Case of Classification Codes

Madhav Kulkarni

IP Search and Analysis, Information Research

Dow Chemical Int. Pvt. Ltd.

03-NOV-2017

Views discussed here are of the speaker and not of the organization

Patent Classification Codes

• International Patent Classification (IPC)

• United States Patent Class (USPC / USC / NCL)

• European Classification System (ECLA)

• (Japanese) File Index / File Forming Term (FI/F-Term)

• Cooperative Patent Classification

• Symbol/Number/Codes and Title/Definition

• Who puts these codes to the patent document?

Patent Office/Examiner

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Use of Classification Codes

1. To search patents (when keywords of interest are not expected)

3D PrintingIPC: B33Y (additive manufacturing)

B29C0064 (additive manufacturing )B44B001/02 (machine/tools for 3D printing)

CPC: B33Y (additive manufacturing)USPC: 156/242, 156/500

a. Title, Abstract & Claims =(((3D OR 3-D OR 3-dimension* OR 3 ADJ dimension* OR (three* ADJ2 dimension*) OR desktop* OR additive*) NEAR2 (print* OR fabricat* OR manufactur*)));

83,622 record(s) - 44846 INPADOC families

b. IPC=(B29C0064 or B33Y) OR CPC=(B33Y) OR UC=(156/242 or 156/500); 71,921 record(s) - 24931 INPADOC families

c. a OR b125,029 record(s) – 54717 INPADOC families

d. a AND b30,514 record(s) - 15037 INPADOC families

Other methods: private indexing (CAS, Derwent, Questel), structure search, similarity/semantic, citations, etc.

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83,622(TEXT)

71,921CODES

30,514125,029 (ALL)

Use of Classification Codes

2. To analyze output

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Issues with Classification Codes

• Different Codes by various authorities

• Additional Codes by private database provides

– Derwent Codes

• Patent containing codes but not the keywords

– desired but results in non-relevant documents

• 41,407 record(s) - 11288 INPADOC families

– Affect screening and analysis

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Issues with Classification Codes

• Patent containing keywords (Title, Abstract, Claims) but inadequate codes

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B23K: Performing Operations; Transporting -> Machine Tools; Metal-Working Not Otherwise Provided For -> Soldering Or Unsoldering; Welding; Cladding Or Plating By Soldering Or Welding; Cutting By Applying Heat Locally, E.G. Flame Cutting; Working By Laser Beam -> Electron-beam welding or cutting -> Control circuits therefor

B22F: Performing Operations; Transporting -> Casting; Powder Metallurgy -> Working Metallic Powder; Manufacture Of Articles From Metallic Powder; Making Metallic Powder; Apparatus Or Devices Specially Adapted For Metallic Powder -> Manufacture of workpieces or articles from metallic powder characterised by the manner of compacting or sintering; Apparatus specially adapted therefor

B33Y?B29C?Non-English document?Skewed code analysis?

53,108 record(s) - 30038 INPADOC families

Issues with Classification Codes

• Patent containing technology but missing newer/technology specific codes

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B29C41/00: Performing Operations; Transporting -> Working Of Plastics; Working Of Substances In A Plastic State In General -> Shaping Or Joining Of Plastics; Shaping Of Substances In A Plastic State, In General; After-Treatment Of The Shaped Products, E.G. Repairing -> Shaping by coating a mould, core or other substrate, i.e. by depositing material and stripping-off the shaped article; Apparatus therefor

B29C0064?

B33Y: Performing Operations; Transporting -> Additive Manufacturing Technology -> Additive Manufacturing, I.E. Manufacturing Of Three-Dimensional [3D] Objects By Additive Deposition, Additive Agglomeration Or Additive Layering, E.G. By 3D Printing, Stereolithography Or Selective Laser Sintering

Photopolymer – No IPC code. CPC - C08F299/028, C08G2650/16Pressure sensitive adhesive IPC - B65D22+ (packaging), CPC -C08G2170/40

Maybe B33Y was added later to the codes

Issues with Classification Codes

• Patent containing technology but inadequate codes

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G06Q30/06: PHYSICS -> INSTRUMENTS -> COMPUTING; CALCULATING; COUNTING -> DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTING PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTING PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR -> Administration; Management -> Commerce -> Buying, selling or leasing transactions -> Electronic shopping -> Request for offers or quotes

This would be missed in the search by codes as well as analysis

B33Y: Performing Operations; Transporting -> Additive Manufacturing Technology -> Additive Manufacturing, i.e. Manufacturing Of Three-Dimensional [3D] Objects By Additive Deposition, Additive Agglomeration Or Additive Layering, E.G. By 3D Printing, Stereolithography Or Selective Laser Sintering

Issues with Classification Codes

• Can we search Japanese/Chinese/Korean (any language) patent documents containing 3D PRINTING (additive manufacturing) + HEART (any body part) + POLYMER (any material) using codes?

• Would a patent document containing 3D printing/additive manufacturing surely contain B33Y or B29C?

• Would a patent containing B33Y or B29C surely discuss some aspect of 3D printing/additive manufacturing?

• The classification system is complimentary but not reliably complimentary– Not sure if all components/aspects of invention are coded

– Incorrect/broad application of codes resulting into noise

– Newer codes not applied to old documents (reclassification)• Coding lags technology development

• Disconnect between technology in patent and code based analysis

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Possible Solutions

• All countries/data providers using CPC or any single coding system

– Single coding system can be developed in depth

– Avoid additional cost and/or learning curve for different/private coding system

• Increase/improve depth/levels of codes

– Where? Industry/Application/Market

– What? Product/Process/Formulation/Design

– Why? Problem

– How? Solution/Invention + Components of the solution/invention

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Possible Solutions

• Additional/Re classification (adding codes to the patent document)

Any time in the life of patent or maybe later (to overcome insufficient coding by the Patent Office or in case new codes are available later) by

– Applicant (requirement under complete disclosure, infringement?)

– Patent Office/Examiner

– Data providers (co-operation with Patent Office)

– Registered users (analogy to bloggers, subject matter experts)

– Big data - Auto-classification / Pre-classification (text mining based)

• Separate field for search/analysis

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For file routing and distribution

Expected Impact

• Fair/simpler patent and classification system

• Focused/easier/efficient search of any patent in any language (all codes representing components of invention)

• Improved analysis (all codes representing components of invention)

• Fostering Innovation by knowing state of the art

• Avoiding (non-willful) infringement as patents become searchable

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Who has the 1st question/comment/suggestion?

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