2012 patent filings rank Xerox among the world’s top innovators

Xerox received 1,215 U.S. patents in 2012, ranking the company as one of the world’s top innovators and fueling its drive to find new ways to simplify the way work gets done. 

The 2012 tally includes patents from Xerox and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including the Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), A Xerox Company. Xerox's joint venture in Japan, Fuji Xerox Co. Ltd., received 686 U.S. patents in 2012.  When combined, the Xerox group garnered 1,900 U.S. patents, which would have placed Xerox in the top 10 on the IFI Patent Intelligence list worldwide. This issuance is up almost 300 patents over last year – an increase of more than 17 percent. 

“Patents are an important measure of our continued investment in innovation but more importantly, it’s the people behind the patents who turn these inventions into powerful solutions for our clients,” said Sophie Vandebroek, Xerox chief technology officer and president of the Xerox Innovation Group. “We’re tapping into the creativity and customer-focus of our scientists and engineers to apply innovation in ways that not only advance our document technology but also simplify complex business processes through Xerox’s diverse services in industries such as healthcare, finance, customer care and transportation.” 

Recently issued patents in the services space include U.S. Patent 8,315,946, which describes the e-Childcare solution that enables Human Services agencies to subsidize child care services while reducing fraud, paperwork, and payment processing overhead to save taxpayer money. US Patent 8,234,237 describes a workflow management system that notes when data is missing from a scanned document, and returns the document to the workflow when the data is provided. U.S Patent 8,195,474 describes a system that scans the databases of a large number of print servers to create a profile of the customer’s needs, generating a list of the most useful marketing portals for the account. U.S. Patent 8,190,469 describes elements of the software that runs the PocketPEO^TM handheld parking citation device. 

Xerox’s prolific researchers have filed over 60,000 patents around the world since 1930. The company recently recognized 12 scientists for reaching personal patent milestones, which in total represent 1,550 patents over the past few years. In addition to the National Medal of Technology, the highest honor awarded by the President of the United States, Xerox has received a number of innovation awards including being named to Thomson Reuters' 2012 listing of the World's 100 Most Innovative Companies. 

Together, Xerox and Fuji Xerox invest about $1.5 billion annually in research, development and engineering.