Report:PatBase/Search History Interface/Alerts
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Alerts
PatBase offers an alert service (also called an SDI) that will run a given query on a weekly or monthly basis. An alert may be set for a given search history by selecting the option under the “more…” menu next to any of the queries on the search history page, by selecting “Alerts” from the main menu, or by selecting from the floating toolbar Menu >> Create a New Alert. An alert setup window will then be displayed, and the alert query will be automatically entered as the current search history (up to that specific query) if the user chose to create an alert from the "More options" menu for a specific query.
Alerts are always run for an entire search history (up to a specific query, if the alert option is selected for a specific query), but once the alert setup page is loaded the user has the opportunity to delete any unwanted queries (users can even pare the history down to a single query, if desired). Users can also choose to be alerted whenever a new publication is added to a known family, or to be alerted only when a totally new family appears in the hit count. Entering a “CC=” command into the alert strategy will cause the alert to send a notification only when a new publication from that authority is added that matches the search criteria (for example, CC=US in an alert strategy means that any new families matching the search criteria will not be included in the alert results unless they contain a US family member). As of October 2011, users can choose to not receive alert emails if zero results were found for that alert cycle.[1] Users can also add a text note to alert email headers through the "Text to include in alert email" form in the alert setup window.[1]
Advanced alerting options were added in 2009. These options allow users to receive notifications whenever the first IPC, assignee, or English abstract has been added to a PatBase patent family. As of November 2010, users can also select to be alerted if any of these three features (first Assignee, IPC, or an English abstract) are added to the family.[1]
Weekly alerts are always run on Mondays, and monthly alerts are conducted on the first Sunday of each month.[2] There is no way to alter these settings.[3]
Results of the alert consist of a link that is delivered to the user by e-mail; the user must navigate to the PatBase results page in order to browse the new hits. Links were previously only stay active for 30 days, but from "from PatBase week 0920 links in alert emails will remain active for 6 months."[1] Alerts results are also archived and can be accessed via the "View" option in the "List alerts" window (see further information and screenshot below).[1] There is no way to have a PDF or text list of the alert results e-mailed to the user, which presents a disadvantage when the service is compared some other systems, such as MicroPatent PatentWeb, for example.
There are a few different ways that users may view the results of an alert: once the alert e-mail arrives, it will contain multiple links to these various options. First, results may be downloaded directly into PDF, HTML, CSV or MHT format. If the user has a PatBase login ID and password, the results of an alert may also be viewed as a saved results folder, and the data may also be exported using the normal export mechanism. Users can also select to view the results as an RSS feed (discussed further below). Finally, in 2008 PatBase introduced a beta version of its PatBase Alert Viewer interface. As of November 2010, the alert viewer has been updated with a keyword search function, a Snapshot breakdown "for an instant analysis of alert results by date, country, assignee and classification," and the option to export results directly to Excel and PDF.[1] This option allows users to view the results of an alert in a PatBase-style interface, where users can open up results to see the family data (similar to viewing a PatBase hit list), and/or open PDF document copies from Espacenet. Even those without a PatBase subscription can view results in the Alert viewer.
The figure below shows an example of results displayed in the Alert Viewer – the titles are hyperlinked to show the full family record (but not individual full text records), and within the full family record, the document number in the family table is linked to Espacenet.[4] According to a PatBase representative, any new members (if the alert checks for equivalents) are listed by number in a separate column, and clicking on the number opens up a bibliographic overview (the "Member view").[4]
As of November 2010, users can choose to receive PatBase Alert results as RSS feeds.[1] According to PatBase user news, "an additional link to set this up is available in the alert results email and requires an RSS reader."[1] Users can also set up an alert as an RSS through the "List alerts" window (accessible through the floating toolbar option Menu >> List/Manage Alerts). In the "List alerts" window, the user can set the alert as an RSS feed, view past results from the alert, edit the alert, or delete the alert.
New users to PatBase may have a certain number of allowed alerts as part of a subscription, but usually alerts must be purchased from PatBase individually for a yearly fee. After setting an alert, the interface will state that a credit has been used and will also state the number of credits remaining. Specific user agreements may possibly be tailored with the PatBase sales staff if alerts will be a large part of an individual’s need. Only PatBase accounts which have been granted "account manager" status can purchase more alerts from the set-up interface; users must enter their user ID to confirm that they have permissions to purchase more alerts. See the Pricing Policy section of this article for more information.
According to the PatBase manual, account administrators can also "view a summary of users' alerts and see a breakdown of alerts created by users. This information is available on the Alerts tab listed as 'My Users' alerts'."[3]
As discussed above, results from past alerts may be viewed by accessing the "List alerts" window (accessible through the floating toolbar option Menu >> List/Manage Alerts) and selecting the "View" option beside the chosen alert. After selecting "View," the user can select the relavent alert-week and view previous results from that particular alert.[3]
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "PatBase user news." PatBase website (restricted), http://www.patbase.com/wnewinfo.asp?i=173. Accessed December 14, 2011.
- ↑ "PatBase Help." PatBase website (restricted), http://www.patbase.com/help.asp . Accessed December 16, 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "PatBase Manual." PatBase website (restricted), http://www.patbase.com/Manual.pdf . Accessed December 13, 2011.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Email correspondence with PatBase representative. Received December 20, 2011.
