Public Records Division/Public Information Services Division

Public Records Division/Public Information Services Division
Public User's Meeting
January 16, 2008
2:00 p.m. Jefferson Building Conference Center

The Public User's Meeting was held at 2:00 p.m. in the 1st floor conference room 1D70/1D80 of the Jefferson Building at 500 Dulany Street on the USPTO campus in Alexandria, Virginia. Martha Sneed, Manager of PISD, chaired the meeting. There were 5 members of the public in attendance.

Announcements

Modification of the lighting pattern on the 2nd floor of Public Search Facility will occur over the weekend January 26 & 27. Lighting will be turned off over workstations 228 through 281. There will be 7 consecutive rows with no overhead lighting.

Public Search Facility (PSF) Updates

The PSF will be closed January 21, 2008 for the MLK Day holiday.

  • Badge renewal is ongoing for the month.
  • Notification will be forthcoming concerning the paper classified plant patent documents being temporarily removed for the reclassification process.

UPWS Questions/Comments

Index of classification key word search box in EAST doesn't work. Also cannot access PAIR while remaining open in EAST. What can be done to fix the problem? Access is a security issue with the firewalls, etc.

When using more than one database at a time duplicate records come up. Is there a fix for that? It has been identified as a desirable feature, but there are currently no plans on when it might be fixed.

Art unit/classification information will not link to employee locator to identify examiners and supervisors. Can this be fixed? Suggestion provided to classification area.

Why is PAIR so buried on the Internet? It is not called out on the Site Index. This suggestion will be submitted, but a separate PAIR application is readily available on UPWS.

When using the new trademark application in the Trademark Search Facility that pulls status data from TRAM, a user is getting the error message Â"Bad GatewayÂ". Doug Salser advised the user to submit a problem report and include as much information as possible about the problem they are experiencing so that it can be researched and a fix implemented.

Public Records Updates

Microfilm reels are no longer being produced for assignment records. AHD in the Public Search Facility is the only source for this information that is kept current.

A lease has been signed for a building in Shirlington for the move from South Tower to new space. However, it is uncertain at this time whether Public Records Division will be moving to the new Shirlington location.

Some members of the public have a fact sheet handout given to them during a meeting in the FIU with some information concerning the move to Shirlington.

Will the public windows and the public boxes also be moved? Will the public have access to the PTO shuttle? Do not know yet. Information will be forthcoming.

Correction turnaround times for certification documents, are they treated like new orders? Why is the turnaround time for Selected Paper 25 days? Information for these questions is forth coming.

The meeting adjourned at 3:00pm. Next meeting is February 20, 2008 at 2:00 pm in the Jefferson Conference Center room 1D70/1D80.