Transcript USPTO eFiling

The Future of Electronic Filing
at the
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Presented by:
William Stryjewski
eCommerce Division
SIRA, USPTO
June, 2005
1
Why eFiling?
FY2006 Goal:
10% of Patent Applications filed via EFS
Problem
•
The continued growth in
USPTO workload cannot be
effectively managed in the
current paper-based
environment.
Solution
•
Implementation of an
eGovernment strategy that
includes electronic
–
–
–
–
receipt,
processing,
reporting, and
Publication
21st Century Strategic Plan
2
History of eFiling
• EFS Pilot Program established in 1999
• ePave began receiving submissions in 1999
• Began receiving PASAT submissions in 2000
•
•
•
•
•
EFS Production Release occurred in October 2000
EFS gained two more submission types in 2001
Supported ability to file eIDS’s in May 2002
Annex F Compliant in January 2003
Pilot 11/02 ePhoenix (aka Image File Wrapper or
IFW)
• IFW in Production in July 2003
• ePAVE interface updated May 2004
• PASAT replaced with EFS-ABX August 2004
3
eFiling Today
• USPTO Supplied Software, EFS-ABX &
ePAVE allow Applicants to eFile:
– New Utility Patent Applications
– Provisional Patent Applications
– Pre-Grant Publications
– Electronic Assignments
– Information Disclosure Statements
– CRF Bio-Sequence Listings
4
EFS-Web
• Why Web? Why Now?
– USPTO Software and File Format unfamiliar and
difficult to work with
– Low eFiling volume
– e-Filing Forum Feedback
• Make it Simple
• Make it Safe
• Make it Happen
– Other Successful USPTO Web Initiatives
– Align with USPTO Future Initiatives
5
EFS-Web: Timeline
• September 2004 – First e-Filing Forum
• March 2005 – e-Filing Forum Returns to
Discuss Scope, Focus, & Direction
• May 25, 2005 – e-Filing Forum to new
audience
• July 21, 2005 – Docketing System Meeting
(tentative)
• Winter 2005 – Deploy Beta Version
• Spring 2006 – Deploy Production Version
6
EFS-Web: e-Filer
Experience
• EFS-Web Will Provide Choices and
Options to the e-Filer to Match Their
Business Processes and Environments
Multiple PDF
Creation Tools
Multiple Authoring
Tools
Multiple Browsers &
Operating Systems
7
EFS-Web: e-Filer
Authoring Experience
• Specifications,
Drawings, and Forms
May be Created With a
Variety of Commercially
Purchased Products, as
Well as With Freeware /
Shareware Available on
the Internet
• Your Software,
Your Format
User defined format
and content for
PDF File Creation
8
EFS-Web: e-Filer PDF
Creation Experience
• Preliminary USPTO
Standard:
– Licensed & Embedded
Fonts
– PDF Version X.X and
Higher Compatible
– No Password Encryption
– No Virus or Embedded
Code
– No Object Linking and
Embedding (OLE)
• Sound, Movies,
Executables
Any PDF
Authoring
Tool That Can
Conform to
USPTO
Defined PDF
Standard
USPTO PDF
Standard
9
EFS-Web: e-Filer
Browser Experience
• E-Filer Connects to
Internet Using Their
Existing Browser
– Simple
– Safe &
– Secure
•
Compatible With Multiple
Web Browsers
and Operating Systems
– Internet Explorer,
– Mozilla Firefox, Safari
– Mac, Windows,
UNINetscape,
EFS Web
Sign on
10
EFS-Web: e-Filer
Security Experience
• Low Level Security
= Simple SSL
Connection
• High Level Security
= USPTO Issued
PKI Certificate
Low Level Security
for Initial Filings
High Level Security
for Initial Filings and
Follow-on Papers
EFS Web
e-File
11
EFS-Web: e-Filer Web
Filing Experience
• EFS-Web Will
Provide an Intuitive
and User Friendly
Interface to
Facilitate the eFiling Experience
• Simple Steps Lead
to Successful eFiling
Sign On
Select Filing Type
Enter Basic Bibliographic
Data
Attach PDF Files/Forms
Pay Fees
e-File
Obtain e-Filing
Acknowledgement
Receipt
Private
PAIR
12
New Submission with Low
Level Sign-In
13
Enter Application Information
14
Attach and Review
Documents
15
Pay Fees Associate with
New Filing
16
Confirm and Submit
17
Acknowledgement Receipt
(New Application Filing)
18
Follow-On Submission
Using Digital Certificate
19
Review Application Information
and Attach Documents
20
Pay Fees Associated with
New Filing
21
Confirm and Submit
22
Save Submission
23
Acknowledgement Receipt
(Follow-On Submission)
24