Systems and methods for analyzing documents

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for analyzing documents. In one implementation, a computer implemented method is provided for analyzing a patent application and providing a visual representation. According to the method, a selection is received from a user to view claims of the patent application in a claim tree hierarchy and a computer displays the claims in the claim tree hierarchy on a display. The claim tree hierarchy visually depicts relationships between the claims. The method identifies one or more words of at least one of the claims that constitutes an element and displays, in the claim tree hierarchy, the words constituting the element in association with the claims.

1 .- 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . A method of displaying elements of patent claims in a hierarchical visual representation, the method comprising:
 identifying, by a processing device, the patent claims in a patent document;   determining, by the processing device, a claim structure of the patent claims in the patent document, wherein determining the claim structure includes determining a claim dependency relationship between claims;   identifying, by the processing device, one or more words of at least one of the patent claims that constitutes one or more claim elements; and   providing for display, by the processing device, a claim tree hierarchical structure that comprises a first visual indicator indicating the claim dependency relationship between claims and a second visual indicator indicating the one or more claim elements for each patent claim of the patent claims.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising, prior to identifying the patent claims:
 loading the patent document into an application, wherein the application is a word processing application or an internet browser.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising, prior to identifying the patent claims:
 receiving, via a user interface, a selection to check claims of the patent document, wherein identifying the patent claim in the patent document is completed in response to receiving the user selection.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising:
 receiving, via a user interface, a selection of a claim in the claim tree hierarchical structure; and   causing an application to scroll through a display of the patent document to a location of the claim such that the claim is displayed in the application in response to receiving the selection.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising:
 providing for display, by the processing device, a claim window, the claim window comprising text of a selected patent claim; and   providing for display, by the processing device, a parent claim window, the parent claim window comprising text of a parent claim of a selected patent claim when the selected patent claim is a dependent claim.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the second visual indicator is selectable such that a list of the one or more claim elements that appear in each patent claim can be minimized or expanded. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising:
 searching at least one database for a selected element from one or more claim elements, wherein results of the search indicate that the selected element has a defined prior usage in patents or patent applications with earlier priority dates stored in the at least one database and corresponding case reference information in court opinions stored in the at least one database, the defined prior usage informing how the selected element has been used in the patents or patent applications with earlier priority dates to provide a meaning of the selected element, and the case reference information indicating how the selected element has been interpreted by courts; and   providing for display a third visual indicator indicating that the selected element has been interpreted by courts.   
     
     
         60 . A system for displaying elements of patent claims in a hierarchical visual representation, the system comprising:
 a processing device; and   a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium comprising one or more programming instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the processing device to:
 identify the patent claims in a patent document, 
 determine a claim structure of the patent claims in the patent document, wherein determining the claim structure includes determining a claim dependency relationship between claims, 
 identify one or more words of at least one of the patent claims that constitutes one or more claim elements, and 
 provide for display a claim tree hierarchical structure that comprises a first visual indicator indicating the claim dependency relationship between claims and a second visual indicator indicating the one or more claim elements for each patent claim of the patent claims. 
   
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the one or more programming instructions, when executed, further cause the processing device to, prior to identifying the patent claims:
 load the patent document into an application, wherein the application is a word processing application or an internet browser.   
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the one or more programming instructions, when executed, further cause the processing device to, prior to identifying the patent claims:
 receive, via a user interface, a selection to check claims of the patent document, wherein identifying the patent claim in the patent document is completed in response to receiving the user selection.   
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the one or more programming instructions, when executed, further cause the processing device to:
 receive, via a user interface, a selection of a claim in the claim tree hierarchical structure; and   cause an application to scroll through a display of the patent document to a location of the claim such that the claim is displayed in the application in response to receiving the selection.   
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the one or more programming instructions, when executed, further cause the processing device to:
 provide for display a claim window, the claim window comprising text of a selected patent claim; and   provide for display a parent claim window, the parent claim window comprising text of a parent claim of a selected patent claim when the selected patent claim is a dependent claim.   
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the second visual indicator is selectable such that a list of the one or more claim elements that appear in each patent claim can be minimized or expanded. 
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 60 , wherein the one or more programming instructions, when executed, further cause the processing device to:
 search at least one database for a selected element from one or more claim elements, wherein results of the search indicate that the selected element has a defined prior usage in patents or patent applications with earlier priority dates stored in the at least one database and corresponding case reference information in court opinions stored in the at least one database, the defined prior usage informing how the selected element has been used in the patents or patent applications with earlier priority dates to provide a meaning of the selected element, and the case reference information indicating how the selected element has been interpreted by courts; and   provide for display a third visual indicator indicating that the selected element has been interpreted by courts.   
     
     
         67 . A non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium comprising one or more programming instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a processing device to:
 identify the patent claims in a patent document,   determine a claim structure of the patent claims in the patent document, wherein determining the claim structure includes determining a claim dependency relationship between claims,   identify one or more words of at least one of the patent claims that constitutes one or more claim elements, and   provide for display a claim tree hierarchical structure that comprises a first visual indicator indicating the claim dependency relationship between claims and a second visual indicator indicating the one or more claim elements for each patent claim of the patent claims.   
     
     
         68 . The storage medium of  claim 67 , wherein the one or more programming instructions, when executed, further cause the processing device to, prior to identifying the patent claims:
 load the patent document into an application, wherein the application is a word processing application or an internet browser; and   receive, via a user interface, a selection to check claims of the patent document, wherein identifying the patent claim in the patent document is completed in response to receiving the user selection.   
     
     
         69 . The storage medium of  claim 67 , wherein the one or more programming instructions, when executed, further cause the processing device to:
 receive, via a user interface, a selection of a claim in the claim tree hierarchical structure; and   cause an application to scroll through a display of the patent document to a location of the claim such that the claim is displayed in the application in response to receiving the selection.   
     
     
         70 . The storage medium of  claim 67 , wherein the one or more programming instructions, when executed, further cause the processing device to:
 provide for display a claim window, the claim window comprising text of a selected patent claim; and   provide for display a parent claim window, the parent claim window comprising text of a parent claim of a selected patent claim when the selected patent claim is a dependent claim.   
     
     
         71 . The storage medium of  claim 67 , wherein the second visual indicator is selectable such that a list of the one or more claim elements that appear in each patent claim can be minimized or expanded. 
     
     
         72 . The storage medium of  claim 67 , wherein the one or more programming instructions, when executed, further cause the processing device to:
 search at least one database for a selected element from one or more claim elements, wherein results of the search indicate that the selected element has a defined prior usage in patents or patent applications with earlier priority dates stored in the at least one database and corresponding case reference information in court opinions stored in the at least one database, the defined prior usage informing how the selected element has been used in the patents or patent applications with earlier priority dates to provide a meaning of the selected element, and the case reference information indicating how the selected element has been interpreted by courts; and   provide for display a third visual indicator indicating that the selected element has been interpreted by courts.