Invention Generation Methodologies

AuthorSteven H. Voldman
ProfessionIs an IEEE Fellow and graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Pages219-228
From Invention to Patent: A Scientist and Engineer’s Guide. First Edition. Steven H. Voldman.
© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Published 2018 by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
219
8
8.1 Introduction
In this chapter, different methods used by corporations to generate patents are dis-
cussed [1–22]. A practice used by some corporations to generate patents is known as
the creative problem-solving (CPS) sessions. The CPS sessions were used in major US
corporations, such as IBM. CPS session method was integrated into part s of invention
courses in Malaysia and Sri Lanka [3–5]. A second practice is the use of systematic
inventive thinking methods known as TRIZ, SIT, and USIT [7–22]. The TRIZ method-
ology has growing interest in different countries, such as Israel and Malaysia.
8.2 Creative Problem-Solving (CPS) Sessions
CPS sessions can be used for tackling specif ic problems, patent generation, and strate-
gic portfolio broadening. A CPS session can be construc ted is listed in Figure8.1 [3–5].
8.2.1 Building aCPS Session Moderator Team
A CPS session can be established by a moderator team [3–5]. The team is usually com-
posed of technology engineers and inventors. A department of ten pe ople can set up a
schedule and coordinate the CPS sessions. In that manner, they can set up a schedule to
run a session twice or thrice a month. The department of ten can be separated in teams
of three to four people. The CPS session is also attended by a patent attorney. The pat-
ent attorney is required to be present at the end of the session when the documentation
of the invention is processed and the inventors for each invention.
Not all attendees will be contributing to each patent invention. As a result, the attend-
ees will need to state to which invention they did contribute in the CPS session.
8.2.2 Constructing CPS Session Attendee Team
A CPS session requires attendees as participants [3–5]. To establish a good session, it is
important to have a good group of attendees. Picking the attendees is the key to a suc-
cessful CPS session. The attendees can be a mix of individuals are shown in Figure8.2.
Invention Generation Methodologies

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