Customer Number

Several years ago the USPTO implemented an Electronic Filing System (EFS) and a Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR). Both systems require use of a customer number, which is available free from the USPTO. Upon receipt of a customer number, one merely designates which attorneys / agents and which patent applications are to be associated with the number. All the instructions are on the USPTO web site. A few practice tips: (a) one should use the customer number on all new patent applications, and one should be careful to keep the patent office up to date on all changes to the list of authorized patent attorneys and agents.