Patent mapping

Abstract

System and method permit patent mapping. A method may comprise maintaining a database of patent portfolios and a database of patents with each patent stored in the database of patents associated with one or more patent portfolios stored in the database of patent portfolios. A search query may be received associated with a first patent portfolio and the first portfolio may be searched as a function of the search query. Search results may be generate which include one or more patent claims associated with the search query. The one or more patent claims may be mapped to a patent concept.

1 . A computer implemented method comprising:
 maintaining a database of patent portfolios and a database of patents, each patent stored in the database of patents associated with one or more patent portfolios stored in the database of patent portfolios;   receiving a search query associated with a first patent portfolio;   searching the first portfolio as a function of the search query;   generating search results, the search results including one or more patent claims associated with the search query; and   mapping the one or more patent claims to a patent concept.   
     
     
         2 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 maintaining a database of ontologies, the ontologies including one or more patent concepts.   
     
     
         3 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more patent concepts includes a technology category. 
     
     
         4 . The computer implemented method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more patent concepts includes a scope concept, the scope concept defining a scope to which a patent claim is limited. 
     
     
         5 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein mapping a plurality of patent claims to a patent concepts includes defining the patent concept. 
     
     
         6 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein mapping a plurality of patent claims to a patent concept further includes:
 maintaining a database of patent claims, the database of patent claims including the one or more patent claims;   storing an indication of a relationship between the patent concept and the one or more patent claims in the database of patent claims.   
     
     
         7 . The computer implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein the indication of the relationship includes an indication that the one or more claims are not mapped to the patent concept. 
     
     
         8 . The computer implemented method of  claim 6 , wherein the indication of the relationship includes an indication that the one or more patent claims are mapped to the patent concept. 
     
     
         9 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the search query includes a regular search expression. 
     
     
         10 . The computer implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein generating search results includes retrieving patent claims which include terms from the search query and synonyms of the terms. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a database of patent sets and a database of patents, each patent stored in the database of patents associated with one or more patent sets stored in the database of patent sets; and   a web server engine configured to receive a search query associated with a first patent set;   a mining module configured to search a first patent set as a function of the search query and generate search results, the search results including one or more patent claims associated with the search query and stored in a patent claim database;   a mapping module configured to map the one or more patent claims to a patent concept.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a database of ontologies, the ontologies including one or more patent concepts.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more patent concepts includes a technology category. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more patent concepts includes a scope concept, the scope concept defining a scope to which a patent claim is limited. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the mapping module is further configured to define the patent concept. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the mapping module is further configured to store an indication of a relationship between the patent concept and one or more patent claims. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the indication of the relationship includes an indication that the one or more patent claims are not mapped to the patent concept. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the indication of the relationship includes an indication that the one or more patent claims are mapped to the patent concept. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the mining module is further configured to generate the search results by retrieving patent claims which include terms from the search query and synonyms of the terms. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the mapping module is further configured to:
 construct a mapping object, the mapping object including data detailing the relationship between the one or more patent claims and the patent concept; and   store the mapping object in the patent claim database.