Patent Analyzing System

Abstract

A patent analyzing system for efficiently reviewing and analyzing a patent document (e.g. patent application, published patent document or patent). The patent analyzing system includes providing a patent document, wherein said patent document includes text data having a claims section, identifying a first element name within a first claim in said claims section, and emphasizing said first element name within said first claim.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of identifying one or more element names in a patent document, said method comprising:
 providing a patent document, wherein said patent document includes text data;   providing a preceding database and a non-element database stored on a computer;   identifying a first element number within said text data;   determining if a first character or a set of first characters to the left of said first element number is within said non-element database;   disregarding said first element number if said first character or said set of first characters is within said non-element database;   validating said first element number as a valid element number if said first character or said set of first characters is not within said non-element database;   identifying a second word to the left of said first word if said first element number is validated;   determining if said second word is a preceding identifier within said preceding database;   identifying a first preceding identifier to the left of said first element number, wherein said first preceding identifier is within said preceding database; and   identifying said first element name associated with said first element number, wherein said first element name is comprised of one or more words between said first element number and said first preceding identifier, and wherein said first element name is associated with said first element number.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said patent document is comprised of an electronic file. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first element number is comprised of at least two numbers. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-element database is comprised of said preceding database. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said non-element database includes articles, prepositions, conjunctions, verbs, adverbs, contractions, symbols, punctuation marks, and/or relative adjectives. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said preceding database includes articles, prepositions, conjunctions, verbs, adverbs, contractions, symbols, punctuation marks, and/or relative adjectives. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of identifying a first element number ignores a cover page section and a background of invention section of said patent document. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , including:
 identifying a second element number within said text data;   identifying a second preceding identifier to the left of said second element number, wherein said second preceding identifier is within said preceding database; and   identifying a second element name associated with said second element number, wherein said second element name is comprised of one or more words between said second element number and said second preceding identifier, and wherein said second element name is associated with said second element number.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said step of identifying a second element number is comprised of:
 providing a non-element database;   determining if a second character or a set of second characters to the left of said second element number is within said non-element database;   disregarding said second element number if said second character or said set of second characters is within said non-element database; and   validating said second element number as a valid element number if said second character or said set of second characters is not within said non-element database.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , including the step of generating an index of elements for said patent document, wherein said index of elements includes said first element number, said first element name, said second element number and said second element name. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , including the step of displaying said index of elements for said patent document. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of identifying a first preceding identifier to the left of said first element number is limited to searching to the left of said first element number a maximum number of words. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said maximum number of words is comprised of five words or less. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said step of identifying a first element name associated with said first element number is comprised of identifying said maximum number of words to the left of said first element number as said first element name if a preceding identifier cannot be found to the left of said first element number within said maximum number of words. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , including:
 identifying a first related element number within said text data, wherein said first related element number is the same as or related to said first element number;   identifying a first related preceding identifier to the left of said first related element number, wherein said first related preceding identifier is within said preceding database;   identifying a first related element name associated with said related first element number, wherein said first related element name is comprised of one or more words between said first related element number and said first related preceding identifier, and wherein said first related element name is associated with said first element number; and   determining if said first related element name is a variation element for said first element name by comparing said first related element name to said first element name.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein either said first element name or said first related element name is used to identify said first element name for said first element number. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said first element name is used for said element name if a number of occurrences for said first element name is greater than a number of occurrences for said first related element name within said text data, or wherein said first related element name is used for said element name if a number of occurrences for said first related element name is greater than a number of occurrences for said first element name within said text data. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , including:
 displaying said first element name and said first related element name; and   selecting by a user either said first element name or said first related element name to identify said first element name.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein both said first element name and said first related element name are used to identify said first element name for said first element number. 
     
     
         20 . A method of identifying one or more element names in a patent document, said method comprising:
 providing a patent document, wherein said patent document includes text data;   providing a preceding database;   identifying a first element number within said text data;   identifying a first preceding identifier to the left of said first element number, wherein said first preceding identifier is within said preceding database;   identifying a first element name associated with said first element number, wherein said first element name is comprised of one or more words between said first element number and said first preceding identifier, and wherein said first element name is associated with said first element number;   identifying a first related element number within said text data, wherein said first related element number is the same as or related to said first element number;   identifying a first related preceding identifier to the left of said first related element number, wherein said first related preceding identifier is within said preceding database;   identifying a first related element name associated with said related first element number, wherein said first related element name is comprised of one or more words between said first related element number and said first related preceding identifier, and wherein said first related element name is associated with said first element number; and   determining if said first related element name is a variation element for said first element name by comparing said first related element name to said first element name.