System and method for tracking patent ownership change

A computer-implemented method of automatically tracking change in ownership of a patent listed in a database, the method comprising:

• receiving input identifying the patent to be tracked for changes in ownership, the input further including data associated with a plurality of selected fields relating to the patent, wherein the plurality of selected fields includes two or more of the following fields:
• name change in patent holder;
• date or date range of assignment;
• date of incorporation of assignor or assignee;
• place of incorporation, or address, of assignor or assignee;
• nationality of assignor or assignee;
• and
• nature of assignment;
• causing the presentation of each field in a user interface, wherein the user interface receives input;
• automatically performing a search of the database on a predetermined regular basis based on the input received, wherein the search result identifies one or more intervening changes in ownership status for the patent;
• and
• transmitting the search result for display in the user interface.

A patent management system for automatically tracking change in ownership of patents listed in a database, the system comprising:

• a hardware-implemented input module configured to receive input identifying a patent to be tracked for changes in ownership, the input further including data associated with a plurality of selected fields relating to the patent, wherein the plurality of selected fields includes two or more of the following fields:
• name change in patent holder;
• date or date range of assignment;
• date of incorporation of assignor or assignee;
• place of incorporation, or address, of assignor or assignee;
• nationality of assignor or assignee;
• and
• nature of assignment;
• a user interface for receiving input facilitating the presentation of each field;
• a search engine configured to perform an automatic search of the database on a predetermined regular basis, based on the input received, to allow identification of one or more intervening of changes in ownership status for the patent;
• and
• a display module for transmitting the search result in a user interface.

A patent assignment tracking tool comprising hardware-implemented modules, the tool including:

• an input module for receiving input in relation to one or more assignment criteria relating to a patent listed in a database, the assignment criteria including data associated with a plurality of selected fields relating to the patent, wherein the plurality of selected fields includes two or more of the following fields:
• name change in patent holder;
• date or date range of assignment;
• date of incorporation of assignor or assignee;
• place of incorporation, or address, of assignor or assignee;
• nationality of assignor or assignee;
• and
• nature of assignment;
• a user interface for receiving input facilitating the presentation of each field;
• a search engine configured to perform a search, on a predetermined regular basis, automatically at the database in relation to the patent, based on the input received;
• and
• a display module for formatting the data and presenting the result in a user interface.

A patent portfolio management system comprising:

• a network;
• a database, accessible on the network, and including data about at least one patent, and a server, operatively connected to the network, wherein the server includes:
• a processor,
• a memory,
• software operable on the processor to:
• receive input identifying a patent to be tracked for changes in ownership;
• the input further including data associated with a plurality of selected fields relating to the patent, wherein the plurality of selected fields includes two or more of the following fields:
• name change in patent holder;
• date or date range of assignment;
• date of incorporation of assignor or assignee;
• place of incorporation, or address, of assignor or assignee;
• nationality of assignor or assignee;
• and
• nature of assignment;
• cause the presentation of each field in a user interface, wherein the user interface receives input;
• automatically perform a search of the database on a predetermined regular basis based on the input received, wherein the search result identifies one or more intervening changes in ownership status for the patent;
• and
• transmit the search result in the user interface.

A non-transitory machine-readable medium containing instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform the operations of:

• receiving input identifying a patent to be tracked for changes in ownership, the input further including data associated with a plurality of selected fields relating to the patent, wherein the plurality of selected fields includes two or more of the following fields:
• name change in patent holder;
• date or date range of assignment;
• date of incorporation of assignor or assignee;
• place of incorporation, or address, of assignor or assignee;
• nationality of assignor or assignee;
• and
• nature of assignment;
• causing the presentation of each field in a user interface, wherein the user interface receives input;
• automatically performing a search of the database on a predetermined regular basis based on the input received, wherein the search result identifies one or more intervening changes in ownership status for the patent;
• and
• transmitting the search result for display in the user interface.