Deriving Competitive Foresight Using an Ontology-Based Patent Roadmap and Valuation Analysis

Abstract

An ontology-based patent roadmap and valuation analysis approach provides competitive foresights for a corporation's associated patent portfolios and the underlying business processes. To demonstrate the methodology and computer supported analysis system, the patent portfolios of two global smart e-retailers are compared. The patents in each company's portfolio are text mined and categorized based on the smart retailing ontology schema. Both cases' text mining results are plotted as patent portfolio roadmaps, linking patents to innovation categories, commercial applications, and business process models. The three-dimensional (3-D) patent valuation analysis method provides foresights of the companies' competitive advantages related to “patent scope” (PS), “patent importance” (PI), and “patent innovation” (PIN). The research implements a computer supported system to provide evidence how companies utilize patent portfolios as key strategies for protecting business related intellectual properties (IPs) while implementing sustainable and competitive business processes.