[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56059-56061]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23006]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No. PTO-P-2010-0061]


Patent Examiner Technical Training Program

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is 
seeking public assistance in providing technical training to patent 
examiners within all technology centers. The Patent Examiner Technical 
Training Program (PETTP) is intended to provide scientists and experts 
as lecturers to patent examiners in order to update them on technical 
developments, the state of the art, emerging trends, maturing 
technologies, and recent innovations in their fields. Such guest 
lecturers must have relevant technical knowledge, as well as 
familiarity with prior art and industry practices/standards in areas of 
technology where such lectures would be beneficial.

DATES: Effective Date: September 15, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raul Tamayo, Legal Advisor, Office of 
Patent Legal Administration, Office of the Associate Commissioner for 
Patent Examination Policy, at (571) 272-7728.
    Wynn Coggins, Director of Technology Center (TC) 3600, available at 
(571) 272-5350, will provide oversight of the Patent Examiner Technical 
Training Program.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USPTO is seeking public assistance in 
providing technical training to patent examiners within all technology 
centers. The Patent Examiner Technical Training Program is intended to 
provide scientists and experts as lecturers to patent examiners in 
order to update them on technical developments, the state of the art, 
emerging trends, maturing technologies, and recent innovations in their 
fields. Such guest lecturers must have relevant technical knowledge, as 
well as familiarity with prior art and industry practices/standards in 
areas of technology where

[[Page 56060]]

such lectures would be beneficial. The Patent Examiner Technical 
Training Program is not intended as an opportunity for applicants to 
discuss pending applications or to circumvent normal communication 
between applicants or applicants' representatives and examiners or 
Supervisory Patent Examiners. In addition, Patent Examiner Technical 
Training Program participants are not to provide advice or 
recommendations to the USPTO. The Patent Examiner Technical Training 
Program is envisioned as an opportunity to provide patent examiners 
with necessary training from scientists and experts working directly in 
the various technologies throughout the USPTO. It is anticipated that 
lectures will last approximately two hours.
    All participants in the Patent Examiner Technical Training Program 
must agree to serve without compensation and must fund their own 
expenses, including, but not limited to: travel to and from the USPTO, 
meals, and lodging arrangements. Webinars are an option for 
participants who elect not to travel. All offers for technical training 
made to the program will be tracked in a database to ensure that all 
offers for technical training are addressed. The USPTO reserves the 
right to refuse any request to participate in the program. Among other 
factors, whether a request to participate in the program is granted 
will depend on the appropriateness of the topic and the availability of 
resources. For granted requests, audience size will vary. If a 
participant is not satisfied with the program, the participant may 
contact Wynn Coggins, TC 3600 Director, who is overseeing the program.
    The Patent Examiner Technical Training Program will be in effect as 
of the date noted above until further notice.
    How to Participate: In order to participate in the Patent Examiner 
Technical Training Program, participants must fill in and submit the 
on-line form available at http://www.uspto.gov/patents/pettp.jsp, or 
send an e-mail to [email protected] identifying 
the area of technical assistance that they can provide, their name and 
phone number, and other contact information as necessary. Once a 
participant fills in and submits the on-line form or sends the e-mail, 
the participant will receive a system generated e-mail response noting 
that the inquiry was received.
    The participant thereafter should expect a telephone call from the 
point of contact within the specified area identified for technical 
assistance. During this initial telephone call, the participant will be 
informed of USPTO invited speaker requirements pursuant to Agency 
Administrative Order (AAO) 219-05. Also, the target audience will be 
identified and possible dates for the event discussed.
    Prior to giving a presentation, all PETTP participants must sign 
the USPTO's Invited Speaker Conflict of Interest Policy Statement. In 
addition, PETTP presentations are sometimes recorded and made available 
to employees for viewing or listening at a later time. The Invited 
Speaker Conflict of Interest Policy Statement, as well as additional 
information on the PETTP, is available on the USPTO Web site at http://www.uspto.gov/patents/pettp.jsp.
    Technical Areas: The USPTO believes patent examiner technical 
training on the technical areas identified below will be most 
beneficial. However, participants who wish to provide training in other 
technical areas may also contact the USPTO.
    TC 1600--Biotechnology and Organic Chemistry: Formulation 
Chemistry; controlling drug release; drug targeting/conjugation and 
dosage form technology; drug delivery; nanotechnology (delivery of 
nucleic acids, antibodies, other molecules); statistical methods in 
validation of microarry data; personalized medicine, manufacture of 
carbon nanospheres, pharmaceutical/clinical chemistry for organic 
compounds, current animal models (emphasis on how they are being 
generated and used), advances in gene therapy, current methods in drug 
discovery (identifying current methods for the isolation and testing of 
natural products, and strategy for the modification of the isolated 
products into more potent/useful compounds).
    TC 1700--Chemical and Materials Engineering: Analytical chemistry 
and lab apparatus, batteries, brazing, catalysts, chemical mechanical 
polishing, chemical process control, chemical reactors, detergents, 
dishwashers, distillation, electrochemical sensors, electroluminescent 
devices and processes of making, electro-osmosis, electrophoresis, 
electrophotography, electroplating, encapsulated circuitry/
semiconductors, evaporation, fuel cells, gasification, glass/ceramics 
processing, growing monocrystals, hydrogen production, liquid and gas 
purification and separation, making nanotubes, microbiological 
apparatus, mixing, nanolithography, nanotechnology, perfumes, petroleum 
technology, photoelectric devices and processes, photolithography, 
pigments and inks, polymer chemistry, polymers, reformation, 
semiconductor cleaning techniques, solar cells, soldering, solid 
separators, thermoelectric, washing machines, and welding.
    TC 2100--Computer Architecture and Software: Electrical Computers & 
Digital Data Processing Systems: Intrasystem Connection, Processing 
Access Control & Bus Interrupt Operation; Error Detection/Correction & 
Fault Detection/Recovery; Reliability; System Configuration/Timing/
Power Control, Error Detection/Correction & Fault Detection/Recovery; 
Generic Control System, Apparatus or Process; Simulation & Modeling, 
Emulation of Computer Components; Artificial Intelligence (Neural 
Networks, Fuzzy Logic, Expert Systems, Rule based Systems); Database & 
File Management; Operator Interface (Windows, Menus, Icons, I/O user 
interaction, etc.); Document Processing (displaying, or processing for 
display, text, graphics, layouts); Processor Architecture & Instruction 
Processing; Computers: Memory Access & Control; Compilers & Software 
Development; Arithmetic Processing/Calculating; Interprogram/
Interprocess Communications and Computer Task Management.
    TC 2400--Networking, Multiplexing, Cable and Security: Wireless & 
Wired Comm Networks, LANs, WANs, OFDMA, CDMA, TDMA, Routing & 
Switching, Signaling, Network Mang., Flow Control, Congestion Control, 
Admission Control, Quality of Service, Queuing Systems, Interworking, 
VoIP, Label Switching, ATM, SONET, Mobile IP & 3G/4G Wireless Networks, 
computer conferencing, data streaming, data routing, client/server, 
computer conferencing, E-mail messaging, video distribution, remote 
data accessing, data transfer speed regulating, computer handshaking, 
computer data routing, Social Networks (Virtual Communities), Power 
Over Ethernet & Ethernet over Power lines, Digital VideoBroadcasting 
Standards MPEG4, ATSC, different video distribution on mobile devices, 
Internet Video distribution, New trends in electronic program guide, 
peer-to-peer video distribution, video sharing via cable distribution, 
wireless video distribution in home, HDMI, Biometric Devices, 
Elliptical Curves, Quantum Cryptography, Anti Viruses, Denial Services, 
AES--Advanced Encryption Standard, Social Network Security, Peer-to-
Peer Security, DRM--Digital Right Management.
    TC 2600--Communications: Spread spectrum, signal modulation, 
telemetry, electronic alarms, multiplexing, packet switching, optical 
communications, telephone systems, advanced intelligence networks, 
wireless communications, OFDMA, CDMA,

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TDMA, echo cancellation, MIMO, WiMax, 802.11, MPLS, SC-FDMA, Mobile 
IP6, television, electronic imaging, digital cameras, electronic image 
signal processing, video displays, pattern recognition, panoramic 
processing, stereoscopic processing, MPEG, JPEG, Blu-Ray, DVD 
technology, image compression, image enhancement, color space 
transformation, RFID, halftone printing, speech signal processing, 
optical recording, dynamic information storage, information storage 
disks, computer graphics processing, LCD displays, plasma displays, 
basics of optics, DWDM essentials and networks, SONET/SDH, optical 
transport networks, audio signal processing and compression, noise 
cancellation, hearing aids, and loudspeakers.
    TC 2800--Semiconductors, Electrical and Optical Systems and 
Components: Mixed signal design and architecture, flexible displays, 
OLED display technology, nitride semiconductors, compound 
semiconductors, nanodevices, power converters, image sensors, motor 
controls, CMOS technology, quantum electronics, analog to digital and 
digital to analog converters, organic semiconductors, micro-opto-
electromechanical systems, ASIC design, spintronics and magnetic random 
access memory (MRAM), non-volatile memory devices, semiconductor and 
electronic packaging technologies, solar cells, digital logic circuits, 
laser and fiber optics, phase change memory, photolithography, thin 
film deposition, light emitting diodes, digital cameras, optical 
waveguides, antennas, printing technology, MEMs, multilevel 
interconnections, LCDs, x-ray applications, photonic crystals, green 
power generation technologies, and sensors.
    TC 3600--Transportation, Construction, Electronic Commerce, 
Agriculture, National Security, and License & Review: e-Commerce 
applications including: Social networking, network management, wireless 
technologies/communications/protocols, market optimization, demand 
forecasting, interactive visualization and simulation, project and 
resource planning & scheduling, local search optimization, decision 
analysis, supply chain optimization and management, simulation and 
stochastic modeling, static & dynamic optimization, resource 
allocation/calendar staffing and scheduling, optimization/coordination 
of travel reservations/planning and specialized travel query 
processing, determining/optimizing prices for goods/services, local and 
distributed postage metering, shipping (e.g., route planning, special 
handling, package tracking, RFID usage), transportation (e.g., fare, 
parking, tolls), utility usage (e.g., metering, pricing for consumed 
quantities of a utility), electronic trading, backend processing of 
financial trades, complex trading strategies of hedge funds (e.g., 
desire/need for complex strategies and how hedge funds utilize 
technology to carry out these complex strategies), derivative trading 
(e.g., credit default swaps). Mechanical and electrical applications 
including: Automobiles, transportation systems, building structures, 
firearms, aeronautics, material handling, radio and acoustic wave 
communications, earth boring, animal husbandry, plant husbandry.
    TC 3700--Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing and Products: 
Educational games; electric amusement devices; boot and shoe making; 
special receptacle or package; textiles; apparel; article carriers; 
tools; cutlery; metal working; manufacturing of electrical 
semiconductor, superconductor and nanotechnology; diagnostic medical 
imaging including MRI, X-Ray, ultrasound, visible and infrared imaging, 
nuclear and microwave imaging, and optical imaging; electronic controls 
for prosthetic devices (external prosthetics, gait analysis, etc.); 
exercise equipment; cell and tissue engineering; lung and heart-assist 
devices and fully implantable devices; internal combustion engines; 
heat engines; solar energy; turbochargers; exhaust gas treatment; 
catalytic converters; engine control systems; fluid power plants; 
refrigeration; heating systems for structures; electrical heating 
devices; valves and valve actuation; fluid handling; and pumps.

    Dated: September 9, 2010.
David J. Kappos,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-23006 Filed 9-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P