Web Browser Component and Method of Use | v1.1
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Stein, David J., Esq. | September 6, 2004 |
USPTO Toolbar
Abstract
The present software application pertains to access to patent documents. Specifically, this application comprises a toolbar incorporated in a web browser, including a textbox that
accepts text input representing a USPTO document identifier, which retrieves the identified USPTO document from the USPTO public database and displays said document in said web browser. Alternately, the textbox accepts input representing a USPTO database query string, which executes the search and displays the results in said browser.
Inventor: | Stein; David J., Esq. (Cleveland, OH)
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Version No.: | 1.1
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Issued: | September 6, 2004 |
This application is a simple plug-in for Internet Explorer to facilitate patent searches and retrieval. Anyone who works with patent documents, or who frequently executes patent queries against the USPTO database, will agree that the USPTO search page requires a small amount of time needed to load. Of course, this becomes inefficient in the aggregate, especially since the code of the web page does not frequently change. This utility is designed to eliminate this delay.
This application places a toolbar in your Internet Explorer interface that consists of a single textbox, which can be used for three purposes:
- Entering a U.S. patent serial number will retrieve the patent from the USPTO.
- Entering a U.S. patent application serial number will retrieve the patent application (if it is published) from the USPTO.
- Entering an advanced search string (exactly as one would enter it in the USPTO "advanced search" textbox, e.g., "an/cleveland-clinic$ and in/Cosgrove-d$") will execute that search through the USPTO and display the result set in the web browser.
Installation Notes:
- USPTO Toolbar operates within Microsoft's .NET Framework v1.1. This framework may already be installed on your machine; if not, the setup package will install it for you. Alternately, you may use Microsoft's website to download and install the package (most easily accomplished by visiting the Windows Update site, http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com.)
- After installing USPTO Toolbar, you should close all Internet Explorer windows, and then open a new Internet Explorer window. You should see the USPTO Toolbar at the top of this window, near the address bar. If you do not, you may have to activate the toolbar by clicking View, clicking Toolbars, and ensuring that the "USPTO Toolbar" option is checked. If you wish, you may hide USPTO Toolbar when you're not using it by unchecking this option.
- The installation package creates a new folder on your Start Menu containing a link to this documentation file.
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Software and documentation written by David J. Stein, Esq. (djs10@po.cwru.edu) on September 6th, 2004. (c) David J. Stein, Esq. All rights reserved.