Interactive patent map

• US 9,715,499 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2012
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Prior Art, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Global Prior Art, Inc.
• Inventors: Kaufman, Alexander, Rubinger, Bruce, Do, Vinh, Udupa, Kuppar Ranganath
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US13/676,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20130159308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,715 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/184 Intellectual property management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for generating an interactive map for displaying and analyzing a compressive intellectual property landscape within a given field. Based on content analysis of relevant patents and patent applications, this prior art map provides a systematic review of vast quantities of data, thereby allowing the user to discern critical technology and product trends, prior art references, and the strategies of both leading and emerging competitors. Each patent represented on the map can be analyzed within the context of the prior art landscape to uncover novel features, strong claims, and business and technology trends. This comprehensive view can provide a foundation for creating effective corporate strategies in-tune with the realities of the intellectual property terrain.

Claims

1. A data processing system configured to facilitate analysis of patent documents relevant to one or more technologies of interest, the patent documents including patents and patent applications, the system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory with computer code instructions stored thereon, the at least one processor and the at least one memory, with the computer code instructions, configured to cause the data processing system to implement;

a search handler configured to receive a selected configuration for an interactive patent map, the selected interactive patent map configuration providing an arrangement of representative patent documents for the interactive patent map based on;

(i) dates of interest from representative patent documents, the dates of interest including dates associated with respective ones of the representative patent documents;

(ii) a first technological branch that reflects a first desired technological category of interest disclosed in representative patent documents,

(iii) a second technological branch that reflects a second desired technological category of interest disclosed in representative patent documents, the representative patent documents from the first and second desired technological categories of interest being determined using a computerized content analysis derived from key features disclosed in a claims section of at least one of the respective representative patent documents;

(iv) assignee of the representative patent documents responsive to the first and second technological branches, and

(v) a distribution of visual indicators along a first axis and a second axis of the interactive patent map, the visual indicators being distributed based on technological features associated with the respective representative patent documents, such that the visual indicators representing at least a portion of the representative patent documents on the interactive map along the first axis of the interactive map based on at least one respective technological feature of the representative patent document, and along a second axis of the interactive map based on a respective date of interest of the representative patent documents;

an engine, in communication with the handler, configured to process, using a database of results, the selected interactive patent map configuration to provide a responsive interactive patent map, such that the representative patent documents responsive to the technological branches are arranged on the resulting interactive patent map according to assignee;

wherein the representative patent documents responsive to the technological branches are arranged on the resulting interactive patent map according to assignee, such that an assignee'"'"'s patent documents are clustered on the resulting interactive patent map based on a technological category associated with the representative patent documents; and

wherein in response to a user hovering a mouse over a representative patent document visual indicator represented on the map, displaying bibliographic information about the respective representative patent document.

2. The data processing system as in claim 1 wherein the representative patent documents responsive to the first technological branch are arranged on the resulting interactive patent map according to assignee based on patent count, such that assignees'"'"' respective representative patent documents are clustered on the resulting interactive patent art map based on an amount of respective patent documents associated with a respective assignee, which are responsive to the first technological branch.

3. The data processing system as in claim 1 wherein the representative patent documents responsive to the first technological branch are arranged on the resulting interactive patent map according to assignee, such that an assignee'"'"'s patent documents are clustered on the resulting interactive patent map based on a technological category associated with the patent documents.

4. The data processing system as in claim 1 wherein the interactive patent map is configured with a multitude of layered selected configurations, such that the first selected configuration is a first layer of the interactive patent map.

5. The data processing system as in claim 1 wherein the interactive patent map is configured to enable a user to toggle between the first and second selected configurations.

6. The data processing system as in claim 1 further includes:

the handler further configured to receive a second selected configuration for the interactive patent map, the second selected interactive patent map configuration providing an arrangement for the interactive patent map based on (i) a second technological branch that reflects a further desired technological category of interest disclosed in representative patent documents, and (ii) assignee of the representative patent documents responsive to the second technological branch; and

the engine, in communication with the handler, further configured to process, using a database of results, the selected first and second interactive patent map configurations to provide the resulting interactive patent map, such that the patent documents responsive to the first technological branch are arranged on the resulting interactive patent map according to assignee, and the patent documents responsive to the second technological branch are arranged on the resulting interactive patent map according to assignee;

wherein the first and second selected configurations are configured as respective first and second layers of the interactive patent map.

7. The data processing system as in claim 6 wherein the dates associated with the patent documents include any of the following:

a patent application filing date, a patent application publication date, a patent application priority date, and a document publication date.

8. The data processing system as in claim 4 wherein the distributed visual indicators for the respective patent documents are responsive to the second technological branch along the first axis and the second axis of the interactive patent map including:

arranging the visual indicators based on technological features associated with the respective representative patent documents to be responsive to the second technological branch according to the y-axis on the interactive patent map; and

arranging the visual indicators based on the dates according to the x-axis on the interactive patent map.

9. The data processing system as in claim 1 wherein the database of results is interfaced with using a map generation server having preloaded patent map generation data including attributes of a multitude of patent documents.

10. The data processing system as in claim 9 wherein the preloaded patent map generation data includes patent related contributions from a multitude of users.

11. The data processing system as in claim 1 wherein at least one web browser plug-in is automatically transmitted when a user attempts to view the interactive patent map for the first time.

12. The data processing system as in claim 1 wherein the interactive patent map is configured to be exported for offline use.

13. The data processing system as in claim 1 wherein the interactive patent map is exported as a PDF file.

14. The data processing system as in claim 1 wherein the patent documents responsive to the first technological branch are clustered on the resulting interactive patent map according to assignee by color.

15. The data processing system as in claim 1 wherein the engine is configured to dynamically update the selected first interactive patent map configuration to reflect a new selected interactive patent map configuration.

16. The data processing system as in claim 6 wherein the first technological branch includes one or more of technology, manufacturing, or product features.

17. The data processing system as in claim 16 wherein the first technological branch further includes key features derived from a claims section of at least one of the patent documents.

18. The data processing system as in claim 1 wherein the engine is configured to be responsive to requests to display bibliographic information concerning the respective patent documents responsive to the first technological branch.

19. The data processing system as in claim 18 wherein the request to display bibliographic information is a detected mouse event;

and

wherein the engine is configured to respond to the mouse event by direct display of bibliographic information about a patent document.

20. The data processing system as in claim 19 wherein the detected mouse event includes mouse click and hovering events;

and

the event handler configured to respond to the mouse click and hovering events by showing the bibliographic information including one or more of;

a patent number, priority date, priority country, application date, publication date, title, assignee, inventor, figure, abstract, and defined attributes.

21. The data processing system as in claim 20 wherein the interactive patent map provides a visual representation of the patent landscape for use in connection with a due diligence investigation, infringement study, patentability search, or freedom-to-operate study.

22. The data processing system as in claim 1 wherein the interactive patent map is generated from a layout file and a file CSV file using the database of results.

23. The data processing system as in claim 1 wherein a user initializes data attributes, branch, assignees, and patent information before generating maps/charts.

24. A data processing system configured to facilitate analysis of patent documents relevant to one or more technologies of interest, the patent documents including patents and patent applications, the system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory with computer code instructions stored thereon, the at least one processor and the at least one memory, with the computer code instructions, configured to cause the data processing system to implement;

a handler configured to receive a first selected configuration for an interactive patent map, the first selected interactive patent map configuration providing an arrangement of representative patent documents for of the interactive patent map based on;

(i) dates of interest from patent documents, the dates of interest including dates associated with respective ones of the representative patent documents;

(ii) a first technological branch that reflects a desired technological category of interest disclosed in representative patent documents, and (iii) assignee of the representative patent documents responsive to the first technological branch;

the handler configured to receive a second selected configuration for the interactive patent map, the second selected interactive patent map configuration providing an arrangement for the interactive patent map based on (i) a second technological branch that reflects a further desired technological category of interest disclosed in representative patent documents, (ii) assignee of the representative patent documents responsive to the second technological branch, and including a distribution of visual indicators along a first axis and a second axis of the interactive patent map, the visual indicators being distributed based on technological features associated with the respective patent documents;

the representative patent documents from the first and second desired technological categories of interest being determined using a computerized content analysis derived from key features disclosed in a claims section of at least one of the respective representative patent documents, such that the visual indicators representing at least a portion of the representative patent documents on the interactive map along the first axis of the interactive map based on at least one respective technological feature of the representative patent document, and along a second axis of the interactive map based on a respective date of interest of the representative patent documents;

an engine, in communication with the handler, configured to process, using a database of results, the selected first and second interactive patent map configurations to provide a resulting interactive patent map, such that the patent documents responsive to the first technological branch are arranged on the resulting interactive patent map according to assignee, and the patent documents responsive to the second technological branch are arranged on the resulting interactive patent map according to assignee;

wherein the patent documents responsive to the technological branches are arranged on the resulting interactive patent map according to assignee, such that an assignee'"'"'s patent documents are clustered on the resulting interactive patent map based on a technological category associated with the representative patent documents; and

wherein in response to a user hovering a mouse over a representative patent document visual indicator represented on the map, displaying a bibliographic information about the respective representative patent document.

25. A method configured to facilitate analysis of patent documents relevant to one or more technologies of interest, the patent documents including patents and patent applications, the system comprising:

receiving a selected configuration for an interactive patent map, the selected interactive patent map configuration providing an arrangement of representative patent documents for the interactive patent map based on;

(i) dates of interest from patent documents, the dates of interest including dates associated with respective ones of the representative patent documents,

(ii) a first technological branch that reflects a first desired technological category of interest disclosed in representative patent documents,

(iii) a second technological branch that reflects a second desired technological category of interest disclosed in representative patent documents,

(iv) assignee of the representative patent documents responsive to the first and second technological branches; and

including a distribution of visual indicators along a first axis and a second axis of the interactive patent map, the visual indicators being distributed based on technological features associated with the respective patent documents, the representative patent documents from the first and second desired technological categories of interest being determined using a computerized content analysis derived from key features disclosed in a claims section of at least one of the respective representative patent documents, such that the visual indicators representing at least a portion of the representative patent documents on the interactive map along the first axis of the interactive map based on at least one respective technological feature of the representative patent document, and along a second axis of the interactive map based on a respective date of interest of the representative patent documents;

processing, using a database of results, the selected interactive patent map configuration to provide a responsive interactive patent map, such that the patent documents responsive to the technological branches are arranged on the resulting interactive patent map according to assignee;

wherein the patent art documents responsive to the technological branches are arranged on the resulting interactive patent map according to assignee, such that an assignee'"'"'s patent documents are clustered on the resulting interactive patent map based on a technological category associated with the patent documents; and

wherein in response to a user hovering a mouse over a representative patent document visual indicator represented on the map, displaying bibliographic information about the respective representative patent document.

26. A computer program product, stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, configured to facilitate analysis of representative patent documents relevant to one or more technologies of interest, the patent documents including patents and patent applications, the computer program product having computer readable instructions, which cause at least one computer processor, to:

facilitate user selection for a configuration for an interactive patent map, the selected interactive patent map configuration providing an arrangement for the interactive patent map based on

(i) dates of interest from patent documents, the dates of interest including dates associated with respective ones of the representative patent documents,

(ii) a first technological branch that reflects a desired technological category of interest disclosed in representative patent documents,

(iii) a second technological branch that reflects a second desired technological category of interest disclosed in representative patent documents,

(iv) assignee of the representative patent documents responsive to the first and second technological branches; and

including a distribution of visual indicators along a first axis and a second axis of the interactive patent map, the visual indicators being distributed based on technological features associated with the respective patent documents, the representative patent documents from the first and second desired technological categories of interest being determined using a computerized content analysis derived from key features disclosed in a claims section of at least one of the respective representative patent documents, such that the visual indicators representing at least a portion of the representative patent documents on the interactive map along the first axis of the interactive map based on at least one respective technological feature of the representative patent document, and along a second axis of the interactive map based on a respective date of interest of the representative patent documents;

process, using a database of results, the selected interactive patent map configuration to provide a responsive interactive patent map, such that the patent documents responsive to the technological branches are arranged on the resulting interactive patent map according to assignee, where an assignee'"'"'s patent documents are clustered on the resulting interactive patent map based on a technological category associated with the representative patent documents; and

wherein in response to a user hovering a mouse over a representative patent document visual indicator represented on the map, displaying bibliographic information about the respective representative patent document.