POLYMERS AND PATENTS DONT MIX-EASILY

Polymer references in the patent literature pose a unique challenge to the indexing-retrieval process. Of the several forces working together to compound the problem, four appear to be significant: (1) the wide range in specificity and format of the references, (2) the wide range in inquirer requirements, (3) the sheer volume, and (4) the indexing cost/search cost relationship. This paper addresses itself to the defining and sorting out of these forces and then to ways of coping with them. Statistics are presented showing the scope and magnitude of the problem. A polymer indexing/retrieval system designed to meet the challenge and including an optimizing combination of generic, specific, and monomer/role indexing techniques to produce a favorable indexing cost/search cost relationship is discussed. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.