/prior-art-search → /patent-novelty-check → /invention-structuring → /claims-drafting → /specification-writing → /patent-review → /jurisdiction-format
     (search)           (verify)              (structure)             (claims)            (description)          (examiner)         (compile)
                                                                                              ├── /figure-description
                                                                                              └── /embodiment-description

/idea-discovery

• Go to

  /experiment-bridge

  →

  /auto-review-loop

  →

  /paper-writing

  (publish track)
• Go to

  /grant-proposal

  (funding track)
• Go to

  /patent-pipeline

  (patent track) <-- this skill

                    ┌→ /experiment-bridge → /auto-review-loop → /paper-writing  (publish track)
/idea-discovery ────┤
                    ├→ /grant-proposal → [get funded] → ...  (funding track)
                    └→ /patent-pipeline → [file patent]       (patent track)

• JURISDICTION =

  CN

  — Target patent jurisdiction. Options:

  CN

  (CNIPA),

  US

  (USPTO),

  EP

  (EPO),

  ALL

  (generate all three). Override via argument (e.g.,

  /patent-pipeline "invention — US"

  ).
• PATENT_TYPE =

  invention

  —

  invention

  (发明专利, 20 year protection) or

  utility_model

  (实用新型, CN only, 10 year protection, apparatus claims only). Override via argument.
• REVIEWER_MODEL =

  gpt-5.4

  — Model used via Codex MCP for examiner-style review.
• MAX_REVIEW_ROUNDS = 2 — Maximum review-revision cycles.
• AUTO_PROCEED = false — At each checkpoint, always wait for explicit user confirmation. Patent applications require inventor judgment at every stage. Set

  true

  only if user explicitly requests autonomous mode.
• LANGUAGE =

  auto

  — Output language. Auto-detected from jurisdiction: CN->Chinese, US->English, EP->English. Override explicitly if needed.
• OUTPUT_DIR =

  patent/

  — Directory for generated patent files.
• OUTPUT_FORMAT =

  markdown

  — Draft format.

  markdown

  for review,

  docx

  for filing-ready.

Override defaults via arguments:

/patent-pipeline "invention — US, utility model"

or

/patent-pipeline "invention — ALL, language: Chinese"

.

patent/PATENT_STATE.json

{
  "phase": 3,
  "jurisdiction": "CN",
  "patent_type": "invention",
  "language": "Chinese",
  "codex_thread_id": "019cfcf4-...",
  "invention_title": "...",
  "claims_count": 15,
  "status": "in_progress",
  "timestamp": "2026-04-10T15:00:00"
}

• If absent or

  status: "completed"

  -> fresh start
• If

  status: "in_progress"

  and within 24h -> resume from saved phase (read output files to restore context)
• If older than 24h -> fresh start (stale state)

"status": "completed"

$ARGUMENTS

1. Invention description — may be structured (references INVENTION_BRIEF.md), conversational with figures, or output from IDEA_REPORT.md
2. Jurisdiction — detect from keywords (e.g., "CN" or "中国" -> CN, "US" or "USPTO" -> US, "EP" or "EPO" -> EP, "ALL")
3. Patent type — detect from keywords (e.g., "utility model" or "实用新型" -> utility_model, default -> invention)
4. Overrides — language, output format, review rounds

1. Read

   INVENTION_BRIEF.md

   if it exists (user filled in the template)
2. Read

   IDEA_REPORT.md

   if it exists (from

   /idea-discovery

   -- can extract invention from research results)
3. Read

   refine-logs/FINAL_PROPOSAL.md

   if it exists
4. Read

   NARRATIVE_REPORT.md

   if it exists (research results that may be patentable)
5. Search for user-provided figures (PNG, JPG, SVG, PDF) in the project directory
6. Check for

   patent/PATENT_STATE.json

   (resume from prior interrupted run)

• No invention description at all -> suggest user describe the invention or fill in

  INVENTION_BRIEF.md

• Has IDEA_REPORT.md -> extract patentable aspects from the research
• Has figures -> reference them in the invention brief
• No figures -> note that figures will be needed and plan what drawings are required

patent/INVENTION_BRIEF.md

/patent-novelty-check

/patent-novelty-check "patent/INVENTION_BRIEF.md"

Prior art search complete:
- [X] patent references found
- [Y] non-patent literature references found
- Closest prior art: [reference] -- [why it's closest]
- Novelty assessment: [PATENTABLE / PATENTABLE WITH AMENDMENTS / NOT PATENTABLE]
- Key risk areas: [list]

Ready to proceed with invention structuring?

• Reply "go" -> proceed to Phase 2
• Reply with adjustments -> refine the invention scope and re-check novelty
• Reply "stop" -> save progress to

  patent/DRAFT_NOTES.md

PATENT_STATE.json

phase: 1

/claims-drafting

/claims-drafting "patent/INVENTION_DISCLOSURE.md"

patent/CLAIMS.md

Invention structured:
- Core inventive concept: [summary]
- Claim categories: [method, system, etc.]
- Claims drafted: [X] independent + [Y] dependent = [Z] total
- Independent claim 1 (broadest): [first 50 words of claim 1]
- Examiner review score: [X]/10

The claims define the legal scope of protection. Please review before proceeding to specification.

• Reply "go" -> proceed to Phase 3
• Reply with adjustments (e.g., "broaden claim 1", "add more dependent claims") -> revise claims
• Reply "stop" -> save progress

PATENT_STATE.json

phase: 2

• Title: [invention title]
• Jurisdiction: [CN/US/EP/ALL]
• Patent Type: [Invention / Utility Model]
• Language: [Chinese/English]
• Total Claims: [X] independent + [Y] dependent

• Have a patent attorney review the application
• Conduct professional prior art search (this tool's search is preliminary)
• Prepare formal drawings (if user figures need professional rendering)
• File with the patent office
• For utility model (CN): formal examination typically takes 6-8 months
• For invention patent: substantive examination may take 2-4 years

**State**: Write `PATENT_STATE.json` with `phase: 5, status: "completed"`.

• Never fabricate prior art references, patent numbers, or citations.
• Claims must be supported by the specification (written description requirement).
• Each jurisdiction has strict format requirements -- do not mix formats.
• Utility model (实用新型) applies ONLY to CN jurisdiction and ONLY covers apparatus/device claims.
• AUTO_PROCEED defaults to false -- patent applications require human review at every phase. Sub-skills inherit this flag: when AUTO_PROCEED=false, sub-skills present results and wait at their own internal checkpoints too.
• The patent pipeline produces drafts for attorney review, not final filing documents.
• Large file handling: if a Write operation fails, retry with Bash

  cat <<'EOF'

  heredoc.
• Never include experimental results or empirical evaluations in the specification.
• Consistent terminology is mandatory -- same word for the same concept throughout.
• If

  mcp__codex__codex

  is not available (no OpenAI API key), skip external cross-model review and note it in the output. The pipeline must not fail due to missing reviewer access.