Martin G. Moehrle

A new instrument for technology monitoring: novelty in patents measured by semantic patent analysis

Given that in terms of technology novel inventions are crucial factors for companies; this article contributes to the identification of inventions of high novelty in patent data. As companies are confronted with an information overflow, and having patents reviewed by experts is a time-consuming task, we introduce a new approach to the identification of inventions of high novelty: a specific form of semantic patent analysis. Subsequent to the introduction of the concept of novelty in patents, the classical method of semantic patent analysis will be adapted to support novelty measurement. By means of a case study from the automotive industry, we corroborate that semantic patent analysis is able to outperform available methods for the identification of inventions of high novelty. Accordingly, semantic patent information possesses the potential to enhance technology monitoring while reducing both costs and uncertainty in the identification of inventions of high novelty.

Measures for textual patent similarities: a guided way to select appropriate approaches

The measurement of textual patent similarities is crucial for important tasks in patent management, be it prior art analysis, infringement analysis, or patent mapping. In this paper the common theory of similarity measurement is applied to the field of patents, using solitary concepts as basic textual elements of patents. After unfolding the term ‘similarity’ in a content and formal oriented level and presenting a basic model of understanding, a segmented approach to the measurement of underlying variables, similarity coefficients, and the criteria-related profiles of their combinations is lined out. This leads to a guided way to the application of textual patent similarities, interesting both for theory and practice.

Measuring textual patent similarity on the basis of combined concepts: design decisions and their consequences

For certain tasks in patent management it makes sense to apply a quantitative measure of textual similarity between patents and/or parts thereof: be it the analysis of freedom to operate, the analysis of technology convergence, or the mapping of patents for strategic purposes. In this paper we intend to outline the process of measuring textual patent similarity on the basis of elements referred to as ‘combined concepts’. We are going to use this process in various operations leading to design decisions, and shall also provide guidance regarding these decisions. By way of two applications from patent management, namely the prioritization of patents and the analysis of convergence between two technological fields, we mean to demonstrate the crucial importance of design decisions in terms of patent analysis results.

Anticipating industry convergence: semantic analyses vs IPC co-classification analyses of patents

Purpose – The convergence of industries exposes the involved firms to various challenges. In such a setting, a firms response time becomes key to its future success. Hence, different approaches to anticipating convergence have been developed in the recent past. So far, especially IPC co-classification patent analyses have been successfully applied in different industry settings to anticipate convergence on a broader industry/technology level. Here, the aim is to develop a concept to anticipate convergence even in small samples, simultaneously providing more detailed information on its origin and direction. Design/methodology/approach – The authors assigned 326 US-patents on phytosterols to four different technological fields and measured the semantic similarity of the patents from the different technological fields. Finally, they compared these results to those of an IPC co-classification analysis of the same patent sample. Findings – An increasing semantic similarity of food and pharmaceutical patents a...

TRIZ-Based Technology Roadmapping

In companies there are many different variants of technology roadmapping in use (see the different chapters in this book). Each variant requires a specific process, in order to forecast future technologies concerning content and time. For this purpose tools from the theory of inventive problem solving are suggested in the following essay, in particular trends of technical systems evolution. They do not replace conventional creative thinking, but supplement it, and lead it in promising directions. Combined with a comprehensive process for the technology roadmapping they unfold their full effect.

Completing keyword patent search with semantic patent search: introducing a semiautomatic iterative method for patent near search based on semantic similarities

Patent search is a substantial basis for many operational questions and scientometric evaluations. We consider it as a sequence of distinct stages. The “patent wide search” involves a definition of system boundaries by means of classifications and a keyword search producing a patent set with a high recall level (see Schmitz in Patentinformetrie: Analyse und Verdichtung von technischen Schutzrechtsinformationen, DGI, Frankfurt (Main), 2010 with an overview of searchable patent meta data). In this set of patents a “patent near search” takes place, producing a patent set with high(er) precision. Hence, the question arises how the researcher has to operate within this patent set to efficiently identify patents that contain paraphrased descriptions of the sought inventive elements in contextual information and whether this produces different results compared to a conventional search. We present a semiautomatic iterative method for the identification of such patents, based on semantic similarity. In order to test our method we generate an initial dataset in the course of a patent wide search. This dataset is then analyzed by means of the semiautomatic iterative method as well as by an alternative method emulating the conventional process of keyword refinement. It thus becomes obvious that both methods have their particular “raison d’être”, and that the semiautomatic iterative method seems to be able to support a conventional patent search very effectively.

Morphotriz – Solving Technical Problems with a Demand for Multi-Smart Solutions

Using two approved creativity techniques, technical problem solving can be supported in a systematic and analytical way: morphological and contradiction-oriented problem solving (the latter as part of the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving [Russian acronym: TRIZ]). In these techniques different anchor points for creativity are used: morphological-oriented problem solving is characterized by structuring a system into independent partial systems and finding answers by combining the different solutions of these subsystems; contradiction-oriented problem solving is focused on finding fundamental contradictions within a system, representing the core problems, and solving them by applying the accumulated experiential knowledge of previous inventors. In this paper a combination of both techniques is developed and deployed, using network-oriented function analysis as a connecting concept. We refer to this combination as MorphoTRIZ. It is particularly helpful in technical problem solving, when there is a demand for a multitude of smart solutions, which has become quite common with regard to design-oriented products and individualized mass production as well as various other purposes. Seen from the conceptional perspective of creative problem solving, MorphoTRIZ combines process elements: (i) for producing a multitude of ideas, (ii) for producing many categories of ideas, and (iii) for producing highly original ideas. It provides connections to further creativity techniques, to open innovation and also to the field of management research as application area.

Basics of technology roadmapping

Corporate technology managers are faced with a wide range of responsibilities: Apart from being in charge of the acquisition, preservation, protection and application of technological competencies, they are expected to attend to a preferably solid and market-oriented technological positioning of their company (for the scope of technology management see for instance Burgelman, Christensen and Wheelwright 2004). This accumulation of tasks has given rise to a need for the projection of a technology’s temporal development, including its prevalently heterogeneous connections as well as the derivation of activities which serve to support or even improve a company’s technological standing. Technology roadmapping represents an ideal method of dealing with the latter two of the above mentioned concerns in an integrative way.

The development of business method patenting in the logistics industry – insights from the case of intelligent sensor networks

Business method patents represent a new and very serious challenge for technology management in the logistics industry, in particular for internationally operating companies. To provide some case-related insight into this field, we intend to analyse the utilisation of such patents in the context of intelligent sensor networks. We are going to develop several hypotheses and propose a workflow-based approach to patent analysis, comprising 1 the systematic analysis of a business process 2 the use of its functions for the identification of relevant patent documents. One major finding is that relatively few logistics companies are active in this patent field. Accordingly – and this can be regarded as a challenge, which might apply to other industries as well – technology management in the analysed field has to balance between using inventions that are patented by its suppliers and subcontractors and patenting business methods of its own. If the latter is neglected, it might miss a major opportunity to deal with asymmetries in the international patent system, gain advantages and secure its companies’ freedom to operate.

Exploring Problems with Function Analysis: Experimental Insights for Team Management

Problem analysis is an important, but mainly neglected part of the problem-solving process. The theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ) offers an instrument called function analysis to conduct problem analysis, which is especially useful for exploring a problem. This process is based on an idea applied in different creativity techniques, saying that behind one problem statement many problem formulations may occur, which allows for evaluation and selection of those problem formulations before looking for problem solutions. The application of function analysis as a tool for teams is recommended for a number of reasons. In so doing so, two main questions arise: (i) Should function analysis be used with the help of an external moderator? and: (ii) Should it be applied with currently available special software? After introducing the basics of function analysis this article provides key findings deducted from an experiment addressing these questions. An important result is the remarkable learning effect, which occurs while using function analysis in teams. By applying function analysis in R&D, companies will be able to get deeper and team-based problem explorations, which may lead to maturing problem solutions.