Advanced Search Options: Classification Search

Classification Search

Patent classification systems are designed to mark and retrieve documents according to their technical content. It allows you to search for patents and applications describing similar inventions and enables searching in alphanumeric language. TotalPatent One® supports CPC, IPC, US Class, FI, Fterm and Locarno classification search.

Note: CPC replaced US Class in 2015, both classification systems are only available for searches in historical data.

All classification systems are based on a similar principle: a hierarchical structure to classify subjects in groups containing subgroups containing subgroups etc. Each of the classification systems has its own structure and uses its own terms for each level.

CPC Classification

The CPC classification is devised and maintained by a partnership of EPO and USPTO. The structure of the CPC Classification contains:

• Section

- Class

- Subclass

- Main Group

- Subgroup

By providing the classification number up to a certain level you will search at that particular level including all underlying levels, you are not required to provide a wild card. You can search for a CPC classification category using the command CPC:() .
For example:

• CPC:(B) searches all documents that are CPC classified within the B section 'Performing operations; transporting'.
• CPC:(B21C) will result only in documents CPC classified in subclass B21C 'Manufacture of metal sheets, wire, rods, tubes or profiles (…)'.

All spaces are deleted automatically from the query when placed between quotes ( CPC:("B 21C") ) and the query is case insensitive. Wildcards at the start are not allowed so you cannot search for: CPC:(*21C) . The minimum input is the section level, the maximum input is at subgroup level.

The CPC is not strictly hierarchical; at subgroup level it uses indentation to determine if a subgroup is a direct child of the mainline subclass or of another subclass. Let us for example take the same main group B21C1 as the example above:

The subgroups are not independent due to the use of indentation nodes (•). Some nodes are direct child nodes (dependent) of the mainline subgroup, and some are a specification of another node. They are coded like the mainline subgroup, without clear distinction, which makes searching in this structure more complicated than in a strictly hierarchical structure. To ensure precise results, add the plus sign to your query to include all specifications at the sub level that you are investigating. Examples:

• CPC:(B21C1/00) will give you only the documents that have exactly this subgroup classification: 'Manufacture of metal sheets, metal wire, metal rods, metal tubes by drawing'.
• CPC:(B21C1/006) will give you only the documents that have exactly this subgroup classification: 'Manufacture of metal sheets, metal wire, metal rods, metal tubes by drawing using vibratory energy'.
• CPC:(B21C1/00) + will give you the full document expansion of the B21C1/00 subgroup including all child nodes: ( CPC:(B21C1/00), CPC:(B21C1/003), ..., CPC:(B21C1/34) )

IPC Classification

The IPC classification is maintained by WIPO, and is structurally very similar to the CPC classification system in that neither applies a strict hierarchy to the sub-level nodes. You can search for an IPC classification category using the command IPC:() . For example:

• IPC:(A) searches all documents that are CPC classified within the A section 'Human necessities'.
• IPC:(A43B) will result only in documents CPC classified in subclass A43B 'Characteristics Features of Footwear (…)'.

For your convenience, all spaces are deleted automatically from the query when placed between quotes ( IPC:("A 43B") ) and the query is case insensitive. Wildcards at the start are not allowed so you cannot search for: IPC:(*43B) . The minimum input is the section level, the maximum input is at subgroup level. The IPC is not strictly hierarchical at subgroup level. Like for CPC the subgroup can be expanded using the + sign.

FI Classification

The FI classification system by the Japanese authority is more or less an extension of the IPC class. Take for example FI class G06F9/00 ‘Arrangements for programe control, e.g. control unit (...)’, which is exactly the same as the corresponding IPC class. Where it differs is at the subgroup level. FI class uses extension and file symbols added to the subgroup code rather than replacing the subgroup code:

1. The extension symbol is added after the subgroup separated by a comma. FI class G06F9/00,101 further specifies class G06F9/00 with the additional extension symbol 101 referring to 'consoles'.
2. The file discrimination symbol for example: G06F9/00,101A further specifies the document to be an 'Operation in general'. File discrimination symbols are:

• • • A - Operations in general
    • B - Inputting guidance for automatic operation
    • C - Continuous operating status display
    • Z - Others.

Indentation is also used at the extension symbol level G06F9/00,310A •• refers to 'operation controls’ for consoles' The double dots show this extension is an indirect child of the class G06F9/00; it is, in fact, a child of extension 101 'consoles'.

You can search for an FI classification category using the command FIC:().

By providing the classification number up to a certain level you will search at that particular level including all underlying levels, you are not required to provide a wild card. For your convenience, all spaces are deleted automatically from the query when placed between quotes ( FIC:("G 06") ) and the query is case insensitive. Wildcards at the start are not allowed so you cannot search for:  FIC:(*G) . The minimum input is the section level, the maximum input is at subgroup level, extension and file discrimination symbols cannot be included. Examples:

• FIC:(G) searches all documents that are FI classified within the G section ' Physics electric digital data processing'.
• FIC: (G06F9/00) searches all documents that are FI classified within the G06F9/00 subgroup ' Arrangements for program control, e.g. control unit (...)'.

• FIC:(G06F9/00,101) is not allowed, this will generate an error as this is a subgroup extension.

FI Facet Codes

FI Facet codes are a set of three-letter alphabetic codes which also complement the FI classification,
and used in combination with the FI classification to search patent data. A facet code generally starts with the first letter of the IPC/FI class that it is considered related to a specific domain of technology. General facets not associated with a specific IPC begin with the letter "Z". For example, ZAB (Environmental protection technology) or ZCC (Combinatorial chemistry related technology). You can search for an FI Facet code using the command FICFA:() . 

F-Term Classification

Like the FI classification, F-term is a system maintained by the Japanese authority, in this case it is a completely independent classification system based on: a theme code, a view point (material, operation, purpose, etc.) and a figure (subdividing the view point). You can search for an F-term classification category using the command FTC:() . By providing the classification number up to a certain level you will search at that particular level including all underlying levels, you are not required to provide a wild card. For your convenience, all spaces are deleted automatically from the query when placed between quotes ( FTC:("2B 003") ) and the query is case insensitive. Wild cards at the start are not allowed so you cannot search for: FIC:*B. The minimum input is the theme code, the maximum input is the figure. Examples:

• FTC:(2B003) searches all documents that are F-term classified within the 'Artificial fish reefs' theme code.
• FTC:(2B003/AA) searches all documents that are F-term classified within the 'Artificial fish reefs' theme code, within the AA 'Installation configurations' view point.
• FTC:(2B003/AA01) searches all documents that are F-term classified within the 'Artificial fish reefs' theme code, within the AA 'Installation configurations' view point belonging to the figure 01 'Sunken installation configurations'

US Classification

US class is made redundant by CPC, however it can be searched when looking for historical data, US codes are presented in formats very similar to CPC and IPC classes, e.g. D25/69 . You can search for a US classification category using the command USC:() . By providing the classification number up to a certain level you will search at that particular level including all underlying levels, you are not required to provide a wild card. Examples:

1. USC:(D25) searches all documents that are US classified within the D25 class 'Building units and construction elements'.
2. USC: (D25/62) searches all documents that are US classified within the D25/62 subgroup 'Stair, ladder, scaffold, or similar support'.

US class also uses indentation similar to CPC and IPC. As this class is replaced by CPC indentation, expansion (using the + sign) is not implemented.

Locarno Classification

The Locarno classification started in 1968 is a straightforward hierarchical classification system, maintained by the Locarno Committee of Experts. Today it contains 32 classes and 219 subclasses you can use for searching. The lowest level of the Locarno system is an alphabetical list of goods, within each subclass. Searching on the serial numbers of these goods is not possible. You can search for a Locarno classification category using the command LOC:() . By providing the classification number up to a certain level you will search at that particular level including all underlying levels. You are not required to provide a wild card. Example:

• LOC:(01*) searches all documents that are Locarno classified within the 01 class 'Foodstuffs'.
• LOC:(01/02) searches all documents that are Locarno classified within the 01-02 sub class 'Fruit and vegetables'.