International Business Machines Corporation

Curtis G Rose

Dean J Hager

Robert Peter Resch

Bradley A Forrest

The method and apparatus of the present invention may be utilized to automatically initiate additional procedures in a data processing system with regard to documents stored therein. A selected document, such an invention disclosure document, is identified and evaluations of the selected document are automatically solicited from a selected group of evaluators enrolled within the data processing system. In one embodiment of the present invention the evaluators are automatically selected in response to the technical or functional subject matter of the document. Each evaluation of a document is then stored and the content of all evaluations are then utilized to automatically initiate an additional procedure. For example, if a majority of evaluations indicate that a selected document should be closed, the file is automatically closed and a report is automatically generated indicating this action. Similarly, a number of evaluations indicating a request for additional information may be utilized, in accordance with the method and apparatus of the present invention, to automatically initiate a search request directed to an appropriate search facility. A display of a summary of all evaluations is also preferably provided so that a computer user may override or counterman the automatic initiation of a selected procedure.

Method and apparatus for automated procedure initiation in a data

The method and apparatus permit the automatic generation of a meeting agenda for a requested meeting concerning a document stored within a data processing system. A document, such as an invention disclosure document, is stored within a data processing system and identified as the subject of a desired meeting. Evaluation comments by a plurality of users within the data processing system regarding the identified document are tabulated and utilized to create a meeting agenda automatically in response to a request for a meeting. Desired meeting parameters including at least: a desired meeting duration; a desired date span; and a list of desired attendees are selected by a meeting requester and copies of the automatically created meeting agenda are automatically transmitted to each desired attendee in conjunction with a notice of the scheduled meeting. Printed copies of the meeting agenda may also be automatically created in response to a scheduled meeting.

Method and apparatus for automated meeting agenda generation in a data

A selective review and electronic corroboration of invention disclosure documents within a distributed data processing system. A selected document is identified and a document profile is created, including at least an identification of the technical or functional area disclosed within that document. Thereafter, the document and document profile are transmitted to an evaluation facility where a unique identifier is assigned to the document and the document is then automatically distributed to a preselected list of users, in accordance with the technical or administrative area information contained within the document profile. Each recipient of the document is then prompted to enter an indication of having read and understood the document at his or her computer terminal. Positive responses to this prompt are then stored in association with the uniquely identified document so that the document may be electronically corroborated at a subsequent time by a reference thereto. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this method and apparatus may be utilized to electronically 'witness' an invention disclosure document to corroborate the date of conception of an invention.

System for selecting document recipients as determined by technical

The method and apparatus of the present invention permit the automated distribution of an electronic document to a preselected list of recipients. A selected document is identified and a document profile is selected or created, including an identification of the technical or functional area disclosed within that document. An examination of the document profile is then utilized to determine a preselected group of recipients and the document is automatically transmitted to those recipients. In one embodiment of the present invention, the creator of each document is prompted to select one or more functional areas from a predetermined list of functional areas during the creation of a document. In still another embodiment, the functional area of a document is automatically established in response to an examination of the department number, division, building, laboratory group, et cetera associated with the creator or creators of the document.

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Rochester, MN, United States of America

Curtis G Rose