Numbers Search

Quartet contains a versatile Numbers search input which can help quickly locate references from plaintext or from nonstandard number formats. This can be located with the associated button on the toolbar

Like the other search options, Numbers search opens in a modal, overlaying the current screen with an option to run in the background and not disturb the current screen.

The system supports a large number of formats within the 6 largest jurisdictions: US, WO, EP, CN, JP, and KR. Additional jurisdictions are supported but may not have as much flexibility in recognizing obscure or nonstandard number formats.

Number Input

Entire blocks of plain text can be copied and pasted into the search box and the system will automatically detect and extract publication numbers. Detected numbers will be highlighted in green.

Once numbers are entered within the box, proceed by either clicking the “Check numbers” button or the “Run search” button.

Check Numbers

“Check numbers” will:

• Verify input numbers and highlight a list of any unrecognized publication numbers
• Show families grouped together from the identified publication numbers
• Show the representative data of each family, including the DOCDB family number, publication number, and title of the representative member
• Give the option to correct any numbers which the system was not able to find
  
   

Once any number errors have been corrected, "Run search" will search for the recognized numbers.

Hovering over the representative publication number will show a popup with the publication number, title, abstract, inventor(s), assignee(s), and publication date.

Run Search

Checking numbers my be bypasses by choosing “Run search.” When doing so, the system will still verify numbers in the background and automatically run the search query if no errors are found. If any errors are found, then Quartet will return to the number check screen to correct any problematic numbers before proceeding to run the search query.

Kind Codes

When inputting publications into Numbers search wherein multiple kind codes exist under the same publication number, there are multiple ways to control which kind code publication the system retrieves.

The first way is to simply enter the publications numbers with the desired kind code. The system will retrieve the document with the matching kind code.

The second way is to enter numbers without kind codes and first hit “Check numbers.” The system will show a list of all published kind codes under the publication number. From the resulting list, the desired kind code may be selected.

Either way is particularly helpful, for example, when exporting documents and wanting to ensure a particular version of the document is to be exported.

Assigning Country Codes to Unspecified Publication Numbers

When inputting a list of numbers which are missing country codes, but all share the same country code, the numbers can be auto-assigned a country code by the system by using the checkbox at the top.

This checkbox will broaden the number recognition in the numbers search modal to include most strings of numbers, then add the country code prefix chosen (from US, EPO, China, Japan, Korea, or WO) and search for those numbers. Numbers which will be considered and the prefix added will be highlighted in orange. Please note that checking the box for assigning country codes expands what the system considers patent numbers and can lead to the system picking up extra numbers.