INFORMATION OR COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES HAVING AN IMPACT ON OTHER TECHNOLOGY AREAS

Description

Y04 encompasses information and communication technologies (ICT) that have pervasive cross-sectional applications affecting multiple traditional technology fields. This class serves as a tagging mechanism for inventions combining ICT with other technical domains, such as smart grids, e-health systems, intelligent transportation, or IoT-enabled industrial processes. It captures technologies where the ICT component is integral to the innovation but the primary technical contribution spans multiple IPC sections. Y04 acts as a supplementary classification tool to facilitate retrieval of inventions at the intersection of digital transformation and established technical fields, complementing rather than replacing primary classifications in specific technology areas.