Analysis system and method for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim

Abstract

The invention discloses an analysis system for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document, comprising at least the following: a user interface (3) designed and configured to select a first patent document and at least one patent claim of the first patent document, a structuring device (7) designed and configured to automatically structure or segment the at least one patent claim into a plurality of features or feature groups, wherein the user interface (3) is designed and configured to display the structure or segmentation of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document into the plurality of features or feature groups of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document,and - for receiving a selection of a feature or feature group from the displayed and segmented or structured plurality of features or feature groups, and - for receiving an evaluation or comment on the selected feature or feature group. The analysis system (1) also comprises a linking device (8) configured and designed to link the selected feature or feature group with the evaluation or comment as a linked evaluation or as a linked comment, and a storage area (6) configured and designed to store the linked evaluation or the linked comment on the feature or feature group of at least one patent claim of the first patent document.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to analysis systems for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document according to claims 1 and 3, and to computer-implemented methods for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document using an analysis system according to claims 12 and 14.

[0002] When analyzing patent documents, especially those of competitors, the independent claims are usually examined for their relevance to a company's own products. A patent document is relevant to a company's own product if all features of at least one independent claim are implemented in the company's own product. To examine the individual features of a patent claim, the claim is broken down into its individual features and each of these is then examined for its implementation in the company's own product. Experience has shown that a lot of time is spent in patent monitoring examining features of the relevant product which, due to their generic properties, are already implemented in the product, even though in the interests of effectiveness the objective should be to find at least one feature not implemented in the product in order to be able to classify the patent document as "not relevant" for the company's own product, in the best case scenario.Especially in the case of long patent claims with many features, this mental work becomes strenuous and time-consuming, especially for employees in development departments of companies, which are usually not staffed with trained specialists such as patent attorneys.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of providing an analysis system for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document and a computer-implemented method for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document with the aid of an analysis system which can provide a meaningful analysis and evaluation of the patent document with little user effort.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claims 1, 3, 12 and 14. Disclosure of the invention

[0005] According to a first aspect, the invention proposes an analysis system for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document, comprising at least the following: a) A user interface designed and configured to select a first patent document and at least one patent claim of the first patent document, b) a structuring device, designed and arranged to automatically divide or segment the at least one patent claim into a plurality of features or groups of features, wherein c) the user interface is designed and configured - to represent the structure or segmentation of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document into the plurality of features or feature groups of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document, and - for receiving a selection of a feature or group of features from the displayed and segmented or structured plurality of features or groups of features, and - to receive an evaluation or comment on the selected feature or group of features, (d) a linking device arranged and designed to link the selected feature or group of features with the assessment or comment as an assessment linked to the selected feature or group of features or as a linked comment, e) a memory area arranged and designed to store the linked evaluation or the linked commentary of the feature or group of features of at least one patent claim of the first patent document.

[0006] The term “patent document” should be understood broadly in the sense of a technical property right and, in addition to registered, disclosed and granted patents, also include, for example, utility models.

[0007] Received by the user interface means that the user interface offers a user of the analysis system the possibility to enter data and / or to mark options or fields presented by the user interface, in particular by a display of the user interface, in order to thereby enter data into the analysis system.

[0008] An evaluation or comment may, for example, include a comment or a corresponding remark on a feature generated manually by a user of the analysis system or automatically by the analysis system.

[0009] The storage area configured and designed to store the linked evaluation or the linked commentary of the feature or feature group of at least one patent claim of a patent document may, in particular, comprise a database. The database may, in particular, be integrated into a cloud.

[0010] The analysis system can also be designed as a structural unit, for example as a PC, tablet, laptop or smartphone, or it can consist of distributed units, whereby in particular the storage device can then be arranged externally from the other units or devices, e.g. as a cloud or external database.

[0011] The automatic structuring or segmentation of at least one patent claim into a plurality of features or feature groups performed by the structuring device advantageously saves the effort required for structuring or segmentation by a user, who is often inexperienced in these matters. The fact that the evaluations or comments are already stored in the memory area in a linked format and can then be read out in their entirety and displayed, for example, via the user interface, also contributes to the effort savings.

[0012] In the analysis system, the structuring device can be designed and configured to automatically structure or segment the features or groups of features on the basis of a) Sentence parts, punctuation marks, numbers, punctuation, prepositions, conjunctions, logical operators, and / or b) Natural Language Processing (NLP).

[0013] In particular, Natural Language Processing (NLP) can perform at least one of the following functions: - Tokenizing, i.e. breaking down into individual words and punctuation marks - Stop words, i.e. filler word recognition (in, as, ...) - Stemming, i.e. recognizing a word root or a meaning of a word or word root, - Detection of sentences, clauses based on punctuation such as commas, periods, spaces, - Rule-based matching, i.e. pattern recognition in texts.

[0014] Furthermore, the structure can also be based on patent-typical formulations (“characterized by”, “in particular”).

[0015] According to a preferred further development of the analysis system, a) the user interface is designed and configured to select a second patent document and at least one patent claim of the second patent document, and (b) a test facility must be provided and designed to carry out the following steps: - Automatically checking whether the at least one claim of the second patent document contains the feature stored in the memory area and linked to the evaluation or comment or the feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document stored in the memory area and provided with the evaluation or comment identically or synonymously or not, and - if the automatic check has shown that the at least one patent claim of the second patent document contains the feature or the group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document identically or synonymously: automatically reading out the comment or the evaluation of the feature or the group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document from the memory area and controlling the user interface to display the comment or the evaluation of the feature or the group of features in connection with the at least one patent claim of the second patent document.

[0016] The fact that the at least one patent claim of the second patent document synonymously contains the feature or feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document means that this patent claim contains a feature or feature group that represents a synonym with respect to the feature or synonyms with respect to the feature group. The checking device can therefore be equipped with intelligence and configured in such a way that it is capable of generating or finding at least one synonym or synonymous term with respect to a feature or feature group.

[0017] Optionally, the evaluation or commentary of the feature or feature group can then also be linked to the corresponding feature or feature group of at least one patent claim of the second patent document and stored in the memory area as an evaluation or commentary linked to the feature or feature group.

[0018] The advantage here is also a saving in effort during patent analysis, as features of a patent claim of the first patent document, which have been assessed as relevant or not relevant and have now also been identified in a patent claim of the second patent document, are automatically assigned the same relevance categories (e.g. "relevant" or not relevant") and these assignments are saved, so that a re-categorization of this feature by a user is not necessary. With regard to the assessment and commenting on features of a patent document, the analysis system therefore preferably builds on the experience from previous analyses of other patent documents. The more patent documents are therefore analyzed and assessed orThe more frequently features or feature groups are commented on, the greater the number of evaluated or commented features or feature groups, which can then possibly be identified in other patent documents and then no longer require evaluation or commenting. Consequently, the analysis system automatically transfers the evaluations and comments of features and feature groups of one patent document to other patent documents, without the need for further evaluations or comments with regard to these features and feature groups.

[0019] It can also be provided that the analysis controlled by the analysis system or the method for controlling the analysis of at least one patent claim is aborted depending on the type of evaluation or commentary on a feature or group of features of the patent claim. For example, an evaluation of a feature of a patent claim as "not relevant" may be sufficient for the entire patent claim to then be (automatically) evaluated as "not relevant". The background to this procedure is that it is generally sufficient if a feature of an (independent) patent claim is not realized and has therefore been evaluated as "not relevant" if the corresponding patent claim is not infringed by a device or method.

[0020] It is clear that while the first patent document must be analyzed using the analysis system before the second patent document, due to the storage of the linked assessments or comments, an analysis of the second patent document does not have to take place immediately afterward. Rather, any time period can elapse between the analysis of the first patent document and the analysis of the second patent document.

[0021] According to a second aspect of the invention, an analysis system for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document is proposed, comprising at least the following: a) A user interface designed and configured to select a first patent document and at least one patent claim of the first patent document, wherein b) the user interface is designed and configured - to be able to carry out, automatically or by a user, a division or segmentation of the at least one patent claim into a plurality of features or groups of features, and - to represent the structure or segmentation of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document into the plurality of features or feature groups of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document, and - for receiving a selection of a feature or group of features from the displayed and segmented or structured plurality of features or groups of features, and - to receive an evaluation or comment on the selected feature or group of features, (c) a linking device arranged and designed to link the selected feature or group of features with the assessment or comment as an assessment or comment linked to the selected feature or group of features, d) a memory area, arranged and designed to store the evaluation or commentary of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document linked to the selected feature or the selected feature group, wherein e) the user interface is further designed and configured to select a second patent document and at least one patent claim of the second patent document, and (f) a test facility designed and equipped to carry out the following steps: - automatic checking whether the at least one claim of the second patent document contains the feature stored in the memory area and linked to the evaluation or comment, or the feature group stored in the memory area and provided with the evaluation or comment, of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document, and - if the automatic check has shown that the at least one patent claim of the second patent document contains the feature or the group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document identically or synonymously: automatically reading out the comment or the evaluation of the feature or the group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document from the memory area and controlling the user interface to display the comment or the evaluation of the feature or the group of features in connection with that of the at least one patent claim of the second patent document.

[0022] Optionally, the evaluation or commentary of the feature or feature group can then also be linked to the corresponding feature or feature group of at least one patent claim of the second patent document and stored in the memory area as an evaluation or commentary linked to the feature or feature group.

[0023] As already mentioned above with regard to a further development of the first aspect, the advantage here also lies in a saving of effort in patent analysis, in that features of a patent claim of the first patent document, which have been assessed as relevant or not relevant and have now also been identified in a patent claim of the second patent document, are automatically assigned the same relevance categories (e.g. "relevant" or not relevant") and these assignments are saved, so that a re-categorization of this feature by a user can be omitted.

[0024] The more patent claims of patent documents are analyzed using the analysis system in the manner described above, the more related data is then stored, for example, in the storage area or in a database as evaluations linked to features, so that the evaluation effort decreases over time.

[0025] The user interface, the testing device, the structuring device, the linking device and the memory area are therefore preferably designed to exchange data with each other and / or to control each other and / or to be controlled by a central controller.

[0026] According to a preferred development of the analysis system, the user interface is designed and controlled to display the linked evaluation or the linked commentary.

[0027] In one embodiment of the analysis system, (a) the user interface must further be designed and configured to receive an alternative rating or comment in relation to the rating as a replacement for the rating or comment, and b) the linking device is further designed and configured to link the feature or feature group to the alternative assessment or to the alternative comment as an alternative assessment or comment linked to the feature or feature group and to store the alternative assessment linked to the feature or feature group or the linked alternative comment of the feature or feature group in the memory area.

[0028] The user interface of the analysis system can also be designed and configured such that the receipt of the alternative rating or alternative comment as a replacement for the rating or comment is dependent on an input that represents authorization for this receipt and / or for the replacement. Consequently, the analysis system also has the option of overwriting previously submitted ratings or comments of features or feature groups with alternative ratings or comments.

[0029] Preferably, the user interface of the analysis system is designed and configured such that receiving an evaluation or comment on a feature or feature group comprises selecting a category of evaluation or comment from a plurality of predefined categories of evaluations or comments. With respect to the implementation of features or feature groups of patent claims in products or methods, predefined categories of evaluations or comments can, in particular, be "relevant" or "not relevant." Furthermore, any intermediate levels are also possible, such as "limited relevance."

[0030] In the analysis system, the categories of evaluations or comments can also be relevance categories with regard to the relevance of the feature or group of features.

[0031] According to a further development of the analysis system, the user interface can be designed and configured to display different relevances of the relevance categories using different colors.

[0032] The analysis system can also a) the user interface comprises at least one display, and b) the user interface and / or the structuring device and / or the testing device and / or the linking device comprise at least one electronic control with a microprocessor in which software is implemented which controls the analysis.

[0033] According to a third aspect, the invention proposes a computer-implemented method for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document using an analysis system, comprising at least the following method steps: a) selecting a first patent document and at least one patent claim of the first patent document using a user interface of the analysis system, and b) automatically structuring or segmenting the at least one patent claim into a plurality of features or groups of features by a structuring device of the analysis system, and c) displaying the structure or segmentation of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document into the plurality of features or feature groups of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document on the user interface, and d) receiving a selection of a feature or group of features from the displayed and segmented or structured plurality of features or groups of features by the user interface, and e) receiving an evaluation or comment on the selected feature or group of features through the user interface, and f) linking the selected feature or the selected feature group with the assessment or comment as an assessment or comment linked to the selected feature or the selected feature group by a linking device and storing the assessment or comment linked to the selected feature or the selected feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document in a memory area of the analysis system.

[0034] The computer-implemented method may further comprise the following steps: a) selecting a second patent document and at least one patent claim of the second patent document using the user interface, and b) automatic checking by a checking device of the analysis system as to whether the at least one claim of the second patent document contains the feature stored in the memory area and linked to the assessment or comment, or the feature group stored in the memory area and provided with the assessment or comment, of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document or not, and c) in response to the test in step b) c1) if the automatic check in step b) has shown that the at least one patent claim of the second patent document contains the feature or feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document identically or synonymously: Automatically reading the comment or the evaluation of the feature or feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document from the storage area and displaying the comment or the evaluation of the feature or feature group in connection with the at least one patent claim of the second patent document by the user interface, and c2) if, however, the automatic examination in step b) has shown that the at least one patent claim of the second patent document does not contain the feature or group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document, carrying out at least steps e) and f) for the features or groups of features of the at least one patent claim of the second patent document which differ from the feature or group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document.

[0035] Also, in case c1) above, the comment or the evaluation of the feature or group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document can be linked to the corresponding feature or group of features of the at least one patent claim of the second patent document and stored in the memory area as an evaluation linked to the feature or group of features.

[0036] According to a fourth aspect, the invention proposes a computer-implemented method for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document using an analysis system, comprising at least the following method steps: a) selecting a first patent document and at least one patent claim of the first patent document using a user interface of the analysis system, and b1) receiving a breakdown or segmentation of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document into a plurality of features or feature groups using the user interface, or b2) automatically structuring or segmenting the at least one patent claim of the first patent document into a plurality of features or feature groups by a structuring device of the analysis system, and c) displaying the structure or segmentation of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document into the plurality of features or feature groups of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document on the user interface, and d) receiving a selection of a feature or a group of features from the displayed and segmented or structured plurality of features or groups of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document by the user interface, and e) receiving an evaluation or comment on the selected feature or the selected feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document through the user interface, and f) linking the selected feature or the selected feature group with the assessment or comment as a linked assessment or comment by a linking device of the analysis system, and storing the assessment or comment of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document linked to the selected feature or the selected feature group in a memory area of the analysis system, and g) selecting a second patent document from the plurality of patent documents and at least one patent claim of the second patent document using the user interface, and h) automatic checking by a checking device of the analysis system as to whether the at least one patent claim of the second patent document contains the feature stored in the memory area and linked to the evaluation or comment, or the feature group stored in the memory area and provided with the evaluation or comment, of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document identically or synonymously or not, and i) in response to the automatic check in step h) i1) if the automatic check in step h) has shown that the at least one patent claim of the second patent document contains the feature or feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document identically or synonymously: automatically reading the comment or the evaluation of the feature or feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document from the storage area and displaying the comment or the evaluation of the feature or feature group in connection with the at least one patent claim of the second patent document by the user interface, and i2) if, however, the automatic examination in step h) has shown that the at least one patent claim of the second patent document does not contain the feature or group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document identically or synonymously, carrying out at least steps e) and f) for the features or groups of features of the at least one patent claim of the second patent document which differ from the feature or group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document.

[0037] Also, in case i1) above, the comment or the evaluation of the feature or the group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document can be linked to the corresponding feature or the corresponding group of features of the at least one patent claim of the second patent document and stored in the memory area as an evaluation linked to the feature or the group of features.

[0038] According to a further development of the computer-implemented method, this may further comprise: a repetition of at least steps d) to f) of the third aspect or the fourth aspect until at least some of the features or all of the features or at least some of the feature groups or all of the feature groups have been evaluated or commented on, linked and the linked evaluations or comments have been stored in the memory area.

[0039] The computer-implemented method may also include displaying the linked rating or the linked comment through the user interface.

[0040] Preferably, the computer-implemented method comprises, in response to the presentation of the linked rating or the linked comment: (a) receiving an alternative rating or comment in relation to the rating as a replacement for the rating or comment through the user interface, and b) linking the feature or feature group to the alternative assessment or to the alternative comment as an alternative assessment linked to the feature or feature group or as a linked alternative comment and storing the linked alternative assessment or the linked alternative comment of the feature or feature group in the storage area.

[0041] In order to prevent unauthorized users of the analysis system from making changes to ratings or comments on features, the computer-implemented method may make the receipt of the alternative rating or the alternative comment as a replacement for the rating or the comment dependent on an input in the user interface that represents authorization for this receipt and for this replacement.

[0042] A change of rating or comment to an alternative rating or comment can be made within the framework of an implemented rating change function. However, problems can arise if different users of the analysis system use this rating change function to assign different ratings or comments to features or feature groups, resulting in, for example, inconsistent ratings or comments for these features or feature groups. This can be particularly important with regard to relevance assessments of features or feature groups.To solve this problem, a further development can be provided that, after receiving different ratings or comments on a feature or feature group, for example, includes a weighting or averaging of the ratings or comments, particularly within the framework of the rating change function, in particular also depending on the above-mentioned input in the user interface. This development should concern both the method and the analysis system.

[0043] Also, in the computer-implemented method, receiving a rating or a comment of a feature or a group of features may include selecting a category of rating or comment from a plurality of categories of ratings or comments specified by the user interface.

[0044] According to a further development of the computer-implemented procedure, the categories of evaluations or comments can be relevance categories with regard to the relevance of the feature or group of features.

[0045] Last but not least, the invention also relates to a program product for a data processing system, which contains software code sections with which the computer-implemented method described above can be executed on a data processing system.

[0046] Last but not least, in the computer-implemented system, the user interface can also display different relevances of the relevance categories in different colors, for example the color “red” for relevant features or feature groups and the color “green” for less or not relevant features or feature groups.

[0047] Further measures improving the invention are presented in more detail below together with the description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing. drawing

[0048] The drawing shows Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of an analysis system for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document according to the invention; Fig. 2 one of the analysis system of Fig. 1 generated table of features of a patent claim 1 of a first patent document; Fig. 3 one of the analysis system of Fig. 1 generated table of features of a patent claim 1 of a second patent document; Fig. 4A shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a computer-implemented method according to the invention for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document using the analysis system of Fig. 1; Fig. 4B shows a flowchart of another embodiment of the computer-implemented method according to the invention. Description of the embodiments

[0049] The Fig. The preferred embodiment of an analysis system 1 shown in Figure 1 for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document uses, for example, hardware 2 in the form of a PC, a laptop or a tablet computer, wherein software is implemented in or on the hardware 2 which embodies a computer-implemented method, described later, for controlling the analysis with the aid of the analysis system 1.

[0050] The analysis system 1 or its hardware 2 comprises a user interface 3, designed and configured to select a patent document, in particular from a plurality of patent documents and at least one patent claim of this patent document, here for example a patent document 1 and a patent claim 1 of the patent document 1. The user interface 3 here comprises, for example, a keyboard 4 and a display 5 of the above-mentioned hardware 2. Furthermore, the user interface 3 can read input masks stored there from a memory area 6, which are then shown on the display 5 to receive inputs and / or data, in particular evaluations and comments on features of patent claims.

[0051] For example, an input mask of the user interface 3 can be provided, via which a user selects, for example, the patent document 1, in particular from a plurality of patent documents stored in the storage area 6, as well as the here, for example, independent patent claim 1 of this patent document 1. In the present example, it is therefore assumed that the user selects the Fig. 2 has selected patent document 1 specified as the selected patent document via the input mask and has selected independent patent claim 1 from this patent document 1.

[0052] Furthermore, the analysis system 1 comprises a structuring device 7 which, according to a preferred embodiment, is designed and configured for automatically structuring or segmenting, here for example, patent claim 1 of patent document 1 into a plurality 1 to n of features or feature groups.

[0053] For example, if this first patent claim 1 of Patent Document 1 reads: “Electro-pneumatic pressure control module with control electronics with a circuit board and a pressure sensor arranged on the circuit board” For example, the structuring device 7, which is equipped with a certain level of intelligence, recognizes the following features of this patent claim 1 based on the prepositions “with” and then structures them accordingly: - Electro-pneumatic pressure control module (feature 1.0), - with control electronics (feature 1.1), - with a circuit board and a pressure sensor arranged on the circuit board (feature 1.2).

[0054] The structuring device 7 here also comprises a microprocessor which is controlled by the above-mentioned software so that it carries out the automatic structuring or segmentation of the features of patent claim 1, here for example on the basis of the preposition “with”.

[0055] The user interface 3, in particular the display 5, is functionally coupled to the microprocessor and, controlled by the microprocessor, represents the structure or segmentation of patent claim 1 of patent document 1 into the majority of features or feature groups of patent claim 1. The algorithm adds the preferably automatic structure of patent claim 1 into features 1.0 to 1.2, for example, in table form, preferably in an Excel table according to Fig. 2.

[0056] According to an alternative embodiment, the structuring device 7 can also be designed and configured so that a user of the analysis system 1 can also independently structure or segment the features of a patent claim with the aid of the user interface 3 or with an input mask of this interface, here for example by entering the features 1.0 to 1.2 of patent claim 1 of patent document 1 in the left column of the table of Fig. 2.

[0057] In the table of Fig. 2 In the left column, the characteristics 1.0 to 1.2, which are structured automatically or manually by the structuring device, for example, are indicated or entered, and in the right column, the ratings assigned to these characteristics 1.0 to 1.2 are shown, which here represent ratings with regard to their relevance, for example, in relation to a product and which will be discussed further below.

[0058] Furthermore, the input mask of the user interface 3 also provides the function of receiving a selection of a feature 1.0, 1.1 or 1.2 from the displayed and segmented plurality of features 1.0 to 1.2 from a user. The user can select a feature 1.0, 1.1 or 1.2 from the segmented or structured features 1.0 to 1.2 displayed on the display 5, for example, using the input mask, on which the Excel table of Fig. 2, but initially without the ratings in the right column. Using the input mask, the user can then select a feature from the features 1.0 to 1.2, for example, by selecting the row of the table from Fig. 2, in which the characteristic 1.0, 1.1 or 1.2 is specified.

[0059] Furthermore, the input mask of user interface 3 is designed to receive a rating or comment on the selected feature. For example, assume that the user rates all features 1.0 to 1.2 as "relevant" for a product and then enters the term "relevant" for the feature named in the corresponding row in the right-hand column. As an alternative to manually entering the rating "relevant" or "not relevant" by typing in the respective rating, the input mask can also predetermine categories such as "relevant", "less relevant", and "not relevant" for the user, particularly for each feature (here: for each row). The user then confirms these categories, for example, by clicking, whereby the selected category is then automatically entered in the selected row in the right-hand column. The user is then able to select from a plurality of possible predefined ratings.

[0060] In the example of Fig. 2, it is assumed that the user first selects, for example, the first feature 1.0 in the left column via the input mask, for example by placing a cursor in the first row in which this feature 1.0 is listed, and then selects or enters the category "relevant" for the right column. The user then places the cursor in the second row, which concerns feature 1.1, and then, for example, also marks the category "relevant" for feature 1.1. Likewise, it is assumed that the user proceeds for feature 1.2 in the same way as for the other features, so that here, for example, all features 1.0 to 1.2 of patent claim 1 of patent document 1 have been assessed as "relevant."

[0061] The analysis system 1 further comprises a linking device 8, which here also comprises the microprocessor, for example, and which is set up and designed to link the features selected by the user with the evaluation as a linked evaluation.

[0062] Referring to the example of Fig. 2, the ratings associated with characteristics 1.0 to 1.2 then look as follows: Feature 1.0→relevant, Feature 1.1→relevant, Feature 1.2→relevant

[0063] These evaluations linked to the assigned features 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 are then stored in the memory area 6, which here is, for example, integrated into the hardware 2 or alternatively is present externally or additionally with respect to the hardware 2 and comprises, for example, a database or cloud.

[0064] The user interface 3 can also include a function that allows, upon request, the ratings associated with the features 1.0 to 1.2 to be read from the memory area and, for example, to be displayed on the display 5. A display of the ratings can also include different colors for different ratings, for example, the rating “relevant” can be displayed in red and the rating “not relevant” in green in the table of Fig. 2 are shown.

[0065] Here, the input mask of the user interface 3, in cooperation with the microprocessor, is further designed and configured to receive alternative ratings in relation to the original ratings of the features 1.0 to 1.2 as a replacement for the original ratings within the framework of a rating change function. This rating change function can be important if, for example, another user wishes to re-evaluate the relevance of features 1.0 to 1.2 of patent claim 1 of patent document 1 with the aid of the analysis system 1. This new or alternative evaluation can then, for example, be carried out individually for each of the features 1.0 to 1.2. Consequently, the analysis system 1 preferably also has the option of overwriting previously performed rating evaluations of features with alternative ratings.

[0066] Here, for example, the user interface 3 of the analysis system 1 is designed and configured such that the receipt of alternative ratings as a replacement for original ratings is dependent on an input on the input mask, which represents an authorization for this receipt and for this replacement.

[0067] If this authorization has been verified by a corresponding input from the user, then the linking device 8 is further designed and configured to link the feature or features with the alternative evaluation as an alternative or current linked evaluation and to store the alternative or current linked evaluation in the memory area 6.

[0068] In the example, the above-mentioned rating linked to feature 1.1 is then used to change the rating Feature 1.1→relevant changed to Feature 1.1 → Not relevant

[0069] In cooperation with the microprocessor, the user interface 3 is preferably further configured and set up to select additional patent documents, the features of which can be evaluated in terms of their relevance. In the example, a patent document 2 is selected via the user interface 3, and from this patent document 2, for example, the independent patent claim 1 is selected, which, for example, reads as follows: “Electronic control unit for an electropneumatic module with a circuit board and a pressure sensor arranged on the circuit board” Via the input mask, the user can then request the automatic structuring of patent claim 1 by the structuring device 7, as already described above for patent claim 1 of patent document 1, which then structures patent claim 1 of patent document 2, for example, as follows: - Electronic control unit for an electropneumatic module (Feature 2.0) - with one circuit board (feature 2.1) - and with pressure sensor arranged on the circuit board (feature 2.2)

[0070] The structuring device 7 then preferably automatically enters this feature breakdown into a table, here for example in the left column of the table according to Fig. 3.

[0071] The analysis system 1 preferably further comprises a testing device which also comprises the microprocessor and which is set up and designed to automatically check whether or not the patent claim 1 of the patent document 2 contains features of the patent claim 1 of the patent document 1 which are stored in the memory area 6 and each linked to an evaluation.

[0072] In the present case, for example, Examining Unit 9 finds that features 1.1 and 1.2 of claim 1 of Patent Document 1 and features 2.1 and 2.2 of claim 1 of Patent Document 2 are the same: - with one board (features 1.1 and 2.1) - and with pressure sensor arranged on the circuit board (features 2.1 and 2.2)

[0073] The correspondence of characteristics 1.1, 1.2 on the one hand and characteristics 2.1, 2.2 on the other hand is shown in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are symbolized by bold print.

[0074] After this determination, the testing device 9 is set up and designed to automatically read out the evaluations linked to the features 1.1 and 1.2 of patent claim 1 of patent document 1 from the memory area 6 and to control the user interface 3 to display these linked evaluations, here for example on the display 5. Due to the previously determined matches, the testing device 9 also automatically enters these linked evaluations in the right column of the table of Fig. 3 to features 2.1 and 2.2 of claim 1 of Patent Document 2, without the user having to provide their own evaluations. A further categorization of features 2.1 and 2.2 of claim 1 of Patent Document 2 by a user can therefore be omitted.

[0075] However, the user can evaluate feature 2.0 of Patent Document 2, which is not part of the features of claim 1 of Patent Document 1, in the manner described above, for example, as "relevant".

[0076] In addition, the user preferably also has the option, provided he has the appropriate authorization and indicates this to the analysis system 1 by entering it into the user interface 3, of changing the evaluations of features 2.1 and 2.2 of patent claim 1 of patent document 2 as described above via the evaluation change function.

[0077] The evaluations made automatically by the checking device 9 and, if necessary, changed with the aid of the evaluation change function, as well as the evaluations made by the user himself of the features 2.0 to 2.2 of patent claim 1 of patent document 2 are then stored in the storage area 6 and can be used for an evaluation of features of patent claims of further patent documents if there are again feature matches.

[0078] The more patent claims of patent documents are analyzed with the aid of the analysis system 1 in the manner described above, the more related data is then stored in the storage area 6 as evaluations linked to features, so that the evaluation effort of patent documents decreases over time.

[0079] It is understood that instead of independent patent claims as in the example, dependent patent claims can also be manually or automatically classified and evaluated into features or feature groups using the analysis system 1.

[0080] Fig. 4A shows a flow chart of an embodiment of a computer-implemented method according to the invention for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document with the aid of the analysis system 1 of Fig. 1, here for example with reference to patent claims 1 and 2 of patent documents 1 and 2.

[0081] In a step 100, the selection of patent document 1 and patent claim 1 of patent document 1 is carried out using the user interface 3 of the analysis system.

[0082] Preferably, in response to step 100, in a step 200, patent claim 1 is then automatically or manually divided or segmented into the above-listed features 1.0 to 1.2 by the structuring device 7 of the analysis system 1.

[0083] Preferably, as a reaction to step 200, the automatically or manually performed structuring or segmentation of patent claim 1 of patent document 1 into features 1.0 to 1.2 is then displayed on the user interface in a step 300, here in particular in table form (e.g. Excel table) and on the display 5.

[0084] Preferably, in response to step 300, a selection of a feature from the displayed and segmented or structured plurality of features 1.0 to 1.2 is then received by the user interface 3 in a step 400, and in a subsequent step 500, an evaluation of the selected feature is received by the user interface 3, here for example from predefined categories “relevant” or “not relevant”.

[0085] Preferably, in response to step 500, the selected feature is then linked to the evaluation as a linked evaluation by the linking device 8 in a step 600, and the linked evaluation of the feature of patent claim 1 of patent document 1 is stored in the memory area 6 of the analysis system 1.

[0086] The steps 300 to 500 are then run through, for example, until preferably all features 1.0 to 1.2 of patent claim 1 of patent document 1 have been evaluated and stored in the memory area 6 as evaluations linked to the features 1.0 to 1.2.

[0087] An optional step 700 may comprise displaying the evaluations associated with the features 1.0 to 1.2 by the user interface 3, in particular by the display 5, for example in the tabular form of Fig. 2.

[0088] In response to the display of the linked ratings of the ratings associated with features 1.0 to 1.2 in step 700, alternative ratings may be provided by user interface 3 in an optional step 1100 as replacements for the original ratings of features 1.0 to 1.2. Execution of step 1100 may be dependent on an input to user interface 3 representing authorization for this replacement.

[0089] A loopback to step 600 can then take place, in which the alternative evaluations of the features 1.0 to 1.2 are then stored in the memory area 6 as an alternative evaluation linked to them.

[0090] Fig. 4B shows a flow chart of a further embodiment of the computer-implemented method according to the invention, which here is preferably linked to the execution of Fig. 4A.

[0091] In a step 600 or 700 of Fig. 4A, in the temporally subsequent step 800, a patent document 2 and a patent claim 2 of the patent document 2 are selected using the user interface 3.

[0092] Preferably, in response to step 800, the checking device of the analysis system checks in a query step 900 whether or not patent claim 2 of patent document 2 contains features of patent claim 1 of patent document 1 stored in memory area 6 and each linked to an evaluation.

[0093] If this check shows that, as in the example here, patent claim 1 of patent document 2 contains features 1.1 and 1.2 of patent claim 1 of patent document 1 (“Y”), in a step 1000 the evaluations of features 1.1 and 1.2 of patent claim 1 of patent document 1 are automatically read from the memory area 6 and preferably linked with the corresponding features 2.1 and 2.2 of patent claim 1 of patent document 2 by the linking device 8 and shown on the display 5, in particular in the table form of Fig. 3.

[0094] Based on the automatic check in step 900, the checking device 9 determines that claim 1 of patent document 2 does not contain feature 1.0 of patent document 1 ("N"), but does contain the not-yet-evaluated feature 2.0. Then, at least steps 500 to 600 or 500 to 700 are performed with respect to feature 2.1, and an evaluation linked to feature 2.0 is stored in the storage area 6.

[0095] If the testing device 9 determines in step 900 that none of the features 2.0 to 2.2 matches one of the features 1.0 to 1.2 (“N”), the process returns to step 200 and a manual or automatic classification and evaluation of the features 2.0 to 2.2 is carried out according to steps 200 to 600 and the evaluations linked to the features 2.0 to 2.2 are stored in the memory area 6, for example in the table form of Fig. 3 and optionally also displayed on display 5 according to step 700. List of reference symbols 1 analysis system 2 Hardware 3 User interface 4 Keyboard 5 Display 6 Memory area 7 Structural structure 8 Linking device 9 Test facility

Claims

[1] Analysis system (1) for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document, comprising at least the following: f) A user interface (3) designed and configured to select a first patent document and at least one patent claim of the first patent document, g) a structuring device (7) designed and configured to automatically divide or segment the at least one patent claim into a plurality of features or groups of features, wherein h) the user interface (3) is designed and configured - to represent the structure or segmentation of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document into the plurality of features or feature groups of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document, and - for receiving a selection of a feature or group of features from the displayed and segmented or structured plurality of features or groups of features, and - to receive an evaluation or comment on the selected feature or group of features, i) a linking device (8) arranged and designed to link the selected feature or the selected feature group with the evaluation or the comment as an evaluation or comment linked to the selected feature or the selected feature group, j) a memory area (6) arranged and designed to store the evaluation or commentary of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document linked to the selected feature or the selected feature group. [2] Analysis system according to claim 1, characterized by , that: c) the user interface (3) is designed and configured to select a second patent document and at least one patent claim of the second patent document, and d) a testing device (9) is provided and designed to carry out the following steps: - Automatic checking whether the at least one claim of the second patent document contains the feature stored in the memory area and linked to the evaluation or comment or the feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document stored in the memory area (6) and provided with the evaluation or comment identically or synonymously or not, and - if the automatic check has shown that the at least one patent claim of the second patent document contains the feature or the group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document identically or synonymously: automatically reading out the comment or the evaluation of the feature or the group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document from the memory area and controlling the user interface (3) to display the comment or the evaluation of the feature or the group of features in connection with the at least one patent claim of the second patent document. [3] Analysis system for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document, comprising at least the following: g) A user interface (3) designed and configured to select a first patent document and at least one patent claim of the first patent document, wherein h) the user interface (3) is still designed and configured - to be able to carry out, automatically or by a user, a division or segmentation of the at least one patent claim into a plurality of features or groups of features, and - to represent the structure or segmentation of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document into the plurality of features or feature groups of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document, and - for receiving a selection of a feature or group of features from the displayed and segmented or structured plurality of features or groups of features, and - to receive an evaluation or comment on the selected feature or group of features, i) a linking device (8) arranged and designed to link the selected feature or the selected group of features with the rating or the comment as an rating linked to the selected feature or the selected group of features or as a linked comment, j) a memory area (6) arranged and designed to store the evaluation or commentary of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document linked to the selected feature or the selected feature group, wherein k) the user interface (3) is further designed and configured to select a second patent document and at least one patent claim of the second patent document, and (l) a testing device (9) designed and constructed to carry out the following steps: - automatic checking whether the at least one claim of the second patent document contains the feature stored in the memory area (6) and linked to the evaluation or comment or the feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document stored in the memory area (6) and provided with the evaluation or comment identically or synonymously, and - if the automatic check has shown that the at least one patent claim of the second patent document contains the feature or the group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document identically or synonymously: automatically reading out the comment or the evaluation of the feature or the group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document from the memory area (6) and controlling the user interface (3) to display the comment or the evaluation of the feature or the group of features in connection with the at least one patent claim of the second patent document. [4] Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the user interface (3) is designed and controlled to display the linked rating or the linked comment. [5] Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that c) the user interface (3) is further designed and configured to receive an alternative rating in relation to the rating or an alternative comment in relation to the comment as a replacement for the rating or the comment, and d) the linking device (8) is further designed and configured to link the feature or the feature group with the alternative assessment or with the alternative comment as an alternative assessment linked to the feature or the feature group or as an alternative comment linked to the feature or the feature group and to store the alternative assessment linked to the feature or the feature group or the linked alternative comment in the memory area (6). [6] Analysis system according to claim 5, characterized bythat the user interface (3) is designed and configured such that the reception of the alternative rating or the alternative comment as a replacement for the rating or the comment is dependent on an input which represents an authorization for this reception and / or for the replacement. [7] Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the user interface (3) is designed and configured such that receiving an evaluation or a comment on a feature or a group of features comprises selecting a category of evaluation or comment from a plurality of predetermined categories of evaluations or comments. [8] Analysis system according to claim 7, characterized by that the categories of evaluations or comments are relevance categories with regard to the relevance of the feature or group of features. [9] Analysis system according to claim 8, characterized bythat the user interface (3) is designed and configured to display different relevances of the relevance categories using different colors. [10] Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that c) the user interface (3) comprises at least one display (5) and / or a keyboard (4), and d) the user interface (3) and / or the structuring device (7) and / or the testing device (9) and / or the linking device (8) comprises at least one electronic control with a microprocessor in which analysis software is implemented which controls the analysis. [11] Analysis system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the structuring device (7) is designed and arranged to automatically structure or segment the features or groups of features on the basis of c) clauses, punctuation marks, numbers, punctuation, prepositions, conjunctions, logical operators, and / or d) Natural Language Processing (NLP). [12] Computer-implemented method for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document using an analysis system (1), comprising at least the following method steps: g) selecting a first patent document and at least one patent claim of the first patent document (100) using a user interface (3) of the analysis system (1), and h) automatically structuring or segmenting the at least one patent claim into a plurality of features or feature groups (200) by a structuring device (7) of the analysis system (1), and i) displaying the structure or segmentation of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document into the plurality of features or feature groups of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document (300) on the user interface (3), and j) receiving a selection of a feature or feature group from the displayed and segmented or structured plurality of features or feature groups (400) by the user interface (3), and k) receiving an evaluation or comment on the selected feature or feature group (500) through the user interface (3), and l) linking the selected feature or the selected feature group with the evaluation or the comment as an evaluation or comment linked to the selected feature or the selected feature group by a linking device (8) and storing the evaluation or comment linked to the selected feature or the selected feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document (600) in a memory area (6) of the analysis system (1). [13] Computer-implemented method according to claim 12, characterized by that it continues to include the following steps: d) selecting a second patent document and at least one patent claim of the second patent document (800) using the user interface (3), and e) automatic checking by a checking device (9) of the analysis system (1) as to whether the at least one claim of the second patent document contains the feature stored in the memory area (6) and linked to the evaluation or comment or the feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document stored in the memory area (6) and linked to the evaluation or comment identically or synonymously or not (900), and f) in response to the assessment in step b) c1) if the automatic check in step b) has shown that the at least one patent claim of the second patent document contains the feature or the feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document identically or synonymously: Automatically reading the comment or the evaluation of the feature or the feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document from the memory area (6) and displaying the comment or the evaluation of the feature or the feature group in connection with the at least one patent claim of the second patent document (1000) by the user interface (3), but c2) if the automatic check (900) in step b) has shown that the at least one patent claim of the second patent document does not contain the feature or group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document identically or synonymously, carrying out at least steps e) and f) for the features or groups of features of the at least one patent claim of the second patent document which differ from the feature or group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document. [14] Computer-implemented method for controlling an analysis of at least one patent claim of at least one patent document using an analysis system (1), comprising at least the following method steps: b) selecting a first patent document and at least one patent claim of the first patent document (100) using a user interface (3) of the analysis system (1), and c) structuring or segmenting the at least one patent claim into a plurality of features or groups of features (200) by b1) Receiving the outline or segmentation using the user interface (3), or by b2) automatic structuring or segmenting with the aid of a structuring device (7) of the analysis system (1), and j) displaying the structure or segmentation of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document into the plurality of features or feature groups of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document (300) on the user interface (3), and k) receiving a selection of a feature or a feature group from the displayed and segmented or structured plurality of features or feature groups of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document (400) by the user interface (3), and l) receiving an evaluation or comment on the selected feature or the selected feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document (500) by the user interface (3), and m) linking the selected feature or the selected feature group with the evaluation or the comment as an evaluation or comment linked to the selected feature or the selected feature group by a linking device (8) of the analysis system (1), and storing the evaluation or comment linked to the selected feature or the selected feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document (600) in a memory area (6) of the analysis system (1), and n) selecting a second patent document from the plurality of patent documents and at least one patent claim of the second patent document (800) using the user interface (3), and o) automatic checking by a checking device (9) of the analysis system (1) as to whether the at least one patent claim of the second patent document contains the feature stored in the memory area (6) and linked with the evaluation or comment or the feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document stored in the memory area (6) and provided with the evaluation or comment identically or synonymously or not, and p) in response to the automatic check in step h) i1) if the automatic check in step h) has shown that the at least one patent claim of the second patent document contains the feature or feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document identically or synonymously: Automatically reading the comment or the evaluation of the feature or feature group of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document from the memory area (6) and displaying the comment or the evaluation of the feature or feature group in connection with the at least one patent claim of the second patent document by the user interface (3), and i2) if, however, the automatic examination in step h) has shown that the at least one patent claim of the second patent document does not contain the feature or group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document identically or synonymously, carrying out at least steps e) and f) for the features or groups of features of the at least one patent claim of the second patent document which differ from the feature or group of features of the at least one patent claim of the first patent document. [15] Computer-implemented method according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized bythat it further comprises: a repetition of steps d) to f) of claim 12 or of claim 14 until at least some of the features or all of the features or at least some of the feature groups or all of the feature groups have been evaluated or commented on, linked and the linked evaluations or comments have been stored in the memory area. [16] Computer-implemented method according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized by that it comprises displaying the linked rating or the linked comment (700) by the user interface (3). [17] Computer-implemented method according to claim 16, characterized by that, in response to the display of the linked review or the linked comment (700), it includes: a) receiving an alternative rating or an alternative comment in relation to the rating as a replacement for the rating or the comment (1100) by the user interface (3), and b) linking the feature or feature group to the alternative assessment or to the alternative comment as an alternative assessment linked to the feature or feature group or as a linked alternative comment and storing the alternative assessment or the linked alternative comment (600) linked to the selected feature or feature group in the memory area (6). [18] Computer-implemented method according to claim 17, characterized bythat the receipt of the alternative rating or the alternative comment as a replacement for the rating or the comment (1100) depends on an input in the user interface (3) which represents an authorization for this receipt and for this replacement. [19] Computer-implemented method according to one of claims 12 to 18, characterized by that receiving a rating or a comment on a feature or group of features comprises selecting a category of rating or comment from a plurality of categories of ratings or comments specified by the user interface. [20] Computer-implemented method according to claim 19, characterized by that the categories of evaluations or comments are relevance categories with regard to the relevance of the feature or group of features. [21] Computer-implemented method according to claim 20, characterized bythat the user interface displays different relevances of the relevance categories in different colors. [22] Computer-implemented method according to one of claims 12 to 21, characterized by that the features or groups of features are automatically structured or segmented on the basis of e) sentence parts, punctuation marks, numbers, punctuation, prepositions, conjunctions, logical operators, and / or f) Natural Language Processing (NLP). [23] A program product for a data processing system, which contains software code sections with which the computer-implemented method according to one of claims 12 to 22 can be executed on a data processing system.

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