Pet Care Patent Categorization Decision Tree

1. No analysis Find appropriate end point in tree Pet Care Patent Categorization Decision Tree Note: Categories which are end points at multiple points in the tree are marked with (*) N N Y A. Dashboard Scope? Is it related to Pet Foods? Top 4 companies Re-evaluate Yateen Y Y Find appropriate end point in tree Y N Y If it is US or EP or WO patent include the new member in dashboard Patent is a new invention B. Selection of patent number If the newest patent is a new patent family member Y N Then select for dashboard if, no member of the patent family is on the dashboard than add, the one representative member on the dashboard separately If it is from any other country, then check if the patent family member is already in the dashboard N Y Y 1

2. Find appropriate end point in tree If the food Composition contains any ingredients related to Vegetables, fruits, cereal, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, fats, minerals, fibers and omega 3 fatty acids etc, The scope of the dashboard is limited to pet food. Generic pet care applications e.g cat litter, or pet care cleaning etc are not of interest: Focus only on pet (cat or dog) food compositions, process of manufacture, method of use ,benefit areas, business methods, delivery, formulations and other categories on he mind-map Y N Classify in to Categories and sub categories according to mind map C. Composition Y Vegetables Caboh-ydrates Proteins Enzymes Prebiotics Cereals Fruits Fiber Fats Antioxidants Y Y Y Y Amino acids Animal fat Omega FA Monosachharides Disachharides Polysachharides Generic Veg protein Animal protein Peptides Veg fat Generic Fructo oligosachharides Isomalto oligosachharides Inulins Others Vitamins Minerals & salts Others Probiotics Anti-inflammatory agents Vitamin A Vitamin B Vitamin C Vitamin D Vitamin E Generic Bacteria Yeast Fungi Others

3. Find appropriate end point in tree Find appropriate end point in tree Some food compositions have some beneficial compounds which will treat the pets with particular disease or for general well being Y N D. Benefit Areas Classify in to Categories Y Gastro-intestinal Cardiac Immunity Weight Control Dental Skeletal Eye Performance Glycemia Skin/hair Coat Hairball Renal Hepatic Brain Trainability Urinary Behavior/Mental Activity Longevity Other Diseases Pet food will be in different product forms ex: dry, wet, biscuits, dairy products etc Y Classify in to Categories and sub categories according to mind map N E. Product form Y Y Y Y Nutritional Supplements Dry Wet Treats, Snack, Chew Dry kibbled food Biscuits Canned foods Gravy/sauce Gel Generic Diary products Unspecified Generic Slurry

4. If the patent deals with the device If the patent deals with the pets in general, with out the mention of any type of pet Find appropriate end point in tree If the food product is pleasing to the senses Classify in to Categories and sub categories according to mind map N Y F. Sensory Attributes Palatability Taste Appearance Flavor Texture Smell, odor Others The food product is designed to which species Y N G. Species Classify in to Categories Y Pets Human Y Cats Dogs Others Generic Y N H. Device Select the patent for dashboard

5. If the patent deals with the design of the device The type of packaging article used The processing of the pet food like extrusion and canning etc. Find appropriate end point in tree Y I. Packaging N Classify in to Categories according to mind map Pouch Can Tray Bottle Bag Carton N Y Select the patent for dashboard J. Design patents N Y Classify in to Categories and sub categories according to mind map K. Processing Y Extrusion Canning/Retort Others Extruder device/kit Temperature Extrusion Generic

6. L. Is it covered in one of the other logic strings? N Was there enough information to determine where this fits? Y Y Is it about pet food, other uses Miscellaneous N N Y Not Enough Information Is the document of interest now? Re-evaluate N Y Y Could it be of interest in the future? No Current Interest N M. Is there enough information to make assessment? N No Interest N, Data Clean-up If. the patent is unassigned, then match up with proper assignee Check for patent assignee information Check and upload all claims and PDF