Associate senior titles are the titles with "associate" corresponding to professors, researchers and chief physicians with senior titles, such as associate professors, associate researchers and deputy chief physicians. "Deputy High School" is also a senior professional title. There are junior, intermediate and senior titles.
Patent literally refers to exclusive rights and interests. The word "patent" comes from Latin "Litterae patentes", which means open letters or open documents. It is a certificate used by medieval monarchs to issue certain privileges, and later refers to the exclusive right certificate signed by the British king himself.