Even for IP-proficient users, running an effective patent search can take days. Confronted with patent search software interfaces, non-IP users are often intimidated into retreat.
Patent searching typically involves a laborious, iterative process which starts with a basic search. Initial results are analyzed to find more relevant keywords and IPC/CPC codes, which are then added to your query. An updated search is run to uncover yet more keywords and IPC/CPC codes, which are then added to the query. An updated search is run to uncover yet more keywords and IPCs... and this process is repeated ad nauseam. Historical or saved queries are often attached, resulting in long Boolean strings which can easily conceal syntactical errors, adding to the madness.
To combat this issue, PatSnap has developed a smart search feature to make the whole business of patent searching a lot easier.
How does it work?
The smart search works by helping you to build a query based on both your history and commonly used elements used within a search.
You can access the smart search by using the search bar found on the analytics homepage, as seen in the image below.
As soon as you start typing into the search bar, suggestions will be made in the search bar for the search query you might have wanted to run or suggestions of how you may want to continue with this search query. This is based on your history, assignees, and syntax. The Search Helper is also provided here.
The smart search will continue to respond to your query however long it is.
If you make a syntax error within your query you will be informed that this is the case, by this triangle at the right-hand side of the search bar.
