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Japanese Classification System (FI, F-term) / Quality of Reclassification. Susumu IWASAKI Examination Policy Planning Office Japan Patent Office. Contents. Introduction What is FI? What is F-term? Comparison between IPC, FI and F-term Effective search by F-term Example 1 Example 2
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Japanese Classification System (FI, F-term) / Quality of Reclassification Susumu IWASAKI Examination Policy Planning Office Japan Patent Office
Contents • Introduction • What is FI? • What is F-term? • Comparison between IPC, FI and F-term • Effective search by F-term • Example 1 • Example 2 • Quality of search index in the JPO • Conclusion 1
2007.10 EP 24.9% JP 74.7% 2007.01 EP 23.8% JP 71.0% Introduction (1) JPO’s Contribution to the reformed IPC JP shares over 70% of the reclassification results 2
A huge volume of Japanese patent documents (over 400,000 applications per year) Covered in every technical fields Introduction (2)Character of JP patent documents 1993~: CD-ROM publication Full-text search 1990~: Electronic filing 35 million records (1885~present) FI/F-term search 3
Introduction (3)Background for creation of internal search index Existence of unique/advanced technologies in Japan Growing number of Patent Documents Inefficient search with IPC Creation of internal search indices since 1984 FI (File Index) F-term Cf. IPC ver.4 (1985) 4
JPO original search tool Introduction (4)Search index structure for JP patent documents 190,000 items 70,000 items JP patent documents FI (File Index) IPC 35 million records 340,000 items (Multi-dimensional viewpoints) F-term 5
FI (File Index) IPC 190,000 items 70,000 items What is FI? (1)Characteristics of FI [Features] • Subdivision of IPC (around 190,000 items) • Covers all technical fields • Covers all JP patent documents • Backlog reclassification • Available in the JPO internal system & IPDL • Biannual revise to keep pace with technology development 6
1/00 2/04 1/02 2/02 1/08 2/00 1/04 1/06 2/06 A A B B C C Z Z 101 102 A B 301 A 301 B Z A A B B Z Z What is FI? (2)Relationship b/n FI and IPC Section A Section B Section H 01A 01B 01A 01B ・・・・・ ・・・・・ IPC:70,000 Main group Sub group 1/00 1/02 1/04 1/06 1/08 2/00 2/02 2/04 2/06 FI:190,000 Subdivision of IPC 7
Incorporation of the FI scheme into the reformed IPC in the following areas: 2007.01 Inverter devices (H02M7/) T024 A004 2007.10 Hybrid Vehicles (B60K6/) T010 A006 Air-conditioning systems (F24F) T035 A013 What is FI? (3) Position of the FI in the reformed IPC 8
What is F-term ? (1)Background of F-term Limits of subdivision of IPC (FI) • Limits of technical segmentation by single viewpoint? Destruction of technical segmentation ! • Creation of technical group (“Theme”) • Search by multi-dimensional index (“F-term) in the above technical group 9
What is F-term ? (2) Concept of “Theme” Concept of ‘Theme’ • All technical fields are divided by technical groups (“Theme”) defined by certain FI range e.g., 3E003 (theme code) -> B65B 5/00-5/12 (FI coverage) Container packaging and wrapping operation • Approx. 1,800 themes are composed of unique search indices “F-terms” 10
What is F-term ? (3) Concept of F-term Concept of ‘F-term’ • Search keys (“F-term”) which classify prior art documents in light of some technical viewpoints • F-term has some layers so as to search hierarchically • Indications comprised of 2 letters selected from A to Z (viewpoint) and 2 numerals selected from 00 to 99 e.g., DD11 = DD (viewpoint) + 11 (numerical order) 11
F-terms (Multi-dimensional viewpoints) FI IPC Theme View point 1 AA01, AA02, ‥‥ View point 2 BB01, BB02, ‥‥ View point 3 CC01, CC02, ‥‥ Query AA01*BB01*CC01 Preferable number of documents to be retrieved: About 50~100 documents 70,000 items 190,000 items What is F-term ? (4) Relationship between IPC/FI/Theme/F-term 12
What is F-term ? (5)Sample of F-term list Subject of theme Theme Code FI Coverage Viewpoint 13
Concept of F-term -Multiple Technological Viewpoints- (1) Viewpoint AA Components Viewpoint BA Functions and Uses Viewpoint CA Structures 14
Concept of F-term -Multiple Technological Viewpoints- (2) AA components AA04 ··Calcium oxides 4G031 AA04 15
Concept of F-term -Multiple Technological Viewpoints- (3) AA components BA24 ··Low heat expansion 4G031 BA Functions and Uses AA04 and BA24 16
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
Back-log reclassification i.e. reassignment of revised F-terms to the Japanese patent documents already classified in the existing F-terms Available in the JPO internal system & IPDL What is F-term ? (6)Other features of F-term 18
Comparison between IPC/FI/F-term (2) [FI Revision Policy] • To keep pace with technological development • To cope with the growing number of documents per the lowest layer of classification 20
F-term covers about 70% of all technical fields Average of F-term utilization rate : 42.4% F-term utilization rate > 50% : around 600 themes out of 1800 themes F-term is effective tool for searching Japanese patent documents in certain technical fields Effective search by F-term (1) 21
F-term utilization rate > 70% : around 130 themes Effective search by F-term (2) . . . . . . 22
[Example 1] Collision Avoidance Radar (G01S13/93) IPC: G01S 13/93 Radar or analogous systems, designed for anti-collision purposes FI: G01S 13/93@Z Anti-collision systems for automobile Theme: 5J070 (Radar systems and details thereof) F-term : AD00 Antennas and polarized waves AD13 . Fixed Antenna BF00 Collision prevention BF19 . Curved roadway F-term search (1)-1 [Example 1] Collision Avoidance Radar 23
Theme:5J070 (Radar systems and details thereof) F-term: AD00 Antennas and polarized waves ∟AD13 . Fixed Antenna BF00 Collision prevention ∟BF19 . Curved roadway F-term search (1)-2 [Example 1] Collision Avoidance Radar 24
[Search Formula] G01S13/93@Z and AD13 and BF19 G01S 13/93@Z Anti-collision systems for automobile 2266 265 193 BF19 Curved roadway AD13 Fixed Antenna F-term search (1)-3 [Example 1] Collision Avoidance Radar FI F-term 25 25
US 11.1% WO 11.5% EP 13.6% DE 16.3% JP 41.6% F-term search (1)-4 [Example 1] Collision Avoidance Radar [Number of Patent Documents with Offices] • The percentage of JP documents is over 40% of the total • Need for search of JP documents • F-term and FI are effective for searching JP patent documents 26
[Example 2] Telephone set structure F-term search (2)-1 [Example 2] Telephone set structure Claim Element Analysis View Point Claim F-term Application A portable telephone AA07 Portable telephones Comprising a microphone, EE05 Microphone Constructional element Fixed on a tip of an antenna extendable out from the main device of said portable telephone LL05 Antenna Purposes, Advantages the size of the device reduced BB03 Miniaturization 27
Application Purposes, advantages Constructional element F-term search (2)-2 [Example 2] Telephone set structure AA07 Portable phone BB03 Miniaturization The final retrieval formula: “AA07*BB03*EE05*LL05” Proper Answer LL05 Antenna EE05 Microphone 28
[Number of Patent Documents with Offices] DE 5.8% US 8.7% EP 9.3% WO 10.1% JP 55.6% F-term search (2)-3 [Example 2] Telephone set structure • The percentage of JP documents is over 55% of the total • Need for search of JP documents • F-term is effective for searching JP patent documents 29
Reclassification by outsource organization, technical advisors or examiners Outsource organization has many experienced specialists with necessary knowledge Rigid quality control system Stringent check by examiners (Check each case during early stage. Even if some criteria is satisfied, sampling check will be due.) Quality of Search Indices in the JPO JP’s reclassification (quantity and quality) is useful and important infrastructure for other Offices. 30
Conclusion Japanese classification (FI / F-term) is effective for searching JP patent documents. JP plays an important role in the operation of the reformed IPC. Quantity and quality of JP’s reclassification will make contribution to search by other Offices Future: Super IPC (multi-dimensional viewpoint) ?? 31