FAQs

Accessing Questel

• How do I become a subscriber?
• How can I obtain user ID’s for my new employees?

Orbit: IP Portal

• I forgot my password, How do I retrieve it?
• How do I display a list of files on Orbit?
• How do I format numbers in Orbit.?
• What is Fampat?
• Pricing 

Orbit: Downloads Module

• How can I order Patent publications in Orbit?
• How can I order Documents and File Histories from Digipat?
• What File Histories are available from DigiPat?
• What is a Certified Document from the United States Patent & Trademark Office?
• What Certified Documents are available from DigiPat?
• What patent services does DigiPat provide that are not offered by Questel?
• Pricing
      • Does DigiPat have any current specials for File Histories?
      • What are my billing options?

Orbit: Workfiles Module

• How do I create a Directory and Workfile?
• How do I add documents to the Workfile?

Orbit: Legal Status Module

• I am not currently a Questel customer.  Can I still use PatLegal Monitor?
• If I want to only monitor new family members and their Legal Status, do I have to enter all the existing family members?
• If I am monitoring a patent number in “Family and INPADOC Legal Status” and a new family member appears, will its legal status automatically be monitored?
• How does the pricing work?
• How do I cancel a monitored patent?
• Do you offer volume discounts or subscription pricing?

QWEB Searching

• How do I access QWEB?
• How can I print and save files on QWEB?
• What should I do if QWEB freezes?

Accessing MMS

• What is MMS?

Accessing Questel

How do I become a subscriber?

Please click here to link to our Become a User Webpage for your best convenience.

How can I obtain user ID’s for my new employees?

Email your Questel Account Executive. You may also send an email to your local HelpDesk. Click here for HelpDesk locations.

Orbit: IP Portal

I forgot my password, How do I retrieve it?

For Orbit.com users, click on “Forgot your Password?”  Found in the upper right corner of the Orbit.com login page.  You will be asked to provide your UserID or Email address, and a new password will be sent directly to you.  For all other users, Email your local HelpDesk. Click here for HelpDesk locations.

How do I display a list of files on Orbit?

From your User Settings, click on Searching.  Opposite Display the list of databases to search on the search page, select YES from the dropdown menu.  Confirm the change.  From your user settings or the patents general search screen click on the grey Select Fulltext button to view all the full text files available on Orbit.com

How do I format numbers in Orbit?

Search by publication number
Enter the numbers following the rules below:

• Always enter the country code on two characters before the publication number.
• Do not enter the status code (A, B, etc ...) with the number.
• Enter the year in four digits for the numbers including the year and are published from the year 2000.
  Example: US20050257307
• Enter the two-digit year for the numbers including the year that were published before 2000.
  Example: WO9912345
• For U.S. patents that are not Utility Patents, specify the type of document after the country code.
  Examples: USD419277 (Design Patent), USH001830 USH001830 (Statutory Invention Registration - SIR), USRE36522 (Reissue), UST109201 (Defensive Publication), USPP11184 (Plant Patent)

Characters, such as space, comma or slash, sometimes present in the document number as published, are accepted by Orbit.
To search multiple publication numbers at the same time, separate numbers by commas.

Number Assistant
By clicking the    button to the right of the box, you access a wizard that lets you enter up to 100 publication numbers. This tool is particularly effective when you copy / paste a list of numbers from a word or excel file.
Numbers can be separated by a space, a comma, a semicolon or a carriage return.
By clicking the Format button, you get your list of numbers in the Questel standardized format. All the numbers on this list are checked. You can choose to delete certain numbers by deselecting. When your list is completed, click Validate, then click the OK button to send the numbers to the search assistant.
It is also possible to paste text containing patent numbers into the Wizard.  Orbit eliminates unnecessary words and will display a list of numbers you can clean and / or validate.
.
Search by application or priority numbers

The following is a guide to formatting Application and/or Priority Numbers

Questel standardized format: YYYYCC-NNNNNNN  
Example:  Converting GB9410620 to standardized format
GB                     Two-letter Country Code
94                      Year of Application (Convert to a four-digit year 94 Þ 1994)
10620               Application or Priority Number (Must be seven digits, fill in missing digits with zeros) 10620 Þ 0010620
Final Number  1994GB-0010620

Questel standardized format for WO/PCT numbers: YYYYWO-CCNNNNN
Example:  Converting PCT/DE00/02241 to standardized format
2000                   Year of Application or Priority
WO                      Designation as a WO/PCT
DE                       Two-letter Country Code
02241                 Application or Priority Number (Must be five digits, fill in missing digits with zeros.)
Final Number    2000WO-DE02241

Questel standardized format for US Provisional number:  YYYYUS-PNNNNNN
Example:  Converting US Provisional 60/534950, filed January 8, 2004, to standardized format
2004                    Year of Application or Priority
US                        Country Code
P                           Designation for Provisional Application or Priority, replaces series code 60
481952               Application or Priority Number
Final Number:   2004US-P534950          YYYYUS-PNNNNNN

To search multiple numbers at the same time, separate numbers by commas.

                                                                                           

What is Fampat?

Exclusive to Questel, in FamPat, a single family record combines together all publication stages of the family.  Biblio content from more than 95 patenting authorities, full text from 22 patent authorities,  post issuance legal status from 50 countries and US Reassignment data are incorporated in a single FamPat record.  Searches for Assignee, Inventor or Classes are conducted on all family equivalents.  Boolean searching is available across all family member fields.  Click here for additional information

                                                                                             

Pricing  ( Please contact your Customer representative)
Email your Questel Account Executive. You may also send an email to your local HelpDesk. Click here for HelpDesk locations.

Orbit: Downloads Module

How can I order Patent publications in Orbit?

Facsimile patent copies are available from the German, US, Australian, Canadian and European Patent Offices collections. The availability of documents is dependent on the contents of the archives of these offices. There may be gaps in PDF coverage for some countries.
The download PDF feature is available in three areas of orbit.com :

• Add to My patent copies, located on the list display toolbar
• Clicking on the PDF icon in the document displays
• Download (PDF) in the left orbit.com Menu bar.

In all three cases, the requested PDFs are stored in your patent portfolio.
Note that if you have used a sub-account when logging in to orbit.com, the PDFs will be placed under that sub-account in the patent portfolio.

From Download (PDF) Module
Clicking on the Download (PDF) option shown in the left Menu bar. This takes you directly to the order form. You can order up to 200 documents at once and the PDFs are automatically retrieved and stored in your patent copies portfolio.
PDF files are kept in your portfolio for 30 days.
Note: Country coverage and functionality of the Download (PDF) module are detailed in the Patent Delivery Service User's Guide.

From List Display
Select the documents for which you would like PDF copies by ticking the boxes to the left. You can select everything by clicking the Select all records, or select all the documents on a page by checking the box available at the top of the list to the left of the "Title." column
Click on the Add to button at the top of the toolbar, and select Add to my patent copies. The limit is 200 documents per order.
A new window opens with the following template options:

• Representative member only. The representative member is the publication number displayed in the results list. The representative member selection is dependant on the User setting preferences
• All stages of the representative member. Orders PDFs of all published documents (A, B, C, etc) of the representative family member
• Entire family. Orders PDFs of all family members countries covered by Patent Delivery Service

Click on View portfolio to access your patent copies. PDF copies are automatically stored in your patent copies portfolio.

From Document Display
A PDF icon is available in the links column of Published As table. Click this icon to order the PDF. The facsimile will be stored in Your patent copies portfolio.

How can I order Documents and File Histories from Digipat?

Documents can be ordered in 4 convenient ways. You can order by phone, fax, email, or website (http://www.questel.com/digipatprd/faqs.htm)

What File Histories are available from DigiPat?

 US Files:DigiPat’s has one of the largest collections of stored US File Histories. Files from our database are often available the same day. US files that are not in our database are usually available from the USPTO with a usual turnaround of 2 days. Files that are with examiners or that are being held in the Certification branch of the USPTO will often take additional time to retrieve.
Files for unpublished pending applications or abandoned files that are not cited on a published patent document will require a Power to Inspect (PTI) form to show authorization to access the file. Download PTI Form.
Foreign Files
DigiPat has access to file histories from around the world through our international alliances. We are able to obtain files from European countries, Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Worldwide. Contact us to determine exact availability, cost, and estimated time to obtain.

What is a Certified Document from the United States Patent & Trademark Office?

A certified document contains a certification statement, a seal, and an authorized signature that certifies the document is an official USPTO copy. Certified documents delivered over the Internet are provided with an electronic certification statement. An electronic statement is embedded in the document and is digitally signed. Certified documents delivered on paper are bound with a paper certification statement containing a ribbon and seal. A certified document shipped on CDROM may offer a choice of a paper certification statement attached to the CDROM or an electronic certification statement.

What Certified Documents are available from DigiPat?

DigiPat can obtain the following documents that are officially certified by the United States Patent & Trademark Office.
• Patents
• Published Applications
• File Histories
• Applications as Filed
• Trademark Documents
• Assignments

Turnaround times for certified documents vary by document from 7-10 days to 4-6 weeks. Please contact us for estimated times on the certified documents that you need. Certfied File Histories take 30 days for the USPTO to fill.

What patent services does DigiPat provide that are not offered by Questel?

Printed Patent documents
DigiPat brings a state of the art print facility to the Questel IP umbrella. Contact DigiPat when you need paper copies of Patents & Published applications from the US and around the world. DigiPat can save you time and money by printing your lists of patent documents and ship them out to you, often the same day.
Trademarks
An ever-increasing number of attorneys, paralegals, and product developers turn to Digipat for reliable trademark documents. In addition to being a leader in the supply of Trademark File Histories, we provide copies of U.S.
Research at the USPTO
When it comes to research, our strength is our people. The research experts at DigiPat have extensive experience working with the USPTO and use the most comprehensive database and manual search techniques to obtain complete and accurate results. We work quickly and efficiently in the completion of each project and can deliver the results in both paper and PDF formats. Some of the research services we provide are searches by the following:
Title, Inventor, Key Word, Assignment, Continuity, Trademark, Patent Family, and Maintenance Fee

• Pricing
      • Does DigiPat have any current specials for File Histories?

Yes, right now when you order a paper copy of any file history from DigiPat, we will provide you with a free electronic copy of the document in PDF format. You can receive your free PDF by email or download so that you can benefit  from quick access to an electronic copy of your file while we prepare and ship your paper copy. This special is good for the file’s cited patent references and publications as well!

      • What are my billing options?

To meet the varied needs of our clients, DigiPat offers several billing/payment options.:  

• Questel Account Invoicing. If you provide DigiPat with your Questel account number at the time of placing the order, we can have your orders billed on your Questel monthly invoice.
• Project Invoicing. With the fulfillment of each order, a detailed invoice is generated and delivered with the order. Payment can be made via check, wire-transfer or major credit card.

Orbit: Workfiles Module

Workfiles assist in the organization of patent information; facilitating patent analysis and strengthening collaboration between research experts, engineers and attorneys. Records retrieved from a search in Orbit.com may be stored to your Workfiles portfolio. 

How do I create a Directory and Workfile?

Only the expert may create directories, sub-directories and workfiles. Similarly only the expert may change the name of existing directories & workfiles, and move and delete directories and workfiles.  The expert is the user who connects to Orbit with a Questel assigned User or Logon ID and who builds the workfiles and manages the portfolio tree hierarchy and reader access and rights.
From the workfiles module create a directory or sub-directory:
Click on the icon at top left of the portfolio tree and select the option New Directory.  Enter the Name of the new directory and, if you wish, a description in the box Desc. 

From the workfiles module create a workfile:
Select a directory, click on the icon at top left of the portfolio tree and select the option New workfile.

How do I add documents to the Workfile?

Select the documents you want stored, click on the Add to menu and select Add to a workfile.
A maximum of 5,000 documents at a time may be sent to a workfile.
When you use Add to a workfile, Orbit asks you to select or create the directory and workfile in which you want to store documents. To create a new directory or a workfile, click the New option and select Create Directory or Create Workfile. To add documents to this folder, select the folder and click OK.

Orbit: Legal Status Module

I am not currently a Questel customer.  Can I still use PatLegal Monitor?

Yes.  Just enter you contact and billing information and we will send you an invoice for the service.

If I want to only monitor new family members and their Legal Status, do I have to enter all the existing family members?

No –only enter one number from the patent family.  However if you want to monitor their legal status in particular countries, i.e. US PAIR, German Patent Office, etc., then you have to enter these numbers separately.

If I am monitoring a patent number in “Family and INPADOC Legal Status” and a new family member appears, will its legal status automatically be monitored?

Yes but only for those being monitored in “Family and INPADOC Legal Status”.  If a new US family member is included in the family then this will automatically be monitored in the Legal Status part but will not be automatically monitored in PAIR.  If you want to monitor the US family member in US PAIR, then you have to manually add this number to the selection.

How does the pricing work?

You will be invoice for each number monitored, i.e. entered in the order box.

How do I cancel a monitored patent?

In the coming months we will have an administration page in which you cancel your monitored patents, but until this is available, just send an email to Questel Customer Support (help@questel.com) and they will cancel your order.  Please keep in mind that because of the low price of the service, there is no refund policy for monitored patents.

Do you offer volume discounts or subscription pricing?

Yes.  Please contact your local Questel representative for information.

QWEB Searching

How do I access QWEB?

The Internet addresses for QWEB, Questel's Internet interface, are:
http://qexpprd.questel.fr/LPage

How can I print and save files on QWEB?

What should I do if QWEB freezes?

If QWEB freezes, click on the send break icon located at the bottom of the QWEB screen. You may then click on logoff, located at the top right hand corner of the QWEB toolbar. Close your browser, reopen it then reconnect to Questel. When you log back on you will be asked if you want to continue your search Y/N? Enter Y for yes, then enter "HIS" and you will pick up your search where it was when you disconnected.

Accessing MMS

• What is MMS?

The Merged Markush Service (MMS) is an extensive patent information service for searching markush chemical structures in patents.

The information in the databases that compose MMS is indexed by two prestigious organizations:

• INPI, Institut National de la Propriete Industrielle, the French Patent & Trademark Office AND
• The Thomson Reuter Corporation, which has been supplying value-added patent information worldwide to patent professionals for over 40 years.

MMS includes both generic and specific chemical structures, including chemical structures from the Derwent Chemistry Resource (DCR). In an MMS search, compound numbers are retrieved and transferred to both the Derwent World Patent Index and the PHARMSearch file available on Questel.

MMS is exclusively available through Questel. No special subscription is required to access MMS; only a Questel ID. MMS can be accessed using the Questel Imagination software. Pricing for MMS appears in the Questel price list.
More information on http://www.questel.com/Prodsandservices/mms_chemistry.htm