System and method for prior art analysis

Abstract

The present inventive subject matter relates to prior art analysis. Various embodiments of the present inventive subject matter include systems and methods for analyzing prior art in a patent portfolio and annuity management system. In an example embodiment, a method comprises maintaining a patent matter database. The database includes data about the patent matters including for at least one patent matter a claim set or statement of invention and a priority date for the claim set or statement of invention. A database of prior art documents is maintained including data about the prior art documents. The data may include for at least one prior art document a priority date or publication date of the document. A keyword analysis is performed on a given patent matter and associated prior art documents to identify keywords occurring uniquely in the first patent matter as potential claim elements differentiating the patent matter over the disclosures contained in the one or more prior art documents.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations to:
 maintain a patent matter database and a prior art document database; 
 associate a set of prior art documents in the prior art database with a patent matter in the patent matter database; 
 perform an automatic keyword analysis on both the patent matter and the set of prior art documents to derive a keyword differentiation score for each prior art document of the set of prior art documents, the keyword differentiation score indicating potential relevance of the prior art document to the patent matter; 
 rank the set of prior art documents based the respective keyword differentiation score for each prior art document; and 
 combine, at a user interface, information including at least:
 identification of the patent matter; 
 one or more keywords used in performance of the keyword analysis; and 
 a timeline representing the priority date of the patent matter and the priority or publication date of the prior art document, the timeline including a visual indication of the ranking of the set of prior art documents. 
 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein a prior art document of the set of prior art documents with a highest degree of keyword differentiation is lowest ranked in potential relevance to the patent matter. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein a prior art document of the set of prior art documents with a lowest degree of keyword differentiation is highest ranked in potential relevance to the patent matter. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising operations to provide, in the user interface, a visual indication of the technology class and/or subclass of the patent matter and the prior art document. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , the automatic keyword analysis further comprising operations to:
 identify a keyword pool for the patent matter and each prior art document of the set of prior an documents based on occurrences of one or more keywords in the patent matter and each prior art document of the set of prior art documents; and   derive the keyword differentiation score for each prior art document of the set of prior art documents using the keyword pool.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising operations to identify a cited inventor or assignee of the prior art document of the set of prior art documents and provide, in the user interface, a visual indication of the cited inventor or assignee. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising operations to provide, in the user interface, the keyword pool. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising operations to provide, in the user interface, an indication on the timeline of when one or more of the keywords in the keyword pool appeared in the set of prior art documents. 
     
     
         10 . At least one computer readable memory comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations to:
 maintain a patent matter database and a prior art document database;   associate a set of prior art documents in the prior art database with a patent matter in the patent matter database;   perform an automatic keyword analysis on both the patent matter and the set of prior art documents to derive a keyword differentiation score for each prior art document of the set of prior art documents, the keyword differentiation score indicating potential relevance of the prior art document to the patent matter;   rank the set of prior art documents based the respective keyword differentiation score for each prior art document; and   combine, at a user interface, information including at least:
 identification of the patent matter; 
 one or more keywords used in performance of the keyword analysis; and 
 a timeline representing the priority date of the patent matter and the priority or publication date of the prior art document, the timeline including a visual indication of the ranking of the set of prior art documents. 
   
     
     
         11 . The at least one computer readable memory of  claim 10 , wherein a prior art document of the set of prior art documents with a highest degree of keyword differentiation is lowest ranked in potential relevance to the patent matter. 
     
     
         12 . The at least one computer readable memory of  claim 10 , wherein a prior art document of the set of prior art documents with a lowest degree of keyword differentiation is highest ranked in potential relevance to the patent matter. 
     
     
         13 . The at least one computer readable memory of  claim 10 , further comprising operations to provide, in the user interface, a visual indication of the technology class and/or subclass of the patent matter and the prior art document. 
     
     
         14 . The at least one computer readable memory of  claim 10 , the automatic keyword analysis further comprising operations to:
 identify a keyword pool for the patent matter and each prior art document of the set of prior art documents based on occurrences of one or more keywords in the patent matter and each prior art document of the set of prior art documents; and   derive the keyword differentiation score for each prior art document of the set of prior art documents using the keyword pool.   
     
     
         15 . The at least one computer readable memory of  claim 14 , further comprising operations to identify a cited inventor or assignee of the prior art document of the set of prior art documents and provide, in the user interface, a visual indication of the cited inventor or assignee. 
     
     
         16 . The at least one computer readable memory of  claim 14 , further comprising operations to provide, in the user interface, the keyword pool. 
     
     
         17 . The at least one computer readable memory of  claim 14 , further comprising operations to provide, in the user interface, an indication on the time line of when one or more of the keywords in the keyword pool appeared in the set of prior art documents. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 maintaining a patent matter database and a prior art document database;   associating a set of prior art documents in the prior art database with a patent matter in the patent matter database;   performing an automatic keyword analysis on both the patent matter and the set of prior art documents to derive a keyword differentiation score for each prior art document of the set of prior art documents, the keyword differentiation score indicating potential relevance of the prior art document to the patent matter;   ranking the set of prior art documents based the respective keyword differentiation score for each prior art document; and   combining, at a user interface, information including at least:
 identification of the patent matter; 
 one or more keywords used in performing the keyword analysis; and 
 a timeline representing the priority date of the patent matter and the priority or publication date of the prior art document, the timeline including a visual indication of the ranking of the set of prior art documents. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a prior art document of the set of prior art documents with a highest degree of keyword differentiation is lowest ranked in potential relevance to the patent matter. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein a prior art document of the set of prior art documents with a lowest degree of keyword differentiation is highest ranked in potential relevance to the patent matter. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing, in the user interface, a visual indication of the technology class and/or subclass of the patent matter and the prior art document. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , the automatic keyword analysis further comprising:
 identifying a keyword pool for the patent matter and each prior art document of the set of prior art documents based on occurrences of one or more keywords in the patent matter and each prior art document of the set of prior art documents; and   deriving the keyword differentiation score for each prior art document of the set of prior art documents using the keyword pool.   
     
     
         23 . The method of claim further comprising identifying a cited inventor or assignee of the prior art document of the set of prior art documents and provide, in the user interface, a visual indication of the cited inventor or assignee. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing, in the user interface, the keyword pool. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing, in the user interface, an indication on the time line of when one or more of the keywords in the keyword pool appeared in the set of prior art documents.