Abstract: The method of the present invention simplifies and streamlines the tasks that must be carried out in order to prepare and control electronic documents such as patent applications. In one embodiment, the computer-implemented method of the present invention includes storing a plurality of alterable electronic documents on a computer system, the plurality of electronic documents being associated with a patent application, generating a first signal indicating that one or more of the electronic documents are to be filed to a patent office, and automatically locking the one or more electronic document so that the documents cannot be altered. In another embodiment, electronic documents may be associated with a package and automatically locked when a user transmits a signal indicating that the package has been transferred from a first phase to a second phase.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of generating invention disclosure statements. The method of the present invention reduces the likelihood that a known prior art reference document will erroneously go undisclosed to a patent office by an individual associated with the filing and prosecution of a patent applications. Additionally, the method of the present invention simplifies and streamlines the tasks that must be carried out in order to comply with the various disclosure requirements of patent offices around the world. In one embodiment, the computer-implemented method of the present invention includes receiving a signal indicating that a user has identified an electronic document that contains reference information to be disclosed to a patent office, the reference information including information necessary for completing an invention disclosure statement (“IDS information”).

Abstract: A computer implemented method of managing invention disclosure statements is described. In one embodiment, the computer-implemented method of the present invention includes storing a plurality of electronic documents in a database, associating a first one or more of the plurality of electronic documents to a first case, associating a second one or more of the plurality of electronic documents to a second case, receiving a select signal from a user, the select signal selecting at least one of the second one or more of the plurality of electronic documents associated with the second case to be associated with the first case, and associating the at least one of the second one or more of the plurality of electronic documents to the first case in response to the select signal. In one embodiment, the first case and second case are related cases.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer implemented method of managing invention disclosure statements comprises storing a plurality of first electronic documents on the server system, the plurality of first electronic documents containing reference information to be disclosed to a patent office. A second electronic document containing citation information may be received on the server system from a patent office. The citation information in the second electronic document is displayed to a user in a first display section, and a plurality of identifiers and one or more input select elements are displayed in a second display section. The user may enter information into the server system using the input select elements, and the information corresponds to the relation between the displayed citation information and the displayed plurality of identifiers.