Patent Document ID: 20020174131
Application ID: 09822445
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A computer-based method for determining and visually representing in easily comprehensible form the uniqueness and novelty of at least one subject concept, which has been published in one or more first references on a first publication date, as compared over time to other concepts each of which was published on a specific date in one or more references by generating and displaying an icon representing multitemporal and multidimensional data relationships between the one concept and relevant ones of the other concepts comprising the steps of: establishing a permanent database containing the full text and identifying data for all references for which a comparison is desired; extracting a first reference embodying the one concept and having a first publication date; building and storing a multiplicity of temporary databases each of which contains at least identifying information regarding references conceptually related to the subject concept wherein the references stored in each of which have a different temporal relationship to the subject concept; generating a multi-element morphogenetic icon for each discrete reference contained in each of said temporary databases wherein each said morphogenetic icon has one element representing the subject concept and a separate element associated with and representing each of said temporary databases; extracting from said permanent database selected data for each discrete reference contained in each of said temporary databases; and displaying for each discrete reference said morphogenetic icon together with said selected data.