The element mapping table is the core output of ArcPrime's prior art search on an invention disclosure. It maps each claim element against the identified references, showing which elements are taught by existing art and where the invention is novel.
Key Capabilities
Claim-by-element breakdown -- Each row is one element of an independent claim. Each column is one prior art reference.
Taught indicators -- An icon in each cell shows whether that reference teaches the element; hover over it to see the reasoning behind the call.
Risk level -- ArcPrime summarizes the table as a Prior Art Risk of High, Medium, or Low.
Versions -- Every search is kept, so you can compare the mapping before and after editing the claims.
Excel export -- Download the table, including the hover reasoning, from the panel header.
How It Works
After a prior art search completes, ArcPrime splits the claims it extracted from the disclosure into elements. It then checks every element against every reference and records whether that reference teaches it. Workspaces that anonymize prior art label the columns Ref 1, Ref 2, and so on.
The risk level depends on how many elements are taught by at least one reference:
Risk Level | Meaning |
High | Every element is taught by at least one reference. The disclosure faces significant novelty challenges. |
Medium | At least 70% of the elements are taught. Claim amendments may be needed to establish novelty. |
Low | Fewer than 70% of the elements are taught. The disclosure shows strong differentiation from the art. |
The risk chip appears in the correspondence panel next to the search entry once the search finishes; it is hidden while a search is running. The same assessment feeds the Patentability axis of the filing score.
Focus on the elements no reference teaches: they represent the strongest novelty. To test a narrower or reworded claim, rerun the search with edited claims and compare the new version.
Common Use Cases
Use Case | How ArcPrime Helps |
Evaluating patentability | Use the risk level and the mapping to decide whether the disclosure is worth pursuing |
Strengthening claims | Edit the independent claims, rerun the search, and see which elements become untaught |
Preparing for committee review | Committee members open the same report before they vote |
Sharing with outside counsel | Export the mapping to Excel; reference details follow your workspace's visibility level |
Getting Started
Run a prior art search on the disclosure. The mapping appears in the report as soon as the search completes.
Related Articles
How to Run a Prior Art Search -- Start, rerun, and export a search
Committee Voting and Approval -- Use prior art analysis in committee decisions
Understanding the Filing Score -- How the risk level feeds the recommendation
Interpreting Prior Art Search Results -- Reading search results on patents