G06 COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
Description
G06 encompasses apparatus and methods for computing, calculating, and counting functions across analog, digital, and hybrid systems. This class covers foundational computing technologies including mechanical calculators, electronic computers, data processing equipment, and specialized computing devices used for mathematical operations and numerical analysis. The classification includes both the physical hardware components and operational principles underlying computational systems, spanning from basic arithmetic devices to complex processing architectures. Adjacent classes address specific computing applications (such as G07 for checking/signaling devices and G11 for information storage), whereas G06 focuses on the core computing and calculation mechanisms themselves.
Filing statistics
CPC G06 recorded 6,114,321 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 12 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 264,006 in 2013 to 809,125 in 2023 (+206%), peaking at 809,898 applications in 2021. The most active applicants in class G06 are SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY (76,952 applications), IBM (INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION) (62,841 applications) and MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING (44,778 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
12 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- G06C DIGITAL COMPUTERS IN WHICH ALL THE COMPUTATION IS EFFECTED MECHANICALLY (score computers for card games A63F1/18)
- G06D DIGITAL FLUID-PRESSURE COMPUTING DEVICES
- G06E OPTICAL COMPUTING DEVICES (digital storage using optical elements G11C13/04)
- G06F ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06G ANALOGUE COMPUTERS (analogue optical computing devices G06E3/00)
- G06J HYBRID COMPUTING ARRANGEMENTS (optical hybrid computing devices G06E3/00)
- G06K GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06M COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06N COMPUTING ARRANGEMENTS BASED ON SPECIFIC COMPUTATIONAL MODELS
- G06Q INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06T IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL
- G06V IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 76,952
- IBM (INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION) US 62,841
- MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING US 44,778
- GOOGLE US 35,735
- INTEL CORPORATION US 32,087
- HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY CN 30,572
- TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY 25,023
- APPLE US 23,482
- SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) 22,548
- HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY 20,917