The IPC: Class CD-ROM — A new search system in the patent information field

World Patent Information, Vol. 14, No. 4, pp. 227-230, 1992 Printed in Great Britain

0172-2190~92$5.00+.00 Pergamon Press Ltd 0 1992 CECYWIPO

The 1PC:CLASS CD-ROM - A New Search System in the Patent Information Field Bo Hansson,. Director, International Classifications Division, WIPO, 34 Chemin de Colombettes, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland

Summary

edition of the IPC (with its bulky 10 volumes) but also several editions thereof, its Catchword Indexes, the Revision Concordance Lists and other IPC data.

IPC:CLASS, a CD-ROM produced by WIPO, contains the IPC texts of the 3rd-5th editions of the IPC in English and French, the 45th editions in German, and the 5th edition in Hungarian and Spanish; catchword indexes in English, French and Spanish and the English/German index; revision concordance data and IPC-symbols validity data. Identification of a classification group in various editions of the IPC is automatic and users working in several languages can easily display the same entry on the screen in two languages at the same time. Other facilities for simplifying use of the IPC are described in the article.

The price of 1PC:CLASS has purposely been set very low, in order to make the product attractive and promote increased knowledge and use of the IPC throughout the world. The price is only 500 Swiss francs for users other than industrial property offices and governmental institutions (which benefit from special conditions), which is less than the price of one copy of the current (5th) IPC edition.

Contents of 1PC:CLASS

On 1 May 1992, the World Intellectual Property with the Organization (WIPO), in cooperation German Patent Office and the Spanish Registry of Industrial Property, put on the market a new CD-ROM, namely, IPC:CLASS, which stands for International Patent Classification Cumulative and Linguistic Advanced Search System.

1PC:CLASS contains four distinct types of data file, namely:

This new CD-ROM, which was developed by Arcanum B.t., Budapest, was created in order to facilitate the task of the user when identifying in the IPC the relevant place (or places) that cover the particular technical subject in which he is interested. 1PC:CLASS is not intended primarily for use by industrial property offices in their examination process, since for them it is preferable to have the contents of 1PC:CLASS loaded directly on to their computer mainframes, where the data can be accessed simultaneously by all their examiners. Using IPC:CLASS, an office would have to install either one or more local-area networks or supply the examiners with a number of CD-ROM readers. Those who will benefit most from using 1PC:CLASS are the other categories of user, such as industry, libraries, patent agents and individual users. For them, provided they already have the necessary hardware at their disposal, 1PC:CLASS is an extremely cheap and easy-to-use product that replaces several different IPC publications, relating to different editions of the IPC in several languages. The single CD-ROM disc containing this material replaces not only the current

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the IPC texts, i.e. the 3rd-5th editions of the IPC in English and French, the 4th and 5th editions in German and the 5th edition in Hungarian and Spanish. For each language version, the Guide constitutes a separate file;

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catchword indexes, i.e. the English, French and Spanish official Catchword Indexes and the bilingual (German/English) “Stich- und Schlagworterverzeichnis”;

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revision concordance data, i.e. data relating to the 2nd-5th editions of the IPC, showing for two consecutive IPC editions where subject matter (documents) covered by a certain group in one edition because of the revision work is covered by another group (or other groups) in the other edition;

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IPC-symbols (validity) data, i.e. all IPC symbols that have existed, with an indication for each symbol of the IPC edition(s) in which it was valid and whether it could be used only for classifying purposes, only for indexing purposes or for both purposes.

All of these data files can be selected so-called “Bookshelf’ (see Fig. 1). 227

from the

B. Hansson

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1PC:CLASS

ENG

GUIDE

ENG

database

FRE

GUIDE

FRE

GER

GUIDE

GER

GUIDE

IPC3

ENG

IPC3

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IPC3

IPC4

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IPC4

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IPC4

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IPC4

IPC5

ENG

IPC5

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IPC5

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IPC5

RCL2_3

ENG

RCL2_3

FRE

RCL2_3

RCL3_4

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RCL3_4

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RCL3_4

RCL4_5

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RCL4_5

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RCL4_5

HUN

SPA

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GUIDE

IPC5

RCL4_5

HUN

HUN

IPC5

RCL4_5

VALIDITY

Enter-Select

Fl-Help

Alt-X-Exit

Fig. 1. The Bookshelf

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program

showing

The catchword index files have been placed as the first part of the current (5th) IPC edition in the relevant language versions. The reason for this is to make the search simpler and more efficient, since it means that the word and IPC symbols indexes that have been created contain the words and symbols both from the official Catchword Indexes and from the IPC text itself. For the English and German IPC versions, the words and symbols from the English and German parts of the “Stich- und Schlagworterverzeichnis”, which have been separated, are included in the respective indexes, and the file containing the said English part is placed after the official English Catchword Index.

Main Advantages 1PC:CLASS

in Using

As already mentioned above, 1PC:CLASS makes life easier for the user, since he no longer needs to consult several printed publications when carrying out a search. The replies to his many questions are within easy reach. By pressing some keys on the keyboard he can formulate search questions and have the answers displayed instantly on the screen in front of him. Typing is only necessary in respect of IPC symbols and keywords to be searched. All other functions are achieved with menus and function keys (so-called “hotkeys”), such as, jumping from one IPC edition to another, from one language version to another or to cross-referenced places, including the chemical formulae, whose existence is indicated in the IPC texts, for example, “Fig. 21”. Consulting Different IPC Editions The main problem facing a searcher is usually that the whole of the documentation he needs to consult

FlO-Exit

the data files available

to DOS in IPC:CLASS.

is not classified according to the current IPC edition, in view of the fact that a search most often goes further back in time than the period during which that edition has been in force. This means that the searcher is forced to use several IPC editions, each one corresponding to a certain period of time during which patent documents were classified according to that edition, since the revision of each IPC edition results in a great deal of subject matter being covered by different places in different IPC editions. With IPC:CLASS, this problem has been solved to a certain extent. Apart from being able to consult the revision concordance data in IPC:CLASS, which gives the searcher the same information as the printed “Revision Concordance Lists”, a searcher having identified an appropriate group in one edition of the IPC can, via hidden revision concordance data files, jump directly to the corresponding group or groups in an earlier or later edition, and may display both places simultaneously in the split-screen mode. Even if the user is working in the Hungarian or Spanish version of the 5th edition of the IPC, which is the only one in those languages, he can make use of the said hidden files by jumping to the English or French versions, which go back to the 3rd edition of the IPC. IPC:CLASS Dictionary

Used as a Multilingual Technical

1PC:CLASS offers the possibility of consulting one and the same entry in different languages and displaying two of them at the same time on the screen, if so desired. This is a most interesting feature for the user who works in several languages and is of great help in the revision of the IPC, which is carried out simultaneously in the authentic English and French language versions. It also means that,

IPC: CLASS

Display

Search

Pictures: F3 Set print parms. Bookmark: Alt-0

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ENG IPC5 B 24 D exit Full-text Display Mode FOR GRINDING, BUFFING, OR SHARPENING (tools for grinding or ing optical surfaces on lenses or surfaces of similar shape 13/01: grinding heads B 24 B 41/00; manufacture of abrasive ials containing macromolecular ction articl mpositions C 09 G l/00; rices C OS J ves C 09 K 3 Ontions

: Might : This

the constituent being used as bonding agent and being essentially inorganic Enter-Select

Esc-Exit

Fig.2.Window showingtheapplications to whichsearch queries

as an additional bonus, 1PC:CLASS constitutes a multilingual technical dictionary. Knowledge of a technical term in one of the five languages of 1PC:CLASS means that by identifying the place where the said term appears (a simple word search) in that language version of the IPC, the user can directly jump to the corresponding place in another language version and obtain the desired term in that language.

can be transferred

automatically

in the required

formats.

In order to simplify the task of the searcher, the 1PC:CLASS program is familiar with the IPC formats and truncation operators used in different online systems and CD applications. The IPC symbols identified in IPC:CLASS, and considered of interest, can be saved and transferred in the correct query format according to the format requirements of a number of online databases and CD applications, for example, Dialog, ORBIT, SIN, Questel, DataStar, BRS and ESPACE (see Fig. 2).

IPC Symbols Validity in Different IPC Editions Other Features of IPC:CLASS

The so-called “validity menu”, appearing in a footline at the bottom of the screen, gives information on the validity of the current IPC symbol (the group indicated by the cursor on the screen) in lst-5th editions of the IPC, together with an indication of whether the group in question can be used only for classifying purposes, only for indexing purposes or for both purposes, i.e. online display of the information contained in the IPC symbols data (validity) file. Transferring

Search Queries to Other Applications

Most users of 1PC:CLASS will be interested in identifying appropriate groups in the IPC for the purpose of locating relevant patent documents in patent document collections. If the search is manual, the searcher can directly consult the documents kept in classified files according to the symbols of the groups identified. In an automated search, the searcher may consult online databases or CD applications containing patent documents or bibliographic data thereof. In this case, the searcher must formulate his search queries, with the IPC symbols of the groups identified in 1PC:CLASS; the query format varies between different databases and CD applications.

In view of the fact that an updated 1PC:CLASS CD-ROM is only intended to be issued when a new edition of the IPC enters into force, i.e. at present every five years (the 6th edition of the IPC will be published in 1994), it was considered preferable to supply the retrieval software separately on a floppy disk for this first issue of 1PC:CLASS. This makes it possible to sort out any serious bugs in the software and send those who have purchased 1PC:CLASS a floppy disk with the modified retrieval software. 1PC:CLASS permits the user to customize the product to a certain extent. Thus, the user can choose from 120 color combinations between background and text for setting the colors of 25 different text elements that appear on the screen or choose between three preselected settings. The user can also choose which of the five above-mentioned languages he wants to use as a working language, i.e. menus, prompts and help screens will be displayed in the chosen language. At any moment, the user can work either in full-text mode or in hierarchical mode, and there is even the possibility of working in so-called “one-line mode”,

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B. Hansson

Display

Search

ENG IPC5 A 23 L exit Full-text Display Mode l/O1 . General methods of cooking foods, e.g. by roasting or frying (methods specialized to particular food, see the relevant subgroups: apparatus for baking, roasting, grilling or frying A 47 J 37/00) [2] >, l/O15 . Removal of unwanted matter, e.g. deodorisation, detoxification (A 23 L l/211 takes precedence) [4] l/O25 . Physical treatment, e.g. with wave energy, irradiation, electrical means, magnetic fields (cooking A 23 L l/01: preserving A 23 L 3/00, A 23 B) [4] IPC ---IPC ---IPC ---IPC 4(/) IPC 5(/) Display Search ENG RCL4_5 A 23 L Options exit Full-text Display Mode A 23 L l/O0 l/O3 A23L l/O5 l/O4 A23L l/O5 >, l/O5 A23L l/03,1/04,1/195, l/308 l/O52 A23L l/03,1/04,1/195, l/308 l/O522 A23L l/03.1/04.1/195. L Destination: Int. Cl. 5 Entry Source:' Inf..Cl.'4 A F2-Mode FS-One-line F6-Print F7-Back jump F8-Jump Ins-Notebook Tab-Swap FQ-Foot Options

Fig. 3. Split-screen

when only the first line of each entry is displayed, which may be particularly useful when looking at a given area in the hierarchical mode. As mentioned above, the user can work in split-screen mode, which permits him to view information from two places in the same data file or from two different data files (see Fig. 3), which is particularly useful when jumping around within 1PC:CLASS. When working with IPC:CLASS, the user has at his disposal a local Notebook in each data file and a global Notebook for the whole 1PC:CLASS application. In these Notebooks the user can introduce cross-references which he finds of interest. Pressing the relevant key automatically inserts the symbols of a cross-reference (the entry in the IPC text to which a reference points) and the beginning of the wording of that entry into the Notebook of interest. Transfer of an element from the local Notebook to the global one and vice versa is achieved by simply pressing another key. In addition, the user can introduce the IPC symbols of the group he is studying at the moment into a Bookmark (there is one for each data file), where he can also write his own observations. The Bookmark serves as a bridge for transferring the elements therein as search queries to other applications, as explained above. A search can be performed looking for words, IPC symbols or cross-references (and any combination thereof), with the aid of computer-searchable indexes for those three search elements. There is an unlimited truncation possibility both to the left and to the right

display

of two data files

of a given search term and Boolean and proximity operators may be used. It is permitted to print part of the IPC displayed in full-text mode or in hierarchical mode, or during the display of hits. There is a limitation on the length of the part that can be printed at any time, but this limitation is very generous and will not pose any practical restrictions.

Future Development

of IPC: CLASS

The next issue of 1PC:CLASS is anticipated for the end of 1994. It will then also contain the 6th edition of the IPC in the above-mentioned five languages. In addition, it is likely that also other language versions of the IPC will be included. WIPO is also considering the possibility of including the 1st and 2nd editions of the IPC in English and French. This presents particular problems, in view of the fact that those two editions do not exist in machine-readable form. Every buyer of 1PC:CLASS is requested to return a registration form to WIPO - from where the 1PC:CLASS CD-ROM may be ordered [Fax No. (41 22) 734 63 92; Telephone (41 22) 730 91 461 giving details of the hardware equipment they use for running IPC:CLASS, in order to assess, inter aEia, whether the next issue of IPC:CLASS should run under Windows.