Method and apparatus for selecting, analyzing, and visualizing related database records as a network

• US 20060106847A1
• Filed: 05/03/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Consulting Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Boston Consulting Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Rivette, Kevin G., Shapiro, Alexander, Wolf, Robert G. Jr., Eckardt, Ralph W. III, Blaxill, Mark F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,672,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3323 using document space presentation or visualization, e.g. category, hierarchy or range presentation and selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3328 using graphical result space presentation or visualisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/11 Patent retrieval

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selecting and converting database records or sets of related documents into network data and presenting that data in a network visualization system that enables users to select among, and move between various network displays by selecting one or more attributes of the data to be represented as the nodes and links of the network.

Claims

1. A method of providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria, wherein each of the two or more database records are members of a common record class;

identifying one or more attributes of the record class, and associating network nodes to instances of the one or more attributes from the database records; and

,

connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of the one or more attributes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the common record class includes patent records.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the patent records are extracted from a LexisNexis database.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the patent records are extracted from a Thomson database.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the patent records are extracted from a USPTO database.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the patent records are extracted from an EPO database.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the patent records are extracted from a Derwent database.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the common record class includes academic journal articles.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the academic journal articles are extracted from a PubMed database.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more descriptive criteria are selected from the group consisting of (i) one or more key words within a body field of each of the patent records, (ii) one or more key words within a title field of each of the patent records, (iii) one or more inventors in an inventor field of each of the patent records, (iv) one or more assignees in an assignee field of each of the patent records, (v) one or more key words within an abstract field, and combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more attributes includes inventor.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more attributes includes assignee.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more attributes includes filing date.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more attributes includes issue date.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more attributes includes IPC code.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more attributes includes USPC code.

17. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more attributes includes field of search.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the network links include a characteristic that describes an amount of common instances occurring between connected nodes.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the characteristic includes link thickness.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the characteristic includes link color.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the characteristic includes link texture.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one set of network nodes is a set of meta-nodes.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the set of meta-nodes describes a characteristic of two or more database records.

24. The method of claim 1, further including iteratively executing the identifying and connecting steps while modifying the one or more descriptive criteria, so as to change the selected two or more database records.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the one or more descriptive criteria includes a range of dates.

26. The method of claim 2, further including selecting additional database records from a record class other than the common record class of patent records, and associating network nodes, network links, or both, to instances of one or more attributes from the additional database records.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the record class other than the common record class of patent records describes licensing history associated with the patent records.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the record class other than the common record class of patent records describes litigation history associated with the patent records.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the record class other than the common record class of patent records describes maintenance fee history associated with the patent records.

30. The method of claim 8, further including selecting additional database records from a record class other than the common record class of academic journal articles, and associating network nodes to instances of one or more attributes from the additional database records.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the record class other than the common record class of academic journal articles describes doctor affiliation data associated with the academic journal articles.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the record class other than the common record class of academic journal articles describes script data associated with the academic journal articles.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the record class other than the common record class of academic journal articles describes referral data associated with the academic journal articles.

34. The method of claim 1, further including identifying one or more attributes of the record class according to requirements provided by a user.

35. A method of providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria;

identifying two or more common attributes of the database records, and associating network nodes to instances of a first one of the common attributes from the database records;

connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of one of the two or more common attributes, so as to form a first network graphical representation; and

,

transforming the first network graphical representation into a second network graphical representation by associating the network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records, and connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of the second attribute.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the common record class includes patent records.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the patent records are extracted from a LexisNexis database.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the patent records are extracted from a Thomson database.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the patent records are extracted from a USPTO database.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the patent records are extracted from an EPO database.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the patent records are extracted from a Derwent database.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein the common record class includes academic journal articles.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the academic journals are extracted from a PubMed database.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein the one or more descriptive criteria are selected from the group consisting of (i) one or more key words within a body field of each of the patent records, (ii) one or more key words within a title field of each of the patent records, (iii) one or more inventors in an inventor field of each of the patent records, (iv) one or more assignees in an assignee field of each of the patent records, (v) one or more key words within an abstract field, and combinations thereof.

45. The method of claim 35, wherein the one or more common attributes includes inventor.

46. The method of claim 35, wherein the one or more common attributes includes assignee.

47. The method of claim 35, wherein the one or more common attributes includes filing date.

48. The method of claim 35, wherein the one or more common attributes includes issue date.

49. The method of claim 35, wherein the one or more common attributes includes IPC code.

50. The method of claim 35, wherein the one or more attributes includes USPC code.

51. The method of claim 35, wherein the one or more common attributes includes field of search.

52. The method of claim 35, wherein the network link includes a characteristic that describes an amount of common instances occurring between connected nodes.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the characteristic includes link thickness.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein the characteristic includes link color.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the characteristic includes link texture.

56. The method of claim 35, wherein at least one set of network nodes is a set of meta-nodes.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein the set of meta-nodes describes a characteristic of two or more database records.

58. The method of claim 35, further including iteratively executing the identifying and connecting steps while modifying the one or more descriptive criteria so as to change the selected two or more database records.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the one or more descriptive criteria includes a range of dates.

60. The method of claim 35, wherein at least one set of network links is a set of meta-links.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the set of meta-links describes a characteristic of two or more database records.

62. The method of claim 35, further including iteratively executing the identifying and connecting steps while continuously varying the one or more descriptive criteria, so as to change the selected two or more database records.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the one or more descriptive criteria includes a range of dates.

64. The method of claim 36, further including selecting additional database records from a record class other than the common record class of patent records, and associating network nodes, network links, or both, to instances of one or more attributes from the additional database records.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the record class other than the common record class of patent records describes licensing history associated with the patent records.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the record class other than the common record class of patent records describes litigation history associated with the patent records.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein the record class other than the common record class of patent records describes maintenance fee history associated with the patent records.

68. The method of claim 43, further including selecting additional database records from a record class other than the common record class of academic journal articles, and associating network nodes to instances of one or more attributes from the additional database records.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the record class other than the common record class of academic journal articles describes doctor affiliation data associated with the academic journal articles.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein the record class other than the common record class of academic journal articles describes script data associated with the academic journal articles.

71. The method of claim 68, wherein the record class other than the common record class of academic journal articles describes referral data associated with the academic journal articles.

72. The method of claim 35, further including identifying one or more attributes of the record class according to requirements provided by a user.

73. A method of providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria;

identifying two or more common attributes of the database records, associating a first set of network nodes to instances of a first one of the common attributes from the database records, and associating a second set of network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records;

connecting one or more members of the first set of network nodes to one or more members of the second set of network nodes with network links that designate associations between the network nodes, so as to form a first network graphical representation.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the common record class includes patent records.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the patent records are extracted from a LexisNexis database.

76. The method of claim 74, wherein the patent records are extracted from a Thomson database.

77. The method of claim 74, wherein the patent records are extracted from a USPTO database.

78. The method of claim 74, wherein the patent records are extracted from an EPO database.

79. The method of claim 74, wherein the patent records are extracted from a Derwent database.

80. The method of claim 73, wherein the common record class includes academic journal articles.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the academic journal articles are extracted from a PubMed database.

82. The method of claim 74, wherein the one or more descriptive criteria are selected from the group consisting of (i) one or more key words within a body field of each of the patent records, (ii) one or more key words within a title field of each of the patent records, (iii) one or more inventors in an inventor field of each of the patent records, (iv) one or more assignees in an assignee field of each of the patent records, (v) one or more key words within an abstract field, and combinations thereof.

83. The method of claim 74, wherein the one or more common attributes includes inventor.

84. The method of claim 74, wherein the one or more common attributes includes assignee.

85. The method of claim 74, wherein the one or more common attributes includes filing date.

86. The method of claim 74, wherein the one or more common attributes includes issue date.

87. The method of claim 74, wherein the one or more common attributes includes IPC code.

88. The method of claim 74, wherein the one or more common attributes includes USPC code.

89. The method of claim 74, wherein the one or more common attributes includes field of search.

90. The method of claim 73, further including (i) associating one or more additional sets of network nodes with other ones of the common attributes from the database records, (ii) connecting one or more members of the additional sets of network nodes to other network nodes with network links that designate associations between the network nodes.

91. The method of claim 73, wherein the network links include a characteristic that describes a quantity of associations occurring between connected nodes.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein the characteristic includes link thickness.

93. The method of claim 91, wherein the characteristic includes link color.

94. The method of claim 91, wherein the characteristic includes link texture.

95. The method of claim 73 wherein at least one set of network nodes is a set of meta-nodes.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the set of meta-nodes describes a characteristic of two or more database records.

97. The method of claim 73, further including transforming the first network graphical representation into a second network graphical representation by associating at least one set of network nodes with an alternative common attribute.

98. The method of claim 73, further including transforming the first network graphical representation into a second network graphical representation by associating the network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records, and connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of the second attribute.

99. The method of claim 73, wherein at least one set of network nodes is a set of meta-nodes.

100. The method of claim 99, wherein the set of meta-nodes describes a characteristic of two or more database records.

101. The method of claim 73, further including iteratively executing the identifying and connecting steps while modifying the one or more descriptive criteria, so as to change the selected two or more database records.

102. The method of claim 101, wherein the one or more descriptive criteria includes a range of dates.

103. The method of claim 74, further including selecting additional database records from a record class other than the common record class of patent records, and associating network nodes to instances of one or more attributes from the additional database records.

104. The method of claim 103, wherein the record class other than the common record class of patent records describes licensing history associated with the patent records.

105. The method of claim 103, wherein the record class other than the common record class of patent records describes litigation history associated with the patent records.

106. The method of claim 103, wherein the record class other than the common record class of patent records describes maintenance fee history associated with the patent records.

107. The method of claim 80, further including selecting additional database records from a record class other than the common record class of academic journal articles, and associating network nodes to instances of one or more attributes from the additional database records.

108. The method of claim 107, wherein the record class other than the common record class of academic journals describes doctor affiliation data associated with the academic journals.

109. The method of claim 107, wherein the record class other than the common record class of academic journal articles describes script data associated with the academic journal articles.

110. The method of claim 107, wherein the record class other than the common record class of academic journal articles describes referral data associated with the academic journal articles.

111. The method of claim 73, further including identifying one or more attributes of the record class according to requirements provided by a user.

112. A method of providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria;

identifying two or more common attributes of the database records, associating a first set of network nodes to instances of a first one of the common attributes from the database records, and associating a second set of network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records;

containing the second set of network nodes presented in a network configuration, within one or more of the first set of network nodes presented in a network configuration, wherein each of the second set of network nodes shares a common attribute instance with the network nodes of the first attribute within which the second set of network nodes is contained.

113. The method of claim 112, further including (i) associating a third set of network nodes with a third one of the common attributes of the database records, (ii) containing the third set of network nodes presented in a network configuration, within one or more of the second set of network nodes presented in a network configuration, wherein each of the third set of network nodes shares a common attribute instance with the network node of the second attribute within which the third set of network nodes is contained.

114. The method of claim 112, further including (i) associating one or more additional sets of network nodes with other ones of the common attributes from the database records, (ii) grouping one or more members of the additional sets of network nodes within other network nodes, such that each group of network node members is characterized by the attribute associated with the grouping network node.

115. A method of providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria, wherein each of the two or more database records are members of a common record class;

identifying one or more attributes of the record class according to requirements provided by a user, and associating network nodes to instances of the one or more attributes from the database records; and

,

connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of the one or more attributes.

116. A method of providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria;

identifying two or more common attributes of the database records according to requirements provided by a user, and associating network nodes to instances of a first one of the common attributes from the database records;

connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of one of the two or more common attributes, so as to form a first network graphical representation; and

,

transforming the first network graphical representation into a second network graphical representation by associating the network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records, and connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of the second attribute.

117. A method of providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria;

identifying two or more common attributes of the database records according to requirements provided by a user, associating a first set of network nodes to instances of a first one of the common attributes from the database records, and associating a second set of network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records;

connecting one or more members of the first set of network nodes to one or more members of the second set of network nodes with network links that designate associations between the network nodes, so as to form a first network graphical representation.

118. A method of providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria, wherein each of the two or more database records are members of a common record class;

identifying one or more attributes of the record class, and associating network nodes to instances of the one or more attributes from the database records, wherein the network nodes are meta-nodes; and

,

connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of the one or more attributes.

119. A method of providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria;

identifying two or more common attributes of the database records, and associating network nodes to instances of a first one of the common attributes from the database records, wherein the network nodes are meta-nodes;

connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of one of the two or more common attributes, so as to form a first network graphical representation; and

,

transforming the first network graphical representation into a second network graphical representation by associating the network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records, and connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of the second attribute.

120. A method of providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria;

identifying two or more common attributes of the database records, associating a first set of network nodes to instances of a first one of the common attributes from the database records, and associating a second set of network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records, wherein at least one set of network nodes are meta-nodes;

connecting one or more members of the first set of network nodes to one or more members of the second set of network nodes with network links that designate associations between the network nodes, so as to form a first network graphical representation.

121. A computer readable medium including stored instructions adapted for providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

instructions for selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria, wherein each of the two or more database records are members of a common record class;

instructions for identifying one or more attributes of the record class, and associating network nodes to instances of the one or more attributes from the database records; and

,

instructions for connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of the one or more attributes.

122. A method of providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria, wherein each of the two or more database records are members of a common record class;

identifying one or more attributes of the record class, and associating network nodes to instances of the one or more attributes from the database records;

connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of the one or more attributes; and

,

iteratively executing the identifying and connecting steps while modifying the one or more descriptive criteria, so as to change the selected two or more database records.

123. A method of providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria;

identifying two or more common attributes of the database records, associating a first set of network nodes to instances of a first one of the common attributes from the database records, and associating a second set of network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records;

connecting one or more members of the first set of network nodes to one or more members of the second set of network nodes with network links that designate associations between the network nodes, so as to form a first network graphical representation.; and

,

iteratively executing the identifying and connecting steps while modifying the one or more descriptive criteria, so as to change the selected two or more database records.

124. A computer readable medium including stored instructions adapted for providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

instructions for selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria, wherein each of the two or more database records are members of a common record class;

instructions for identifying one or more attributes of the record class, and associating network nodes to instances of the one or more attributes from the database records; and

,

instructions for connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of the one or more attributes.

125. A computer readable medium including stored instructions adapted for providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

instructions for selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria;

instructions for identifying two or more common attributes of the database records, and associating network nodes to instances of a first one of the common attributes from the database records;

instructions for connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of one of the two or more common attributes, so as to form a first network graphical representation; and

,

instructions for transforming the first network graphical representation into a second network graphical representation by associating the network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records, and connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of the second attribute.

126. A computer readable medium including stored instructions adapted for providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

instructions for selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria;

instructions for identifying two or more common attributes of the database records, associating a first set of network nodes to instances of a first one of the common attributes from the database records, and associating a second set of network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records;

instructions for connecting one or more members of the first set of network nodes to one or more members of the second set of network nodes with network links that designate associations between the network nodes, so as to form a first network graphical representation

127. A computer readable medium including stored instructions adapted for providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

instructions for selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria;

instructions for identifying two or more common attributes of the database records, associating a first set of network nodes to instances of a first one of the common attributes from the database records, and associating a second set of network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records;

instructions for containing the second set of network nodes presented in a network configuration, within one or more of the first set of network nodes presented in a network configuration, wherein each of the second set of network nodes shares a common attribute instance with the network nodes of the first attribute within which the second set of network nodes are contained.

128. A computer readable medium including stored instructions adapted for providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

instructions for selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria, wherein each of the two or more database records are members of a common record class;

instructions for identifying one or more attributes of the record class according to requirements provided by a user, and associating network nodes to instances of the one or more attributes from the database records; and

,

instructions for connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of the one or more attributes.

129. A computer readable medium including stored instructions adapted for providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

instructions for selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria;

instructions for identifying two or more common attributes of the database records according to requirements provided by a user, and associating network nodes to instances of a first one of the common attributes from the database records;

instructions for connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of one of the two or more common attributes, so as to form a first network graphical representation; and

,

instructions for transforming the first network graphical representation into a second network graphical representation by associating the network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records, and connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of the second attribute.

130. A computer readable medium including stored instructions adapted for providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

instructions for selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria;

instructions for identifying two or more common attributes of the database records according to requirements provided by a user, associating a first set of network nodes to instances of a first one of the common attributes from the database records, and associating a second set of network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records;

instructions for connecting one or more members of the first set of network nodes to one or more members of the second set of network nodes with network links that designate associations between the network nodes, so as to form a first network graphical representation.

131. A computer readable medium including stored instructions adapted for providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

instructions for selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria, wherein each of the two or more database records are members of a common record class;

instructions for identifying one or more attributes of the record class, and associating network nodes to instances of the one or more attributes from the database records, wherein the network nodes are meta-nodes; and

,

instructions for connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of the one or more attributes.

132. A computer readable medium including stored instructions adapted for providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

instructions for selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria;

instructions for identifying two or more common attributes of the database records, and associating network nodes to instances of a first one of the common attributes from the database records, wherein the network nodes are meta-nodes;

instructions for connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of one of the two or more common attributes, so as to form a first network graphical representation; and

,

instructions for transforming the first network graphical representation into a second network graphical representation by associating the network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records, and connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of the second attribute.

133. A computer readable medium including stored instructions adapted for providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

instructions for selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria;

instructions for identifying two or more common attributes of the database records, associating a first set of network nodes to instances of a first one of the common attributes from the database records, and associating a second set of network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records, wherein at least one set of network nodes are meta-nodes;

instructions for connecting one or more members of the first set of network nodes to one or more members of the second set of network nodes with network links that designate associations between the network nodes, so as to form a first network graphical representation.

134. A computer readable medium including stored instructions adapted for providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

instructions for selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria, wherein each of the two or more database records are members of a common record class;

instructions for identifying one or more attributes of the record class, and associating network nodes to instances of the one or more attributes from the database records;

instructions for connecting the network nodes with network links that designate network nodes having common instances of the one or more attributes; and

, instructions for iteratively executing the identifying and connecting steps while modifying the one or more descriptive criteria, so as to change the selected two or more database records.

135. A computer readable medium including stored instructions adapted for providing a network graphical representation of two or more database records, comprising:

instructions for selecting the two or more database records according to one or more descriptive criteria;

instructions for identifying two or more common attributes of the database records, associating a first set of network nodes to instances of a first one of the common attributes from the database records, and associating a second set of network nodes to instances of a second one of the common attributes from the database records;

instructions for connecting one or more members of the first set of network nodes to one or more members of the second set of network nodes with network links that designate associations between the network nodes, so as to form a first network graphical representation; and

,

instructions for iteratively executing the identifying and connecting steps while modifying the one or more descriptive criteria, so as to change the selected two or more database records.