RE: [PIUG List] PLUS USPTO Search System

Rodney, I just encountered the PLUS system recently when reviewing a file h=
istory/IFW for a recent US patent. The search parameters/results document=
 simply indicated that a PLUS search had been conducted, provided no detail=
s of what text was searched, then listed more than 80 references retrieved=
, apparently in some type of "relevance ranked" order, though no notes were=
 present indicating why any of them read on any of the claims being examine=
d. The search document was the antithesis of what the PTO is demanding =
of applicants under Examination Support Document provisions or under Applic=
ant Quality Submissions provisions in the Patent Reform Act of 2007. It a=
ppears that PTO "standards" for documenting its own searches are much loose=
r than the PTO is proposing for patent applicants. "Do as I say, not as =
I do!"

Roy Zimmermann
Medtronic

________________________________
From: Rodney Cruise [mailto:rodney.cruise_at_iporganisers.com.au]
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 10:00 PM
To: PIUG Discussion List @ Listbox
Subject: [PIUG List] PLUS USPTO Search System

Hi PIUG List members

I have a question about what appears to be an in-house search system used b=
y the USPTO, called PLUS. The only information I have on it is as follows:

PLUS Search Results for S/N XXXXXXXX, Searched Fri Feb 29 08.23.25 EST 2008
The Patent Linguistics Utility System (PLUS) is a USPTO automated search sy=
stem
for US Patents from 1971 to the present. PLUS is a query by example search =
which
produces a list of patents that are most closely related linguistically to =
the application
searched. This search was prepared by the staff of the Scientific and Techn=
ical Information Centre, SIRA

Can our US friends tell me the what, why and how of PLUS. How and when is =
it used? Is it used as a primary or secondary search tool? Is their any cr=
edibility to the results of the search?

Cheers
Rodney Cruise


Regards

Rodney Cruise
Manager | Patent Attorney

IP Organisers Pty Ltd
PO Box 323
Collins Street West 8007
Melbourne Vic Australia
Phone: +61 3 9614-1944
Fax: +61 3 9614-1867
Web: www.iporganisers.com.au
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Received on Tue Mar 04 2008 - 17:13:41