Modernization of USPTO filing and retrieval systems

Modernizing – two pronged approach

• Update EFS-Web and PAIR– Technological limitations on what can be

improved

• Patent Center– Entirely new system that will replace EFS-Web,

Private PAIR, and Public PAIR3

Modernizing – key considerations

• Ensure stability and support• Provide a unified and intuitive interface• Improve user convenience• Prepare and integrate data with other

USPTO systems

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Single sign-on

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USPTO.GOV account

Private PAIR

(anyone)

Patent Center

(limited)

EFS-Web (anyone)

Single sign-on for EFS-Web, PAIR and Patent Center• Integration with USPTO.GOV

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Request two-step authentication

• Integrated sign-on with 2FA

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Authentication code

• Integrated sign-on with 2FA

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Note: By selecting the checkbox that “this is a computer that I trust and use regularly,” the second step authentication will be valid for 24 hours after the initial sign-in. If you are logged out after 30 minutes of inactivity, you will only need to use your first factor, email and password, to authenticate back into EFS-Web and PAIR.

Legacy system (EFS-Web) improvements

Improvements to EFS-Web

• One user, one account authentication with 2FA– NIST Standard Security

• Web ADS forms– Convenient creation/editing of ADS forms in browser

• Integration with USPTO.gov• Single sign-on• Acceptance of SPEC, CLM, and ABST as DOCX file10

DOCX: A smarter way to file

DOCX – feedback document

• Pinpoints warnings/errors in the document• Reduces examination delays

– Warns for possible examination informalities– Allows editing of documents prior to submission

• Confidential– Only for pre-submission, and not included in the

file wrapper

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DOCX – feedback document overview

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Improvements to EFS-Web - DOCX

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Improvements in Private PAIR – retrieve PDF/XML/DOCX

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Patent Center overview

Patent Center• Patent Center is the next generation system that will replace EFS-Web

and PAIR for filing and managing patent applications.

• Patent Center features a unified, user-friendly interface and will eventually incorporate all the capabilities of EFS-Web, PAIR, and much more.

Late 2019–Early 2020Patent Center beta release• System: Next GenLimited beta: • participants external (via

registration)• Invitee-only training sessionsOpen beta:• Anyone may join the beta• Open training sessions

Mid-2020Continued refinement of Patent Center beta• Gather and review external

input from stakeholders• Continue to add functionalities

found in EFS-Web, Public PAIR, and Private PAIR

• Continue to improve back end systems integration

• Begin incorporating additional features based on user feedback and stakeholder interests

2020-2021Patent Center open to public• Continue support of Patent

Center beta and EFS-Web, Public PAIR, and Private PAIR

• Refine previous features• Finish incorporating

functionality found in EFS-Web, Public PAIR, and Private PAIR

• Start to prepare for the decommission of EFS-Web, Public PAIR, and Private PAIR

2021+Decommission EFS-Web, Public PAIR, and Private PAIR• Decommission EFS-Web,

Public PAIR, and Private PAIR• Continue to add new

functionality based on user feedback

Patent Center overview

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New and unified system to replace EFS-Web and PAIR

•Features single interface for filing and managing patent applications

Single interface

•Integrates recent technology•Allows for enhanced system operations•Enables increased functionality

Recent technology

•Use your USPTO.gov account•Role-based access•Practitioner•Support staff•Independent inventor•Guest user

Authentication

Patent Center overview

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DOCX/XML features including multi-section DOCX

Upload multiple documents at a time

Drag and drop for document upload

Intuitive document codes/descriptions

New look and feel (user interface)

Save submissions at any time

Authentication

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Registered user Guest user Warning message

Retrieval highlights• Single search bar for retrieving multiple application types• New filters to minimize applications/submissions displayed• Customizable views with the ability to add and remove columns • First action prediction information and letter • Modify single or multiple attorney docket numbers • New workbench

– Download XML from all pages or a single page– Preview and download outgoing correspondence

• Customer number management– Ability to create and/or update a customer number– Ability to view saved and completed requests

• Create new customer number– Display which attorneys are not enrolled in Patent Center– Independent inventors can now create a new customer number

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Patent Center dashboard

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Patent Center – intuitive application viewer

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Patent Center – workbench

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Patent Center – workbench filters

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Patent Center – correspondence filters

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Patent Center – customer number management

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Patent Center – sponsorship management

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Filing highlights

• Web-ADS or upload fillable form (AIA 14)• Entered fee attributes, such as filing type and entity status, will determine

the fees to be listed (unavailable fees will not be displayed)• Ability to calculate and pay fees for extension of time for an application • Multiple documents may be uploaded at once• Saved submissions will now be stored for 14 days (an increase from the

previous seven days in EFS-Web)• Submission receipt and payment receipt• Automated document code assignment is more accurate

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Filing types availablePatent Center is able to support/accept the new applications types listed below and their corresponding follow-on submissions at this time.

• Utility

– Nonprovisional (also in DOCX)

– Provisional (also in DOCX)

– U.S. National Stage filed under 35 USC 371 (also in DOCX)

• Design

– Nonprovisional

• International

– International PCT application

• Patent initiatives

– Track One prioritized examination

– Accelerated examination – utility

– Accelerated examination – design

• Reissue

– Request for reissue

• Reexam

– Request for reexam – by patent owner

– Request for reexam – by third party

• Follow-on document types

– Document/fees for an existing application**

– eTerminal disclaimer

– Web 85b – issue fee transmittal

– Petitions:

• Petition to make special based on age

• Petition to withdraw from issue after payment of the issue fee (37 CFR 1.313(c)(1) or (2))

• Petition to withdraw from Issue after Payment of the Issue Fee (37 CFR 1.313(c)(1) or (2)) with Assigned Patent Number)

• Request for withdrawal as Attorney or Agent of Record

• *Some submissions types can only be filed by practitioners.

• **Do not attempt to submit a follow-on submissions for unsupported filing types.

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Patent Center – submissions available

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Patent Center – petitions

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Patent Center – petition generation

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Patent Center – petition grant letter

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Patent Center – petition review

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Pay fees via financial manager

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DOCX highlights

• DOCX is available for utility non-provisional, provisional, and U.S. national stage filed under 35 USC 371• Multi-section documents (specification, claims, and abstract on one single document) are now available• Automatic page numbering• Paragraph numbering is required for specification• Feedback document will show independent and dependent claim count• Improved validation of claims

– Improper claim dependency

– Missing claim numbering

– Duplicate claim numbering

– Claim must end in a period

– Claim must begin with a capital letter

– Claim must not contain more than one sentence

• Detect independent and dependent claim counts• Automatic English detection

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Filing DOCX in Patent Center

Filing – drag and drop

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Filing DOCX – viewing documents

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DOCX – multiple section documents

• Detects and splits specification, claims, abstract found in a single file

• Renumbers pages after splitting if no numbers present

• Automatically assigns DOC codes

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DOCX – multiple section document detection

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Application sections detected

Filing DOCX – multi-section split documents and XML retrieval

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Getting Help

• Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC) – Phone: 1-866-217-9197– Email: ebc@uspto.gov

• More information– Sign up for Patent alerts at

www.uspto.gov/subscribe

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Questions

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