Office of Public Records/Office of Public Information Services
Public User’s Meeting
January 18, 2006
2:00 p.m. - Remsen Building Conference Center

The Public Users Meeting was held at 2:00 p.m. in the 1st floor conference room 1D04/1D14, Remsen Building on the USPTO campus in Alexandria, Virginia. Martha Sneed, PISD Manager, chaired the meeting. There were 3 members of the public in attendance and 8 USPTO staff.

Public Search Facilities (PSF)Updates

Universal Public Workstations (UPWS) :

Doug Salser gave an update on UPWS activities. The two enhancements in January, ICE and Derwent World Patents Index, deployed without incident.

Customers had comments or asked questions about specific UPWS applications. Answers in bold:

• Can one configure the details grid in PubEAST to include IPC? No, but it has been submitted to the EAST developers for consideration as a new requirement for a later release.
• The database default in EAST is USPAT; user preference is not saved by specific account ID. Preferences are saved in the workspace. The structure of UPWS does not permit saving database default to a USER ID.
• Printers are not responding correctly. The print out has a line of random characters across the top of the page. Under investigation.
• Workstation's "family data button" shows inactive on the screen and sometimes it doesn't appear at all. Will the button be activated? Under investigation.
• One customer noted that the single design code field had been disabled. This was done in an earlier release of X-Search and the new Total design code was substituted. There is a workaround, and PSF is preparing the information for distribution.
• PSF monitors are starting to burn out. User will send e-mail to identify which ones are going bad.
• Image quality in South Tower appears to be worse than in Alexandria, especially when using EAST. Under investigation.
• What is status of Global IP academy? Answer: It is still in the planning stages.

Other Updates:

Additional signage is being arranged for the PSF. Suggestions for signage may be forwarded to Diane Lewis.

Delayed opening and early closing notice was posted in the PSF.

Overflow of trademark registrations in South Tower is being addressed by a shift to empty drawers in February, and the start of microfilming of abandoned applications also expected to begin in February.

Trademarks are taking files ordered from warehouse to FIU for scanning. Can something be done about it? Will be discussed at the March FIU User Meeting, date to be announced. These meetings are now on a quarterly basis and held in South Tower on site in the FIU. The most recent was in December 2005.

Office of Public Records Update

There is nothing to report at this time.

Question: Is it possible for Patent application Power-to-Inspect requests to be accepted as PDF files allowing a move to online ordering?

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 3:00pm.

Next Meeting :

Please note there is a recent meeting room change. The February 15 Public User Meeting will be held in the Public Search Facilities Conference Room at the far back of the first floor near the Atrium (Madison East 1B25).

KEY: =online business system =fees =forms=help =laws/regulations =definition (glossary)

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