Annual Technical Report 2002 on Patent Information Activities submitted by Georgia (SCIT/ATR/PI/2002/GE)
Where URLs are requested below, it is preferred that either URLs which are likely to remain stable over time (three years or more) are provided, or home (main) page URLs are provided with a short explanation of how to access the corresponding information.
The term "patent" covers utility models and Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs). Offices which issue design patents should report their design patent information activities in their Annual Technical Reports on Industrial Design Information Activities.
I. Evolution of patent activities
As compared with last year, more applicants expressed their desire to file international applications in electronic format, using PCT-Easy software. Last year 3 international applications were filed by use of this software.
Experimental work was carried out for performing the tasks of the receiving department by means of a new system of database management - ORACLE.
The internal database of “Sakpatenti” is already prepared for providing the possibility of electronic filing of national applications. However, the legislative basis for receiving applications in electronic format is not available so far.
II. Matters concerning the generation, reproduction, distribution and use of primary and secondary sources of patent information
All the documentation to be published is forwarded through the local area network of “Sakpatenti” to the publication department, where they are formatted, after which they are transferred to the printing department. They are simultaneously published on the website.
Last year the publication of the Official Bulletin on the website began. The trilingual version of the bulletin - in English, Russian and Georgian, is available on the English version of the website, whereas the version published only in Georgian is put on the Georgian version of the website.
Along with the bulletin, publication of other editions on the website also commenced, e.g., the first issue of the new scientific-practical journal “Intellectual Property” is already published in PDF format.
The publication of bulletins on the website made it possible to announce promptly to the public the information published by “Sakpatenti” according to established procedures in official bulletins, which is to be read by the public during three months after the publication date.
All the bulletins are published on the website in MS Word format.
Publication of applications and full texts of issued patents on paper continues.
The trilingual version of bulletins are published also on CD-ROMs, copies of which are sent to various offices.
Different technical means are used for preparation and publication of patent information. Powerful Photocopying devices “XEROX” and printing apparatus “RHYSOGRAPH” are used to ensure publication on paper.
Materials to be published are first keyed-in and processed by MS Word software, after which they are converted and formatted by Pagemaker and Acrobat Distiller softwares.
III. Matters concerning abstracting, classifying, reclassifying and indexing of technical information contained in patent documents
Abstracts are prepared on examiners’ workstations, which are transferred via the local area network to the automation and publication departments. In the publication department they are translated into the Russian and the English languages and are put into the network database. All the documents prepared for publication in bulletins are classified using solely the patent classification.
All abstracts are accompanied by bibliographic data according to international codes, INID codes. All abstracts are retrievable by means of the internal database of the office.
IV. Search file establishment and upkeep
The office is equipped with a library, housing the entire national patent collection both on paper and CD-ROMs. On paper, full texts are represented both numerically and according to the international classification system. The collection is replenished monthly on the basis of materials transferred from the publication department.
As to foreign patent collections, the library keeps patent information published on paper, such as official bulletins, etc., also CD-ROMs and floppy disks. Foreign patent documentation now amounts to 6,000 CD-ROMs. The majority of them are produced by software MIMOSA technology.
V. Activities in the field of computerized and other mechanized search systems
This year the development of the internal database structure and program project interface has begun. Provision of software of the system was finalized. The automated system will be based on the database management system ORACLE Database Server, and ORACLE Jdeveloper, based on Java technology will be used to develop user packages.
At present the automated system is based on the database management system Paradox 4.5, and it functions in client-server mode. Three main servers are connected to the system:
- Primary domain Controller;
- File Server Paradox nt;
- Server for connection to external networks, which operates by WIN route 1.2.4.14 Software as Proxy.
Packages of information exchange and graphic information processing are being worked out. The textual part of patent documentation is presented in MS Word format.
We hope that the new upgraded system will be even more flexible to ensure the full automated procedural cycle from filing an application up to the issue of the necessary protective document. The new system will allow for the collection of all kinds of statistical information with relevant graphic design, etc. The implementation of the latter is planned by the use of relevant application programs, which are not at the disposal of the office yet.
A powerful local area network functions for the automated system of the office, including 102 workstations, with the speed of 100MB/sec. It is based on 12-port switch.
Network operating system WIN NT 4.0 is installed on the servers of the local area network.
Work is under way to provide an on-line thesaurus, which will be easy to run in the new automated system.
VI. Administration of the industrial property office library and services available to the public (relating to facilities, e.g., for lodging applications, for assisting clients on searching procedures, for obtaining official publications and registry extracts)
A computer which is available in the library is used to carry out searches by means of various carriers. Some of the collections are placed in a Juke-Box and they are accessible by the local area network.
At present, work is under way for recording MIMOSA technology CD-ROM databases on the server, which will make the search faster and more reliable; the necessary technical equipment for this purpose, however, namely, a server with a large memory, etc., is not available in the local area network yet.
It is also possible from the library to access external databases. For this purpose, from the library computer commercial databases, such as Delphion, STN, Questel Orbit, Micropat, can be accessed. Non-commercial databases, like Espace@net and others, are also searched. By means of reference and encyclopaedic literature kept in the library, various journals and patent bulletins, also computer databases, it is possible to carry out various types of searches in international collections.
VII. Matters concerning mutual exchange of patent documentation and information
In “Sakpatenti” intensive activities are under way for preparation of legal status data of applications and issued patents in machine-readable format, and sending them for entering in INPADOC database. It has been two years since “Sakpatenti” has started to submit information concerning the entering of PCT applications into the national phase, for INPADOC database. This information is prepared on the basis of the international agreement.
Other patent information, namely, priority documents and the like, is still prepared on paper for exchange, but it is planned to prepare them also in machine-readable format and store them in a special electronic archive.
VIII. Other relevant matters concerning education and training in, and promotion of, the use of patent information, including technical assistance to developing countries
“Sakpatenti” has relevant technical equipment for educational activities. In the training room there is a computer, together with a projection device and a projector for reading slides, and so on. Numerous seminars for “Sakpatenti” employees and international seminars have been organized successfully.
“Sakpatenti” is ready to obtain access to the international network WIPONET, although it is not yet equipped with the local network Firewall, which will satisfy completely the security requirements of the WIPONET.
IX. Other relevant matters
| 1. | Classification is allotting one or more classification symbols (e.g., IPC symbols) to a patent application, either before or during search and examination, which symbols are then published with the patent application. |
| 2. | Preclassification is allotting an initial broad classification symbol (e.g., IPC class or subclass, or administrative unit) to a patent application, using human or automated means for internal administrative purposes (e.g., routing an application to the appropriate examiner). Usually preclassification is applied by the administration of an office. |
| 3. | Reclassification is the reconsideration and usually the replacement of one or more previously allotted classification symbols to a patent document, following a revision and the entry into force of a new version of the Classification system (e.g., the IPC). The new symbols are available on patent databases. |