tuesday, februray 3, 2004 1 patent e-commerce at the united states patent and trademark office...

Tuesday, Februray 3, 2004

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Patent E-commerce at the United States Patent and

Trademark Office

Presented by:

Edmund Crump, Mary Small and Bill Stryjewski

Search and Information Research Administration

USPTO

Tuesday, Februray 3, 2004

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Agenda

• Electronic Filing– Overview of the Software– EFS-ABX new authoring tool

• PAIR– Public & Private PAIR– Image File Wrapper access– Electronic Patent Reference

• Patent Electronic Business Center

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Electronic Filing System (EFS)

• EFS facilitates electronic authoring and secure submission of patent application documents to the USPTO via the Internet.

• EFS submission types– New Utility – Provisional – Electronic Information Disclosure Statement (eIDS)– Bio Sequence Listing– Pre Grant Publication – Multiple Assignments for patent properties

• Compliant with PCT Part 7, Annex F for electronic filing

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Electronic Filing Concepts

• Author Submission (paper output)

• Check for Compliance with Rules

• Compile and Package for Mailing

• Mail Package to USPTO

• USPTO Postcard Receipt

• Tagged Data (electronic output)

• Software Validates, Bundles, Compresses

• Internet Provider, Browser, SecuritySoftware, Electronic Signature

• Electronic Mailroom/Receipt

EFS applies Internet and e-commerce technologies to the existing patent practice

Patent Business Rules/Practices + Internet Technologies

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EFS – Customer Benefits

Reduces mailing fees and inconvenience. Flexibility and convenience when filing:

24 hours a day, 7 days a week From almost anywhere, over the Internet

Facilitate e-filing and accuracy for Pre-Grant Publication. Automatic validation of EFS submissions for completeness and

USPTO business rules. Immediate Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt:

No delay while waiting for Postcard. Use Application Number for same day paper filings.

Rapid assignment recordation and notification. Automatic paragraph and claim numbering facilitates future

amendments.

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EFS Software Overview

PASAT or EFS-ABX generates an XML file

of the specification (description, claims,

abstract and drawings)

ePAVESubmission Packet transmitted

to USPTO

Application XML Authoring Tool

ePAVE is a form Based Software

component and allows the attachment of the

application

ePAVE generates the submission

package and securely submits to

the USPTO

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ePAVEElectronic Package and Validation Engine

Tree view toNavigate through the submission

Form fill able Screens to captureSubmission information

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• ePAVE will automatically bundle, compress, wrap and securely transmit to the USPTO via the Internet.

• After successful receipt and verification at USPTO, an Acknowledgement Receipt is returned to the electronic filer.

ePAVEElectronic Package and Validation Engine

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Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt

Includes ApplicationNumber

ePAVEelectronic Packaging and Validation Engine

Identifies the Submission Type

EFS Server verifies the contents of the package upon receipt and gives a listing of all files included in the submission

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Electronic Submission Types and Processing

• Submission Types– New Utility and Provisional Applications

• Declaration/Power of Attorney

• electronic Information Disclosure Statement (eIDS)

• Text Files attachments (Bio Sequence Listings; Tables;

– Pre-Grant Publication (under 37 CFR 1.217, 1.219; and 1.221)

– CRF Bio sequence Submissions (37 CFR 1.821-1.825)

– Electronic Information Disclosure Statement (eIDS)

– Assignments

• Automated Processing

– Bibliographic data load into PALM/PAIR for New Utility and Provisional

– Fees (credit card & deposit account)

– Assignment Processing

– Soft Scanning of New Utility and Provisional Submissions to IFW

– Providing the Examiner a search string for referenced applications

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EFS-ABXElectronic Filing System Application Body in XML

• Currently in Beta Expecting a Spring 2004 release• Microsoft (MS) Word template

– Stable and easy to install– Use of all MS Word Functionality

• Numerous Work Flows– Allows users to share documents

• Simple interface• Exports MS Word Document to XML based on MS Word

Styles applied to the specification– Outputs embedded images & MSWord Objects to Annex F

standard (XML and Tiff)

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Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR)

New Features

February 2004

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Public PAIR – New Look

08999942

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Private PAIR – New Look

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Application Detail – New Look

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Application Detail – New Look

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Private PAIR with E-Patent Reference

• Launched December 1, 2003– View and Download cited US patent and published

application references:• Launch from Private PAIR “Display References” option

• Select from available reference forms (IDS, 892)

• Desktop, Java-based software

• Preview Front Page

• Select desired directory location

• Download in popular PDF format

• View in Adobe Acrobat Reader

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Private PAIR – Display References

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Launching E-Patent Reference

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Select a reference and click Preview

Download options

Reference List Adjusts to view longer reference lists

E-Patent Reference

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Preview Front Page

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Downloads in Progress

2 1

3

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View Downloaded Reference

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PAIR – New Features

• New design: available mid-February• E-Patent Reference: available now!

– Look for “Display References” search option

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Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC)

Provides access to electronic business applications for patent customers– Customer Number Registration Forms

• Required for PAIR and EFS

– Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Registration Forms• Security software to support electronic commerce• Required for PAIR and EFS

– Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR)• Access to application status and history via the internet

– Electronic Filing System (EFS)• Filing of patent applications via the internet

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Patent Electronic Business Center EBC Customer Support Center

Available To Our Customers 18 Hours Daily Monday - Friday

Hours of Operation:

Mondays – Fridays: 6 AM – Midnight (Eastern Time)

Contact Information:

Telephone: Local (703) 305-3028 Toll-Free 1 (866) 217-9197

E-Mail: EBC@uspto.gov

Facsimile: (703) 308-2840Address: U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Mail Stop EBC, Commissioner

for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450

Website: http://www.uspto.gov/ebc/index.html