Patent Documentation Research Articles

Exploring the Feasibility and Accuracy of Latent Semantic Analysis Based Text Mining Techniques to Detect Similarity between Patent Documents and Scientific Publications

In this study, we examine and validate the use of existing text mining techniques (based on the vector space model and latent semantic indexing) to detect similarities between patent documents and scientific publications. Clearly, experts involved in domain studies would benefit from techniques that allow similarity to be detected - and hence facilitate mapping, categorization and classification efforts. In addition, given current debates on the relevance and appropriateness of academic patenting, the ability to assess content-relatedness between sets of documents - in this case, patents and publications - might become relevant and useful. We list several options available to arrive at content based similarity measures. Different options of a vector space model and latent semantic indexing approach have been selected and applied to the publications and patents of a sample of academic inventors (n=6). We also validated the outcomes by using independently obtained validation scores of human raters. While we conclude that mixt mining techniques can be valuable for detecting similarities between patents and publications, our findings also indicate that the various options available to arrive at similarity measures vary considerably in terms of accuracy: some generally accepted text mining options, like dimensionality reduction and LSA, do not yield the best results when working with smaller document sets. Implications and directions for further research are discussed.

A comparative study of patent sequence databases

Nucleic acid and protein sequence data from patent publications is available from a plurality of commercial and public sources. As the searching and analysis of this data is of crucial importance to the life sciences industry, the Patent Documentation Group’s Biotechnology Information Working Group conducted a study to critically compare and evaluate patent sequence databases for data content. A series of sequences were searched to find similar sequences from several well known sources: GENESEQ™, CAS REGISTRY/CAplus SM, PCTGEN, NCBI GenBank ®, EMBL-Bank and the EBI Fasta databases. The study highlights some differences between GENESEQ™ and REGISTRY/CAplus SM results within the context of indexing policy and patent coverage. In comparison to the proprietary databases, the authors have identified important deficiencies in the content of the public databanks. This paper also discusses database timeliness and the choice of algorithm as potential reasons for missing data.

El análisis de patentes como estrategia para la toma de decisiones innovadoras

Applying metric analysis to the information contained in patent documentation has become one of the principal techniques for modeling technology scenarios for government, business and industry, research institutes, projects, etc. We propose using bibliometric indicators for patent research, identifying patterns and trends based on available technological evidence as well as detecting possible social networks in the “hidden web”, which permits effective decisionmaking in the research context. A case study is used to demonstrate these concepts, analysing the EUA patents database and processing it with a tool developed by Pinar del Rio University. Ucinet software is used on occasion to map existing social networks. This makes it possible to produce results that demonstrate the relevance of patentometric studies to research projects, including the possibility of redirecting the objectives of a research project on the basis of this analysis.

The Rising Size and Complexity of the Patent Document

This short concept essay introduces two separate studies showing that US patents are increasing in size and complexity. The first study looks at how the length of the patent specification has increased dramatically in the period from 1987-2007. (The results show little change from 1977-1987). The second study looks at the number of claims in each patent and shows that those are on the rise as well.

Towards content-oriented patent document processing

In this article, we present ongoing work on an advanced patent processing service PATExpert. The central assumption underlying PATExpert is that in order to meet the needs of the users of patent processing services, recourse must be made to the content of patent material. We introduce a content representation schema for patent documentation and sketch the design of techniques that facilitate the integration of this schema into the patent processing cycle. Two types of techniques are discussed. Techniques of the first type facilitate the access to the content of patent documentation provided in a textual format – be it by the human reader or by the machine – in that they rephrase and summarize the documentation and map it onto a formal semantic representation. Techniques of the second type operate on the content representation. At this stage, PATExpert is explored in two technology areas – optical recording devices and machine tools. The work is being carried out in the framework of an R&D-project partially funded by the European Commission.

Half a century of the Patent Documentation Group (PDG) 1957–2007

The Patent Documentation Group (PDG) is a non-profit organisation consisting of companies using technical, patent and other intellectual property related information for their business. The PDG, which was founded in 1957 as a working group by 13 European chemical and petrochemical companies, seeks to promote the effective and efficient use of patent information. It has a reputation as an indispensable partner in all discussions relating to the quality and enhancement of patent information. The PDG currently comprises 40 multinational companies from eight different countries engaged in the automotive, chemical, electronics, engineering, household/personal care products, petrochemicals and the life science industries.

Automatic F-term Classification of Japanese Patent Documents Using the k-Nearest Neighborhood Method and the SMART Weighting

Patent processing is important in various fields such as industry, business, and law. We used F-terms (Schellner 2002) to classify patent documents using the k-nearest neighborhood method. Because the F-term categories are fine-grained, they are useful when we classify patent documents. We clarified the following three points using experiments: i) which variations of the k-nearest neighborhood method are the best for patent classification, ii) which methods of calculating similarity are the best for patent classification, and iii) from which regions of a patent terms should be extracted. In our experiments, we used the patent data used in the F-term categorization task in the NTCIR-5 Patent Workshop (NTCIR committee 2005; Iwayama, Fujii, and Kando 2005). We found that the method of adding the scores of k extracted documents to classify patent documents was the most effective among the variations of the k-nearest neighborhood method used in this study. We also found that SMART (Singhal, Buckley, and Mitra 1996; Singhal, Choi, Hindle, and Pereira 1997), which is known to be effective in information retrieval, was the most effective method of calculating similarity. Finally, when extracting terms, we found that using the abstract and claim regions together was the best method among all the combinations of using abstract, claim, and description regions. The results were confirmed using a statistical test. Moreover, we experimented with changing the amount of training data and found that we obtained better performance when we used more data, which was limited to that provided in the NTCIR-5 Patent Workshop.

Automatic F-term Classification of Japanese Patent Documents Using the k-Nearest Neighborhood Method and the SMART Weighting

Automatic F-term Classification of Japanese Patent Documents Using the k-Nearest Neighborhood Method and the SMART Weighting

Mitocans: Mitochondrial Targeted Anti-Cancer Drugs as Improved Therapies and Related Patent Documents

Mitochondria are proving to be worthy targets for activating specific killing of cancer cells in tumors and a diverse range of mitochondrial targeted drugs are currently in clinical trial to determine their effectiveness as anti-cancer therapies. The mechanism of action of mitochondrial targeted anti-cancer drugs relies on their ability to disrupt the energy producing systems of cancer cell mitochondria, leading to increased reactive oxygen species and activation of the mitochondrial dependent cell death signaling pathways inside cancer cells. We propose that this emerging class of drugs be called "mitocans", a term that reflects their mitochondrial targeting and anti-cancer roles. They are discussed in this review in the context of their mode of action whereby they target the functional differences and altered properties of the mitochondria inside cancerous but not normal cells. Hence, mitocans include drugs affecting the following mitochondrial associated activities: hexokinase inhibitors; electron transport/respiratory chain blockers; activators of the mitochondrial membrane permeability transition pore targeting constituent protein subunits, either the voltage dependent anion-selective channel (VDAC) or adenine nucleotide transporter (ANT); inhibitors of Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic family proteins and Bax/Bid pro-apoptotic mimetics. In particular, a recent surge has occurred in the number of patent documents describing small molecule inhibitors and BH3 mimetic blockers of Bcl-2/Bcl-x(L) function as obvious and important targets for promoting mitochondrial induced cancer cell death and for enhancing the actions of other chemotherapeutic agents. One of the other highly significant results to emerge from clinical applications of mitochondrial targeted drugs as cancer therapies to date is that they have shown limited side-effects on the normal "healthy" cell populations in vivo. It is still too early to judge the clinical impact that mitocans will make in treating cancer. Further clinical studies will be required before these novel drugs become established as single modality anti-cancer therapies or are used in conjunction with existing chemotherapies. However, it is clear from the present studies that mitocans offer great potential as effective and exciting new developments in cancer therapy, providing direct activation of cancer cell death by mitochondrial mediated apoptosis and that this complements the other pathways by which existing treatments kill cancer cells. Undoubtedly, mitocans will become an integral part of modern weaponry in the fight to eliminate cancer.

Automatic Categorization of Patent Documents for R&D Knowledge Self-organization

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) reports that ninety to ninety-five percent of all R&D refers to existing patent documents. A company can reduce costs and shorten development time by effectively utilizing existing knowledge, as disclosed in the global patent corpus and in the intellectual property news media. As a consequence, patent information plays an important role in the era of knowledge-based economies. However, owing to the dramatic increase in the number of patent documents people have difficulty reading, organizing, and fully utilizing them. There are also unique technical and legal vocabularies in the context of patent documents that prevent adequate understanding of patent claims. The consistent and effective organization of important ontological content from documents, such as patents and intellectual property information, is therefore a significant issue in R&D technical knowledge management. This paper introduces an intelligent ontology-based knowledge categorization approach to overcome labor-intensive methods when the number of documents that require analysis exceeds manual processing capacity. The ontology-based document categorization approach requires the use of an artificial neural network (ANN) and pre-constructed ontology schemas for given domains. The system extracts the features of a document by using a morphological analysis and sentence analysis. These features are subsequently matched with classes and relationships of the domain ontology and are transferred as input into the ANN model. The ANN model is trained and tested for the given documents and the assigned categories that are based on the content ontological analysis. Two cases that cover chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) patent documents and IP news clippings are provided to demonstrate the categorization approach for R&D knowledge self-organization.

特許文献における因果関係の抽出と統合 : 概要とその後の展開

我々は, 類推を利用する発想支援システムの構築を目指して研究している.そのシステムの類推でベースとして用いる知識の抽出源として, 特許文献を用いる.その理由は次の2点である.(1)特許文献は発明の手段とその効果の因果関係が記述されているため, 因果関係を抽出できる可能性がある.(2)特許文献には様々な産業分野が含まれるため, 抽出された因果関係は産業に適用できる可能性がある.そこで, 繊維工学の分野の特許文献から因果関係の抽出を試み, 化合物とその性質の因果関係を得た.次いで, 薬学分野を対象に特許文献から因果関係を抽出し, 得られた因果関係をベース知識として用語の類似性を用いる類推方法を考案した.本稿では, これらの結果を報告する.

A change of paradigms: looking back to the pioneer years of patent information management (1960–1990)

In the context of the journal’s 25th anniversary, the author provides a wide ranging historical review of the patent information scene from 1960 to 1990, from the perspective of the providers and users of such information in a large chemical company. He notes the pioneering nature of much of the early activity, as the volume and complexity of patent information expanded rapidly––and continues to do so. Topics covered include: the advent of specialised abstracting services for this market (e.g. from Derwent Information), the adaptation of existing services (e.g. by Chemical Abstracts Service), bibliographic data services (e.g. INPADOC), indexing data (e.g. Derwent’s Central Patent index, GREMAS and IDC), the Patent Documentation Group (PDG), topological systems, Markush structure searching, polymer chemistry, full text retrieval, online searching, patent information management systems, current awareness, World Patent Information, and the Internet.

特許文献における因果関係の抽出と統合

特許文献には,発明の手段とその結果もたらされる効果が記述されている.その手段-効果の関係は因果関係と考えられる.そこで,繊維工学の分野の特許文献から特定の文型パターンと用語リストを用いて因果関係を抽出した.今回の実験では特に化合物とその性質に注目した.また、これらの因果関係を基に知識の構造化を試みた.

特許文献からの医学用語階層関係の抽出

特許文献からの医学用語階層関係の抽出

Resources and services at the Patent and Technology Library of Latvia

The Patent and Technology Library of Latvia is described. It is the national library for these subjects and the only library in Latvia that holds patent documentation. The Library functions as a public patent information center. The article gives a brief description of the Library’s collections, services and future plans.

特許文献における因果関係の抽出

特許文献における因果関係の抽出

Japanese File Index classification and F-terms

Two distinctive and useful features of Japanese patent documentation are the file index (FI) and F-term classification systems developed by the Japan Patent Office. Since April 2001, it has been possible to search Japanese patent literature with FI classification and F-terms in English. This article explains the concept, structure and layout of these two special classification systems, as well as providing pointers to further guidance and the use of these features to enhance searches of Japanese patent documentation.

Integration of public patent libraries into existing SME advisory structures, and the resulting new range of services

This article describes the new contact arrangements that have been made with selected partners since the Swiss Federal Institute for Intellectual Property closed all patent documentation centers in 1999. All of the partners have an existing range of services available to SMEs and/or universities in non-patent consultancy areas. A contractual relationship, similar to a franchising arrangement, has been set up with the partners, the Institute taking responsibility for basic and further training on intellectual property issues, for hardware and software, and for marketing, while the partners are required to provide an advisory service and mediate in search requests. New products linking patent data and market data, developed by the Institute, are also described. These products provide more comprehensive answers to clients' strategic questions than in the past. An ever-increasing number of standardised modules are being combined to form simple service packages, each of which independently supplies the basis for deciding on a strategic problem. The very simple structure of these service packages makes it possible to integrate intellectual property seamlessly into other SME-oriented advisory services.

Patent Statistics as Indicators of Competition an Analysis of Patenting in Biotechnology

Numbers of patents cannot indicate the state of research or the contents of patent documentation cannot indicate the true technological features achieved. Patent statistics though so used, is not a good indicator of the economic returns to investments in research. Use of this statistics for understanding the degree of competition and the competition-driven research strategy is attractive. A patent document is part of the public knowledge in such a way as to restrict the growth of the future public knowledge. This portent on the future content of research and on the number and areas of research, by a current application is a competition-defining aspect. This effect on the lagged future applications and accepting patent disclosure as an intentional strategic data — are the most significant characteristics of patent statistics. The present paper applied this understanding, and generated a number of indices derived from data bases on patenting. These are indicators on Competition, Technology Pool, Language Technology Pool, Modified Competition, Market Attractiveness and on the Strength of Patent Market. Values of these indicators for biotechnological research and for several countries have been derived as example.

Swiss Federal Institute for Intellectual Property: new image – new clients. The future of regional documentation and central information centres in gaining and retaining clients

The implications for the role of documentation and information centres of a number of recent changes and trends is explored. Factors discussed include the requirement for the Institute to be financially self-supporting, the technical improvements in patent documentation delivery – such as CD-ROM and the DIPS project on the Internet, and the changing work patterns and requirements of clients. The last of these is especially significant in an increasingly client-oriented marketplace for patent information, clients now being less willing to travel to centres unless there is a major event involved and being less interested in the supplier’s image than in the quality of the search results and the lack of formality associated with their supply.