Assessing an industry's R&D focus rapidly: A case study using data-driven categorization in a consumer products area

Abstract

Patent analysis can provide a wealth of information for assessing the R&D focus of corporate competitors. However, patent analysis often hinges on a time-consuming process of patent searching and patent categorization. In this article we discuss a simple and accessible method using keyword distributions that allows rapid categorization of a large number of patents. The method we describe here was carried out for a client using a standard desktop database program (Microsoft Access), demonstrating that one need not be a computer scientist or a linguist to get good results. While the method described in this case study is based on patent analysis, there is no reason why the same techniques cannot be used to categorize other types of documents such as a database of web pages or a set of journal articles, for example. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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