using patent classification, in particular the international patent classification, for searching...
TRANSCRIPT
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
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
