Communication management tools for a secure information sharing architecture to facilitate post merger integration
First Claim
1. A computing network architecture adapted to facilitate the tracking and cataloging of communications within a secure information sharing architecture (“
- SISA”
) adapted to facilitate post-merger integration planning tasks for a merger involving one or more merging entities during a regulatory review period, said computing network architecture comprising;
a secure communication tracking and progress management tool adapted to permit users create, track and monitor requests for information, said tool comprising a first component and a second component that are adapted to communicate securely with one another;
a secure information facility network located within a SISA center facility, said secure information facility network comprising first computing means supporting said first component of said tool and a first request tracking database; and
a SISA management office network located external to said SISA center facility and in electronic communication with said secure information facility network, said SISA management office network comprising second computing means supporting said second component of said tool and a second request tracking database;
wherein said tool is operable to permit users located within said SISA center to ask clarification questions to persons associated with said merging entities via clarification requests prepared and submitted using forms of said tool, wherein said clarification requests once submitted are automatically cataloged and routed by said tool through at least two levels of legal review, and wherein said first level of legal review occurs at said first component and is cataloged in said first request tracking database and said second level of legal review occurs at said second component and is cataloged in both said first and second request tracking databases.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are architectures and related processes and communication tools for enabling secure information sharing and post-merger integration planning during the regulatory review period of mergers and acquisitions. The disclosed embodiments include a secure information sharing architecture and related communication processes and tools for facilitating data flow from companies involved in a merger transaction into a quarantined center of a secure information sharing architecture while ensuring that information integrity is maintained in compliance with regulatory restrictions, and automated tools for allowing users to track and view the status of communications into and out of the quarantined center.
14 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A computing network architecture adapted to facilitate the tracking and cataloging of communications within a secure information sharing architecture (“
- SISA”
) adapted to facilitate post-merger integration planning tasks for a merger involving one or more merging entities during a regulatory review period, said computing network architecture comprising;a secure communication tracking and progress management tool adapted to permit users create, track and monitor requests for information, said tool comprising a first component and a second component that are adapted to communicate securely with one another; a secure information facility network located within a SISA center facility, said secure information facility network comprising first computing means supporting said first component of said tool and a first request tracking database; and a SISA management office network located external to said SISA center facility and in electronic communication with said secure information facility network, said SISA management office network comprising second computing means supporting said second component of said tool and a second request tracking database; wherein said tool is operable to permit users located within said SISA center to ask clarification questions to persons associated with said merging entities via clarification requests prepared and submitted using forms of said tool, wherein said clarification requests once submitted are automatically cataloged and routed by said tool through at least two levels of legal review, and wherein said first level of legal review occurs at said first component and is cataloged in said first request tracking database and said second level of legal review occurs at said second component and is cataloged in both said first and second request tracking databases. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- SISA”
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14. A computing network architecture adapted to facilitate the tracking and cataloging of communications within a secure information sharing architecture (“
- SISA”
) adapted to facilitate post-merger integration planning tasks for a merger involving one or more merging entities during a regulatory review period, said computing network architecture comprising;a secure communication tracking and progress management tool adapted to permit users create, track and monitor requests for information, said tool comprising a first component and a second component that are adapted to communicate securely with one another; a secure information facility network located within a SISA center facility, said secure information facility network comprising first computing means supporting said first component of said tool and a first request tracking database, and said first component provides a request interface and a first legal review interface to users located within said SISA center facility, said request interface being adapted to allow users within said SISA center to ask clarification questions to persons associated with said merging entities by creating clarification requests prepared and submitted with forms of said tool; and a SISA management office network located external to said SISA center facility and in electronic communication with said secure information facility network, said SISA management office network comprising second computing means supporting said second component of said tool and a second request tracking database, and said second component provides a second legal review interface to users located within said SISA center facility; wherein said clarification requests once submitted are automatically cataloged and routed by said tool through at least two levels of legal review, wherein said first level of legal review is triggered by an automated routing of a submitted clarification request to said first legal interface where it must be approved by legal professional users quarantined within said SISA center facility, and said second level of legal review is triggered by an automated routing of said submitted clarification request after it is approved by said legal professional users to said second legal interface where it must be approved by second legal professionals located outside of said SISA center facility, and wherein any activities impacting said clarification request at each level of legal review are cataloged in particular ones of said request tracking databases depending upon from which of said interfaces said activities originate. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- SISA”
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23. A secure communication process for supporting the performance of post-merger integration planning tasks within a secure information sharing architecture (“
- SISA”
) for a merger involving one or more merging entities during a regulatory review period, said process comprising;establishing a secure information facility network located within a SISA center facility, said secure information facility network comprising first computing means and a first request tracking database; establishing a SISA management office network located external to said SISA center facility and in electronic communication with said secure information facility network, said SISA management office network comprising second computing means and a second request tracking database; loading a first component of a secure communication tracking and progress management tool on said first computing means and a second component of said tool on said second computing means, each of said components being adapted to communicate securely with one another to permit users within a respective network to create, track and monitor requests for information; and operating the tool, wherein said tool is operated by users located within said SISA center to ask clarification questions to persons associated with said merging entities via clarification requests prepared and submitted using forms of said tool, wherein said clarification requests once submitted are automatically cataloged and routed by said tool through at least two levels of legal review, and wherein said first level of legal review occurs at said first component and is cataloged in said first request tracking database and said second level of legal review occurs at said second component and is cataloged in both said first and second request tracking databases. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
- SISA”
Specification