The EPOQUE suite of applications

After the successful implementation of EPOQUE 1 and First Page, further developments have been made by the EPO leading to the latest, potentially paperless method for searching and browsing patent information which comprises three parts: - - a search and retrieval system of increasing importance due to the user's added value input; - - A new viewer part providing display and browsing of the full documents (one member only of each patent family) -- including the first page abstracts and images -- in dual mode with ASCII text and facsimile drawings using a selection/elimination process; and - - The electronic equivalent of the entire numerical patent collection -- providing copies (paper and electronic facsimile) of the complete original documents for in-depth study before citation in the search report. The success of this system depends on whether the examiner will find the viewer part a satisfactory replacement for the usual paper documents when scanning the prior art. The examiner is able to combine the single relevant pieces of information contained in any full document found in the search. Provisions are made to facilitate navigation around the document on the screen and the examiner can also mark relevant areas of text inside the document which adds value to the database.