Systems and methods for organizing data

Abstract

The software system described processes a user query for information and organizes, analyzes and presents in a graphic representation, the relevant data for the user, allowing the user to immediately and intrinsically infer the existence of relationships and trends that would normally not have been apparent otherwise. This method supports decision making to an improved level and is capable of presenting data relationships across multiple planes and accessing dissimilar data sets. The ability to then access the underlying data is also disclosed.

1 . A method of searching a database of data elements, the method comprising: 
 generating a search query to identify a first set of one or more data elements in the database,    based on the first set, identifying a second set of one or more data elements in the database, where the data elements of the second set are related to one or more of the data elements of the first set, and    generating data based on the data elements of the first and second sets and the relationships therebetween.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating a search query includes: 
 receiving search data from the user,    based on the search data, generating the search query.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein generating a search query includes: 
 determining one or more keywords based on the search data, and    generating the search query including the one or more keywords.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein generating a search query includes: 
 generating the search query using a grid having first and second axes based on the one or more keywords.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 coalescing the first set of data elements to include unique data elements.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data elements of the second set are related to one or more of the data elements of the first set based on time.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data elements of the second set are related to one or more of the data elements of the first set based on one or more references.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the references are based on the content of one or more of the data elements of the first set and the data elements of the second set.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the references include one or more of citations and HTML links.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying a second set of one or more data elements includes: 
 determining whether one or more of the one or more data elements of the first set include one or more references to one or more other data elements, and    identifying a second set of one or more data elements based on the references.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying a second set of data elements includes: 
 determining whether one or more data elements in the database include one or more references to the data elements of the first set, and    identifying a second set of one or more data elements based on the references.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing the generated data to one or more of a user and a display.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 graphically displaying the data elements of the first and second sets and the relationships therebetween.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 receiving from the user a selection of a data element, and    based on the selection, graphically displaying the contents of the data element.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the data elements are represented by geometric shapes and wherein the relationships are represented by lines between geometric shapes.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 determining locations at which to display the geometric shapes and the lines to reduce overlaps between geometric shapes and crossings between lines.    
   
   
       17 . A method of displaying data, the method comprising: 
 generating a search query to identify a first set of one or more patent publications in a database,    based on the first set, identifying a second set of one or more patent publications in the database, the patent publications of the second set being cited by one or more of the patent publications of the first set, and    graphically displaying the patent publications of the first and second sets and citation relationships therebetween.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the patent publications include one or more of issued patents and published patent applications.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the search query includes one or more of an assignee, a class, a filing date, an inventor, an issue date, a subclass, and a title.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein graphically displaying includes: 
 graphically displaying the patent publications of the first and second sets and the citation relationships therebetween in a display including a time axis.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 based on the first and second sets, identifying a third set of one or more patent publications in the database, the patent publications of the third set citing one or more of: the patent publications of the first set and the patent publications of the second set, and    wherein graphically displaying includes:    graphically displaying the patent publications of the first, second, and third sets and the citation relationships therebetween.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the patent publications are represented by geometric shapes and wherein the citation relationships are represented by lines between geometric shapes.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 determining locations at which to display the geometric shapes and the lines to reduce overlaps between geometric shapes and crossings between lines.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 based on graphically displaying the patent publications of the first and second sets and the citation relationships therebetween, identifying one or more candidate patent publications for one or more of: invalidating prior art, licensing opportunities, and seminal prior art.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein candidate patent publications for invalidating prior art include patent publications that are not cited by an alleged infringed patent, that cite one or more patent publications cited by the alleged infringed patent, and that are associated with earlier filing dates than the alleged infringed patent.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein candidate patent publications for licensing opportunities include patent publications that are associated with a first assignee and that are cited by one or more patent publications associated with one or more second different assignees.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein candidate patent publications for seminal prior art include patent publications that cite a first number of patent publications and that are cited by a second number of patent publications wherein the second number is greater than the first number.  
   
   
       28 . A processor program for searching a database of data elements, the processor program being stored on a processor readable medium and including instructions operable to cause a processor to: 
 generate a search query to identify a first set of one or more data elements in the database,    based on the first set, identify a second set of one or more data elements in the database, where the data elements of the second set are related to one or more of the data elements of the first set, and    generate data based on the data elements of the first and second sets and the relationships therebetween.    
   
   
       29 . The processor program of  claim 28 , wherein the data elements of the second set are related to one or more of the data elements of the first set based on time.  
   
   
       30 . The processor program of  claim 28 , wherein the data elements of the second set are related to one or more of the data elements of the first set based on one or more references.  
   
   
       31 . The processor program of  claim 30 , wherein the references are based on the content of one or more of the data elements of the first set and the data elements of the second set.  
   
   
       32 . The processor program of  claim 30 , wherein the references include one or more of citations and HTML links.  
   
   
       33 . The processor program of  claim 28 , further comprising instructions to: 
 provide the generated data to one or more of a user and a display.    
   
   
       34 . The processor program of  claim 28 , further comprising instructions to: 
 graphically display the data elements of the first and second sets and the relationships therebetween.    
   
   
       35 . The processor program of  claim 34 , wherein the data elements are represented by geometric shapes and wherein the relationships are represented by lines between geometric shapes.  
   
   
       36 . The processor program of  claim 35 , further comprising instructions to: 
 determine locations at which to display the geometric shapes and the lines to reduce overlaps between geometric shapes and crossings between lines.    
   
   
       37 . A processor program for displaying data, the processor program being stored on a processor readable medium and comprising instructions operable to cause a processor to: 
 generate a search query to identify a first set of one or more patent publications in a database,    based on the first set, identify a second set of one or more patent publications in the database, the patent publications of the second set being cited by one or more of the patent publications of the first set, and    graphically display the patent publications of the first and second sets and citation relationships therebetween.    
   
   
       38 . The processor program of  claim 37 , wherein the patent publications include one or more of issued patents and published patent applications.  
   
   
       39 . The processor program of  claim 37 , further comprising instructions to: 
 based on the first and second sets, identify a third set of one or more patent publications in the database, the patent publications of the third set citing one or more of: the patent publications of the first set and the patent publications of the second set, and    wherein the instructions to graphically display include instructions to:    graphically display the patent publications of the first, second, and third sets and the citation relationships therebetween.    
   
   
       40 . The processor program of  claim 37 , wherein the patent publications are represented by geometric shapes and wherein the citation relationships are represented by lines between geometric shapes.  
   
   
       41 . The processor program of  claim 40 , further comprising instructions to: 
 determine locations at which to display the geometric shapes and the lines to reduce overlaps between geometric shapes and crossings between lines.