What is the purpose of a Notice of Missing Parts according to MPEP guidelines?

The purpose of a Notice of Missing Parts, as outlined in the MPEP (Manual of Patent Examining Procedure) guidelines, is specifically to notify an applicant of incomplete documentation submitted with their patent application. This notice serves as a communication tool from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to the applicant, identifying which specific parts of the application are missing or deficient.

By providing this notice, the USPTO allows applicants the opportunity to rectify the issues by submitting the necessary documentation within a specified time frame. This ensures that applications can proceed through the examination process efficiently, as it addresses potential deficiencies early on.

The notice is not primarily concerned with incomplete filing fees, formal requirements, or cancelation of the application; rather, its main function is to clarify what aspects of the application need to be completed or corrected so the examination process can continue.