System and method for public and private messages in an information management system

• US 20060190541A1
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FoundationIP LLC (Clarivate Plc)
• Original Assignee: FoundationIP LLC (Clarivate Plc)
• Inventors: Sinha, Pradeep, Lundberg, Steven W., Kalis, Janal M., Brennan, Thomas F., Jain, Shal
• Application Number:
  US11/061,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20060190541A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages

Abstract

There is disclosed method and apparatus for storing and processing information in a data storage and processing system used by attorneys, wherein there is sent an electronic message from the processing system to one or more e-mail recipients. An electronic message is received in the processing system from an e-mail sender, with the electronic messages specifying one or more individuals or groups of individuals to receive the electronic message. Individuals specified to receive a message are allowed to view the message, and the message is in association with respective legal matters tracked by the system. Individuals not specified to receive a message are allowed to view a message if the message is designated available to be viewed by those other than the recipients. Further, a user not specified to receive a message viewing the message in connection with viewing data being tracked for a particular legal matter.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing and processing information in a data storage and processing system used by attorneys;

sending an electronic message from the processing system to one or more e-mail recipients;

receiving an electronic message in the processing system from an e-mail sender, the electronic messages specifying one or more individuals or groups of individuals to receive the electronic message;

allowing individuals specified to receive a message to view the message;

storing the messages in association with respective legal matters tracked by the system; and

allowing individuals not specified to receive a message to view a message if the message is designated available to be viewed by those other than the recipients.

2. A method comprising:

storing and processing information in a data storage and processing system used by attorneys;

sending an electronic message from the processing system to one or more e-mail recipients;

receiving an electronic message in the processing system from an e-mail sender, the electronic messages specifying one or more individuals or groups of individuals to receive the electronic message;

allowing individuals specified to receive a message to view the message;

storing the messages in association with respective legal matters tracked by the system;

allowing individuals not specified to receive a message to view a message if the message is designated available to be viewed by those other than the recipients and if the individuals are designated as members of a legal group responsible for handling a legal matter associated with the message.

3. A computer implemented legal services data processing system comprising:

data organized in a client, client matter and matter activity hierarchical format, wherein a client comprises a plurality of client matters and each of the plurality of matters comprises a plurality of matter activities; and

e-mail processing routines which store a copy of sent and received e-mails associated with the client matters in a private folder accessible by the e-mail participants, the e-mail processing routines optionally store a copy of the e-mails in a public folder accessible to individuals not participants to the e-mail.