Systems and methods for managing and making patent annuity payments

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods of making or managing annuity payments. In one example embodiment, a method comprises tracking one or more patent annuity payments due on at least one patent for a user and docketing a due date for at least one of the annuity payments. In advance of the due date, the method includes identifying the cost of a forward contract to obtain or purchase currency equal to a total amount payable of the at least one annuity payment and providing the cost of the forward contract to the user.

1 . A method comprising:
 tracking one or more patent annuity payments due on at least one patent for a user;   docketing a due date for at least one of the annuity payments;   in advance of the due date, identifying a cost of a forward contract to obtain or purchase currency equal to a total amount payable of the at least one annuity payment; and   providing the cost of the forward contract to the user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving, in response to providing the cost of the forward contract, annuity payment instructions from the user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising paying, or arranging to have paid, at least one annuity payment based on the received instructions. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one annuity payment is due on a foreign patent and the currency is a foreign currency. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the due date of the at least one annuity payment falls within a specified period, and the cost identification occurs on a date in advance of the specified period. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising receiving data identifying one or both of the specified period and the cost identification date from the user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising apportioning at least one component of the cost of the forward contract across a plurality of tracked annuity payments. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one component is one or more of an interest charge, a currency conversion charge, and a bank or service charge relating to at least one aspect of the forward contract. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the apportionment is performed pro-rata based on a base cost of each annuity payment in the plurality of annuity payments. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is computer-implemented and wherein one or more of the tracking, docketing, identifying and providing is performed by at least one processor. 
     
     
         11 . A method of providing a patent annuity payment service, the method comprising:
 allowing a user to register with the service and to identify at least one patent on which an annuity is payable;   generating, synchronizing or receiving annuity tracking data relating to the at least one patent, the tracking data including a due date of an annuity payment;   identifying, in a first currency, an amount payable on the annuity payment;   pricing, in advance of the due date and using forward contract rates from a participating bank, a forward contract for obtaining currency to have the annuity payment paid in a second currency; and   providing the contract pricing to the user or a third party.   
     
     
         12 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An annuity payment management system comprising at least one hardware-implemented module including at least one processor to:
 track one or more patent annuity payments due on at least one patent for a user;   docket a due date for at least one of the annuity payments;   in advance of the due date, identify a cost of a forward contract to obtain or purchase currency equal to a total amount payable on the at least one annuity payment; and   provide the cost of the forward contract to the user.   
     
     
         22 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . An annuity payment management system, the system comprising at least one hardware-implemented module including at least one processor to:
 allow a user to register with the system and to identify at least one patent on which an annuity is payable;   generate, synchronize or receive annuity tracking data relating to the at least one patent, the tracking data including a due date of an annuity payment;   identify, in a first currency, an amount payable on the annuity payment;   price, in advance of the due date and using forward contract rates from a participating bank, a forward contract for obtaining currency to have the annuity payment paid in a second currency; and   provide the contract pricing to the user or a third party.   
     
     
         31 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . An annuity payment management system comprising:
 a network;   at least one database, accessible on the network, the database including data relating to annuity payments due on patents or applications registered at a patent office;   a server, operatively connected to the network, wherein the server includes:
 a processor, 
 a memory, 
 software operable on the processor to:
 track one or more patent annuity payments due on at least one patent in the database; 
 docket a due date for at least one of the annuity payments; 
 in advance of the due date, identify a cost of a forward contract to obtain or purchase currency equal to a total amount payable on the at least one annuity payment; and 
 provide the cost of the forward contract to a user. 
 
   
     
     
         41 . An annuity payment management system comprising:
 a network;   at least one database, accessible on the network, the database including data relating to annuity payments due on patents or applications registered at a patent office;   a server, operatively connected to the network, wherein the server includes:
 a processor, 
 a memory, 
 software operable on the processor to:
 allow a user to register with the system and to identify at least one patent on which an annuity is payable; 
 generate, synchronize or receive annuity tracking data relating to the at least one patent, the tracking data including a due date of an annuity payment; 
 identify, in a first currency, an amount payable on the annuity payment; 
 price, in advance of the due date and using forward contract rates from a participating bank, a forward contract for obtaining currency to have the annuity payment paid in a second currency; and 
 
   
       provide the contract pricing to the user or a third party.