CPC Main Group
H04L 12/00 Data switching networks (interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units G06F13/00)
Filing statistics
CPC H04L 12/00 belongs to the parent subclass H04L, which recorded 1,567,994 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 97,627 in 2013 to 139,810 in 2023 (+43%), peaking at 168,964 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class H04 are HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY (101,476 applications), QUALCOMM (101,139 applications) and SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY (96,655 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
6 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- H04L 12/02 Details
- H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] (wireless communication networks H04W )
- H04L 12/50 Circuit switching systems, i.e. systems in which the path is physically permanent during the communication
- H04L 12/54 Store-and-forward switching systems (packet switching systems H04L45/00, H04L47/00)
- H04L 12/64 Hybrid switching systems
- H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class H04, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY CN 101,476
- QUALCOMM US 101,139
- SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 96,655
- TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL) SE 57,744
- LG ELECTRONICS KR 55,253
- HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY 54,181
- SONY CORPORATION JP 35,309
- ZTE CORPORATION CN 32,950
- INTEL CORPORATION US 27,533
- GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION CN 27,498