Other Classification Systems

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Other Classification Systems
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Other classification systems

• Larger offices maintain proprietary
  classification systems
• ECLA - European Classification (EPO)
• based on IPC English only
• USPC United States Patent Classification
  (USPTO)
• different philosophy English only
• F / FI terms Japanese Classification Systems
  (JPO)
• FI based on IPC Japanese, English
• DEKLA German Classification System (GPTO)
• based on IPC, German only
• Harmonization of ECLA, USPC, FI by IP5 Offices
• gt to be included in new IPC versions.

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ECLA

• Internal classification of the EPO
• Based on the IPC, but more detailed 134.000
  entries
• Applied by EPO examiners to EP documents
  (obligatory) and PCT minimum documents
  (discretionary)
• gt the IPC part of the ECLA of non EP docs may be
  different than IPC given by national IPO because
  the EP examiner may have a different opinion than
  the publishing office
• Searching with the use of ECLA codes is possible
  on Espacenet
• Access http//v3.espacenet.com/eclasrch?CYEPLG
  en
• Brochure http//www.espacenet.com/getstarted/clas
  sification_search_en.pdf

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ECLA on esp_at_cenet
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ECLA and IPC

• ECLA latest IPC edition
• EPO subdivisions
• EPO text additions in IPC
• groups
• Exceptions
• IPC groups / amendments not (yet) introduced
  (lack of time or not good)
• IPC of former or future editions

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Subdividing letters hierarchy

• Rules
• Alphabetic order
• Letter digit letter - .
• 1 dot more 1 letter/digit more

• Examiners choice
• Selection of letter
• Deep subdivision

G02B5/00 Optical elements other than
lenses G02B5/30 . Polarising
elements G02B5/30F . . N comprising
dielectric particles G02B5/30L . . N
involving liquid crystal elements G02B5/30P
. . N Polarisers G02B5/30P1 . . . N in
the form of a thin sheet or foil G02B5/30P1S .
. . . N comprising multiple thin
layers G02B5/30P1S1 . . . . . N including
organic materials
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Symbol structure presentation
A47G HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
(book-ends A47B5/00 knives
B26B) 21/00 Table-ware (crumb trays
A47L13/52 table knives B26B) 21/18 .
Drinking straws or the like (N as integral
parts of drinking containers
A47G19/22B12 for therapeutic purposes
A61J15/00 N adapted to emerge from drinking
containers when opened B65D77/28C)
C9804 21/18B . . N combined with
cutlery or other eating utensils
N9409C9701 N
Non-official N9409 New introduction
date September 1994 C9701 Changed
January 1997
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ECLA "WARNINGS"

• A WARNING is introduced locally in the ECLA
  scheme for signalling deviations from IPC, or
  incompleteness
• IPC groups not used in ECLA
• e.g. see Warning after G01N
• Deleted / transferred ECLA groups
• e.g. see Warning after H01F
• Reclassification in progress
• e.g. see Warning after B01D, G01N27/00
• A NOTE can be used to signal use of special
  databases in the field
• e.g. see Note after B32B
• a Note is used instead of a Warning, because it
  does not impact on the completeness of groups

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Use in esp_at_cenet
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Results in esp_at_cenet
ECLA
IPC
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USPC

• United States Patent Classification
• 160.000 groups
• Not based on the IPC
• Regular revision
• Obligatory reclassification after revision
• Applied only to US documents
• Corresponding IPC of US documents via concordance
  list sometimes of poor quality better use ECLA
  on Espacenet, or IPC in ICP field of Depatisnet
  because they are given by EP or DE examiners.

gt http//www.uspto.gov/web/patents/classification/
selectnumwithtitle.htm
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USPC - example
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Japanese FI (File Index)

• 190.000 groups
• IPC-based
• Regularly revised (once or twice / year)
• Obligatory reclassification after revision
• Only applied to JP documents
• IPC via concordance list
• URL http//www5.ipdl.inpit.go.jp/pmgs1/pmgs1/pmgs
  _E

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Japanese F - terms

• 350.000 codes
• Very detailed indexation, supplementary to FI
• Independent from the IPC
• Revision with reclassification (once a year)
• Only applied to JP documents
• No concordance to the IPC

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German DEKLA

• Internal classification of the GPTO
• About 100.000 groups
• Based on the IPC, but more detailed mostly only
  one additional level of hierarchy
• Mostly available only in German language
• Applied by German examiners to German and other
  patent documents
• Searching with the use of DECLA codes is possible
  on DEPATISNET
• Access via Depatisnet (click on IPC tab tick
  DEKLA box)