Create IDS citation groups [+Shells versions] 

ClaimMaster +Shell subscribers can keep a database of custom citation groups that contain all IDS citations for a particular group of applications.  Applications could be linked because they all relate to the same patent family or are more broadly related by subject matter/client. Creating IDS citations groups makes it easy to cross-check citations between groups or families of related applications and generate IDSes for those references that aren't cited in one of the groups.


Getting Started

To create an IDS citation group for a particular set of applications, perform the following steps:


  • From the ClaimMaster Ribbon, click on the USPTO Office Actions, Shells, and Forms menu, then Explore and Diff IDS References:


Feature Options

Once you select this option, an IDS comparison dialog will show.  Switch to the Citation Groups tab. The following options are available from this tab:



    1. Specify the name of the IDS citation group.
    2. Use search filter text field to limit the list of existing citation fields from drop-down menu (item 1)
    3. Press this button to clear all the values for the currently selected group. 
    4. Press these buttons to either apply a text filter or clear the text filter for the citation groups.
    5. Provides a textual description of the citation group.
    6. Provides a list of US or foreign applications in the citation group.  Applications could be linked because they all relate to the same patent family or are more broadly related by subject matter/client or any other reason.
    7. Press this button to import a list of related applications based on EPO/USPTO patent family data.  To use this feature, only specify one US application # in the applications field # 6.  ClaimMaster will look up a list of all related applications and will post the updated list once done.
    8. Press this button to view the patent family tree after the lookup using item 7 has been performed.
    9. This section specifies a list of all patent publications in the citation group.  You can edit the list at any time and then just click "Save Group" (item 12) to save your changes.  Citations in this section can be separate by new lines, semicolons, or spaces.
    10. This section specifies a list of all NPLs in the citation group. You can edit the list at any time and then just click "Save Group" (item 12) to save your changes.  NPL citations in this section can be separate by new lines
    11. Press this button to delete the selected citation group from the database.
    12. Press this button to save the citation group and its corresponding entries in the database.
    13. This tab lets you import a list of citations into the group automatically, either from other files, directories, publication #s, or other patent families.   To import citations, switch to "+ Import Citations" tab first.


The following options are available in the import tab:

    1. Specify whether you want to import a list of references found in files, directories, US patent/publications/applications, or patent families.
      • Files - files can be in PDF  (e.g., the originally filed B08 forms), Word, or text formats.  
      • Directories - you can import from forms in the specified directories (IDS forms in one directory vs forms in another directory). 
      • Patents/Pubs - specify patent or publication numbers and the tool will import prior art references from Google Patents/Free Patents Online/EPO.
      • Patent Families - specify patent or application numbers and the tool will import prior art references for entire families from Google Patents/Free Patents Online/EPO.
    1. Specify the source name/address/application #, etc.
    2. Press this button to import citations from the specified source.
    3. Here you select whether when you perform the import, you will add imported citations to the existing list or overwrite existing citations with the newly imported ones.