Using patent classification, in particular the International Patent Classification, for searching Jerusalem 21 June 2010 Andrew Czajkowski Head, Innovation.

Using patent classification,in particular the International Patent Classification, for searching

Jerusalem21 June2010

Andrew CzajkowskiHead, Innovation and Technology Support Section

Contents

What is patent classification

History of classification systems

Current patent classification systems

International Patent Classification - IPC

How is it structured

IPC on the internet, including tools to assist in using it

Why use it

What is patent classification?

It is a hierarchical classification system used primarily to classify and search patent documents according to the technical fields they pertain

It therefore serves as an instrument for an orderly arrangement of the patent documents, a basis for selective dissemination of information and a basis for investigating the state of the art in given fields of technology

What is patent classification? (cont’d)

System for classifying technical subject matter, e.g. patent literature

Specially adapted for needs of patent documentation

Applied to patent documents worldwide

Available in most databases for search

Applied by some IP Offices to non-patent literature also

► Efficient tool for searching patent literature

History of Classification Systems

1956 European Council initiates work on International Patent Classification (IPC)

1968 Entering into force of IPC (1st edition)1975 Entering into force of Strasbourg Agreement

1831 American Classification1877 German Classification

1.1.2006: Entry into force of Reformed IPCEighth edition (IPC 8, IPC 2006)

1.1.2011: "Reformed" Reformed IPC

Patent Classification Systems

IPC – International Patent Classification (WIPO)

70.000 entries

ECLA - European Classification (EPO)

based on IPC; 150.00 entries

USPC - United States Patent Classification (USPTO)

different philosophy; English only; 160.000 entries

F / FI terms - Japanese Classification Systems (JPO)

FI based on IPC; Japanese, English; 190.000 entries

DEKLA - German Classification System (GPTO)

based on IPC, German only; 100.000 entries

Harmonization of ECLA, USPC, FI by IP5 Offices

included in new IPC versions

IPC - Union

Based on Strasbourg Agreement 1975

initially 13 member states

presently 59 member states

in addition 4 regional organizations:

EPO, EAPO, ARIPO, OAPI

IPC applied by over 100 countries

Structure of IPC Symbols

A23G 9/02

► complete group symbol; consists of different components

A ....................... Section (A, B, ... H)

A23 ....................... Class (any 2 digits)

A23G ....................... Subclass (any letter)

A23G 9/02 ............ Group

Subgroup partMain group part /

IPC group symbols

A23G 9/00 ........... Main group xxx/00

A23G 9/02 ........... Subgroup xxx/yy yy ≠ 00xxx/yyyyyyyy

► Two types of groups: Main groupsSubgroups of main groups

► hierarchical top level: 8 Sections

IPC logical/hierarchical structure

H01B

H01F 1/00

H01F 1/01

H

H01 H02

H01F

H05

H01F 3/00 H01F 87/00

H01F 1/44

Section

Class

Subclass

Main group

Subgroup

H01T

IPC hierarchical structure

Subgroups

Subgroups

Section

Class

Subclass

Main group

12th level

607 docs98 docs

34 159 documents

One point for each subdivision

► sufficiently small numbers

Hierarchy of Subgroups

► Level of hierarchy:

indicated by dotsnumber of dots > indentation level, hierarchical level

> Independent of numbering of subgroups !

G01N 33/483 • • Physical analysis of biological material33/487 • • • of liquid biological material 33/49 • • • • blood33/50 • • Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood

§26

Numbering does not determine hierarchical level

Numbering determines sequential order of subgroups

Numbering of subgroups

„ / “ can be interpreted as decimal point

Example: y = 1/23 > 1.23y = 34/02 > 34.02

§26

G01N 33/483 • • Physical analysis of biological material33/487 • • • of liquid biological material 33/49 • • • • blood33/50 • • Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood

33.48333.48733.49

Classes

Subclasses

Groups Groups68718

Groups

Subclasses639

Subclasses

Classes129

Classes

Sections8

IPC hierarchical structure

Section: H ELECTRICITYClass: H01 BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTSSubclass: H01F MAGNETSMain group: H01F 1/00 . Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by

the magnetic materials thereforOne‑dot subgroup: 1/01 . . of inorganic materialsTwo‑dot subgroup: 1/03 . . . characterised by their coercivityThree‑dot subgroup: 1/032 . . . . of hard magnetic materialsFour‑dot subgroup: 1/04 . . . . . Metals or alloysFive‑dot subgroup: 1/047 . . . . . . Alloys characterised by their compositionSix‑dot subgroup: 1/053 . . . . . . . containing rare earth metals

Complex example

Group H01F 1/053 thus actually concerns:

“Magnets of inorganic materials characterised by their coercivity, comprising hard magnetic alloys specifically containing rare earth metals”

IPC Versions

The IPC has been periodically revised (mostly every 5 years) for improving the system and for reflecting technical developments in its contents

The first edition of the Classification was in force from September 1, 1968, to June 30, 1974

Second from July 1, 1974, to December 31, 1979

Third from January 1, 1980, to December 31, 1984

Fourth from January 1, 1985, to December 31, 1989

Fifth from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 1994

Sixth from January 1, 1995, to December 31, 1999

Seventh from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2005

Eighth from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2008

IPC reform

In March 1999 the IPC Committee of Experts decided to start reform of the IPC

Launched in 01.01.2006 within framework of Version 8 of the IPC

Principal objectives of the IPC reform

Accommodation of the IPC to an electronic environment, i.e. move from paper to electronic system

Division of the IPC into core and advanced levels (discontinued from January 2011)

Creation of the Master Classification Database

Reclassification of search files according to revision changes

Introduction in the IPC of electronic information and tools facilitating classification and search

Document classified in the core level:

(51) Int. Cl. (2006)B28B 5/00B28B 1/00H05B 3/10

Regular Core Level

Document classified in the advanced level:

(51) Int. Cl.B28B 5/00 (2006.01)B28B 1/29 (2007.04)H05B 3/18 (2008.07)

Italics Advanced Level

Version Indicator

Non-bold Additional Information

Bold Invention Information

WIPO Standard ST.10/C

Non-bold Additional Information

Bold Invention Information

Scheme

General Information, Guide

FAQ

IPC homepage

IPC homepage

Access: http://wipo.int/classifications/ipc/en/

General information on IPC; Guide (comprehensive information)

Information on revision projects (e-forum) and meetings

IT support: downloads (PDF, XML), file specifications, DTDs

Classification tools: IPCCAT, TACSY

Browse or search the IPC

Browse or search the IPC (cont‘d)

Bridge (magnifying class symbol) links to:ECLA; USPCOther language versions of IPCDatabases (PATENTSCOPE®, esp@cenet)

IPCCAT

IPPCAT is a linguistic tool that allows to enter short descriptions of technical subject matter, e.g. a summary or abstract, and retrieve suggestions where such subject matter could be classified

The tool is based on a neural network that was trained with a large set of patent documents that were classified by experts.

TACSY

Access: via IPC home or http://www.wipo.int/tacsy/

Natural language search of IPC: you need not know precise terminology

Takes shorter keyword combinations up to 15 -20 words

Results given down to subgroups

TACSYIPC natural language search:www.wipo.int/tacsy

Searching Patent Information

Text searching:

Databases containing abstracts

Full-text databases

Classification-based searching:

IPC

Other classifications

Text-based Searching

Advantages:

Ease of use

All invention details may be retrieved

Disadvantages:

Problem of synonyms

Various languages; searching Chinese, Korean, Japanese patents (significant proportion of newly filed applications)

Inconsistent terminology

> allows for more complete search results than pure text searching

Classification-based Searching

Language independent

Terminology / ”jargon” independent

Standardized application to documents

Concept search

Available for (old) patent documents where no full text of claims / description is available

Advantages of using IPC in comparison to only using keyword searching:

Searching of patent information

Classification adds information value to patent documents

Combination of classification-based and text searching gives best results

PATENTSCOPE Interface – search criteria

Symbols present on front pages of patent documents

Symbols presented in database content

Symbols presented in Search Reports

Thank you for your kind attention!

[email protected]