Single access point for filing of converted electronic forms to multiple processing entities

• US 20100153441A1
• Filed: 02/18/2010
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services GmbH (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Matles, Robert, Lopata, Iain, Gilliland, Scott, Retna, San, Pitman, Andrew J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,392,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Methods for efficiently publishing electronic versions of traditionally paper-based government forms and utilizing the electronic forms for web-based transactional services are disclosed. Standard paper-based government forms are automatically converted to XML format, including data fields for entry of information by customers. Multiple electronic forms are accessible to the customer at a single access point, such as a web site. At the web site, the customer selects a form for filing with any of a plurality of government agencies. When presented to the customer, the selected form is presented with some of its data fields being pre-populated according to information retrieved from a database and specific to that customer. The customer completes the form, and a back-end system integrated with the web site handles the completed form, determines the appropriate government agency for filing the form, and transmits it as a transaction to the determined government agency.

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable program instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method for transmitting information to at least one of a plurality of entities, the method comprising:

selecting at least one of a plurality of applications, wherein each of the plurality of applications is associated with a computer form including data entry areas;

receiving information in the data entry areas of the computer form;

storing the computer form and information as a completed computer form in the database;

identifying at least one of the plurality of entities that should receive the completed computer form by accessing associations between completed computer form and the at least one of the plurality of entities;

determining the proper format for information contained in the completed computer form based on requirements of the identified at least one of the plurality of entities; and

transmitting the completed computer form to all identified entities.

24. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 23, wherein the least one of the plurality of applications is selected from the group consisting of application for state sales and use tax, application for insurance, application for workforce development, application for electronic child support, application for integrated police management, application for paperless courts, application for offender transportation logistics, application for higher education electronic services, application for on-line training, application for budgeting and financial analysis, and application for withholding tax.

25. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 23, further comprising:

converting a blank paper form to the computer form.

26. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 25, wherein the converting occurs without individually coding each data entry area in the computer form.

27. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 23, further comprising:

saving information previously entered by a user in the database;

identifying the user; and

populating at least one of the data entry areas with information from the database.

28. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving an electronic document; and

attaching the electronic document to the completed computer form.

29. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving a digital signature from a user; and

attaching the digital signature to the completed computer form.

30. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 23, wherein the computer form is an XML document.

31. The computer-readable recording medium of claim 23, wherein the computer form is displayed on a Web site.

32. A computer-implemented method for transmitting information to at least one of a plurality of entities, the computer including a processor and memory, and the method comprising the steps performed by a computer of:

selecting, by the processor, at least one of a plurality of applications, wherein each of the plurality of applications is associated with a computer form including data entry areas;

receiving, by the processor, information in the data entry areas of the computer form;

storing, by the processor, the computer form and information as a completed computer form in the database;

identifying, by the processor, at least one of the plurality of entities that should receive the completed computer form by accessing associations between completed computer form and the at least one of the plurality of entities;

determining, by the processor, the proper format for information contained in the completed computer form based on requirements of the identified at least one of the plurality of entities; and

transmitting, by the processor, the completed computer form to all identified entities.

33. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein the least one of the plurality of applications is selected from the group consisting of application for state sales and use tax, application for insurance, application for workforce development, application for electronic child support, application for integrated police management, application for paperless courts, application for offender transportation logistics, application for higher education electronic services, application for on-line training, application for budgeting and financial analysis, and application for withholding tax.

34. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, further comprising:

converting, by the processor, a blank paper form to the computer form.

35. The computer-implemented method of claim 34, wherein the converting occurs without individually coding each data entry area in the computer form.

36. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, further comprising:

saving, by the processor, information previously entered by a user in the database;

identifying, by the processor, the user; and

populating, by the processor, at least one of the data entry areas with information from the database.

37. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, an electronic document; and

attaching, by the processor, the electronic document to the completed computer form.

38. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, a digital signature from a user; and

attaching, by the processor, the digital signature to the completed computer form.

39. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein the computer form is an XML document.

40. The computer-implemented method of claim 32, wherein the computer form is displayed on a Web site.

41. A computer system for transmitting information to at least one of a plurality of entities comprising:

a memory including a program that

selects at least one of a plurality of applications, wherein each of the plurality of applications is associated with a computer form including data entry areas;

receives information in the data entry areas of the computer form;

stores the computer form and information as a completed computer form in the database;

identifies at least one of the plurality of entities that should receive the completed computer form by accessing associations between completed computer form and the at least one of the plurality of entities;

determines the proper format for information contained in the completed computer form based on requirements of the identified at least one of the plurality of entities; and

transmits the completed computer form to all identified entities; and

a processor that runs the program.

42. The computer system of claim 41, wherein the least one of the plurality of applications is selected from the group consisting of application for state sales and use tax, application for insurance, application for workforce development, application for electronic child support, application for integrated police management, application for paperless courts, application for offender transportation logistics, application for higher education electronic services, application for on-line training, application for budgeting and financial analysis, and application for withholding tax.

43. The computer system of claim 41, wherein the program further:

converts a blank paper form to the computer form.

44. The computer system of claim 43, wherein the converting occurs without individually coding each data entry area in the computer form.

45. The computer system of claim 41, wherein the program further:

saves information previously entered by a user in the database;

identifies the user; and

populates at least one of the data entry areas with information from the database.

46. The computer system of claim 41, wherein the program further:

receives an electronic document; and

attaches the electronic document to the completed computer form.

47. The computer system of claim 41, wherein the program further:

receives a digital signature from a user; and

attaches the digital signature to the completed computer form.

48. The computer system of claim 41, wherein the computer form is an XML document.

49. The computer system of claim 41, wherein the computer form is displayed on a Web site.