U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
Information Products Division |
U.S. Patent Classification System - Classification Definitions
as of June 30, 2000
Patents classified in a subclass may be accessed by either clicking on
the subclass number
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Classification Index
Explanation of Data web page.
(definitions have been obtained from the
Patents ASSIST CD-ROM which
is produced by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Electronic Products Branch)
Class 707
DATA PROCESSING: DATABASE AND FILE MANAGEMENT, DATA
STRUCTURES, OR DOCUMENT PROCESSING
Class Definition:
This is the generic class for data processing apparatus and
corresponding methods for the retrieval of data stored in a
database or as computer files.
This class provides for data processing means or steps for
organizing and inter-relating data or files (e.g.,
relational, network, hierarchical, and entity-relationship
models).
This class also provides for data processing means or steps
for generic data, file and directory upkeeping, file naming,
and file and database maintenance including integrity
consideration, recovery, and versioning.
This class additionally provides for data processing means or
steps wherein human perceptible elements of electronic
information (i.e. text or graphics) are gathered, associated,
created, formatted, edited, prepared, or otherwise processed
in forming a unified collection of such information storable
as a distinct entity.
Class 707 is structured into five main divisions:
A. Database and file accessing.
B. Database schema and data structure.
C. File and database maintenance.
D. Document processing.
E. Cross-Reference Art Collections.
See Subclass References to the Current Class, below, for the
location of subclasses within these five main divisions.
RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER CLASSES
A. Database And File Accessing
(1) Note. This class is directed to computerized database
and file accessing and retrieval, including hierarchical,
bit-mapped and flat indexing, hashing, stapling,
containerizing, and other methods. Accessing and control of
a memory, per se, is classified elsewhere. See the search
class notes in References to Other Classes, below.
(2) Note. The combination of details of database technology
with the business data processing is classified in the
business art. See search class notes in References to Other
Classes, below.
(3) Note. The combination of details of database technology
with a nominal recitation of the subject matter of another
class is classified herein. Particular fields of use of
database technology performing in combination with the basic
subject matter of another class to effect some end other than
mere information accessing or retrieval, is classified with
the subject matter of the other class, unless specifically
excluded therefrom. See the search class notes in References
to Other Classes, below.
(4) Note. This class is directed to generic methods and
apparatus for accessing and retrieving data housed in either
databases or files. The generic steps to access and retrieve
an object from an object-oriented database may be properly
classified herein; however, objects themselves for an
application other than database accessing and retrieving
data, such as, for example an operator interface object, an
icon object capable of instantiating a process, or a
simulation system physical structure object are classified
elsewhere. See the search class notes in References to Other
Classes, below.
(5) Note. This class is directed to generic methods and
apparatus for accessing and retrieving data housed in either
databases or files. The generic steps of accessing and
retrieving data or information in a particular computer
design "environment" may be properly classified herein.
Examples of such "environments" include, for example, a
computer aided design (CAD) and analysis tool "environment",
a software development tool "environment", an image
processing "environment", a desk-top or other operator
interface "environment", etc., may rely on accessing and
retrieving information or routines from libraries while
working in the "environment". The "environments" themselves
are classified elsewhere in the data processing arts. See
the search class notes in References to Other Classes,
below.
(6) Note. The combination of a database accessing method
with a particular operator interface feature may be found in
these subclasses. Operator interfaces, per se, are
classified elsewhere. See the search class notes in
References to Other Classes, below.
B. Database Schema And Data Structures
(1) Note. Classification herein requires a combination of a
data structure and the access or retrieval method, or
apparatus for employing or storing the data structure.
C. File And Database Maintenance
(1) Note. This class is directed to means and steps for
handling of generic files and databases only in computers and
digital data processing systems. For the purpose of these
definitions a generic file is defined as a named collection
of data. File content and database content authoring,
generating, producing, and editing in information processing
applications art areas, such as, for example, business data
processing machine translation, graphics processing,
simulation, animation and software development, is classified
elsewhere.
(2) Note. This class is directed to management and
maintenance of files and databases in computers and digital
data processing systems and accepts subject solutions working
within single memories and across multiple memories. Memory
accessing and control and memory management, per se, is
classified elsewhere.
(3) Note. This class is directed to management and
maintenance of files and databases in computers and digital
data processing systems and accepts only nominal recitations
to operator interfaces, icons, and other metaphors used in
the maintenance of files and databases. File management
tools, metaphors, or objects with significant operator
interface features are classified elsewhere.
(4) Note. Formatting and file allocation in memory systems,
such as direct access storage systems, is generally found in
the art area directed to the storage system device.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
1 for database and file accessing.
100 for database schema and data structure.
200 for file and database maintenance.
500 for document processing.
900 for Cross-Reference Art Collections.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
128, Surgery, 630 for diagnostic testing and appropriate
subclasses for applications of computers in the life sciences
including patient monitoring and medical imaging.
235, Registers, various subclasses for basic machines and
associated indicating mechanisms for ascertaining the number
of movements of various devices and machines, plus machines
made from these basic machines alone (e.g., cash registers,
voting machines), and in combination with various perfecting
features, such as printers and recording means. In addition,
search Class 235 for various data bearing record controlled
systems.
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, And Selective Visual Display Systems, 326 for
operator interfaces, subclasses 418+ for computer graphics
processing and particularly subclass 302 for synchronization
of diverse media, subclasses 1 through 111 for visual display
systems with selective electrical control including display
memory organization and structure for storing image data and
manipulating image data between a display memory and display
device.
358, Facsimile and Static Presentation Processing,
appropriate subclasses for transmitting, processing, or
reproducing a permanent picture.
379, Telephonic Communications, various subclasses for
two-way electrical communication of intelligible audio
information of arbitrary content over a link including an
electrical conductor.
381, Electrical Audio Signal Processing Systems and Devices,
various subclasses for wired one-way audio systems, per se.
382, Image Analysis, various subclasses for operations
performed on image data with the aim of measuring a
characteristic of an image, detecting variations, detecting
structures, or transforming the image data, and for
procedures for analyzing and categorizing patterns present in
image data.
702, Data Processing, Measuring, Calibrating, or Testing
appropriate subclasses for the application of computers in
measuring and testing.
703, Data Processing: Structural Design, Modeling,
Simulation, and Emulation, subclasses 3-22 for data
processing simulation.
704, Data Processing - Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics,
Language Translation, and Audio Compression/Decompression, 1
for linguistics.
705, Data Processing - Financial, Business Practice,
Management, or Cost/Price Determination, appropriate
subclasses for business data processing.
706, Data Processing: Artificial Intelligence, appropriate
subclasses for artificial intelligence in general.
708, Electrical Computers: Arithmetic Processing and
Calculating, 1 for hybrid computers, subclasses 100+ for
calculators, digital signal processing and arithmetical
processing, per se, and subclasses 800+ for electric analog
computers.
711, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems -
Memory, subclasses 1-5 for addressing particular memory
configurations and systems, subclasses 100+ for memory
accessing and control, per se, and in particular subclasses
113 for disk caching, subclasses 117+ for hierarchical
memory, per se, subclasses 118+ for caching, subclasses 147+
for shared memory accessing and control, subclasses 154
through 166 for memory control, maintenance and management
techniques, subclasses 161 and 162 for archiving and backup
under memory accessing, subclasses 163+ for memory access
limiting, subclasses 170+ for memory configuring and
allocation, subclasses 200+ for address formation processing,
and subclass 216 for address hashing.
717, Data Processing: Software Development, Installation, and
Management, subclasses 1-11 for data processing software
development tool.
GLOSSARY:
The terms below have been defined for purposes of
classification in this class and are shown in underlined type
when used in the class and subclass definitions. When these
terms are not underlined in the definitions, the meaning is
not restricted to the glossary definitions below.
ADDRESS DATA
Data that represent or identify a source or destination.
(Also see Data)
COMPUTER:
A machine that inputs data, processes data, stores data, and
outputs data.
DATA
Representation of information in a coded manner suitable for
communication, interpretation, or processing. See Address
Data, Instruction Data, Status Data, and User Data in this
Glossary.
DATABASE
A collection of data arranged for ease of storage, retrieval,
updating, searching and sorting by computerized means.
FILE
A named collection of data.
DATA PROCESSING
See Processing, below.
DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM:
An arrangement of processor(s) in combination with either
memory or peripherals, or both, performing data processing.
INFORMATION
Meaning that a human being assigns to data by means of the
conventions applied to that data.
INSTRUCTION DATA
Data that represent an operation and identify its operands,
if any. (Also see Data)
MEMORY
A functional unit to which data can be stored and from which
data can be retrieved.
PERIPHERAL
A functional unit that transmits data to or receives data
from a computer to which it is coupled.
PROCESSING
Methods or apparatus performing systematic operations upon
data or information exemplified by functions such as data or
information transferring, merging, sorting, and calculating
(i.e., arithmetic operations or logical operations).
(1) Note. In this class, the glossary term data is used to
modify processing in the term data processing; whereas the
term digital data processing system refers to a machine
performing data processing.
(2) Note. In an effort to avoid redundant constructions, in
this class, where appropriate, the term address data
processing is used in place of address data data processing.
PROCESSOR
A functional unit that interprets and executes instruction
data.
STATUS DATA
Data that represent conditions of data, computers,
peripherals, memory, etc. (Also see Data)
USER DATA
Data other than address data, instruction data, or status
data. (Also see Data)
SUBCLASSES
Subclass:
1
DATABASE OR FILE ACCESSING:
This subclass is indented under the class definition.
Subject matter directed to the retrieval of data stored in a
database or as computer files, where a file is defined as a
named collection of data.
(1) Note. This class is directed to computerized database
and file accessing and retrieval, including hierarchical,
bit-mapped and flat indexing, hashing, stapling,
containerizing, and other methods. Accessing and control of
a memory, per se, is classified elsewhere. See the search
class notes below.
(2) Note. The combination of details of database technology
with the business data processing is classified in the
business art. See search class notes below.
(3) Note. The combination of details of database technology
with a nominal recitation of the subject matter of another
class is classified herein. Particular fields of use of
database technology performing in combination with the basic
subject matter of another class to effect some end other than
mere information accessing or retrieval is classified with
the subject matter of the other class, unless specifically
excluded therefrom. See the search class notes below.
(4) Note. This class is directed to generic methods and
apparatus for accessing and retrieving data housed in either
databases or files. The generic steps to access and retrieve
an object from an object-oriented database may be properly
classified herein; however, objects themselves for an
application other than database accessing and retrieving
data, such as, for example an operator interface object, an
icon object capable of instantiating a process, or a
simulation system physical structure object are classified
elsewhere. See the search class notes below.
(5) Note. This class is directed to generic methods and
apparatus for accessing and retrieving data housed in either
databases or files. The generic steps of accessing and
retrieving data or information in a particular computer
design "environment" may be properly classified herein.
Examples of such "environments" include, for example, a
computer aided design (CAD) and analysis tool "environment",
a software development tool "environment", an image
processing "environment", a desk-top or other operator
interface "environment", etc., may rely on accessing and
retrieving information or routines from libraries while
working in the "environment". The "environments" themselves
are classified elsewhere in the data processing arts. See
the search class notes below.
(6) Note. The combination of a database accessing method
with a particular operator interface feature may be found in
these subclasses. Operator interfaces, per se, are
classified elsewhere. See the search class notes below.
(7) Note. KEYWORDS: Directory, hierarchy, hierarchical,
tree, indexing, pointers, folders, books, bit map, hashing.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
100 for data structures, per se.
102 for indexing, per se, in the creation of a database.
500 for document processing, per se.
501 for processing a document including hypermedia.
513 for processing a structured document (e.g., HTML, SGML,
ODA, CDA).
515 for compound documents.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
128, Surgery, 630 for diagnostic testing and appropriate
subclasses for applications of computers in the life sciences
including patient monitoring and medical imaging.
273, Amusement Devices: Games, for games and amusements.
Classes 463 and 473 will eventually replace 273.
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, subclass
302 for synchronization of documents with multiple different
media, subclasses 326+, for operator interfaces, per se, in
particular subclasses 333+ for interface customization,
subclasses 339+ for on-screen workspaces or objects,
subclasses 348+ for icons and subclasses 352+ for menus.
358, Facsimile and Static Presentation Processing, subclass
403 directed to facsimile document filing and retrieval
system.
382, Image Analysis, for image recognition, transformation
and sensing, per se, and applications therefor.
463, Amusement Devices: Games, for a specific type of
amusement, recreation, or play activity.
472, Amusement Devices, for the amusement or recreation of
human beings, and includes patents relating to devices of the
type.
473, Amusement Devices: Games, for devices ancillary or
appurtenant to games for which there is no provision in other
classes.
700, Data Processing: Generic Control Systems or Specific
Applications, subclasses 95-212 for manufacturing
applications of computers.
703, Data Processing: Structural Design, Modeling,
Simulation, and Emulation, subclasses 13-22 for the use of
database in simulating electronic device and electrical
system.
704, Data Processing - Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics,
Language Translation, and Audio Compression/Decompression,
subclass 10 for dictionary building in machine translation
systems.
705, Data Processing - Financial, Business Practice,
Management, or Cost/Price Determination, 1 for applications
of databases in business transaction processing.
711, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems -
Memory, subclasses 1-5 for addressing particular memory
configurations and systems, subclasses 100+ for memory
accessing and control, per se, and in particular subclasses
113 for disk caching, subclasses 117+ for hierarchical
memory, per se, subclasses 118+ for caching, subclasses 147+
for shared memory accessing and control, subclasses 170+ for
memory configuring and allocation, subclasses 200+ for
address formation processing, and subclass 216 for address
hashing.
714, Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery,
15 for state recovery, per se, in particular, subclass 20
for plural recovery sets with set interrelation data.
716, Data Processing: Design and Analysis of Circuit or
Semiconductor Mask, appropriate subclasses for the use of
database in the design and analysis of circuit or
semiconductor mask.
Subclass:
2
Access augmentation or optimizing:
This subclass is indented under subclass 1. Subject matter
directed to methods of access, including query path
traversal, mapping, and reuse, joining tables in relational
databases, view composition, index choice, bit mapping, and
query reuse.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
501 for processing a document including hypermedia.
513 for processing a structured document (e.g., HTML, SGML,
ODA, CDA).
515 for compound documents.
532 for text data document processing with a dictionary.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
340, Communications: Electrical, subclasses 825.01-825.04
for selective communications path routing.
395, Information Processing System Organization, subclass
200.03 for distributed data processing, subclasses 311+ for
bus path selecting in a computer or digital data processing
system, subclass 676 for identifying and dealing with
run-time dependencies between executing programs, tasks,
processes (e.g., data dependencies, control flow
dependencies, etc.), and subclass 709 for optimizing
compilers.
701, Data Processing: Vehicles, Navigation, and Relative
Location, 200 for navigation within a physical reality.
704, Data Processing - Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics,
Language Translation, and Audio Compression/Decompression,
subclass 10 for linguistics dictionary building.
705, Data Processing - Financial, Business Practice,
Management, or Cost/Price Determination, 7 for operations
research, per se, including systems directed to generalized
linear programming problem solving.
708, Electrical Computers: Arithmetic Processing and
Calculating, 490 for arithmetical processing of data.
714, Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery,
subclass 4 for masking or reconfiguring of network paths.
Subclass:
3
Query processing (i.e., searching):
This subclass is indented under subclass 1. Subject matter
directed to methods of searching for (i.e., querying) data
stored as a database in a computer or digital data processing
system, including sequential searching, primary and secondary
index searching, and bit-map searching of inverted lists or
topological maps.
(1) Note. The combination of a database accessing method
with a particular operator interface feature may be found in
these subclasses. Operator interfaces, per se, are classified
elsewhere.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
530 for text document processing, per se.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
178, Telegraphy, 18 for writing systems such as, for
example, digitizing tablets.
235, Registers, 375 for systems controlled by data bearing
member.
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, 156 for
input devices such as mice, touch screens, etc., subclasses
326+ for operator interfaces, per se, and in particular
subclasses 339+ for on-screen workspaces and objects,
subclasses 340+ for windowing, and subclass 347 for pop-up
controls.
353, Optics: Image Projectors, subclass 25 for selective
optical data retrieval.
395, Information Processing System Organization, subclass 12
for input means in a knowledge based system and subclasses
705+ for program compilers and procedural language
translators.
704, Data Processing - Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics,
Language Translation, and Audio Compression/Decompression, 1
for machine translation and linguistic data processing and
subclasses 200+ for speech translation methods and
apparatus.
Subclass:
4
Query formulation, input preparation, or translation:
This subclass is indented under subclass 3. Subject matter
directed to methods for translating an external access to a
database or files into internal access to the database or
files, and translation of an external query format into an
intermediate or internal query format.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
503 through 510, for spreadsheets, forms, and tables under
document processing.
Subclass:
5
Query augmenting or refining (e.g., inexact access):
This subclass is indented under subclass 3. Subject matter
directed to methods of expanding or limiting access to and
retrieval of data or files by techniques including fuzzy
search, ranking or weighing, relevance, thesaurus, and
concept retrieval.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
530 for text document processing.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
395, Information Processing System Organization, subclass 3
for fuzzy logic, per se, subclasses 10+ for knowledge
processing, per se, including trainable neural nets and
expert systems.
704, Data Processing - Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics,
Language Translation, and Audio Compression/Decompression, 1
for linguistic data processing and machine translation.
710, Electrical Computers and Digital Data Processing
Systems: Input/Output, subclass 200 and 240+ for limiting
access to system resources and access arbitrating.
711, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems -
Memory, 163 for memory access limiting.
713, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems:
Support, 200 for security in computers or digital processing
systems.
Subclass:
6
Pattern matching access:
This subclass is indented under subclass 3. Subject matter
directed to methods employing determination of equivalence of
retrieval keys and stored data by matching characteristic
patterns of one data set with one or more characteristic
patterns of a candidate data set.
(1) Note. This subclass includes text searching and
indexing, per se, for database. Text presentation data
processing is classified elsewhere.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
500 for document processing, per se.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
382, Image Analysis, appropriate subclasses for image
recognition, transformation, and sensing, per se, and
applications therefor, particularly 181 for image pattern
recognition.
395, Information Processing System Organization, subclass 676
for identifying and dealing with run-time dependencies
between executing programs, tasks, processes (e.g., data
dependencies, control flow dependencies, etc.).
704, Data Processing - Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics,
Language Translation, and Audio Compression/Decompression, 2
for machine translation systems.
705, Data Processing - Financial, Business Practice,
Management, or Cost/Price Determination, 7 for operations
research, per se, including systems directed to generalized
linear programming problem solving.
708, Electrical Computers: Arithmetic Processing and
Calculating, 490 for arithmetical processing, per se, and
subclass 212 for detection of a particular sequence of bits.
714, Error Detection/Correction and Fault
Detection/Recovery.
Subclass:
7
Sorting:
This subclass is indented under subclass 1. Subject matter
directed to data oriented accessing methods benefiting from
the creation of ordered lists.
(1) Note. For clarification, sorting includes elementary
sorting methods such as selection sort, bubble sort,
distribution counting, and other methods, such as Quicksort,
Radix Sort, Priority Queues including heap sort, Selection
and Merging, and External sort.
(2) Note. This subclass is for sorting database data or
files. Generic sorting, per se, is classified elsewhere.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
341, Coded Data Generation or Conversion, 50 for digital
code to digital code convertors.
712, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems:
Processing Architectures and Instruction Processing (e.g.,
Processors), 1 for sorter processing in computer and digital
data system architecture and subclass 300 for generic
string-level and bite-word order rearranging, bit-field
insertion and extraction, and string length and sequence
detecting.
Subclass:
8
Concurrency (e.g., lock management in shared database):
This subclass is indented under subclass 1. Subject matter
directed to serialization of multiple accesses to the same
unit of data or file for the purpose of data integrity.
(1) Note. Concurrency is related to controlling the ability
of a plurality of users to simultaneously access the same
(i.e., a single unit or copy of) information or proximately
located information stored in a database or file (i.e., the
ability to control "sharing" of information). Such control
may involve the prioritizing or serializing of access to the
"shared" information, or the copying of information into
independent copies, which must ultimately be "integrated" for
data coherency. Coherency, on other hand, although a related
topic, is related to the maintaining of multiple copies of
information in a database or file in a manner which ensures
data integrity amongst the plurality of copies, regardless of
whether a single user or plurality of simultaneous users are
accessing the information. When a plurality of users are
accessing the plurality of copies of information, then both
concurrency and coherency concepts may be involved, and the
subject matter may be properly classified herein based on
hierarchy. Database or file coherency, per se, is classified
elsewhere. Source code version management and software
version management are classified elsewhere.
(2) Note. For clarification, the methods of ensuring data
concurrency include employing time-stamping, semaphores,
global and local shared locking (i.e., read only), and
exclusive locking (i.e., read and write), multiple
versioning, and temporal versioning, such as snapshots.
(3) Note. This subclass is directed to data integrity in
database accessing and control. A concept search on this
subject or the related subjects of data coherency and version
management should consider the related topics as they appear
in this class.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
511 for document version management under document
processing.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, subclasses
327-332 for operator interface aspects of workgroup data
processing environments for plural users or sites and
subclass 971 for a cross-reference art collection directed to
interface aspects of cooperative decision support systems for
groups of users.
395, Information Processing System Organization, subclass 676
for identifying and dealing with runtime dependencies
between executing programs, tasks, processes (e.g., data
dependencies, control flow dependencies, etc.), subclass 703
for source code version management in a software programming
environment, subclass 712 for software installation and
version management of operating systems, application
programs, and other executable programs, and subclass 726 for
access locking.
705, Data Processing - Financial, Business Practice,
Management, or Cost/Price Determination, subclasses 1-45
for automated financial or business practice or management
systems and in particular subclasses 1 through 6 for file and
database maintenance systems including data coherency in
database systems.
711, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems -
Memory, subclasses 141-146 for cache memory data coherency,
and subclasses 147 through 153 for sharing memory and
prioritized access regulation.
Subclass:
9
Privileged access:
This subclass is indented under subclass 1. Subject matter
directed to determination and granting of access to data and
files by direct means, such as by the file or database
creator or database manager, or by indirect means, such as by
inheritance, such as by group/user access profiles.
(1) Note. This subclass is directed to access control in
database systems. Computer system security is classified
elsewhere.
(2) Note. This subclass is directed to access control in
database systems. The concept of access control exists
throughout the class. Therefore, a search to a particular
concept of access control should consider the related topics
in bus access control, memory access control, computer system
access control, generic access control, etc.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, subclasses
327-332 for operator interface aspects of workgroup data
processing environments for plural users or sites.
710, Electrical Computers and Digital Data Processing
Systems: Input/Output, 107 for bus access regulating.
711, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems -
Memory, 147 for shared memory access and control, and
subclasses 163+ for access limiting and password use in
memory accessing and control.
713, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems:
Support, 200 for computer security per se.
Subclass:
10
Distributed or remote access:
This subclass is indented under subclass 1. Subject matter
directed to management of distributed database data and file
access and retrieval, and retrieval of database data and
files from a centralized or remote site.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, subclasses
327-332 for operator interface aspects of workgroup data
processing environments for plural users or sites and
subclass 971 for a cross-reference art collection directed to
interface aspects of cooperative decision support systems for
groups of users.
395, Information Processing System Organization, subclass
200.03 for multicomputer distributed data processing,
subclass 200.05 for multicomputer data transfer processing
with master/slave arrangement.
705, Data Processing - Financial, Business Practice,
Management, or Cost/Price Determination, 1 for automated
business systems, per se, and in particular subclasses 26-27
for electronic shopping and catalogue browsing.
711, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems -
Memory, subclasses 117-146 for hierarchical memory and
caching, and subclasses 147+ for shared memory access and
control.
712, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems:
Processing Architectures and Instruction Processing (e.g.,
Processors), 1 for processor, coprocessor arrangements.
Subclass:
100
DATABASE SCHEMA OR DATA STRUCTURE:
This subclass is indented under the class definition.
Subject matter comprising means or steps for organizing and
inter-relating data or files, including relational, network,
hierarchical, and entity-relationship models, among others.
(1) Note. Classification herein requires a combination of a
data structure and the access or retrieval method, or
apparatus for employing or storing the data structure.
(2) Note. KEYWORDS: entity relational, entity attribute,
relational, hierarchical and network databases, b-tree,
temporal multi-key, superblock, cross-linked tree,
referential constraints, linked list, dual linked, quad
linked, inverted file, inverted list, vector relational
object, hypertext data dictionary.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, 326 for
object-oriented operator interface elements, per se.
395, Information Processing System Organization, 701 for
object-oriented programming environments, per se.
Subclass:
101
Manipulating data structure (e.g., compression, compaction,
compilation):
This subclass is indented under subclass 100. Subject matter
including data structure conversion, compression, compaction,
and compilation, for optimization of database and file
storing, and for data compatibility between different or
multiple databases.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
8 for database concurrency management.
200 through 206, for file and database maintenance systems
including data coherency in database systems.
511 for document version management under document
processing.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
341, Coded Data Generation or Conversion, subclasses 50-107
for digital code to digital code data conversion.
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, subclasses
327-332 for operator interface aspects of workgroup data
processing environments for plural users or sites and
subclass 971 for a cross-reference art collection directed to
interface aspects of cooperative decision support systems for
groups of users.
395, Information Processing System Organization, subclass 527
for aspects of data compatibility related to emulation,
subclass 676 for identifying and dealing with runtime
dependencies between executing programs, tasks, processes
(e.g., data dependencies, control flow dependencies, etc.),
subclass 703 for source code version management in a software
programming environment, subclass 712 for software
installation and version management of operating systems,
application programs, and other executable programs.
708, Electrical Computers: Arithmetic Processing and
Calculating, subclass 203 for computer data compression and
decompression.
711, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems -
Memory, subclasses 141-146 for cache memory data coherency,
and subclasses 147-153 for sharing memory and prioritized
access regulation.
712, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems:
Processing Architectures and Instruction Processing (e.g.,
Processors), subclass 300 for generic string-level and
byte-word level order rearranging, bit-field insertion and
extraction, and string length and sequence detecting.
Subclass:
102
Generating database or data structure (e.g., via user
interface):
This subclass is indented under subclass 100. Subject matter
including means or steps for generating database schema and
data structures.
(1) Note. This subclass accepts operator interface features
for data structure development environments. Operator
interfaces, per se, are classified elsewhere.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
501 for processing a document including hypermedia.
513 for processing a structured document (e.g., HTML, SGML,
ODA, CDA).
515 for processing a compound document using hierarchy
control.
517 for document layout processing including spacing
control, format transforming, etc.
532 for text data document processing with a dictionary.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, subclass
326 for operator interfaces.
358, Facsimile and Static Presentation Processing, for
facsimile producing systems.
382, Image Analysis, for image recognition, transformation
and sensing, per se, and applications therefor, and in
particular 181 for image pattern recognition.
395, Information Processing System Organization, subclass 12
for knowledge processing system operator interface.
704, Data Processing - Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics,
Language Translation, and Audio Compression/Decompression,
subclass 10 for linguistics dictionary building.
Subclass:
103
Object-oriented database structure:
This subclass is indented under subclass 100. Subject matter
further comprising an object-oriented data structure and its
maintenance in memory.
(1) Note. This subclass includes object-oriented data
organization.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
500 for document processing, per se, in particular, subclass
501 for hypermedia.
513 for structured documents (e.g., HTML, SGML, ODA, CDA).
515 for compound documents.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, 339 for
on-screen workspaces or objects, subclasses 348+ for icon
objects, and subclasses 352+ for menus.
703, Data Processing: Structural Design, Modeling,
Simulation, and Emulation, subclasses 13-22 for simulating
electronic device and electrical system which may employ
object-oriented data structure.
716, Data Processing: Design and Analysis of Circuit or
Semiconductor Mask, appropriate subclasses for designing and
analyzing circuit or semiconductor mask which may include the
use of libraries or objects.
717, Data Processing: Software Development, Installation, and
Management, appropriate subclasses for software development
tools, per se, including computer-aided software engineering
and object-oriented programming environments.
Subclass:
104
Application of database or data structure (e.g., distributed,
multimedia, image):
This subclass is indented under subclass 100. Subject matter
directed to specific applications of database schema and data
structures to commercial, scientific, and medical fields not
provided for elsewhere.
(1) Note. The combination of details of database technology
with the business data processing is classified in the
business art. See search class notes below.
(2) Note. The combination of details of database technology
with a nominal recitation of the subject matter of another
class is classified herein. Particular fields of use of
database technology performing in combination with the basic
subject matter of another class to effect some end other than
mere information accessing or retrieval, is classified with
the subject matter of the other class, unless specifically
excluded therefrom. See the search class notes below.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
128, Surgery, 630 for diagnostic testing and appropriate
subclasses for applications of computers in the life sciences
including patient monitoring and medical imaging.
382, Image Analysis, various subclasses for operations
performed on image data with the aim of measuring a
characteristic of an image, detecting variations, detecting
structures, or transforming the image data, and for
procedures for analyzing and categorizing patterns present in
image data.
700, Data Processing: Generic Control Systems or Specific
Applications, subclasses 90-306 for data structures in
various computer based applications and in combination with
the basic subject matter of another class.
703, Data Processing: Structural Design, Modeling,
Simulation, and Emulation, subclasses 13-22 for simulating
electronic device and electrical system which may employ
application database or data structure.
704, Data Processing - Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics,
Language Translation, and Audio Compression/Decompression, 1
for linguistics.
705, Data Processing - Financial, Business Practice,
Management, or Cost/Price Determination, for business data
processing.
717, Data Processing: Software Development, Installation, and
Management, appropriate subclasses for software development
tools, per se, including computer-aided software engineering
and object-oriented programming environments.
Subclass:
200
FILE OR DATABASE MAINTENANCE:
This subclass is indented under the class definition.
Subject matter directed to generic data, file, and directory
upkeeping, file naming, and file and database maintenance
including integrity consideration, recovery, and versioning.
(1) Note. These subclasses are directed to means and steps
for handling of generic files and databases only in computers
and digital data processing systems. For the purpose of
these definitions, a generic file is defined as a named
collection of data. File content and database content
authoring, generating, producing, and editing in information
processing applications art areas, such as, for example,
business data processing machine translation, graphics
processing, simulation, animation and software development,
is classified elsewhere. See the search class notes below.
(2) Note. This subclass is directed to management and
maintenance of files and databases in computers and digital
data processing systems and accepts subject solutions working
within single memories and across multiple memories. Memory
accessing and control and memory management, per se, is
classified elsewhere.
(3) Note. This subclass is directed to management and
maintenance of files and databases in computers and digital
data processing systems and accepts only nominal recitations
to operator interfaces, icons and other metaphors used in the
maintenance of files and databases. File management tools,
metaphors or objects with significant operator interface
features are classified elsewhere. See the search class
notes below.
(4) Note. Formatting and file allocation in memory systems
such as direct access storage systems is generally found in
the art area directed to the storage system device.
(5) Note. KEYWORDS: file caching, differential file,
incremental file, merge update, (re)naming, name
standardization, file deletion, directory maintenance, file
replication.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
1 for database content authoring tools.
102 for database data structure generating, per se.
500 for file content authoring, generating, producing, and
editing in document processing, word processing, and text
processing.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, And Selective Visual Display Systems, 333 for
file content authoring, generating, producing, and editing in
operator interface customization and editioning, and
subclasses 467+ for file content authoring, generating,
producing, and editing in font generation and animation.
364, Electrical Computers and Data Processing Systems, 490
for file content authoring, generating, producing, and
editing in integrated circuit design and analysis
environments, and subclass 578 for file content authoring,
generating, producing, and editing in simulation systems.
703, Data Processing: Structural Design, Modeling,
Simulation, and Emulation, subclasses 13-22 for file
content authoring, generating, producing, and editing in
simulating electronic device and electrical system; and
subclasses 23 through 28 for file content authoring,
generating, producing, and editing in emulation systems.
704, Data Processing - Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics,
Language Translation, and Audio Compression/Decompression, 2
for file content authoring, generating, producing, and
editing in machine translation, per se.
705, Data Processing - Financial, Business Practice,
Management, or Cost/Price Determination, 1 for file content
authoring, generating, producing, and editing in business
data processing.
711, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems -
Memory, 100 for memory accessing and control, per se, and
subclasses 154-166 for memory control, maintenance, and
management techniques.
716, Data Processing: Design and Analysis of Circuit or
Semiconductor Mask, appropriate subclasses for file content
authoring, generating, producing, and editing in designing
and analyzing circuit or semiconductor mask.
717, Data Processing: Software Development, Installation, and
Management, appropriate subclasses for file content
authoring, generating, producing, and editing in software
development environments, per se.
Subclass:
201
Coherency (e.g., same view to multiple users):
This subclass is indented under subclass 200. Subject matter
further comprising means or steps for distributed and
temporal database management to ensure presentation of the
same data or view to one or a plurality of users.
(1) Note. Coherency is related to the maintaining of
multiple copies of information in a database or a file in a
manner which ensures data integrity amongst the plurality of
copies, regardless of whether a single user or plurality of
simultaneous users are accessing the information. When a
plurality of users is accessing the multiple copies of
information, then both concurrency and coherency concepts may
be involved, and the subject matter is classified in the
concurrency subclass above.
(2) Note. This subclass is directed to file and database
coherency and may include file caching. Caching, per se,
however, is classified elsewhere. In addition, cache memory
entry replacement strategies are classified elsewhere.
(3) Note. This subclass is directed to file and database
coherency and may include management of transactions against
a database by means of commit procedures. Transaction
management, per se, is classified elsewhere.
(4) Note. This subclass is directed to file and database
coherency and may involve access control. Access control in
combination with other data processing system methods or
apparatus (e.g., memory), computer security, per se, and
access control, per se, are classified elsewhere.
(5) Note. This subclass is directed to file and database
coherency and may include recitations to shared memory.
Managing shared memory, however, is classified elsewhere.
Further, data transferring between computers or digital data
processing systems is classified elsewhere.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
8 for database concurrency.
511 for document version management under document
processing.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, subclasses
327-332, for operator interface aspects of workgroup data
processing environments for plural users or sites and
subclass 971 for a cross-reference art collection directed to
interface aspects of cooperative decision support systems for
groups of users.
395, Information Processing System Organization, subclass
200.08 for multicomputer data transferring with shared
memory, subclasses 670+ for task management, per se, subclass
676 for identifying and dealing with runtime dependencies
between executing programs, tasks, processes, (e.g., data
dependencies, control flow dependencies, etc.), subclasses
680+ for interprocess and interprogram communication,
subclass 703 for source code version management, subclass 712
for software installation and version management of operating
systems, application programs, and other executable programs,
and subclasses 726+ for access control, per se.
711, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems -
Memory, subclasses 141-146 for cache coherency, and
subclasses 147-153 for shared memory accessing and control.
714, Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery,
15 for process and data state recovery, per se, and in
particular subclass 20 for use of plural data sets (i.e.,
logs) containing set interrelation data, and subclass 49, for
state error detection, per se.
Subclass:
202
Recoverability:
This subclass is indented under subclass 201. Subject matter
including means or steps for transaction logging, log
recovery, and recovery of data in the event of a fault.
(1) Note. This subclass is directed to fault recovery in
combination with file or data maintenance. Fault recovery,
per se, is classified elsewhere.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
714, Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery,
1 for reliability and availability, per se, subclass 15 for
process and data state recovery, per se, and in particular
subclass 20 for use of plural data sets (i.e., logs)
containing set interrelation data.
Subclass:
203
Version management:
This subclass is indented under subclass 201. Subject matter
further comprising means or steps for maintenance and
management of multiple copies of database information or
files on a computer.
(1) Note. See the line notes and search class notes for this
class, subclasses 8, 201, and 511, and Class 395, subclasses
703 and 712 for a complete discussion of version management
and data management and the topics of databases concurrency,
file and database coherency, software programming tool code
managing, application software and operating system software
installation, and version management and document version
management, respectively.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
8 for concurrency in database or file accessing.
201 for file or database coherency.
511 for document version management.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
395, Information Processing System Organization, subclass 703
for managing source code in a development tool, and subclass
712 for software or executable program version management.
Subclass:
204
Archiving or backup:
This subclass is indented under subclass 201. Subject matter
further comprising means or steps for backing up database
information or files, file migration to and from high density
nonvolatile storage, and immediate, delayed, and scheduled
backup.
(1) Note. This subclass is directed to file and database
coherency and aspects thereof directed to making copies for
expressed purposes. Means and steps for controlling memory
access to data (i.e., addressing, per se) during the act of
backing up or archiving is classified elsewhere.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
711, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems -
Memory, subclass 113 for cache by DASD, subclass 114 for
RAID, subclasses 117+ for hierarchical memory accessing and
controlling, per se, subclasses 133-136 for cache entry
replacement strategies, subclasses 159-160 for memory
accessing and control entry replacement strategies, per se,
subclasses 161-162 for archiving and backup under memory
accessing, and subclass 165 for internally relocating data.
714, Error Detection/Correction and Fault Detection/Recovery,
subclass 6 for memory or peripheral subsystem fault recovery
including access to redundant stored data, such as, error
correction coded data, subclass 15 for process and data state
recovery, per se, and in particular subclass 20 for use of
plural data sets (i.e., logs) containing set interrelation
data.
Subclass:
205
File allocation:
This subclass is indented under subclass 200. Subject matter
further comprising means or steps for reserving memory space
or organizing memory space in order to contain a file.
(1) Note. This subclass is directed to reserving memory
space or organizing memory space in order to contain a file.
Memory accessing and control for data is classified
elsewhere. A concept search to allocation should consider
both areas.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
711, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems -
Memory, subclasses 1-5 for addressing specific memory
configurations, subclasses 100+ for disk defragmenting,
subclasses 170+ for memory accessing and control memory
configuring and partitioning, per se, subclasses 200+ for
address formation, subclass 209 for addressing plural pages,
blocks, segments, etc.
Subclass:
206
Garbage collection:
This subclass is indented under subclass 205. Subject matter
further comprising means or steps for deallocating of
obsolete or unreferenced files and database objects, and
maintenance of associated directories or links.
(1) Note. This subclass is directed to reorganizing of
memory space, by deallocating unused, redundant, obsolete, or
unreferenced database and file information, in order to
increase the efficiency of memory space usage. The related
concepts of memory reclamation and disk defragmentation do
not take into account the interrelatedness of the database
and file information. However, techniques used in memory
reclamation and disk defragmentation may be relevant to the
subject matter in this subclass, and a concept search on
garbage collection should carefully consider related concepts
classified under memory accessing and control entry
replacement strategies and memory configuring.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
711, Electrical Computers and Digital Processing Systems -
Memory, subclasses 133-136 for cache entry replacement
strategies, subclasses 159 through 160 for memory accessing
and control entry replacement strategies, per se, and
subclasses 170+ for memory accessing and control memory
configuring and partitioning, per se.
Subclass:
500
DOCUMENT PROCESSING
This subclass is indented under the class definition.
Subject matter wherein humanly perceptible elements of
electronic information (i.e., text or graphics) are gathered,
associated, created, formatted, edited, prepared, or
otherwise processed in forming a unified collection of such
information storable as a distinct entity.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
358, Facsimile and Static Presentation Processing, subclass
403 for a document filing and retrieval system.
Subclass:
501
Hypermedia:
This subclass is indented under subclass 500. Subject matter
wherein the textual information includes embedded links or
format codes which direct process flow to alternate or
additional displays.
(1) Note. Processing of a document containing embedded links
which, when selected or processed, changes the display to
other portions of the same document or to other documents is
classified herein.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
1 for database accessing.
513 for structured documents containing a standardized
arrangement of content.
516 for compound documents containing elements having
different data types.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, subclass
302 for details of the synchronization of multiple different
media, and subclass 357 for details of navigation within a
structure when such interactivity is not within the context
of document processing.
Subclass:
502
Drawing:
This subclass is indented under subclass 500. Subject matter
wherein the textual information may include a s:graphic
presentation formatted as a drawing document, such as CAD and
CAM designs.
Subclass:
503
Spreadsheet:
This subclass is indented under subclass 500. Subject matter
wherein the textual information may include numerical
information and is formatted into a ledgerlike worksheet.
(1) Note. The processing of the informational content within
cells of a ledgerlike sheet is classified herein.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
509 for the layout of elements within cells in which the
content of the cell information is not processed.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
705, Data Processing - Financial, Business Practice,
Management, or Cost/Price Determination, 30 for this subject
matter in an accounting data processing system, and
subclasses 35+ for this subject matter in a financial data
processing system.
Subclass:
504
Cell format control:
This subclass is indented under subclass 503. Subject matter
wherein the format within each table entry is controlled.
Subclass:
505
Form:
This subclass is indented under subclass 500. Subject matter
wherein the information is inserted at a designated geometric
location within a document.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
3 for database query processing.
Subclass:
506
Form creation:
This subclass is indented under subclass 505. Subject matter
wherein the geometric location is specified.
Subclass:
507
Form filling:
This subclass is indented under subclass 505. Subject matter
wherein placing information in the location provided for such
information is performed.
Subclass:
508
Fitting data into fields on form:
This subclass is indented under subclass 507. Subject matter
wherein the textual information or the geometric location is
modified to meet the limitations of existing geometric
constraints of the fields.
Subclass:
509
Table:
This subclass is indented under subclass 500. Subject matter
wherein the textual information may include numerical
information and is formatted into a tabular format.
Subclass:
510
Ruled lines:
This subclass is indented under subclass 509. Subject matter
wherein straight linear curves are created to indicate rows
or columns in the tabular presentation.
(1) Note. The processing of lines for the division of cells
within a table is classified herein.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, subclass
443 for the generation of lines.
Subclass:
511
Version management:
This subclass is indented under subclass 500. Subject matter
wherein previous embodiments of documents are retained and
organized through the use of various display attributes for
the multiple embodiments.
(1) Note. Processing of multiple versions of one or more
documents through a plurality of display views or
simultaneous presentation is classified herein.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
200 for details of file management pertaining to multiple
versions of a document.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, subclasses
329-332, for operator interface aspects of groupware and
cooperative data processing.
395, Information Processing System Organization, subclass 712
for software code version management.
Subclass:
512
Annotation control:
This subclass is indented under subclass 500. Subject matter
wherein an optional or selectable limited display of textual
data related to data unconditionally displayed (e.g., memo
field display related to text) is performed.
Subclass:
513
Structured document (e.g., HTML, SGML, ODA, CDA):
This subclass is indented under subclass 500. Subject matter
wherein the document is created and processed according to a
standardized arrangement of interrelated hierarchical flow
and page layout (e.g., office document architecture (ODA),
content document architecture (CDA), standard generalized
markup language (SGML), hypertext markup language (HTML)).
(1) Note. The processing of a document according to a
standard which directs a receiving application as to the
layout of its content is classified herein.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, 419 for
the details of three-dimensional presentation processing for
a document containing virtual reality markup language
(VRML).
Subclass:
514
Hierarchical control:
This subclass is indented under subclass 500. Subject matter
wherein the textual information may vary in scope of context
and may contain or be contained by information of different
scope. That is, where textual information is divided into
sets, at least one of which contains a subset and where each
subset may in turn contain subsets, and where the data is
controlled by each set and subset.
Subclass:
515
Compound document:
This subclass is indented under subclass 514. Subject matter
wherein the document includes elements having different data
types.
(1) Note. The processing of a document containing multiple
types of elements is classified herein.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
513 for the processing of a structured document according to
a standardized arrangement which may contain multiple data
types.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, 419 for
the details of three-dimensional presentation processing for
a document containing virtual reality markup language
(VRML).
Subclass:
516
Matching application process to displayed data type:
This subclass is indented under subclass 515. Subject matter
wherein processes specific to elements of different data
formats within a common document are accessed and executed.
Subclass:
517
Layout:
This subclass is indented under subclass 500. Subject matter
wherein geometric positioning of elements within the document
is altered or specified.
Subclass:
518
Spacing control:
This subclass is indented under subclass 517. Subject matter
wherein a distance between elements within documents is
altered or specified.
Subclass:
519
Horizontal spacing:
This subclass is indented under subclass 518. Subject matter
wherein the distance between elements in the left and right
orientation (e.g., kerning) within documents is altered or
specified.
Subclass:
520
Area designation:
This subclass is indented under subclass 517. Subject matter
wherein a geometric subset of a presentation surface is
specified (e.g., frames).
Subclass:
521
Boundary processing:
This subclass is indented under subclass 517. Subject matter
wherein perimeters of geometric subsets of a presentation
surface within documents or document subsets (e.g., flow of
text, figures, column or page balancing) are specified,
modified or controlled.
(1) Note. The layout of elements around other elements
whose location has been prespecified (e.g., a method in which
a set of figures flow around a geometrically locked figure),
methods for flowing text around figures, or methods for
handling text across boundaries, such as line breaks or
column breaks, is classified herein.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
525 for the layout of elements on a particular page and
placement of page breaks in which the processing depends upon
the size of the output medium.
Subclass:
522
Format information in separate file:
This subclass is indented under subclass 517. Subject matter
wherein layout specifications are stored separately from the
data to which such specifications are applied.
Subclass:
523
Format transformation:
This subclass is indented under subclass 517. Subject matter
wherein layout specifications are modified automatically or
translated between specifications.
Subclass:
524
Detecting format code changes:
This subclass is indented under subclass 517. Subject matter
wherein a modification in a layout specification is
recognized.
Subclass:
525
Pagination:
This subclass is indented under subclass 517. Subject matter
wherein the document is divided into units (i.e., pages)
which are sized according to a display or print medium.
Subclass:
526
Display processing:
This subclass is indented under subclass 500. Subject matter
wherein the document is prepared for visual output.
(1) Note. Processing of a document to enhance the
visibility of particular elements through the addition of
various attributes is classified herein.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, 112 for
display attribute controllers.
Subclass:
527
Print preview:
This subclass is indented under subclass 526. Subject matter
wherein an image of data as interpreted by an output device
is displayed for operator approval prior to output on a hard
copy output device.
Subclass:
528
Color attribute:
This subclass is indented under subclass 526. Subject matter
wherein data specifying a color code is defined or modified.
Subclass:
529
Text attribute:
This subclass is indented under subclass 526. Subject matter
wherein data specifying a font text characteristic (e.g.,
italics, bold, underline, size, or highlighting) is defined
or modified.
Subclass:
530
Edit, composition, or storage control:
This subclass is indented under subclass 500. Subject matter
including means or steps for developing or changing a
document wherein one or more elements of a document (i.e.,
text, graphics, control, or format codes) are added, deleted,
or modified, or including means or steps for storing the
resultant altered document or the alterations.
Subclass:
531
Text:
This subclass is indented under subclass 530. Subject matter
wherein the editing, composition, or storage is peculiar to
the textual information (e.g., hyphenation or punctuation).
Subclass:
532
Dictionary:
This subclass is indented under subclass 531. Subject matter
including a memory means for storing a collection of words
related to a language.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
100 for database schema or data structure generation and
modification.
533 for spell check.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
704, Data Processing - Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics,
Language Translation, and Audio Compression/Decompression,
subclass 10 for dictionary building, modification, or
prioritization.
Subclass:
533
Spell check:
This subclass is indented under subclass 531. Subject matter
including a means for checking the spelling of a word.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
532 for dictionary.
Subclass:
534
Input of abbreviated word form:
This subclass is indented under subclass 531. Subject matter
wherein a group of preselected characters or a symbol (i.e.,
short form) is replaced by a whole word (i.e., long form).
Subclass:
535
Ideos:graphic generator:
This subclass is indented under subclass 531. Subject matter
wherein the construction of word, phrase, or sentence is in a
pictorial character form or a non-Roman phonetic symbol.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, subclass
467 for the generation of the font for the ideos:graphic
characters, and subclass 471 for display peripheral interface
input devices having foreign language capability.
Subclass:
536
Multilingual:
This subclass is indented under subclass 531. Subject matter
wherein the processing of the textual information is
performed in more than one language.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
704, Data Processing - Speech Signal Processing, Linguistics,
Language Translation, and Audio Compression/Decompression,
subclass 8 for national language support.
Subclass:
537
Footnoting:
This subclass is indented under subclass 531. Subject matter
wherein the elements include primary and related data (i.e.,
an explanation or comments) where related data is presented
at a position separate from but marked as related to primary
data.
Subclass:
538
Equation or formula processing:
This subclass is indented under subclass 531. Subject matter
wherein the elements or other formal code sequences include a
mathematical or formulaic expression.
Subclass:
539
Block control:
This subclass is indented under subclass 530. Subject matter
wherein a subset of elements in a document delineated by a
technique of marking such elements is edited.
Subclass:
540
Replacement of element:
This subclass is indented under subclass 530. Subject matter
wherein a selected element is replaced with another element
in the document.
Subclass:
541
Handwritten textual input:
This subclass is indented under subclass 530. Subject matter
wherein the textual information includes symbolic data
entered by manual transcription of such symbols.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, subclass
179 for stylus-type display peripheral interface input
devices.
382, Image Analysis, 119 for image analysis applications
using a signature, and subclasses 186 and 187 for pattern
recognition of handwritten characters.
Subclass:
542
Font selection:
This subclass is indented under subclass 500. Subject matter
wherein the features of a character set for a specified
collection of information are determined.
(1) Note. The automatic or user-specified selection of a
predefined font is classified herein.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS:
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface
Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, subclass
467 for the generation of fonts.
CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS
Subclass:
900
DOCUMENT STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS:
Subject matter comprising methods or apparatus for processing
data formatted for presentation in a unified collection of
such information (document) with special structural elements
that are not provided for elsewhere.
Subclass:
901
Active document:
Subject matter under art collection 900 wherein a document
contains elements or attributes which include scripts or
procedural instructions which are executed upon the document
or its environment.
Subclass:
902
Multilayer document:
Subject matter under art collection 900 wherein textual
information within documents contains multiple textual
elements in depth layers allowing for transparency, opacity,
and coloration based on intervening layers.
Subclass:
903
3-D spreadsheet:
Subject matter under art collection 900 wherein textual
information within spreadsheet documents is contained within
spreadsheets having the dimensions of depth, height, and
width.
Subclass:
904
Details of spreadsheet data records:
Subject matter under art collection 900 wherein textual
information within spreadsheet documents contain presentation
data specified at individual data record levels.
Subclass:
905
Spreadsheet cell protection:
Subject matter under art collection 900 wherein textual
information within spreadsheet documents is write-protected.
Subclass:
906
Creating one form from another:
Subject matter under art collection 900 wherein textual
information within a form specifies a new set of field
relationships based on an existing set of relationships.
Subclass:
907
Hierarchical document control with varying levels of detail:
Subject matter under art collection 900 wherein textual
information is presented in greater or lesser relative
amounts of data based on the level of precision (e.g.,
outlining).
Subclass:
908
Document format layout template:
Subject matter under art collection 900 wherein textual
information predefines the geometric positioning of text.
Subclass:
909
Document page collating:
Subject matter under art collection 900 wherein textual
information orders and numbers document pages.
Subclass:
910
Document presenting plural pages on a single sheet:
Subject matter under art collection 900 wherein textual
information presents multiple pages of information on a
single substrate which can be cut or folded to present each
page as a separate physical entity.
Subclass:
911
Document page description processing:
Subject matter under art collection 900 wherein textual
information presents the display of textual data based on the
interleaved data and instructions for display.
Information Products Division -- Contacts
Questions regarding this report should be directed to:
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Information Products Division
PK3- Suite 441
Washington, DC 20231
tel: (703) 306-2600
FAX: (703) 306-2737
email: oeip@uspto.gov
Last Modified: 6 October 2000