other entities to pay for the right to hyperlink selected words, phrases, pictures that appear in the documents in the database to web-based documents of their choosing.

Abstract: A system and method of prioritizing items in a queue is provided. The system and method includes the creation of a document queue comprising a plurality of items and the assignment of a queue position to each of the plurality of items based upon one or more determining factors, such as the date of receipt of each item. A fee can be calculated for moving an item to a different priority queue position and a right-of-first refusal can be provided for one or more items that would have their respective queue positions changed as a result of payment of the fee.

Abstract: A system and method for a supplier to offer multiple products to a first person and multiple pre-owned products to a second person is disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides various novel means for selecting and assigning patent applications for examination. The disclosure describes various automated and non-automated means for selecting a qualified examiner based on a number of criteria including the examiner's history, current workload and the subject matter of the filed application. The disclosure further describes means for adjusting examiners workloads and ensuring the quality of examined applications.

Abstract: A system of maintaining notes associated with documents that may be, for example in a document database, such as a patent database, is described. The notes may be submitted by the author(s) of the original document, by parties associated with the original document (such as a patent examiner), or by a third party. Access to the notes may be limited based, for example, on a party's relationship to the original document.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide an inexpensive and easy to use apparatus and method that permits a user to attach an apparatus to existing picture frames or other objects with various advantages. Such embodiments will keep a picture, object or frame in a substantially continuously level position or otherwise aligned position. Thus, using the disclosed apparatus, a user can ensure that any picture, frame or other hanging and relatively flat object will generally remain in a pleasantly horizontal or other desired aspect, without need for ongoing user inspection or manual adjustment.

Abstract: A system is described wherein interested entities are able to review opinions rendered by patent examiners and provide commentary on the opinion. The commentary may be stored with the opinion for review by other parties. Moreover, the commentary may be used to refine the types and number of applications that are given to the examiner for examination.

Abstract: A database, such as a patent database, including a plurality of electronic documents, such as patents and patent applications, is described. The documents include words, phrases, and/or pictures that have been hyperlinked to advertisements or other documents. Also described are methods of indexing words and phrases in the documents and allowing advertisers, merchants, or other entities to pay for the right to hyperlink selected words, phrases, pictures that appear in the documents in the database to web-based documents of their choosing.

Abstract: A search engine configured to search a database of documents and provide search results to an end user is described. The search engine may be configured to provide the end user with a list of synonyms for terms in the search query submitted by the end user and allow the end user to identify those synonyms which should be included in the search engine. Alternatively or additionally, the search engine may be configured to provide the end user with survey questions, the answers to which, may be used to further define the search query. The database may include notes and/or advertisements that are associated with specific documents in the database.

Abstract: Improved methods for drafting, preparing, submitting and examining a patent application are described. The system incorporates a web-based tool in which applications are drafted. The web-based tool allows further allows for the submission, association, and display of notes regarding applications. The notes may be text or hyperlinks to prior art references. The relevance of the prior art documents to the patent application may be indicated by visible indicia.

Abstract: Improved methods for ensuring proper protection of intellectual property are described. In one embodiment, patents are scanned and intentional alterations or mistakes are introduced.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides various novel means for performing prior art searches for patent applications. The disclosure describes various automated means for performing and refining prior art searches with decreasing examiner input and generating office actions based on such searches.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide an inexpensive and easy to use apparatus and method that permits a user to attach an apparatus to existing picture frames or other objects with various advantages. Such embodiments will keep a picture, object or frame in a substantially continuously level position or otherwise aligned position. Thus, using the disclosed apparatus, a user can ensure that any picture, frame or other hanging and relatively flat object will generally remain in a pleasantly horizontal or other desired aspect, without need for ongoing user inspection or manual adjustment.

Abstract: Virtual environments in which players are able to select synthetic voices for their characters are described. The voices may be celebrity voices or impersonations of celebrity voices. A player may provide a spoken message to the game server, which converts the spoken message into a text message and then outputs the text message in audible form using a celebrity voice.

Abstract: A method and system are provided to allow karma accumulation, death and post-death gameplay in a virtual environment. In post-death gameplay, at least one character attribute is used to determine whether a player character can play an undead character, possess a selected player character, and/or reincarnate into a new player character. The method of karma accumulation includes tracking positive karma points and negative karma points.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides various novel means for outsourcing patent applications for examination. The disclosure describes various automated and non-automated means for selecting a qualified agency and examiner to perform the examination. The disclosure further discloses means for review of a patent at the request of holders of patents, licensees or other third parties who may be interested in acquiring a patent or application.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate a transaction between a seller and a buyer. According to one embodiment, seller offer information is received at a controller. The seller offer information is associated with an item, such as a secondary market item, being offered for sale by a seller. Buyer offer information, associated with a buyer offering to make a purchase, is also received. An evaluation rule is determined, and the seller offer information and the buyer offer information are matched based on the evaluation rule. It is then arranged for the seller to sell the item to the buyer. According to another embodiment, an appropriate item price is determined based on the seller offer information. Information associated with the appropriate item price is transmitted to the seller, and an actual item price is determined. According to another embodiment, a subsidy is determined, the subsidy being associated with a benefit from a subsidy provider to be applied to the transaction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for survey based qualification of keyword searches and survey based qualification of keyword advertising. A searcher provides a search query to a search engine and is presented with at least one query-specific survey question. The searcher's original query and/or response to the query-specific survey question(s) are then used to generate search results.

Abstract: A database, such as a patent database, including a plurality of electronic documents, such as patents and patent applications, is described. The documents include words, phrases, and/or pictures that have been hyperlinked to advertisements or other documents. Also described are methods of indexing words and phrases in the documents and allowing advertisers, merchants, or other entities to pay for the right to hyperlink selected words, phrases, pictures that appear in the documents in the database to web-based documents of their choosing.

Abstract: A system and method to allow players of a video game to form sponsorship contracts with one another such that a first player can agree, explicitly or implicitly, to provide a second player with an initial playing advantage in return for deferred compensation. The deferred compensation may be based on the second player's performance in the game.