JP6537045B1 - Analysis support device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to support understanding of patent documents and creation of patent documents.
A first extraction unit extracts a processing expression indicating processing included in the invention according to the patent document and a target information expression indicating a target of the processing from a sentence included in the patent document. And a processing expression image indicating the processing expression extracted by the first extracting unit on the basis of relationship information indicating the relationship between the processing expression and the target information expression, and the processing extraction image extracted by the first extracting unit And a display control unit configured to generate an image in which the target information expression image indicating the target information expression is linked.
[Selected figure] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an analysis support apparatus and program.

  Conventionally, techniques for analyzing prior art patent documents filed in the past are known (e.g., patent document 1).

JP, 2009-3731, A

  When a new patent application is filed, it is required to grasp the difference from the prior art patent documents and create a patent document (including a patent application specification) in which the difference is clarified. Here, it may be difficult for a person who can not read the patent document to grasp the contents even if he refers to the patent document of the prior art. In addition, it may be difficult to grasp whether a difference between the patent document created in filing a new patent application and the patent document of the prior art appears. Further, when searching a plurality of prior art patent documents, it is necessary to create a chart that summarizes the configuration requirements and the like for each of the prior art patent documents, and the load required for the survey may increase. The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an analysis support device and program that can support the understanding of patent documents and the creation of patent documents.

  One aspect of the present invention is a first extraction unit that extracts, from a sentence included in a patent document, a processing expression indicating processing according to the invention relating to the patent document, and a target information expression indicating a target of the processing; The second extraction unit that extracts a keyword from the processing expression extracted by the first extraction unit, the target information expression, the relation information indicating the relationship between the processing expression, and the target information expression; Generating an image in which a processing expression image indicating a keyword of the processing expression extracted by a second extraction unit and a target information expression image indicating a keyword of the target information expression extracted by the second extraction unit are linked; And a display control unit.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to support understanding of patent documents and creation of patent documents.

It is a figure which shows an example of the operation | movement scene of the analysis assistance apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of a process to patent application using the analysis assistance apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure showing an example of the composition of the analysis support device concerning this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the 1st image which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a production | generation process of the 1st image by the analysis assistance apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the 2nd image which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a production | generation process of the 2nd image by the analysis assistance apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the 3rd image which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the 4th image which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the 5th image which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the production | generation process of the 3rd image-the 5th image by the analysis assistance apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the 6th image which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the 7th image which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the 8th image which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the 9th image which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a production | generation process of the 9th image by the analysis assistance apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the 10th image which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the 11th image which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of a production | generation process of the 10th image-the 11th image by the analysis assistance apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows another example (the 1) of the 11th image which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows another example (the 2) of the 11th image which concerns on this embodiment.

[Embodiment]
Hereinafter, some embodiments of the analysis support apparatus and program according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Overview of Analysis Support Device 10>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an operation scene of the analysis support apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. Data related to patent documents (for example, data of specification in patent publication publication and the like) is input to the analysis support apparatus 10, and an image for supporting understanding of the patent documents is generated. The user of the analysis support apparatus 10 confirms the image generated by the analysis support apparatus 10, and grasps (understands) the content of the technology described in the patent document.

<Flow up to patent application>
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the flow up to the patent application using the analysis support apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, in the patent application using the analysis support device 10, each process is performed in the order of “search step”, “analysis step”, “creation step” and “confirmation step”.

  First, in the “investigation step”, the user uses the analysis support apparatus 10 to investigate the conventional technology. For example, the analysis support device 10 generates an image indicating the survey result based on the patent documents of the prior art. The user refers to the image generated by the analysis support apparatus 10, and investigates (acquires) the problems that the prior art can not solve and the characteristics of the prior art. Here, a plurality of patent documents having the same technical field may be used for the search of the prior art.

  Next, in the “analysis step”, the user performs analysis of the prior art using the analysis support apparatus 10. For example, the analysis support device 10 generates a prior art analysis image based on the image generated in the “survey step”. The prior art analysis image is an image in which the features of the prior art used to generate the image described above and the problems that the prior art can not solve are collectively shown. The user refers to the prior art analysis image generated by the analysis support apparatus 10, and grasps features and problems across multiple related techniques.

  Next, in the “creation step”, the user creates or requests creation of a patent document in which the difference from the prior art analyzed in the “analysis step” is clarified.

  Next, in the “confirmation step”, the user uses the analysis support apparatus 10 to confirm the patent documents created in the “creation step”. For example, the analysis support device 10 generates an image indicating the confirmation result based on the created patent document. The user refers to the image generated by the analysis support apparatus 10, and confirms whether a patent document in which the difference from the prior art is clarified is created.

<Configuration of Analysis Support Device 10>
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the analysis support apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. The analysis support device 10 includes, for example, a control unit 100, a storage unit 110, a reception unit 120, and a display unit 130. The control unit 100 executes, for example, a program (software) stored in the storage unit 110 by a hardware processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) to obtain the acquisition unit 101, the extraction unit 102, and the display control unit 103. And the generation unit 104 as a functional unit. In addition, some or all of these components may be hardware (circuits) such as LSI (Large Scale Integration), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), and GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). Circuit (including circuitry) or may be realized by cooperation of software and hardware.

  The receiving unit 120 is, for example, an input device such as a keyboard, a touch pad, or a mouse that receives an operation input from a user. The display unit 130 is, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display panel, a plasma display panel, or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display panel.

  The storage unit 110 is realized by, for example, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a flash memory, or a hybrid storage device in which a plurality of them are combined. In addition, a part or all of the storage unit 110 may be an external device to which the analysis support device 10 can access, such as a NAS (Network Attached Storage) or an external storage server.

  The acquisition unit 101 acquires patent documents to be processed by the analysis support apparatus 10. The acquiring unit 101 acquires prior art patent documents in the above-mentioned "searching step", and unpatented patent documents in the "confirmation step" (for example, data of the specification in the patent application specification draft before filing the application) To get For example, the acquisition unit 101 acquires data of patent documents input by the user via the reception unit 120. Note that the storage unit 110 may function as a database of patent documents, and the acquisition unit 101 may be configured to acquire the patent documents from the storage unit 110.

  The extraction unit 102 extracts expressions and sentences used when the analysis support apparatus 10 generates an image from the patent documents acquired by the acquisition unit 101.

  The display control unit 103 generates various images based on the expressions and sentences extracted by the extraction unit 102 and causes the display unit 130 to display the images.

  The generation unit 104 generates an image (hereinafter, referred to as a prior-art analysis image) that summarizes the features of the prior art and the problems that the prior art can not solve.

<First Image 600a>
FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a first image 600a according to the present embodiment. The first image 600 a is an image generated in the “survey step” described above. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the first image 600a includes five processing expression images (processing expression images 601a to 601e shown) and seven target information expression images (target information expression images 602a to 602g shown). And are included. Hereinafter, when the processing expression images 601a to 601e are not distinguished from one another, they are collectively referred to as a processing expression image 601. When the target information expression images 602a to 602g are not distinguished, they are collectively referred to as a target information expression image 602.

  When the first image 600 a is generated, the extraction unit 102 is an expression (hereinafter referred to as processing expression) indicating processing included in the invention according to the patent document or an expression (hereinafter referred to as target information expression) indicating an object of the processing. Extract The processing expression means, for example, “... Means”, “... Step”, “... Part”, “in the statement of claims defining the invention or the patented invention to be patented in the patent document. It is an expression described as "...", "...", or "...". The processing expression is, for example, acquisition means, correction means, extraction means, selection means, determination means, calculation means, derivation means, input means, output means and the like. The target information expression is, for example, an expression described as "... information", "... value", or "... result". The extraction unit 102, for example, decomposes the sentence of the claim into words (morphemes) by morpheme analysis or the like, then searches the sentence of the claim by using the above expression as a search word, and extracts the processing expression and the target information expression. Do. In addition, the processing expression and target information expression which were mentioned above are an example, Comprising: It is not restricted to this. The extraction unit 102 is an example of a first extraction unit. When a plurality of claims are included in the patent document, the extraction unit 102 may perform the above extraction process on each of the plurality of claims.

  The processing expression image 601 is an image showing the processing expression extracted by the extracting unit 102. The target information expression image 602 is an image showing the target information expression extracted by the extraction unit 102. The display control unit 103 generates a processing expression image 601 based on the processing expression extracted by the extraction unit 102, and generates a target information expression image 602 based on the target information expression.

  The processing representation image 601 and the target information representation image 602 may be represented by shapes different from each other. In the illustrated example, the processing representation image 601 is represented by a parallelogram, and the object information representation image 602 is represented by a rectangle. As a result, the user who confirms the first image 600a can visually distinguish between the processing expression and the target information expression. The shapes of the processing expression image 601 and the target information expression image 602 are an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  Further, in the first image 600a, the processing expression image 601 and the target information expression image 602 are linked to each other by the relation information indicating the relation between the two. Relational information is represented, for example, by a line. The display control unit 103 generates a first image 600 a in which the processing expression image 601 and the target information expression image 602 are linked to each other, based on relationship information indicating the relationship between the processing expression and the target information expression.

  The related information is, for example, information input by the user. In this case, the display control unit 103 displays, on the display unit 130, the processing expression image 601 and the target information expression image 602 in a non-connected state based on the processing expression and the target information expression extracted by the extracting unit 102. . The user operates the processing expression image 601 and the other processing expressions that connect the processing expression image 601 and the target information expression image 602 displayed on the display unit 130 with each other based on the statement of the claims described in the patent document An operation of connecting the image 601 with each other or an operation of connecting the target information expression image 602 and another target information expression image 602 is input to the reception unit 120. The display control unit 103 selects the processing expression image 601 and the target information expression image 602, the processing expression image 601 and another processing expression image 601, or the target information expression based on the operation indicating the relationship information input to the reception unit 120. A first image 600a is generated in which the image 602 and the other target information expression image 602 are linked to each other.

  Note that the display control unit 103 does not require the relationship information input by the user, and the processing expression image 601 and the target information expression image 602 are mutually exchanged based on the statement of the claims described in the patent document. It may be linked. In this case, the control unit 100 includes a relation information generation unit that generates relation information based on the similarity between constituent words of the processing expression and the target information expression. The relational information generation unit decomposes a sentence including a processing expression or a sentence including a target information expression into words (morphemes) by morphological analysis or the like. Based on the sentence decomposed into the morphemes, the relation information generation unit (1) uses, as the target information expression related to the processing expression, a target information expression that is the same as or similar to the target information expression included in the sentence including the processing expression. Identify and (2) identify a processing expression that is the same as or similar to the processing expression included in the sentence including the processing expression as a target information expression related to the processing expression, (3) included in the sentence including the target information expression A target information expression that is the same as or similar to the target information expression is specified as a target information expression related to the target information expression, or (4) a processing expression that is the same as or similar to a processing expression included in a sentence including the target information expression Is identified as a processing expression related to the target information expression.

  In the case of the example of (1) described above, the relation information generation unit is included in the sentence “a calculation unit that calculates an evaluation value based on ... reference information including a processing expression“ calculation unit ”,. A target information expression “reference information” to be identified is specified as a target information expression related to the “calculation unit”. Further, in the case of the example of (2) described above, for example, the relation information generation unit extracts the target area based on the evaluation value calculated by the “calculation unit” that includes the processing expression “extraction unit”. The processing expression “calculation section” included in the sentence “extraction section” and “...” is specified as the processing expression related to the “extraction section”. Further, in the case of the example of (3) described above, the relation information generation unit includes, for example, an object information expression of “customer information” “... customer information” is information including name information indicating the name of the customer The target information expression "name information" included in the sentence "..." is specified as the target information expression related to "customer information". Further, in the case of the example of (4) described above, the relation information generation unit includes, for example, “image information acquired by the acquisition unit including the object information expression“ image information ”; A processing expression “acquisition unit” is specified as a processing expression related to “image information”.

  The relation information generation unit refers to a database storing a plurality of correspondence information, and based on the similarity between the correspondence information stored in the database, the processing expression, and the target information expression, the processing expression and the target information The relationship with the information expression may be specified. Correspondence information is information in which related processing expressions and target information expressions are mutually associated. The database stores, for example, correspondence information based on relation information input by the user, a plurality of relation information generated in the past, and the like. The relation information generation unit refers to (5) a plurality of pieces of correspondence information stored in the database, and the processing expression included in a certain correspondence information and the processing expression included in the sentence decomposed into morphemes are identical or similar, When the target information expressions associated with the correspondence information are included in the sentences decomposed into morphemes, they are specified as processing expressions and target information expressions related to each other.

  In the case of the example of (5) described above, for example, the relationship information generation unit associates the processing information "image extraction unit" with the target information expression "extraction image" with the correspondence information stored in the database. In the case where the sentence decomposed into the morpheme includes the processing expression "image extraction unit" and the target information expression "extracted image", they are referred to as the related processing expression and target information expression. Identify.

  The relation information generation unit generates relation information based on the identification result specifying the relation. The display control unit 103 generates a first image 600 a in which the processing expression image 601 and the target information expression image 602 are linked to each other, based on the relation information generated by the relation information generation unit.

  The first image 600a also includes three areas (areas AR1 to AR3 shown). The processing expression image 601 is arranged in the area AR2. The target information expression image 602 is arranged in any of the areas AR1 to AR3. For example, the display control unit 103 arranges, in the area AR1, the target information expression image 602 of the target information expression, which is input as information used for the processing of the invention according to the patent document, among the target information expression image 602. Further, the display control unit 103 arranges the target information expression image 602 of the target information expression, which is output as a result of the processing of the invention according to the patent document, in the region AR3. In addition, the display control unit 103 is a target information expression other than the target information expression input as a result of the target information expression and processing in the target information expression image 602, and is a target information expression target related to the processing of the device. The information expression image 602 is arranged in the area AR2.

  By referring to the first image 600 a generated by the above-described process, the user can visually grasp the claims described in the patent document.

<Operation of Generating First Image 600a>
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a process of generating the first image 600a by the analysis support apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. The extraction unit 102 extracts a processing expression from the sentence of the claims described in the prior art patent documents (step S101). The extraction unit 102, for example, decomposes the sentence of the claim into words (morphemes) by morpheme analysis or the like, then uses the expression of the above-described processed expression as a search word, searches the sentence of the claim, and extracts the processed expression.

  Next, the extraction unit 102 extracts a target information expression from the sentence of the claim (step S102). The extraction unit 102, for example, decomposes the sentence of the claim into words (morphemes) by morpheme analysis or the like, then searches the sentence of the claim using the expression of the target information expression described above as a search word, and extracts the target information expression. Do.

  Next, the display control unit 103 generates a first image 600 a based on the relationship information, the processing expression image 601 indicating the extracted processing expression, and the target information expression image 602 indicating the extracted target information expression. (Step S103). The display control unit 103 generates a processing expression image 601 based on the processing expression extracted by the extraction unit 102, and generates a target information expression image 602 based on the target information expression extracted by the extraction unit 102. The display control unit 103 arranges the generated processing expression image 601 in the area AR2 of the first image 600a, and the target information expression image 602 is an area based on the feature of the target information expression indicated by the target information expression image 602. Arrange in any of AR1 to AR3. The display control unit 103 generates a first image 600 a in which the processing expression image 601 and the target information expression image 602 are linked to each other, based on the relation information input by the user or the relation information generated by the relation information generation unit. .

  Next, the display control unit 103 causes the display unit 130 to display the generated first image 600a (step S104). The user can check the first image 600a displayed on the display unit 130 and investigate (understand) the features of the prior art.

<Second image 600b>
FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of a second image (hereinafter, a second image 600b) according to the present embodiment. The second image 600 b is an image in which the first image 600 a further includes an explanatory image 603. The second image 600 b is generated in the “survey step” described above. For example, when the receiving unit 120 receives an input of a user instructing to display the second image 600 b, the display control unit 103 generates the second image 600 b and causes the display unit 130 to display the second image 600 b. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the second image 600b includes nine commentary images 603 (the commentary images 603a to 603i shown). Hereinafter, when the commentary images 603a to 603i are not distinguished from one another, they are collectively referred to as a commentary image 603. The comment image 603 is, for example, an image showing a comment of the processing expression extracted by the extraction unit 102 and a comment of the target information expression.

  When the second image 600b is generated, the extraction unit 102 extracts the processing expression and the target information expression shown in the processing expression image 601 and the target information expression image 602 among the statements of the claims described in the patent document. Extract the included sentences (hereinafter, commentary). For example, the extraction unit 102 searches the sentence of the claim by using the processing expression and the target information expression extracted earlier as a search word, and detects the sentence between the phrase and the phrase or the sentence between the processing expression and the processing expression. It extracts a sentence including processing expression and target information expression as a comment. The extraction unit 102 is an example of a second extraction unit.

  The display control unit 103 generates an explanatory image 603 based on the explanatory text extracted by the extraction unit 102. The display control unit 103 generates a second image 600b in which the generated commentary images 603 are arranged near the corresponding processing expression image 601 and the target information expression image 602, and causes the display unit 130 to display the second image 600b.

  If the shape of the commentary image 603 indicates the corresponding processing expression image 601 or the target information expression image 602 (in the example illustrated, the balloon), the display control unit 103 processes the comment image 603 as a processing expression image 601. And may not be placed near the target information expression image 602. For example, the comment image 603 may be displayed in such a manner that the correspondence with the processing expression image 601 and the target information expression image 602 can be visually grasped. As a result, when the second image 600 b includes a large number of the processing expression image 601 and the target information expression image 602, it is possible to suppress that the commenting image 603 makes the processing expression image 601 and the target information expression image 602 inconspicuous. it can.

  Here, the user may want to grasp the details of the processing expression and the target information expression in the claims while visually grasping the claims described in the patent document by the first image 600a. By referring to the second image 600 b generated by the above-described process, the user confirms the claim again with a comment including the processing expression described in the patent document and a comment including the target information expression. It can be grasped without.

<Operation of Generating Second Image 600b>
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a process of generating a second image 600b by the analysis support apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. The extraction unit 102 extracts an explanatory text including the processing expression of the processing expression image 601 based on the statement of the claims described in the patent document (step S201). Next, the extraction unit 102 extracts a comment including the target information expression of the target information expression image 602 based on the sentence of the claim (step S202). Next, the display control unit 103 generates a second image 600b including the comment image 603 indicating the comment sentence extracted by the extraction unit 102 (step S203). The display control unit 103 causes the display unit 130 to display the generated second image 600b (step S204).

<Third Image 600c>
FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of a third image (hereinafter, the third image 600c) according to the present embodiment. The third image 600c is an image in which the conventional feature input image 604 is further included in the first image 600a or the second image 600b described above. The conventional feature input image 604 is an image prompting the user to input a feature of the prior art. The third image 600c is generated in the "survey step". For example, when the receiving unit 120 receives an input of a user instructing to display the third image 600c, the display control unit 103 generates the third image 600c and causes the display unit 130 to display the third image 600c. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the third image 600c includes one conventional feature input image 604 (the conventional feature input image 604a shown).

  Here, when filing a new patent application, it is preferable to grasp the features of the prior art. After the first image 600 a and the second image 600 b are displayed on the display unit 130, the display control unit 103 causes the third image 600 c including the conventional feature input image 604 to be displayed, and allows the user to Prompt for input. In the illustrated example, the conventional feature input image 604 is an image showing a "Please enter" message prompting for a feature of the prior art. The user examines the features of the prior art with reference to the first image 600a and the second image 600b, and inputs the features of the prior art to the accepting unit 120 as the third image 600c is displayed. .

  The display control unit 103 generates a conventional characteristic image (hereinafter referred to as a conventional characteristic image 614) in which a sentence indicating the characteristic of the prior art is shown based on the operation of inputting the characteristic of the prior art received by the reception unit 120. Here, the user may input a plurality of features to the reception unit 120 in the related art. In this case, the display control unit 103 generates the conventional feature images 614 by the number according to the number of the conventional techniques input by the user.

<Fourth image 600d>
FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of a fourth image (hereinafter, the fourth image 600d) according to the present embodiment. The fourth image 600d is generated in the "survey step". For example, the display control unit 103 generates a fourth image 600d including the conventional feature image 614 and the conventional task input image 605 in place of the conventional feature input image 604 in the third image 600c. In the example shown in FIG. 9, one conventional characteristic image 614 (conventional characteristic image 614a shown) and one conventional task input image 605 (conventional task input image 605a shown) are included.

  When the feature of the prior art input to the reception unit 120 is a feature corresponding to a certain processing expression or target information expression, the conventional feature image 614 is a processing expression image 601 of the processing expression or target information expression, the target information expression It may have a shape (in the illustrated example, a balloon) pointing to the image 602. As a result, the fourth image 600d can visually show the correspondence between the processing expression or the target information expression and the feature of the prior art.

  Here, when filing a new patent application, it is preferable to grasp problems that the prior art has not solved. A fourth image 600d including the conventional task input image 605 is displayed to prompt the user to input a task of the prior art. In an example shown in the figure, the conventional task input image 605 is an image showing a “Please enter” message prompting input of a task in the prior art. The user refers to the first images 600 a to 600 d to examine the problems of the prior art, and inputs the problems of the prior art to the reception unit 120 as the fourth image 600 d is displayed.

  The display control unit 103 generates a conventional task image (hereinafter, referred to as a conventional task image 615) in which a sentence indicating a task of the conventional technology is indicated based on an operation of inputting the task of the conventional technology received by the reception unit 120. Here, the user may input an assignment to the reception unit 120 for each feature of the related art. In this case, the display control unit 103 generates the conventional task images 615 by the number according to the number of the conventional technology tasks input by the user.

<Fifth image 600e>
FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a fifth image (hereinafter referred to as a fifth image 600e) according to the present embodiment. The fifth image 600e is generated in the "survey step". For example, the display control unit 103 generates a fifth image 600e including the conventional task image 615 instead of the conventional task input image 605 in the fourth image 600d. In the example shown in FIG. 10, one conventional task image 615 (conventional task image 615a shown) is included for one conventional feature image 614 (conventional feature image 614a shown).

  If the problem of the prior art input to the reception unit 120 is a problem corresponding to a feature of a certain prior art, the conventional task image 615 has a shape (in an example shown in the drawing, pointing to the conventional characteristic image 614 of the feature of the prior art). , A balloon). Thereby, the fifth image 600 e can visually show the correspondence between the feature of the prior art and the problem.

<Operation of Generating Third Image 600c to Fifth Image 600e>
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a process of generating the third image 600c to the fifth image 600e by the analysis support device 10 according to the present embodiment. The display control unit 103 causes the display unit 130 to display the third image 600c (step S301). The receiving unit 120 receives an input of the feature of the prior art (step S302). The display control unit 103 stands by until the feature of the related art is input to the receiving unit 120 (step S303). When the feature of the related art is input to the reception unit 120, the display control unit 103 generates a fourth image 600d including the conventional feature image 614 in which the feature is indicated (step S304). The display control unit 103 causes the display unit 130 to display the fourth image 600d (step S305). The receiving unit 120 receives an input of the problem of the related art (step S306). The display control unit 103 stands by until the problem of the related art is input to the reception unit 120 (step S307). When a problem in the related art is input, the display control unit 103 generates a fifth image 600e including the conventional task image 615 and the conventional task image 615 in which the task is indicated (step S308). The display control unit 103 causes the display unit 130 to display the generated fifth image 600e (step S309).

<Sixth Image 600f>
FIG. 12 is a view showing an example of a sixth image (hereinafter, the sixth image 600 f) according to the present embodiment. The sixth image 600 f is generated in the “analysis step”. The sixth image 600 f is an image in which the features of the related art received by the receiving unit 120 by the above-described processing and the problems that the related art can not solve are collectively shown for each related art.

  The generation unit 104 corresponds to, for example, the features of the patent document of the prior art acquired by the above-described processing, the problem of the prior art, the comment of the processing description corresponding to the feature or the issue, or the feature or the issue A sixth image 600 f is generated which shows a table in which the explanatory text of the target information expression to be displayed and the information for identifying patent documents (in the example shown, patent application number) are associated with each other for each patent document. If the feature or problem does not correspond to the processing expression or target information expression, the sixth image 600 f may be a table in which the information for identifying the patent document is associated with the feature or problem. . The sixth image 600 f is an example of a prior-art analysis image.

  By referring to the sixth image 600 f generated by the above-described process, the user can identify features and problems, and commentary corresponding to the features and problems, with respect to a plurality of prior art patent documents related to a certain technical field, The claims of the patent documents of each prior art can be grasped without confirming again.

<Seventh image 600 g>
FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of a seventh image (hereinafter, the seventh image 600 g) according to the present embodiment. The seventh image 600g is generated in the "confirmation step" on the basis of the newly patent-applied patent document (hereinafter referred to as an unclaimed patent document) generated in the "creation step". The process of generating the seventh image 600g is the same as the process of generating the first image 600a, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  By referring to the seventh image 600g, the user can visually grasp the claims described in the unpatented patent documents.

<Eighth image 600 h>
FIG. 14 is a view showing an example of an eighth image (hereinafter, an eighth image 600 h) according to the present embodiment. The eighth image 600 h is generated in the “confirmation step”. The process of generating the eighth image 600h is the same as the process of generating the second image 600b, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  By referring to the eighth image 600h, the user grasps the comment including the processing expression described in the unpatented patent document and the comment including the target information expression without reconfirming the claim. be able to.

<The 9th image 600i>
FIG. 15 is a view showing an example of a ninth image (hereinafter, a ninth image 600i) according to the present embodiment. The ninth image 600i is an image in which the comment image 603 is further included in the seventh image 600g or the eighth image 600h described above. The ninth image 600i is generated in the "confirmation step". In the example illustrated in FIG. 15, the ninth image 600i includes three subject-specific images (subject-specific subject images 606a to 606c illustrated). In the following description, when the subject images 606a to 606c are not distinguished from one another, they are collectively referred to as the subject image 606. The present subject image 606 is an image showing a sentence of the related art subject described in the unpatented patent document.

  When the ninth image 600i is generated, the extraction unit 102 extracts the text related to the problem of the prior art from the items of “background art” and “problems to be solved by the invention” described in the unpatented patent documents. Extract The extraction unit 102 describes, for example, "problem", "hard", "hard", "cannot be ...", or "can be ..." as a search word, and is described in the unpatented patent document The sentences described in the items of "Background Art" and "Problems to be Solved by the Invention" are searched to extract sentences relating to the problems of the prior art. The extraction unit 102 is an example of a third extraction unit. The display control unit 103 generates a ninth image 600i including the task image 606 according to the present application based on the sentence regarding the task in the related art extracted by the extraction unit 102, and causes the display unit 130 to display the ninth image 600i.

  By referring to the ninth image 600i generated by the process described above, the user can check the problems of the prior art described in the unpatented patent documents without confirming the contents of the unpatented patent documents again. It can be grasped.

<Operation of Generating the ninth image 600i>
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of an operation of generating a ninth image 600i of the present embodiment. The extraction unit 102 extracts a sentence indicating the problem of the prior art from the unpatented patent document (step S401). The display control unit 103 generates a ninth image 600i including the subject application image 606 indicating the sentence of the related art task described in the unpatented patent document extracted by the extraction unit 102 (step S402). The display control unit 103 causes the display unit 130 to display the generated ninth image 600i (step S403).

<The tenth image 600j>
FIG. 17 is a view showing an example of a tenth image (hereinafter, a tenth image 600 j) according to the present embodiment. The tenth image 600 j is an image further including the feature input image 607 in the ninth image 600 i described above. The feature input image 607 is an image prompting the user to input the feature of the invention according to the unpatented patent document. The tenth image 600 j is generated in the “confirmation step”. For example, the tenth image 600 j is generated and displayed when the user inputs an input for displaying the tenth image 600 j to the reception unit 120. In the example shown in FIG. 17, the tenth image 600j includes two feature input images (feature input images 607a to 607b shown). In the following description, when the feature input images 607a to 607b are not distinguished from one another, they are collectively referred to as a feature input image 607.

  Here, the unpatented patent documents are required to clearly show the difference from the prior art examined by the above-described process. After the ninth image 600i is displayed, the display control unit 103 causes the tenth image 600j including the feature input image 607 to be displayed, and the feature of the invention according to the patent document not yet filed by the user (hereinafter referred to as the feature of the present application) Prompt for). In the illustrated example, the feature input image 607 is an image showing a "Please enter" message prompting for input of features of the present application. The user refers to the tenth image 600 j and inputs the features of the present application to the reception unit 120 while examining whether the features of the present application are distinct features from the prior art.

  Based on the operation indicating the feature of the present application input to the reception unit 120, the display control unit 103 generates a present-feature image (hereinafter, the present-feature image 617) in which a sentence indicating the feature of the present application is shown. Here, the user may input, to the reception unit 120, a plurality of features of the invention related to the patent document of the unpatented patent document. In this case, the display control unit 103 generates the application feature images 617 by the number according to the number of the features of the present application input by the user.

<Eleventh image 600k>
FIG. 18 is a view showing an example of an eleventh image (hereinafter referred to as an eleventh image 600k) according to the present embodiment. An eleventh image 600k is generated in the "confirmation step". For example, the display control unit 103 generates an eleventh image 600k including the present application characteristic image 617 instead of the characteristic input image 607 in the tenth image 600j. In the example shown in FIG. 18, two present application characteristic images (present application characteristic images 617a to 617b shown) are included. In the following description, when the present application characteristic images 617a to 617b are not distinguished from one another, they are collectively referred to as the present application characteristic image 617.

  When the feature of the present application input to the reception unit 120 corresponds to a problem in a related art, the present application characteristic image 617 has a shape (in the example illustrated, a balloon) pointing to the present application image 606 in the related art problem. It may be. Thereby, the eleventh image 600k can visually show the correspondence between the problem of the prior art and the features of the present application.

<Operation of Generating Tenth Image 600j to Eleventh Image 600k>
FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of an operation of generating the tenth image 600 j to the eleventh image 600 k according to the present embodiment. The display control unit 103 causes the display unit 130 to display a tenth image 600 j including the feature input image 607 (step S 501). The receiving unit 120 receives an input of features of the present application (step S502). It waits until the feature of the present application is input to the receiving unit 120 (step S503). When the feature of the present application is input to the reception unit 120, the display control unit 103 generates an eleventh image 600k including the present-feature image 617 in which the feature is indicated (step S504). The display control unit 103 causes the display unit 130 to display an eleventh image 600k (step S505).

<Clarified processing with few ties>
Note that the display control unit 103 is an image (hereinafter referred to as an explicit image) that clearly shows a portion (process) where the processing expression image 601 and the target information expression image 602 are less connected to the seventh image 600g to the eleventh image 600k. 608) may be included. When processing is performed based on a small number of target information, the processing may be a simple processing, and it is difficult to clearly show the difference from the prior art, that is, novelty and inventive step of the invention It is assumed that it will be difficult to secure In the case where such processing is present, it may be better to consider the device of the processing that brings out the features of the invention.

  FIG. 20 is a view showing another example (part 1) of the eleventh image 600k according to the present embodiment. The display control unit 103 specifies, for example, a processing expression image 601 with a small number of linked processing expression images 601 and target information expression images 602, and specifies an explicit image 608 that specifies (emphasizes) the specified processing expression image 601. An eleventh image 600k is generated. In the illustrated example, the eleventh image 600k is an image including an explicit image 608a indicating a message that "the process is a process with low association". In the illustrated example, the process with a low degree of association is, for example, the “correction” process of the processing expression image 601 d. The “correction” process of the processing expression image 601 d is a simple process of “correcting” the target information expression image 602 f arranged in the area AR 1 and outputting the target information expression image 602 p as a target information expression.

  By referring to the seventh image 600g to the eleventh image 600k including the explicit image 608, the user grasps simple processing in the invention according to the unpatented patent document, and the difference with the prior art is taken. You have the opportunity to check again if you

<Clarified processing similar to cited document>
In the present embodiment, the analysis support device 10 uses not only the citations indicated in the notice of reasons for rejection in the examination stage after the application but also the patent literature after the application, as well as the preparation stage of the patent documents (patent application specification). It can also be used in contrast to the described invention. The display control unit 103 may be configured to include, in the seventh image 600 g to the eleventh image 600 k, an image that clearly indicates a portion (process) similar to the process described in the cited document. When processing similar to the cited document is performed, it is assumed that it is difficult to clearly indicate the difference from the cited document, that is, it is difficult to secure the inventive step to the cited document. . When such processing is present, it may be better to consider processing (for example, correction) that brings out the features of the invention.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating another example (part 2) of the eleventh image 600k according to the present embodiment. The display control unit 103 generates, for example, an eleventh image 600k based on the cited document, and the generated eleventh image 600k of the cited document matches the eleventh image 600k of the patent document after the application or does not match Identify substantially identical processes. Here, that the eleventh image 600k matches or substantially matches means that the processing expression shown as the processing expression image 601, the target information expression shown as the target information expression image 602, and the connection thereof match or are similar. Next, the display control unit 103 generates an eleventh image 600k including the explicit image 608 that specifies (emphasizes) the identified processing expression image 601 and the target information expression image 602.

  In the illustrated example, the eleventh image 600k is an image that includes an explicit image 608b that indicates a message that "it is similar to the cited document". In the illustrated example, the process similar to the cited document is, for example, a “correction” process of the processing expression image 601 d. In this case, in the cited document, “information” that is the target information expression indicated by the target information expression image 602f disposed in the area AR1 is “corrected” and output as the target information expression indicated by the target information expression image 602p. A process similar to the process expression image 601d is described.

  By referring to the seventh image 600g to the eleventh image 600k including the explicit image 608, the user is similar in the process described in the cited document to the process according to the patent document after the application It is possible to grasp that and see if there is any difference with the citation.

  In the above description, the display control unit 103 includes the explicit image 608 in the seventh image 600 g to the eleventh image 600 k and describes a configuration that clearly indicates a portion having a small degree of association or a portion similar to a cited document. It is not limited to. The display control unit 103 may not generate an image including the explicit image 608 if it is configured to clearly indicate a portion having a small amount of association or a portion similar to a cited document. The display control unit 103 may be configured to indicate by blinking the processing expression image 601 indicating the processing, for example, when specifying a part having a small degree of association or a part similar to the cited document, the processing expression image 601 The configuration may be made explicit by making the color of the image different from the color of the other processing expression image 601.

<Summary of the embodiment>
According to the present embodiment described above, the analysis support device 10 indicates the process according to the invention related to the patent document from the sentence included in the patent document (in this example, the patent document of the prior art or the patent document not filed). The processing expression extracted by the extraction unit 102 is extracted based on the processing unit and the target information expression indicating the target of the processing, the processing information and the relationship information indicating the relationship between the processing information and the target information expression. A display control unit 103 that generates a first image 600a or a seventh image 600g in which the processing expression image 601 shown is linked with the target information expression image 602 showing the target information expression extracted by the extraction unit 102; To assist the user's understanding of patent documents and creation of patent documents.

  As mentioned above, although the form for carrying out the present invention was explained using an embodiment, the present invention is not limited at all by such an embodiment, and various modification and substitution within the range which does not deviate from the gist of the present invention Can be added.

10: analysis support device 100: control unit 101: acquisition unit 102: extraction unit 103: display control unit 104: storage unit 110: storage unit 120: reception unit 130: display unit 600: images 601, 601a, 601b, 601c, 601d , 601e, 601f, 601g,..., Processing expression images 602, 602a, 602b, 602c, 602d, 602e,. Target information expression images 603, 603a, 603b, 603c, 603d, 603e, 603f, 603g, 603h, 603i, ... commentary image 604, 604a: Conventional feature input image 605, 605a: Conventional task input image 606, 606a, 606b, 606c: Application subject image 607, 607a, 607b: Feature input image 608: Explicit image 614, 614a: Conventional feature image 615, 615a: Conventional Problem image 617, 617a 617b ... present feature image

Claims (11)

A first extraction unit that extracts, from a sentence included in a patent document, a processing expression indicating processing included in the invention according to the patent document, and a target information expression indicating a target of the processing;
A second extraction unit for extracting a sentence including the processing expression and a sentence including the target information expression from the sentences included in the patent document;
A processing expression image indicating the processing expression extracted by the first extraction unit based on relationship information indicating the relationship between the processing expression and the target information expression, and the processing expression extracted by the second extraction unit A first image in which commentary images indicating sentences including a sentence are associated with each other , an object information expression image indicating the object information expression extracted by the first extraction unit, and the object information extracted by the second extraction unit A display control unit that generates an image in which a second image in which commentary images indicating sentences including expressions are associated with each other is generated;
Bei to give a,
In the image, the display control unit
The second image of the target information expression input as information used for processing included in the invention according to the patent document is disposed in a first area,
The second image of the target information expression output as a result of processing included in the invention according to the patent document is arranged in a second area,
The second image of the object information expression and the first image related to the process included in the invention according to the patent document are arranged in a third region between the first region and the second region. Generate the image,
Analysis support device. The information processing apparatus further comprises a reception unit that receives an input of the user's related information;
The display control unit generates the image based on the relation information received by the reception unit.
The analysis support device according to claim 1. The system further includes a relation information generation unit that generates the relation information for an expression that is the same as or similar to the processing expression or the target information expression included in a sentence including the processing expression or the target information expression .
The display control unit generates the image based on the relation information generated by the relation information generation unit.
The analysis support device according to claim 1 or 2. And a reception unit for receiving user input,
The patent document is a document in which the filed prior art has been described.
The display control unit generates the image further including a conventional feature input image prompting input of the prior art problem or the prior art feature.
The receiving unit receives an input of a sentence indicating a problem of the prior art or a sentence indicating a feature of the prior art according to the display of the conventional feature input image.
The analysis support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . The display control unit generates the image further including a conventional feature image indicating a sentence indicating the problem of the prior art received by the reception unit or a sentence indicating a feature of the prior art.
The analysis support device according to claim 4 . A sentence including the target information expression extracted based on the plurality of patent documents or a sentence including the processing expression is associated with the problem of the prior art received by the reception unit or the feature of the prior art. Further comprising a generation unit for generating a prior-art analysis image.
The analysis support device according to claim 4 or 5 . The above-mentioned patent documents are documents in which unpatented patent documents are described, and
And a third extracting unit for extracting a sentence showing the explanation of the prior art or a sentence showing the problem of the prior art from the sentences contained in the unpatented patent documents,
The display control unit generates the image further including a subject-problem image indicating a sentence explaining the prior art extracted by the third extraction unit or a sentence indicating a problem of the prior art.
The analysis support device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . And a reception unit for receiving user input,
The display control unit generates the image further including a feature input image for prompting input of a sentence indicating the feature of the unpatented patent document according to the display of the subject problem image according to the present application;
The receiving unit receives an input of a sentence indicating a feature of the unpatented patent document according to the display of the feature input image.
The analysis support device according to claim 7 . The display control unit generates the image further including a feature image of the present application indicating a sentence indicating the feature of the unpatented patent document accepted by the acceptance unit.
The analysis support device according to claim 8 . Wherein the display control unit, of the image, for the processing representation image or the object information representing an image, to generate the image number is clearly less points than the other tied operation being represented image or object information image ,
The analysis support device according to any one of claims 7 to 9 . On the computer
A first extraction step of extracting a processing expression indicating processing according to the invention according to the patent document and a target information expression indicating the target of the processing from a sentence included in the patent document;
A second extraction step of extracting a sentence including the processing expression and a sentence including the target information expression from the sentences included in the patent document;
A processing expression image indicating the processing expression extracted by the first extraction step based on the processing expression and relationship information indicating a relationship between the target information expression and the processing extracted by the second extraction step A first image in which commentary images indicating sentences including expressions are associated with each other , an object information expression image indicating the object information expression extracted in the first extraction step, and the object extracted in the second extraction step A display control step of generating an image in which a second image in which commentary images indicating sentences including an information expression are associated with each other is generated;
A program for executing,
In the display control step, in the image,
Arranging the second image of the target information expression input as information used for processing included in the invention according to the patent document in a first area;
Arranging the second image of the target information expression output as a result of processing included in the invention according to the patent document in a second area;
The second image of the target information expression relating to the process included in the invention according to the patent document and the first image are disposed in a third region between the first region and the second region. Generate an image,
Program .

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