Think about the quirkiest, most absurd idea related to literally anything.
How about a self-watering plant that sends you text messages when it’s thirsty?
As bizarre as it sounds, someone has indeed thought of it, developed it, and even obtained a patent.
When you Google it, you will find gadgets like PlantLink, which monitors soil moisture and notifies you via your smartphone.
Prior art search goes miles further than just a simple search on Google or another search engine.
It is about reviewing every publicly available evidence across global databases to gauge whether an invention is already known, patentable, or too obvious to be patentable.
It sounds exhaustive, right? That’s because it can be without the right tool!
That’s why InspireIP offers PQAI functionality within its platform to make prior art searches go beyond the purview of legal teams, experts, and patent attorneys.
Result?
A more hands-on approach to prior art search that instills an innovation culture where every individual (beyond R&D departments) can transition into their field expert.
Let’s step back a little and cover the basics first.
What is Prior Art Search?
A prior art search is a critical step in the innovation and patenting process. By thoroughly examining existing patents, scientific literature, commercial products, public demonstrations, technical documentation, and web content, inventors can ensure their ideas are novel and patentable.
Did you know?
Source: PQAI
Suppose you’ve invented a new type of drone that can automatically adjust its flight path based on real-time weather data.
A prior art search would involve looking through existing patents to see if similar technology has already been patented.
What are the Challenges in Conducting Prior Art Search?
#1 Lack of Understanding
One significant challenge in the realm of prior art search is the widespread lack of understanding among industry leaders, innovation managers, and various stakeholders regarding its process and benefits.
They view “prior art search” as strictly the domain of legal teams, experts, and patent attorneys. This narrow perspective limits the perceived value and accessibility of the process.
For example: A company focused solely on the legal implications of prior art searches might overlook potential enhancements to its products.
In contrast, a company that integrates prior art searches into their innovation strategy can discover existing technologies and refine its ideas to create superior products.
What if a consumer electronics company encouraged all its employees to engage in prior art searches?
Most probably, they’ll discover a novel way to improve their products, such as smartwatches, by integrating features from unrelated patents in the medical device industry.
This cross-disciplinary approach resulted in a unique product that set them apart in the market.
#2 Finding the Right Keywords and Synonyms
One of the primary challenges in a prior art search is identifying the right keywords, including all possible synonyms and variations.
Suppose you’ve developed a novel type of “retractable” window blind that uses a unique mechanism for smooth operation.
To ensure your search is thorough, you cannot just go with “retractable,” you need to include synonyms such as “collapsible,” “foldable,” and “roll-up.”
Each term might be used differently in various patents or technical documents, so overlooking any of these could mean missing relevant prior art.
#3 Formulating Complex Search Queries
Patent databases are vast repositories of information, containing millions of records from across the globe.
When conducting a prior art search, a simple query might return an overwhelming number of results, many of which could be irrelevant to your specific needs.
Therefore, crafting complex search queries is crucial to filter out the noise and find pertinent information.
Suppose you’re looking for patents related to “renewable energy storage solutions.” A basic search query might simply use the term “renewable energy storage,” which could generate thousands of results that include unrelated technologies, such as traditional energy storage methods or fossil fuel-based systems.
Hence, you need to be efficient about it.
#4 Deciphering Patent Language
Patents often employ precise, technical, and sometimes cryptic terminology that can be difficult for those without a background in intellectual property (IP) to interpret accurately.
This challenge can result in missing relevant prior art or misinterpreting existing patents.
#5 Hiring Cost
Hiring experts to conduct a prior art search for you can be costly.
Professional search fees typically range from $1,000 to $3,000, depending on the complexity of the invention. And this financial burden can be a hurdle for inventors and small businesses.
While small and micro entities benefit from reduced rates of government-based search fees, the cumulative costs of professional and government fees can still be substantial.
This financial aspect underscores the need for cost-effective and efficient tools to aid in the prior art search process.
But if we’re living in such an advanced era, should these limitations stop innovators and inventors from pushing their boundaries?
Obviously not!
This is why PQAI exists!
PQAI: The Key Feature of InspireIP
InspireIP makes the entire innovation lifecycle, right from idea generation, capture, collaboration, and prior art search to evaluation, disclosure, management, and reporting seamless and efficient.
PQAI plays a key role in all of it.
It essentially removes an inventor’s dependency on external help to conduct a prior art search and move forward with the right aspect of their invention. This ensures innovation accessibility and velocity to inventors and innovators.
Here’s how it goes:
- You use Inventor Assistant to generate innovative ideas on your own or brainstorm and refine ideas in collaboration with your teams or co-innovators.
- Save ideas on InspireIP to begin the process.
- Use PQAI to conduct the search on your saved idea. Review results provided by PQAI. You may choose to:
- Save: Bookmark results for future reference.
- Find Similar: View ten more results similar to the selected one.
- View Document: Open the full document in a new tab (e.g., Google Patents link for a U.S. patent).
- Feedback: Rate the relevance of the result with a thumbs up or down.
- Once you establish the novelty of your invention, submit the invention disclosure form to relevant stakeholders, such as counsels, attorneys, leaders, and so on.
- Collaborate and engage with the stakeholders to refine the invention and the disclosure before moving forward with the patent filing process.
- Schedule meetings on-platform or engage in live communication.
- Maintain invention timeline transparency and accountability.
- Take the plunge and submit the well-evaluated and drafted disclosure to the patent office.
Take a live demo: See How InspireIP Works
Bottom Line
PQAI is not just another feature of InspireIP; it’s a transformative platform on its own that is redefining the patent process.
By empowering researchers, speeding up the inventive process, improving patent quality, leveling the playing field, and driving trust in the industry, PQAI is paving the way for a more innovative and inclusive future.
Whether you’re an inventor, a patent professional, or a business owner, PQAI has something valuable to offer to every innovator.
So, if you’re ready to start your innovation journey, get in touch with us.
