国际专利分类法（IPC）是目前国际通用的一种管理和分类专利文献的方法。内容设置包括与发明创造有关的全部知识领域，共分8 个部，分类体系是由高至低依次排列的等级式结构。中药相关专利主要可依据药物的来源、治疗活性、化学成分、制剂工艺和用途等进行分类，主要分布于IPC分类的“A 部：人类生活必需”中的医学、保健部分和“C 部：化学；冶金”中的化学部分，以及食品、饮料和食品添加剂等相关的IPC 类下。

International Patent Classification (IPC) is a management and classification method of patent documents used internationally. The IPC is consisted of 8 sections, including inventions about knowledge in all areas. The classification system is arranged in a descending hierarchical structure. Traditional Chinese drug patents should be classified by the source of drugs, therapeutic activity, chemical composition, pharmaceutical technology, usage, and etc. There are many IPC sections, among which the traditional Chinese drug patents are distributed. The technology subject is about medicine, health care, chemistry, food, drink, food additives, and etc. The "Section A-Human Necessities" - "Health; Life-Saving; Amusement" - "A61-Medical or Veterinary Science; Hygiene" and "Section C - Chemistry; Metallurgy" are main classifications, which contain large number of patents on traditional Chinese drug.

国家中医药管理局中医药科学技术研究专项（2005KDA32405-44）：中医药语言系统研究，负责人：崔蒙。