How does the USPTO report examiner time and activity?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

The USPTO reports examiner time and activity on a biweekly basis using an integrated system. The MPEP states:

“All reporting of examiner time and activity is performed on a biweekly basis. Each examiner’s examining and non-examining time, as entered in the USPTO’s time and attendance system, is used by the integrated examination tools in the computation of productivity data.”

Key aspects of examiner time and activity reporting include:

• Biweekly reporting schedule
• Integration with the USPTO’s time and attendance system
• Computation of productivity data
• Detailed reports available to examiners through integrated examination tools
• Reports include lists of applications with counted actions
• Cumulative summaries for current quarter and fiscal year
• Summary reports at Art Unit, Technology Center, and Corps levels

This comprehensive reporting system ensures accurate tracking of examiner productivity and application processing times.