| Patent Mapping a way to visualize patent mining | | | | field, it allows the preparation of a specification for |
| results that involves clustering or otherwise orienting | | | | acquiring strong patent rights by comparing the time |
| patent data on a page so that there is meaning in | | | | series of the distribution. |
| the spatial relationships among the data points. Patent | | | | To Find out Technological Changes |
| Landscape: graphical representation of how large | | | | Technology is continuously changing due to the |
| numbers of patents relate to each other based on | | | | intense competition over the development of |
| keywords, citations, or patent classifications. It is | | | | technology and the diversification of market needs. |
| useful in identify trends, determine patent gaps and | | | | Being able to appropriately accommodate these |
| opportunities, and design around competitors' patents. | | | | changes is extremely important not only for venture |
| Patent maps are not only produced for a specific | | | | companies and small and medium sized companies, |
| use, but also are produced to serve as so-called | | | | but for proceedings with any kind of business. There |
| general-purpose use. Consequently, when using them, | | | | are patent maps which are produced by analyzing |
| their contents can be read from various viewpoints. | | | | patent information based on the changes in the |
| In particular, by combining multiple maps (figures and | | | | number of patent applications and the appearances |
| tables), it is possible to find a new matter that | | | | of important patent. |
| cannot be obtained from a single map. | | | | Since the number of patent applications indicates |
| In addition, a total of more than 50 types of | | | | technological development activities, while the number |
| expressions, excluding minor ones, are used in this | | | | of applicants indicates the number of participating |
| patent map series. Furthermore, total more than 200 | | | | companies, observing this relationship makes it |
| maps were produced in terms of their technology | | | | possible to grip the maturity of the technology field. |
| fields. The readers can grasp various kind of matters | | | | In addition, knowing the maturity of a technology |
| from these patent maps according to their objective | | | | field to which one's own company conducts makes it |
| and intention. In the following section, readers will be | | | | possible to judge the timing of development policies |
| able to understand typical objectives of patent map | | | | such as establishing technical tie-ups with other |
| and various representationaltypes of patent map as | | | | companies and focusing on certain development |
| well as the matters that can be extracted from | | | | themes. |
| these patent maps. | | | | Matrix analysis |
| To Understand the Overall State of a Technology | | | | Portraying the correlation between technical elements |
| Field | | | | (such as purpose and function) obtained from patent |
| When a company start a research and development | | | | information in the form of a matrix makes it possible |
| or licensing for entering into a new business of a | | | | to show important problems affecting the |
| certain technology field, the company need to seize | | | | development of a technology field. Moreover, with |
| the overall image of the technology field and the | | | | the addition of a time axis, trends in problems |
| related technology fields including pertinent patents. | | | | affecting technological development can also be |
| Patent maps of a technology field introduce the | | | | observed. As a result, since technical trends can be |
| content and number to which patents have been | | | | caught, the selection of development themes and |
| filed for the field, the uses in which the technology | | | | studies of priority can be conducted effectively when |
| field is being used and the theme related to research | | | | planning and proposing them. |
| and development of the field. The following shows | | | | Map of technology development |
| the typical expressions of patent maps used for | | | | This patent map makes it possible to view the |
| these purposes. | | | | technical structure and the expanse of technological |
| Time-series map | | | | development of the technology field, the existenceof |
| In addition, by griping the source of these | | | | specific patents that must be paid attention. In |
| technologies as a result of ascertaining the process | | | | addition, since it also provides a complete image of |
| by which technologies developed, it can be used as | | | | the technology field, it is capable of providing a hint |
| information that provides a hint for creating new | | | | for forecasting the direction of technological |
| ideas. As the map provides the relationship and the | | | | development and planning of new products. |
| distribution of patent rights in a specific technology | | | | |