Method and system for managing and/or transferring information

• US 20030220898A1
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Q2 LLC
• Original Assignee: Q2 LLC
• Inventors: Hoffman, Kevin, Cormack, Chris, Anzalone, Jim
• Application Number:
  US10/310,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20030220898A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A system for managing and/or transferring information is provided. The system includes a host server, which includes a folder module adapted to contain information about inventory or transaction and a reports module communicatively coupled to the folder module, wherein the reports module is adapted to search and filter information from the folder module. The system further includes an activity map module communicatively coupled to at least one of the folder module and the reports module, wherein the activity map module comprises a database of stored features and is adapted to extract information from at least one of the folder module and the reports module. The activity map module can be used to manipulate the extracted information using the stored features to provide docketing information and calendaring functions to help end users manage and transfer information.

Claims

1. A system for managing and/or transferring information, comprising:

a host server, comprising;

a folder module adapted to contain information about inventory or transaction;

a reports module communicatively coupled to the folder module, wherein the reports module is adapted to search and filter information from the folder module; and

an activity map module communicatively coupled to at least one of the folder module and the reports module, wherein the activity map module comprises a database of stored features and is adapted to extract information from at least one of the folder module and the reports module and manipulates the extracted information using the stored features to provide docketing information and calendaring functions to the end users, wherein the stored features comprise at least one of a calculator to calculate due dates, a hyperlink to allow connecting between the folder module, the reports module and the activity map module, an automatic file saver, a new activity entry generator, a letter campaign generator, an instruction adding generator, and a note generator; and

a display interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored features comprise a calculator to calculate due dates, wherein the calculator receives information about the transaction from at least one of the folder module and reports module and manipulates the information to incorporate due dates for a transaction into a calendar.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored features comprise a hyperlink to allow connecting between the folder module, wherein the hyperlink is presented on a display screen adapted for displaying predetermined information about a transaction and wherein when the hyperlink is activated, the display screen will switch the display from displaying one of the folder module, the reports module or the activity map module to displaying a different one of the folder module, the reports module or the activity map module.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored features comprise an automatic file saver, wherein when a predetermined time elapses, all entries in the folder module, the reports module and/or the activity map module are automatically stored.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored features comprise a new activity entry generator, wherein the new activity generator allows new activities to be entered into the management system and the folder module, the reports module and/or the activity map module.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored features comprise a letter campaign generator, wherein the letter campaign generator compiles a list of prospective interested parties and generates letters, which includes information from the folder module and/or reports module, to each of the prospective interested parties.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored features comprise an instructions adding generator, wherein the instructions adding generator allows for end users to incorporate additional instructions in at least one of the folder module, the reports module or the activity map module for display to a display monitor.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored features comprise a note generator, wherein the note generator allows for end users to incorporate notes into at least one of the folder module, the reports module or the activity map module for display to a display monitor.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a showings module communicatively coupled to at least one of the folder module, the reports module, and the activity map module, wherein the showings module is adapted to manage an information exchange between end users.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the showings module tracks information entered by an agent or end user.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the showings module compiles information from at least one of the folder module, the reports module, the activity map module and the showings module, determines specific interests of prospective parties and sends the compiled information to other users based upon the specific interests of prospective parties.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the specific interests of prospective parties comprise inventory information and changes in the inventory information.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the information comprises price, size, location and sale status information and changes in prices and sale status.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the showings module further comprises at least one of a note recorder, an automatic feedback and comments receiver and display, and hyperlinks to at least one of the folder module, the reports module, and the activity map module.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the reports module comprises at least one of a transaction management report, an all due activities display, an all open activities display, a settlement summary display, an all showings display, a folder archive, a folder organizer and a folder detail compiler.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the reports module comprises a transaction management report, wherein the transaction management report comprises a display indicating current and past due activities.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the reports module comprises an all due activities display, wherein the all due activities display comprises an appointment adding feature, wherein the appointment adding feature can add features to appointments and display current and past due activities.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the folders module comprises an electronic repository for static information about a transaction.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the static information comprises at least one of names and addresses of participants to a contract, types of participants to the transaction, hyperlinks to at least one of the reports module and activity map module, offering price and descriptive physical information about items in an inventory subject to the transaction.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the descriptive physical information about the items in the inventory subject to the transaction comprises at least one of price, availability, and pictures of the items in the inventory.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the folders module is communicatively coupled to external sources which produce multimedia presentations of an item subject to the transaction, or list and publicize the item of the transaction.

23. The system of claim 1, further comprising a website management module communicatively coupled to at least one of the folder module, the reports module or the activity map module.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the website management module comprises at least one of a template based website development tool, a referral program tool, host system editing tool, a payment manager, a testimonial entry tool and a communication tool.

25. The system of claim 1, further comprising a contact management module communicatively coupled to at least one of the folder module, the reports module or the activity map module.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the contact management module comprises at a repository of contact information for other participants to a transaction.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the other participants include freight forwarders, banks, escrow companies, delivery services and buyer'"'"'s and seller'"'"'s agents.

28. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reservation module communicatively coupled to at least one of the folder module, the reports module or the activity map module, wherein the reservation module comprises a calendar to display a reservable item availability and editing tools to adjust the availability of the a reservable item.

29. The system of claim 1, further comprising a collective activity map module communicatively coupled to at least one of the folder module, the reports module or the activity map module, wherein the collective activity map module comprises a means for editing and packaging one or more predetermined activity maps, wherein each of the predetermined activity maps comprises a predetermined folder module, a predetermined reports module and a predetermined activity map module.

30. The system of claim 1, further comprising a transaction fee coordinating module communicatively coupled to at least one of the folder module, the reports module or the activity map module, wherein the transaction fee coordinating module comprises a usage tracking means, a usage time tracking means and a cost calculator, wherein the transaction fee coordinating module determines whether a user is transaction fee based and if so, calculates a transaction fee based upon the amount of usage and time of usage.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein the stored features comprise a calculator to calculate due dates, a hyperlink to allow connecting between the folder module, the reports module and the activity map module, an automatic file saver, a new activity entry generator, a letter campaign generator, an instructions adding generator, and a note generator.

2. A computer-implemented method of managing and/or transferring information, comprising:

entering information regarding a transaction into a folder module;

compiling and filtering the information regarding the transaction into a reports module communicatively coupled to the folder module; and

automatically generating a calendar of activities and due dates from the information in the folder module and the reports module.