Case study
Building a patent data platform for research and application workflows
Patent records come in different datasets and file formats. Finding the material for a particular application can mean working through bulk XML files, grant records, and file-wrapper archives.
Neodym built Data Lake to bring those sources into one platform, with a browser interface for researchers and an API for software integrations.
The problem
Bulk patent datasets are useful source material, but they aren’t convenient for everyday application lookup. A team investigating one application needs the relevant records, a way to inspect the source, and clarity about what is available.
Software integrations need controlled access to that same information without downloading entire archives.
What we built
The Data Lake portal lets authenticated users search by application number, see the available source datasets, preview records, and download supported files.
Where supported, the platform extracts application-specific XML rather than returning the entire bulk file containing it.
A separate token-authenticated API provides application lookup and bounded source previews. Request and data-transfer limits control access, while an API usage page helps users inspect their activity.
Handling incomplete coverage
Not every application has every source type. Data Lake reports the records it finds and identifies the available datasets rather than substituting missing material.
The platform also separates browser downloads from API access. Authorized portal users can download supported source files, while the API restricts responses to controlled previews instead of exposing bulk archives.
The result
Neodym delivered a shared platform for patent application lookup and source access through both a web portal and an API.
Recorded QA covered application searches, source previews, application-specific downloads, authentication, rate limiting, and checks for exposed internal paths or tokens.
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