Performance Goal 1: Optimize Patent Quality and Timeliness
Patent Quality
Quality improvement continues to drive many of the Patent organization’s
new initiatives. The Patent organization continues to improve the quality
of its products and services using in-depth reviews of work in progress
and enhanced end-process reviews to provide feedback to examiners on areas
for improvement, targeted training, and safeguards to ensure competencies.
The in-process compliance rate is the percentage of applications reviewed
during prosecution prior to allowance, with no errors. Allowance compliance
rate is the percentage of applications allowed by examiners with no errors
after being reviewed.
Measure: Patent Allowance Compliance Rate
| 2004 |
96.0% |
94.7% |
| 2005 |
96.0% |
95.4% |
| 2006 |
96.0% |
96.5% |
| 2007 |
96.0% |
96.5% |
|
|
Measure: Patent In-Process Examination Compliance Rate
| 2004 |
Baseline |
82.0% |
| 2005 |
84.0% |
86.2% |
| 2006 |
86.0% |
90.0% |
| 2007 |
90.0% |
92.2% |
|
|
Data Verification and Validation for Patent Allowance Compliance Rate
and Patent In-Process Examination Compliance Rate
Data Verification and Validation for Patent Allowance Compliance Rate
and Patent In-Process Examination Compliance Rate
| Data
source: |
Office
of Patent Quality Review Report |
| Frequency:
|
Daily
input, monthly reporting |
| Data
storage: |
Automated
systems, reports |
| Verification: |
Manual
reports and analysis |
| Data
Limitations: |
None |
Patent Pendency
The two primary measures of Patent organization processing time are:
(1) average first action pendency, which measures the average time in
months from filing until an examiner’s initial determination is
made of the patentability of an invention; and (2) average total pendency,
which measures the average time in months from filing until the application
is issued as a patent or abandoned by the applicant. The USPTO is implementing
strategies to reduce patent pendency and the backlog of applications awaiting
examination such as increased hiring, proposed rule changes, and process
changes. However, even with continued access to the funding required to
successfully execute these strategies, pendency will continue to rise
for a period of time, but not to the extent it would have if these actions
were not taken.
Measure: Patent Average First Action Pendency
| 2004 |
20.2 |
20.2 |
| 2005 |
21.3 |
21.1 |
| 2006 |
22.0 |
22.6 |
| 2007 |
23.7 |
25.3 |
|
|
Measure: Patent Average Total Pendency
| 2004 |
29.8 |
27.6 |
| 2005 |
31.0 |
29.1 |
| 2006 |
31.3 |
31.1 |
| 2007 |
33.0 |
31.9 |
|
|
Data Verification and Validation for Patent Average First Action Pendency
and Patent Average Total Pendency
Data Verification and Validation for Patent Average First Action Pendency
and Patent Average Total Pendency
| Data
source: |
PALM
system |
| Frequency:
|
Daily
input, monthly reporting |
| Data
storage: |
PALM,
automated systems, reports |
| Verification: |
Accuracy
of supporting data is controlled through internal program edits in
the PALM system. Final test for reasonableness is performed internally
by patent examiners, supervisors, and program management analysts |
| Data
Limitations: |
None |
Patent E-Filing and E-Management
The USPTO launched a Web-based tool (EFS-Web) in FY 2006, which allows
applicants to submit patent applications in a PDF. Acceptance of the new
tool is reflected in the significant increase in applications filed electronically.
The USPTO also created a fully electronic patent application management
process whereby all patent examiners, technical support staff, and adjunct
users can access an electronic image of all patent applications.
Measure: Patent Applications Filed Electronically
| 2004 |
2.0% |
1.5% |
| 2005 |
4.0% |
2.2% |
| 2006 |
10.0% |
14.2% |
| 2007 |
40.0% |
49.3% |
|
|
Measure: Patent Applications Managed Electronically
| 2004 |
70.0% |
88.0% |
| 2005 |
90.0% |
96.7% |
| 2006 |
99.0% |
99.9% |
| 2007 |
99.9% |
99.9% |
|
|
Data Verification and Validation for Patent Applications Filed Electronically
and Patent Applications Managed Electronically
Data Verification and Validation for Patent Applications Filed Electronically
and Patent Applications Managed Electronically
| Data
source: |
PALM
system |
| Frequency:
|
Daily
input, monthly reporting |
| Data
storage: |
PALM
and automated systems |
| Verification: |
Accuracy
of supporting data is controlled through internal program edits in
the PALM system and cross checks against other automated systems |
| Data
Limitations: |
None |
Patent Efficiency
Measures the relative cost-effectiveness of the entire patent examination
process over time, or the efficiency with which the organization applies
its resources to production.
Measure: Patent Efficiency
| 2004 |
$3,502 |
$3,556 |
| 2005 |
$4,122 |
$3,877 |
| 2006 |
$4,214 |
$3,798 |
| 2007 |
$4,253 |
$3,961 |
|
|
Data Verification and Validation for Patent Efficiency
| Data
source: |
PALM
system |
| Frequency:
|
Daily
input, quarterly reporting |
| Data
storage: |
PALM,
Data Warehouse, Activity Based Management (ABM) System |
| Verification: |
Accuracy
of supporting data is controlled through internal program edits in
PALM, Momentum, ABM System. Quality control review of data by ABC
System and Program Business Teams |
| Data
Limitations: |
None |
|
