Question No#(1):

When the companies innovate in there product and services they prefer to
protect there idea to be copied by there competitors or followers, So what steps
might be useful to protect these innovation your answer should include by
using patent method?
Answer:

1) The United States Constitution allows inventors to obtain patent protection for
scientific and technical inventions.
2) Having a patent on an invention means an inventor can exclude others from
making, using, or selling that invention for a limited time
3) But what if you have an idea and you’re not sure getting a patent is the right way
to proceed?
4) Fortunately, there are other options available for protecting ideas and inventions,
including holding information as a trade secret. Often companies or individuals
consider this option if the invention may have a long term impact or value since
patents have a finite life and the knowledge thereafter becomes public domain.

1) Identify the subject matter of your idea.

Not every idea is protectable under the law, and you should know exactly what
you’re trying to protect before you decide how to proceed. For example, is your
idea to open a donut shop? That idea will not be protectable under the law, though
you can certainly take steps to keep it secret from your competitors by not telling
anyone about your plans. On the other hand, is your idea a specific formula for a
new kind of donut icing? That’s the kind of idea that can be protected under the
law.

2) Determine the extent to which you need to protect your idea.

Do you plan to keep your idea secret from everyone else in the world? Or, as in the
donut icing example, are you hoping to keep the secret just from your business
competitors? Do you want your idea to stay secret forever, or would a limited time
suit your needs? These are important considerations in deciding what kind of
protection you want to pursue.

3) Patents
According to statute, any person who "invents or discovers any new and useful
process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful
 improvement thereof, may obtain a patent" from the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office. To protect your invention, you must apply for a patent, there is no such
thing as an automatic patent as with copyrights.

4) File a provisional patent application.

This is a much less detailed filing with a much lower filing fee ($260 as of
December 2014). The provisional application is good for up to 12 months, or until
you file a formal (or non-provisional) application to replace it. A provisional
application allows you to “hold” the date of your invention while you decide
whether you want to formally apply for a patent.
a) If you do eventually file a formal application and there is any question as to the
date of invention (if the examiner suspects someone else came up with the
invention before you), the invention date will “relate back” to the provisional
application, which may be as much as a year earlier.
b) You cannot renew a provisional application after the 12-month period expires.
If you decide not to proceed with a formal patent application, the provisional
application will be considered "abandoned" after the 12-month period.

5) Determine whether your idea qualifies for trade secret protection.

If you decide that your invention does not qualify for patent protection (or you
elect not to apply for a patent for any other reason), your idea or invention may
still be protectable under trade secret law.

Trade secrets cover a much broader spectrum of inventions than patents. They can
include formulas, patterns, compilations, programs, devices, methods, techniques,
and processes.