U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
Information Products Division
[Manual of Classification, Class Listing] [Manual of Classification, Class 707] [Classification Definitions, Class Listing] [USPTO Home Page]

U.S. Patent Classification System - Classification Definitions
as of June 30, 2000

[Explanation of Data]

Patents classified in a subclass may be accessed by either clicking on the subclass number
preceding each subclass definition or on the " [Patents] " icon, below.
( please note that patents for some subclasses may not be available )

For classification search strategies, please refer to the 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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

Cell format control:
This subclass is indented under subclass 503. Subject matter wherein the format within each table entry is controlled.

Subclass: 505 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

Form creation:
This subclass is indented under subclass 505. Subject matter wherein the geometric location is specified.

Subclass: 507 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

Layout:
This subclass is indented under subclass 500. Subject matter wherein geometric positioning of elements within the document is altered or specified.

Subclass: 518 [Patents]

Spacing control:
This subclass is indented under subclass 517. Subject matter wherein a distance between elements within documents is altered or specified.

Subclass: 519 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

Format transformation:
This subclass is indented under subclass 517. Subject matter wherein layout specifications are modified automatically or translated between specifications.

Subclass: 524 [Patents]

Detecting format code changes:
This subclass is indented under subclass 517. Subject matter wherein a modification in a layout specification is recognized.

Subclass: 525 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

Color attribute:
This subclass is indented under subclass 526. Subject matter wherein data specifying a color code is defined or modified.

Subclass: 529 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

Spreadsheet cell protection:
Subject matter under art collection 900 wherein textual information within spreadsheet documents is write-protected.

Subclass: 906 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

Document format layout template:
Subject matter under art collection 900 wherein textual information predefines the geometric positioning of text.

Subclass: 909 [Patents]

Document page collating:
Subject matter under art collection 900 wherein textual information orders and numbers document pages.

Subclass: 910 [Patents]

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 [Patents]

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


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Last Modified: 6 October 2000