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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. History of Classification Systems 1956 European Council initiates work on International Patent Classification (IPC) 1968Entering into force of IPC (1st edition) 1975Entering into force of Strasbourg Agreement 1831 American Classification 1877 German Classification 1.1.2006: Entry into force of Reformed IPC Eighth edition (IPC 8, IPC 2006) 1.1.2011: "Reformed" Reformed IPC

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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 part Main group part /

9. IPC group symbols A23G 9/00........... Main groupxxx/00 A23G 9/02........... Subgroupxxx/yy yy ≠ 00 xxx/yyyyyyyy ► Two types of groups:Main groups Subgroups of main groups

10. ► hierarchical top level: 8 Sections IPC logical/hierarchical structure

11. H01B H01F 1/00 H01F 1/01 H H01H02 H01F H05 H01F 3/00 H01F 87/00 H01F 1/44 Section Class Subclass Main group Subgroup H01T IPC hierarchical structure Subgroups

12.  Section Class Subclass Main group 12 th level 607 docs 98 docs 34 159 documents One point for each subdivision ► sufficiently small numbers

13. Hierarchy of Subgroups ► Level of hierarchy: indicated by dots number of dots > indentation level, hierarchical level > Independent of numbering of subgroups ! G01N33/483 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

14. 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> 1.23 y = 34/02> 34.02 §26 G01N33/483 Physical analysis of biological material 33/487 of liquid biological material 33/49 blood 33/50 Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood 33.483 33.487 33.49

15. Classes Subclasses Groups 68718 Groups Subclasses 639 Subclasses Classes 129 Classes Sections 8 IPC hierarchical structure

16. Section:H ELECTRICITY Class:H01 BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS Subclass:H01F MAGNETS Main group:H01F 1/00. Magnets or magnetic bodies characterised by the magnetic materials therefor One ‑ dot subgroup:1/01.. of inorganic materials Two ‑ dot subgroup:1/03... characterised by their coercivity Three ‑ dot subgroup:1/032.... of hard magnetic materials Four ‑ dot subgroup:1/04..... Metals or alloys Five ‑ dot subgroup:1/047...... Alloys characterised by their composition Six ‑ 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”

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. SchemeGeneral Information, Guide FAQ IPC homepage

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

23. Browse or search the IPC

24. Browse or search the IPC (cont‘d) Bridge (magnifying class symbol) links to: ECLA; USPC Other language versions of IPC Databases (PATENTSCOPE ®, esp@cenet)

26. 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.

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

29. TACSY IPC natural language search: www.wipo.int/tacsy

32. Searching Patent Information Text searching: Databases containing abstracts Full-text databases Classification-based searching: IPC Other classifications

33. 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

34. > 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:

35. Searching of patent information Classification adds information value to patent documents Combination of classification-based and text searching gives best results

36. PATENTSCOPE Interface – search criteria

37. Symbols present on front pages of patent documents

38. Symbols presented in database content

39. Symbols presented in Search Reports

40. Thank you for your kind attention! patentscope@wipo.int