Recent Updates
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Updated on: May 24, 2017
Agent Field (AGT)
To search for particular law firms or patent attorneys, use the AGT field code. The AGT is normalied by default. If you would like to search on a particular misspelling of an AGT name, you can do so using the AGT_ORIG field code.
Manual ACCLAIMIP HELP MANUAL -
Updated on: May 24, 2017
Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)
The Cooperative Patent Classification system replaced the ECLA system in 2013. By 2015, the USPC is also expected to be completely replaced by the CPC in an effort by the USPTO and the EPO to harmonize patent classification systems.
CPC is based on the European system called ECLA which itself was based on WIPO's IPC class structure. The chief difference between IPC and CPC is CPC is far more detailed, but they are both based on the same high-level structure.
Patents are classified with CPC codes as either "Inventive" classes or "Additional" classes (formerly called Non-Inventive). In AcclaimIP, you can query patents by Inventive, Additional or both using different field codes as shown below.
Inventive classes are displayed in Bold text in the expander rows in the search result grid and in the document details window.
Manual ACCLAIMIP HELP MANUAL -
Updated on: May 24, 2017
European Classification Field (ECLA)
To search using the European Classification system which is usually just called ECLA, use the ECLA field code.
Note: ECLA has been deprecated in favor of the newer Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) system. New EP documents are no longer published with ECLA Codes. Use the CPC field code instead!
Manual ACCLAIMIP HELP MANUAL -
Updated on: May 24, 2017
Field of Search Field (FOS)
To search the classifications that the examiner searched and may or may not have listed in the patent classification field, use the FOS field code. FOS searches only US Classifications in granted US patents.
US Applications do not contain any data in their FOS field.
Manual ACCLAIMIP HELP MANUAL -
Updated on: May 24, 2017
Primary US Classification with Children Field (PSCLS)
To query patents by their primary US classification and include all children classes in a single query, use the PSCLS field code. The PSCLS give you fine-tuned control over your class queries.
Manual ACCLAIMIP HELP MANUAL -
Updated on: May 24, 2017
Primary US Classification (PCCL)
The primary US class appears first on the patent, it is in bold text, and it is supposed to best represent the "inventive step" of the invention. To find patents that are classified by the primary class, use the PCCL field code. The primary classification is in contrast to the cross-reference (XR) classification(s).
You may hear the term "Original" or "OR" bantered around by patent examiners. This is the USPTO's internal jargon for the primary class. It is called Original because when an application is received by the USPTO the first action is to classify it (by the Classification Group--a contracted vendor). The PTO uses this "original" class to route the patent to the proper examination art unit.
Note: The CCL field code returns patents classified by either the Primary or the cross reference (XR) classes.
Manual ACCLAIMIP HELP MANUAL -
Updated on: May 24, 2017
Current US Class with Children Classes Field (SCLS)
It is usually better and more inclusive if your class queries include children classes too. To include children classes, use the SCLS field code rather than CCL.
US patents are continuously reclassified by the USPTO. As a result, the classes on the printed patent (PDF) may not match those in AcclaimIP's database. AcclaimIP process the new classification file six times per year as it becomes available.
Manual ACCLAIMIP HELP MANUAL -
Updated on: May 24, 2017
Current US Class (CCL)
To query patents by the US Class, use the CCL field code.
Keep in mind that US classes evolve over time, and patents are continuously re-classified. So the classes printed on the printed patent (PDF) may not match the classes we have on record.
The CCL query finds patents classified in the specified class by both Primary and Cross Reference classifications
AcclaimIP processes the new classification file when it is released six times per year.
Manual ACCLAIMIP HELP MANUAL -
Updated on: May 24, 2017
Granted Patent Number Field (GPN)
The GPN field helps you understand the status of applications. When an application is granted, AcclaimIP inserts the granted patent number in the parent application's GPN field. GPN works on all collections (countries).
The GPN field answers the question. "Which of my applications have granted, and if they have granted what is the patent number of the grant."
You can also query the field directly. GPN requires a patent number as the argument and returns an application in your result.
Manual ACCLAIMIP HELP MANUAL -
Updated on: May 24, 2017
Application Number Field (APN)
To query the application serial number, use the APN field code.
Please note that a US patent's application serial number is in the form 12/012345 and is the number assigned to the application shortly after it is received by the USPTO. Where 12 is the series code (containing one million applications) and the following six digits are the number that identifies the application. If you want to search the Application Publication Number, use the DN or PN field codes. Application publication numbers are in the form of US20100047408 A1, for example.
APNs are not universally unique since a patent and its published application shares the same APN.
Manual ACCLAIMIP HELP MANUAL