Method and system to formulate intellectual property search and to organize results of intellectual property search

Abstract

An apparatus and method of searching and organizing intellectual property (IP) formulates and facilitates searches for intellectual property and organizes results of such searches. In an exemplary embodiment, a search and organization server is provided with one or more modules to create and process search queries to be run on local or remote database systems. A class search can provide on-line access to classification information and facilitate searching of intellectual property using classifications. An IP thesaurus can provide for developing a list of elements found in IP information. The list of elements may be used as an aid in learning a new technology, as a search tool to refine search queries or criteria. A field-of-search can be based on search information identified from select IP information. Optional modules can formulate, store, organize, and output search results.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method for formulating an intellectual property search, comprising:
 inputting, in a computer processor device, as a search field, an identification of at least one classification in a classification system;   retrieving, in the computer processor device, select intellectual property documents that have the classification, that was input as the search field, indicated as content of a classification field, and returning the select intellectual property documents as source grouping search results;   providing, in the computer processor device, intellectual property documents which were returned as the source grouping search results, to a thesaurus module to generate a list of elements which are significant search elements found in the source grouping search results; and   providing, in the computer processor device, the list of elements which are the significant search elements as a field-of-search corresponding to the at least one classification which was input, for further use as terminology.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one classification is an enumerated class in the classification system, and the classification system is determined by a government patent or trademark office. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising providing, in the computer processor device, a word frequency list of the significant search elements, receiving an input selecting a portion of the significant search elements, and storing the selected portion of the significant search elements as an accrued synonym list associated with the at least one classification. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising providing, in the computer processor device, an analysis of the list of elements in the source grouping search results, the analysis includes frequency of occurrence of elements in the select intellectual property documents in the source grouping search results, wherein the elements are at least one of: a word, a phrase, a concept, a number, a picture, a feature, a representation, a graphic, and an identifier. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the computer processor device stores, as the thesaurus module, the significant search elements found in the source grouping search results in an electronic thesaurus associated with the at least one classification, as part of an electronic thesaurus library that stores plural thesauruses, each thesaurus in the electronic thesaurus library having terminology devoted to a technical area. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one classification in a classification system that is received as input, to the computer processor device, as the search field is at least one of a classification number, a classification index, a classification heading, a sub-classification, a classification definition and a classification title, in a classification system maintained by a government patent or trademark office. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising receiving, in the computer processor device, an input of at least one of the elements in the list of elements into a search tool to refine search queries or criteria. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising receiving, in the computer processor device, a selection of one of the elements in the list of elements for use in drafting to assist in the preparation of technical or legal documents. 
     
     
         39 . A system, implemented on at least one computer, for formulating an intellectual property search, comprising:
 an interface; and   a processor cooperatively operable with the interface, the processor being configured to
 input, as a search field, an identification of at least one classification in a classification system; 
 retrieve select intellectual property documents that have the classification, that was input as the search field, indicated as content of a classification field, and return the select intellectual property documents as source grouping search results; 
 provide intellectual property documents which were returned as the source grouping search results, to a thesaurus module to generate a list of elements which are significant search elements found in the source grouping search results; and 
 provide the list of elements which are the significant search elements as a field-of-search corresponding to the at least one classification which was input, for further use as terminology. 
   
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one classification is an enumerated class in the classification system, and the classification system is determined by a government patent or trademark office. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide a word frequency list of the significant search elements, receive an input selecting a portion of the significant search elements, and store the selected portion of the significant search elements as an accrued synonym list associated with the at least one classification. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide an analysis of the list of elements in the source grouping search results, the analysis includes frequency of occurrence of elements in the select intellectual property documents in the source grouping search results, wherein the elements are at least one of: a word, a phrase, a concept, a number, a picture, a feature, a representation, a graphic, and an identifier. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the processor is further configured to store, as the thesaurus module, the significant search elements found in the source grouping search results in an electronic thesaurus associated with the at least one classification, as part of an electronic thesaurus library that stores plural thesauruses, each thesaurus in the electronic thesaurus library having terminology devoted to a technical area. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one classification in a classification system that is received as input, to the computer processor device, as the search field is at least one of a classification number, a classification index, a classification heading, a sub-classification, a classification definition and a classification title, in a classification system maintained by a government patent or trademark office. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive an input of at least one of the elements in the list of elements into a search tool to refine search queries or criteria. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a selection of one of the elements in the list of elements for use in drafting to assist in the preparation of technical or legal documents. 
     
     
         47 . A computer program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium with a method for formulating an intellectual property search, the program comprising computer-executable steps for:
 inputting, as a search field, an identification of at least one classification in a classification system;   retrieving select intellectual property documents that have the classification, that was input as the search field, indicated as content of a classification field, and returning the select intellectual property documents as source grouping search results;   providing intellectual property documents which were returned as the source grouping search results, to a thesaurus module to generate a list of elements which are significant search elements found in the source grouping search results; and   providing the list of elements which are the significant search elements as a field-of-search corresponding to the at least one classification which was input, for further use as terminology.   
     
     
         48 . The computer program of  claim 47 , wherein the at least one classification is an enumerated class in the classification system, and the classification system is determined by a government patent or trademark office. 
     
     
         49 . The computer program of  claim 47 , further comprising providing, in the computer processor device, a word frequency list of the significant search elements, receiving an input selecting a portion of the significant search elements, and storing the selected portion of the significant search elements as an accrued synonym list associated with the at least one classification. 
     
     
         50 . The computer program of  claim 48 , further comprising providing, in the computer processor device, an analysis of the list of elements in the source grouping search results, the analysis includes frequency of occurrence of elements in the select intellectual property documents in the source grouping search results, wherein the elements are at least one of: a word, a phrase, a concept, a number, a picture, a feature, a representation, a graphic, and an identifier. 
     
     
         51 . The computer program of  claim 47 , wherein the computer processor device stores, as the thesaurus module, the significant search elements found in the source grouping search results in an electronic thesaurus associated with the at least one classification, as part of an electronic thesaurus library that stores plural thesauruses, each thesaurus in the electronic thesaurus library having terminology devoted to a technical area. 
     
     
         52 . The computer program of  claim 47 , wherein the at least one classification in a classification system that is received as input, to the computer processor device, as the search field is at least one of a classification number, a classification index, a classification heading, a sub-classification, a classification definition and a classification title, in a classification system maintained by a government patent or trademark office. 
     
     
         53 . The computer program of  claim 47 , further comprising receiving, in the computer processor device, an input of at least one of the elements in the list of elements into a search tool to refine search queries or criteria. 
     
     
         54 . The computer program of  claim 47 , further comprising receiving, in the computer processor device, a selection of one of the elements in the list of elements for use in drafting to assist in the preparation of technical or legal documents.