1 Hard Disk based Juke Box Retrieval System for PAJ Thanks to remarkable development of hard disk capacity on the computers, it is easily possible to copy a lot of CD-ROMs on a hard disk and to access the copied CD-ROM data very quickly, nowadays. Although the MIMOSA User’s Guide explains the method of copying CD-ROMs on hard disk to improve access and retrieval speed, we received some questions about this method. Therefore, we have tested this CD-ROM copying and building up method of hard disk based jukebox retrieval system. Japan Patent Office published 99 back-file PAJ CD-ROMs from 1976 to 1993 (IPC-based) and 6 foreign applicant’s version CD-ROMs from 1989 to 1997, and has been publishing front-file PAJ CD-ROM monthly since 1994. As a result, over 200 PAJ CD-ROMs have already been issued. Jukebox is known to be able to search a large number of CD-ROMs automatically, however, placing 200 CD-ROMs into a jukebox and conducting a search with 200 CD-ROMs takes considerable time. A practical approach to reduce search time 200 CD-ROMs is to develop Hard Disk based Juke-Box Retrieval System (hereinafter HDJB). HDJB HDJB is a jukebox-like system on a large capacity hard disk and provides a fast automated search function by utilizing the extremely-fast data access speed and data transfer speed of hard disk. We will introduce an experimental HDJB system we have built.

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1.1 Hardware configuration of prototype HDJB system CPU: Intel Pentium4 1.7GHz Memory: RDRAM 512MB Hard-disk drive: 40GB for system & 100GB for HDJB OS: Windows 2000 professional (English) MIMOSA: version 4.15 with MIMOSA update v4 (4.15).exe* * This patch program is available from EPO’s web site. Note: MIMOSA 4.1 has some printing problem for MIMOBatch and version 4.15 is provided on PAJ CD-ROM [MJPO0112]. ※ Please note that the the above hardware configuration far exceeds the minimum requirement (It (It is no minimum configuration). 1.2 Automated search procedure (Overview) The easiest way to create a query is to use MIMOSA. Create a query, as if you conduct a regular PAJ CD-ROM search, by using MIMOSA expert mask or other masks. (Query example: AB = “LIQUID” +=1W “CRYSTAL” AND AB = “BACKLIGHT” AND PA = “SHARP”)

1. Start MIMOSA and create a query.

2. Select “Save Query” from the File menu to save the query.

After creating a query, save it as a text format file (.txt). This text file is called “query file” and it can contain multiple queries.

3. Specify a folder to save the query file.

4. Specify the name of the file and save it as a text file.

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Start MIMOBatch (automated search software, installed with MIMOSA) and designate search-target PAJ CD-ROMs from jukebox tab. After specifying the search-target PAJ CD-ROMs, the next step is to load the query file to set the query criteria for automated search.

6. Specify the search-target PAJ CD-ROMs from the jukebox tab.

5. Specify the saved query file to load search queries .

7. Click the “Run batch search” button to start an automated search.

Click the “Run batch search” button and MIMOBatch conducts searches to each designated CD-ROM automatically, by executing the search query which is saved in the query file. When the automated search finishes, search result is displayed on the hit list.

9. The right window shows PAJ.

8. PAJs that matched the query criteria are listed from the designated CD-ROMs.

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1.3 The performance result of automated search test Some automated search tests have been conducted on the HDJB, built by coping 198 issues of PAJ CD-ROMs to the system with the hardware configuration of Step 1.1 above. We hope these performance results can be of help to evaluate the effectiveness and convenience of the HDJB. AB = “LIQUID” +=1W “CRYSTAL” AND AB = “BACKLIGHT” AND PA = “SHARP”

Search time: 57 seconds The number of hits: 48 hits AB = “COFFEE” AND AB = “IMPROVE?” AND ( AB = “TASTE?” OR “FLAVOR?” ) AND ( AB = “AROMA” OR “FRAGRANCE” ) AND ( AB = “ROAST?” OR “EXTRACT?” )

Search time: 1 minute 4 seconds The number of hits: 2 hits AB = “EXHAUST” +=1W “GAS” AND ( AB = “PURIFYING” OR “CLEANING” ) AND AB = “CATALYST” AND AB = “PLATINUM”

Search time: 1 minute 14 seconds The number of hits: 359 hits By using MIMOSA Query Manager, we edited Queries 1 to 3 above into a single query file and ran an automated search, where these 3 queries were run simultaneously. Q1: AB = “LIQUID” +=1W “CRYSTAL” AND AB = “BACKLIGHT” AND PA = “SHARP” Q2: AB = “COFFEE” AND AB = “IMPROVE?” AND ( AB = “TASTE?” OR “FLAVOR?” ) AND ( AB = “AROMA” OR “FRAGRANCE” ) AND ( AB = “ROAST?” OR “EXTRACT?” ) Q3: AB = “EXHAUST” +=1W “GAS” AND ( AB = “PURIFYING” OR “CLEANING” ) AND AB = “CATALYST” AND AB = “PLATINUM”

Search time: 1 minute 28 seconds The number of hits: 409 hits* * This value is equal to the sum of the hits of the Queries 1 to 3 above (48+2+359 = 409). 4

2 Hint on FI/F-term Search part 4 -How to find PAJ by registration number when search is executed under “examined application” pplication” priority display modeOn the FI/F-term search screen, you can select either “unexamined application” or “examined application” as the preferred display mode for the hit list. Each registered patent has been published in Publication of Unexamined Application and Gazette the Patent; thus, this function selects which document to display. You can select the preferred display, either “unexamined application” or “examined application”, for a hit list when registered patents are searched.

Patent application is opened to public after 18 months of the application date by issuing Publication of Unexamined Patent Applications. Thus, every patent application is disclosed to general public, regardless of its patent registration status. Patent Abstracts of Japan (PAJ) is an English translation of bibliography and abstract of this publication. When an application is registered as a patent, Gazette the Patent is published. Please note that because Publication of Unexamined Patent Applications has already been translated into English, Gazette the Patent is not translated into English. ＜Brief flow of patent application and patent gazettes＞ Patent Application

Examination

Registration applications)> No English translation

Publication (18 months after of the application) applications> Translated into PAJ

Rejection 5

Appeal

When conducting an FI/F-term search with “examined application” priority display mode, and when registration number is displayed in the hit list, Gazette the Patent is displayed in Japanese or automatically translated. As a result, even if a PAJ has been published for a patent application whose registration number is displayed, PAJ is not displayed in this situation because Gazette the Patent is not linked with PAJ. To display a PAJ by using a registration number, you need to use “Number Search” function in Searching PAJ of the IPDL. 227 documents hit when patent documents which were granted from 1990 were retrieved by F-term “4B027FB21.” Two F-term searches were conducted with the same search criteria but with different display modes. The result of “unexamined application” priority display is in left-hand side and result of “examined application” priority display is in right-hand side.

“Unexamined application” priority display mode.

“Examined application” priority display mode.

Click the 99th publication number (07-227502A) on the hit list.

Click the 99th registration number (3223058B) on the hit list.

A PAJ is displayed because the PAJ is linked with the publication number.

The registration number and a Japanese gazette is linked, and the computer translation of Japanese gazette is displayed.

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To display a PAJ by the registration number 3223058, use Number Search in Searching PAJ as follows:

2. Click “Number Search” button. 1. Click “Searching PAJ”

3. The Number Search window is displayed.

4. Select “Patent number.”

6. Click “Search” button.

7. The registration number 3223058 is converted into the publication number 07-227502

5. Enter the registration number 3223058.

8. Click the publication number 07-227502 on the hit list and PAJ is displayed.

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