This is what we did in my previous start-up: we wrote up the process of all that we were doing, then researched as much as possible about what kinds of patents already existed in our field, and rewrote what we had to avoid infringing on those. The research was the hardest part, but now http://www.google.com/patents should be a big help. Then, we took what we had to a lawyer and asked him for advice. He ended up helping us file the prov. for less than $400.

It should cost less than $500, I believe the filing fee is $125. Getting a lawyer involved will increase the price by several thousand.

I'd recommend the Nolo Press books on the topic. http://www.nolo.com/product.cfm/ObjectID/1F0E4794-D236-43C3-... You can buy the pdf online or if you don't mind violating international copyright law they're mostly available on emule.

(warning: rant)

The PDF cost only $3 less than the paper book?

"No shipping fees."

Well, mighty decent of them.

chk this out http://www.patentwizard.com/ along with the nolo.com book, you should be good to go

Phil Emma of IBM has written in recent issues of IEEE Micro a useful (IMHO) series of 2 page articles about patenting. No-nonsense tips from someone with over 100 IT patents.

Don't?