Report:Thomson Innovation/Search Interface/The Search Forms/Expert Search

Expert Search

The figure below shows Innovation's Expert Search form for patent searching.

The Expert Search form (containing a stacked query).

The main element of the expert search form is the query box where users can enter search strings via command language.

Above the query box, the user is first directed to "Review Selected Collections." The user can select the linked list of currently selected collections to open the "Collections to Search" window and change the chosen collections (see Fielded Search for a discussion of this feature). Below the list of chosen collections, the user can expand or collapse a menu of available search operators (use the double arrow icon to show or hide the menu). As in the Fielded Search interface, selecting an operator from this menu automatically copies it into the search box. All the operators available in Fielded Search are available here, plus several additions, including the greater than or equal to/less than or equal to (<= and =>); these limit a numerical search to a range *including* the limiting value.

Additionally, some of the additional operators may only be used in the Expert Search form. These include:

• {d} – Represents any digit, 0-9
• {c} – Represents any consonant
• {v} – Represents any vowel
• {a} – Represents any letter A-Z

See the Truncation or Wildcard Operators section of this article for more information on enabled operators in Thomson Innovation.

In addition to the familiar commands, this menu lists both a colon and semicolon in the available operators section. These are part of the system's command syntax. A colon will separate two individual search statements and tell the system to execute them separately, so that they appear as two different queries in the Search History. A semicolon is also provided in this interface, and its use is described as "separates commands." The Thomson Innovation help file describes how space and colon ( :) following each individual query signal that it is part of a stacked search which is still being built up. The semicolon (;) (without preceding space) following the final query signals that the stack is complete.^[1] According to the help file, the correct format for a stacked search is:^[1]

Query(space):

Query(space):

Query(space):

# AND # AND #;

An example of a stacked query would be:^[1]

CL=(insitu OR in situ) :

TAB=(nano* AND probe) :

DSC=(mems OR microelectronic microstructur*) :

1 AND 2 AND 3;

The Thomson help file explains the statement numbering feature of stacked queries:

You can combine two or more of the searches in your stack in the final entry of your stacked search.

In the combine statement, refer to the individual queries by their relative position in the stack (1, 2, 3, etc.). Then write your combine statement as you would normally, but use the reference number instead of the whole query. For example, 1 AND 2 AND 3;

Please note that this reference number is applicable to this query at this time only. This reference number is not the same as the reference number assigned in your search history. This allows you to do this combine operation without having to keep track of the query references used in search history. When the stacked search is executed and the queries appear in the search history, the system gives each query its actual number (the number that will be stored in your search history).

Editor's Note:

One very useful tool included in the stacked feature of the expert search is that you can use an actual search history query inside of a stacked search.^[1] To do this, you use a dollar sign ($) before the search history query.^[1] For example, if you want to include the query listed as #21 in the search history within a stacked query, you could enter the following command into the expert search form:^[1]

CL=(insitu OR in situ) :

TAB=(nano* AND probe) :

DSC=(mems OR microelectronic microstructur*) :

1 AND 2 AND 3 AND $21;

To the right of the query box, the “Standard Fields” menu will automatically populate the text box with the appropriate two- or three-letter command-line code for any selected field, when clicked. Thomson Innovation uses the term “field” for the name of the data element, and “tag” to represent the corresponding letter code that represents the data element in the command line syntax. The “Fields and Tags” menu can be sorted alphabetically by field name, or tag name, for ease in browsing. The menu also includes links to help sections on available operators, fields, and tags.

Above the list of selected collections, users can select from a drop-down menu called "Resources," which allows users to access the Corporate Tree or any of the major classification systems to browse and select classification areas of interest and add them to the search box.

The Resources drop-down menu.

To ensure that users have entered a valid command into this search form, the "test syntax" option is available to identify any errors in query construction (such as a missing end parenthesis, for example). This feature has the same function here as it does in the Fielded Search form.

Also as in the Fielded Search form, users can control the display and search options directly from this form.

Editor's Note:

The Expert Search form serves as an effective space for free text queries; in addition, the "Refine Search" option (discussed further in The Hit List section of this report) can act as a persistent command line bar for users who need to continue to make adjustments to their search queries as they go. The form is well designed, especially with regard to the availability of the Fields and Tags assist form, which serves as a handy reference guide to all available searchable fields and their associated codes.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} "Stacked Searches in Expert Patent Searching." Thomson Innovation help file, http://www.thomsoninnovation.com/tip-innovation/support/help/index.htm#patent_fields.htm. Accessed September 7, 2012.