Method and system for managing object circulation
First Claim
1. A method for managing circulation of objects among a plurality of users who are connected to a management center through a network, said method comprising the steps of:
- on behalf of the management center;
maintaining in an electronic database, for each object to be circulated, a static list of potential recipients;
receiving and storing object-related status information from the recipients;
maintaining and updating, in the database, a dynamic list of active recipients by selection from the static list by means of fixed criteria and on the basis of the status information; and
allowing users to access the dynamic list of active recipients via the network; and
on behalf of a user wanting to forward an object to another recipient;
consulting the dynamic list of active recipients for said object and selecting from that list another user as a next recipient;
physically forwarding said object to said next recipient; and
sending status information notifying said next recipient to the management center.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for managing circulation of objects among a plurality of users who are connected to a management center through a network includes, on behalf of the management center, maintaining in an electronic database, for each object to be circulated, a static list of potential recipients; receiving and storing object-related status information from the recipients; maintaining and updating, in the database, a dynamic list of active recipients by selection from the static list by means of fixed criteria and on the basis of the status information; and allowing users to access the dynamic list of active recipients via the network; and on behalf of a user wanting to forward an object to another recipient, consulting the dynamic list of active recipients for said object and selecting from that list another user as a next recipient; physically forwarding said object to said next recipient; and sending status information notifying said next recipient to the management center.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for managing circulation of objects among a plurality of users who are connected to a management center through a network, said method comprising the steps of:
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on behalf of the management center; maintaining in an electronic database, for each object to be circulated, a static list of potential recipients; receiving and storing object-related status information from the recipients; maintaining and updating, in the database, a dynamic list of active recipients by selection from the static list by means of fixed criteria and on the basis of the status information; and allowing users to access the dynamic list of active recipients via the network; and on behalf of a user wanting to forward an object to another recipient; consulting the dynamic list of active recipients for said object and selecting from that list another user as a next recipient; physically forwarding said object to said next recipient; and sending status information notifying said next recipient to the management center. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for managing circulation of objects among a plurality of users, comprising:
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a management center with electronic data processing facilities; and a network connecting the management center to the users, wherein the data processing facilities of the management center are adapted to perform the steps of; maintaining an electronic database that stores a static list of potential recipients for each object to be circulated; forming a dynamic list of active recipients by selection from said static list; dynamically adding or removing users in the dynamic list in accordance with status information sent from the users via the network; selecting or allowing selection of a first user, to whom an object is to be sent, from the dynamic list; allowing users to access the database via the network, for viewing the dynamic list of active recipients; and when the first user indicates a second user as a next recipient of the object, storing the identity of the second user.
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14. A computer program product comprising program code that, when run on a computer, causes the computer to perform the steps of:
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maintaining an electronic database that stores a static list of potential recipients for an object to be circulated; forming a dynamic list of active recipients by selection from said static list; dynamically adding or removing users in the dynamic list in accordance with status information sent from the users via the network; selecting or allowing selection of a first user, to whom an object is to be sent, from the dynamic list; allowing users to access the database via the network, for viewing the dynamic list of active recipients; and when the first user indicates a second user as a next recipient of the object, storing the identity of the second user.
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Specification