2. A computer-implemented patent portfolio analysis method comprising: retrieving patent information from a database, wherein the patent information is from a plurality of patent documents; analyzing said patent information to generate at least one eigenspace category model; and applying said category model to said patent information to select from said patent information a subset that fits said model and storing said subset in a computer-readable dataset, wherein said patent information includes claim text information to be analyzed and wherein said analyzing step includes: defining an eigenspace representing a training population of training claims each training claim having associated training text; representing at least a portion of said training claims in said eigenspace and associating a predefined category with each training claim in said eigenspace; and projecting the claim text information to be analyzed into said eigenspace and associating with said projected claim text the predefined category of the training claim to which said projected claim text is closest within the eigenspace.
2. A computer-implemented patent portfolio analysis method comprising: retrieving patent information from a database, wherein the patent information is from a plurality of patent documents; analyzing said patent information to generate at least one eigenspace category model; and applying said category model to said patent information to select from said patent information a subset that fits said model and storing said subset in a computer-readable dataset, wherein said patent information includes claim text information to be analyzed and wherein said analyzing step includes: defining an eigenspace representing a training population of training claims each training claim having associated training text; representing at least a portion of said training claims in said eigenspace and associating a predefined category with each training claim in said eigenspace; and projecting the claim text information to be analyzed into said eigenspace and associating with said projected claim text the predefined category of the training claim to which said projected claim text is closest within the eigenspace. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said patent information includes patent classification information and wherein said analyzing step is performed by defining a plurality of categories and mapping classification information onto said categories.