A heuristic procedure to identify the most valuable chain of patent priority network

In this study, we provide support for the argument that patents are at their maximum value at those times when they are under litigation. We develop a heuristic procedure to determine the way in which such patents under litigation form a network of patent family members, and then go on to examine the priority patents involved. We subsequently attempt to develop a simple procedure to further identify both the ‘critical’ and ‘significant’ chains within our proposed patent priority network. We suggest that the ‘critical’ and ‘significant’ chains that are created within the above network provide companies with important information which will ultimately provide them with valuable support for the subsequent decision of their patent portfolio strategies.

Research highlights► We develop a procedure to identify the most valuable chain in patent priority network. ► The ‘critical’ and ‘significant’ chains are valuable to the target firm. ► We compensate for a gap on patent portfolio through the patent priority analysis. ► The method can provide an analysis basis for evaluating patent portfolio strategies.