Introduction to Patent Searching

Abstract

This chapter introduces patent searching in a way that should be ac- cessible and useful to both researchers in information retrieval and other areas of computer science and professionals seeking to broaden their knowledge of patent searching. It gives an overview of the process of patent searching, including the different forms of patent searching. It goes on to describe the differences among different domains of patent search (engineering, chemicals, gene sequences and so on) and the tools currently used by searchers in the each domain. It concludes with an overview of open issues.