Search options available in STN databases - FIZ Karlsruhe

18.3.4 Search Strategy
110
Guide to STN Patent Databases
In many cases it is useful to link the result of an IPC search with that of a search by free text. In order to obtain a
comprehensive search result different variations of text and IPC queries and their linking should be employed and
the partial results be combined by OR. This strategy is shown in the search examples on search by subject.
18.3.5 IPC display
The IPC display field shows all IPC details (old and new classification) of a document; the attributes are displayed in
brackets. The IPC field combines the IPCI (original IPC8 data) and IPCR (latest re-classified IPC data) fields.
Use the command SET ICFORMAT ON to display even the old IPC in the new format:
=> SET ICFORMAT ON
SET COMMAND COMPLETED
Always use this command before performing any IPC-based analyses.
Here is a document from 2006 with its IPC data (C* identifies automatically generated Core Level codes):
=> D PI IPC
L4 ANSWER 1 OF 1 INPADOCDB COPYRIGHT 2007 EPO/FIZ KA on STN
PI EP 1628341 A2 20060222
IPCI H01L0021-8247 [I,A]; H01L0027-22 [I,A]; H01L0021-70 [I,C*]; H01L0027-22
[I,C*]
Here is a document before 2006 with its IPC data:
=> D PI IPC
L5 ANSWER 1 OF 1 INPADOCDB COPYRIGHT 2007 EPO/FIZ KA on STN
PI IT 1248974 B 19950211
IC.V 6
ICM B42D
IPCR D21H0021-48 [I,A]; G06K0019-12 [I,A]; G07D0007-04 [I,A]; G07F0007-08
[I,A]
D21H0021-40 [I,C*]; G06K0019-12 [I,C*]; G07D0007-00 [I,C*]; G07F0007-08
[I,C*]
The introduction of re-classification data for the back-file, as e.g. in INPADOCDB, INPAFAMDB, offers considerable
advantages for searching. The example above gives a good impression of how much different re-classification data
and original IPC data may prove. In this case of a patent publication from Italy, which was originally issued with an
IPC code at subclass level only, the IPC codes made available through re-classification are much more detailed. Reclassification
thus offers a much better chance of finding more relevant documents. It also levels out different
classification practices of the various patent offices.
Depending on the amount of information displayed the IPC display field may be free (e.g. in INPADOCDB,
INPAFAMDB) or charged (HCAPLUS).
=> FIL HCAPLUS
=> D IPC
L6 ANSWER 1 OF 1 HCAPLUS COPYRIGHT 2007 ACS on STN
IC ICM B08B0001-00
CLASS
PATENT NO. CLASS PATENT FAMILY CLASSIFICATION CODES
-------------- ----- ------------------------------------------------
US 2004040574 IPCI B08B0001-00 [ICM,7]
IPCR A47L0013-16 [I,C*]; A47L0013-17 [I,A]; A47L0013-10
[I,C*]; A47L0013-20 [I,C*]; A47L0013-20 [I,A];
A47L0013-22 [I,A]; A47L0013-51 [I,A]; B08B0001-00
[I,C*]; B08B0001-00 [I,A]
WO 2004020117 IPCR A47L0013-16 [I,C*]; A47L0013-17 [I,A]; A47L0013-10
[I,C*]; A47L0013-20 [I,C*]; A47L0013-20 [I,A];
A47L0013-22 [I,A]; A47L0013-51 [I,A]; B08B0001-00
[I,C*]; B08B0001-00 [I,A]
AU 2003262890 IPCI B08B0007-00 [ICM,7]; B08B0003-00 [ICS,7]
IPCR A47L0013-16 [I,C*]; A47L0013-17 [I,A]; A47L0013-10
[I,C*]; A47L0013-20 [I,C*]; A47L0013-20 [I,A];