Specification of a rapid prototyping capability for the automated patent system

The authors discuss the design and planning of a capability for the prototyping of visual metaphors and functions related to the patent examination process. This work was in support of the Automated Patent System project of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). Prototyping was intended as a means for defining and clarifying user requirements. The authors defined and tailored a prototyping methodology which was compatible with the current PTO system life cycle. Within this methodology, they established firm guidelines for reporting results and for assigning roles and responsibilities. They selected an area for prototyping based on the technical characteristics of the APS, and from this area, they generated several ideas for likely prototypes. Theses ideas served as a basis for defining the prototyping capability requirements, and a facility configuration was derived from these requirements