Why Use STN Databases for IPC Searching?
CAS recognizes the improvement in searching and retrieving comprehensive results with the IPC Reform implementation. CAS plans to provide the fastest, most thorough implementation of the IPC Reform in order to provide the greatest benefit to you.
Here are a few ways how:
- STN patent databases have been enhanced to ensure that they can accommodate patents published with IPC 8 codes.
- STN will be able to accept IPC codes in either pre- or post-Reform format for searching (see the IPC Code Searching Capabilities chart). This means that you will not have to reformat the IPC codes in your strategies.
- Cross-field searching capabilities have been retained - it is possible to search a pre-Reform IPC Code, without reformatting, in the revised /IPC field. It is also possible to search an IPC 7 code in an IPC 8 format, without reformatting, in the /ICM field, which appears only in pre-Reform records.
- You can display or select pre-Reform IPC codes in the new IPC 8 format by using the new SET command, SET ICFORMAT ON.
- A new version of the IPC thesaurus will be available for use in many IPC code-containing databases on STN. This implementation will enhance your searching opportunities in these databases. The IPC thesaurus has already been implemented within the CASM/CAplusSM family of databases, in USPATFULL/USPAT2, and several other databases. Reference the IPC Code Searching Capabilities chart for the databases containing the IPC thesaurus.
- You will have easy access to the new IPC code metadata that was introduced with IPC Reform.
- Patent family members in the CA/CAplus family of databases have been enhanced with the addition of available IPC code information for many patent family members, including the backfile, providing additional retrieval opportunities for patent documents included in CA/CAplus.
Impacts on Searching
In CA/CAplus, USPATFULL/USPAT2, INPADOCDB, and many other STN databases, you can enter IPC codes in the IPC 1-7 format or in the IPC 8 format. Refer to the IPC Code Searching Capabilities chart to see the latest additions to the list of databases offering this feature.
Eventually, all STN patent databases will accommodate either format. You will, however, need to be sure to use the proper field labels when doing very specific searches, as the array of search fields for IPC data has changed. For comprehensive search results, use the /IPC field which should be considered to be the Basic Index for IPC code information.
Because IPC codes are expected to be revised more often in the future, and reclassifications to be done more frequently, you will need to be sure to periodically check whether the IPC codes you are using are still valid. Consult the IPC thesaurus in the database you are searching or the WIPO manual of IPC Classifications.
Search Tips
- Verifying IPC codes with the IPC thesaurus in CA/CAplus and USPATFULL/USPAT2 (January/February 2006 STNews Patent Interchange article)
- Up-posting of IPC 8 codes makes truncation unnecessary
Are you using truncation when searching IPC 8 codes? It's really not necessary due to up-posted IPC codes. Search any IPC code at the main group level, e.g., S A61K0005/IPC, and retrieve records with any corresponding subgroup. Although you will get the exact same results by searching A61K0005?/IPC, the latter search takes longer (with higher connect hour charges), and with certain IPC codes, there is the risk of exceeding truncation limits.
Another reason not to use truncation while searching IPC codes is a new system feature that allows you to search IPC codes in either IPC 7 or 8 formats. This feature interprets codes entered in IPC 7 format with truncation as codes already in IPC 8 format. If you enter S A61K005?/IPC, the system will search IPC codes A61K0051, A61K0052, etc., and not A61K0005 and its various subgroups.
CAS Databases and IPC 8
IPC 8 codes are being added to 2006 patent records published in the CA/CAplus family of databases. In addition, CA/CAplus records are being enhanced with reclassifications in CAS is adding the EPO's reclassified codes to appropriate patent records. CAS is a leader in implementing reclassification data in the CA/CAplus family of databases and in USPATFULL/USPAT2.
The following links document the IPC codes to be used for selecting chemistry and chemistry-relevant content for inclusion in the CA/CAplus family of databases:
STN Databases and IPC 8
Many significant changes have been implemented in the STN databases to accommodate the International Patent Classification (IPC) Reform. These enhancements ensure your continued access to IPC data in STN products while providing efficient and effective IPC searching options.
In many STN databases, you can enter IPC codes in the IPC 1-7 format or in the IPC 8 format; STN will accommodate either one. You will, however, need to be sure to use the proper field labels when doing very specific searches, as the array of search fields for IPC data has changed. For comprehensive search results, use the /IPC field which should be considered to be the Basic Index for IPC code information.
More information from our STN partner, FIZ Karlsruhe
Updated 3/4/2009 1:54:17 PM
