Patent claim reference generation

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method is illustrated as including receiving a search query, the search query relating to a patent, retrieving data relating to a term contained in a claim limitation in the patent, the data including at least one of intrinsic or extrinsic evidence associated with the term by a hyperlink(, and displaying the claim limitation and the hyperlink. Further, a computer system is illustrated as including a receiver to receive a search query, the search query relating to a patent, a retriever to retrieve data relating to a term contained in a claim limitation in the patent, the data including at least one of intrinsic or extrinsic evidence associated with the term by a hyperlink, and a display to display the claim limitation and the hyperlink.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a search query, the search query relating to a patent;   retrieving data relating to a term contained in a claim limitation in the patent, the data including at least one of intrinsic or extrinsic evidence associated with the term by a hyperlink; and   displaying the claim limitation and the hyperlink.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hyperlink includes a mechanism to present a popup menu containing a plurality of references defining the term contained in the claim limitation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the popup menu displays the intrinsic evidence. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising displaying a further hyperlink to an electronic document containing the intrinsic evidence. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the popup menu displays extrinsic evidence. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising displaying a further hyperlink to an electronic document containing the extrinsic evidence. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hyperlink includes a mechanism to present a first popup menu containing the intrinsic evidence, and a second popup menu containing the extrinsic evidence. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the intrinsic evidence includes at least one of a specification of the patent in which the claim limitation appears, another claim of the patent, or a prosecution history of the patent. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extrinsic evidence includes at least one of a publication, another patent, expert testimony, testimony of an inventor on the patent, or a dictionary definition. 
     
     
         10 . A computer system comprising:
 a receiver to receive a search query, the search query relating to a patent;   a retriever to retrieve data relating to a term contained in a claim limitation in the patent, the data including at least one of intrinsic or extrinsic evidence associated with the term by a hyperlink; and   a display to display the claim limitation and the hyperlink.   
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the hyperlink includes a mechanism to present a popup menu containing a plurality of references defining the term contained in the claim limitation. 
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the popup menu displays the intrinsic evidence. 
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 12 , further comprising the display for displaying a further hyperlink to an electronic document containing the intrinsic evidence. 
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 11 , wherein the popup menu displays extrinsic evidence. 
     
     
         15 . The computer system of  claim 14 , further comprising the display for displaying a further hyperlink to an electronic document containing the extrinsic evidence. 
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the hyperlink includes a mechanism to present a first popup menu containing the intrinsic evidence, and a second popup menu containing the extrinsic evidence. 
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the intrinsic evidence includes at least one of a specification of the patent in which the claim limitation appears, another claim of the patent, or a prosecution history of the patent. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the extrinsic evidence includes at least one of a publication, another patent, expert testimony, testimony of an inventor on the patent, or a dictionary definition. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus comprising:
 means for receiving a search query, the search query relating to a patent;   means for retrieving data relating to a term contained in a claim limitation in the patent, the data including at least one of intrinsic or extrinsic evidence associated with the term by a hyperlink; and   means for displaying the claim limitation and the hyperlink.   
     
     
         20 . A machine-readable medium comprising instructions, which when implemented by one or more machines that cause the one or more machines to perform the following operations:
 receiving a search query, the search query relating to a patent;   retrieving data relating to a term contained in a claim limitation in the patent, the data including at least one of intrinsic or extrinsic evidence associated with the term by a hyperlink; and   displaying the claim limitation and the hyperlink.