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How do I draft an invention report?

A properly formatted invention report addresses key aspects of the invention and patent application:

1) Explain what a professional knows about the matter in question and how he/she knows about it.
The invention is not necessarily a known entity, even if all its elements are generally known, provided that no one else has previously introduced a similar combination of elements, which is more than the sum of its parts.

2) List the known technical problems.
What problems have already been identified and which of them is the most crucial?

3) State the objective of the invention (usually involves solving the most crucial problem).
Should the problem be solved entirely? Will anything be achieved by simply alleviating the problem?

4) Specify how the objective will be achieved, initially using one approach.
Draw one or more illustrations and mark the elements with reference numbers or other symbols. Using your reference numbers/symbols, explain how each element contributes to achieving the objective (what is happening in the illustration, how the elements interact, etc.).
Example: e.g. in phase 150 it was tested to determine whether … and if so, the process advanced to phase 180, where …

5) When you have found one solution, look for alternative (parallel) solutions, both in terms of the invention as a whole and its various elements.

6) Specify what is crucial to each element individually in each solution.

• why did you use precisely this kind of element? (e.g. short message)?
• what would be the same thing in general terms (e.g. connectionless message)?
• what other alternatives are available (e.g. USSD message)?
• why is one alternative better than the others (a short message can be sent using a text messaging address book and its receipt is confirmed)?
• can any of the elements be omitted entirely?
• can the matter be expressed differently (functions A-C are in the same program and functions are used through the same user interface)?
• present each element as a sort of ”building block”, which any industry professional is able to implement (at least using the patent specification); elements cannot be defined using objectives/desired features, unless an average professional knows how to implement this kind of feature (Example: a computer operating system that is immune to viruses)

7) Do the various, parallel solutions share a common feature?
If not, the solutions are considered separate inventions, which must be presented in different patent applications.

8) Do the solutions contain useful intermediate results? If so, what could be achieved with them?
If there are useful intermediate results, can/should the objective be reformulated?

9) What are the useful supplementary features (so-called preferred embodiment)?
What is achieved with them? Explain thoroughly!