G06 COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
Classification Context
- Section:
- PHYSICS
- Class:
- 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
IPC G06 recorded 6,482,341 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 12 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 309,969 in 2013 to 902,154 in 2023 (+191%). The most active applicants in class G06 are SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY (66,669 applications), IBM (INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION) (62,313 applications) and MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING (41,918 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
In class comparison
G06 comprises 12 subclasses with filings; the largest is G06F with 46.1% of the class's 6,482,341 applications between 2013 and 2023.
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G06F, Electric Digital Data Processing | Electric Digital Data Processing | 2,990,091 | 46.1% |
| 2 | 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 | 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 | 1,187,966 | 18.3% |
| 3 | G06T, Image Data Processing or Generation, in General | Image Data Processing or Generation, in General | 689,851 | 10.6% |
| 4 | G06N, Computing Arrangements Based on Specific Computational Models | Computing Arrangements Based on Specific Computational Models | 613,242 | 9.5% |
| 5 | G06K, Graphical Data Reading; Presentation of Data; Record Carriers; Handling Record Carriers | Graphical Data Reading; Presentation of Data; Record Carriers; Handling Record Carriers | 601,580 | 9.3% |
| 6 | G06V, Image or Video Recognition or Understanding | Image or Video Recognition or Understanding | 380,096 | 5.9% |
| 7 | G06M, Counting Mechanisms; Counting of Objects Not Otherwise Provided for | Counting Mechanisms; Counting of Objects Not Otherwise Provided for | 11,112 | 0.2% |
| 8 | G06G, Analogue Computers | Analogue Computers | 5,173 | 0.1% |
| 9 | G06E, Optical Computing Devices | Optical Computing Devices | 1,661 | 0.0% |
| 10 | G06C, Digital Computers in Which All the Computation Is Effected Mechanically | Digital Computers in Which All the Computation Is Effected Mechanically | 1,283 | 0.0% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
12 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- G06C DIGITAL COMPUTERS IN WHICH ALL THE COMPUTATION IS EFFECTED MECHANICALLY
- G06D DIGITAL FLUID-PRESSURE COMPUTING DEVICES
- G06E OPTICAL COMPUTING DEVICES
- G06F ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06G ANALOGUE COMPUTERS
- G06J HYBRID COMPUTING ARRANGEMENTS
- G06K GRAPHICAL DATA READING; 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 66,669
- IBM (INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION) US 62,313
- MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING US 41,918
- GOOGLE US 32,969
- SGCC(STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA) 30,822
- INTEL CORPORATION US 30,010
- TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY 28,235
- HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY CN 26,079
- APPLE US 21,891
- HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY 20,505