Data switching networks

Introduced: January 1990

Last revised: January 2006

Classification Context

Section:: ELECTRICITY
Class:: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
Subclass:: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION

Filing statistics

IPC H04L 12/00 belongs to the parent subclass H04L, which recorded 1,397,397 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 91,584 in 2013 to 136,803 in 2023 (+49%), peaking at 147,432 applications in 2022. The most active applicants in class H04 are QUALCOMM (97,396 applications), HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY (96,502 applications) and SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY (86,981 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Additional Content

Glossary

Circuit switching A system in which a communication path is physically permanent during the communication. Packet switching A system in which information is divided into discrete data units, characterised by a data payload and an address part known as a header part. The data units are able to travel over different communication paths to the destination. Message switching systems A system in which a message is sent into a network with the address of its destination added and it is routed to its destination through the network, e.g. electronic mail network systems. Hybrid switching Combinations of different switching systems (e.g. packet switching systems and circuit switching systems). Gateway gateways Arrangements for connecting between networks having different types of switching systems.

Limiting references

Interconnection of, or transfer of information or other signals between, memories, input/output devices or central processing units Interprocessor communication using networks

Related Keywords

DATA switching networkstelegraph EXCHANGESdata switching NETWORKSdata SWITCHING networks

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]
H04L 12/5 Circuit switching systems, i.e. systems in which the path is physically permanent during the communication
H04L 12/54 Store-and-forward switching systems
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

QUALCOMM US 97,396
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY CN 96,502
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 86,981
TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL) SE 55,869
HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY 55,349
LG ELECTRONICS KR 53,649
CANON 33,341
SONY CORPORATION JP 32,761
ZTE CORPORATION CN 32,274
GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION 28,327