Patent map

A patent map is a graphical model of patent visualisation via patent search system and its skill. It also applies statics and analysis to emphasis the patent’s information and value. The major functions are as bellows [7].

1. Find out the blind side of technology development.

2. Sort patent related information.

3. Know well about the technology development trend.

4. Understand the development difference between companies.

6. Monitor technology research and development department and its outcome quality.

7. Know well the marketing trend.

8. A training material for freshmen.

Nowadays, to protect intellectual property is a general concept in people’s mind. One of the easy examples is that, business war in this era of knowledge economy is actually the war of intellectual property right. Thus, only the one who owns patens and related information can overlook and monitor the particular industry and market; and win in the end. To make the patent map needs to depend on the user’s need, which will be varied. Basically, patent map analysis needs to include at least two major parts. One is to provide general users to understand the information from the patent within simple graph; the other is to reveal related patent technical data and its protection range, and provide the information how to avoid the same idea.

3.2.1 Patent search

In the process of making patent map, it is all begun with decision of topic and its scope;

and follows up with patent research. Patent research aims to find out the special data for using in such massive patent data. The level of the result integrity determines the whole patent map’s accuracy. Hence, the skill of patent search occupies a very important portion in patent map making.

Patent search can be two types. One is that already know the topic or its related information/data, for example, application number, patent name, inventor, such information. This is usually happened when the searchers only focus on one or couple particular patents, which is easier to obtain the data they need. However, if the

searchers intend to do study and research in order to realize the current technical development; or estimate the possibility of some related patents application acceptance, and make sure there will not have violation, which will be the topic search [1]. Topic search requires complete search range and quantity. Therefore, people who execute topic search need to have a good search skill and strategy to gain a full result. The type of search methods is as the followings.

1. Key word search.

2. Patent classification code search.

3. Patent related case search.

4. Patent inventor/assignee search.

Different search method will lead to different result; however, they all can be arranged to use at the same time. When user applies key word for searching, the problem is usually how to define the key word. If the key word was not defined clearly enough, the result could be too much or too less which might cause difficulty in the following study. Therefore, it is necessary to consider not only the technical vocabulary, but also its context and terminology. And classification code is that the government will file the patent with a code depends on its characteristics; and people can use this kind of code to search the related patent they want. Although this kind of classification does not have a very high accuracy, it still has a proper standard. The classification code we use currently has IPC, UPC, F-term and FI term, etc. When using key word for search and comes too many results, searcher can use the classification code to narrow down the search range and filter unrelated result. Patent related case search is that searcher usually has already known the specific patent, and uses this patent’s examination information to obtain the related patents which is not able to be found via key word or

patents after search, which is “circulating search”. And the last one is Patent inventor/assignee search, which is suitable when searcher has already known which patent case. It can be co-worked with key word search, but it usually does not get an enough results.

Nevertheless, there is no “100% patent search all the time” such thing. Although there are many methods to use, there still comes unexpected situation sometimes. The main cause is because most of patent applications are done by engineers in private “Patent Office” who often use different term from the actual technical word. Besides, in order to be too narrowed down the patent range, engineers are usually used to apply the words they create, which make patent search more difficult. Therefore, it is important to know when should stop the search as well.

3.2.2 Patent classification

Due to patent data has been increased constantly, and the range has almost covered all the technology fields, it is very important to construct a system which can organize patent data and have a very simple way for future search. Patent classification is the one which can be used efficiently for arranging these patent data. The followings are the purpose of patent classification [1].

1. Easy to manage, organize, and file patent data.

2. Divide technology field based on patent content.

3. Convenient for search and use.

4. As a reference to judge patent relativity.

Besides of IPC, there are also patent classification systems designed by America, Japan and Europe. Except of America, Japanese and European systems are both based

on IPC structure for design. Therefore, if we can use patent classification system well and appropriately, it can help us to reduce quite a lots time for patent search; and filter unrelated data. For more detailed introduction of patent classification, please check the book “Patent Classification” written by Sie, Siao-Guang [8].

3.2.3 Patent map analysis

Patent map analysis is to turn fragmentary patent data into a systematic marketing and technical information; and analyze data within management, technology and authority levels [4]. If we use patent map analysis in research and development strategy, marketing strategy, authorization strategy, and study for competitors’ research and development direction, then we can call this “Patent Portfolio”. Due to every company is working hard on protecting its own intellectual property, it will include submitting patent application internationally; and this information is freely for search in public.

Thus, as mentioned above, if these patent data can be analyzed and then realize its patent portfolio, related technology and development trend of the company, it will become very useful for future blue print of research and development; even more, product and marketing strategy arrangement. Patent map and its analysis can be varied depends on users’ requirement, especially patent map is usually alongside with technology development. So, patent map has been integrated with technology roadmap and market information, which makes it become an advanced norm for industry. Of course, patent map analysis can be applied to country’s industry or development competiveness. To sum up, the functions of patent map are as the following.

1. Well-known current technology status and observe competitors’ marketing direction.

2. Predict technology trend and research and plan development direction.

4. Build up overall patent strategy.

Because the functions of patent map are such varied and important, there is quite a lots study on this area. Basically, there are four graphs to present patent map analysis, which are management charts, technical charts, citation charts, and claim charts. The way to present these graphs can be adjusted based on the original requirement or final goal. The presentation can be modified, but the request has to be clear; and the goal cannot be vacillated [4].