SAO network analysis of patents for technology trends identification: a case study of polymer electrolyte membrane technology in proton exchange membrane fuel cells

Sungchul Choi (), Janghyeok Yoon (), Kwangsoo Kim (), Jae Yeol Lee () and Cheol-Han Kim ()
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Sungchul Choi: Pohang University of Science and Technology
Janghyeok Yoon: Pohang University of Science and Technology
Kwangsoo Kim: Pohang University of Science and Technology
Jae Yeol Lee: Chonnam National University
Cheol-Han Kim: Daejon University

Scientometrics, 2011, vol. 88, issue 3, No 11, 863-883

Abstract: Abstract This paper suggests a method for Subject–Action–Object (SAO) network analysis of patents for technology trends identification by using the concept of function. The proposed method solves the shortcoming of the keyword-based approach to identification of technology trends, i.e., that it cannot represent how technologies are used or for what purpose. The concept of function provides information on how a technology is used and how it interacts with other technologies; the keyword-based approach does not provide such information. The proposed method uses an SAO model and represents “key concept” instead of “key word”. We present a procedure that formulates an SAO network by using SAO models extracted from patent documents, and a method that applies actor network theory to analyze technology implications of the SAO network. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the SAO network this paper presents a case study of patents related to Polymer Electrolyte Membrane technology in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells.

Keywords: Technology Subject-Action-Object (SAO); Function; Patent mining; Patent analysis; Technology trends analysis; Co-word analysis; Actor network theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C63 C82 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (38)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11192-011-0420-z

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