What Other Search Strategies Can I Use To Search For Relevant Patents In Uspto Other Than Using Keyword Search?

[Trent]

You can try Boolean Searching This is a form of searching that uses certain "operators".  The most popular operators are: and, or, not, near.  For example, searching for "Windows Vista" I might say:  Microsoft and operating system not XP, not 2000.....  and it goes on and on.   Here are a couple links that show you how the different search engines handle Boolean searching.     http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=2155991   http://www.internettutorials.net/boolean.html   Here's a list of other operators you can use when doing normail searches.   + Display only mandatory word, eg. +Coventry - Excludes the word, eg. +Coventry -University < The word that follows has a lower relevance than other words. > The word that follows has a higher relevance than other words.() Used to group words into subexpressions. ~ The word following contributes negatively to the relevance of the row(which is different to the '-' operator, which specifically excludes the word, or the '

[Rowe]

Use search templates, review glossary or contact the webmaster for other search strategies. If you are looking for "art search", for example, this is a great resource:  http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/searchtemplates/searchtemplates.htm   "USPTO Patents Search Templates This website provides access to templates describing search resources for the classified areas of science and technology found in the USPTO Manual of Classification. When completed, this version of the search template project will present almost 1,300 search templates covering the more than 600 USPC classes and subclasses."   Search templates by class(it is a long list so you may want to use control "f" to find an exact word); Then, you may select a subclass...There are so many searches on the government web site, but they do list search engines, such as yahoo and google - I suppose if you do a general search engine selection, then you could pull a patent number and then reference more related to that class.   I hope this helps!    Sources: http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/searchtemplates/searchtemplates.htm   Believer's Recommendations The notes on this book says that patent searches cost between $300-$700. I'd say hiring a patent attorney would be more, and possibly well worth the effort. If you are searching art, for example, you may consider other terms other than patent search, such as trademark or copyright, for example. Patent Searching Made Easy: How to Do Patent Searches on the Internet and in the Library, Third Edition Amazon List Price: $29.95 Used from: $30.04 Average Customer Rating: 3.5 out of 5(based on 8 reviews) Believer 109 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Bailefour]

Start with the Index to the Patent Classification Schedule at http://www.uspto.gov/go/classification/uspcindex/indextouspc.htmIt's arranged alphabetically. Try a keyword relevant to your patent search.For example, suppose I had new kind of baby cradle I could look under either of those words. Under baby, there's a listing for cradles with class numbers next to it 5/101. 5 will bring you to the classification for beds. 101 for the subclass for cradles. Look at both, just to make sure you've got the right class #. Read the description for each class number(click again on the number from the new list). If you've got the right classification # for your invention, you can do a patent search by classification #. Use the link If you are searching for a specific class and subclass, you should phrase your query as ccl/class/subclass, for example, ccl/2/5. Some subclasses can contain decimal and alpha modifiers(for example, 427/2.31 or 427/3A). If you are searching for the entire contents of a specific class without specifying a particular subclass, you should use right truncation, as in ccl/427/$.

[Zach]

If you are looking for "art search", for example, this is a great resource:  http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/searchtemplates/searchtemplates.htm   "USPTO Patents Search Templates This website provides access to templates describing search resources for the classified areas of science and technology found in the USPTO Manual of Classification. When completed, this version of the search template project will present almost 1,300 search templates covering the more than 600 USPC classes and subclasses."   Search templates by class(it is a long list so you may want to use control "f" to find an exact word); Then, you may select a subclass...There are so many searches on the government web site, but they do list search engines, such as yahoo and google - I suppose if you do a general search engine selection, then you could pull a patent number and then reference more related to that class.   I hope this helps!   

[Keven]

Believer said: 1 Regarding my answer "Use search templates, review glossary or contact the webmaster for other search strategies.": For prior art searches on artwork, etc., that may be public domain, check out resources like the smithsonian, etc. And, maybe you will find a cool pic to change your avatar, with no infringement issues - anyway, I learned through working this process - Good question!Shirl 109 months ago

[Torn]

see below Start with the Index to the Patent Classification Schedule at http://www.uspto.gov/go/classification/uspcindex/indextouspc.htmIt's arranged alphabetically. Try a keyword relevant to your patent search.For example, suppose I had new kind of baby cradle I could look under either of those words. Under baby, there's a listing for cradles with class numbers next to it 5/101. 5 will bring you to the classification for beds. 101 for the subclass for cradles. Look at both, just to make sure you've got the right class #. Read the description for each class number(click again on the number from the new list). If you've got the right classification # for your invention, you can do a patent search by classification #. Use the link If you are searching for a specific class and subclass, you should phrase your query as ccl/class/subclass, for example, ccl/2/5. Some subclasses can contain decimal and alpha modifiers(for example, 427/2.31 or 427/3A). If you are searching for the entire contents of a specific class without specifying a particular subclass, you should use right truncation, as in ccl/427/$. Sources: my opinion newbie172171 109 months ago Please sign in to give a compliment. Please verify your account to give a compliment. Please sign in to send a message. Please verify your account to send a message.

[Renzo]

Regarding my answer "Use search templates, review glossary or contact the webmaster for other search strategies.": For prior art searches on artwork, etc., that may be public domain, check out resources like the smithsonian, etc. And, maybe you will find a cool pic to change your avatar, with no infringement issues - anyway, I learned through working this process - Good question!Shirl

[Doughlas]

This is a form of searching that uses certain "operators".  The most popular operators are: and, or, not, near.  For example, searching for "Windows Vista" I might say:  Microsoft and operating system not XP, not 2000.....  and it goes on and on.   Here are a couple links that show you how the different search engines handle Boolean searching.     http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=2155991   http://www.internettutorials.net/boolean.html   Here's a list of other operators you can use when doing normail searches.   + Display only mandatory word, eg. +Coventry - Excludes the word, eg. +Coventry -University < The word that follows has a lower relevance than other words. > The word that follows has a higher relevance than other words.() Used to group words into subexpressions. ~ The word following contributes negatively to the relevance of the row(which is different to the '-' operator, which specifically excludes the word, or the '

[Cairo]

You can try Boolean Searching This is a form of searching that uses certain "operators".  The most popular operators are: and, or, not, near.  For example, searching for "Windows Vista" I might say:  Microsoft and operating system not XP, not 2000.....  and it goes on and on.   Here are a couple links that show you how the different search engines handle Boolean searching.     http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=2155991   http://www.internettutorials.net/boolean.html   Here's a list of other operators you can use when doing normail searches.   + Display only mandatory word, eg. +Coventry - Excludes the word, eg. +Coventry -University < The word that follows has a lower relevance than other words. > The word that follows has a higher relevance than other words.() Used to group words into subexpressions. ~ The word following contributes negatively to the relevance of the row(which is different to the '-' operator, which specifically excludes the word, or the '