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Updates on Modernizing the Electronic Patent
Application Process
Guest Blog by Commissioner
for Patents Drew Hirshfeld
Launched in 2015,
the eCommerce Modernization (eMod) Project aims to improve the electronic application
process for patent applicants by modernizing the USPTO’s filing and viewing
systems. Our goals with eMod are to streamline and enhance our systems for an
easier, faster, and improved user experience. An important milestone for eMod will
be the upcoming replacement of EFS-Web and PAIR, called Patent Center, which we
are implementing in phases.
Recent
improvements leading up to the rollout of Patent Center have included
modernizing our authentication process and implementing structured text
functionalities. With Patent Center, additional users from the same firm will
be able to have their own accounts and access shared information. Structured
text allows applicants to more easily submit their documents in text-based
documents, rather than having to create PDF documents. This streamlines the application
and publication processes for the applicants, examiners, and the USPTO. We
tested the capabilities of structured text within EFS-Web and PAIR with our
eMod Text Pilot Program, implemented from August 2016 until September 2017. The
pilot was successful and many improvements were made based on user feedback
from applicants, which include independent inventors, law firms, and
corporations. Structured text features are now
available to all EFS-Web
Registered and Private PAIR users, and include the ability for
applicants to file structured text via EFS-Web, and access structured text
submissions, structured text office actions, and XML downloads via Private
PAIR. Additional information can be
found in the associated DOCX Intake, and Access and Download DOCX guides.
Our next milestone will be the Patent Center beta release in
early 2018. Patent Center is the new and unified system in development to replace
the EFS-Web and PAIR systems. The
next generation system will be more user friendly and allows applicants to file
and view their patent applications in one central location. New features will
include the ability to upload multiple documents at a time, drag-and-drop
documents, and save submissions at any time. During the testing or beta
phase, Patent Center will be available to participants for live filing and
managing of patent applications. This beta phase will be a great opportunity to
start the transition to using the new tool and provide feedback for
improvements towards further development. If you would like to join the beta
phase, guidelines and registration will be posted to the eMod page of the USPTO website, under eMod Programs as the release date approaches.
The eMod project team will continue developing and enhancing
Patent Center based on public feedback, and anticipate the completed product to
be ready to replace EFS-Web and PAIR in 2019. There will be a transition period
while EFS-Web and PAIR are available in parallel with Patent Center.
If you have any
feedback, we encourage you to contribute via eMod Ideascale by sharing, voting, and/or commenting on
ideas. For more information, please visit our eMod page of the USPTO website or attend one of our outreach events. You can also contact us directly at eMod@uspto.gov.
We will continue
to share updates and work with you on eMod to make our patent application
process as effective, efficient, and user friendly as possible.
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