System and method for managing login resources for the submission and performance of engagements

• US 20040243626A1
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SurePrep, LLC
• Original Assignee: SurePrep, LLC
• Inventors: Wyle, David A., Karkare, Makarand
• Granted Patent: US 7,454,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/41 where a single sign-on provides access to a plurality of computers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/207 Tax processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/123 Tax preparation or submission

Abstract

A method for managing the submission of a plurality of engagements using a plurality of logins is disclosed. The method might include the steps of providing a plurality of logins corresponding to a single entity, wherein each of the plurality of logins includes a user name, a password and a location code, providing information relating to the plurality of engagements, receiving an identification code and a location code corresponding to the single entity and an engagement code corresponding to one of the plurality of engagements, and searching the plurality of logins for an available login. If an available login does not exist, then create an available login or return to the searching step. If an available login exists, then assign the available login to one of the plurality of engagements, and make the available login, unavailable.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing the submission of information, comprising:

providing a plurality of logins at a first device, wherein each of the plurality of logins has a status of available or unavailable;

searching the plurality of logins for at least one login that has a status of available;

providing an image file at the first device and the at least one login that has the status of available;

changing the status of the login from available to unavailable;

transmitting the image file and the login to a second device;

receiving a tax file from the second device; and

changing the status of the login from unavailable to available.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of logins includes a user name, a password and a location code.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tax file includes an income tax return.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the image file includes a plurality of tax documents.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the plurality of tax documents are selected from a group consisting of a 1099, W-2, K-1, dividend statement, income statement, profit and loss statement and settlement statement.

6. A computer-implemented method for managing the submission of a plurality of engagements using a plurality of logins, comprising:

providing a plurality of logins corresponding to a single entity, wherein each of the plurality of logins includes a user name, a password and a location code;

providing information relating to the plurality of engagements;

receiving an identification code and a location code corresponding to the single entity and an engagement code corresponding to one of the plurality of engagements;

searching the plurality of logins for an available login; and

if an available login does not exist, then

creating an available login, or

returning to the searching step;

if an available login exists, then

assigning the available login to the one of the plurality of engagements, and

making the available login, unavailable.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the information includes an image file.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the image file includes a plurality of tax documents.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of tax documents is selected from a group consisting of a 1099, W-2, K-1, dividend statement, income statement, profit and loss statement, and settlement statement.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising adding the engagement code to a queue if an available login is not created.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining if one of the plurality of engagements is in a queue.

12. The method of claim 6, further comprising placing one of the plurality of engagements in a queue.

13. The method of claim 6, further comprising transferring the available login, the identification code and the engagement code to a service provider.

14. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a document representing a completed engagement; and

making the unavailable login, available.

15. A computer program for managing the submission of a plurality of engagements using a plurality of logins, comprising instructions operable to cause a computer to:

store a plurality of logins corresponding to a single entity, wherein each of the plurality of logins includes a user name, a password and a location code;

receive an identification code corresponding to the single entity and an engagement code corresponding to an engagement;

search the plurality of logins for an available login;

assign the available login to the engagement code; and

make the available login, unavailable.

16. The computer program of claim 15, further comprising instructions to receive information relating to the engagement.

17. The computer program of claim 16, wherein the information includes an image file.

18. The computer program of claim 17, wherein the image file includes one or more of the following documents:

a 1099, W-2, K-1, dividend statement, income statement, profit and loss statement, and settlement statement.

19. The computer program of claim 15, further comprising instructions to receive a completed tax document corresponding to the engagement.

20. The computer program of claim 19, further comprising instructions to make the unavailable login, available, after receiving the completed tax document.