The IFI Difference

IFI's unique methods and systems improve retrieval and give you better search results

With more than a half a century of experience on the forefront of the patent industry, IFI has introduced and continues to develop a wide variety of proprietary systems that make the patent search process faster, more productive, and more cost-effective.

The most rigorous error detection/correction processes in the industry

Experienced IFI indexers go directly to the actual copy of the patent, making over 750 corrections per month to ensure our databases are the cleanest and most reliable available.

Superior name standardization process

IFI's unique name standardization process and comprehensive internal proprietary database allow you to detect patent assignee name variations that are rarely found by other databases.   Constructed over the course of 30 years, and updated each week by IFI patent experts using computerized and manual editing methods, the IFI name standardization database now contains over 12,000 name variations.  So, if a match to an assignee name exists, you can be sure IFI will find it.

Enhanced patent titles

IFI goes the extra mile to improve the search process with enhanced titles on more than 90% of the chemical patent titles in our database.  These enhancements:

• Provide additional information about the content of the patent
• Save time by identifying the novelty and uses of the invention
• Facilitate the scanning of titles in a set of references

Enhanced titles follow and are separated from the original title by a semicolon (Dialog and STN) or underscore (Questel).

Anticipated date of expiration

Patent expiration dates can be a common source of confusion in the patent field.  IFI uses a unique algorithm based on USPTO guidelines in order to calculate when each patent expires.   This IFI exclusive feature eliminates the guesswork and gives you the 'heads up' on critical expiration dates.

Annually updated U.S. classifications

IFI updates USPTO classifications on all records to reflect changes in the USPTO classification system, and maintains current classifications for all patents in the database.

International patent classifications (IPC) for all records

Prior to 1971, there were no IPC codes on U.S. patents.  IFI has developed software to create a concordance of IPC codes as they relate to U.S. class codes for those earlier records.  All patents in the CLAIMS^® database may be searched by IPC, as well as, by U.S. classification.

The IFI editorial difference — quality, consistency and integrity

Over 85% of IFI personnel hold chemistry degrees and have extensive patent experience and specialized expertise in the various patent classifications. Each of these individuals has received extensive training in IFI's unique indexing process which uses the whole patent as the basis for the indexing, and includes all chemical and biological technologies back to 1950.

For patent information you can trust, turn to IFI

There are so many reason to make IFI an integral part of your patent research program, including:

• IFI staff offers an unparalleled level of experience and expertise in patent searching and indexing
• IFI is recognized worldwide for its uncompromising standards of product quality and consistency
• IFI's unique proprietary systems (including those for standardizing company names, anticipating patent expirations, and enhancing patent titles) add value while saving time and expense in the patent search process.

The collection of databases known as CLAIMS^® represents the most reliable, text-searchable, computerized collection of U.S. patents in the world. IFI CLAIMS^® Patent Databases are available on Dialog, STN International and Questel•Orbit.

With so much at stake in the protection and use of intellectual property, shouldn't every sophisticated patent search start with IFI?

 

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