Identify patent families based on their similarity
Similar Family Searching
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What is Similar family search for patent data?
Similar family search with respect to patent data refers to a search algorithm or method that is used to identify patent families or related patents based on their similarities. This may involve searching for patents that are similar in terms of their technical specifications, patent claims, or other features.
A patent family includes all of the patents and patent applications that share the same priority application, which means they are related to the same invention. These related patents may be filed in different countries, but they share the same priority date, which is the date of the first patent application filed for that invention.
The purpose of this type of search is to identify other patents that may be relevant to the same technology or invention, which can be useful for patent analysis, patent landscaping, and competitive intelligence.
IMAGE 1 – PLACEHOLDER
Cipher uses a very sophisticated proprietary patent linguistic algorithm that has been tried and tested over the past 2 years across our Universal Technology Taxonomy (“UTT”) classification. It is more advanced than most other systems on the market and will typically therefore provide better results than other similarity search tools available on the market.
How Cipher Similar Family Searching works
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Cipher’s ML suggested these results?
Similarity searching starts with vectorising every patent family in the universe (think of this like
giving each patent family a unique fingerprint).
Each patent family can then have its vector (fingerprint) compared against others to identify vectors
(patent families) that is closest to it, returning the closest results based on the chosen sample size
(50, 100, 1000 etc.).
What parts of the patent are considered when finding a match?
Cipher’s deep learning model (“algorithm”) is specifically designed for patent linguistic tasks and
uses the patent title, abstract & claims to generate a vector for each individual patent family. It is a
similar process to how the Chat GPT model operates.
What makes Cipher similarity searching better than competing systems?
The processing power, cost, and time required to vectorise all patents are significant, and a barrier for
suppliers to implement a robust similarity searching system. Cipher has leveraged the in-house
vectorisation in classifying every patent family in the world for use in our UTT, so the
testing and heavy lifting have already been done.
Competitor differentiation & constraints
The cost to vectorise all patents is significant, and typically a barrier for suppliers to implement a robust similarity searching system. Cipher has the advantage of having done much of this vectorisation for UTT, so the incremental workload has been substantially reduced compared to a new entrant developing this.
This sophisticated algorithmic approach provides a greater accuracy than similar semantic search driven approaches that many competitor systems use.
Semantics v/s similar family search IMAGE
Where similarity searching is used with multiple source patents, these patents must be related as the algorithm will assume you are providing it with patents about a similar topic. For example: imaging looking for “portable solar powered devices.” You can provide one solar powered fan example, and one solar powered pump example, and it will “figure out” that it’s the solar powered bit that’s important (overlap).
The algorithm may struggle if you give it a solar powered fan and a lidar sensor patent example, because there is little or no overlap between them.
How do we give clients confidence it works?
Cipher is using a very sophisticated patent linguistic focused algorithm that has been tried and tested with Universal Technology Taxonomy classification. It is more advanced than most other systems on the market and will therefore provide at least as good, but more often better results than competitors.
The mathematics behind it is actually relatively trivial, the skill comes into our proprietary algorithm to vectorise patent families.
Cipher customer newsletters
As a Cipher customer, you will receive newsletters on a monthly basis.
We’ve provided links to recent customer newsletters here, in order to give you a flavour of the content you should expect to receive in your inbox.
In-person and online Events
Cipher’s knowledgeable staff are regularly invited to speak at major IP conferences and seminars across the globe. At other events, we will have a booth for those interested in learning what our platform has to offer. Meetings with the Cipher team can be booked in advance, if we are visiting your city or region.
Our informative, free, 60-minute webinars are led by Cipher experts, with the occasional influential guest from the world of patents.
All materials shown and discussed at our events are made available online. For webinars, a recording link is provided to those registered, and also linked from the event page.
Global Standards Leadership Conference 2023
We will be attending the Global Standards Leadership Conference 2023 in San Diego on 15 June, to gain more insight into technology standards.
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IPBC Global 2023
We are looking ahead to a fantastic event in San Diego. IPBC Global will take place from 12 to 14 June and brings together leading IP professionals.
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IP Counsel Cafe Annual Palo Alto Meeting
We joined the conversation on Hidden Risks and Opportunities at IP Counsel Cafe’s Annual Palo Alto Meeting, on 2 to 4 May 2023.
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7th European Intellectual Property Forum
We attended the 7th European Intellectual Property Forum in Berlin on 27 and 28 April 2023.
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Webinar – How to Justify Your Patent Budget
How do you justify your patent budget to executives? Watch our webinar recording for insight on how you can confidently manage your spending.
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IPBC Europe
Nigel Swycher moderated a masterclass on the topic of Handling Emerging Risks.
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Detailed Case Studies
How does Cipher work in real-life situations? How has it helped IP and patent departments, or legal professional service teams to put together information for their clients?
Read how Cipher customers obtained specific data for projects, managed their patent portfolios, and measured patent risk.
How law firms can use data analytics to build long term partnerships with their clients
Calum Smyth, Partner at Wiggin LLP, explains how law firms can become true advisers to their clients by harnessing the latest advances in technology and data analytics.
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CFC Underwriting on being data led to accurately assess IP insurance risk
Maddi Brown, Intellectual Property Practice Leader at CFC Underwriting Ltd, shares how Cipher has helped to understand and quantify IP insurance risk.
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Seagate on keeping up with technology changes
Chief Intellectual Property Counsel at Seagate, Bob Pechman explains the pressures of supporting the business during a period of rapid technological change and how Cipher helps see the patent landscape through Seagate’s own technology lens.
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Centrica on the value of Cipher
Charles Clark, Director of Intellectual Property at Centrica, discusses the efficiency gains from using Cipher and the tasty bits of data gleaned from using Cipher’s AI over conventional search.
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Richardson Oliver Insights on the challenges of IP Teams
COO of Richardson Oliver Insights, Erik Oliver, talks about the challenges faced by IP teams with managing high value portfolios and the increased demand for both better data and better ways to communicate the value of patents.
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Red Hat on using the Cipher Optimisation Model
Jared Engstrom, Head of Patent Development, talks about the growth in Red Hat’s portfolio, how he has used Cipher’s custom classifiers and how the Cipher Optimisation model has improved their understanding of the competitive landscape.
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Cipher Vision Podcast
Cipher’s monthly podcast, Cipher Vision is now into its third season. Each episode has co-hosts Nigel Swycher (CEO) and Francesca Levoir (Head of Marketing) and a notable guest discuss an IP or patents-related topic.
Guests have covered a range of subjects, from valuation and sustainability through to diversity and machine learning.
Cipher Vision episodes are under 25 minutes and are ideal to listen to during a short break or journey.
Promoting SEPs Transparency
Episode 5 in the Cipher Vision Podcast series features Tim Pohlmann, CEO, LexisNexis IPlytics. He joins us to discuss the world of SEPs, from areas of conflict to new opportunities.
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Protecting Innovation with Director Vidal
Episode 4 in Season 3 features Director Kathi Vidal of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, who shares her thoughts on how we can improve the innovation ecosystem.
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The Patent Market
Episode 3 in Season 3 features Kent Richardson, CEO, Richardson Oliver insights joined us to share the inside scoop on the patent market, from who is buying and selling and the price, to what the future holds.
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At War With Cybersecurity
Episode 2 in Season 3 features Jared Engstrom, Senior Director, IP Strategy at CrowdStrike joined us to discuss how pivotal patents are to a strategic security strategy.
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Innovation-led Sustainability
Episode 1 in Season 3 features Gregorio Ossola, Head of Corporate Solutions at one.five. Greg shared with us the importance of a data-led approach to sustainability.
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Communicating the Impact of Innovation
In our holiday special, Episode 11, Season 2, our hosts Francesca and Nigel introduce a medley of the best snippets from Series 2. Tune in to enjoy our highlights and key takeaways.
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