What is Involved in a Patent Search Analysis?
Search Analysis
A patent search analysis includes several important considerations, including the determination of the tools and resources to use and the methodology to use. This can include patent classification (e.g., subclasses in the US Classification System, subgroups in the International
Patent Classification, and further subdivision in European Classification, or other system); consulting knowledgable primary examiner(s); choice of resources/databases to use, e.g., EAST (Examiner Automated Search Tools) and WEST (Web-based Examiner Automated Patent Search Tools) on-site patent or on-line databases; and, technical terminology. See the hyperlinks below for further information in each of these subjects.
Click here to see a general overview of search methodology.