Method for preparing a claim tree in the preparation of a patent application
OwnerHarold W. Miltoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and computer program for preparing a patent application including independent and dependent claims by running a software macro to display a claim dependency tree with the ability to insert word or phrases within the tree. The claim dependency tree shows a diagram of the claims within a patent application and their dependency. The user can type a claim note (42) in the Claim Note data line (38) describing the highlighted claim's limitation. The claim note (42) is then placed adjacent the claim's respective number in the claim dependency tree.
Claims7
A method of preparing a patent application including independent and dependent claims comprising the steps of;
- presenting a Claim Numbering data block (24) in a word processing program,
- presenting the claim numbers (26) in the Claim Numbering data block (24) in a tabulation (30) schematically showing a dependency of the claims, and
- characterized by presenting a Claim Note data line (38) in the Claim Numbering data block (24), and
- inserting claim notes (42) in the Claim Note data line (38) for summarizing the claim limitations and displaying claim notes (42) adjacent the claim numbers (26) in a tabulation (30) of independent and dependent claims in the Claim Numbering data block (24).
A method of preparing a patent application including independent and dependent claims comprising the steps of;
- running a software macro to present a tool bar (20) in a word processing program, and
- presenting options in the Tool bar (20) on a display screen of Number Claims,
- selecting Number Claims in the Tool bar (20) to present a Claim Numbering data block (24) with the claim numbers (26) therein,
- presenting in the Claim Numbering data block (24) the options of List and Tree for displaying the claim numbers (26) in a Number Claims text block (28) in a tabulation (30) schematically showing the dependency of the claims,
- presenting a Copy option (36) adjacent the Number Claims text block (28) for copying the tabulation (30) to the clipboard,
- selecting the Copy option (36) adjacent the Claim Numbering data block (24) to copy the tabulation (30) to the clipboard, and
- characterized by, presenting a Claim Note data line (38) below the Number claims text block (28),
- highlighting a claim number (26) in the Claim Number (26) claims text block,
- inserting a claim note (42) in the Claim Note data line (38) for summarizing the claim limitations, and
- displaying the claim notes (42) adjacent the claim numbers (26) in the tabulation (30) in the Claim Numbering data block (24).
A computer program for preparing a patent application including independent and dependent claims and presenting a screen entitled a Claim Numbering data block (24) and comprising;
- a Number Claims text block (28) for presenting a tabulation (30) of independent claims and dependent claims,
- a Tree option (34) for presenting said tabulation (30) of said claims in said Number Claims text block (28) in a tree diagram illustrating the dependency of said claims by offsetting claim numbers (26),
- a List option (32) for presenting said tabulation (30) of said claims in said Number Claims text block (28) in a sequential list of claim numbers (26) one below each other and corresponding to claim numbers (26) in the application,
- a Collect option (44) for compacting and arranging presenting said tabulation (30) of said claims in said Number Claims text block (28) in a list placing each of said dependent claims as close as possible to the parent claim from which it depends,
- a Parent Claim text block (48) for presenting text of a parent claim selected in the Number Claims text block (28),
- a Claim Number text block (40) for presenting text of one of said dependent claims selected in the Number Claims text block (28),
- a Change Claim Number option (52) for changing and re-arranging a number of one of said claims selected in the Number Claims text block (28) and for renumbering said claims,
- a Change Dependency option (56) for modifying the dependency of one of said dependent claims selected in the Number Claims text block (28),
- an Insert option (60) for inserting one of said claims in the application and said tabulation (30),
- a Remove option (64) for removing one of said claims from the application and said tabulation (30),
- an Add option (66) for adding one of said independent claims to the application and at the end of said tabulation (30),
- a Copy option (36) for copying said tabulation (30) to a clipboard and for pasting said tabulation (30) in a file,
- characterized by a Claim Note data line (38) for inserting a claim note (42) including a summary of the limitation of a selected one of said claims selected in Number Claims text window and for displaying said claim note (42) adjacent said selected one of said claims selected in said tabulation (30).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.