I received a couple of notes asking me to list some of the other tools that I
was aware of for patent analysis work so I am sending this second message with
some of the additional packages that I am aware of.
SmartCharts for Patents: Produced by BizInt, this software allows a user to
import Derwent data from the WPI file on STN into the system and create tables
of information (including the Derwent images) from it. While not a text or
data mining tool per se, the software is very good for formatting Derwent data
to be shared with a client. The tables are customizable and additional
columns can even be added for keeping track of comments made by people working
with the tables. For more information and to see some examples of the tables
go to:
http://www.bizcharts.com/sc4pats
The IBM Intellectual Property Network for Business: IBM is making some big
changes to their site and they have already but some tools for patent citation
analysis up on their site. Nancy Lambert, in her "Better Mousetrap" column
(Searcher Magazine, March 1999) wrote a fairly extensive review of this site
so I will recommend that interested individuals contact Nancy for reprints or
order a copy of the column. As I mentioned in the last note, IBM is also
selling an integrated data and text mining tool called Technology Watch. I do
not have a lot of data on this tool yet so I will refer the reader to IBM's
web site where a search for Technology Watch will bring up some information on
the product.
ThemeScape by Cartia: This is a text mining tool with a few built in data
mining features that enhance the clustering aspect. This company has
partnered with Aurigin so ThemeScape can be used in conjunction with the
Aurigin IPAM system. As I mentioned last time, Semio creates concept maps
that show each level of detail as a separate map page. You start with the
view from the highest level (the concepts that appear most frequently) and as
you mine into the map you get greater detail with separate maps. ThemeScape
takes the topographical map approach where the most common clusters are seen
as mountain tops and you get greater detail by moving down the sides of the
mountain towards the valleys. It incorporates a data mining aspect since you
can ask that a specific patent assignee be identified on the map. This takes
the form of small dots on the map. Where you see a dot, that is a concept
area where that patent assignee is working.
In the last few years, this area has exploded and there are now a number of
interesting products that can make the tedious task of mining patent data
easier than it was in the past. If there are questions or comments, please do
not hesitate to contact me. I can be reached at trippe@go-concepts.com.
Thanks,
Tony Trippe