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Search prior art

search_prior_art
Read-onlyIdempotent

Turn an idea description into a public-patent search and return the closest records the offices actually returned, with Google Patents links. Ranking counts overlapping words. It is not a patentability opinion. Not legal advice.

Tool call template

Replace each placeholder with a value matching the input schema. Only required parameters are included; add optional parameters as needed.

{
  "id": 1,
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "arguments": {
      "idea": "<idea>"
    },
    "name": "search_prior_art"
  }
}

Input Schema

NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
ideaYesWhat the invention is, in plain language.
limitNoMaximum patents to return.

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. First observed

TDQS

A3.9/5.0
Behavior5/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already cover read-only, idempotent, open-world behavior, yet the description adds traits the annotations cannot: results are records 'the offices actually returned' (provenance), ranking 'counts overlapping words' (a rough lexical heuristic the agent must not over-trust), output includes Google Patents links, and the results are not a legal conclusion.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Front-loaded with the core action and output, then ranking semantics, then caveats; every sentence carries information. The final two sentences ('It is not a patentability opinion. Not legal advice.') are near-duplicates, a minor redundancy.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

With no output schema, the description correctly describes what comes back: closest records the offices returned plus Google Patents links, with an explanation of the ranking basis. It stops short of describing result count, empty-result behavior, or how the maxLength-constrained idea is processed, but is otherwise sufficient.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, so 'idea' and 'limit' are fully documented in the schema. The description only restates that the input is an idea description and adds no format, length, or query-construction guidance, so baseline 3 applies.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a specific verb and resource: it converts an idea description into a public-patent search and returns the closest matching records with Google Patents links. That is enough for an agent to distinguish it from get_patent or find_patent_citations, though it never names or contrasts the sibling search_patents, which is the closest alternative.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Usage is implied rather than stated: the input is an idea description, so the agent infers when to reach for it, and the disclaimers ('not a patentability opinion', 'not legal advice') set expectations about interpretation. There are no explicit when-to-use/when-not conditions and no named alternatives, so it clears only the minimum-viable bar.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

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