Electronic management and distribution of legal information

• US 20040024775A1
• Filed: 06/25/2003
• Published: 02/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bloomberg Finance LP (Bloomberg LP), Bloomberg, Inc. (Bloomberg LP), Bloomberg LP, Bureau of National Affairs Incorporated (Bloomberg LP)
• Original Assignee: Bloomberg LP
• Inventors: Kemp, Richard Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 9,070,103 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The invention provides systems, methods, and computer programs for fulfilling requests from users wanting current information related to legal or other topics designated by the users from lists of available topics. Information related to available topics is classified by type, and at least two types of information related to the designated topic(s) and/or type(s) are provided to the user. Optionally the information, when provided, is displayed on a computer display, or provided in other physical or electronic form, and is sorted according to the type or class of information to which the information belongs. The invention also provides for the gathering and making available of such information, and for the automatic updating of information in the selected legal or other professional topic(s) without intervention by the user on a periodic and/or continual basis.

Claims

1. A system for providing legal information, the system comprising at least one computer, at least one database associated with the at least one computer for storing information related to a plurality of legal topics, and programming stored on a computer readable medium or media that causes the at least one computer to:

access within the at least one database information related to at least one legal topic, in response to a request received from a user-accessible terminal coupled with the system; and

cause the accessed information to be displayed on a display device associated with the terminal from which the request was received, the information tabulated according to a classification comprising at least two types.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least two types comprise at least two of:

administrative action, legislative action, rulemaking, reported judicial decisions, and news.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the displayed information is tabulated according to a classification by displaying information related to each type in a separate display window.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the classification comprises at least two of the types:

administrative action, legislative action, rulemaking, reported judicial decisions, court filings, news, and secondary materials.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the classification comprises at least the types:

administrative action, legislative action, rulemaking, reported judicial decisions, court filings, news, and secondary materials.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the legal topic is designated by a user of the terminal from a plurality of legal topics comprising at least two of:

admiralty and maritime;

alternative dispute resolution;

antitrust;

trade regulation;

banking;

finance;

bankruptcy;

business;

commercial;

consumer rights;

corporate;

business organizations;

civil rights;

collectibles and personal property;

communications;

media;

constitutional;

construction;

contracts;

criminal;

education;

employment;

labor;

entertainment;

gaming;

sports;

environmental;

estates, trusts, and wills;

family;

government;

elections and politics;

government benefits;

government contracts;

government administration;

state government;

local government;

health;

human rights;

immigration;

insurance;

intellectual property;

copyrights;

patents;

trademarks;

international;

international trade;

internet;

litigation;

litigation administration;

appellate procedure;

civil procedure;

damages and remedies;

evidence;

mergers and acquisitions;

military;

natural resources;

energy;

native populations;

professions and occupations;

professional licensing;

professional responsibility;

products liability;

real property;

science and technology;

securities;

US federal taxation;

state taxation;

international taxation;

torts;

transportation; and

workers'"'"' rights.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises programming stored on a computer readable medium or media that causes the at least one computer to further automatically:

access within the at least one database new information responsive to the request; and

cause the accessed new information to be displayed on a display associated with the terminal from which the request was received, the information tabulated according to a classification.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises programming stored on a computer readable medium or media that causes the at least one computer to automatically and periodically:

access at least one database to determine whether new information responsive to the request is stored within the database; and

if new information responsive to the request is stored within the database, cause the new information to be displayed on a display associated with the terminal from which the request was received, the information tabulated according to a classification.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises programming stored on a computer readable medium or media that causes the at least one computer to automatically and continually:

access at least one database to determine whether new information responsive to the request is stored within the database; and

if new information responsive to the request is stored within the database, cause the new information to be displayed on a display associated with the terminal from which the request was received, the information tabulated according to a classification.

10. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of databases for storing the information related to legal topics, the information, wherein the information is stored in separate databases according to the legal topics to which the information relates.

11. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of databases for storing the information related to legal topics, wherein the information is stored in separate databases by type according to the classification.

12. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of databases for storing the information related to a plurality of legal topics, the information provided by a plurality of sources, wherein the information is stored in separate databases according to the sources that provided the information.

13. A system for providing an automated legal current awareness service, the system comprising at least one computer and programming stored on a computer readable medium or media that causes the at least one computer to:

provide a plurality of different types of legal information relating to a common legal topic to a computer device;

display the plurality of different types of legal information on a display device coupled to the computer device simultaneously in different parts of the display; and

automatically update at least one of the plurality of types of displayed legal information while the plurality of types of legal information are simultaneously displayed.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein displaying the plurality of different types of legal information comprises displaying at least one type in a list identifying a plurality of types of legal information.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein updating at least one of the plurality of types of displayed information comprises adding at least one item to the list which is more current than at least one other item in the list.

16. A system for providing legal information, the system comprising at least one computer, at least one database associated with the at least one computer for storing information related to a plurality of legal topics, and programming stored on a computer readable medium or media that causes the at least one computer to:

display on a display device coupled to a user-accessible terminal coupled with the system items of a plurality of different types of legal information, the information tabulated according to a classification comprising at least two types;

access within at least one database, in response to a request received from the user-accessible terminal, content information associated with a document identified by an item of the displayed information; and

cause the accessed content information to be displayed on the display device associated with the terminal from which the request for content information was received.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein items identifying the documents comprise selectable links and the request-is generated by a user selecting a selectable link using an input device coupled with the user-accessible terminal.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the displayed content information comprises a complete version of a document.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the displayed content information comprises an abbreviated version of a document.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the abbreviated version of a document comprises a summary of a document.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the abbreviated version of a document comprises at least one redacted portion of a document.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the displayed content information comprises at least a partial image of a document.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the accessed content information is displayed in a different display window than the displayed information items.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the accessed content information is displayed on a different monitor screen than the displayed information items.

25. A system for providing legal information, the system comprising at least one computer and programming stored on a computer readable medium or media that causes the at least one computer to display on a display device coupled to terminal coupled to the system items of a plurality of different types of legal information, the information tabulated according to a classification comprising at least two types;

wherein;

the displayed information comprises at least one item identifying a document; and

a length of the displayed item may be designated by a user of the terminal.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the user may designate from a plurality of available modes a mode in which displayed information is tabulated, and may designate a different length for a summary of a single item in different modes.

27. A system for providing legal information, the system comprising at least one computer, a plurality of databases associated with the at least one computer for storing information related to a plurality of legal topics, and programming stored on a computer readable medium or media, wherein:

at least one of the databases is accessible in response to requests received from terminals having a general authorization for access to the system, and at least a second of the databases is accessible in response to requests received from terminals having a specific authorization; and

the programming causes the at least one computer to;

access, in response to a request received from a user-accessible terminal coupled with the system, information related to at least one legal topic in at least one database accessible by terminals having the general authorization and in at least the second database accessible by terminals having the specific authorization; and

cause the accessed information to be displayed on a display device associated with the terminal from which the request was received, the information tabulated according to a classification comprising at least two types.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the second database accessible in response to requests received from terminals having the specific authorization is associated with the user-accessible terminal from which the request is received.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the programming stored on a computer readable medium or media that causes the system to access information responsive to the request in at least one database accessible by terminals having a general system authorization and in at least one database accessible by terminals having a specific authorization is stored on a computer readable medium or media associated with the terminal from which the request is received.

30. A method of processing legal information, the method comprising:

assigning to each of a plurality of documents received from at least one information source an comprising information relating to a plurality of legal topics at least one identifier associated with (a) at least one of the legal topics to which the document relates and (b) at least one of a plurality of classes of information within the at least one legal topic, according to a type of information included within the document;

formatting the received documents according to a protocol;

storing the formatted documents in at least one database;

using identifiers associated with the stored documents to identify documents within the at least one database responsive to a request received from a user-accessible terminal for information related to at least one of the plurality of legal topics;

causing information associated with the identified documents to be displayed on a display associated with the user-accessible terminal from which the request was received, the information tabulated according to the topics and classes assigned to the documents with which the information is associated.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein documents are received from a plurality of sources.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein documents are stored in a plurality of databases.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the documents are stored in the plurality of databases according to at least one of:

the topics assigned to the documents, the classes assigned to the documents, and the sources of the documents.

34. The method of claim 30, comprising:

checking formatted documents for compliance with a document receiving protocol; and

generating a notice of defects automatically upon determination that a checked document does not comply with the protocol.

35. The method of claim 34, comprising automatically resubmitting the non-complying document for reprocessing.

36. A method of processing legal information, the method comprising:

assigning to each of a plurality of documents received from at least one information source an comprising information relating to a plurality of legal topics at least one identifier associated with (a) at least one of the legal topics to which the document relates and (b) at least one of a plurality of classes of information within the at least one legal topic, according to a type of information included within the document;

formatting the received documents according to a protocol;

storing the formatted documents in a plurality of databases, at least one of the databases accessible in response to requests received from a terminal having a general authorization and at least a second of the databases accessible in response to requests received from terminals having a specific authorization;

receiving from a terminal having the specific authorization a request for information related to at least one of the plurality of legal topics;

using identifiers associated with the stored documents to identify, in response to a request received from a terminal having the specific authorization, information in the at the least one database accessible by the general authorization and the at least second database accessible by the specific authorization;

causing information associated with the identified documents to be displayed on a display associated with the user-accessible terminal from which the request was received, the information tabulated according to the topics and classes assigned to the documents with which the information is associated.

37. A method for simultaneously providing a plurality of different types of legal information relating to a common legal topic comprising:

providing a plurality of different types of legal information relating to a common legal topic to a computer device;

displaying the plurality of different types of legal information on a display device coupled to the computer device simultaneously in different parts of the display; and

automatically updating at least one of the plurality of types of displayed legal information while the plurality of types of legal information are simultaneously displayed.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein displaying the plurality of different types of legal information comprises displaying at least one type of legal information in a list identifying a plurality of items of legal information.

39. The method of claim 37 wherein updating at least one of the plurality of types of displayed information comprises adding at least one item to the list which is more current than at least one other item on the list.

40. The method of claim 37 wherein automatically updating at least one of the plurality of types of displayed legal information comprises periodically accessing at least one database to determine whether new items of the displayed legal information types is stored within the database.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein automatically updating at least one of the plurality of types of displayed legal information comprises continually accessing at least one database to determine whether new items of the displayed legal information types is stored within the database.

42. Computer program product, stored on a computer readable medium or media and useable for causing a computer system to:

access from memory information related to at least one legal topic, in response to a request received from a user-accessible terminal coupled with the system; and

cause the accessed information to be displayed on a display device associated with the terminal from which the request was received, the information tabulated according to a classification comprising at least two types.

43. Computer program product, stored on a computer readable medium or media and useable for causing a computer system to:

provide a plurality of different types of legal information relating to a common legal topic to a computer device;

display the plurality of different types of legal information on a display device coupled to the computer device simultaneously in different parts of the display; and

automatically update at least one of the plurality of types of displayed legal information while the plurality of types of legal information are simultaneously displayed.

44. Computer program product, stored on a computer readable medium or media and useable for causing a computer system to:

display on a display device coupled to a computer device items of a plurality of different types of legal information, the information tabulated according to a classification comprising at least two types;

access within a computer memory, in response to a request received from the computer device, content information associated with a document identified by an item of the displayed information; and

cause the accessed content information to be displayed on the display device.

45. Computer program product, stored on a computer readable medium or media and useable for causing a computer system to display on a display device coupled with a user-accessible terminal items of a plurality of different types of legal information, the information tabulated according to a classification comprising at least two types and comprising at least one item identifying a document, the length of the at least one item designateable by a user of the terminal.

46. Computer program product, stored on a computer readable medium or media and useable for causing a computer system to:

access, in response to a request, information in at least one database using a general authorization and in at least a second database using a specific authorization receive a request for information related to at least one legal topic; and

display the accessed information on a display device coupled to the computer system, the information tabulated according to a classification comprising at least two types.

47. A system for providing legal information, the system comprising at least one computer, at least one database associated with the at least one computer for storing information related to a plurality of legal topics, and programming stored on a computer readable medium or media that causes the at least one computer to:

identify, in accordance with a request received from a user-accessible terminal, at least two topics of legal information and at least one type of information within each of the at least two legal topics;

identify within the at least one database information related to the identified topics and types of information; and

cause the identified information to be output to a device in accordance with a designation received from the terminal from which the request was received, the information comprising identifiers for tabulation, upon output by a device in accordance with a designation received from the terminal from which the request was received, in accordance with a classification comprising at least two of the at least two topics and at least two types.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the system comprises programming stored on a computer readable medium or media that causes the at least one computer to further automatically:

identify within the at least one database new information related to the identified topics and types of information; and

cause the new identified information to be output to a device in accordance with a designation received from the terminal from which the request was received, the information comprising identifiers for tabulation, upon output by a device in accordance with a designation received from the terminal from which the request was received, in accordance with a classification comprising at least two of the at least two topics and at least two types.

49. A system for providing legal information, the system comprising at least one computer, at least one database associated with the at least one computer for storing information related to a plurality of legal topics, and programming stored on a computer readable medium or media that causes the at least one computer to:

identify within the at least one database information related to at least one legal topic, in response to a first request received from a user-accessible terminal coupled with the system;

identify within the at least one database information related to at least one of the same or other legal topics, in response to a second request received from the user-accessible terminal; and

cause the information identified in response to both the first and second requests to be output to a device in accordance with a designation received from the terminal from which the request was received, the information comprising identifiers for tabulation, upon output by a device in accordance with a designation received from the terminal from which the request was received, in accordance with a classification of at least one of topic and type.

50. A system for providing legal information, the system comprising at least one computer, at least one database associated with the at least one computer for storing information related to a plurality of legal topics, and programming stored on a computer readable medium or media that causes the at least one computer to:

access within the at least one database information related to at least two of a plurality of legal topics and a plurality of types of information within the plurality of topics, in response to a request received from a user-accessible terminal coupled with the system; and

cause the accessed information to be output to a device in accordance with a designation received from the terminal from which the request was received, the information comprising identifiers for tabulation, in accordance with a designation received from the terminal from which the request was received, in accordance with a classification comprising the at least two of the plurality of topics and the plurality of types.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the device is a memory controlled by a processor associated with the at least one database.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein the device is a memory designated by the terminal from which the request was received.

53. The system of claim 50, wherein the device is a memory associated with an electronic mail address.

54. The system of claim 50, wherein the device is at least one of a display, a printer, and a non-volatile memory.

55. The system of claim 50, wherein the device is an output device associated with at least one input device for interactive control of the output of the information to a display memory.