A study of influencing factors of patent value based on social network analysis

This study proposes a different angle to evaluate patent value, namely regarding patent value as a combination of static characteristics and dynamic relationship. On one hand, a majority of patent static characteristics are fixed in their application, which means these characteristics are controlled by the owner of patent; on the other hand, the dynamic citation relationship is formed by forward citation and backward citation, which means not controlled by the owner. If a patent takes an important position in other citation relationships, this implies the patent has more chance to gain and control technology and knowledge, and to have an important influence on subsequent patents. In other words, this patent is valuable. This study applies social network analysis to carry out the research purpose, regarding patent as a node and citation as the connection between nodes to build patent citation network. This study can provide a thinking mode based on social network analysis for companies; offer a more rational way to evaluate patent value from the perspective of dynamic development; construct an effective early warning mechanism for patent litigation.