PATENT MAPPING

1 . A computer implemented method comprising:

maintaining a database of patent portfolios and a database of patents, each patent stored in the database of patents associated with one or more patent portfolios stored in the database of patent portfolios;

receiving a search query associated with a first patent portfolio;

searching the first portfolio as a function of the search query;

generating search results, the search results including one or more independent patent claims associated with the search query;

mapping the one or more independent patent claims to at least one patent concept; and

associating the at least one mapped patent concept to one or more patent claims which are dependent on the one or more independent patent claims.

2 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

maintaining a database of ontologies, the ontologies including one or more patent concepts.

3 . The computer implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more patent concepts includes a technology category.

4 . The computer implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more patent concepts includes a scope concept, the scope concept defining a scope to which a patent claim is limited.

5 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein mapping a plurality of independent patent claims to a patent concept includes defining the patent concept.

6 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein mapping a plurality of independent patent claims to a patent concept further includes:

maintaining a database of patent claims, the database of patent claims including the one or more independent and dependent patent claims;

storing an indication of a relationship between the patent concept and the one or more independent or dependent patent claims in the database of patent claims.

7 . The computer implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the indication of the relationship includes an indication that the one or more independent or dependent claims are not mapped to the patent concept.

8 . The computer implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the indication of the relationship includes an indication that the one or more independent or dependent patent claims are mapped to the patent concept.

9 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the search query includes a regular search expression.

10 . The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein generating search results includes retrieving independent or dependent patent claims which include terms from the search query and synonyms of the terms.

11 . A system comprising:

a database of patent sets and a database of patents, each patent stored in the database of patents associated with one or more patent sets stored in the database of patent sets; and

a web server engine to receive a search query associated with a first patent set;

a mining module to search a first patent set as a function of the search query and generate search results, the search results including one or more independent patent claims associated with the search query and stored in a patent claim database;

a mapping module to map the one or more independent patent claims to a patent concept and associate the at least one mapped patent concept to one or more patent claims which are dependent on the one or more independent patent claims.

12 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising:

a database of ontologies, the ontologies including one or more patent concepts.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more patent concepts includes a technology category.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more patent concepts includes a scope concept, the scope concept defining a scope to which a patent claim is limited.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the mapping module is further to accept input from a user defining the patent concept.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the mapping module is further to store an indication of a relationship between the patent concept and one or more independent or dependent patent claims.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the indication of the relationship includes an indication that the one or more independent or dependent patent claims are not mapped to the patent concept.

18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the indication of the relationship includes an indication that the one or more independent or dependent patent claims are mapped to the patent concept.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the mining module is further to generate the search results by retrieving independent or dependent patent claims which include terms from the search query and synonyms of the terms.

20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the mapping module is further to:

construct a mapping object, the mapping object including data detailing the relationship between the one or more independent or dependent patent claims and the patent concept; and

store the mapping object in the patent claim database.

21 . A system comprising:

a network;

databases, accessible on the network, including at least one database of patent portfolios and a database of patents, each patent stored in the database of patents associated with one or more patent portfolios stored in the database of patent portfolios; and

a server, operatively connected to the network, wherein the server includes:

a processor,

a memory,

software operable on the processor to:

receive a search query associated with a first patent portfolio;

search the first portfolio as a function of the search query;

generate search results, the search results including one or more independent patent claims associated with the search query;

map the one or more independent patent claims to at least one patent concept; and

associate the at least one mapped patent concept to one or more patent claims which are dependent on the one or more independent patent claims.