Information processing device

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of easily finding what industry or market an invention in a mining stage can fit into in the future.　An invention acquisition unit 101 acquires information about an invention I as invention information. An invention analysis unit 102 analyzes the invention information acquired by the invention acquisition unit 101. An information management unit 103 manages information about one or more industries and markets as industry and like information. An industry extraction unit 104 extracts, on the basis of the result of the analysis by the invention analysis unit 102 and the industry and like information managed by the information management unit 103, industry and like information of industries and markets in which the invention I can be implemented. The problem is thereby solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, techniques for evaluating patents exist (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, with only conventional techniques including the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it has not been possible to easily grasp what industries and markets an invention in the discovery stage can adapt to in the future.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to enable easy grasping of what industries and markets an invention in the discovery stage can adapt to in the future.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, an information processing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: invention acquisition means configured to acquire information related to a predetermined invention as invention information; invention analysis means configured to analyze the invention information acquired by the invention acquisition means; information management means configured to manage information related to one or more industries and markets as industry-related information; extraction means configured to extract the industry-related information of industries and markets in which the invention can be implemented, based on the analysis result by the invention analysis means and the industry-related information managed by the information management means; It is equipped with. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this invention, it becomes easy to determine which industries and markets an invention currently in the discovery stage may be suitable for in the future. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows an overview of the service that can be realized by an information processing system to which a server according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of the configuration of an information processing system to which a server according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the server hardware configuration in the information processing system. [Figure 4] This is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration for executing industry matching processing among the functional configurations of the server in Figure 3 that constitute the information processing system shown in Figure 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] First, with reference to Figure 1, we will explain the outline of the service (hereinafter referred to as "this service") that can be realized by an information processing system (see Figure 2, described later) to which Server 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[0011] Figure 1 shows an overview of the service that can be realized by an information processing system to which a server according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[0012] This service is provided to user U by a service provider (not shown). User U is a person responsible for discovering inventions within the group (e.g., a company) to which they belong. User U uses this service by operating an information processing device such as a personal computer, tablet, or smartphone (hereinafter referred to as "User Terminal 2"). User terminal 2 can be fitted with dedicated application software for user U who uses this service (hereinafter referred to as the "dedicated app"). This allows user U to use this service using user terminal 2 with the dedicated app installed. In addition, user U can also use this service by accessing a dedicated website for user U who uses this service (hereinafter referred to as the "dedicated site"), which is displayed using the browser function of user terminal 2.

[0013] This service automatically determines the following based on the discussions taking place in the so-called invention discovery meeting in which User U is participating: Specifically, this service automatically determines what industries and markets (hereinafter referred to as "industries, etc.") the invention I, which is in the discovery stage, can potentially be applied to (hereinafter referred to as "products, etc."). As a result of this automatic determination, this service presents User U with a normalized value (e.g., a percentage) indicating the suitability of the invention I in the discovery stage for various industries, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "matching degree"). This service allows user U to learn in real time, at invention discovery meetings, etc., which industries and other sectors invention I, which is in the discovery stage, and the products to which it applies, will be suitable in the future. User U can also learn the size of the industries and other sectors to which invention I, which is in the discovery stage, and the products to which it applies, will be suitable. As a result, user U will be able to create a more concrete future forecast at invention discovery meetings, including the prospects for the future commercialization of invention I, which is in the discovery stage.

[0014] Figure 1 shows a scene of an invention discovery meeting M held in a conference room of a certain company. It is assumed that a plurality of people including a user U participate in the invention discovery meeting M, and discussions focusing on an invention I in the discovery stage are exchanged among the participants.

[0015] At the venue of the invention discovery meeting M, the user U operates a user terminal 2 to input information Ii related to the invention I included in the discussion (hereinafter referred to as "invention information Ii") (step S1). Examples of the invention information Ii include information indicating problems that can be solved by the invention I, information indicating actions and effects brought by the invention I, the technical significance of the invention I, information indicating specific embodiments of the invention I, and the like.

[0016] The invention information Ii input to the user terminal 2 is transmitted to the server 1 via a predetermined network (for example, the network NW in Figure 2 described later). The server 1 acquires the invention information Ii transmitted from the user terminal 2 (step S2).

[0017] The server 1 analyzes the acquired invention information Ii (step S3). Here, the method of analyzing the invention information Ii by the server 1 is not particularly limited. For example, analysis is performed on the corresponding technical field, a specific configuration for solving the problem, and the like.

[0018] The server 1 extracts information on industries and the like in which the invention I can be implemented, based on the analysis result of the invention information Ii and pre-managed information related to various industries and markets (hereinafter referred to as "industry-related information") (step S4). The industry-related information includes trends in each industry and market, problems that are desired to be solved, and the like.

[0019] Server 1 presents, to user U, the compatibility with Invention I as a matching degree for each of one or more industries or the like from which industry-or-the-like information has been extracted (step S5). The determination of compatibility between an industry or the like and Invention I is performed from various perspectives. For example, if the technical field of Invention I is "information and communications", compatibility is determined not only with the "communications industry" but also with the "automotive industry" that has similar portions. Then, a value normalized based on the result of the determination is presented as the matching degree. Further, for example, if the problem that can be solved by Invention I is "shortage of construction workers", compatibility is determined not only with the "construction industry" but also with the "service industry" that has similar portions. Specifically, for example, the names of industries or the like are displayed on the user terminal 2 together with numerical values indicating the matching degrees. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the matching degrees of the "automotive industry" and the "service (transportation) industry" with Invention I are "100%" and "80%", respectively. This allows user U to easily understand which industries or the like the Invention I in the discovery stage can be adapted to in the future.

[0020] Although not illustrated, Server 1 can also notify information indicating the scale of each of the one or more industries or the like from which the industry-or-the-like information has been extracted. Specifically, for example, as information indicating the scale of each of the one or more industries or the like, a value indicating the scale of the transaction amount of the target industry or the like is displayed. This allows user U to easily understand which industries or the like the Invention I in the discovery stage will adapt to in the future, together with the information indicating the scale of the industries or the like.

[0021] Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the configuration of an information processing system that realizes the provision of the above-described service, that is, an information processing system to which Server 1 according to an embodiment of the information processing apparatus of the present invention is applied, will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of an information processing system to which a server according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

[0022] The information processing system illustrated in FIG. 2 is configured to include Server 1 and a user terminal 2. Server 1 and user terminal 2 are interconnected via a designated network NW such as the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network).

[0023] Server 1 is an information processing device managed by a service provider (not shown). Server 1 performs various processes to realize this service while communicating with user terminal 2 as needed.

[0024] User terminal 2 is an information processing device operated by user U. User terminal 2 consists of a smartphone, tablet, personal computer, etc.

[0025] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the server hardware configuration in the information processing system shown in Figure 2.

[0026] Server 1 comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 11, ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, RAM (Random Access Memory) 13, a bus 14, an input / output interface 15, an input unit 16, an output unit 17, a storage unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a drive 20.

[0027] The CPU 11 executes various processes according to the program recorded in the ROM 12 or the program loaded from the storage unit 18 into the RAM 13. RAM13 also stores data and other information necessary for the CPU11 to perform various processes.

[0028] The CPU 11, ROM 12, and RAM 13 are interconnected via a bus 14. An input / output interface 15 is also connected to this bus 14. An input / output interface 15 is connected to an input unit 16, an output unit 17, a storage unit 18, a communication unit 19, and a drive 20.

[0029] The input unit 16 is configured, for example, with a keyboard, and is used to input various types of information. The output unit 17 consists of a display such as an LCD and a speaker, and outputs various information as images and sounds. The memory unit 18 is composed of DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and stores various types of data. The communication unit 19 communicates with other devices (for example, user terminal 2 in Figure 2) via a network NW, including the Internet.

[0030] A removable media 40, such as a magnetic disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, or semiconductor memory, is appropriately mounted in the drive 20. Programs read from the removable media 40 by the drive 20 are installed in the storage unit 18 as needed. Furthermore, the removable media 40 can store various types of data stored in the storage unit 18, just as the storage unit 18 does.

[0031] Although not shown in the diagram, user terminal 2 in Figure 2 can have a configuration that is basically the same as the hardware configuration shown in Figure 3. Therefore, the explanation of the hardware configuration of user terminal 2 will be omitted.

[0032] Through the collaboration of various hardware and software components constituting the information processing system shown in Figure 2, including Server 1 in Figure 3, it becomes possible to execute various processes, including industry matching. As a result, the service provider can provide the aforementioned service to User U. "Industry matching processing" refers to a process that helps users determine which industries or sectors an invention I, currently in the discovery stage, is suitable for, along with information indicating the size of those industries or sectors. The following describes the functional configuration for performing industry matching processing, which is executed on Server 1 in Figure 3, which constitutes the information processing system shown in Figure 2, with reference to Figure 4.

[0033] Figure 4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration for executing industry matching processing among the functional configurations of the server in Figure 3 that constitute the information processing system shown in Figure 2.

[0034] As shown in Figure 4, when Server 1 in Figure 3 performs industry matching processing, the following functions operate in the CPU 11: Invention acquisition unit 101, Invention analysis unit 102, Information management unit 103, Industry extraction unit 104, and Suitability notification unit 105.

[0035] Furthermore, an industry database (DB181) is provided in one area of ​​the storage unit 18 of server 1. Industry information is stored in the industry database (DB181).

[0036] The invention acquisition unit 101 acquires information relating to invention I as invention information. Specifically, for example, the invention acquisition unit 101 acquires information about invention I that has been input to the user terminal 2 as invention information.

[0037] The invention analysis unit 102 analyzes the invention information obtained by the invention acquisition unit 101.

[0038] The Information Management Department 103 manages information on one or more industries and markets as industry-related information. The industry-related information acquired by the Information Management Department 103 is stored and managed in the Industry-Related Database 181.

[0039] The Industry Extraction Unit 104 extracts industry information for industries and markets where Invention I can be implemented, based on the results of the analysis by the Invention Analysis Unit 102 and the industry information managed by the Information Management Unit 103.

[0040] The suitability notification unit 105 notifies the suitability (degree of matching) with Invention I for each of the one or more industries whose industry information has been extracted by the industry extraction unit 104. Specifically, the compatibility notification unit 105 executes control to display a value indicating compatibility (matching degree) as a percentage. Furthermore, the suitability notification unit 105 notifies information indicating the scale of one or more of the aforementioned industries, etc., whose industry information has been extracted by the industry, etc., extraction unit 104. Specifically, for example, the suitability notification unit 105 executes control to display values ​​such as the amount of money traded in the target industry, etc., as information indicating the scale of one or more of the aforementioned industries, etc.

[0041] Because Server 1 in Figure 4 has the functional configuration described above, it becomes easy to determine which industries, etc., Invention I, which is in the discovery stage, is suitable for, along with information indicating the size of those industries, etc.

[0042] The following provides a more detailed explanation of the process for analyzing the invention, identifying the industry, and determining suitability. For example, let's say a vegetable slicer is invented as Invention I. Hereafter, Invention I will be described as having a specific structure of a base and blade to solve the problem of achieving more uniform slicing. Furthermore, the industry information managed by the Information Management Department 103 is described as including information on patent documents used in various industries.

[0043] The invention analysis unit 102 outputs the analysis results as indicating that the problem is to perform slices more evenly, and that the specific configuration has a predetermined structure for the base and blade.

[0044] The industry extraction unit 104 searches for patent documents similar to Invention I (or embodiments of Invention I) from the industry information managed by the information management unit 103, based on the results of analysis by the invention analysis unit 102. The industry extraction unit 104 extracts cited documents and cited documents (cited documents listed in the specification and other documents that cited the patent document during substantive examination) from the searched patent documents. It then extracts the industries to which the cited documents and cited documents apply as industry information. For example, information is obtained that similar patent documents are cited during the examination of a patent application for a slicer for recycling electronic components such as capacitors. In other words, the electronic components recycling industry is extracted as the relevant industry.

[0045] The conformity notification unit 105 notifies the industries, etc., extracted as described above as conforming industries, etc. Thus, a method may be employed to extract industries, etc., based on the relationship between cited and cited documents in patent documents similar to Invention I.

[0046] Alternatively, for example, a method may be employed to extract industries, etc., based on the patent classification codes assigned to patent documents similar to Invention I. That is, for example, industries, etc., of other patent documents assigned the same patent classification code may be extracted. Specifically, for example, among the patent classification codes, the F-term is assigned to each item such as the subject of processing and the means of solution. Therefore, for example, the industry, etc. of other patent documents that have the same F-term as the F-term of the means of solution in a patent document similar to Invention I will be extracted. This will extract other industries, etc. to which the means of solution can be applied. The industries and other information extracted in this way are then communicated to user U.

[0047] For example, suppose the industry information managed by the Information Management Department 103 includes information from reports (so-called market reports, etc.) in each industry. In this case, the Industry Extraction Department 104 can extract industries based on the reports in each industry. Specifically, for example, reports in various industries may contain information on important issues (so-called social problems) within those industries, as well as information that may offer clues to solving those issues. Therefore, the industry extraction unit 104 extracts industries based on whether the problems described in the reports for each industry are similar to the problems that Invention I can solve. This makes it possible to assess the suitability of issues in industries or sectors different from the one to which User U belongs, which User U may not be aware of.

[0048] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and any modifications, improvements, etc. that can achieve the objectives of the present invention are considered to be included in the present invention.

[0049] For example, in the above embodiment, when user U inputs invention information Ii heard at the invention discovery meeting M into user terminal 2, server 1 acquires that invention information Ii. However, this is merely an example. Server 1 can acquire invention information Ii using methods other than user U's input operation. For example, invention information Ii can be extracted and acquired by analyzing audio data from the invention discovery meeting M acquired through the recording function of user terminal 2 or a recording function via a microphone pre-installed in the conference room.

[0050] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, it is assumed that a large amount of industry information is stored and managed in the industry database DB181 shown in Figure 4. However, for example, the industry database DB181 shown in Figure 4 may store only one industry. In this case, the degree of matching between the one industry stored in the industry database DB181 and Invention I is determined. For this reason, there may be cases where the degree of matching between the one industry stored in the industry database DB181 and Invention I is determined to be "0 percent" (i.e., no compatibility is found at all).

[0051] For example, in the example in Figure 1, "technical field" and "content of the method for solving the problem" are used as indicators to determine the suitability (degree of matching) between Invention I and the industry, etc. However, these are merely examples, and any indicator can be used to determine the suitability (degree of matching) between Invention I and the industry, etc.

[0052] For example, in the example shown in Figure 1, a percentage is used as a method for indicating the suitability (degree of matching) between Invention I and the industry, etc. However, this is merely an example, and any method can be used to indicate the suitability (degree of matching) between Invention I and the industry, etc.

[0053] Furthermore, the system configuration shown in Figure 2 and the hardware configuration of Server 1 shown in Figure 3 are merely illustrative examples for achieving the objectives of the present invention and are not particularly limited.

[0054] Furthermore, the functional block diagram shown in Figure 4 is merely illustrative and not particularly limiting. In other words, it is sufficient that the information processing system in Figure 2 has the functionality to execute the industry matching process described above as a whole, and the functional blocks and databases used to realize this functionality are not particularly limited to the example in Figure 4.

[0055] Furthermore, the location of the functional blocks and database is not limited to Figure 4, but can be any location. In the example shown in Figure 4, the industry matching process is controlled by the CPU 11 of Server 1 in Figure 3, which constitutes the information processing system in Figure 2, but this is not limited to this configuration. For example, at least a portion of the functional blocks and database located on Server 1 may be provided on User Terminal 2 or another information processing device (not shown).

[0056] Furthermore, the series of processes described above can be executed by hardware or by software. Furthermore, a single functional block may consist of hardware alone, software alone, or a combination of both.

[0057] When a series of processes are executed by software, the programs that make up that software are installed on a computer or other device from a network or storage medium. The computer may be a computer that is built into dedicated hardware. Furthermore, a computer can be any computer capable of performing various functions by installing various programs, such as a server, a general-purpose smartphone, or a personal computer.

[0058] Such a recording medium containing a program may consist not only of removable media (not shown) distributed separately from the main unit to provide the program to user U, but also of recording media provided to user U in a state where they are pre-installed in the main unit.

[0059] In this specification, the step of describing a program to be recorded on a recording medium includes not only processes that are performed chronologically in that order, but also processes that are not necessarily performed chronologically, but are executed in parallel or individually.

[0060] In summary, the information processing device to which the present invention applies only needs to have the following configuration, and can take various forms. In other words, the information processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied is: An invention acquisition means (for example, the invention acquisition unit 101 in Figure 4) acquires information relating to a predetermined invention as invention information, An invention analysis means (for example, the invention analysis unit 102 in Figure 4) that analyzes the invention information obtained by the invention acquisition means, An information management system (for example, the information management unit 103 in Figure 4) manages information on one or more industries and markets as industry information, Based on the results of the analysis by the invention analysis means and the industry information managed by the information management means, an extraction means (for example, the industry extraction unit 104 in Figure 4) extracts industry information of industries and markets in which the invention can be implemented, Prepare.

[0061] In other words, once information about a given invention is acquired as invention information, that invention information is analyzed. Furthermore, information about one or more industries and markets is managed as industry information. Based on the results of the invention information analysis and the managed industry information, industry information for industries and markets where the invention can be implemented is extracted. This makes it easy to determine which industries and markets the invention may be suitable for.

[0062] Furthermore, the system may also include a notification means (for example, the suitability notification unit 105 in Figure 4) that notifies information indicating the suitability of each of the one or more industries and markets from which the industry information has been extracted by the extraction means to the invention (for example, the matching degree mentioned above).

[0063] In other words, information indicating the suitability of the invention for one or more industries and markets from which industry information has been extracted is provided. This makes it easy to understand which industries and markets the invention may be suitable for.

[0064] Furthermore, the notification means is The extraction means can further provide information indicating the size of one or more of the aforementioned industries and markets from which the industry information has been extracted.

[0065] In other words, in addition to information indicating the suitability of the invention to one or more industries and markets from which industry information has been extracted, information indicating the size of each of those industries and markets is also provided. This allows for a deeper understanding of which industries and markets the invention may be suitable for, along with information indicating the size of those industries and markets. As a result, for example, at an invention discovery meeting, it becomes possible to create a more concrete future projection, including the prospects for future commercialization of an invention in the discovery stage. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1...Server, 2...User terminal, 11...CPU, 12...ROM, 13...RAM, 14...Bus, 15...Input / Output interface, 16...Input unit, 17...Output unit, 18...Storage unit, 19...Communication unit, 20...Drive, 40...Removable media, 101...Invention acquisition unit, 102...Invention analysis unit, 103...Information management unit, 104...Industry extraction unit, 105...Suitability notification unit 105, 181...Industry DB, U...User U, NW...Network

Claims

1. An invention acquisition means for acquiring information relating to a predetermined invention as invention information, An invention analysis means for analyzing the invention information obtained by the invention acquisition means, An information management system for managing information on the challenges required by multiple industries and markets, and information on patent documents used in each industry and market, as industry-specific information. An extraction means for extracting industry information of an industry or market to which the invention may be applicable from among the plurality of industries and markets, based on the results of the analysis by the invention analysis means and the industry information managed by the information management means, the extraction means for identifying patent documents similar to the invention and extracting the industry or market to which the cited or cited documents of said patent documents apply as the applicable industry or market, An information processing device equipped with the following features.

2. The invention further comprises a notification means for notifying each of the one or more industries or markets from which the industry information has been extracted by the extraction means, with information indicating its compatibility with the invention. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned notification means is, The extraction means further provides information indicating the size of each of the one or more industries or markets from which the industry information has been extracted. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2.

4. The means for obtaining the invention is, The invention information is obtained based on text or audio data that shows the content of the discussion relating to the invention. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

5. In an information processing method executed by an information processing device, An invention acquisition step in which information relating to a given invention is acquired as invention information, An invention analysis step is performed to analyze the invention information obtained in the invention acquisition step, An information management step that manages information regarding the challenges sought by each of multiple industries and markets, and information regarding patent documents used in each industry and market, as industry-specific information. An extraction step for extracting industry information of an industry or market to which the invention may be applicable from among the plurality of industries and markets, based on the results of the analysis obtained by the processing of the invention analysis step and the industry information managed by the processing of the information management step, the extraction step for identifying patent documents similar to the invention and extracting the industry or market to which the cited or cited documents of said patent documents apply as the applicable industry or market, Information processing methods including

6. On the computer, An invention acquisition step in which information relating to a given invention is acquired as invention information, An invention analysis step is performed to analyze the invention information obtained in the invention acquisition step, An information management step that manages information regarding the challenges sought by each of multiple industries and markets, and information regarding patent documents used in each industry and market, as industry-specific information. An extraction step for extracting industry information of an industry or market to which the invention may be applicable from among the plurality of industries and markets, based on the results of the analysis obtained by the processing of the invention analysis step and the industry information managed by the processing of the information management step, the extraction step for identifying patent documents similar to the invention and extracting the industry or market to which the cited or cited documents of said patent documents apply as the applicable industry or market, A program that executes control processes, including those mentioned above.

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