Three patent searching tools you should know!

Anyone who's read or looked up patents has probably used various countries' intellectual property databases and of course the subscription databases, to search through different categories and display results in various graphic formats. But it doesn't take much to realize that there're many online tools available as free or trial versions that will many times, if not get the job done, do an adequate job. We discuss some of the key features of a few Patent search tools below.

1. AcclaimIP

AcclaimIP is a patent search and analysis platform developed by Free Patents, LLC. The database includes US Patents, US Applications, Japanese Patent Abstracts, World (PCT) Applications and European Patents in the collection.

AcclaimIP permits a fielded search (useful for beginners) as well as a natural language search across several fields within the patent document. AcclaimIP has the snazzy feature of refining patent search along 15 different fields. Browsing through the definitions of the most repetitive classes in the initial search by simply pointing the mouse at a class makes refinement along classes a breeze. What is worth a special mention is that the variations in the assignee names are normalized.  Also, the active patents can be separated from the expired patents using the legal status filter. The results obtained can be visualized through several instant charts to make meaningful inferences out of the data at a click of a button.

AcclaimIP provides automated and semi-automated approaches to search for patents similar to a focus patent, i.e. the patent of interest. AcclaimIP builds a set of most repetitive keywords and phrases from the focus patent, which is used to find patents with similar text either within the claims or the entire patent document. This feature comes in handy for carrying out prior art searches.

 

Hits displaying patents containing "WiFi" within patent title and also the definition of most frequent IPC class.

2. Amberscope

Amberscope is a prior-art searching tool that is built upon the idea called “Network Patent Analysis”. It builds the patent network around the focus patent using the patent citations. The network is graphically represented, showing a clear distinction between more similar and less similar patents. Within a network, similar patents are linked to the focus patent with a thicker line or are placed closer than the others. Also, all the patents within the network containing a specific keyword could be filtered using the keyword search feature.

Patent network for the US patent "US6623698"

Amberscope also displays patents indirectly connected to the focus patents, called the “ghost patents”. These patents are the ones cited or citing the patents cited in the focus patent.

Ghost patents are cited or citing the patents that are directly connected to the focus patent. Ghost patents are selected based on three criteria:

1. Amberscore (shows the relative network influence of the patent)

2. Connections to first order connections to the focus patent

3. The number of first order patents - if there are lots of first order patents, AmberScope will show fewer ghost patents

Amberscope uses an unique scoring algorithm to determine the closely related “ghost patents” and only display the ones closely related to the focus patent, thus providing a broader yet precise citation search.

Thus with such functionality, Amberscope would certainly complement the regular patent search.

3. Patexia

Unlike the other tools reviewed above, Patexia is useful to spot the patenting trends within a specific technology. This tool rather comes in handy for landscape analysis, as it provides a simple visual representation of the patenting trend in a technology within the USA.

One could just do a keyword search within the various fields of a patent and Patexia would instantly display the hits along with a trend-line chart. The hits can be further filtered by adding in criteria such as Assignee, Inventor, IPC classes etc. A significant feature is that Patexia allows multiple assignee names to be added and displays comparative charts showing patents held by each of the assignee. This chart can further be customized using the criteria in the drop-down menu below the chart

Though the visualization is not on par with the subscription databases, what Patexia offers for free is informative enough and more than you'd hope for.

Filing trend of patents containing "bluetooth" in title, abstract or claims of patent.

Chart indicating the filing trend of "Apple" and "Samsung Electronics Co." in the area of "bluetooth" technoloy.

Patexia offers more than patent searching. It also offers details on US Patent lawsuits which is updated every night with all the latest lawsuits showing on the top. You can sift through them by keying in a company of your interest or check the litigation info based on filing dates.

Hits showing "Apple" as one of the parties to the suit

Comparitive charts showing either "Apple" or "Samsung Electronics Co." as defendants to a suit.

To conclude, the tools above would suffice for getting some quick information. This can only serve to complement a professional search. Please do try them out and tell us about your experiences in the comments below. More inquisitive of the minds can browse through the links below:

Intellogist - Patexia

 Intellogist - AcclaimIP

 AcclaimIP - Features

Amberscope

Author - Ajay Sethuraman