Title slide

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Title slide
European Patent Office
The Master Classification Database
Jürgen Rampelmann IPC Forum, Geneva 13 February
2006
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Presentation outline
European Patent Office
The Master Classification Database

1. Main features
2. MCD Backfile
3. MCD Frontfile
4. Reclassification
5. User Access

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Main Features of the IPC Reform

• continuous revision of schemes
• reclassification of documents in revised areas

Main Features MCD Backfile MCD
Frontfile Reclassification User Access
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Main Features of the MCD

• New tables for IPC symbols

• IPC for new documents on document level
• IPC for backfile and reclassified documents on
  family level

Main Features MCD Backfile MCD
Frontfile Reclassification User Access

• Storage of extended ST.8 information

? Classification symbol ? Version indicator ?
Classification level ? Invention / additional
info ? First or later symbol ? Classification
value ? Action date ? Original or reclassified
data ? Source of data ? Generating office

• Simple family

• Same set of priorities
• active versus inactive
• claimed versus artificial

• Concept of Operations ("CONOPS")

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MCD Backfile
Main Features MCD Backfile MCD
Frontfile Reclassification User Access
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MCD Backfile

• Creation of the MCD backfile
• ECLA-to-IPC Conversion
• National Offices Backfile
• IPC-to-IPC Conversion

Main Features MCD Backfile MCD
Frontfile Reclassification User Access

• Use of ECLA symbols to create IPC symbols
• Use of a special concordance table

• Conversion of national backfile by offices
• JPO backfile
• EAPO backfile
• ... ...

• "Best guess" conversion from old to new IPC
• only for remaining documents
• will be replaced by NO backfile if available

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MCD Backfile
ECLA
Main Features MCD Backfile MCD
Frontfile Reclassification User Access
Storage on simple family!
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MCD Backfile
Main Features MCD Backfile MCD
Frontfile Reclassification User Access
Expected Completeness 95 - by mid 2006
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MCD Frontfile
Main Features MCD Backfile MCD
Frontfile Reclassification User Access
photo of first EP in 2006
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Reclassification

• Continuous revision of the advanced level
• Release cycle every three months
• Reclassification after revision
• Advanced Level Subcommittee
• Authority to revise the advanced level
• Offices committed to do more than 20 of the
  reclassification work
• Currently trilateral offices
• Coordination with IPC/WG when core level is
  affected

Main Features MCD Backfile MCD
Frontfile Reclassification User Access
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Reclassification

• One document per family selected for
  reclassification
• Working lists for ALS other reclassifying
  offices (advanced level)
• Working lists for all offices (core level)
• Results stored on simple family level

Main Features MCD Backfile MCD
Frontfile Reclassification User Access
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User Access

• User Access to the MCD
• EPOQUE / EPODOC
• esp_at_cenet
• DocDB exchange products

Main Features MCD Backfile MCD
Frontfile Reclassification User Access

• EPO examiners
• EPO Member State Offices
• Trilateral Offices

• General public

• Commercial providers
• Other exchange clients

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User Access - EPOQUE / EPODOC
Fields Indexes
Description
Main Features MCD Backfile MCD
Frontfile Reclassification User Access
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User Access - esp_at_cenet
Main Features MCD Backfile MCD
Frontfile Reclassification User Access
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User Access - esp_at_cenet
Main Features MCD Backfile MCD
Frontfile Reclassification User Access
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Conclusion

• MCD - The backbone of the IPC Reform
• Its up and running !
• IPC Reform symbols accessible to the user
  community
• strengthens worldwide cooperation in
  classification

Main Features MCD Backfile MCD
Frontfile Reclassification User Access
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Thank you slide
European Patent Office
Thank you for your attention
Jürgen Rampelmann IPC Forum, Geneva 13 February
2006