Tuesday, Februray 3, 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, 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

Tuesday, Februray 3, 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

Tuesday, Februray 3, Electronic Filing Concepts Author Submission (paper output) Check for Compliance with RulesCompile and Package for Mailing Mail Package to USPTO USPTO Postcard Receipt Tagged Data (electronic output) Software Validates, Bundles, Compresses Internet Provider, Browser, Security Software, Electronic Signature Electronic Mailroom/Receipt EFS applies Internet and e-commerce technologies to the existing patent practice Patent Business Rules/Practices + Internet Technologies

Tuesday, Februray 3, 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.

Tuesday, Februray 3, EFS Software Overview PASAT or EFS-ABX generates an XML file of the specification (description, claims, abstract and drawings) ePAVE Submission 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

Tuesday, Februray 3, ePAVE Electronic Package and Validation Engine Tree view to Navigate through the submission Form fill able Screens to capture Submission information

Tuesday, Februray 3, 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. ePAVE Electronic Package and Validation Engine

Tuesday, Februray 3, Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt Includes Application Number ePAVE electronic 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

Tuesday, Februray 3, 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 ) –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

Tuesday, Februray 3, EFS-ABX Electronic 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)

Tuesday, Februray 3, Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) New Features February 2004

Tuesday, Februray 3, Public PAIR – New Look

Tuesday, Februray 3, Private PAIR – New Look

Tuesday, Februray 3, Application Detail – New Look

Tuesday, Februray 3, Application Detail – New Look

Tuesday, Februray 3, 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

Tuesday, Februray 3, Private PAIR – Display References

Tuesday, Februray 3, Launching E-Patent Reference

Tuesday, Februray 3, Select a reference and click Preview Download options Reference List Adjusts to view longer reference lists E-Patent Reference

Tuesday, Februray 3, Preview Front Page

Tuesday, Februray 3, Downloads in Progress 21 3

Tuesday, Februray 3, View Downloaded Reference

Tuesday, Februray 3, PAIR – New Features New design: available mid-February E-Patent Reference: available now! –Look for “Display References” search option

Tuesday, Februray 3, 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

Tuesday, Februray 3, 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) Toll-Free 1 (866) Facsimile: (703) Address:U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Mail Stop EBC, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA Website: