17. A computer-implemented method for generating an artificial environment within a memory of a computer, in which chemical identifiers that relate to a particular subject matter and which are described in patent documents are extracted and analyzed, the method comprising: submitting, in electronic form, a search to at least one document database for patent documents describing the subject matter using a defined search strategy; extrapolating to a first array within the memory of the computer at least one chemical identifier described in at least one patent document returned from the search, the extrapolating step using an extraction module comprising code executing in a processor; transforming each chemical identifier in the first array into respective numerical forms using a conversion module comprising code executing in the processor; populating the respective numerical forms into a second array within the memory of the computer; generating within the memory of the computer, using an array-generator module comprising code executing in the processor, a virtual n-dimensional array of nodes configured to contain the numerical forms associated with the at least one chemical identifiers in the first array; processing each numerical form in the second array into the virtual array of nodes using a self-organizing mapping algorithm comprising code executing in processor, wherein the processing step comprises: assigning each node in the array of nodes a placeholder value; calculating a distance metric between each numerical form and each placeholder value; placing each numerical form within the node having the smallest calculated distance metric from that particular numerical form; iterating over each node in the array of nodes; and updating the placeholder value to reflect the placement of the numerical form; selecting a target node of the virtual n-dimensional array of nodes; comparing, with a comparison module comprising code executing in the processor, a first numerical form placed within a first node of the array of nodes that is adjacent to the target node with a second numerical form placed within a second node of the array of nodes that is adjacent to the target coordinate location, wherein the target node lacks a placed numerical form; identifying, using a commonality module comprising code executing in the processor, common chemical structure features shared by the first and second numerical forms; generating, using a chemical entity generation module comprising code executing in the processor, at least one new numerical form based on combinations of common structural features which, when plotted to the virtual n-dimensional array of nodes, results in a placement in the target node; and outputting with an output module a chemical formula corresponding to each new numerical form.
17. A computer-implemented method for generating an artificial environment within a memory of a computer, in which chemical identifiers that relate to a particular subject matter and which are described in patent documents are extracted and analyzed, the method comprising: submitting, in electronic form, a search to at least one document database for patent documents describing the subject matter using a defined search strategy; extrapolating to a first array within the memory of the computer at least one chemical identifier described in at least one patent document returned from the search, the extrapolating step using an extraction module comprising code executing in a processor; transforming each chemical identifier in the first array into respective numerical forms using a conversion module comprising code executing in the processor; populating the respective numerical forms into a second array within the memory of the computer; generating within the memory of the computer, using an array-generator module comprising code executing in the processor, a virtual n-dimensional array of nodes configured to contain the numerical forms associated with the at least one chemical identifiers in the first array; processing each numerical form in the second array into the virtual array of nodes using a self-organizing mapping algorithm comprising code executing in processor, wherein the processing step comprises: assigning each node in the array of nodes a placeholder value; calculating a distance metric between each numerical form and each placeholder value; placing each numerical form within the node having the smallest calculated distance metric from that particular numerical form; iterating over each node in the array of nodes; and updating the placeholder value to reflect the placement of the numerical form; selecting a target node of the virtual n-dimensional array of nodes; comparing, with a comparison module comprising code executing in the processor, a first numerical form placed within a first node of the array of nodes that is adjacent to the target node with a second numerical form placed within a second node of the array of nodes that is adjacent to the target coordinate location, wherein the target node lacks a placed numerical form; identifying, using a commonality module comprising code executing in the processor, common chemical structure features shared by the first and second numerical forms; generating, using a chemical entity generation module comprising code executing in the processor, at least one new numerical form based on combinations of common structural features which, when plotted to the virtual n-dimensional array of nodes, results in a placement in the target node; and outputting with an output module a chemical formula corresponding to each new numerical form. 18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising: generating a visual display indicating the addition of numerical forms to virtual n-dimensional array of nodes in the memory, wherein the addition of numerical forms concerns a common owner of the patent documents returned from the search, wherein the generating uses a time-series module comprising code executing in the processor; generating, using a time series plotting module comprising code executing in the processor, a time series plot indicating the publication of the patent documents over time; extrapolating, with an extrapolating module comprising code executing in the processor and based on the rate of publication of the patent documents and chemical identifiers extracted from the patent documents, a development path for an inventor or assignee; common to the patent documents returned from the search; generating a new chemical entity that when placed in virtual n-dimensional array of nodes occupies a node in the development path; and outputting a chemical formula corresponding to the new numerical value.