An Ontology of Properties and Processes of Inorganic Materials Based on Context-Dependency and Its Use

The aim of this research is to build an ontology of properties and manufacturing processes of inorganic materials for supporting engineers in analyzing patent documents. Recognizing that the properties of inorganic materials are context-dependent, the target concepts are defined in relation to their specific contexts. Firstly, properties are defined as fundamental properties that depend on objects or manufacturing processes. Secondly, manufacturing processes are defined as concepts that imply either what is achieved only or how it is achieved as well. Thirdly, the concepts of improvement activity, frequently encountered in patent documents, are defined. The potential utilization of the ontology in patent analysis is discussed, followed by the development of an ontology-based patent analysis system. This system can capture object-property-value triples and restore missing information. Its test use demonstrates its usefulness in facilitating patent analysis.