System and method for displaying patent data in multiple encodings

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to systems and methods for displaying data in multiple encodings, and more specifically to a system and method for displaying patent data in multiple encodings on a client computer by interconverting binary digits and Unicode strings in an application server.

#2. Background of the Invention

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for displaying patent data in multiple encodings in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a client computer of the system of FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of an application server of the system of FIG. 1;

#Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for displaying patent data in multiple encodings in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system comprises a client computer 10, an application server 12, a central database server 13, and an intranet 11 that connects them all together. With the development of the Internet, patent offices all over the world now have their patent databases available on the Internet. Patent information is stored in these databases, for access by users of the Internet. The client computer 10 downloads patent data via the Internet, and transfers the downloaded patent data to the central database server 13 for storage. Users can also read and analyze patent data in the central database server 13 via the client computer 10. The application server 12 provides the function of connecting the client computer 10 to the central database server 13. Patent data downloaded from the Internet is stored in the central database server 13 via the application server 12. When the client computer 10 receives patent data from the central database server 13, programs of the application server 12 are invoked. Patent data in the central database server 13 are stored in the form of binary digits.

#FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of the client computer 10 of FIG. 1. The client computer 10 connects with a network of an Internet Service Provider (ISP), an intranet or the Internet, and downloads patent data from national patent databases in multiple encodings via the Internet. The patent data is then transferred to the application server 12, and is processed therein. Finally, the patent data is stored in the central database server 13. The client computer 10 comprises a browser 21 and application software 22. The browser 21 can, for example, be Internet Explorer made by Microsoft. The browser 21 can invoke programs of an operating system of the client computer 10, to convert multiple encoded patent data downloaded from the Internet into Unicode strings. The application software 22 invokes the browser 21 to download patent data, transfer patent data, display patent data, display a catalog of patent data in the central database server 13, provide tools for analyzing patent data, and send requests to access patent data in the central database server 13.