Note on a heuristic procedure to identify the most valuable chain of patent priority network

Patent portfolio is more valuable than single patent. However, the analysis approach of a company´s patent portfolios is still ambiguous. Patent priority approach (PPA) presented a clearer analysis method to explore the inside of patent family. Patent family provides an outline of patent portfolio. Patent Priority Analysis (PPA) could get a better picture of patent portfolio path and technical tracks through patent family priority. This article brings up patent family priority network (PFPN) by joining whole patent family members to PPA. Participating infringe law suit more than others do, the basic patent shows important status of its family. The length and quantity of patent chain represent depth and width of technical developing. Special nodes are also found. When patent family priority network has any `merge patent´, GR of patent chain would fail to choose the right critical chain. Burst patent node bursts one path into several paths. SSR fails to choose the right significant chain with burst patent nodes. Although GR and SSR fail in the special situation, PFPN still could provide a company a simple, precise and wide using approach of technical developing.