专利功能跨越度计量及其情报学意义——以城市治理领域专利为例

Measuring a Patent's Function Crossing Indicator and Its Meaning for Information Studies:A Case Study on the Patents in the Field of Urban Management in China

[目的/意义]一项专利的寿命直接反映着该项专利的技术生命力和市场价值。一项专利通常会被授予多个IPC号(国际专利分类号),由于IPC以功能为分类原则,文章将同一项专利的多个IPC号所表现出的功能差异性定义为功能跨越度,并研究了专利的功能跨越度与专利寿命之间的相关性。[方法/过程]以"城市治理"领域1993—2013年20年之间获得授权的中国发明专利为研究样本,发现了专利的功能跨越度与专利寿命之间存在显著的正相关关系。[结果/结论]文章以专利法的相关法理基础和专利审查过程的相关制度为依据,对所发现的正相关关系进行了解析和阐释,并认为通过计量专利的功能跨越度可以为预见专利寿命及专利价值提供情报学视野下的参考信号。

[ Purpose/significance ] A patent＇ s life time directly reflects the vitality of its corresponding technology and its mar- ket value. A patent is usually granted multiple IPC （international patent classification） numbers. Due to that IPC takes function as the classification principle, a patent having multiple IPC number means its diversity of functions. This paper defines the functional differences of IPC numbers of a patent as function crossing indicator, and studies the correlation between a patent＇ s life time and its function crossing indicator. [ Method/process ] Taking the patents in the field of ＂urban management＂ issued in China from 1993 to 2013 as the research samples, the paper finds that there is significant positive correlation between a patent＇ s life time and its func- tion crossing indicator. [ Result/conclusion] Based on the study about patent law and the relevant legal processes of patent applica- tion examination, the paper discusses the reasons of the positive correlation and provides the analysis and interpretation. Further- more, the paper suggests that measuring the function crossing indicator of a patent could give the signals for foreseeing the length of a patent＇ s life time and its vitality and market value.