Using patent classification for

searching, in particular the

International Patent Classification (IPC)

Cebu & Manila

March 7 to 11

2011

Andrew Czajkowski

Head, Innovation and Technology Support Section

Contents

Patent Classification

What is it

Why use it

Patent Classification Systems

International Patent Classification - IPC

How it is structured: hierarchy

IPC Reform

IPC on the internet, including tools (IPCCAT, TACSY)

ECLA, F/FI Terms, USPC

Examples

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 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

Searching Patent Information

Text searching:

Databases containing abstracts

Full-text databases

Classification-based searching:

IPC

Other classifications

Text 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

Classification-based searching

Advantages:

More complete results than text searching

Independent of the language of the text

Independent of changes in terminology

Disadvantages:

Complex structure of classifications

Requires study of classification rules

> allows for more complete search results than pure text searching

So why use patent classification?

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 patent information

Classification adds information value to

patent documents

Combination of classification-based and text

searching gives best results

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

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

Provides for a hierarchical system of classification according to

different areas of technology

The Classification consists of several hierarchical levels:

Sections - 1 st level

Classes - 2 nd level

Subclasses - 3 rd level

Main groups - 4 th level

Subgroups - 5 th and lower levels

http://www.wipo.int/classifications/ipc/en/faq/index.html#G7

IPC: Hierarchy

A: Human Necessities

B: Performing Operations, Transporting

C: Chemistry, Metallurgy

D: Textiles, Paper

E: Fixed Constructions

F: Mechanical Engineering, Lighting, Heating,

Weapons

G: Physics

H: Electricity

Hierarchy: Sections

Each section is subdivided into classes

The symbol for each class is two-digit number

following the section symbol

There is class title to indicate the content of the class

Subsection: Foodstuffs; Tobacco:

Class A 2l BAKING; EDIBLE DOUGHS

Class A 22 BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT;

PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH

Class A 23 FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; THEIR

TREATMENT, NOT COVERED BY OTHER

CLASSES

Hierarchy: Classes

Each class comprises one or more subclasses:

A 47 FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR

APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE

MILLS;SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL

A 47 B Tables; Desks; Office furniture; Cabinets;

Drawers; General details of furniture

A 47 C Chairs; Sofas; Beds

Hierarchy : Subclasses

Each subclass is broken down into subdivisions referred to as "groups," which are either main groups or subgroups

Each main group symbol consists of the subclass symbol followed by a one- to three-digit number, the oblique stroke and the number`00

The main group title defines a field of subject matter considered to be useful in searching for inventions. Example: A 01 B 1/00 Hand tools

Subgroups form subdivisions under the main groups.

Examples: A 01 B 1/00 Hand tools1/24 . for treating meadows or lawns

Hierarchy : Groups

Hierarchy: Subgroups

► Level of hierarchy:

• indicated by dots

• number of dots > hierarchical level

• numbering does not determine hierarchical level

• numbering determines sequential order of subgroups

> Independent of numbering of subgroups !

G01N 33/483 • • Physical analysis of biological material

33/487 • • • of liquid biological material

33/49 • • • • blood

33/50 • • Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood

§26

IPC Versions

The IPC is 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 Classification

Launched in 01.01.2006 within framework of Version 8 of

the IPC

Principal objectives of the IPC reform

Move from paper oriented system 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

Accommodation of the IPC to an electronic environment

Document classified in the core level:

(51) Int. Cl. (2006)

B28B 5/00

B28B 1/00

H05B 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

Bridge (magnifying class symbol) links to:

ECLA; USPC; FI

Other language versions of IPC

Databases (PATENTSCOPE®, esp@cenet, USPTO, JPO

IPDL)

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

TACSY

European Patent Classification (ECLA)

The ECLA classification system is an extension of the International

Patent Classification system. It contains 129 200 subdivisions, ie

more than the IPC , and is therefore more precise

ECLA classifications are assigned to patent documents by EPO

examiners in order to facilitate prior-art searches

ECLA is revised continuously and applied retrospectively

Japan Patent Office : F-terms

The F-term classification system consists of themes and terms

The coverage area of the IPC is divided into approximately 2900

themes with each theme spanning a range of IPC subgroups

A theme is identified by the title describing the range or the theme

code which consists of five digits allocated uniquely to each

theme; for example, a theme spanning IPC range A01K 87/00–

87/06 is identified by its title "Fishing rods" and its theme code

is 2B019

Some themes only span one IPC subgroup, such as theme 2F011,

"Tape measures" which covers IPC G01B 3/10

USPTO – United States Patent Classification

Classes Arranged Numerically with Art Unit and Search Room

Locations

Classes D01-100 (Textiles, Furnishing, Tools, Packages,etc.)

Classes 101-200 (Printing, Coating or Plastic, Engines, etc.)

Classes 201-400 (Distillation, Electrolysis, Land Vehicles, etc.)

Classes 401-494 (Joints, Alloys, Semiconductors, etc.)

Classes 501-600 (Catalysts, Superconductors, Perfumes, etc.)

Classes 601-987 (Surgery, Data Processing, Multicellular Living

Organisms, etc.)

Searching Using Different Classification

Systems

Concordance between IPC and USPC

IPC USPC

Section Discipline (Mechanical)

Class Category of Classes (tools)

Subclass Class

Group Subclass

Main group Mainline subclass

Subgroup Indented subclass

Classification Harmonization

The EPO and the United States Patent Trademark Office are

currently working to establish a new Cooperative Patent

Classification (CPC)

The CPC is to be based on the International Patent Classification

(IPC) system, but will use the European Classification system

(ECLA) as a basis so that it will be more detailed than the IPC

The EPO and USPTO view the CPC as a major step toward the

Common Hybrid Classification (CHC), one of the ten Foundation

Projects of the Five IP Offices (IP5) aiming to harmonize the search

and information environment of each office and to standardize the

information-sharing process

Example : Finding IPC classes using

PATENTSCOPE®

Example : Finding IPC classes using

PATENTSCOPE®

Example: Finding Applicant (Qualcomm)

Classes

Example: Finding Applicant (Qualcomm)

Classes

Example: Finding Applicant (Qualcomm)

Classes

Example: Finding IPC classes using

IPCCAT

Example: Finding IPC classes using

IPCCAT

Example: Finding IPC classes using TACSY

Example: Finding IPC classes using TACSY

Natural language search in the IPC - TACSY

Example: Finding IPC classes using TACSY

Example: Finding IPC classes using TACSY

Thank you for your kind attention!

patentscope@wipo.int