TY - JOUR T1 - Finding the Signal in the Noise of Patent Citations: How to Focus on Relevance for Strategic Advantage JF - Technology Innovation Management Review Y1 - 2014 A1 - Derek Smith KW - citation noise KW - citation-based patent evaluation KW - intellectual property KW - literature review KW - patent evaluation KW - patent evaluation limitations KW - prior art citations AB - Patent evaluations based on prior art citation data are business methodologies that can reveal hidden relationships between a patent and the associated prior art citations. These hidden relationships can further identify firms, actors and, technology and can identify strategic business relationships and opportunities. However, a fundamental problem with existing methodologies for discovering relevant relationships in citation data is noise. Citation noise obscures relevant relationships and impedes the potential value of these methodologies. This article reviews the literature on prior art citations as they relate to citation-based patent evaluation methodologies. A framework is presented to overcome citation noise and reveal relevant relationships to evaluate knowledge, technology, and invention properties, thereby opening up strategic and competitive advantages to the evaluating firm. The article provides guidance to executives and managers to help improve strategic decision making through relevant citation-based patent evaluations. PB - Talent First Network CY - Ottawa VL - 4 UR - http://timreview.ca/article/830 IS - 9 U1 - Carleton University Derek Smith is the founder and principal of Magneto Innovention Management, an intellectual property consulting firm that assists entrepreneurs and small businesses with difficult intellectual property issues. He is a registered patent agent in both Canada and the United States, and he has over 20 years of experience working as an intellectual property management consultant and patent agent for IBM Canada, Bell Canada, and Husky Injection Molding Systems where he was Director of Global Intellectual Property. Prior to entering the field of intellectual property, he was an advisory engineer at IBM Canada where he was involved in a variety of leading-edge software development projects. Derek holds an MASc degree in Technology Innovation Management from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, for which he was awarded a Senate Medal for Outstanding Academic Achievement. His thesis is "A New Methodology For Citation Dependent Patent Evaluations". Derek also holds a BEng degree in Systems and Computer Engineering, also from Carleton University. ER -