6.2.1 Procedural Outline - International Type Search

Also in this Chapter:​​​​​​​

• 6.2.2 Introduction - International Type Searching

• 6.2.3 Classification and Search Indication

• 6.2.4 Unity of Invention

• 6.2.5 Subjects to be Excluded from the Search

• 6.2.6 Obscurities, Inconsistencies or Contradictions

• 6.2.7 Abstract and Title

• 6.2.8 Search Report

• 6.2.9 Completing Search Report and Opinion Form

• 6.2.10 Annexes

Related Chapters:

• 4.4.1 Three Person Team (3PT)

• 6.2.10 Annex D – Extracting publication numbers from EPOQUE viewer

• 6.2.10 Annex E – Extracting patent information from STN

• 6.2.10 Annex F – Extracting patent information from GenomeQuest

• RIO - Processing International Type Searches

• RIO - Citation Manager

• RIO - Requesting a search statement

• RIO - Automated Preliminary Search

On this Page

• Introduction

• PCT unit and PCT coordinator workflow

  • Initial processing & administration

  • Examiner workflow

  • Searching

  • Preparing the report

  • Requesting the analytics task

  • Finalising the Article 15(5) Search report

• Examiner process flowchart

Introduction

The following procedure outlines the general workflow for an examiner processing an International Type Search/Article 15(5) search.

Refer to RIO Manual for processing International Type Searches.

PCT unit and PCT coordinator workflow

Initial processing & administration

1. Initial processing by Customer Experience Group (CEG).

2. Task is assigned to suitable search Examiner in line with section practices.

3. Determine classification (a separate classification task(s) is created).

Examiner workflow

4. Check person requesting search is applicant (see 6.2.3 Classification and Search Indication).

5. Consider unity of invention (see 6.2.4 Unity of Invention).

   • Examiners should consult with their Supervising Examiner if there are multiple inventions that would require an request for search statement to be issued (see RIO - Requesting a search statement).

6. Consider excluded subject matter (see 6.2.5 Subjects to be Excluded from the Search).

   • If all or part of the claimed invention cannot be searched, the examiner (with their supervising examiner) notifies the applicant (see Non-establishment of the International-type Search Report).

7. Form 3-person team (see 4.4.1 Three Person Team (3PT)).

Searching

8. Perform preliminary search with Automated Preliminary Search.

9. Search patent literature.

10. Search non-patent literature.

Preparing the report

11. Order relevant non-patent literature from Library.

12. Download documents to RIO Citation Manager.

13. Assess which documents to be cited and prepare the report.

Requesting the analytics task

14. Check whether the Agent on file for the case matches an attorney firm listed in Annex ‘X’ of Volume 4 (see Annex X - When to send information for the generation of Article 15(5) analytics).

    1. If the Agent is not listed in this Annex go to step 16.

    2. If the Agent is listed in the Annex, then upload a copy of the ‘No analytics report required.rtf’ in the Patent Analytics tab of the Workbench (see RIO - What to do when no analytics report is required).

       • Although an analytics report is not required, examiners are to still select the ‘Request Patent Analytics Report’ button in order for the workflow to be actioned by Patent Analytics, then skip step 16 and go to step 17.

15. While drafting the Article 15(5) Search Report, upload the following information in the Patent Analytics tab of the Workbench (see also Patent analytics report for examiners):

    1. A list of publication numbers from EPOQUE Viewer, as a .csv file (see 6.2.10 Annex D – Extracting publication numbers from EPOQUE viewer)

    2. A complete transcript from STNext (if used), exported in standard rtf format (see 6.2.10 Annex E – Extracting patent information from STN)

    3. A list of publication numbers from GenomeQuest (GQ) as a .csv file (see 6.2.10 Annex F – Extracting patent information from GenomeQuest)

    4. Any patent documents to be cited in the Search Report that have been sourced through freely available databases or other IT searching tools (i.e. not EPOQUE, STN, or GenomeQuest) need to be imported to EPOQUE Viewer.

       • This allows them to be included in the .csv file of publication numbers exported from EPOQUE Viewer, outlined in step (a) above (see 6.2.10 Annex D – Extracting publication numbers from EPOQUE viewer).

16. After the files are uploaded, an Analytics Report can be requested, which will create a parallel Analytics Report task for the Patent Analytics Hub.

    • Examiners should directly contact the patent analyst who has been assigned the analytics task in the following circumstances:

      • to discuss assigned cases requiring urgent dispatch of the Art 15(5) Search Report or for the report to be sent out separately

      • to notify the analyst of a change or update to a file previously uploaded in the Patent Analytics tab of the Workbench.

    • For more general enquiries about Art15(5) analytics reports, examiners should contact the Patent Analytics Hub's Article 15(5) mailbox (MDB-Article 15(5) Analytics).

Finalising the Article 15(5) Search report

17. Prepare the rest of the Article 15(5) Search Report.

18. A notification will appear once the Analytics report is complete, the task can then be submitted.

    • For more general enquiries about Art15(5) analytics reports, examiners should contact the Patent Analytics Hub's Article 15(5) mailbox (MDB-Article 15(5) Analytics).

Examiner process flowchart