China E-ventions
Selected Software-Related Invention Patents
Vol. 2 , No. 3 - March 8, 2002
Welcome to China E-ventions. Keeping up with technology is difficult enough, but learning about new trends in patent examination methods and policies in different countries is a monumental task. One area of keen interest these days involves a particular classification of patent that goes by many names: business method patent, Internet patent, software patent, and so on - in China, "software-related invention patents". To be clear, many of these names have distinct definitions in certain jurisdictions; however, their similarity has caused great confusion for international practitioners.
The purpose of this newsletter is to provide the foreign patent practitioner with China patent news as well as a regular snapshot of how China's State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) is approaching these kinds of inventions.
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Over 200,000 patent applications filled in 2001
Last year, there were 203,582 domestic and overseas patent applications filed in China, an annual increase of 19.3 percent, with 114, 252 patents authorized, up 8.5 percent.
According to the Bureau of Statistics of China, in 2001, 240,000 technology transfer contracts were signed, with a transactional value of RMB 80 billion (about US$ 10 billion). This is an increase of 23 percent from the previous year.
(Source: Xinhua News Agency)
Analysis of Domestic and International Patent Applications Filed in 2001
| Total | Invention | Utility Model | Design | |
| | Filing number | Per-centage | Filing number | Per-centage | Filing
number | Per-centage | Filing number | Per-centage | Total
Service
Non-service | 203586
96226
107360 | 100%
47.3%
52.7% | 63216
46640
16576 | 100%
73.8%
26.2% | 79723
22096
57627 | 100%
27.7%
72.3% | 60647
27490
33157 | 100%
45.3%
54.7% | Total
Service
Non-service | 165697
60063
105634 | 100/81.4
36.2%
63.8% | 29962
14774
15188 | 100/47.4
49.3%
50.7% | 79275
21802
57473 | 100/99.4
27.5%
72.5% | 56460
23487
32973 | 100/93.1
41.6%
58.4% | Total
Service
Non-service | 37889
36163
1726 | 100/18.6
95.4%
4.6% | 33254
31866
1388 | 100/52.6
95.8%
4.2% | 448
294
154 | 100/0.6
65.6%
34.4 | 4187
4003
184 | 100/6.9
95.6%
4.4% | |
(Statistics from State Intellectual Property Office of PRC)
Analysis of Patent Applications Filed by Foreign Countries
Country/Region | Accumulated number (1985-2001) | Year 2001 |
Total | 231456 | 37889 |
Japan | 76516 | 13736 |
USA | 61439 | 8994 |
Germany | 21722 | 3454 |
Korea | 13774 | 2498 |
France | 10136 | 1521 |
Switzerland | 7852 | 1020 |
Holland | 7494 | 1397 |
United Kindom | 7137 | 913 |
Sweden | 4433 | 967 |
Italy | 3651 | 495 |
Finland | 2423 | 475 |
Australia | 2234 | 308 |
Canada | 2022 | 308 |
Denmark | 1492 | 273 |
Austria | 1197 | 178 |
Belgium | 987 | 160 |
Russia | 802 | 43 |
Spanish | 568 | 95 |
Singapore | 410 | 84 |
Others | 5092 | 881 |
(Statistics from State Intellectual Property Office of PRC)
Anti-corruption Cards Granted Design Patent
Poker, a popular game in China, is being used as a weapon against rampant corruption, reported a recent edition of Beijing Youth Daily.
Produced by the Qiuxian County People's Procurate in north China's Hebei province, which obtained a special design patent granted by the State Intellectual Property Office, the pack of cards features attractive cartoon figures to highlight 52 types of white-collar crime.
The cards became popular soon after it was launched on the Chinese market last April. So far, a total of 30, 000 packs have been manufactured and orders from around the country keep coming in.
Li Weigang, a legal official with the procurate, said that the packs were sold at cost price because their intention was not to make profits but to raise people's legal awareness. Li said that the game has provided an overview of the range of corruption defined in laws, such as the misuse of authority, the embezzlement of public assets and obstructing the report of offenses. As each of the crimes is illustrated with a cartoon and a humorous caption, people can easily find out what constitutes an illegal or corrupt action as they go about their daily lifestyle.
"My understanding about graft used to be fuzzy. But now, the cards show that if you receive presents from people who ask for your help on jobs, your palms are greased and you can be sentenced," a secretary of the Mengjie village committee of the Chinese Communist Party in Qiuxian County said.
Hou Junshan, who designed all 52 cartoons, said that he had consulted a number of legal references and books because little is simple or a small thing when it comes to the law. "I'm trying to spread knowledge about complicated laws through simple and vivid cartoons. And I hope in this way people's will easily improve their legal knowledge," said Hou.
(Source: Xinhua News Agency)
A Selection of Software-related Invention Patents Published in China
Application Number: 00105953
Publication Number: 1270475
Application Date: 00.04.21
Publication Date: 00.10.18
Title: TV-based interactive supermedia information service method and system
Intl. Class. Nr.: H04N 7/173
Applicant(s)Name: Jiang Changhao
Inventor(s) Name: Jiang Changhao; Zhu Yuming
Legal Status: Publication
Abstract: A TV-based interactive supermedia information service method and system is disclosed. The interactive supermedia information relating to the program and the TV signals are broadcasted in real-time. Under user control, the device attached to the receiver of the user can display interactive prompt information. According to supermedia link information, further information and services can be obtained over the Internet. The quick reinquiry and automatic selection of TV programs can be realized according to program class codes. It can also be used for TV investigations, TV advertisements and TV auctions.
Application Number: 97116411
Publication Number: 1182313
Application Date: 97.09.10
Publication Date: 98.05.20
Title: Highly-efficient transmission method of quotations
Intl. Class. Nr.: H04B 7/26
Applicant(s)Name: Beijing Xikang Telecommunication Consultation Co., Ltd.
Inventor(s) Name: Zheng Zhi
Legal Status: Substantial Examination
Finishing result: Deemed withdrawn
Abstract: The invention includes the steps of: commodity sorting and establishing a database of commodity marks including commodity order number, code and name at the sending end; sending the said database to the receiving end; organizing changed quotations at sending end; sending the changed quotations in the code mode; regularly sending all quotation data to avoid missing information; and updating the data base in both the sending and receiving ends while increasing or deleting some quotations, This invention sends only the changed data, and thus reduces data transmission greatly and may be transmitted in real-time.
Application Number: 98109006
Publication Number: 1201202
Application Date: 98.05.14
Publication Date: 98.12.09
Title: Method for constructing electronic auction market
Intl. Class. Nr.: G06F 17/60
Applicant(s)Name: Liao Guangming
Inventor(s) Name: Liao Guangming; Yan Jun
Legal Status: Substantial Examination
Abstract: This invention is a method for creating an electronic auction market by using an international network. It is characterized by adopting computer communication technology, database management technology and network security technology, etc., and organically integrating a special network which includes a central database, exchanges at all places and user terminals for the auction. This method differs from a traditional auction mode, and possesses the advantages of high efficiency, various auction varieties and good auction results, etc..
Application Number: 98112271
Publication Number: 1213112
Application Date: 98.09.30
Publication Date: 99.04.07
Title: Multifunction commodity cipher anti-forging system and method
Intl. Class. Nr.: G06F 17/60
Applicant(s)Name: Sun Jiangong
Inventor(s) Name: Sun Jiangong
Legal Status: Publication
Abstract: A multifunctional anti-forgery system for commodities that encodes, stores and verifies commodity characteristics through the use of a telephone system set up in the factory. The encrypted number and price of the commodity are inputted into the system. Consumers can verify if the commodity is true by checking through the telephone. Said system may be a fully-automatic computer system or a mixed system of manual operations, mechanical operations and computers. The advantages of this invention are it can provide good after-sales service.
Application Number: 01104410
Publication Number: 1303067
Application Date: 01.02.23
Publication Date: 01.07.11
Title: Transaction method based on Internet
Intl. Class. Nr.: G06F 17/60; H04L 9/32
Applicant(s)Name: Tianzheng Science and Technology Development Co Ltd, Beijing Univ. Beijing
Inventor(s) Name: Zhang Ming
Legal Status: Publication
Abstract: A trade method of electronic data products based on the Internet integrates Internet resources with telecommunication network resources. The randomly generated user ID code is sent to the user via a telecommunication network. The money of ordered products is recorded and paid via the said network. Its advantages are high security, high level of convenience and flexibility.
Application Number: 00120914
Publication Number: 1280347
Application Date: 00.08.01
Publication Date: 01.01.17
Title: Credit card security system
Intl. Class. Nr.: G06K 19/073
Applicant(s)Name: Lin Xianyi
Inventor(s) Name: Lin Xianyi
Legal Status: Substantial Examination
Abstract: The credit card security system includes one setting subsystem, one electronic subsystem and one setting prescription, the setting subsystem is used to input the basic data of the applicant, the electronic subsystem is used to verify with the cellular phone the basic data according to a phonetic limit of money sum set by the bank, and the setting prescription allows one free phone number for dialing. This invention is used in the authorization of credit cards and is simple and reliable.
Application Number: 98113779
Publication Number: 1226715
Application Date: 98.02.20
Publication Date: 99.08.25
Title: Outdoor computer system for managing gas, electricity and water meters for suburban citizens
Intl. Class. Nr.: G06F 17/60
Applicant(s)Name: Shenghua Measuring and Cutting Implements Manufacturing Co., Shenyang City
Inventor(s) Name: Han Guoqiang; Lin Runquan; Fang Bofu City of Shenyang, Liaoning Province
Legal Status: Publication
Finishing result: Deemed withdrawn
Abstract: A micro-computerized management system for a civil wattmeter, water meter and gas meter is an improvement on the previous control device of said three meters. The data from the photo-electronic wattmeter sensor and the mechanical water sensor and gas meters is transmitted to a data acquisition unit, which then sends it via relay controller and modem to the microcomputer in a management center, where the data is stored in the database of each user whereupon a bill is sent out for the charging or inquiry. Its advantages are automatic measuring and convenient management.
Application Number: 99111170
Publication Number: 1282897
Application Date: 99.07.29
Publication Date: 01.02.07
Title: Intelligent phase-advancing power supply management system for computer
Intl. Class. Nr.: G06F 1/26; G06F 1/28; H02J 7/00
Applicant(s)Name: Chen Shujin
Inventor(s) Name: Hen Shujin
Legal Status: Substantial Examination
Abstract: An intelligent phase-advancing power supply management system for computer features a traditional intelligent battery set simplified into connect/disconnect battery set able to store and access information. Said battery set is composed of temp. sensor, display, memory and dedicated pinboard connector. Its peripherals include control unit, charge circuit, load circuit, bleeder circuit, current detector, temp controller and information bus. The information about the battery set can be read out, updated and recorded for user access.
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