Application Date/Filing Date (AD)

[ back to Help Center ] Derwent Field Definitions Updated: Jul 20, 2004 The field names shown here are the field names (or labels) used on the Derwent Record found on Delphion. Codes shown in parentheses following many field names are the "abbreviations" that are displayed on the Derwent Record and that, for searchable fields, can be used in an advanced query language search to search for that specific piece of information. A summary of field name abbreviations is included at the end of this document. Use the following links to jump to the field of your choice or scroll to review all fields in alphabetic order: Application Date Assignee (Patent Assignee, Patentee Code) Chemical Indexing Codes Citations Derwent Abstract Derwent Class Derwent Registry Numbers Derwent Title Derwent Update Designated State EPI Manual Codes Extended Polymer Index (Enhanced Polymer Indexing) Family (Patent Family) First Claim/Claims Images INPADOC Legal Status Inventor/Author IPC Class Markush Compound Number Original Title Polymer Keyterm Serial Numbers Polymer Multipunch Codes Priority Priority Date Publication Date Related Accessions Ring Index Numbers Specific Compound Number Starting Accession Number (Primary Accession Number) Title Terms Application Date/Filing Date (AD) Definition: The date on which the application was filed with the patent office or patent signatory. The patent application is normally filed in the applicant's domestic patent office and other countries where they seek protection of their invention. Search tip: Select the appropriate year and month from the earliest/latest drop-down menus to limit searching to the specified time range. Assignee/Patent Assignee (ASSIGNEE searches Name or Code; ASSIGNEENAME searches Name only) Definition: The name(s) of the individual(s) or corporate body to whom all or limited rights of the patent are legally transferred. Search tip: Enter one or more Patent Assignee names using the OR Boolean operator. You can enter complete assignee names or use the * wildcard to truncate the name. You may also search a part of the name. For example, "Sharp" will find Merck, Sharp & Dohme. You can restrict your search to the Patent Assignee name and/or Patent Assignee Code by selecting the appropriate radio button on the Derwent Advanced search form. Assignee Code/Patentee Code (ASSIGNEE searches Code or Name; ASSIGNEECODE searches Code only) Definition: A unique 4-letter code assigned to one of approximately 21,000 companies worldwide. Searching these standard codes retrieves subsidiaries and related holdings of the company. All other companies and individual patent assignees are identified as Non-Standard, Individual, or http://penguin.delphion.com/derwent/fields_dw?noheader (1 of 12)11/2/2004 7:29:24 AM

Soviet Institute. To identify the Standard code for a specific company, see the Patentee Codes User Guide or the Patentee Codes Lookup Facility. Example: Enter UNIL and select Assignee Code to find patents with an assignee code of UNIL. This will find all members of the Unilever corporate family (Unilever Ltd., Unipath Ltd., Lever Bros Ltd.). Search tip: You can restrict your search to the Patent Assignee name (see above) and/or Patent Assignee Code by selecting the appropriate drop down field on the Derwent Boolean search form. Citations Definition: Patent Office Examiner citations are included in Derwent Records for EP and PCT (WO) patent documents between 1978 and 1997 only. Where no references were cited for an EP or WO document during that period, the field displays "No-Citns." In cases where no Search Report is available, the field displays "No-SR.Pub." Chemical Indexing Codes Definition: This field contains alpha-numeric codes which describe both single compounds and Markush compounds (special chemical structures with many variable fragments) disclosed or claimed in patent specifications, on the basis of the structural fragments found in these compounds. All possible chemical permutations covered by the patent are separated into appropriate chemical fragments, and these fragments are then translated into alpha-numeric chemical codes. Nonstructural codes are also included to describe biological activity, formulation, use or property disclosed in the patent document. The chemical indexing system is divided into a number of subsets (M0-M6) which are both year and subject-oriented: M0 All pre-1970 Agricultural, Pharmaceutical Non-Steroids 1963-1969 M1 Agricultural, Pharmaceutical - Natural Products & Polymers 1970 to present M2 General Chemical - Agricultural, Pharmaceutical 1970 to present M3 General Chemical - Other 1970 to present M4 Dyes 1970 to present M5 Steroids 1970 to present M6 Galenicals (pharm. Apparatus, formulation, diagnostics) 1970 to present Derwent Abstract (ACTIVITY searches Derwent Abstract Activity Section; ADVANTAGE searches Derwent Abstract Advantage Section; ABSTRACT searches Derwent Abstract All Sections; CLAIMS searches Derwent Abstract Claims Section; DRAWING searches Derwent Abstract Description of Drawings Section; DESCRIPTION searches Derwent Abstract Description Section; MECHANISM searches Derwent Abstract Mechanism Section; NOVELTY searches Derwent Abstract Novelty Section; http://penguin.delphion.com/derwent/fields_dw?noheader (2 of 12)11/2/2004 7:29:24 AM

USE searches Derwent Abstract Use Section) Definition: Concise English language abstract detailing the claims and disclosures of the invention and highlighting the main Use and Advantage(s) of the technology. Since 1999, the layout of the Derwent Abstracts contains several additional subheadings. Novelty: Outlines the novelty of the invention. Detailed Description: Optional paragraph included when it is not possible to summarize the main claims of the invention within the novelty field. Activity: Used to describe the biological activity of chemical or biological entities. Mechanism of Action: Covers the biological mechanism of action for chemical or biological entities (where given). Use: This paragraph is always present and covers all the uses (applications) of the invention in terms of its different technology areas. If there are no disclosed uses, this is stated. Advantage: Covers the advantages of the invention as described by the author. Description of drawings: Explanation of technical drawings included in the record. Search tip: Some records do not have abstracts associated with them. Derwent Class (DERWENTCLASS or DERWENTMAINCLASS) Definition: Derwent categorizes patent documents using a simple classification system for all areas of technology. Derwent's subject specialists have consistently applied this unique classification system to all patent documents since 1970. The Derwent Classifications provide a uniform and accurate indexing tool that will allow you to effectively clarify ambiguous keywords and broaden or narrow your subject/keyword searches. All technologies are covered by 20 subject areas designated: A to M Chemical 1970 P to Q Engineering 1974 S to X Electrical & Electronic 1974 Each of the 20 subject areas is further subdivided into 3-character classes. Each Derwent Class consists of a letter followed by two digits, and has the format has the format ANN. The classification for A-M and S-X is applied by Derwent subject specialists. Classes for the Engineering sections P-Q are derived automatically from the International Patent Classification (IPC). To identify the Derwent Classification code for a specific technology see the Derwent Classification User Guide or use the Derwent Class Browser. Derwent cross-classifies entries to ensure that all the patents of interest are retrieved when searching. Use Derwent Classes in combination with other search criteria for greater precision. Example: The ambiguous word "WARN" can be combined with Derwent Class X22 (Automotive Electrics) to retrieve only those references to automotive warning devices. Derwent Registry Numbers (RN for polymers) Definition: Derwent Registry Numbers have been created for about 2,100 common chemicals which are mentioned in the claims or example section of patent specifications. Since 1981, a separate list of Registry Numbers has been applied to about 750 compounds or groups of compounds mentioned in Polymers & Plastics (Section A) technologies. Search/field scope: not searchable http://penguin.delphion.com/derwent/fields_dw?noheader (3 of 12)11/2/2004 7:29:24 AM

Derwent Title (TITLE) Definition: Contains a concise, descriptive, English-language title written by Derwent experts to highlight the content and novelty of the invention disclosed in the patent. Derwent Update (WEEK) Definition: This is a unique identification number assigned by Derwent to each World Patents Index Update and comprises a 4-digit year followed by a 2-digit serial number, representing the year of the update and the number of the update, respectively. New updates are currently added to the database approximately every 3 working days. The Derwent Update represents a production period, and so may contain a mixture of publication dates for individual countries, subject to the volume fluctuations encountered each week. The aim is to cover as high a percentage of each publication date range as possible within an Update, prioritizing any excess coverage for subsequent Updates. Example: 200361 Search tip: Use this field to limit searching to only those DWPI records which are newly added to the database or updated during the specified update. Designated State (DESIGNATED) Definition: When applicants request that their invention be protected by means of a patent application filed under the European Patent Convention (EP) or Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), they have to designate the states or countries in which they want the patent to take effect and pay the appropriate fees. On PCT applications (WO), Designated States are identified as National (N) or Regional (R), where the application will proceed via a national or regional (e.g. EPO, ARIPO, etc) authority, respectively. Designated States have a 2-letter format. Example: GB United Kingdom National US United States National EA Eurasian Patent Convention Regional OA OAPI Regional Search tip: Search for Designated States by inputting the appropriate 2-letter code(s) or select codes from the drop-down menu on the Derwent Advanced search form. EPI Manual Codes (MANUALCODES) Definition: The EPI (Electrical Patents Index) Manual Codes system is a hierarchical classification and indexing system, intended for use as an online retrieval tool for abstracts of electrical and electronic engineering patents. The system was originally based, in part, on the International Patent Classification (IPC) and currently includes approximately 9,000 codes. http://penguin.delphion.com/derwent/fields_dw?noheader (4 of 12)11/2/2004 7:29:24 AM

Since their introduction in 1980, the EPI Manual Codes have been revised four times in consultation with customers to accommodate changes in technology, provide finer subject matter breakdown and thus improve information retrieval. EPI coverage is arranged in six sections (S-X). Within each section, 50 EPI Derwent Classes (see below) provide a more detailed breakdown of subject material. The Class to which a Manual Code belongs is indicated by the characters preceding the hyphen, so the codes are always subdivisions of their related EPI Derwent Class. The format of the Manual Codes is such that an increase in the number of characters represents a finer subject matter breakdown. The maximum permissible length of a Manual Code is 10 characters, so the possible formats are as follows (where A and N represent a letter and digit, respectively): ANN Derwent Class (EPI) ANN-A Generic Manual Code ANN-ANN Sub-Group ANN-ANNA Sub-Group division ANN-ANNAN Full Manual Code (9 or 10 characters) ANN-ANNANA Full Manual Code (9 or 10 characters) Example: W04 Audio/Video recording & Systems Derwent Class W04-M Video & synchronizing signal generators Generic Manual Code W04-M01 Video cameras Sub-Group W04-M01D Control circuits, monitoring, displays, viewfinderssub-group division W04-M01D2G Eye-gaze direction determination Full Manual Code To identify the correct Manual Code, use the Coding Classification Lookup Facility or see the EPI Manual Codes User Guide. Search tip: Use truncation (* wildcard) to retrieve all codes assigned to an intermediate level as well the more specific codes below that level. However, use truncation carefully to avoid retrieving very large results sets. Be aware that truncation is not recommended in cases where a technology was previously coded with an earlier code. Extended Polymer Index (Enhanced Polymer Indexing, PI) Definition: The Enhanced Polymer Indexing (PI) System is applied by Derwent experts to compounds mentioned in Polymers & Plastics (Section A) technologies. Enhanced Polymer Indexing was introduced into DWPI with Derwent Update 199332, when it replaced the previous Polymer Multipunch Codes and Derwent Keyterm Serial Numbers systems. Enhanced Polymer Indexing is a hierarchical system divided into facets. There are two basic sections to the code the Structural section and Non-Structural sections which contain all of the chemical and non-chemical information, respectively. Specific Compound Numbers (SCN) are assigned to all reasonably common and fully defined compounds. Generic codes within the hierarchical structure identify classes of chemicals defined by common features or facets of structure. Chemical aspects facets provide more chemical information for compounds which have not been assigned a SCN. Family/Patent Family (FAMILY) Definition: Each Derwent Record describes a patent family which consists of one or more patent documents published for each invention. http://penguin.delphion.com/derwent/fields_dw?noheader (5 of 12)11/2/2004 7:29:24 AM

The first member of the patent family to enter the DWPI database is referred to as the Basic. (Note that this does not necessarily correspond to the first filing with an issuing authority, as some authorities are slower to publish patent documents than others.) Basics are identified by comparing the priority data on a newly received patent document with the priority data already in the DWPI database. If the priority data on the new document does not match the priority data of any previously processed document, then the new document is considered to be Basic and a new DWPI record is created with a unique Primary Accession Number. When additional documents are subsequently received by Derwent that match the priority data of the Basic, then these are referred to as Equivalent or Convention Equivalents. The corresponding Basic record is updated with additional information from the Equivalent patent family member(s). In addition to using priority data comparisons to identify these Convention Equivalents, Derwent also carries out intellectual examination of patent documents to identify Non-Convention Equivalents. A Non-Convention Equivalent is an application filed in a second, or subsequent country which does not claim a priority application in another country. This is usually a result of filing the application after the 12-month Convention period, but may be within that period by choice of the applicant. Information from Non-Convention Equivalent patent family member(s) is used to update the corresponding Basic record in the usual way. The Patent Family table displayed in each record contains the following information for each family member: Patent Number (the Basic is identified by an asterisk *) Publication Date of the patent document Derwent Update when the patent document was added to the family record Number of pages in the patent document (where available) Language of the patent document Main IPC Code of the patent document Designated States (where available) Local Application (Filing) Date(s) and Number(s) Search tip: Use this field to search for the Patent Number and/or Publication Dates of interest using the following formats: YYYY-MM-DD Publication Date CCNNNNNNNNNNNPatent Number You can truncate the Publication Date and/or Publication Number input. Truncation example: WO09712345A1 WO???12345?? Special Cases: Japanese Kokai JP2000178436A? searched as JP00178436A? PCT (WO) W02003123456A1 searched as WO03123456A1 First Claim/Claims Definition: This field contains the claims made in the original patent document about the subject matter and scope of the invention. This data is provided from the Basic patent that corresponds to the Derwent Record, when available (US, EP, PCT and DE only). http://penguin.delphion.com/derwent/fields_dw?noheader (6 of 12)11/2/2004 7:29:24 AM

Images Definition: When writing a Derwent Abstract, Derwent subject experts may select a technical drawing or chemical formula which best illustrates the new invention from the original patent document. DWPI currently contains over 6 million images: Images of technical drawings are largely available for patents of an electrical and engineering nature, and are available since 1988 Images of chemical formulae are available since 1992 Where a representative technical drawing is provided with the Derwent Abstract, the abstract text is followed by a Drawing Reference, where the figure number of the drawing used from the total drawings available in the patent document is expressed as "Dwg.3/5". If no drawing was used in the DWPI abstract from the total drawings available, this is expressed as "Dwg.0/5". If no drawings were present, this is expressed in the DWPI abstract as "Dwg.0/0". Search Tips: This field is not searchable, however, the Description of Drawing(s) data can be searched in the Derwent Abstract field by selecting Description of Drawing(s) from the drop-down box on the Derwent Advanced search form. INPADOC Legal Status Definition: Describes any official updates to the status of the original patent document. This data is provided from the Basic patent that corresponds to the Derwent Record, when available. Codes and their meanings are country-specific. Note 1: See all Legal Status codes, by country, in the Delphion Help Center. Example: Note 2: Legal Status codes are color-coded to indicate the type of action: Red = negative action Green = positive action Black = neutral action Search/field scope: not searchable Inventor/Author (INVENTOR) Definition: Contains the name(s) of the inventor(s) in the format "SURNAME INITIALS." The surname may contain a maximum of 30 characters followed by a space and up to 3 initials. From 1978 until 1980, records were limited to three inventor names with up to 10 characters each. From 1980 to 1992, records were restricted to a maximum of eight inventors, with the exception of Soviet patents, which retained a limit of three. Since Derwent Update 9216 in 1992, there is no limit on the number of inventor names or the length of individual inventor surnames and initials included in a record. Inventor names are not included for Japanese patents. Search tips: Search for inventor name(s) in the format: Surname Initial(s), e.g. BECKER S http://penguin.delphion.com/derwent/fields_dw?noheader (7 of 12)11/2/2004 7:29:24 AM

When searching for an inventor with more than one initial, enter the initials without spaces between them, e.g. BECKER SC Enter one or more inventor names connected with the OR Boolean operator. You can enter complete names, or partial inventor names using the wildcards. It is important to use the * wildcard when searching for inventor names with initials because without the wildcard only an exact match will be found. Example: Enter "smith" to find all patents with Smith A, Smith AT, Smith RBD, etc. as an inventor. Enter "smith a" to find all patents with Smith A as an inventor (this will also find Smith AR, Smith AT, etc.) Enter "smith a r" to find patents with Smith AR as an inventor. Enter "smith OR jones" to find patents records with inventor names of either Smith or Jones. If an inventor's last name includes spaces (e.g., de Ville, de los Rios), enter this name both with and without the space(s). For example, enter "DE VILLE OR DEVILLE" or "DE LOS RIOS OR DELOSRIOS". If an inventor's last name includes a non-alphanumeric character (e.g., O'Brian), enter the name with and without the nonalphanumeric character as follows: for O'Brian, enter "O'BRIAN OR OBRIAN" as your search statement. IPC Class (CLASS searches IPC Class; INDEXCLASS searches IPC Index Class; MAINCLASS searches IPC Main Class) Definition: The International Patent Classification (IPC) is an internationally recognized hierarchical classification system, which is controlled by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and assigned to patent documents by Patent Offices. IPC codes have been included in Derwent WPI records since 1970. The IPC covers all areas of technology and is a useful system that will allow searching with greater precision. The format of the IPC codes is such that an increase in the number of characters represents a finer subject matter breakdown. IPC codes take the general format ANNA N/NN (where A and N represent a letter and digit, respectively). A Section ANN Class ANNA Sub-Class ANNA N/NN Main group or Subgroup Example: C Chemistry Section C09 Dyes, Paints, Polishes, Natural resins, Adhesives, Class Miscellaneous Compositions, Miscellaneous Applications of Materials C09J Adhesives Sub-Class C09J 7/00 Adhesives in the form of films or foils Main Group C09J 7/02 on carriers Subgroup C09J 7/04 on paper or textile fabric Subgroup Markush Compound Number Definition: Markush structures are a way of representing a number of compounds by identifying http://penguin.delphion.com/derwent/fields_dw?noheader (8 of 12)11/2/2004 7:29:24 AM

a core structure, which remains the same, and listing all the possible variants or substitutes. A Markush Compound Number is assigned to each Markush structure indexed in DWPI Sections B, C and E. Original Title Definition: The publication number and title shown on the original patent document. This data is provided from the Basic patent that corresponds to the Derwent Record. Polymer Keyterm Serial Numbers (KS) Definition: Key Serial codes represent single concepts or phrases created by combinations of Polymer Multipunch codes, and were applied to patents from Polymers & Plastics (Section A) technologies. This coding system was discontinued from Derwent Update 199501. Polymer Multipunch Codes (AM) Definition: Polymer Multipunch Codes comprise chemical fragmentation codes applied by Derwent experts to concepts disclosed or claimed in patents from Polymers & Plastics (Section A) technologies. The fragment codes describe both specific and generic concepts. This coding system was discontinued from Derwent Update 199501. Priority (PRIORITY) Definition: Having filed one application at one patent office normally the applicant's domestic patent office the applicant may file additional applications at other patent offices. Under the provisions of the Paris Convention, the applicant has a further 12 months from the original local application date in which to file the application in one or more countries. Under such procedures, the original local application (filing) date becomes the Priority Date, and the original local application (filing) number becomes the Priority Number. The Priority Number appears on all subsequent patent documents filed under convention, enabling tracking of an international family of patent documents relating to one invention. Use this field to search for Priority Dates and/or Priority Numbers of interest using the following formats: YYYY-MM-DD Priority Date CCYYYYNNNNNNNNNPriority Number Search tip: You can truncate the Priority Date and/or Priority Number input. http://penguin.delphion.com/derwent/fields_dw?noheader (9 of 12)11/2/2004 7:29:24 AM

Priority Date (DP) Definition: Having filed one application at one patent office normally the applicant's domestic patent office the applicant may file additional applications at other patent offices. Under the provisions of the Paris Convention, the applicant has a further 12 months from the original local application date in which to file the application in one or more countries, while still retaining the original local application date as the "effective" date of the later filings in the other countries. For such filings, the original local application date therefore becomes the Priority Date, and the additional applications are said to have been filed under convention. The Priority Date appears on all subsequent patent documents filed under convention, enabling tracking of an international family of patent documents relating to one invention. Search tip: Select the appropriate year and month from the earliest/latest drop-down menus to limit searching to the specified time range on the Derwent Advanced search form. Publication Date (PD) Definition: This is the Publication Date of the Basic Patent. Each Derwent Record describes a patent family which consists of one or more patent documents published for each invention. The first member of the patent family to enter the DWPI database is referred to as the Basic. The Basic Patent in a Derwent Record is usually but not always the earliest published patent for that family. (See the Family field description below for more information about Basic Patents and the DWPI patent family structure). Search Tips: Use this field to limit your search results to those inventions where the first patents were published in the time range of interest. Select the appropriate year and month from the earliest/latest drop-down menus to limit searching to the specified time range on the Derwent Advanced search form. Related Accessions Definition: Related Accessions are identified as "Type R" in the Related Accession table display, and have the format YYYY-NNNNNN (where YYYY is the year, and N a digit). The process of differentiating new Basics and Equivalents in DWPI uses the latest priority as the primary key. However, more complex patent family relationships can be identified based on earlier priorities. Since 1985, these relationships have been identified in DWPI by the use of Related Accession Numbers to cross-reference the DWPI records involved. Related Accessions are also used to cross-reference two DWPI records where a patent originally input as a Basic (and a new record created) is subsequently identified as an Equivalent. When this occurs, the relevant patent number is added as an Equivalent to the correct patent family and the two WPI records are cross-referenced to each other via Related Accessions. The "Related Accession" table display may also include Accession of "Type C" and "Type N", which have the format CYYY-NNNNNN and NYYYY-NNNNNN. These are Secondary Accession Numbers, and are only used to cross-reference online DWPI records with the corresponding entries in certain Derwent print and CD products. DWPI records in the Chemical classes have Type C Secondary Accession Numbers, while records in the areas of Electrical & Electronic and General Engineering have Type N Secondary Accession Numbers. http://penguin.delphion.com/derwent/fields_dw?noheader (10 of 12)11/2/2004 7:29:24 AM

Ring Index Numbers Definition: Ring Index numbers, available since 1972, are used to index specific ring systems that are not uniquely described by a Chemical Indexing Code. Specific Compound Number Definition: Since 1987, a specific compound number is given to compounds or groups of compounds with a specific known structure indexed in DWPI Sections B, C and E. Starting Accession Number/Primary Accession Number (VDKVGWKEY) Definition: The Primary Accession Number is a unique identification number assigned by Derwent to each Derwent Record and comprises a 4-digit year followed by a hyphen and a 6-digit serial number, representing the year the record was created and the accession number of the record, respectively. Example: 1999-468964 Search tip: Use this field to limit searching to only those Derwent Records published after the specified record number. Title Terms (TITLETERMS) Definition: Title terms are the preferred form of words appearing in the Derwent Title. These are generated automatically by Derwent using text editing software, so a record may be retrieved even though the exact search term does not appear in the body of the title or abstract field. Use Derwent Title Terms for finding variations of a word. For a list of Title Terms, see the Title Terms User Guide. Example: If you search for the topic PAGING, you will find records whose title contains the words PAGE, PAGER, etc. Summary of Field Names and Abbreviations for Searching A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A Application Date Assignee (either code or name) AD ASSIGNEE http://penguin.delphion.com/derwent/fields_dw?noheader (11 of 12)11/2/2004 7:29:24 AM

Assignee Code Assignee Name ASSIGNEECODE ASSIGNEENAME D Derwent Abstract Activity Section Derwent Abstract Advantage Section Derwent Abstract All Sections Derwent Abstract Claims Section Derwent Abstract Description of Drawings Section Derwent Abstract Description Section Derwent Abstract Mechanism Section Derwent Abstract Novelty Section Derwent Abstract Use Section Derwent Class Derwent Main Class Derwent Title Derwent Update Designated State E EPI Manual Codes F Family I Inventor/Author IPC Class IPC Index Class IPC Main Class P Priority Priority Date Publication Date S Starting Accession Number T Title Terms ACTIVITY ADVANTAGE ABSTRACT CLAIMS DRAWING DECRIPTION MECHANISM NOVELTY USE DERWENTCLASS DERWENTMAINCLASS TITLE WEEK DESIGNATED MANUALCODES FAMILY INVENTOR CLASS INDEXCLASS MAINCLASS PRIORITY DP PD VDKVGWKEY TITLETERMS Copyright 1997-2004 The Thomson Corporation Subscriptions Web Seminars Privacy Terms & Conditions Site Map Contact Us Help http://penguin.delphion.com/derwent/fields_dw?noheader (12 of 12)11/2/2004 7:29:24 AM