45. The method of claim 19 wherein: said pairs of documents further comprises a first document and a second document, said first document is a dependent claim, x, depending from an independent claim, X, and said second document is a dependent claim, y, depending from an independent claim, Y, said determining a first utility measure further comprises the following steps: determining a first intermediate utility measure; determining a second intermediate utility measure; combining said first intermediate utility measure and said second intermediate utility measure.
45. The method of claim 19 wherein: said pairs of documents further comprises a first document and a second document, said first document is a dependent claim, x, depending from an independent claim, X, and said second document is a dependent claim, y, depending from an independent claim, Y, said determining a first utility measure further comprises the following steps: determining a first intermediate utility measure; determining a second intermediate utility measure; combining said first intermediate utility measure and said second intermediate utility measure. 47. The method of claim 45 wherein: (a) said first intermediate utility measure is a combination of a first similarity measure for said first document element, x, and said first similarity measure for said second document element Y; and (b) said second intermediate utility measure is a combination of said first similarity measure for said first document element, X, and said first similarity measure for said second document element, Y.