Granted Patents vs. Patent Application

Summarized from Patentlens.com:

At this point, the United States identifies granted (issued) patents with a seven-digit number followed by a B1 (patent not previously published) or a B2 (patent previously published), e.g., US 6,174,724 B1, The 'B1' and 'B2' are referred to as 'kind codes'.

Published U.S. Patent Applications are indicated with the year as a four-digit number and a publication number followed by an A1 (for the first publication), A2 (for republication) or A9 (corrected publication), e.g. US 2001/0002490 A1. This number is also referred to as the publication number on the USPTO PAIR (Patent Application Information Retrieval) web site.

In addition, there is also an application number In the U.S.  that is different than the publication number. This number is used to identify the case while it is pending with the USPTO. Application numbers consist of a two-digit 'series' number (usually 09, 10, or 11) that is separated from a six-digit number by a slash, e.g. 10/676,431.

Issued Patents in Europe are indicated with a seven-digit number followed by a B1, e.g. EP 0 458 846 B1. A 'B2' number indicates that the claims have been modified after grant.

Published European Patent Applications use the same numbering system but the number is followed by A1, A2, etc., e.g. EP 0 955 371 A1.

Snippets 2011-08-08

Computer: Virus online scanners for single files: VirusTotal. Checks a file against 30+ virus scanners. Useful, when you want to counter check the alert received by your local virus scanner. Alternatively, it is possible to check with individual scanners online: Avast Online (max. size 16MB) or Kaspersky (max. size 1MB)
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Medicine: Drugs.com:. Info on drugs and drug companies, including sales figures
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Music: Rapid Library: Search engine for downloadable MP3s
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Music: Spectrasonics: Virtual musiclal instruments. Synthesized sounds out of a computer. Cool. Has interview with and music by Lyle Mays
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Life: Wetterkontor.de: Weather in Germany, including historical data
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Music: Wolfgang's Vault: Concert recordings to stream.
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Patents: Patent Retriever: Full text PDF versions of patents
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Physics: The name electron for the negatively charged subatomic particle originates from the greek word 'electron', which means amber. Amber attracts small objects by electrostatic forces after being rubbed with fur
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Movies: La Vallee (1972). Written and directed by Barbet Schroeder (b. 1941) who also directed the movie 'More' (1969). With Bulle Ogier (Viviane). Four hippies on a journey in search of paradise in the Papua New Guinea bush. Sountrack by Pink Floyd, released as the album 'Obscured by Clouds'. Rating 7 out of 10
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Movies: Mal de Mer (2005). Short film with Bulle Ogier, Michel Piccoli. Retired couple meets two guys by the sea. Rating 7 out of 10
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Computers: FileDropper: Simple way to share/distribute files up to 5GB. No sign-up required. If the files are not downloaded even once within 30 days post upload they are removed
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Movies: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). w/ Kevin McCarthy (Dr. Miles J. Bennell), Dana Wynter (Becky Driscoll). Directed by Don Siegel (Dirty Harry). Doctor in a fight to prevent an alien race's attempt to secretly replace people by identical copies that lack emotions. Good pace. Seems somewhat dated today, but keeps the suspense up. Overall rating 7 out of 10.
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Aphorsims: Collection of quotes in the Liss-Kompendium (in German)
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