1. Patents e-Commerce at the U.S.Patent & Trademark Office
July 2003
Created: July 2003

2. Today’s Topics Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC)
Electronic Filing System (EFS) Overview
Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) System

3. Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC)
Provides access to electronic business applications for patent customers
Customer Number Registration Forms
Required for PAIR and EFS
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Registration Forms
Security software to support electronic commerce
Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR)
Access to application status and history via the internet
Electronic Filing System (EFS)
Filing of patent applications via the internet

4. Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC)
How does one get to the EBC? ?
Visit the USPTO Website, & click on Online Business.

5. Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC)
Click on:
Patent Electronic
Business Center

6. Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC)
Where do first-time visitors go?
Click on New Users

7. Patent Electronic Business Center EBC Customer Support Center
The EBC Customer Support Center is available 18 hours daily (M–F),
at 1(866) or (703) or via at
Customer Number Business Rules
Issuing New Customer Numbers
Update Bulk Address Changes
Customer Number Data Change Information
Customer Number Application Information
PKI Certificates Answer Business Aspects of Customer Questions
Certificate Action Form Information
Initial Review of Certificate Action Forms
Troubleshoot End-User Problems
Electronic Filing System Provide Customer Number
Provide PKI Certificate Support
Provide Support for Authoring Tool to End-User
Patent Application Information Retrieval Registration Information
Troubleshoot Software Problems
Handle Questions Related to Data

8. Patent Electronic Business Center EBC Customer Support Center
Available To Our Customers 18 Hours Daily Monday - Friday
Hours of Operation:
Mondays – Fridays: AM – Midnight (Eastern Time)
Contact Information:
Telephone: Local (703) Toll-Free 1 (866)
Facsimile: (703)
Address: U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Mail Stop EBC, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA
Website: