Systems and methods for managing negotiated transactions

• US 20040163050A1
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bruce Edward Matter
• Original Assignee: Bruce Edward Matter
• Inventors: Matter, Bruce Edward
• Application Number:
  US10/717,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20040163050A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/530
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/123 Storage facilities

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for storing a plurality of documents, where each of the plurality of documents is divided into a plurality of clauses. Each of the plurality of clauses may be stored separately. Systems and methods further include the ability to store comments and modifications relating to associated clauses, together with identifying information. The comments and modifications may be considered in the generation of a final document.

Claims

1. A method for managing information related to a document, comprising:

storing and indexing a plurality of clauses;

selecting at least one clause from the plurality of clauses;

creating a document including the at least one clause from the plurality of clauses;

providing for the receiving of information corresponding to the at least one clause;

storing and associating any received information to the at least one clause; and

displaying the received information to visually associate the received information with the at least one clause.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

determining if the at least one clause is changed based upon the associated received information; and

storing the change to the at least one clause based upon the determination.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein any received information is at least one of a proposed change to the at least one clause, comments related to the at least one clause, identification information of the source of the received information, a time the received information was received, and a date the received information was received.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of clauses are indexed using predefined categories.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predefined categories relate to different types of clauses included in contracts.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated to the at least one clause may be archived for future consideration.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information may be provided over a network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the document resides on a server accessible by at least one client over a network.

9. The method of claim 2, further including:

generating a final document based upon the document and the associated information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the document relates to at least one of government procurement processes, rulemaking processes, legislative processes, and peer review processes.

11. The method of claim 8, further including:

storing additional information related to the document, wherein the additional information includes at least one of business rules, legal rules, and other information that may contribute to the generating of the final document; and

associating the additional information with the at least one clause.

12. A computer-readable medium containing instructions, executed by a processor, for performing a method for managing information related to a document, the method comprising:

storing and indexing a plurality of clauses;

selecting at least one clause from the plurality of clauses;

creating a document including the at least one clause from the plurality of clauses;

providing for the receiving of information corresponding to the at least one clause;

storing and associating any received information to the at least one clause; and

displaying the received information to visually associate the received information with the at least one clause.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further including:

determining if the at least one clause is changed based upon the associated received information; and

storing the change to the at least one clause based upon the determination.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein any received information is at least one of a proposed change to the at least one clause, comments related to the at least one clause, identification information of the source of the received information, a time the received information was received, and a date the received information was received.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the plurality of clauses are indexed using predefined categories.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the predefined categories relate to different types of clauses included in contracts.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the information associated to the at least one clause may be archived for future consideration.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the received information may be provided over a network.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the document resides on a server accessible by at least one client over a network.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further including:

generating a final document based upon the document and the associated information.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the document relates to at least one of government procurement processes, rulemaking processes, legislative processes, and peer review processes.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further including:

storing additional information related to the document, wherein the additional information includes at least one of business rules, legal rules, and other information that may contribute to the generating of the final document; and

associating the additional information with the at least one clause.

23. An apparatus for managing information related to a document, comprising:

a memory storing a program; and

a processor responsive to the program to

store and indexing a plurality of clauses;

select at least one clause from the plurality of clauses;

create a document including the at least one clause from the plurality of clauses;

provide for the receiving of information corresponding to the at least one clause;

store and associate any received information to the at least one clause; and

display the received information to visually associate the received information with the at least one clause.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine if the at least one clause is changed based upon the associated received information; and

store the change to the at least one clause based upon the determination.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein any received information is at least one of a proposed change to the at least one clause, comments related to the at least one clause, identification information of the source of the received information, a time the received information was received, and a date the received information was received.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the plurality of clauses are indexed using predefined categories.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the predefined categories relate to different types of clauses included in contracts.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the information associated to the at least one clause may be archived for future consideration.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the received information may be provided over a network.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the document resides on a server accessible by at least one client over a network.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate a final document based upon the document and the associated information.

32. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the document relates to at least one of government procurement processes, rulemaking processes, legislative processes, and peer review processes.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the processor is further configured to:

store additional information related to the document, wherein the additional information includes at least one of business rules, legal rules, and other information that may contribute to the generating of the final document; and

associate the additional information with the at least one clause.