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Updated: Jan 10, 2010 |
The Publication Number field encompasses both patent applications and granted patents because it references the number used when a document is published - without regard to the type of publication.
The Application Number field references the unique number assigned when an application is filed (as opposed to published). A published application will likely have an Application Number that differs from the Publication Number.
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Each patent-issuing authority defines number formats that it considers appropriate for tracking its own filings and publications. While all patent application and publication numbers are based on a consecutive series of numbers, sometimes the numeric series is restarted each year (annual series) or periodically (repeating series). A patent-issuing authority can also maintain parallel numeric series for different types of publications, such as one for published applications, and another for granted patents.
Different authorities may use different numbers of characters in their publication numbers. And authorities can change (normally increase) the number of characters used at any time.
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Delphion does some publication number normalization (manipulation) internally but some number manipulation must also be done by users in order to achieve optimum results from your research.
The Delphion minimum is 12-characters and publications under 12 characters in length need to be zero filled/padded to bring them up to the 12-character minimum. This rule applies to all records, regardless of the date of publication.
For publication numbers issued before 2010, there is a 12-character maximum and numbers exceeding 12 characters in length need to be compressed to bring them down to 12 characters.
For publication numbers issued beginning January 1, 2010, there is no 12-character maximum and no requirement to compress publication numbers. There is, however, still a 12-character minimum imposed.
The following table details the options and requirements for the number of characters to be used:
| Number type |
Accepted search format(s) |
Display format (result set, integrated view, etc.) |
Manual input format (for work file creation, order form, etc.) |
Data Export output format |
| Publication numbers with fewer than 12 characters (all years) |
- Native format (which has fewer than 12 characters)
- 12-character format (using leading zero-fill rules)
|
12-character format (using leading zero-fill rules) |
12-character format (using leading zero fill rules) |
Native format (which has fewer than 12 characters) |
| Publication numbers with 12 characters (all years) |
Native 12-character format (no manipulation required) |
Native 12-character format (no manipulation performed) |
Native 12-character format (no manipulation performed) |
Native 12-character format |
| Publication numbers with more than 12 characters (pre 2010) |
- Native format (which has more than 12 characters)
- 12-character format (using compression rules)
|
12-character format (using compression rules) |
12-character format (using compression rules) |
Native format (which has more than 12 characters) |
| Publication numbers with more than 12 characters (2010 and beyond) |
Native format (which has more than 12 characters) |
Native format (which has more than 12 characters) |
Native format (which has more than 12 characters) |
Native format (which has more than 12 characters) |
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The best way to search for a publication number is to use one of the search fields designed specifically for publication number searching. There are publication number-specific search fields on the Quick/Number form, the Advanced form, and the Boolean form. These publication number search fields are tolerant of the differences in patent number formats and so manipulation of the number (by the user) is generally not required (with the exception of removing spaces, commas, etc.).
You can also search for publication numbers (as number strings) in text search boxes (e.g., on the Quick/Number form, on the Advanced form) but, when searching for publication numbers as text strings, the system is unable to "help" with patent number format differences.
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The full publication number always starts with the 2-character country code and always ends with the 2-character kind code (or one or two underscores as placeholders for the kind code). See the Delphion Help Center list of kind codes.
The characters in the center can be thought of as the "core" of the publication number — they could include a year, a prefix, or a place of filing or city code. If the characters in hand plus the country and kind codes do not equal the 12-character minimum, then "leading zeroes" are added (to the numeric part) so that the full publication number is 12 characters.
- One or more of the first numerals used may be zeroes based on the collection (the EPA and EPB use this convention).
- In certain collections, initial numerals indicate the year the patent (or application) was granted (US Applications and PCT publications follow this convention).
- For US Granted patents, there may be a two-character prefix. See the Delphion Help Center explanation of US Granted prefixes.
- Some patenting authorities, IT (Italy) and Mexico (MX) for example, use a 1-2 character place of filing or city code.
- German Granted patents have a 2-character IP type indicator following the country code and prior to the year: DE202005010225U1 ("20" is the IP type).
- Leading zeroes may be added during processing when required to "normalize" the publication number to the 12-digit Delphion minimum. If leading zeroes are required and a prefix or city code is used, the leading zeroes are added after the prefix or city code and before the publication number digits. (See more about leading zeroes immediately following.)
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The following examples demonstrate the use of leading zeroes to build a publication number out to the 12-character Delphion minimum. In each of the examples, the publication number is first shown exactly as it appears in the source patent document.
When searching for patents by publication number, commas, spaces, and slashes should be omitted from your queries.
These examples are taken from the US Granted and EP Granted collections, but other collections also have publication numbers with fewer than 12 characters.
US Granted: US 6,258,784 B1
EP Granted: EP 0 611 368 B1
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For documents published prior to 2010 with publication numbers exceeding 12 characters, the publication numbers are reduced to 12 characters for internal processing in Delphion. (The best way to search for these numbers is to use one of the search fields designed specifically for publication number searching — these fields are tolerant of publication number format differences.)
When searching text fields (or manually entering publication numbers to create work files) for records published prior to 2010, you must compress the publication numbers (to 12 characters) using the rules shown following.
Please remember that this compression process is only necessary in the following situation: documents published prior to 2010 with publication numbers exceeding 12 characters, when you are searching via text fields (it is not necessary when searching via designated publication number search field).
| Collection* |
Characters in original format |
Compression rule / method |
Original number example |
Compressed number example |
| US Applications |
15 |
- Remove the middle two zeroes in the year (the first four characters)
- Remove the zero immediately following the year
|
US20020035272A1 |
US22035272A1 |
| PAJ (Patent Abstracts of Japan) |
14 |
Remove the middle two zeroes in the year (which is the first four characters) |
JP2001000859A2 |
JP21000859A2 |
| WIPO |
14 (beginning in 2003) |
Remove the middle two zeroes in the year (which is the first four characters) |
WO2009132364A2 |
WO29132364A2 |
| German Granted |
16 |
- Replace the 2-digit IP type indicator with the 1-character alpha equivalent
- Omit the first 3 characters of the year
|
DE602008000195C0 |
DEX8000195C0 |
| INPADOC / Mexico |
14 |
Remove the year (which follows the country code) |
MX2006PA10872A |
MXPA610872A |
*When searching for publication numbers in Derwent, these same rules and guidelines apply.
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The Publication Number search field on the Quick/Number form is shown following.
To search by publication number from the Quick/Number form,
- See the Publication Number area on the form.
- Select the issuing country/authority in the drop-down box.
- Enter the publication number in the entry box.
Note: Enter numerals and prefixes (when appropriate) only, do not enter the country code or the kind code.
- Click the Search button located directly next to the number entry box.
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The Publication Number search field on the Advanced form is shown following.
To search by publication number from the Advanced form,
- At the top of the form, select the collection you want to search.
- Scroll down to the Date & Code Fields section.
- Enter the full publication number in the Publication Number field.
NOTE: Enter the country code, any appropriate prefixes. The kind code is optional.
- Click any of the Search buttons on the form.
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The Pub Number and Pub Number only search fields on the Boolean form are shown following.
To search by publication number from the Boolean form,
- In the first All Fields selection box, select to search either Pub Number or Pub Number only.
- If using Pub Number, enter the full 12-digit publication number, including country code and any appropriate prefixes. The kind code is optional.
- If using Pub Number only, enter the publication number without the country code or the kind code, but do include any prefixes.
- Use the selection boxes to indicate the collection you want to search and whether you want front pages or full text. You can also use the date fields to better target your query.
- Click Search.
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