Introduction
Derwent's manual coding highlights the inventive and significant aspects of
an invention, and its commercial application. Because they are consistently
applied by our editors, they can significantly improve the speed and accuracy
of online technology searches compared to using word-based searching, and help
to ensure that time is not wasted viewing irrelevant search results.
There are approximately 8,700 Derwent Chemical Patents Index (CPI)
Manual Codes, which have been developed over a period of more than 35 years.
Our Manual Codes were first introduced in 1963 when they were
applied to patent references of the Farmdoc Service. Subsequently, this service
was renamed Section B and incorporated into the Chemical Patents Index (CPI).
As other areas of technology were introduced, new Manual Codes were developed.
For example, codes for agricultural patents - Section C (1965), plastics and
polymer patents - Section A (1966) and for the remaining sections of CPI in
1970.
CPI coverage is arranged in 12 sections (A-M). Section N manual
codes have been applied to sections E, H and J from Derwent Week 197701. From
Week 197901, coverage was extended to Sections B, C, D, E and L. N codes are
not applied to Section A, F and G. Section N is not a true Derwent Section but
is in fact one of the CPI profiles.
Format of Manual Codes
Manual codes are arranged in hierarchies where there is a broad or general code
at the top of the hierarchy followed by sub-divisions of the code into more
and more specific categories which may have been introduced over a period of
time. The format of the code is based firstly on the Section letter, e.g. A
for Section A, B for Section B, etc., and then a series of alphnumerics, for
example:
A01
A01-A
A01-A00A
A01-A01
A01-A01A
A01-A01A1
The codes can be searched using online strategies or by using
the Derwent Manual Code cards (for customers who retain these collections).
The format for online searching is exactly as the codes appear here.
Codes on Manual Code cards and in printed products appear in a slightly different
format which is without "leading zeros". For example, the code B06-D01 would
appear on the card as B6-D1. Codes are also displayed in a similar way in Documentation
Abstracts.
Assignment of CPI Manual Codes
Codes are applied to the inventive/significant features of the invention using
the Documentation Abstract as the source document. The codes are assigned by
teams of Derwent analysts who have been specially trained in the application
of these codes. The analysts have specialist knowledge in each of the areas
of technology with which they are concerned. Manual codes are frequently used
in combinations to represent a particular topic. Some subjects may routinely
require two or three manual codes to define them.
Searching online using manual codes
Manual codes can be searched online in the Derwent World Patents Index on the
online host systems Dialog, STN and Questel.Orbit. When selecting codes, it
is necessary to take into account any broader codes which may have been in use
in previous years. If the codes are to be used in online searches then truncation
can be used to take the broader codes into account.
Some code definitions have an indication of a year, e.g. 1994,
in the entry. This indicates the time at which the code was introduced. Those
without a year indicated are valid from the beginning of the coverage for that
section.
Scope notes are given for some codes and should be taken into
account when selecting codes. Those notes which apply to a group of codes are
given at the head of the group.
Various other search parameters can be combined with manual codes,
e.g. International Patent Classifications (IPCs taken from the front page of
the patent specification), Derwent Class, and of course, free text. There are
several advantages in using manual codes. The fact that they are applied by
specialist teams of analysts at Derwent means that the codes are applied in
a consistent manner. Also, the need to search all possible synonyms and spellings
of the topic of interest is avoided by the use of a coding system.
Additional Search Tools
The use of Manual Codes in conjunction with Chemical Fragmentation Codes
is very useful. Especially in the following cases:
- Because of the high frequency of application of some Fragmentation
Codes, the number of results is sometimes very high. The Manual Codes
can be used in these cases to separate out those of higher relevance
(using AND).
- Improved precision is obtainable using a Manual Code where its
definition of a concept is more precise than that of the Fragmentation
Code.
Plasdoc Codes and Polymer Indexing may be used in conjunction
with Manual Codes to give a higher relevance and precision to your answer sets.
