Method and apparatus for electronic negotiation of document content

• US 20020129056A1
• Filed: 02/14/2001
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Raday, Thomas M., Zeilman, Andrew T., Roman, George, Conant, Michael V., Grasso, Charles A.
• Application Number:
  US09/782,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20020129056A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/511
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method and apparatus provide for the negotiation of the content of a document via an electronic exchange. In one example an electronic exchange operates as a repository of forms of contracts. A user can initiate a negotiation process by selecting a form contract and, if desired, customizing the contract to a particular transaction. The user can then advise a third party as to the existence of the contract on the exchange. The parties can then conduct a negotiation of contract terms on the exchange in accordance with permissions prescribed by the exchanged and/or the user.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating negotiation of document content, the method comprising:

creating a database of document template content;

receiving commands from a first party to create a document for negotiating;

selecting content from said database based on receipt of said commands;

associating said selected content with a first document;

notifying a second party as to the existence of said first document;

receiving proposed edits to said first document based on information from said second party;

creating a revision history based on said proposed edits;

associating said revision history with said document;

receiving proposed further edits based on information from said first party; and

supplementing said revision history based on said proposed further edits.

2. A method for facilitating negotiation of a contract, the method comprising:

creating a system database including a plurality of standard contract clauses;

receiving a command from a first user to construct a user-specific database;

in response to receiving a command, selecting one of said plurality of standard clauses from said system database; and

associating said selected one of said plurality of standard clauses with said userspecific database.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving a command to select a contract template using said user-specific database;

creating a proposed contract using the selected contract template; and

notifying a second party of the existence of said proposed contract.

4. The method of claim 3 farther comprising:

creating a negotiation history file associated with said proposed contract;

receiving proposed edits to said proposed contract based on information from said second party;

creating a revision history based on said proposed edits; and

storing said revision history in said negotiation history file.

5. A method for operating a contracts exchange, the method comprising:

creating a standard clause database associated with the exchange;

registering a plurality of users;

creating a member database for each of said plurality of registered members;

for a first one of said plurality of registered members associating with the corresponding member database a first set of standard clauses from said standard clause database; and

for a second one of said plurality of registered members, associating with the corresponding member database a second set of standard clauses from said standard clause database;

wherein said first and said second set of standard clauses differ from one another.

6. A method for creating a contracts exchange, the method comprising:

registering a first user;

receiving, in electronic form, a first contract from said first user;

identifying a plurality of clauses in said first contract;

creating a clause database associated with said first user using the identified plurality of clauses;

registering a second user;

receiving in electronic form, a contract from said second user;

identifying a plurality of clauses in said contract from said second user; and

creating a user clause database associated with said second user using the identified plurality of clauses in said contract from said second user.

7. A method for securely maintaining contract negotiation history, the method comprising:

permitting a first party and a second party access to a computer-based contract negotiation tool;

assembling a draft contract in accordance with commands from the first party;

presenting said draft to said second party;

inserting proposed revisions into said draft in accordance with commands from said second party;

automatically creating a contract negotiation history using information related to said proposed draft and said proposed revisions; and

storing said contract negotiation history.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of storing comprises protecting the stored contract negotiation history from being edited.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of storing comprises preventing revision of stored contract negotiation history while permitting addenda to said stored contract negotiation history.

10. A method for controlling an on-line negotiation process, the method comprising;

registering a first party and a second party for a negotiation regarding a contract wherein each party comprises a plurality of users;

defining negotiation privileges for each of the users of said first party;

defining negotiation privileges for each of the users of said second party;

creating a proposed contract;

storing the contract at a contract exchange; and

permitting a level of access to said contract for a user commensurate with negotiation privileges defined for said user.