IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL

Description

G06T encompasses digital image and video processing techniques applied to data acquired or created in visual form. This subclass covers fundamental computational methods for manipulating, analyzing, transforming, and synthesizing image data, including filtering, enhancement, compression, feature extraction, segmentation, and reconstruction. It addresses both the algorithmic and computational aspects of image handling across diverse domains such as medical imaging, remote sensing, computer vision, and multimedia applications. G06T excludes specialized applications of image processing that are classified in technology-specific sections (e.g., medical image analysis in A61B, document image processing in G06F), though the underlying computational techniques may be similar.

Filing statistics

CPC subclass G06T recorded 752,249 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 28,043 in 2013 to 100,367 in 2023 (+258%), peaking at 104,170 applications in 2022. 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