You’ve had your eureka moment, built a prototype, the team has spent months improving the idea – surely you’ve invented something. But what?
The modest inventor would say “Nothing. I’ve just re-used known techniques.”
The proud inventor would say “I’ve completely invented a new way of living!”
You are either going to miss out on protecting your hard work or mischaracterize your contribution to the point of it being unenforceable. So, at some point you need to sit down amongst your team or with an expert and identify what has been invented that can be protected and is worth protecting.
Identify which parts are new or at least improved, including new combinations of known parts.
Identify the technical aspects of the new system.
Identify the advantages of the new system.
Identify some alternatives embodiments that you need to cover.
Now write all this down and file a provisional patent application.
(Better yet get an expert to help you with all of this).
