What is the difference between classification based on inventive concepts and claimed subject matter?
The classification of patent documents based on inventive concepts differs from classification based solely on claimed subject matter. According to MPEP 1302.10:
These symbols are based on the inventive concepts in the disclosure, rather than solely based on the claimed subject matter. As such, it is possible that an issue classification will include classification group/subgroup symbols that were not searched by the examiner.
This approach means that the classification considers the entire disclosure of the invention, including aspects that may not be explicitly claimed. This can result in a more comprehensive classification that captures the full scope of the inventive concepts, potentially including symbols for areas that the examiner did not initially search.
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