Electronic document management system

• US 20060184452A1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BCE Emergis Electronic Mortgage Services LLC
• Original Assignee: Maccord Mason PLLC
• Inventors: Zhang, Lei, Davies, Peter, Weaver, Kimberly M., Sponsler, Jack, Safford, Todd A., Schmickel, Xan, Chadha, Taj, Buddharaju, Naja, Benner, Derek, Barnes, John P., Nan, Josh, Alluru, Sai, Zhou, Bin Zhou, Kidwell, Bonnie
• Application Number:
  US10/685,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20060184452A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/68 Special signature format, e.g. XML format
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3268 using certificate validation, registration, distribution or revocation, e.g. certificate revocation list [CRL]

Abstract

An electronic document management system. The system includes a document entry module; a document management module; and a real time digital certificate generator for effecting electronic signatures. In the preferred embodiment, the system further includes a document repository module for storing documents and for accessing documents.

Claims

1. An electronic document management system, said system comprising:

(a) a document entry module;

(b) a document management module; and

(c) a real time digital certificate generator for effecting electronic signatures.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including a document repository module, said document repository module including means for storing documents and means for accessing documents.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for accessing documents includes means for sorting documents.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for accessing documents includes means for versioning documents.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for accessing documents includes means for performing validations on documents.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2, further including means for filtering documents by user-defined criteria.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the means for filtering documents by user defined criteria includes means for defining filters.

8. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means for filtering documents includes pre-selected criteria.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said pre-selected criteria includes grouped documents.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein means for filtering documents by user defined criteria further includes means for grouping filtered documents.

11. The apparatus according to claim 2, further including a transactions module.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said transaction module further includes means for batch transferring documents.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said document entry module includes means for uploading documents and means for naming each document.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the means for uploading documents includes means for specifying documents to be uploaded.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the means for uploading documents includes means for uploading documents singly.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the means for uploading documents includes means for uploading document packages.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the means for uploading documents includes means for uploading documents via a business to business (B2B) integration with document source.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the means for uploading documents includes means for uploading documents through a web browser.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the means for uploading documents includes means for specifying the structure of the document package.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the means for selecting the structure of the document package includes means for defining the structure of the document package.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the means for specifying the structure of the document package includes means for cataloguing and storing structures of document packages.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the means for cataloguing and storing structures of document packages includes means for describing a business purpose of a document.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the means for cataloguing and storing structures of document packages includes means for parsing the contents of document packages into individual documents.

24. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said documents are imported electronically.

25. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said documents are scanned into an electronic format prior to being imported.

26. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said document format is selected from the group consisting of PDF, XHTML, PCL, JPEG, GIF, TIFF, PS and XML and combinations thereof.

27. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said documents are externally generated.

28. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said means for naming each document further includes means for associating related entries of documents.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said means for associating related entries of documents includes means for associating related entries of documents in a hierarchal manner.

30. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said means for naming further includes means for naming each document.

31. The apparatus according to claim 13, further including means for setting privileges.

32. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said document management module includes means for displaying documents and means for attaching an electronic signature to a document.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said means for attaching an electronic signature to a document includes means for attaching a system-generated tamper seal.

34. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said means for attaching an electronic signature to a document includes means for permitting system users to attach a click signature to a document.

35. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said means for attaching an electronic signature to a document includes means for permitting system users to attach a biometric signature to a document.

36. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said means for displaying includes a browser.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said browser is an Internet browser.

38. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said means for displaying is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

39. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said means for displaying is a kiosk.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said kiosk is located at the closing agent.

41. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said means for attaching electronic signature is a digital certificate to effect a digital signature.

42. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said means for attaching electronic signature is a pin signature to effect signature.

43. The apparatus according to claim 32, further including an order module.

44. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said order module includes a list of available service providers and means of selecting one or more services from said service providers.

45. The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said list of available service providers is a product catalog.

46. The apparatus according to claim 44, further including filtering means.

47. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said filtering means is a preferences filter.

48. The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said filtering means is a locations filter.

49. The apparatus according to claim 44, further including means for associating one or more documents with a selected entry.

50. The apparatus according to claim 32, further includes means for printing documents.

51. The apparatus according to claim 32, further including means for downloading electronic copies of documents.

52. The apparatus according to claim 32, further including means for deleting selected documents.

53. The apparatus according to claim 32, further including means for displaying document histories.

54. The apparatus according to claim 32, further including means for changing document privileges.

55. A real time digital certificate generator for effecting electronic signatures for an electronic document management system, said apparatus comprising:

(a) means for entering data for certificate recipient including an entrusted identification and authentication (I&

A);

(b) means for initiating the generation of a key pair for the digital certificate;

(c) means for transmitting data to a certificate authority; and

(d) means for receiving the digital certificate from the certificate authority.

56. The apparatus according to claim 55, further including means for automatically associating the digital certificate with the certificate recipient system user ID.

57. The apparatus according to claim 56, further including means for automatically removing the certificate.

58. The apparatus according to claim 57, wherein said means for automatically removing the certificate removes the certificate from means for data entry.

59. The apparatus according to claim 55, further including means for providing secondary verification.

60. The apparatus according to claim 59, wherein said means for providing secondary verification is a system user ID.

61. The apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said means for initiating the generation of a key pair for the digital certificate further includes means for generating the initiation of a key pair for a browser-based digital certificate.

62. The apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said means for initiating the generation of a key pair for the digital certificate further includes means for generating the initiation of a key pair for a roaming digital certificate.

63. The apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said means for initiating the generation of a key pair for the digital certificate further includes means for generating the initiation of a key pair for a hardware-based digital certificate.

64. The apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said means for receiving the digital certificate from the certificate authority further includes means for automatically installing the certificate on a computer'"'"'s browser.

65. The apparatus according to claim 55, further including means for managing the life cycle of the certificate from within the document management system.

66. The apparatus according to claim 65, wherein said means for managing the life cycle of the certificate from within the document management system includes means for performing processes necessary to renew the digital certificate.

67. The apparatus according to claim 65, wherein said means for managing the life cycle of the certificate from within the document management system includes means for revoking the digital certificate.

68. The apparatus according to claim 65, wherein said means for managing the life cycle of the certificate from within the document management system includes means for performing processes necessary for certificate recipient customer support.

69. An electronic document management system, said system comprising:

(a) a document entry module;

(b) a document management module;

(c) a real time digital certificate generator for effecting electronic signatures, said real time digital certificate generator including;

(i) means for entering data for certificate recipient including an entrusted identification and authentication (I&

A);

(ii) means for generating a key pair;

(iii) means for transmitting data to a certificate authority; and

(iv) means for receiving the digital certificate from the certificate of authority; and

(d) a document repository module, said document repository module including means for storing documents and means for accessing documents.

70. The apparatus according to claim 69, wherein the means for accessing documents includes means for sorting documents.

71. The apparatus according to claim 69, wherein the means for accessing documents includes means for versioning documents.

72. The apparatus according to claim 69, wherein the means for accessing documents includes means for performing validations on documents.

73. The apparatus according to claim 69, further including means for filtering documents by user-defined criteria.

74. The apparatus according to claim 70, wherein the means for filtering documents by user defined criteria includes means for defining filters.

75. The apparatus according to claim 70, wherein said means for filtering documents includes pre-selected criteria.

76. The apparatus according to claim 75, wherein said pre-selected criteria includes grouped documents.

77. The apparatus according to claim 73, wherein means for filtering documents by user defined criteria further includes means for grouping filtered documents.

78. The apparatus according to claim 69, further including a transactions module.

79. The apparatus according to claim 78, wherein said transaction module further includes means for batch transferring documents.

80. The apparatus according to claim 69, wherein said document entry module includes means for uploading documents and means for naming each document.

81. The apparatus according to claim 80, wherein the means for uploading documents includes means for specifying documents to be uploaded.

82. The apparatus according to claim 80, wherein the means for uploading documents includes means for uploading documents singly.

83. The apparatus according to claim 80, wherein the means for uploading documents includes means for uploading document packages.

84. The apparatus according to claim 83, wherein the means for uploading documents includes means for uploading documents via a business to business (B2B) integration with document source.

85. The apparatus according to claim 83, wherein the means for uploading documents includes means for uploading documents through a web browser.

86. The apparatus according to claim 83, wherein the means for uploading documents includes means for specifying the structure of the document package.

87. The apparatus according to claim 86, wherein the means for selecting the structure of the document package includes means for defining the structure of the document package.

88. The apparatus according to claim 86, wherein the means for specifying the structure of the document package includes means for cataloguing and storing structures of document packages.

89. The apparatus according to claim 88, wherein the means for cataloguing and storing structures of document packages includes means for describing a business purpose of a document.

90. The apparatus according to claim 88, wherein the means for cataloguing and storing structures of document packages includes means for parsing the contents of document packages into individual documents.

91. The apparatus according to claim 80, wherein said documents are imported electronically.

92. The apparatus according to claim 80, wherein said documents are scanned into an electronic format prior to being imported.

93. The apparatus according to claim 80, wherein said document format is selected from the group consisting of PDF, XHTML, PCL, JPEG, GIF, TIFF, PS and XML and combinations thereof.

94. The apparatus according to claim 80, wherein said documents are externally generated.

95. The apparatus according to claim 80, wherein said means for naming each document further includes means for associating related entries of documents.

96. The apparatus according to claim 95, wherein said means for associating related entries of documents includes means for associating related entries of documents in a hierarchal manner.

97. The apparatus according to claim 80, wherein said means for naming further includes means for naming each document.

98. The apparatus according to claim 80, further including means for setting privileges.

99. The apparatus according to claim 69, wherein said document management module includes means for displaying documents and means for attaching an electronic signature to a document.

100. The apparatus according to claim 99, wherein said means for attaching an electronic signature to a document includes means for attaching a system-generated tamper seal.

101. The apparatus according to claim 99, wherein said means for attaching an electronic signature to a document includes means for permitting system users to attach a click signature to a document.

102. The apparatus according to claim 99, wherein said means for attaching an electronic signature to a document includes means for permitting system users to attach a biometric signature to a document.

103. The apparatus according to claim 99, wherein said means for displaying includes a browser.

104. The apparatus according to claim 103, wherein said browser is an Internet browser.

105. The apparatus according to claim 99, wherein said means for displaying is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

106. The apparatus according to claim 99, wherein said means for displaying is a kiosk.

107. The apparatus according to claim 106, wherein said kiosk is located at the closing agent.

108. The apparatus according to claim 99, wherein said means for attaching electronic signature is a digital certificate to effect a digital signature.

109. The apparatus according to claim 99, wherein said means for attaching electronic signature is a pin signature to effect signature.

110. The apparatus according to claim 99, further including an order module.

111. The apparatus according to claim 110, wherein said order module includes a list of available service providers and means of selecting one or more services from said service providers.

112. The apparatus according to claim 111, wherein said list of available service providers is a product catalog.

113. The apparatus according to claim 111, further including filtering means.

114. The apparatus according to claim 113, wherein said filtering means is a preferences filter.

115. The apparatus according to claim 113, wherein said filtering means is a locations filter.

116. The apparatus according to claim 111, further including means for associating one or more documents with a selected entry.

117. The apparatus according to claim 99, further includes means for printing documents.

118. The apparatus according to claim 99, further including means for downloading electronic copies of documents.

119. The apparatus according to claim 99, further including means for deleting selected documents.

120. The apparatus according to claim 99, further including means for displaying document histories.

121. The apparatus according to claim 99, further including means for changing document privileges.

122. The apparatus according to claim 69, further including means for automatically associating the digital certificate with the certificate recipient system user ID.

123. The apparatus according to claim 122, further including means for automatically removing the certificate.

124. The apparatus according to claim 123, wherein said means for automatically removing the certificate removes the certificate from means for data entry.

125. The apparatus according to claim 69, further including means for providing secondary verification.

126. The apparatus according to claim 125, wherein said means for providing secondary verification is a system user ID.

127. The apparatus according to claim 69, wherein said means for initiating the generation of a key pair for the digital certificate further includes means for generating the initiation of a key pair for a browser-based digital certificate.

128. The apparatus according to claim 69, wherein said means for initiating the generation of a key pair for the digital certificate further includes means for generating the initiation of a key pair for a roaming digital certificate.

129. The apparatus according to claim 69, wherein said means for initiating the generation of a key pair for the digital certificate further includes means for generating the initiation of a key pair for a hardware-based digital certificate.

130. The apparatus according to claim 69, wherein said means for receiving the digital certificate from the certificate authority further includes means for automatically installing the certificate on a computer'"'"'s browser.

131. The apparatus according to claim 69, further including means for managing the life cycle of the certificate from within the document management system.

132. The apparatus according to claim 131, wherein said means for managing the life cycle of the certificate from within the document management system includes means for performing processes necessary to renew the digital certificate.

133. The apparatus according to claim 131, wherein said means for managing the life cycle of the certificate from within the document management system includes means for revoking the digital certificate.

134. The apparatus according to claim 131, wherein said means for managing the life cycle of the certificate from within the document management system includes means for performing processes necessary for certificate recipient customer support.

135. A method for generating a real time digital certificate for effecting electronic signatures for an electronic document management system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) entering data for certificate recipient including an entrusted identification and authentication (I&

A);

(b) initiating the generation of a key pair for the digital certificate;

(c) transmitting data to a certificate authority; and

(d) receiving the digital certificate from the certificate authority.