The seventh edition of the IPC
The seventh edition of the IPC entered into force on 1 January 2000, after five years of work to revise the sixth edition. The IPC is now published as a 10-volume paper product, of over 1000 pages, and on the Internet, in each case in English and French, equally authentic versions. On CD-ROM, all editions are available in both English and French, as well as some recent editions in German, Russian and Spanish. Statistical data are provided on the numbers of classes, groups etc. of both classifying and indexing entries in the new edition. A survey of the main changes highlights, for example, the creation of two new classification classes, B81 and B82, covering micro- and nano-structures, devices and systems and the concentration of artificial intelligence material in classification subclass G06N. The restructuring of class F21 includes the abolition of some subclasses and the creation of new indexing subclasses, F21W and F21Y, for uses and applications of lighting devices and systems, and for forms of light sources. Indexing is now possible in nearly 14% of subclasses, but remains non-obligatory. Finally, the steps being taken to adapt the IPC and the revision process to the nature and speed of current technological changes are briefly outlined.
seventh edition ipc statistics future developments