The Figure details one embodiment of a unified method for achieving
intellectual property IP protection as suitable for each invention. Various
aspects of the invention may require different types of IP instruments.
Several activities may be concurrently performed, as the need be.
In one embodiment, the method includes:

a. Defining the invention: by the inventor, assisted by the patent agent.
1) The inventor describes the new system and/or method. Advantages,
benefits. For a computer program - computer code or a plurality of codes
and/or computer menus, etc.
2) The patent agent, preferably using forms, questionnaires, computer
modeling and simulations and other means, will challenge, provoke,
stimulate, guide and help the inventor, to enhance the inventor's
disclosure, to prepare a more complete disclosure of the invention.
3) The activities in para (1), (2) above to be performed before the
inventor is exposed to the prior art. The enhanced disclosure is written
together with drawings, recorded and/or otherwise put in a tangible form.
4) The activities in para (1), (2), (3) above to be performed during
person-to-person meetings and/or using various telecommunication means.

5) Other info is gathered which will affect the IP protection strategy,
including details on the inventor (experience in this field, etc.), the
present status of the project (patent applications filed, practical tests to
prove the concept, basis for benefits assumptions, etc.), the goals for this
project (geographical coverage required, timetable to pursue
commercialization, commercialization strategy, etc.).

6) Planning a total IP protection strategy.
The complete disclosure is reviewed by the patent agent to identify
parts/aspects thereof which may be protected by various IP instruments:
patents, trade marks, designs, copyright, moral right, trade secrets.

According to the strategy devised, activities will proceed to file a patent
application), perform a patent search and/or perform other IP protection
activities.

7) The inventor, however, may decide to skip the above steps; he may have
already decided to file a patent application per his written description, for
example, or start with a search. He does not want advice nor strategy
planning. In this case, the system may proceed to step 45 or 47 for example.

b. Filing an urgent preliminary patent application:
- Without exposing the inventors to the prior art.
- Presenting applicants' unadulterated, original concepts.
Preferably - the patent agent, with the support of the system and method
herein presented, questions the inventor to stimulate him/her to fully
disclose the novel inventive concept(s), address gaps in the disclosure
coverage, explain/define unusual terms used by inventors, etc.

As a minimum: File inventor's material with minimal corrections,
Or a short description of the invention. Including for example one Claim,
draft of drawings, without applicants' Review.
Sometimes formal changes may be necessary for the application to be accepted
at a specific Patent Office; these changes should then be made accordingly.
Preferably, an enhanced, detailed application should be prepared in a short
time; it is possible, although this approach may be rather expensive.
To do: Preferably Within 1 week.

Rationale: A preliminary application, even if imperfect or incomplete,
may present a strong claim to an earlier filing date. Lack of such an
application may result in lack of a priority, which sometimes may be of a
critical importance. Interpretations vary, there is the First to file vs
First to invent issue, etc., however: a significant advantage can often be
gained by this Preliminary filing.

c. Patents search, initial
New patent search, Initial international search or search at the US PTO for
example. May be performed by the patent attorney or the inventor.
To do: Preferably Within 1 week.

d. Preparing other IP protection means. These may include, for example,
trade marks, designs, copyright, moral right, trade secrets.

e. Studying search results for improved definition of the invention.
Improved definition of the invention, to distinguish from prior art.
Consulting with experts, ie to enhance weak points in the disclosure.
To do: As soon as possible.

f. Editing and submitting a complete patent application.
Preferably, a full disclosure of the invention is prepared by the patent
agent with inventor's cooperation.
Including a glossary for defining inventor's unusual terms in use, or a
translation of such terms to the terms accepted in prior art.
After the disclosure is completed, an in-depth search may be performed, prior
art studied and the application may be enhanced to include additional matter
if required.

Claiming priority (or specific partial priority) from the preliminary
patent application filed, and/or possibly several priority dates
from several prior filings.
The application may include applicant's review and specific corrections
according to the applicants' notes.
To do: Within 1-2 months.

A common misconception among inventors is that a preliminary (or provisional)
application confers protection beyond the actual disclosure therein presented.
The inventor then waits one year before filing a complete patent application,
sometimes with disastrous consequences.

To benefit from the earlier date, the claims in the complete application
should be fairly based on the disclosure in the preliminary application.
In the present invention, the above steps are performed as soon as
possible, to earn as early a filing date for the extensive, complete patent
application. A new document structure as detailed in Patentics may be used.

g. Accelerated search and examination. This step is optional and involves
additional expenses. This procedure may require the approval of the Patent
Office authorities, according to relevant patent laws.

Granting of a patent is conditional upon the result of an examination of
the application, and possibly allowing for opposition by the public prior
to final grant of the patent.

h. Additional patent searches. Various types of searches may be performed,
according to applicant's protection strategy. Possible strategies and
possible searches are further detailed in the present disclosure.
Preferably, the amount of time and money spent on searches should be
commensurate with the planned effort in filing applications worldwide [48].
Other considerations may apply, for example planned expenses in R&D,
marketing, etc.

i. Filing patent applications worldwide or an International patent
application PCT. This step should be completed before the end of one year
from the priority date.

j. If another invention is discovered, for instance during product
development, then repeat steps a - i above.

Notes:

1. Steps a to h should be performed within one year, so the
overseas or international applications (step i) should benefit from the
priority date of the initial application. Similar deadlines
relating to other IP protection instruments should be observed as well.

2. The above steps are optional; which steps to perform may depend on
customer's filing strategy. Or, after performing the preliminary search, the
applicant decides no further action should be taken.

3. Two or more stages may be performed concurrently, according to
circumstances and as directed by relevant law.

4. Sometimes it may be preferable to file the initial patent application
without reviewing the prior art. The reasons may include, among others:
* The application can be filed earlier, to gain an advantage in filing date;
* the inventor may be discouraged or intimidated by the prior art, this
interfering with his capability to fully express his invention;
* exposure to prior art may later rise questions of copyright infringement;
* exposure to a solution to a problem may prevent the inventor from
developing an original solution of which he may be capable - the known
solution will pop up whenever he thinks on the subject.

Such considerations may be still more important in computer-related
inventions or those relating to the Internet.
The system may present the various options (file first or search first)
to the user, who may decide on his/her preferred strategy.