World Patent Information, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 158-159. 1988 Pergamon Orbit InfoLine Inc. Printed in Great Britain.

Literature Review

Abstracts and reviews collected by the International Bureau of WIPO during a scanning of journals concerned w:th information retrieval and patent informa- tion.

1. Fullfilling subiect tasks by information and patent-services of enterprises. YU. E. Poaorel’skii. Nun&no-Tekh. Znl: 1 (U.S.S.‘R.), 1987, No. 8, pp. 18-20: An examination is made of the way informa- tion services of enterprises set about determining the specific scientific and technical tasks which require the purposeful partici- pation of inventors, rationalisers and in- formation workers. The practice of defining subject tasks and organizing the effort to actually achieve them is described together with the system in use at enterprises for estimating the contribution of sub-sections in fulfilling the tasks.

2. The Goskomgidromet patent information system. S. L. Ignatova, N. V. Farrukhova and V. A. Khromov. Tr. vses. Nauchno- Issled. Inst. Gidrometeorol. Znf Mirov. Problems of the organization of a patent information system of a sector of industry, and ways of improving the effectiveness of the patent information services of the Goskomgidromet organization in particular are examined. Special attention is devoted to the automatic processing of patent information, and some results of the experimental operation of an automatic patent information system are presented.

3. Some characteristics of Japanese data- bases based on user survey. K. Hosono and C. Fujioka. Libr. ZnJ: Sci. (Japan), 1986, No. 24. DD. 81-92. Jananese databases are an ind&nsible ingrehient of information resources. Their importance is increasing rapidly since they extensively cover in- formation produced in Japan, although the number of the databases is not sufficient enough to do any research without foreign ones. This paper describes some char- acteristics of the Japanese databases based on a user survey. 63 academic libraries and 65 corporate libraries were questioned in terms of popular databases’ merits, prob- lems of the databases, government owned information which might be desirable to be included in the databases, and so forth. Popular databases in academic libraries are only the ones produced by JICST. On the other hand, corporate libraries are using a wide range of databases. such as the ones providedby JICST, Japan Patent Informa- tion Center. Nihon Keizai Shinbun. and others. Corporate libraries use these more frequently than academic libraries do. The benefits of using them are evident, since searchers are exempted from language barriers and are able to obtain domestic information efficiently. Diversity of search commands and keyword types among different systems are major problems. Incomplete or biased coverage of informa-

tion stored in the databases is also indicated. This paper analyzes reasons and/or back- grounds which resulted in the user re- sponses, and finally suggests a way to foster sound growth of the databases.

4. Private databases: keep them private or open them? What’s your viewpoint? N. Lambert (Tech. Inf. Center, Chevron Res. Co.. Richmond. CA. U.S.A.). Database (U.S.A.), 1987? Vol. 10, No. 6: pp. 48-49. One type of prtvate database is a database developed and mounted by a database producer, but searchable only by users who pay a certain amount of up-front money for the right to do so, or who subscribe to a companion printed or tape product. Con- troversy has existed for a long time in the information industry on the availability of private databases: Should they be open only to subscribers? Should they be thrown open to the public? Should some inter- mediate path be followed, wherein they are open to the public on a limited basis?

5. Intelligent information systems: or how to avoid information overload. M. Lebowitz. Electron. Conventions Manage. (U.S.A.), 1987, No. 1132, pp. l/3/1-7. The combina- tion of computer and communication technologies has made available vast amounts of information in online form. There is a real danger of this information overwhelming users. A potential solution to the problem is the development of very powerful intelligent information systems that make use of artificial intelligence techniques, including natural language processing and machine learning. Such systems should be able to filter information, organize data in a way that makes it easily accessible, detect patterns in data and tailor responses to individual users. The article describes some of the potential domains where intelligent information systems might be of use. A prototype intelligent information system that reads, remembers, generalizes from and answers questions about complex technical texts, patent abstracts in particular, is presented.

6. Properties of patent offline data banks. J. Stillger. Nachr. Dok. (West Germany), 1987, Vol. 38, No. 5, pp. 257-262. The author describes the most important char- acteristics of offline patent databases. A subdivision of technical fields is proposed as a necessarv consequence of the con- siderations. The author describes pro- duction asnects of CD-ROMs and some alternatives aimed at a limitation of the extent of computer databases, considering redundance and production costs.

7. Patent information svstem in India. S. Chandra Saxena and ‘S. Nath Mehta. ZnformatoloPia Yuaosl. (Yugoslavia), 1987, Vol. i9, No. 112, pp. 69-75. Deals with the need for patent information. Describes the patent information system in India. Highlights the patent documentation and information activities and assesses the present state of patent information system in India. Narrates the activities of patent offices, various national information centres, sectoral information centres and other important centres. Also discusses the present state of computerization of patent information services.

8. Patent information service by CD-ROM. S. Nakaike and M. Tanaka. (Syst. Dev. Dept, Japan Patent Inf. Organ., Tokyo, Japan). Joho Kanri (Japan), 1987, Vol. 30, No. 6, pp. 505-516. The authors describe status of natent information service bv JAPIO, new online system project (PATOLIS-III). naoerless nroiect bv the patent office and&input of patent gazettes into optical disks. They also describe CD- ROM created by using image information of the patent gazettes which is produced under the paperless project, its production method, and the terminals and their functions. Some problems found in the JAPIO CD-ROM. such as time lag. treatment of the multiple copies, and countermeasures against them are men- tioned.

9. Picture integrated fulltext databank with patent records on CD-ROM. II. Effect of updating and subject subdivision on the cost of production. J. Stillger. Mikrodok (West Germany), 1987, Vol. 13, No. 5, pp. 4-6. For Part I see Ibid.. 1987. Vol. 13. No. 2. pp. 77-88. The regular servicing of CD- ROM databanks through the exchange of user disks for updated versions (which involves the incomplete utilization of disk capacity and the multiple processing of ureviouslv stored and issued data) can eive rise to considerable costs compared with the once-onlv SUDD~V of a CD-ROM databank. The application of compact disks to patent record storage, and the cost of updating, are discussed. User sub- scription costs are considered. Even with high overall costs and a relatively small number of copies the method can be much cheaper than printed paper information. Cost estimation parameters for the production of CD-ROM databanks for various purposes are tabulated.

10. Patent information - a must in international technology transfer. F. J. Leloux. Univ. Twente, Twente, Nether- lands, pp. 5, 191, 1987. International tech- nology transfer is presently encouraged by governments because of the economic advantages expected. Three aspects should be considered in this context: (a) the patentability of the know-how involved and validity of existing or potential patent rights, (b) the right to use the technology in the countries transferring and receiving the know-how, and (c) the monitoring of new patent applications of third parties.

11. International Conference Iachei 87: ‘How to Internationalise Technology Transfer’, Twente, Netherlands, 1-3 July 1987. Umv. Twente, Twente, Netherlands, DD. 191. 1987. The following tonics were dealt with: the international point of view; the common base, IT and the less-favoured regions; the international transfer point; international comparison; Nancy BIG; product development and commercializa- tion; patent information; nontraditional markets; developing new businesses; privatization of public research institutes; technology centres; Iachei; the university- industry relationship; european authorities; technology policies; industrial policies; higher education policies; industry- academia interaction; international net- working; networking for university/

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