I filed my first patent in 2005, for manipulating an object in 3D space on a screen with a mouse. Then after, I had more breakthroughs, but not every idea was successfully granted a patent. There were many challenges in the innovation journey, and here is what I have learnt in 7 steps.
1. Solve a Problem
Innovation starts with solving a problem. I wanted to record the sound of a buzzing bee that is flying around my head, and I couldn’t quite do this with a mouse and a monitor, you wished to pull the bee icon off the screen towards you, and that was not possible. The software solutions available in 2005 was to drag and manipulate in one plane, then go back and do the same in another plane, which wasn’t quite useful when it comes to recording audio in real-time.
Then the idea popped in my head one day. Why not use the mouse wheel to represent Z plane – drag the mouse in X-Y plane and combine the movements with the wheel to move the object in 3D space. My boss and management was happy to let me file a patent for it and so I did.
2. Ideation
Innovation in technology isn’t about crossing the universe, or inventing the next spacecraft to fly to Jupiter. It is a small step from the knowledge we have built, pushing boundaries, imagining how it would have worked better if technology is not the limitation. Take for a example the evolution of the motor car. It started with the steam engine, but now we are thinking about autonomous driving cars, because people around the world have contributed to all the innovations necessary to make the next step possible.
It could be a fusion of knowledge from many different disciplines. A multi-disciplinary team brainstorming and working together would generate more interesting ideas then one from a single discipline. During brainstorming, there is no bad idea. People are inspired by ideas to build new ones.
Know the industry and the competition. Frequently, ideas are late in the game, because the rest of the people who were already in the industry had thought about it and solved the problem before you.
3. Reality Checks
Once you think you have arrived at an unique idea, it’s time for reality checks. Is the idea really useful? Of course you would think it is, since it was your idea! Search if someone else have thought about the same idea. If yes, then your idea is not novel, and would not be granted a patent. Nevertheless, you can always think of a new idea again that could be the next invention.
When nothing turns up in your search, bounce the idea off someone who would give you candid feedback, and understand how others are thinking about it. Improve your idea.
Do not disclose your idea to others outside your team or to the public, if you want to patent it.
4. Evaluate Business Impact
Then evaluate the business impact. Taking an idea through the patent process is time consuming and costly. What is the worth of your idea? Does your idea translates to at least $10,000 worth of tangible or intangible returns? What can you get back from the patent? Is the patent owner able to license the technology to others?
5. Proof of Concept
Is your idea feasible to produce? You can patent your idea if it has a useful purpose, an inventive step that others in the same field will find it non-obvious. If it is not feasible to produce, then protecting the idea from others is futile. Can you prototype your solution? If you intend to use your company’s resources in the process of defining the idea, solution or prototype, then it is time speak to your boss.
6. Pitch Your Idea
In a startup, you will need to pitch you idea to investors, show them your prototype and get funding to expand on your idea. Similarly a company has to invest in your idea. Not every company agrees to filing patents, there could be a lot of obstacles within your organization, for you to proceed any further. The environment has to be right for your idea to be supported. You need to find a way around this in your organization, talk to your manager or managers from other departments, and understand the possibilities they can share with you.
7. Talk to a Patent Lawyer
Lastly when everything is aligned and positive, and before sharing the idea to anyone outside of your company or social media, talk to your patent lawyer. He or she will help you through the process of filing a patent. It is possible to file a patent without the help of an attorney, but the odds are you need to be very familiar with the process to successfully protect your idea, and to avoid legal suits in future.
Congratulations! You have made it this far, and filed your patent. It takes a few years for a patent to be granted. Keep cool and cross your fingers that your claims are first of it’s kind. Good Luck!
Thoughts 