1. Cluster Maps of Patent Applications
Karlheinz Skowronek / USPTO
My project utilizes patents data to identify the most appropriate examiners for patents applications to drive quality at the USPTO

2. Today’s application matching process is semi-manual and pseudo-random
USPC is no longer updated
Incoming application receive a US Patent classification (USPC)
List of cases is forwarded to the manager
Manually Assign cases to Examiners
USPC has been replaced with Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system
Semi-manual assignment:
-slow
-inaccurate
-inefficient
My project utilizes patents data to identify the best examiners for patents applications to drive quality at the USPTO
Any classification system is designed to develop expertise.

3. Patent Classification Data Visualized

4. Semiconductor Manufacture H01L21/00

5. H01L 21/00
Processes or apparatus adapted for the manufacture or treatment of semiconductor or solid state devices or of parts thereof ({testing or measuring during manufacture or treatment, or reliability measurementsH01L22/00; multistep manufacturing processes for passive two-terminal components without a potential-jump or surface barrier for integrated circuits H01L28/00; } processes or apparatus peculiar to the manufacture or treatment of devices provided for in groups H01L31/00 - H01L51/00 or of parts thereof, see these groups; single-step processes covered by other subclasses, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. C23C, C30B; photomechanical production of textured or patterned surfaces, materials or originals therefor, apparatus specially adapted therefor, in general G03F)
Edge weight=
Fiscal year 2015 filings = 400K
H01L21 represent 2.5% filings

6. Recommendation Engine + Process Automation = Workflow Improvement
Unassigned applications
Recommendation Engine
Allowed and Examined Applications
Examiner Fingerprints
Application CPC picture
Classification Data on allowed and examined application is used as a proxy for an examiner expertise.
Assignment Recommendations
ID Best Examiner Matches

7. ID Best Examiner Matches
Currently
Expertise-based Assignment
Examiner Fingerprints
Application CPC picture
No finger print – pseudo random
ID Best Examiner Matches

8. Putting the right examiner on an application drives quality at the USPTO
Overall process is more automated (modernized)
Pattern matching based on knowledge management (expertise proxy)
Patent applications are matched more accurately to the most appropriate examiner by fingerprint

9. Karlheinz Skowronek

10. Currently
Expertise-based Assignment

11. Expertise-based Assignments of Patent Applications
Software Used
Examiner’s Automated Search Tool
Golden
Anaconda/
Python (os)
Expertise-based Assignments of Patent Applications
Slack
(os)
GitHub
(os)
Waffle
(os)
Excel
Gephi
(os)
Atom
(os)