【正文】
ing back to 1980s but still works well? Records classifications, legal information, register information, fees etc.。 sends data weekly to EPO? Search engine for searching IPC7 and UKC data (but not keywords)For InnovationPROSE? PROSE (Patents Reporting of Searches and Examinations) interface used by examiners to record search/examination reports, classification data etc, sends data to OPTICS ? Used to record UKC and IPC7 only but can now record ECLA and IPC8。 access to new classtoolFor InnovationClasstool? New classtool linked to PROSE? Inspired by EPO’s classtool? Examiners now record ECLA and IPC8 on classtool but still record UKC directly on PROSE? Brief demonstration laterFor InnovationWIPO Standard ? Old has IPC information in 18 characters。 new has 50 characters? “Old” OPTICS could not take that? Solution: new database created for ECLA and IPC8 data, bolted on to OPTICS? Some existing functionality needed to be removed。 searching of IPC8 terms not allowed on OPTICS (better searched on EPOQUE)? High level agreement needed for thatFor InnovationNumber of classification systems? UKC, IPC8 and ECLA – 3 systems? Management concerns that 3 systems could increase load on examiners and reduce patent examiner output ? Solution: automatic conversion of ECLA terms to IPC8 terms, subject to confirmation or change? Management accepted that was not 3 systems? Automatic conversion not always possible due to ECLA/IPC8 inconsistenciesFor InnovationECLA/IPC8inconsistencies? ECLA based on IPC7 but some subclasses based on earlier editions。 some parts of IPC schemes “not used in ECLA internal classification scheme” . parts of B65D。 some large areas (. A61P) not present? Examiners must know these when classifying? Many discussions with EPO staff aimed at eliminating these differences so automatic conversion can work in all casesFor InnovationECLA to IPC8 automatic conversion? Done by chopping off the “ECLA” part of a classification symbol ? Example: C08G 18/08B6E bees C08G 18/08? Works in about 97% of cases? Other 3% of cases need examiner intervention? Alternative: ECLA/IPC concordance table produced by EPO, but we did not think this would be updated frequently enoughFor InnovationIPC7 to IPC8 automatic conversion? Long time gap (can be over a year) between dates of classification and of publication ? GB cases classified before November