About the Databases
As we prepare to conduct our search, we must look at Brian's request to identify the information we already have and determine what we need to know.
Step 1: Analyze the search request
Brian told us he thinks he has an accurate patent number for the invention he is researching. He also believes that the patent was filed in the U.S. Therefore, this should be a very straightforward search, especially if he has the patent number right. We know the patent number and the country in which it was filed.
Next, we should:
Step 2: Determine which database(s) will provide the best information
Dialog has a comprehensive collection of patent databases, covering both U.S. and international patents. All the information on Dialog is stored in databases, and each database is identified by a number. For example, U.S. Patents Fulltext is File 654.
In addition to patent databases, Dialog has over 400 other databases, ranging from databases containing data about companies, files covering biomedical or pharmaceutical issues, information on engineering R&D, and coverage from the popular press.
A listing of all databases is provided on Dialog's Web site at http://library.dialog.com. We will also see a link to the database listing on the main page of DialogWeb, our search interface.
Brian's request immediately narrows our choice of databases to Dialog's
patent collection of databases.
Patent files that focus specifically on U.S. patents are:
- U.S. Patents Fulltext, Files 654,652
- CLAIMS™/U.S. Patents File 340
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