Setup Assistant

Setup Assistant Skill

Expert system for installing, configuring, and setting up the Claude Patent Creator MCP server.

When to Use

Installing first time, setting up new environment, configuring authentication, troubleshooting installation, migrating to new machine, updating dependencies, verifying health.

Quick Setup (5 Minutes)

# 1. Create virtual environment
python -m venv venv
venv\Scripts\activate  # Windows
source venv/bin/activate  # Linux/macOS

# 2. Run installer
python install.py

# 3. Restart Claude Code

# 4. Test
# Ask Claude: "Search MPEP for claim definiteness"

Complete Setup Lifecycle

Phase 1: Pre-Installation Checks

Requirements:

• Python 3.9-3.12 (3.11 recommended)
• 8GB+ RAM (16GB recommended)
• 5GB free disk
• Optional: NVIDIA GPU with CUDA 12.x

Verify:

python --version  # Should show 3.9-3.12
nvidia-smi        # Optional: Check GPU

Phase 2: Virtual Environment

# Create venv
python -m venv venv

# Activate
venv\Scripts\activate  # Windows
source venv/bin/activate  # Linux/macOS

# Verify
which python  # Should show venv path

Important: Always activate venv before running scripts!

Phase 3: Dependency Installation

Automated (Recommended):

python install.py
# Handles: PyTorch order, GPU detection, MCP registration

Manual (Advanced):

# Install PyTorch FIRST (critical!)
pip install torch torchvision --index-url https://download.pytorch.org/whl/cu128

# Then install package (includes all dependencies)
pip install -e .

Why PyTorch order matters: If installed after sentence-transformers, you get CPU-only version.

Phase 4: BigQuery Authentication (Optional)

BigQuery adds 100M+ patent search but is NOT required. MPEP search, claims review, EPO analysis, and all other features work without it.

The setup auto-detects existing gcloud credentials. If already authenticated, BigQuery works automatically.

If the user wants to enable BigQuery later:

# One command — opens browser for Google sign-in (free, no credit card)
! gcloud auth application-default login

Do NOT present BigQuery as a failure or required step. It is a bonus feature.

Phase 5: MCP Server Registration

Automated:

python install.py  # Handles registration automatically

Manual:

# Get paths
patent-creator verify-config

# Register (use forward slashes!)
claude mcp add --transport stdio claude-patent-creator --scope user -- \
  "C:/path/to/venv/Scripts/python.exe" \
  "C:/path/to/mcp_server/server.py"

# Verify
claude mcp list

Critical: Restart Claude Code after registration!

Phase 6: Configuration Files

Create .env:

# Required
GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT=your_project_id
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=<YOUR_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY>

# Optional
PATENT_LOG_LEVEL=INFO
PATENT_LOG_FORMAT=human
PATENT_ENABLE_METRICS=true

# Windows only
CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH=C:\dev\Git\bin\bash.exe

Phase 7: Health Check

patent-creator health

Phase 8: Present Results

Setup is complete when MPEP index is built and MCP server is registered. BigQuery and EPO OPS are optional enhancements.

Present a clean summary table showing what's ready. Do NOT dump manual setup instructions for optional features. The system is fully functional for:

• MPEP/USC/CFR/EPC/PCT legal search
• Claims analysis (US + EPO)
• Specification analysis (US + EPO)
• Formalities checking (US + EPO + PCT)
• Patent diagram generation
• Patent application drafting

If BigQuery is also configured, mention patent search as available. If not, do NOT present it as a failure — just omit it from the "ready" list.

Test with:

"Search MPEP for claim definiteness requirements"

If this works -> Setup complete. Tell the user they're ready.

Common Setup Issues

Platform-Specific Notes

Windows

• PowerShell: Use venv\Scripts\activate
• Git Bash required for MCP commands
• Paths: Always forward slashes in MCP config
• CUDA: Install NVIDIA drivers + toolkit

Linux

• venv: source venv/bin/activate
• FAISS-GPU: Available on Linux only
• Permissions: May need sudo

macOS

• Apple Silicon: Use MPS (auto-detected)
• Intel: Use CPU or external GPU
• Homebrew: May need for dependencies

Update & Maintenance

Updating Dependencies

venv\Scripts\activate
pip install -e . --upgrade
python scripts/test_install.py

Rebuilding Index

patent-creator rebuild-index
# Wait 5-15 minutes

Re-registering MCP

claude mcp remove claude-patent-creator
python install.py
# Restart Claude Code

Quick Reference

Essential Commands

# Setup
python install.py
patent-creator health
claude mcp list

# Testing
python scripts/test_install.py
python scripts/test_gpu.py
python scripts/test_bigquery.py

# Maintenance
patent-creator rebuild-index
patent-creator verify-config

Critical Files

• .env - Environment variables
• requirements.txt - Dependencies
• mcp_server/index/ - MPEP search index
• pdfs/ - MPEP PDF files

USPTO Filing Reference

This document contains current USPTO filing information for patent application assembly. Agents and commands MUST reference this document instead of generating filing details from memory.

Filing System

All new nonprovisional utility patent applications are filed through USPTO Patent Center (patentcenter.uspto.gov). EFS-Web was retired in 2023 and is no longer available.

Document Format Requirements

Specification, Claims, and Abstract

• Required format: DOCX
• Patent Center accepts DOCX natively for specification, claims, and abstract
• Filing in non-DOCX format (e.g., PDF) triggers a non-DOCX surcharge
• Convert from Markdown to DOCX before filing (use pandoc or Word)

Drawings

• Required format: PDF (black-and-white line art)
• Utility patent drawings must be black-and-white per 37 CFR 1.84
• Color drawings require a separate petition under 37 CFR 1.84(a)(2) with justification
• Each sheet numbered consecutively within the sight area ("Sheet X of Y")
• Margins: at least 1 inch top, 2.5 cm sides and bottom
• All text in figures must be legible at reduction

Reference Numerals (37 CFR 1.84(p))

• Every reference numeral appearing in a drawing MUST be mentioned in the specification
• Reference characters not mentioned in the description shall not appear in the drawings
• Consistent numbering: the same element must use the same numeral across all figures

Fee Schedule

Do NOT hardcode or estimate fee amounts. USPTO fees change periodically.

Direct the user to the live USPTO fee schedule: https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/fees-and-payment/uspto-fee-schedule

Key fee categories for utility nonprovisional filing:

• Basic filing fee (by entity size: micro, small, large)
• Search fee
• Examination fee
• Excess claims fees (each independent claim over 3, each total claim over 20)
• Non-DOCX surcharge (if applicable)

Entity Size

Micro Entity (37 CFR 1.29)

• Qualifies for 80% fee reduction
• Requirements: gross income under the current threshold (updated annually), not named on more than 4 previously filed applications, not assigned/obligated rights to an entity exceeding the income limit
• Current threshold: Check https://www.uspto.gov/patents/basics/using-legal-services/micro-entity-status

Small Entity (37 CFR 1.27)

• Qualifies for 60% fee reduction
• Individuals, small businesses (<500 employees), and nonprofits

Information Disclosure Statement (IDS)

• Filed through Patent Center's eIDS (electronic IDS) interface
• U.S. patents and U.S. patent application publications: Enter the publication number directly in eIDS. No copies need to be submitted -- the USPTO has these in its own records (37 CFR 1.98(a)(2))
• Foreign patent documents: Copies must be submitted
• Non-patent literature (NPL): Copies must be submitted
• IDS should be filed within 3 months of filing or before first Office Action to avoid late fees

Inventor Declaration

• Form PTO/AIA/01
• Patent Center allows electronic signature
• Can be deferred under ADS-based postponement rules -- the declaration does not have to be included at the time of filing
• Warning: If the declaration is not included at filing, the USPTO may issue a Notice to File Missing Parts with a surcharge for late filing. Advise the inventor to file the declaration at the time of filing to avoid this surcharge (MPEP 602.03)

Application Data Sheet (ADS)

• Completed within Patent Center during the filing process
• Form PTO/AIA/14
• Includes inventor information, correspondence address, application type, priority claims