Thetraining program on “Patent Analysis and Corporate Development Series 2016” (專利分析導航企業發展) was organized by ShenzhenIntellectual Property Society (深圳市知識產權研究會) from March to August 2016. It aimsto enhance the scientific management on IP skill and quality of R&D with IPprotection. I attended the 2ndseries named “Extenics (可拓學)”. The training was held inShenzhen Science Museum from 15 to 16 April 2016. I took a photo in front of the venue.
Beforethe seminar, I took a photo with Prof. Cai Wen (蔡文) (middle) and Dr. Michael Li(Founding President, Institute of Systematic Innovation, Hong Kong (ISIHK))(left). Extenics (可拓學) is original developed by Prof.Cai Wen (蔡文) through his 30 years research (The first paper published since 1983). Extenics includes three steps and they are“Extension”, “Transfer” and “Evaluation”.Moreover, I got Prof. Cai’s signature for his books.
Day 1 (15 Apr 2016)
Prof.Cai Wen (蔡文) (The Director of International Academy of Extenics (HK), The NationalDistinguished Experts of China) was the first speaker. He introduced the theory of Extenics and howit generated creative thinking. He saidthat Extenics is used to create many idea for solving contradictionproblem. A story of measure elephant (曹沖稱象) was one of examples.
Prof.Cai said the first step was Modeling. Itbased on the Basic-element theory utilized Matter-element (基元), Affair-element (物元) and Relationships-element (關係元). He explained each element and using the Jetengine sample for describing the Relationships-element.
ThenProf. Cai explained how creative idea generated of (基元) through Thing Element (物元) (fundamental elements of thingssuch as name, characteristics and measures), Function Element (事元) (Product function which satisfypeople needs), Relationship Element (關係元) (started from relevant things to createnew product).
Prof.Cai summarized the Basic-element theory (基元) that included Matter-element (基元), Affair-element (物元) and Relationships-element (關係元). Each element can be expressed as dimensionalform of Objects (物/動作/關係詞), Features / Characters (特徵) and Values (量值).
Eachelement, whatever it belongs to Matter, Affair or Relationship, could extend tomany different items. For instance, itcould be One Character Many Objects (一徵多對象), One Character Many Values (一徵多值), One Object Many Characters (一對象多徵), One Object Many Values (一對象多值), One Value Many Characters (一值多徵) and One Value Many Objects (一值多對象). It is the Tree of Divergence (發散樹).
Prof.Cai concluded four Extension directions include Divergence (發散), Correlative (相關), Implication (蘊含) and Opening-up (分合).
Prof.Cai said the first two parts of Extenics had been introduced and his partners(included Prof. Yang Chunyan) would mention the remaining two parts on 16 Mar2016.
Then wehad a lunch together and exchanging ideas.
(Left:XX,黃盼(TechnicalDirector, Industrial Robot Patent Alliance), I, Dr. Michael Li, Mr. Yin Hanfan(鄞漢藩) (GeneralSecretary, SZIPS), Prof. Cai Wen (蔡文), Mr. Shao Bo (劭波) (Shenzhen Thrive-god TechnologyDevelopment Co. Ltd.),付東(主任,民間發明人的高交會.發起人), YY)
Afternoonsession, Mr. Aki Ryuka (Patent Attorney.Japan, RYUKA IP LAW FIRM) was thesecond speaker and his topic named “Electronic Technology˙Software InventionPatent Strategy”. Firstly, he briefedsome observation from Japan about Patent Strategy. He said the early applied Patent beforeothers could generate a huge profit/value.He quoted some cases such as CD player, Gambling slot machine.
Then Mr.Ryuka explained some application problem of patent in Japan. Before most engineers applied the technologyfor existing usage which was not able to create much benefit, moreover, itcould be IP infringement easily.
So Mr. Ryukaproposed IP visualization. He told ushow to extract the potential knowledge from inventor to be solid knowledge andthen to apply patent.
Then Mr.Ryuka said the thinking method on invention could be standardization such asTechnology extension, Problem Searching and Solving.
Theprocess of IP visualization steps were explained in sequence: Discussion, Settopic, Brainstorming, Review Meeting, Draft the patent statement and submissionof application.
Finally,Mr. Ryuka summarized IP visualization with three input items and three outputitems. The input items included “Selectthe strategy topic”, “Potential knowledge of technical people” and “Pre-investigationand Invention development”. The outputitems involved “Create and protect new business”, “Enhance the R&D” and “Improvetechnical people’s invention competence”.
Duringthe break, Dr. Aaron Tong had come and we took a photo for memory.
I alsotook a photo with Mr. Aki Ryuka.
Afterthe break, Ms. Guo (高橋華野) explained the patent sales and its strategy to apply patent. She is Japanese but presented inChinese.
Shedemonstrated the diagram and explained in different situations using differentstrategies. The diagram x-axis is profitfrom other company (Left) to profit from own company (Right). The y-axis is the strength of patent fromother company (Down) to own company (Up).After the patent market analysis, we could apply different strategyincluded Benefit, Exclusive and Cross-approval.
DuringQ&A session, Dr. Aaron shared his opinions on today training.
Day 2 (16 Apr 2016)
Prof. YangChunyan (楊春燕) (Director, Institute of Extenics and Innovation Methods, GuangdongUniversity of Technology) was the third speaker in Day 2 and her topic entitled“Extension Transformation Method (可拓變換方法)”.
Prof. Yangused the story of measure elephant (曹沖稱象) again to explain the transformation of oneof characteristics which was “weight”.The case transformation was Object from elephant to stone. For product, she used fire resistantplate. One of transformation used forsame functionality. Then a new productwould be created.
Therefore,Prof. Yang summarized the following transformation methods based on Three keyelements included Matter-element (基元), Affair-element (物元) and Relationships-element (關係元). Apart from the above elements, rule andregion could also be transferred. So wecould employ this method to solve contradiction problems and to develop newproducts.
Prof.Yang explained seven transformation methods in the Basic Transformation Table.Methods included: Replacement (置換), Increase or Decrease (增減), Delete (删減), Expand (擴大), Reduce (縮小), Break Down (分解) and Copy (複制). The key items were Objective, Condition, Ruleand Scope.
Duringthe break, Dr. Aaron Tong and I took a photo with Yang Chunyan (楊春燕) and Mr. Yin Hanfan (鄞漢藩). I also asked Prof. Yang to sign her book (co-authorwith Prof. Cai).
Afterbreak, Prof. Yang introduced four basic transformation logics to us. They are TIMES (sequence), AND, OR and NOT(Inverter).
Prof.Yang concluded the Extension Transformation included Basic Transformation,Transformation Logic, Transmission Transformation and ConjugateTransformation. In order to solvecontradiction problem, we needed to use this tools to transform Object,Elements, Rule and Scope, etc.
The lastpart was Evaluation and Selection. Therewere Four Principles and Seven Steps.Four Principles included Objective, Holistic, Practical andStability. Seven steps were shown asfollows:
1. Select the measurement condition
2. Define weighing
3. First assessment
4. Establish relationship function and calculate the level of relationship
5. Calculate relationship criteria
6. Calculate the optimal score
7. Select based on the priority of optimized result
TheExtenics four steps were reviewed. Theywere 1) Building the model, 2) Extension, 3) Transformation and 4) Selection.
Oneexample for cup design was discussed using Extension Table.
Dr.Aaron Tong and I had lunch with Prof. Yang and Extenics members.
The lastspeaker was Mr. Chen (陳亮) and his topic was discussed the Extenics application in Patent. The last part of Extenics for conjugate transformationwould be also discussed.
Firstly,Mr. Chen briefed different ideas of Creativity (e.g. James Webb Young saidCreativity was re-assembly the old things to be new things.) Then he introducedhe father of Innovation Theory who is Joseph Alois Schumpeter (1883-1950) whowas economist. He is the first one toraise Innovation Theory in 1912.
Then Mr.Chen introduced the Conjugate Transformation Method which would generatecreative ideas through the follow four conjugations.
1. Material: Real vs Virtual
2. System: Hardware vs Software
3. Dynamics: Obvious vs Hiding
4. Opposite: Plus (+) vs Minus (-)
Theprocess flow of Extenics Three Steps Method was discussed.
Mr. Chenalso employed the Conjugate Transformation Method for business. For example, the core is market value. They separated asset capital and non-assetcapital (e.g. IP).
He alsoused a table to explain the usage of Extenics through different questionincluded “Who”, “When”, “Where”, “Why”, “What” and “How” about IPprotection.
Finally,Mr. Chen summarized the Patent Protection rule based on the IP elements. If your new items had just increased one elementon other’s IP, you still needed to pay the patent fee. If you could reduce oneelement of original IP or and then add one new element after reduction, youcould apply the new IP.
