1. IPC Workshop Geneva, February 8 and 9, 2010
IPC – A TOOL FOR CLASSIFYING PATENT DOCUMENTS RATHER THAN CONCEPTS? Pierre Buffet
IPC Workshop
Geneva, February 8 and 9, 2010

2. IPC - some issues IPC objectives Classification objectives IPC reform
Check list
Players:
offices, users (legal, R&D, business), svice providers (on various aspects) – charts with players and links
Common aim: improve efficiency, no duplicate efforts, focus on respective expertise
Needs:
Describing patent material (identification, technical content, legal process)
Searching, navigating, processing, assembling, viewing, …
Standards are essential as a link between players, a common language
All players should be involved (IPOs, PDG, PATCOM)
IPC:
Its aim
Its use
Its structure
Problems
of accuracy for searching
of updates (ongoing vs backlog) according to use (dispatching, storing, searching)
(see indication of precedence p.7 of
Limitation due to linear dimension

3. IPC objectives
6. The Classification […] has as its primary purpose the establishment of an effective search tool for the retrieval of patent documents by intellectual property offices and other users […]
7. The Classification, furthermore, has the important purposes of serving as:
(a) an instrument for the orderly arrangement of patent documents in order to facilitate access to the […] information contained therein;
(b) a basis for selective dissemination of information […];
(c) a basis for investigating the state of the art […];
(d) a basis for the preparation of industrial property statistics […]
[IPC Guide, Version 2009]
Check list
Players:
offices, users (legal, R&D, business), svice providers (on various aspects) – charts with players and links
Common aim: improve efficiency, no duplicate efforts, focus on respective expertise
Needs:
Describing patent material (identification, technical content, legal process)
Searching, navigating, processing, assembling, viewing, …
Standards are essential as a link between players, a common language
All players should be involved (IPOs, PDG, PATCOM)
IPC:
Its aim
Its use
Its structure
Problems
of accuracy for searching
of updates (ongoing vs backlog) according to use (dispatching, storing, searching)
(see indication of precedence p.7 of
Limitation due to linear dimension

4. Classification objectives
Arrangement of objects
in a one dimension space (shelves, shoe boxes, …)
To Facilitate access to the objects or
To dispatch these objects (e.g. to examiners)
Other use: (simple) description of contents - one viewpoint

5. IPC reform
11. […] Changes to the structure of the Classification and to methods of its revision and application were needed in order to ensure its efficient and effective use in the electronic environment.
Binded to classification approach
One dimension space (shelves)
No real use of boolean capabilities
Very expensive update procedure
Frequent updates
Need to reclassify
Check list
Players:
offices, users (legal, R&D, business), svice providers (on various aspects) – charts with players and links
Common aim: improve efficiency, no duplicate efforts, focus on respective expertise
Needs:
Describing patent material (identification, technical content, legal process)
Searching, navigating, processing, assembling, viewing, …
Standards are essential as a link between players, a common language
All players should be involved (IPOs, PDG, PATCOM)
IPC:
Its aim
Its use
Its structure
Problems
of accuracy for searching
of updates (ongoing vs backlog) according to use (dispatching, storing, searching)
(see indication of precedence p.7 of
Limitation due to linear dimension

6. IPC reform Classification approach
Adapted to arrange collections
Limited for describing contents
Need to differentiate:
Documents
Concepts describing the contents
Concepts can be arranged in a different classification
The example of Japanese F-terms

7. IPC reform example of F-terms
Multiple viewpoint approach
Adapted to boolean logic
See for instance:
IPC Workshop, Geneva, Feb. 4-5, 2008
Japanese Classification System (FI, F-terms) and Quality of Reclassification
Susumu IWASAKI, JPO

8. Concept of F-term -Multiple Technological Viewpoints- (2)
AA components
AA04 ··Calcium oxides
4G031
AA04 15

9. Concept of F-term -Multiple Technological Viewpoints- (3)
AA components
BA24 ··Low heat expansion
4G031
BA Functions
and Uses
AA04 and BA24 16

10. Concept of F-term -Multiple Technological Viewpoints- (4)
AA components
Refine the search effectively!
CA05 ·Granularity
4G031
BA Functions
and Uses
CA Structures
AA04 and BA24
and CA05 17

11. IPC reform
13. The following major changes were introduced […]:
(a) the Classification was divided into a core and an advanced level, in order to better satisfy the needs of different categories of users;
Convenient for storing documents according to size of collections
Complex for searching
Check list
Players:
offices, users (legal, R&D, business), svice providers (on various aspects) – charts with players and links
Common aim: improve efficiency, no duplicate efforts, focus on respective expertise
Needs:
Describing patent material (identification, technical content, legal process)
Searching, navigating, processing, assembling, viewing, …
Standards are essential as a link between players, a common language
All players should be involved (IPOs, PDG, PATCOM)
IPC:
Its aim
Its use
Its structure
Problems
of accuracy for searching
of updates (ongoing vs backlog) according to use (dispatching, storing, searching)
(see indication of precedence p.7 of
Limitation due to linear dimension

12. IPC reform Very costly as changes are very frequent
13. The following major changes were introduced […]:
(c) when the Classification is revised, patent documents are reclassified according to the amendments to the core and advanced levels;
Very costly as changes are very frequent
Check list
Players:
offices, users (legal, R&D, business), svice providers (on various aspects) – charts with players and links
Common aim: improve efficiency, no duplicate efforts, focus on respective expertise
Needs:
Describing patent material (identification, technical content, legal process)
Searching, navigating, processing, assembling, viewing, …
Standards are essential as a link between players, a common language
All players should be involved (IPOs, PDG, PATCOM)
IPC:
Its aim
Its use
Its structure
Problems
of accuracy for searching
of updates (ongoing vs backlog) according to use (dispatching, storing, searching)
(see indication of precedence p.7 of
Limitation due to linear dimension

13. IPC reform Conclusion Look for stable solutions
to reduce costs
Differentiate the classification of
Documents (storing, dispatching)
Concepts (indexing)
Mr Iwasaki’s conclusion:
Future:
Super IPC (multi-dimensional viewpoint) ??

14. Overall Conclusion Recognize the role and constraints of each player
Reduce costs
Enhance cross-linking through:
Exchange of viewpoints & expertise (WIPO, IPOs, PDG, PATCOM)
Standards (WIPO – SCIT – Standards & Documentation Working Group)
Check list
Players:
offices, users (legal, R&D, business), svice providers (on various aspects) – charts with players and links
Common aim: improve efficiency, no duplicate efforts, focus on respective expertise
Needs:
Describing patent material (identification, technical content, legal process)
Searching, navigating, processing, assembling, viewing, …
Standards are essential as a link between players, a common language
All players should be involved (IPOs, PDG, PATCOM)
IPC:
Its aim
Its use
Its structure
Problems
of accuracy for searching
of updates (ongoing vs backlog) according to use (dispatching, storing, searching)
(see indication of precedence p.7 of
Limitation due to linear dimension

15. Thank You www.questel.com