In this section, the following term is used with the meaning indicated:
"variable" (as a noun) means a feature or property (e.g., a dimension, a physical condition such as temperature, a quality such as density or colour) which, in respect of a particular entity (e.g., an object, a quantity of a substance, a beam of light) and at a particular instant, is capable of being measured; the variable may change, so that its numerical expression may assume different values at different times, in different conditions or in individual cases, but may be constant in respect of a particular entity in certain conditions or for practical purposes (e.g., the length of a bar may be regarded as constant for many purposes).
Attention is drawn to the definitions of terms or expressions used, appearing in the notes of several of the classes in this section, in particular those of "measuring" in class Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01 and "control" and "regulation" in class Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G05.
Classification in this section may present more difficulty than in other sections, because the distinction between different fields of use rests to a considerable extent on differences in the intention of the user rather than on any constructional differences or differences in the manner of use, and because the subjects dealt with are often in effect systems or combinations, which have features or parts in common, rather than "things", which are readily distinguishable as a whole. For example, information (e.g., a set of figures) may be displayed for the purpose of education or advertising (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G09), for enabling the result of a measurement to be known (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01), for signalling the information to a distant point or for giving information which has been signalled from a distant point (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G08). The words used to describe the purpose depend on features that may be irrelevant to the form of the apparatus concerned, for example, such features as the desired effect on the person who sees the display, or whether the display is controlled from a remote point. Again, a device which responds to some change in a condition, e.g., in the pressure of a fluid, may be used, without modification of the device itself, to give information about the pressure (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01L) or about some other condition linked to the pressure (another subclass of class Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01, e.g., Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01K for temperature), to make a record of the pressure or of its occurrence (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G07C), to give an alarm (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G08B), or to control another apparatus (Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G05).
The classification scheme is intended to enable things of a similar nature (as indicated above) to be classified together. It is therefore particularly necessary for the real nature of any technical subject to be decided before it can be properly classified.
simulators which are concerned with the mathematics of computing the existing or anticipated conditions within the real device or system;
simulators which demonstrate, by means involving computing, the function of apparatus or of a system, if no provision exists elsewhere;
image data processing or generation.
This class does not cover:
control functions derived from simulators, in general, which are covered by class Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G05, although such functions may be covered by the subclass of this class for the device controlled;
measurement or analysis of an individual variable to serve as an input to a simulator, which is covered by class Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G01;
simulators regarded as teaching or training devices which is the case if they give perceptible sensations having a likeness to the sensations a student would experience in reality in response to actions taken by him. Such simulators are covered by class Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G09;
components of simulators, if identical with real devices or machines, which are covered by the relevant subclass for these devices or machines (and not by class Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G09).
In this class, the following terms or expressions are used with the meanings indicated:
"calculating or computing" includes, inter alia, operations on numerical values and on data expressed in numerical form. Of these terms "computing" is used throughout the class;
"computation" is derived from this interpretation of "computing". In the French language the term "calcul" will serve for either term;
"simulator" is a device which may use the same time scale as the real device or operate on an expanded or compressed time scale. In interpreting this term models of real devices to reduced or expanded scales are not regarded as simulators;
"record carrier" means a body, such as a cylinder, disc, card, tape, or wire, capable of permanently holding information, which can be read-off by a sensing element movable relative to the recorded information.
Attention is drawn to the Notes following the title of section G, especially as regards the definition of the term "variable".
DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTING PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTING PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR [8]
Group Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G06Q 90/00covers systems or methods that do not involve significant data processing, when both of the following conditions are fulfilled: [8]
the systems or methods cannot be classified elsewhere in the IPC, for example by applying the principles described in paragraph 96 of the Guide. [8]
When classifying such systems or methods in group Fulltext... Hierarchy... Expanded...G06Q 90/00, additional classification may be made in the most closely related group of this or any other subclass, if this classification gives information about the application of the systems or methods that could be of interest for search. Such non-obligatory classification must be given as "additional information". [8]
In this subclass, the first place priority rule is applied, i.e. at each hierarchical level, classification is made in the first appropriate place. [8]
P:10
G06Q 10/00
Administration, e.g. office automation or reservations; Management, e.g. resource or project management [8]
protocols or schemes which include procedures whereby a payment is made between a merchant, a bank, a user and sometimes a third party; the procedure usually includes verification and authentication of all parties involved. [8]
P:30
G06Q 30/00
Commerce, e.g. marketing, shopping, billing, auctions or e-commerce [8]
P:40
G06Q 40/00
Finance, e.g. banking, investment or tax processing; Insurance, e.g. risk analysis or pensions [8]
P:50
G06Q 50/00
Systems or methods specially adapted for a specific business sector, e.g. health care, utilities, tourism or legal services [8]
P:90
G06Q 90/00
Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes, not involving significant data processing [8]
P:100
G06Q 99/00
Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass [8]