Web-based document system

• US 20010037460A1
• Filed: 03/05/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anaqua Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Porcari, Damian
• Granted Patent: US 7,069,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/11 Patent retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A web-based document approval system that enables users to create, review and approve documents and to communicate these documents to other parties. The system includes an approval function where the document being approved is stored to a central storage area. The central storage area cannot be modified or deleted by the users. Users are invited to review and approve the document and are provided a convenient hyperlink to the specific document. The system records the date and time that each user approved the document. A central storage area interfaces with a database. The database retrieves approver and approval information and prepares an approval log. The approval log may be in the form of an XML document that easily updates other database systems.

Claims

1. A method of approving a document comprising:

storing the document in a central storage area, the storage area preventing alternation or modification of the document;

advising an approver that the document requiring approval is accessible for review and approval;

allowing the approver to review the document;

prompting approval by the approver;

recording the date of approval; and

recording the approved document.

2. A method as recited in

claim 1

further comprising the step of generating an approval log.

3. A method as recited in

claim 2

further comprising associating the approval log with a unique file record.

4. A method as recited in

claim 3

further comprising processing the approval log into an XML file.

5. A method as recited in

claim 1

further comprising multiple approvers approving a document and recording each approver'"'"'s approval.

6. A method as recited in

claim 1

wherein the advising step comprises providing an email to the approver and proving a hyperlink to the document.

7. A method as recited in

claim 1

wherein the document is selected from a group consisting of a patent application, a trademark application, an assignment document and a power of attorney.

8. A method as recited in

claim 1

further comprising the step of allowing access to the central storage area to view the approval record.

9. A method as recited in

claim 1

further comprising displaying approval text to the approver and storing this approval text in the central storage area.

10. A method of hosting a docketing system on an internet accessible server comprising:

authenticating the identity of a user that logs into a client-based authentication program;

directing the user to the server; and

encrypting the transmissions between the server and the user.

11. A method as recited in

claim 10

and further comprising transmitting a digital certificate from the client-based authentication program to the docketing system, determining the authenticity of the digital certificate and allowing access to the docketing system for authorized users.

12. A method as recited in

claim 10

and further comprising transmitting the IP address of the client-based authentication program to the docketing system, and allowing access to the docketing system for authorized IP addresses.

13. A method as recited in

claim 10

and further comprising obtaining user identifying information from a directory server and transmitting the user identifying information to the docketing system.

14. A method as recited in

claim 13

and further comprising storing the user identifying information on the user'"'"'s computer and the docketing system reading the stored information.

15. A method of transferring data between a first computer having a first database and a second computer having a second database comprising:

directing the first computer to email the second computer a notice containing a hyperlink that a message is pending;

directing the second computer to communicate with the first computer using the hyperlink;

directing the first computer to query the first database and prepare an XML file containing the transferring data; and

transferring an XML file from the first computer to the second computer, the XML file containing the transferring data.

16. A method as recited in

claim 15

and further comprising parsing the XML file into records that are stored in the second database.

17. A method as recited in

claim 15

and further comprising notifying a user that the data transfer has occurred.

18. A method as recited in

claim 15

wherein the first computer is a USPTO computer and the second computer is a recipient of a USPTO office action.

19. A method as recited in

claim 18

wherein the transferring data is a USPTO office action.

20. A method of citing references as part of an electronic submission process comprising the steps of:

recording a citation to the reference in a docketing system;

recording a method to retrieve the cited reference from an internet accessible computer;

exporting the citation and retrieval method as an XML file; and

transferring the XML file as part of the electronic submission process.

21. A method as described in

claim 20

wherein the retrieval method is a URL.

22. A method as described in

claim 20

wherein the electronic submission process is a patent application.

23. A method as described in

claim 20

wherein the reference is stored on an internet accessible server.