Patent-related tools and methodology for use in research and development projects

A system comprising:

• an input device configured to receive information identifying a technology area related to an idea;
• a processor configured to perform a search on a database based on the received information as part of performing sequential stages of a research and development project, wherein one of the stages is an idea stage, wherein the search includes a search of a group of patents in the technology area related to the idea;
• dividing the group into subgroups according to technology classification;
• mapping the technology classification to a related Standard Industrial Codes classification;
• a tool for performing a forward citation on the group of patents to create a patent citation tree as part of the idea stage, wherein the tool is configured to:
• identify individuals or companies that are researching, developing, or commercializing ideas related to the idea;
• identify relationships between the identified individuals or companies;
• and
• determine, based on the patent citation tree and the identified individuals or companies, the relative uniqueness of the idea and the number of citations to technology related to the idea;
• a controller configured to generate control signals based on the received information;
• a comparator configured to compare stored information and the control signals to determine a set of the stored information correlating with the control signals;
• and
• a plurality of tools in a tool box, the tools being configured to formulate a corresponding type of output from the set of stored information, wherein the output is displayed on a display device, wherein the tools are associated with one or more tasks of the sequential stages of the research and development project, wherein the tools are configured to perform a respective task using at least the set of stored information, and wherein the output formulated by at least one of the tools is used as input into at least one tool associated with one or more tasks of a subsequent stage of the research and development project.

A tangible computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a system, cause the system to perform sequential stages of a research and development project wherein one of the stages is an idea stage, the instructions comprising:

• instructions for generating a topographic map to identify existing and non-existing technologies;
• instructions for identifying a new technology area as an idea for research and development using the topographic map;
• instructions for searching a database as part of an idea stage of the research and development project, wherein the instructions for searching comprise instructions for searching of a group of patents in the new technology area related to the idea;
• instructions for dividing the group into subgroups according to technology classification;
• instructions for mapping the technology classification to a related Standard Industrial Codes classification;
• instructions for performing a forward citation on the group of patents to create a patent citation tree as part of the idea stage, wherein the idea stage comprises:
• identifying individuals or companies that are researching, developing, or commercializing ideas related to an idea;
• identifying relationships between the identified individuals or companies;
• and
• determining, based on the patent citation tree and the identified individuals or companies, the relative uniqueness of the idea and the number of citations to technology related to the idea;
• and
• instructions for assessing one of the identified existing technologies for possible implementation in the new technology area, wherein the assessment is performed by:
• selecting a tool to perform a task associated with one of the sequential stages of the research and development project;
• performing the task using the selected tool;
• and
• performing a second task, wherein the second task is associated with a subsequent stage of the research and development project using at least results from the task and information from the search results.

A computer-readable medium having computer readable program code for manipulating information in a database stored thereon, the computer readable program code comprising:

• a first computer readable program code for causing a processor to receive a search input identifying a technology area related to an idea associated with an idea stage of a research and development project;
• a second computer readable program code for causing a processor to receive and store results of the search in the database based on the received search input as part of the idea stage, wherein during the idea stage the second computer readable program code causes the processor to perform a method that comprises:
• searching a group of patents in the technology area related to the idea;
• dividing the group into subgroups according to technology classification;
• mapping the technology classification to a related Standard Industrial Codes classification;
• performing a forward citation on the patents to create a patent citation tree;
• identifying individuals or companies that are researching, developing, or commercializing ideas related to the idea;
• identifying relationships between the identified individuals or companies;
• and
• determining, based on the patent citation tree and the identified individuals or companies, the relative uniqueness of the idea and the number of citations to technology related to the idea;
• and
• a third computer readable program code for causing a processor to access a tool box comprising a plurality of tools, wherein the tools are associated with one or more tasks of the sequential stages of the research and development project, wherein the tools are configured to perform a respective task using information from the search results stored in the database, wherein the tools are configured to formulate a corresponding type of output from the search results stored in the database, and wherein the output formulated by at least one of the tools is used as input into at least one tool associated with one or more tasks of a subsequent stage of the research and development project.

A computer-implemented method comprising:

• searching, by a computing device, a group of patents in a technology area related to an idea;
• dividing, by the computing device, the group into subgroups according to technology classification;
• mapping, by the computing device, the technology classification to a related Standard Industrial Codes classification;
• performing a forward citation on the group of patents as part of one or more sequential stages of a research and development project, said stages including an idea stage, a preliminary assessment stage, a feasibility stage, a development stage, a scale-up stage, and a portfolio stage, and wherein the idea stage comprises:
• identifying, based on the group of patents, individuals or companies that are researching, developing, or commercializing ideas related to the idea;
• identifying relationships between the identified individuals or companies;
• and
• determining, based on the forward citation and the identified individuals or companies, the relative uniqueness of the idea and the number of citations to technology related to the idea;
• accessing, by the computing device, a tool box comprising a plurality of tools, wherein the tools are associated with one or more tasks of the sequential stages of the research and development project, and the tools are configured to perform a respective task using information from the searching;
• receiving a selection of a tool to perform a task associated with the preliminary assessment stage;
• performing, by the computing device, the task associated with the preliminary assessment stage using the selected tool and results from the idea stage;
• and
• receiving a selection of a tool to perform a second task associated with a subsequent stage of the research and development project;
• and
• performing, by the computing device, the second task associated with the subsequent stage using the selected tool and results from the preliminary assessment stage, wherein the subsequent stage is one or more of the feasibility stage, the development stage, the scale-up stage, and the portfolio stage.

A computer-implemented method for enabling review of patent and non-patent documents as part of a research and development project, the method comprising:

• searching, by an intellectual property asset manager (IPAM) server, a group of patents in a technology area related to an idea;
• dividing, by the IPAM server, the group into subgroups according to technology classification;
• mapping, by the IPAM server, the technology classification to a related Standard Industrial Codes classification;
• performing, by the IPAM server, a forward citation on the group of patents as part of one or more sequential stages of the research and development project, said stages including an idea stage and one or more of a preliminary assessment stage, a feasibility stage, a development stage, a scale-up stage, and a portfolio stage, and wherein the idea stage comprises:
• identifying, based on the group of patents, individuals or companies that are researching, developing, or commercializing ideas related to the idea;
• identifying relationships between the identified individuals or companies;
• and
• determining, based on the forward citation and the identified individuals or companies, the relative uniqueness of the idea and the number of citations to technology related to the idea;
• accessing, by the IPAM server, a tool box comprising a plurality of tools, wherein the tools are associated with one or more tasks of the sequential stages of the research and development project, and the tools are configured to perform a respective task using information from the searching;
• receiving, at the IPAM server, a selection of a tool to perform a first task associated with one of the sequential stages of the research and development project;
• performing, by the IPAM server, the first task associated with the stage using the selected tool and results from the idea stage;
• receiving a selection of a tool to perform a second task associated with a next stage of the research and development project;
• and
• performing the second task, by the IPAM server, wherein the second task is associated with the next stage of the research and development project using at least results from the first task and information from the search results.