Line graph with 1 line and 41 points.

X scale titled Scale label.
Y scale titled Scale label.
Line 1, Item 1.
Point 1, 10/20/2015 is 3054.
Point 2, 10/27/2015 is 3206.
Point 3, 11/3/2015 is 3217.
Point 4, 11/10/2015 is 3321.
Point 5, 11/17/2015 is 3319.
Point 6, 11/24/2015 is 3443.
Point 7, 12/1/2015 is 3481.
Point 8, 12/8/2015 is 3552.
Point 9, 12/15/2015 is 3581.
Point 10, 12/22/2015 is 3618.
Point 11, 12/29/2015 is 3600.
Point 12, 1/5/2016 is 3728.
Point 13, 1/12/2016 is 3728.
Point 14, 1/19/2016 is 3811.
Point 15, 1/26/2016 is 3777.
Point 16, 2/2/2016 is 4002.
Point 17, 2/9/2016 is 4007.
Point 18, 2/16/2016 is 4035.
Point 19, 2/23/2016 is 3973.
Point 20, 3/1/2016 is 3973.
Point 21, 3/8/2016 is 3404.
Point 22, 3/15/2016 is 3338.
Point 23, 3/22/2016 is 3091.
Point 24, 3/29/2016 is 2960.
Point 25, 4/5/2016 is 2766.
Point 26, 4/12/2016 is 2838.
Point 27, 4/19/2016 is 2604.
Point 28, 4/26/2016 is 2486.
Point 29, 5/3/2016 is 2350.
Point 30, 5/10/2016 is 2376.
Point 31, 5/17/2016 is 2237.
Point 32, 5/24/2016 is 2241.
Point 33, 5/31/2016 is 2150.
Point 34, 6/7/2016 is 2004.
Point 35, 6/14/2016 is 1697.
Point 36, 6/21/2016 is 1680.
Point 37, 6/28/2016 is 1475.
Point 38, 7/5/2016 is 1452.
Point 39, 7/12/2016 is 1315.
Point 40, 7/19/2016 is 1171.
Point 41, 7/26/2016 is 1107.

Due to the popularity of the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Program, the Office has been receiving a growing number of PPH requests. Consequently, the backlog of undecided PPH requests and the average processing times for deciding these requests have been increasing. Responsive to the increasing PPH backlog, the Office of Petitions (OPET), which decides these requests, has taken several measures to reduce the backlog and to ensure prompt decisions will be made in pending and future PPH requests. Specifically, OPET took steps to better align existing resources with workload, and leveraged additional resources such as temporary promotion positions and career development details. The impact of these measures on the PPH backlog is shown in the above graph. As shown in the graph, OPET has reduced the PPH backlog by over 70% within the past six months. As a result of these efforts, an applicant who files a PPH request today can expect to receive a decision within three months. Over the coming months, OPET expects the PPH backlog, and corresponding processing times, to continue to decrease, with an ultimate processing time goal of two months from filing the PPH request to a decision on the request.

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CRU, Label: For additional information regarding PPH, please click here., Detail for CRU

July 2016

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shape, Label: