| name | ecommerce.patent-family-explorer |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| description | Explore patent family members and country coverage for a known patent/publication. Triggers: patent family, international coverage, where valid, applies in US/EU/UK, PCT. Use for family/territory mapping, not claims or legal status.
|
| allowed-tools | ["Bash","Read","Write"] |
| metadata | {"requires":{"apis":["nexscope"]}} |
IMPORTANT — Working Directory: All scripts in this skill MUST be executed with the working directory set to the absolute path of the directory containing this SKILL.md file (the skill root directory). Always cd into this directory before running any command. Do NOT use relative paths or shell shortcuts like ~ in paths, as they may not be resolved by the execution environment.
Patent Family Explorer v1.0.0
Core Question
Where does this patent family exist, and what countries or related filings matter?
Are there family patents in other countries?
Explore patent families across multiple countries.
Clarify or Infer Before Querying
- If patent ID/publication number is missing, ask for it first.
- Clarify target countries/regions when the user asks where it applies.
- Do not answer legal-status or claim-scope questions unless also using the relevant skill.
Differs From / Not Applicable
- Use patent-claim-analyzer for claim scope.
- Use patent-legal-status for current validity and legal events.
- Use patent-report-generator for full clearance reporting.
- Use this skill for family members, PCT/INPADOC coverage, and territory mapping.
Workflow
- Confirm patent/publication ID and target regions.
- Fetch family members and country coverage.
- Group by simple family/INPADOC/authority where available.
- Return territory coverage, priority links, and follow-up status checks.
Usage
python3 scripts/patent_family_explorer.py '{"patentNumber": "US10000001B2"}'
python3 scripts/patent_family_explorer.py '{"patentNumber": "US10000001B2,EP3000001A1"}'
python3 scripts/patent_family_explorer.py '{"patentNumber": "..."}' --chart /tmp/charts
⚠️ MANDATORY: Charts & Display Rules
- Generate charts by default for full analytical reports — use
--chart with an output directory unless the user asks for a quick text-only result or chart data is unavailable.
- Send generated charts to the user — when charts are created, share all chart PNGs immediately.
- All chart styling is driven by
ecommerce_chart_helpers.py which reads from chart_style.json (derived from references/display-rules.md). Do NOT hardcode colors in scripts.
Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|
patentNumber | string | Yes* | Publication number(s), comma-separated |
patentId | string | Yes* | Patent ID(s), comma-separated |
*One of patentNumber or patentId is required.
Family Types
Simple Family
Patents sharing the exact same priority claims.
- Most restrictive definition
- Direct equivalents across countries
INPADOC Family
Patents sharing at least one priority claim.
- Broader than Simple Family
- Includes related applications
PatSnap Family
Patents with related technical content (AI-determined).
- Broadest definition
- Includes continuations, divisionals, etc.
Output Structure
The output will be a structured markdown report, following this format:
Patent Family Exploration Report: [Patent Number]
1. Executive Summary
- Analyzed Patent Number: [patent_number]
- Data Source: Zhihuiya - International Patent Database
- Countries Covered by Patent Family: [family_overview.countries_covered]
- Geographic Risk Assessment: [geographic_risk.coverage_level]
- Core Insight: Understanding the geographic scope of patent protection helps assess market entry risks and intellectual property strategies.
2. Patent Family Size Comparison
- Patent Family Size Under Different Definitions:
| Family Type | Size |
|---|
| Simple Family | [family_overview.simple_family_size] |
| INPADOC Family | [family_overview.inpadoc_family_size] |
| PatSnap Family | [family_overview.patsnap_family_size] |
3. Geographic Coverage & Risk Assessment
- Covered Countries: [family_overview.countries_covered]
- Number of Protected Regions: [geographic_risk.protected_regions]
- Major Markets Covered: [geographic_risk.major_markets_covered]
- Potentially Safe Markets: [geographic_risk.safe_markets]
- Geographic Risk Level: [geographic_risk.coverage_level]
- Risk Interpretation: [geographic_risk.meaning]
4. Patent Family Members Details
- List of Patent Family Members (Showing Top 10):
| Patent Number | Country | Family Type (Simple/INPADOC/PatSnap) |
|---|
| [family_members[0].patent_number] | [family_members[0].country] | [family_members[0].family_type] |
| ... | ... | ... |
| (Listing more family members if available) | | |
5. Attached Visualizations
- World Map (Countries with protection) (1_world_map.png)
- Family Comparison (Simple vs INPADOC vs PatSnap) (2_family_types.png)
- Cross-Country Filing Timeline (3_timeline.png)
Geographic Risk Assessment
| Coverage | Risk Level | Meaning |
|---|
| 🔴 US + CN + EU | HIGH | Major markets protected |
| 🟠 US + CN or US + EU | MEDIUM | Key markets protected |
| 🟡 US only | LOW | Limited protection |
| 🟢 No major markets | MINIMAL | May be safe to sell |
Major Markets
| Region | Code | Importance |
|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | US | #1 e-commerce market |
| 🇨🇳 China | CN | #1 manufacturing |
| 🇪🇺 European Union | EP/DE/FR/GB | Major consumer market |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | JP | High-value market |
| 🇰🇷 Korea | KR | Tech-savvy market |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | GB | Post-Brexit separate |
Use Cases
1. Before Sourcing
Check if a competitor's US patent has a CN equivalent that could
block your manufacturing in China.
2. Market Entry
Before entering a new market, check if patents protecting
competitor products exist in that country.
3. Licensing Decisions
Understand the full geographic scope of a patent you want to license.
4. Invalidation Strategy
Find family members that might be easier to invalidate than the
original patent.
Charts Generated
| Chart | Description | File |
|---|
| World Map | Countries with protection | 1_world_map.png |
| Family Comparison | Simple vs INPADOC vs PatSnap | 2_family_types.png |
| Timeline | Filing dates across countries | 3_timeline.png |
Limitations
- Only shows patents in the Zhihuiya database
- Some recent filings may not be linked yet
- PCT applications may show as separate entries
- Family definitions vary by source
Data Sources
| Source | Endpoint | Data |
|---|
| Zhihuiya | /api/v1/tools/research/zhihuiya/patentFamily | Patent family members (Simple, INPADOC, PatSnap) |
| Zhihuiya | /api/v1/tools/research/zhihuiya/legalStatus | Legal status of each family member |
Coverage: 170M+ patents from 150+ countries. Regular sync with patent offices.
Environment Variables
| Variable | Required | Description |
|---|
NEXSCOPE_PROXY_BASE | Yes | NexScope proxy base URL |
NEXSCOPE_API_KEY | Yes | NexScope proxy API key |
References
