This file contains the description of each file essential to the project. The project has been divided into three parts Scraping, Data Analysis, and Virtual Reality. Each part can be worked on independently, however care must be taken during the transfer of data. Hence, the input format for each step has been described below.

Description

The established United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) routing process from a patent’s issuance to its approval is cumbersome and time-consuming. One aspect that makes the process arduous is the involvement of many supervisors between its initial and final stage.

We intend to use our technology to make this routing process more efficient by providing a virtual reality platform to allow a seamless transition in the life of a patent from its issuance to its approval for the examiners at the patent office. Our virtual reality platform provides an accurate representation of a patent under consideration within representations of patents addressing similar technologies and allows for exhaustive analysis of documents using Natural Language Processing.

By considering information and data gathered by the USPTO through years, we intend to assist patent examiners by suggesting patents to them which pertain to topics in which they specialize.

The files were downloaded from PatFT:

http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/index.html

DownloadData.py This script scrapes the data from the PatFT website for USPC 706 class. The data is stored locally for further analysis. The process can be stopped anytime by pressing CTRL + C

ScrapeData.py It takes a BeautifulSoup (Python Library) object of an .html page downloaded using DownloadData.py and returns the required information.

SummarizeData.py Uses the ScrapeData.py script to format the data from all the downloaded patents into a .csv file which will be used in the Analysis.

Once the analysis is done, use the 3_VR/Assests/Scripts/DataManagement/convertData.py script to create the required input for Unity. The acceptable parameters are explained in that script itself.

Everything required for the project is contained in the ./Assets folder

Materials Materials used to draw the objects on the screen.

nuget_packages Do not edit. Handled by the plugins.

Plugins Do not edit. Plugins imported to handle VR.

• SteamVR: Interface between the headset and the computer
• TextMeshPro: Handles text shown in 3D.
• VRTK: Virtual reality toolkit contains the basic components required VR such as, the model of the controller, handling input etc.

Prefabs All the objects used in this Unity project.

• ControllerScripts: Handles input.
• Dragger: Handles the dragging of the patent to show more information
• Environment: The lights and the floor.
• Filter: Contains the text and selector for the chosen filter.
• ObjectTooltip
• PatentManager: Prefab for the patent manager script
• PatentPopUp: The panel containing the patent information
• SettingsPanel: The controller of the VR space. Contains three panels color coding, filter, and patent info

Resources The prefabs required to create the scene

Scenes Contains only the main scene.

Scripts Description is present in the script itself.

Shaders

• 3DTextCullBack: Used to show text visible only from one direction.

Textures The images used in the project. Their description is apparent from their name.