COST ESTIMATIONS IN AN ELECTRONIC DISCOVERY SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method for estimating cost associated with performing an electronic discovery (e-discovery) request, the method comprising:
- receiving, at a computing device, a request to perform one or more e-discovery tasks, wherein the request includes criteria for performing the one or more e-discovery tasks;
determining, via a computing device processor, a cost estimate for the request based on the criteria for performing the one or more e-discovery tasks; and
storing, in computing device memory, the cost estimate.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for improved electronic discovery. More specifically, embodiments relate to providing financial cost estimate for electronic discovery requests that allow the requester to gauge financial costs at the onset of the request. In addition to providing for a cost estimate at or near the time that the request is made, further embodiments of the invention, provide for a dynamic estimate of financial cost. The dynamic financial cost estimate changes over time based on the e-discovery tasks already performed and a better assessment of the degree of further e-discovery tasks yet to be performed. As such, the dynamic financial estimate becomes a more accurate and reliable estimate the closer the e-discovery request is to completion.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method for estimating cost associated with performing an electronic discovery (e-discovery) request, the method comprising:
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receiving, at a computing device, a request to perform one or more e-discovery tasks, wherein the request includes criteria for performing the one or more e-discovery tasks; determining, via a computing device processor, a cost estimate for the request based on the criteria for performing the one or more e-discovery tasks; and storing, in computing device memory, the cost estimate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for generating an invoice for an electronic discovery (e-discovery) request, the method comprising:
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determining, via a computing device processor, a finite cost associated with tasks related to an e-discovery request and performed to date; determining, via a computing device processor, an estimated cost associated with tasks related to the e-discovery request and yet to be performed; determining, via a computing device processor, a dynamic cost estimate based on the finite cost and the estimated cost; and generating, via a computing device processor, an invoice associated with the e-discovery request that includes the dynamic cost estimate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for estimating cost associated with performing an electronic discovery (e-discovery) request, the apparatus comprising:
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a computing platform including a processor and a memory; an e-discovery request application stored in the memory, executable by the processor and configured to receive requests to perform one or more e-discovery tasks, wherein the requests define criteria for performing the one or more e-discovery tasks; and an e-discovery cost estimation application stored in the memory, executable by the processor and configured to determine a cost estimate for the request based on the criteria for performing the one or more e-discovery tasks. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An apparatus for generating an invoice for an electronic discovery (e-discovery) request, the apparatus comprising:
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a computing platform including a processor and a memory; an e-discovery cost estimation application stored in the memory, executable by the processor and configured to determine a finite cost associated with performed-to-date tasks related to a e-discovery request, determine an estimated cost associated with yet-to-be performed tasks related to the e-discovery request and determine a dynamic cost estimate based on the finite cost and the estimated cost; and an e-discovery invoice application stored in the memory, executable by the processor and configured to generate an invoice associated with the e-discovery request that includes the dynamic cost estimate. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A computer program product comprising:
a computer-readable medium comprising; a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive a request to perform one or more e-discovery tasks, wherein the request includes criteria for performing the one or more e-discovery tasks; a second set of codes for causing a computer to determine a cost estimate for the request based on the criteria for performing the one or more e-discovery tasks; and a third set of codes for causing a computer to store the cost estimate in memory. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
Specification