CLIENT BRIEF
Preparing a client information brief for a software type invention is similar to preparing a client information brief for a mechanical type invention. Providing detailed information in written form will ensure that your patent attorney appreciates all the important features of your invention. Often, however, such a detailed written disclosure is not strictly required provided that you can readily have a face to face meeting with your patent attorney and your patent attorney fully understands your invention.
As with mechanical type inventions, a client is best advised to fully describe the advantages of his or her invention as well as the structure that provides those advantages.
The following is an example of a client information brief for software type invention. The brief makes use of images and text from several existing patents and patent applications. As such the brief provides an overview of the type of information that is considered useful in the preparation of an application for a software type invention.
As with mechanical type inventions, a client is best advised to fully describe the advantages of his or her invention as well as the structure that provides those advantages.
The following is an example of a client information brief for software type invention. The brief makes use of images and text from several existing patents and patent applications. As such the brief provides an overview of the type of information that is considered useful in the preparation of an application for a software type invention.
HYPOTHETICAL BRIEF
I have provided a number of screenshots and drawings to illustrate my invention. I have also provided access to my website at https://www.adamlaw.com.au/alpha_version/login.php. The login details are username: patent_at and password: J&%F3r4bc.
Notably, as detailed in the section entitled 'prior disclosure' below, the invention has been kept secret and my web development company understands that my idea is confidential. I would however like to discuss the possible implications of prior disclosures when convenient.
Notably, as detailed in the section entitled 'prior disclosure' below, the invention has been kept secret and my web development company understands that my idea is confidential. I would however like to discuss the possible implications of prior disclosures when convenient.
2. Advantages
My invention has a number of advantages including providing a calendar system that:
3. Provision of Advantages
First Advantage
My invention has a number of advantages including providing a calendar system that:
- Automatically calculates travel times and alerts the user if the calculated travel time conflicts with a start time of a scheduled appointment.
- Generates alternate travel routes if a selected travel route is determined to have a travel time conflicting with a scheduled appointment.
- ...
- ...
- ...
3. Provision of Advantages
First Advantage
- The best way to gain an understanding of how my invention works is to look at my website using the access details provided above. I have however also included a number of screenshots below . As shown a user creates a new calendar task in his or her calendar. The system then ... The user is also able to use a travel time toolbar to ... The toolbar includes ... On activating ... The calendar contains ...
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*Images taken from US2002/0131565
*Images taken from US2002/0131565
2. The basic system layout is illustrated below. As shown there is a primary server and a ... The primary server serves a number of ... The primary server is connected to ... and receives information from ... This allows ...
3. The following diagram shows a sequence of communication steps that advantageously ... As shown in the diagram ...
4. I understand that you will prepare the necessary flowcharts based on the wording of the application. I have nonetheless included some flowcharts of my own. As you can see the steps involve ... This advantageously allows ...
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*Images taken from US7475021
Second Advantage
- In the case of the second advantage I have included some sketches. As shown a user can ... This advantageously ...
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Other Advantages
I am in the process of preparing a description of the other advantages of my invention. I will forward the description to you shortly.
4. Variations
I have thought of a few variations that I would like to cover including:
5. Cursory Searching (Optional)
I have done a bit of cursory patent searching on Google Patents, Espacenet, WIPO and the USPTO. I was not able to readily locate any documents that seemed to be particularly relevant. There were documents that related to route planning but none that related to conflicting calendar entries.
6. Website Searching
I also did a bit of searching on Google and located the following software product.
'AJL Travel Planner Addin for Outlook' http://ajltravelplanneraddin.com.au
The AJL Travel Planner Addin allows distance and route time information to be entered into a calendar item. The software product is quite different to my invention as my system automatically estimates travel distances and also determines different travel routes to accommodate scheduled appointments. Also with my system a user can simply copy a Google Map URL to the clipboard and the system will automatically add the map to the calendar item and then use the map to display a travel route. The AJL Travel Planner Addin for Outlook is much simpler than this and really only modifies the duration of a calendar item.
7. Further Searching
I would like to you to perform a professional search so that I have a better idea as to whether my invention is new. I would like however to have the search completed and protection in place by ... I hope to show my invention to an investor on ... but will refrain from doing so until you have confirmed that protection is in place.
8. Development
I am in the process of developing a special way of allowing travel expenses to be automatically calculated based on particular models of car. As I am still having such functionality programmed, I would like to discuss whether I should include details at this time.
9. Inventors
The invention has been developed by myself with the assistance of a web design company. I was the driving force behind the invention and the web design company hasn't, in my opinion, made any real contribution.
10. Prior Disclosure
Although the web design company has not signed a confidentiality agreement, they did understand that the invention was to be kept secret. My website has not been released to the public.
Client Information Brief Observations
The hypothetical client information brief serves to highlight some important points.
Firstly, the advantages and operation of the invention have been described along with details of possible variations. Should the inventor have failed to disclose the variation concerning air travel, the patent application may have been limited to say car travel. By noting the variation, it can be assured that the patent attorney will give due weight to the variation.
The inventor has done some of his or her own searching using Google and several patent websites including Google Patents, Espacenet, WIPO and the USPTO. Although no prior patent documents were located the inventor did find an existing software product. The existing software product advantageously serves to highlight some of the important features of the invention.
The inventor has brought inventorship and prior disclosure issues to the attention of his or her patent attorney.
The inventor has provided several screenshots. Sketches would have been adequate for a provisional application. Line drawings and sketches could always have been prepared by the inventor's patent attorney.
For another example, please see our client information brief for a mechanical type invention.
I am in the process of preparing a description of the other advantages of my invention. I will forward the description to you shortly.
4. Variations
I have thought of a few variations that I would like to cover including:
- Systems that are primarily for air travel rather than car travel.
- Systems that provide a plugin for existing calendar systems.
- Systems that are able to estimate travel costs over a particular period of time.
5. Cursory Searching (Optional)
I have done a bit of cursory patent searching on Google Patents, Espacenet, WIPO and the USPTO. I was not able to readily locate any documents that seemed to be particularly relevant. There were documents that related to route planning but none that related to conflicting calendar entries.
6. Website Searching
I also did a bit of searching on Google and located the following software product.
'AJL Travel Planner Addin for Outlook' http://ajltravelplanneraddin.com.au
The AJL Travel Planner Addin allows distance and route time information to be entered into a calendar item. The software product is quite different to my invention as my system automatically estimates travel distances and also determines different travel routes to accommodate scheduled appointments. Also with my system a user can simply copy a Google Map URL to the clipboard and the system will automatically add the map to the calendar item and then use the map to display a travel route. The AJL Travel Planner Addin for Outlook is much simpler than this and really only modifies the duration of a calendar item.
7. Further Searching
I would like to you to perform a professional search so that I have a better idea as to whether my invention is new. I would like however to have the search completed and protection in place by ... I hope to show my invention to an investor on ... but will refrain from doing so until you have confirmed that protection is in place.
8. Development
I am in the process of developing a special way of allowing travel expenses to be automatically calculated based on particular models of car. As I am still having such functionality programmed, I would like to discuss whether I should include details at this time.
9. Inventors
The invention has been developed by myself with the assistance of a web design company. I was the driving force behind the invention and the web design company hasn't, in my opinion, made any real contribution.
10. Prior Disclosure
Although the web design company has not signed a confidentiality agreement, they did understand that the invention was to be kept secret. My website has not been released to the public.
Client Information Brief Observations
The hypothetical client information brief serves to highlight some important points.
Firstly, the advantages and operation of the invention have been described along with details of possible variations. Should the inventor have failed to disclose the variation concerning air travel, the patent application may have been limited to say car travel. By noting the variation, it can be assured that the patent attorney will give due weight to the variation.
The inventor has done some of his or her own searching using Google and several patent websites including Google Patents, Espacenet, WIPO and the USPTO. Although no prior patent documents were located the inventor did find an existing software product. The existing software product advantageously serves to highlight some of the important features of the invention.
The inventor has brought inventorship and prior disclosure issues to the attention of his or her patent attorney.
The inventor has provided several screenshots. Sketches would have been adequate for a provisional application. Line drawings and sketches could always have been prepared by the inventor's patent attorney.
For another example, please see our client information brief for a mechanical type invention.
*As with all information provided by this website, the content of this webpage is subject to our disclaimer. The material provided is not to be relied upon under any circumstances.
