Much Maligned PRPS to Phase Out Shortly

In the rush to develop an e-filing system in the months ahead of September 16, 2012, the USPTO deployed a serviceable e-filing system for AIA trial proceedings known as the Patent Review Processing System (PRPS).  While understandable given the time constraints to pull it together, PRPS was a bare bones system that left much to be desired.  Since then, PRPS has done its job, but, the agency has been developing a new, and improved system.  Halleluljah!

That new system is called Patent Trial and Appeal Board End to End (PTAB E2E).  PTAB E2E uses a web browser (Chrome is the preferred browser) and a step by step filing program to enable petitioners and patent owners to provide metadata and upload pdf documents to the system.  PTAB E2E also provides an interface to the USPTO Next Generation financial system (FPNG) for paying fees.

The target date to deploy PTAB E2E is July 9, 2016. Upon initial deployment, PTAB E2E will be used for Inter Partes Review (IPR), Covered Business Method Review (CBM), and Post Grant Review (PGR). Derivations (DER) will still be processed in PRPS until they are migrated into PTAB E2E later in 2016. During the initial deployment both PRPS and PTAB E2E will be unavailable beginning Saturday, July 9, 2016 at 12:01 AM until 5:00 AM, Monday, July 11, 2016.

I would suggest allocating additional time for uploads in the near term.

The new features of PTAB E2E include:

For all external users, with or without a login email address:
• full text document search
• metadata search
• additional search filters
For external users with a login email address:
• a dashboard that includes the most recent document upload activity and status of filed cases
• an improved docket
• easier navigation of AIA review papers and exhibits
• filter search on the docket

The PTAB E2E system link, a user manual, FAQ, and quick reference guides will be available on July 11, 2016 at http://www.uspto.gov/ptab in the upper right portion of the web page.  In the near future, an Application Programming Interface (API) will make PTAB trial data available for bulk data downloads.

Customer support will be available Monday-Friday from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM EST at 571-272-7822. Additional transition coverage will be available during the week of July 11th until 12:30 AM EST.