Mission Need

As a cornerstone of U.S. innovation infrastructure, the USPTO must ensure its technology environment can keep pace with rapidly evolving demands, from surging patent volumes to increasing expectations for transparency, speed and self-service. Modernizing the agency’s Information Technology (IT) backbone is not simply about improving internal workflows, it’s about enabling economic growth, securing global competitiveness and delivering digital-first public services.

The mission need is clear: The USPTO requires an integrated, scalable, and secure IT ecosystem that can support continuous delivery, intelligent automation and seamless user experiences across the patent lifecycle. This means moving beyond incremental upgrades to embrace a full transformation of the agency’s digital architecture, development practices and data management approach.

SAIC views this transformation as empowering patent examiners with tools that accelerate decision-making, giving applicants intuitive platforms that reduce friction and positioning the USPTO to adopt emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) in a mission-critical, production-ready environment.

Solution

As a key partner, SAIC is helping the USPTO modernize its application services through the Amazon Web Services cloud and drive innovation across the Patents, Enterprise Business and Enterprise Infrastructure product lines. SAIC views the result as a robust IT ecosystem that improves examiner efficiency, accelerates workflows and simplifies the applicant experience.

SAIC developed and supports several critical systems that span the entire patent lifecycle, including:

• Application Filing & Pre-Prosecution:
  The One Patent Service Gateway (OPSG), managing over 18 million+ patent records, serves as the centralized data repository and workflow hub. The Official Correspondence (OC) Scan Module enables the electronic scanning and categorization of paper documents received from patent applicants. During pre-prosecution, the OC Pre-Exam Module ensures that applicant-provided documentation is complete, meets standards and that all application fees have been paid. The Docket Application Viewer (DAV) Document Code Quality Control (DocCodeQC) Module incorporates machine learning models into the quality control review of document submissions. The Patents – Service for Timing and Application Routing system uses statistical profiles—and soon, machine learning—to optimize examiner workload distribution.
• Prosecution:
  The DAV allows examiners to manage their docket and review all application data and documents. Analytic tools like Claims Tree Viewer, Relevant Prior Art, Document Comparison and Patent Family Maps provide enhanced insights. The OC System streamlines office actions, while the Pre-Grant Publication Module supports publication prep with planned machine learning enhancements to reduce manual tasks. Examiner productivity is continuously measured to ensure process alignment and efficiency.
• Issuance or Rejection:
  The Electronic Grant (eGrant) Module automates the generation, validation and finalization of patent documents, processing thousands weekly with precision.
• Public Access & Lifecycle Management:
  USPTO.gov serves as the central platform for electronic patent submissions. Through the Patent Center, users can manage the entire lifecycle of applications, from submission to approval, ensuring a seamless, user-friendly experience.

“SAIC continues to support the USPTO’s efforts to modernize core systems to improve examiner efficiency and help the USPTO deliver better service to the public. The USPTO’s goal is to meet their mission with greater speed, security and scalability and SAIC is working with the agency to meet that goal.”
— U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Mission Impact

SAIC believes its cloud-first approach and integration of advanced machine learning tools have significantly improved the USPTO’s ability to process patent applications faster and more accurately. For applicants, these changes have made the process more transparent, streamlined and responsive. For examiners, automated systems and intelligent workflows allow for quicker, better-informed decisions.

SAIC continues to assist the USPTO shape the future of patent processing by adapting AI/ML solutions to elevate core USPTO workflows. Emerging capabilities include automating document code classification in the DAV to significantly reduce manual effort, using ML to achieve near-100% accuracy in pre-grant document analysis, and intelligently matching patent applications to examiners based on expertise—delivering patents faster, more accurately and cost-effectively.

Together, these SAIC advancements are helping to transform the USPTO into a more efficient, agile and user-centric organization.

Learn more about SAIC's Federal Civilian Innovations