The patent management trichotomy: Patenting, publishing, and secrecy

Purpose Extant research and practice of patent management are often occupied with how to best utilize patenting as a source of competitive advantage. This paper instead suggests a patent management trichotomy where firms make strategic decisions between patenting, publishing, and secrecy. Approach The paper is conceptual in nature and draws on received IP-management literature to develop an analytical framework. Findings We suggest that the choice between patenting, publishing, and secrecy can be understood in terms of differences in the degree to which the firm can appropriate value from the invention and the degree to which it can operate freely. Originality/value Through an analysis along the dimensions of direct and indirect appropriation as well as static and dynamic freedom to operate, the article conceptualizes the choice between patenting, publishing, and secrecy in a way useful for management decisions as well as for academics

Multi-log grasping using reinforcement learning and virtual visual servoing

We explore multi-log grasping using reinforcement learning and virtual visual servoing for automated forwarding. Automation of forest processes is a major challenge, and many techniques regarding robot control pose different challenges due to the unstructured and harsh outdoor environment. Grasping multiple logs involves problems of dynamics and path planning, where the interaction between the grapple, logs, terrain, and obstacles requires visual information. To address these challenges, we separate image segmentation from crane control and utilize a virtual camera to provide an image stream from 3D reconstructed data. We use Cartesian control to simplify domain transfer. Since log piles are static, visual servoing using a 3D reconstruction of the pile and its surroundings is equivalent to using real camera data until the point of grasping. This relaxes the limit on computational resources and time for the challenge of image segmentation, and allows for collecting data in situations where the log piles are not occluded. The disadvantage is the lack of information during grasping. We demonstrate that this problem is manageable and present an agent that is 95% successful in picking one or several logs from challenging piles of 2--5 logs.Comment: 8 pages, 10 figure

Force generation in small ensembles of Brownian motors

The motility of certain gram-negative bacteria is mediated by retraction of type IV pili surface filaments, which are essential for infectivity. The retraction is powered by a strong molecular motor protein, PilT, producing very high forces that can exceed 150 pN. The molecular details of the motor mechanism are still largely unknown, while other features have been identified, such as the ring-shaped protein structure of the PilT motor. The surprisingly high forces generated by the PilT system motivate a model investigation of the generation of large forces in molecular motors. We propose a simple model, involving a small ensemble of motor subunits interacting through the deformations on a circular backbone with finite stiffness. The model describes the motor subunits in terms of diffusing particles in an asymmetric, time-dependent binding potential (flashing ratchet potential), roughly corresponding to the ATP hydrolysis cycle. We compute force-velocity relations in a subset of the parameter space and explore how the maximum force (stall force) is determined by stiffness, binding strength, ensemble size, and degree of asymmetry. We identify two qualitatively different regimes of operation depending on the relation between ensemble size and asymmetry. In the transition between these two regimes, the stall force depends nonlinearly on the number of motor subunits. Compared to its constituents without interactions, we find higher efficiency and qualitatively different force-velocity relations. The model captures several of the qualitative features obtained in experiments on pilus retraction forces, such as roughly constant velocity at low applied forces and insensitivity in the stall force to changes in the ATP concentration.Comment: RevTex 9 pages, 4 figures. Revised version, new subsections in Sec. III, removed typo

How open is innovation? A retrospective and ideas forward

This paper sheds fresh light on our 2010 paper How Open Is Innovation by taking into consideration notable developments in innovation over the last decade. The original paper developed four types of openness: sourcing, acquiring, selling, and revealing. Reflecting on important technological, organizational, and societal changes in the past decade, we highlight how these changes prompt novel questions for open innovation. While the core features of the original framework still stands, there are many new questions that have emerged in recent years. We end by charting a path for future research that emphasizes opportunities, costs and tradeoffs between different modes of open innovation, the need to better understand the nature of data, new organizational designs and legal instruments, and multilevel aspects and relationships that affect the extent and nature of openness

Blinded by the person? Experimental evidence from idea evaluation

Research Summary: Seeking causal evidence on biases in idea evaluation, we conducted a field experiment in a large multinational company with two conditions: (a) blind evaluation, in which managers received no proposer information, and (b) non-blind evaluation, in which they received the proposer\u27s name, unit, and location. To our surprise—and in contrast to the preregistered hypotheses—we found no biases against women and proposers from different units and locations, which blinding could ameliorate. Addressing challenges that remained intractable in the field experiment, we conducted an online experiment, which replicated the null findings. A final vignette study showed that people overestimated the magnitude of the biases. The studies suggest that idea evaluation can be less prone to biases than previously assumed and that evaluators separate ideas from proposers. Managerial Summary: We wanted to find out if there were biases in the way managers evaluate ideas from their employees. We did a field experiment in a large multinational technology company where we tested two different ways of evaluating ideas: one where managers did not know anything about the person who came up with the idea and one where they did know the person\u27s name, which unit they worked for, and where they were located. The results were surprising. We did not find any bias against women and employees that did not work in the same location and unit as the evaluator. Managers are advised that hiding the identity of idea proposers (from idea evaluators) may not be a silver bullet to improving idea evaluation

Four wheel steer loaders : how do customers accept this steering system?

Målet med undersökningen är att få kännedom om hur stort intresset är för Kramer Allrad’s fyrhjulsstyrda lastmaskiner. Genom vår studie vill vi ta reda på kundernas uppfattning av för- och nackdelar med Kramer Allrad´s lastmaskin. Studien behandlar fyrhjulsstyrda lastmaskiner av märket Kramer Allrad. Styrsystemet på den här lastmaskinen gör den unik i sin storlek på marknaden. Efterfrågan på mindre och smidiga maskiner ökar i takt med att arbeten skall utföras allt mer effektivare. Ett vanligt och mer känt styrsystem idag är midjestyrning. Vi har gjort en studie i Skåne som innefattar 10 potentiella kunder samt 10 befintliga kunder. Samtliga kunder har intervjuats personligen på deras arbetsplatser. De potentiella kunderna har tagit del av en Power Point presentation där information om maskinen har redovisats. Frågorna behandlar viktiga områden vad det gäller val av lastmaskin, där ibland, styrsystemet, komfort samt tillgängligheten utav service och reservdelar. Respondenterna har även fått föreslå eventuella förändringar som skulle kunna göra lastmaskinen ännu bättre. Vi har även frågat vad respondenterna tycker är bäst hos andra typer av lastmaskiner. Vi har valt att inte blanda in pris i undersökningen eftersom priset kan ha en viss inverkan på svaren i undersökningen. Undersökningen visar att intresse för maskinen finns. Befintliga kunder är mycket nöjda med maskinen där styrsystemets fördelar lyfts fram. Komfort och bekvämlighet har stor betydelse vid val av maskin. De potentiella kunderna tycker maskinens koncept låter intressant och hälften av dem skulle kunna tänka sig använda denna lastmaskin i framtiden. Respondenterna anser att maskinen är smidig då den styr på både främre och bakre axel. Eftersom tyngdpunkten inte förflyttas vid styrning har respondenterna även lyft fram den fördelen och menar att risken för olyckor, både klämrisk och vältolyckor, minskar. Undersökningen visar även att kunderna värdesätter komfort och tillgängligheten av service och reservdelar högt. Kunderna är mycket nöjda med sin återförsäljare. Det fyrhjulsstyrda konceptet gör maskinen smidig tillsammans med en bra viktfördelning. Just detta koncept med fyrhjulsstyrning på en lastmaskin är ovanligt och ur konkurrenssynpunkt finns stora möjligheter. Kunder, som redan har maskinen, är övertygade om att en likadan maskin kommer att köpas när maskinbyte är aktuellt. De potentiella kunderna tycker att styrsystemet på maskinen är positivt och mer än hälften kan tänka sig använda denna maskin i framtiden. Resultat visar att det finns intresse för det fyrhjulsstyrda konceptet från Kramer Allrad. Vi har också kommit fram till vissa förändringar som skulle göra undersökningen ännu bättre. Eftersom de potentiella kunderna aldrig hade testat denna typ av fyrhjulsstyrd lastmaskin, tror vi att en demonstration av maskinen där respondenten får möjlighet att testköra maskinen skulle vara bättre. En enklare variant är en demonstrationsvideo, som förklarar systemet på ett enkelt sätt.This Market research is based on four wheel steer loaders from the manufacturer Kramer Allrad. The drive control system on this type of loaders makes them unique in their size on the market. The demand for smaller and flexible machines is increasing in pace with the work to be carried out more efficiently. A more common and known steering control systems today are those used on articulated wheel loaders. The goal of the survey is to get answers on how large the interest is of Kramer Allrad loaders with four wheel steering. The aim is to find out how well the market recognizes this concept as well as to get the answers on how great the need is for such a concept. We have done a market survey in Skåne (southern part of Sweden) with 10 potential customers and 10 existing customers. All customers have been interviewed personally at their workplaces. Potential customers were presented a Power Point presentation (annex 3) including information to explain the four wheel steering concept. The questions are based on certain important key areas when to select a wheel loader, including steering system, comfort and availability of service and spare parts. Respondents were also given the chance to come up with possible suggestions for changes and improvements to make the wheel loader more attractive. We have also asked respondents what they think is best with other types of loaders. We have chosen not to include pricing of the product in this survey. Upon completion of the survey it was found out that there is an interest for this type of machine. Existing customers are very satisfied with the machine where the control system's advantages are highlighted. Comfort and convenience are important factors when choosing a machine. Potential customers seem to like the concept and half of them could imagine using this type of loader in the future. The big advantage, as previously mentioned, is the control system with its benefits. The respondent’s comments that the machine is smooth as it steers on both the front and rear axle. Given the fact that you do not need to concentrate on the weight point and tip over risk at side when moving reduces, the risk for accidents, both crushing and roll-over accidents. We have also come to the conclusion that customers value the comfort and accessibility of service and spare parts. They are also very pleased and satisfied with the service they get from the present dealer. The investigation has given us the response needed to fulfill the purpose of the investigation. Four wheeled steering concept makes the machine flexible together with an excellent weight distribution. This particular concept with four wheel steering on a wheel loader is uncommon and out of the competition point of view, there are great opportunities to work further on with this concept. Customers who already have this machine are convinced that they will choose a similar machine again when it is time to replace the existing one. Potential customers think that the control system of the machine is positive, and more than 50% of them might consider choosing this type of machine in the future. This shows that there is an interest for the concept with four wheel steer loaders from Kramer Allrad. We have also come up with some ideas how to do this type of survey even better. Potential customers had never before tested a four wheel steer loader. We believe that a demonstration of the machine on which the respondent would be able to do a test run of the machine would be the optimum. A more simple way would be to have a demonstration video, to explain the concept

Crystal structure of aqua-(2-{[2-({2-[bis-(carboxyl-ato-κ O -meth-yl)amino-κ N ]eth-yl}(carboxyl-ato-κ O -meth-yl)amino-κ N)eth-yl](carb-oxy-meth-yl)aza-niumyl}acetato)-gallium(III) trihydrate

In the title GaIII complex compound with pentetic acid, [Ga(C14H20N3O10)(H2O)]·3H2O, the GaIII centre is bound in a slightly distorted octa­hedral coordination sphere by two amine N atoms, three carboxyl­ate O atoms and one water O atom. The complex mol­ecule exists as a zwitterion. In the crystal, the complexes are linked to each other via O—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming layers parallel to (001). Three uncoordinating water mol­ecules link the complex layers via O—H⋯O, N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional network