SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN ON-LINE JURISDICTION MANAGER

• US 20070179911A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TriTech Software Systems (CentralSquare Technologies, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Praeses Corporation
• Inventors: Key, Jeffery
• Granted Patent: US 7,813,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/403
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

The jurisdiction online manager manages required jurisdictional inspections mandated by a plurality of different jurisdictions performed by non-governmental entities. A central computer system receives object data for an object and most other information via a global computer network, typically the Internet. Based upon the provided object data, the jurisdiction online manage can determine the controlling jurisdiction for the object. The controlling jurisdiction is the jurisdiction in which the object is located. After determining the controlling jurisdiction, the jurisdiction'"'"'s inspection form or a similar inspection template can be provided to the inspectors, who will perform the actual physical inspections of the objects. After receiving inspection result data from the non-governmental inspection, the inspection result data is stored the system database. The inspection result data is then provided to the controlling jurisdiction. The controlling jurisdiction reviews the result data online and result data is provided to the inspection entity.

Claims

1-36. -36. (canceled)

37. A method for sharing information regarding a particular object of a type of regulated objects between a jurisdictional entity having a jurisdiction over regulated objects of that type of objects and a nonjurisdictional entity, comprising the steps of:

storing, in a computer database, information required by the jurisdictional entity for regulation of regulated objects of that particular type of object;

storing, in the computer database, initial information relating to the particular object applicable to the object as one of the regulated objects of that particular type of object, as stored object information;

providing remote access to the stored object information by a person associated with the jurisdictional entity and by a person associated with a nonjurisdictional entity;

receiving and storing, in the computer database, additional object information input by a person associated with the nonjurisdictional entity applicable to the particular object; and

allowing online review and approval of the initial information and the additional object information by a person associated with the jurisdictional entity.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the additional object information comprises inspection data.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of:

in response to receipt of approval of the initial information and of the additional object information by a person associated with the jurisdictional entity, issuing a certificate of compliance relating to the particular object.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising the steps of:

arranging for inspection of the particular object by the nonjurisdictional entity, and

storing inspection data generated by the inspection as additional object information.

41. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of:

certifying the particular object based on input of approval information by a person associated with the jurisdictional entity.

42. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of:

scheduling an inspection for the particular object by a person.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the jurisdictional entity is a governmental regulatory agency.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein the nonjurisdictional entity is selected from the group comprising an inspection entity, an insurance company, and/or the owner of the object.

45. The method of claim 37, wherein information required by the jurisdictional entity for regulation of regulated objects of that particular type of object is expressed in a template associated with the jurisdictional entity.

46. The method of claim 37, wherein the remote access to the stored object information is effected via the Internet.

47. The method of claim 37, wherein the remote access to the stored object information is allowed only to an authorized person associated with the jurisdictional entity and an authorized person associated with the nonjurisdictional entity.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the authorized person is a commissioned inspector.

49. The method of claim 37, wherein the regulated objects are physically inspectable objects.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the inspectable objects are selected from the group:

pressure vessels, boilers, elevators, and amusement park rides.

51. The method of claim 37, further comprising the steps of:

verifying that an object is in compliance with requirements of the jurisdictional entity; and

issuing a certificate of compliance if the object is in compliance with said requirements.

52. The method of claim 37, wherein the method is effected on a computer system that manages online review and approval of object information for a plurality of different jurisdictional entities.

53. The method of claim 37, wherein the jurisdictional entity is a governmental inspection entity.

54. The method of claim 37, wherein the nonjurisdictional entity is a non-governmental inspection entity.

55. The method of claim 37, wherein the method is carried out for plurality of regulated objects involving a plurality of jurisdictional entities.

56. The method of claim 37, wherein the information regarding the particular regulated object is shared between the jurisdictional entity and a plurality of nonjurisdictional entities.

57. A method for certifying a status of a particular object of a particular type of regulated objects, based on information required by a jurisdictional entity having a jurisdiction over regulated objects of that type of objects and information obtained by a nonjurisdictional entity, comprising the steps of:

storing, in a computer database, certification information required by the jurisdictional entity as required for certification of regulated objects of that particular type of object;

storing, in the computer database, initial information relating to the particular object applicable the object as one of the regulated objects of that particular type of object;

providing remote access to the stored object information and the stored certification information by a person associated with the jurisdictional entity and by a person associated with the nonjurisdictional entity;

receiving and storing, in the computer database, additional object information input by a person associated with a nonjurisdictional entity, the additional object information relating to certification of the particular object;

displaying the initial information and the additional object information to a person associated with the jurisdictional entity for review and approval;

in response to receipt of approval of the initial information and of the additional object information by the person associated with the jurisdictional entity, issuing a certificate of compliance relating to the object.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the additional object information comprises inspection data.

59. The method of claim 57, further comprising the steps of:

arranging for inspection of the particular object by the nonjurisdictional entity, and

storing inspection data generated by the inspection as additional object information.

60. The method of claim 57, further comprising the step of:

scheduling an inspection of the particular object by a person.

61. The method of claim 57, wherein the jurisdictional entity is a governmental regulatory agency.

62. The method of claim 57, wherein the nonjurisdictional entity is selected from the group of an inspection company, an insurance company, and/or the owner of the object.

63. The method of claim 57, wherein information required by the jurisdictional entity for regulation of regulated objects of that particular type of object is expressed in a template associated with the jurisdictional entity.

64. The method of claim 57, wherein the remote access to the stored object information is effected via the Internet.

65. The method of claim 57, wherein the remote access to the stored object information is allowed only to an authorized person associated with the jurisdictional entity and an authorized person associated with the nonjurisdictional entity.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the authorized person is a commissioned inspector.

67. The method of claim 57, wherein the regulated objects are physically inspectable objects.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the inspectable objects are selected from the group:

pressure vessels, boilers, elevators, and amusement park rides.

69. The method of claim 57, further comprising the steps of:

verifying that an object is in compliance with requirements of the jurisdictional entity; and

issuing a certificate of compliance if the object is in compliance with said requirements.

70. The method of claim 57, wherein the method is effected on a computer system that manages online review and approval of object information for a plurality of different jurisdictional entities.

71. The method of claim 57, wherein the jurisdictional entity is a governmental inspection entity.

72. The method of claim 57, wherein the method is carried out for plurality of regulated objects involving a plurality of jurisdictional entities.

73. The method of claim 57, wherein the information regarding the particular regulated object is shared between the jurisdictional entity and a plurality of nonjurisdictional entities.

74. A method for jurisdictional certification a particular object of a particular type of regulated objects, involving ajurisdictional entity having jurisdiction over regulated objects of the particular type of objects and a nonjurisdictional entity, comprising the steps of:

storing, in a computer database, initial information relating to the particular object as required for certification of objects of that particular type of object;

providing scheduling information relating to the particular object for scheduling of an inspection of the particular object;

providing remote access to the stored object information by a person associated with the jurisdictional entity and by a person associated with the nonjurisdictional entity;

receiving and storing, in the computer database, object inspection information applicable to the particular object input by a person conducting a scheduled inspection;

displaying the initial information and the object inspection information to a person associated with the jurisdictional entity for review and approval; and

in response to receipt of approval of the initial information and of the inspection information by a person associated with the jurisdictional entity, issuing a certificate of compliance relating to the particular object.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein the inspection of the object is conducted by a person associated with the jurisdictional entity.

76. The method of claim 74, wherein the inspection of the object is conducted by a person associated with the nonjurisdictional entity.

77. The method of claim 74, further comprising the step of:

scheduling an inspection for the particular object in accordance with the scheduling information.

78. The method of claim 74, wherein the jurisdictional entity is a governmental entity.

79. The method of claim 74, wherein the nonjurisdictional entity is one of the group comprising an inspection entity, an insurance company, and/or the owner of the object.

80. The method of claim 74, wherein information required by the jurisdictional entity for regulation of regulated objects of that particular type of object is expressed in a template associated with the jurisdictional entity.

81. The method of claim 74, wherein the remote access to the stored object information is effected via the Internet.

82. The method of claim 74, wherein the remote access to the stored object information is allowed only to an authorized person associated with the jurisdictional entity and an authorized person associated with the nonjurisdictional entity.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein the authorized person is a commissioned inspector.

84. The method of claim 74, wherein the regulated objects are physically inspectable objects.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the inspectable objects are selected from the group:

pressure vessels, boilers, elevators, and amusement park rides.

86. The method of claim 74, further comprising the steps of:

verifying that an object is in compliance with requirements of the jurisdictional entity; and

issuing a certificate of compliance if the object is in compliance with said requirements.

87. The method of claim 74, wherein the method is effected on a computer system that manages online review and approval of object information for a plurality of different jurisdictional entities.

88. The method of claim 74, wherein the jurisdictional entity is a governmental inspection entity.

89. The method of claim 74, wherein the method is carried out for plurality of regulated objects involving a plurality of jurisdictional entities.

90. The method of claim 74, wherein information regarding the particular regulated object is shared between the jurisdictional entity and a plurality of nonjurisdictional entities.

91. A method for jurisdictional inspection of a particular object of a particular type of regulated objects, involving a jurisdictional entity having a jurisdiction over regulated objects of that type of objects and a nonjurisdictional entity, comprising the steps of:

storing, in a computer database, information required by the jurisdictional entity for regulation of regulated objects of that particular type of object;

storing, in the computer database, initial information relating to the particular object applicable to the object as one of the regulated objects of that particular type of object, as stored object information;

providing scheduling information relating to the particular object for scheduling of an inspection of the object;

providing remote access to the stored object information by a person associated with the jurisdictional entity and by a person associated with a nonjurisdictional entity;

in response to selection of the particular object for inspection, storing inspection scheduling data associated with the particular object in the database;

in response to a request input by a person assigned for an inspection, retrieving and displaying a data entry template of the jurisdictional entity for receiving inspection data resulting from inspection of objects of the type of object corresponding to the particular object; and

receiving and storing data resulting from inspection of the particular object input by a person associated with inspection of the particular object as additional object information.

92. The method of claim 91, further comprising the step of:

utilizing the stored object information in a certification process of the jurisdictional entity.

93. The method of claim 91, further comprising the step of:

determining whether a person assigned for an inspection possesses a valid commission from the jurisdictional entity for inspection of objects of the type of objects of the particular object.

94. The method of claim 91, further comprising the steps of:

displaying the initial information and the object inspection information to a person associated with the jurisdictional entity for review and approval;

in response to receipt of approval of the initial information and of the inspection data by a person associated with the jurisdictional entity, issuing a certificate of compliance relating to the object.

95. The method of claim 91, wherein the jurisdictional entity is a governmental regulatory agency.

96. The method of claim 91, wherein the nonjurisdictional entity is one of the group of an inspection entity, an insurance company, and/or the owner of the object.

97. The method of claim 91, wherein the remote access to the stored object information is effected via the Internet.

98. The method of claim 91, wherein the remote access to the stored object information is allowed only to an authorized person associated with the jurisdictional entity and an authorized person associated with the nonjurisdictional entity.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein the authorized person is a commissioned inspector.

100. The method of claim 91, wherein the regulated objects are physically inspectable objects.

101. The method of claim 100, wherein the inspectable objects are selected from the group:

pressure vessels, boilers, elevators, and amusement park rides.

102. The method of claim 91, further comprising the steps of:

verifying that an object is in compliance with requirements of the jurisdictional entity; and

issuing a certificate of compliance if the object is in compliance with said requirements.

103. The method of claim 91, wherein the method is effected on a computer system that manages online review and approval of object information for a plurality of different jurisdictional entities.

104. The method of claim 91, wherein the jurisdictional entity is a governmental inspection entity.

105. The method of claim 91, wherein the method is carried out for plurality of regulated objects involving a plurality of jurisdictional entities.

106. The method of claim 91, wherein information regarding the particular regulated object is shared between the jurisdictional entity and a plurality of nonjurisdictional entities.

107. A system for sharing information regarding a particular object of a type of regulated objects between a jurisdictional entity having a jurisdiction over regulated objects of that type of objects and a nonjurisdictional entity, comprising:

a data network component for coupling to a global communication network for communicating on-line with a computer system of a jurisdictional entity and at least one nonjurisdictional entity;

a server computer coupled to the data network component including a database and operative for running application programs that contain application program logic for;

storing regulation information required by the jurisdictional entity for regulation of regulated objects of that particular type of object;

storing initial information relating to the particular object applicable to the object as one of the regulated objects of that particular type of object, as stored object information;

providing remote access to the stored object information by a person associated with the jurisdictional entity and by a person associated with a nonjurisdictional entity;

receiving and storing additional object information input by a person associated with the nonjurisdictional entity applicable to the particular object; and

allowing online review and approval of the initial information and the additional object information by a person associated with the jurisdictional entity; and

a data storage system coupled to the server computer for storing application program data, regulation information, stored object information, initial and additional object information, and approval indication information resulting from approval of the object information.

108. The system of claim 107, wherein the additional object information comprises inspection data.

109. The system of claim 107, wherein the server computer further comprises application programming logic for issuing a certificate of compliance relating to the particular object in response to receipt of approval of the initial information and of the additional object information by a person associated with the jurisdictional entity.

110. The system of claim 107, wherein the server computer further comprises application programming logic for arranging for inspection of the particular object by the nonjurisdictional entity, and storing inspection data generated by the inspection as additional object information.

111. The system of claim 107, wherein the server computer further comprises application programming logic for certifying the particular object based on input of approval information by a person associated with the jurisdictional entity.

112. The system of claim 107, wherein the server computer further comprises application programming logic for scheduling an inspection for the particular object by a person.

113. The system of claim 107, wherein the jurisdictional entity is a governmental regulatory agency.

114. The system of claim 107, wherein the nonjurisdictional entity is selected from the group comprising an inspection entity, an insurance company, and/or the owner of the object.

115. The system of claim 107, wherein information required by the jurisdictional entity for regulation of regulated objects of that particular type of object is expressed in a template associated with the jurisdictional entity.

116. The system of claim 107, wherein the remote access to the stored object information is effected via the Internet.

117. The system of claim 107, wherein the remote access to the stored object information is allowed only to an authorized person associated with the jurisdictional entity and an authorized person associated with the nonjurisdictional entity.

118. The system of claim 107, wherein the authorized person is a commissioned inspector.

119. The system of claim 107, wherein the regulated objects are physically inspectable objects.

120. The system of claim 119, wherein the inspectable objects are selected from the group:

pressure vessels, boilers, elevators, and amusement park rides.

121. The system of claim 107, wherein the server computer further comprises application programming logic for

verifying that an object is in compliance with requirements of the jurisdictional entity;

and

issuing a certificate of compliance if the object is in compliance with said requirements.

122. The system of claim 107, wherein the system manages online review and approval of object information for a plurality of different jurisdictional entities.

123. The system of claim 107, wherein the jurisdictional entity is a governmental inspection entity.

124. The system of claim 107, wherein the nonjurisdictional entity is a non-governmental inspection entity.

125. The system of claim 107, wherein the system is operative in connection with a plurality of regulated objects involving a plurality of jurisdictional entities.

126. The system of claim 107, wherein the information regarding the particular regulated object is shared between the jurisdictional entity and a plurality of nonjurisdictional entities.