The STN partners - Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) and FIZ Karlsruhe - have announced that Version One of the new STN platform is now available in beta for fixed fee customers. This is stated to be the first major milestone in a multi-year initiative to create the next generation of STN, which is aimed at patent experts. Version One of the redesigned STN seeks to introduce project-oriented workflow, improved usability and "no limits" search architecture for expert as well as novice professional searchers.
The focus of the first version has been on developing the core search and retrieval system for the new STN. It is said to combine the complete CAS Registry and Chemical Abstracts content along with Thomson Reuters' Derwent World Patents Index and powerful new search features to support preliminary searches in key areas. These include chemistry and general technology research; intellectual property, such as basic novelty and prior art; due diligence; and first pass freedom to operate.
A new approach for STN is to allow organisation of work in projects for easy management of search queries and results. New technologies are designed to process broad and complex searches with industry-leading performance. This is seen to be vital for patent searchers to keep pace with the continued increase of disclosed research and patent information from around the world.
The new workflow is projected to integrate the power of command line with an intuitive user interaction that enables professionals to leverage their expertise and realise instantaneous results. For the first time, text and structures can be combined in a single query to simplify searching for chemical information.
The STN partners will incorporate additional content and functionality in the new architecture with ongoing versions. Full text patent content will be added throughout 2013.
The STN Advisory Council members have been assisting in this large development effort, and confirm that CAS and FIZ Karlsruhe are building a state-of-the-art product for professionals. The current STN system, including STN Express and the other STN products, will continue to be available and fully supported throughout the development of the new platform.
