POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION AND BULK ADDITION OF CUSTODIANS TO A CASE WITHIN AN ELECTRONIC DISCOVERY SYSTEM

• US 20100251149A1
• Filed: 03/24/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Andersen, David M., Mayer, Michael J., Miller, Emerson D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,806,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/30 for supporting lawful interception, monitoring or retaining of communications or communication related information circuit switched telephony call monitoring H04M3/2281

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for improved electronic discovery. More specifically, embodiments relate to providing positive identification of individuals for addition, as custodians, to cases or matters within an electronic discovery system. The identification is performed simultaneously, in bulk, using disparate information related to the individuals. In this regard, individuals can be positively identified through one specific identification procedure, without having to search multiple databases to verify the identity of an individual/custodian. In addition to positively identifying custodians, the present invention provides for adding the identified custodians, simultaneously, in bulk, to a case or matter and, in some embodiments, uploading or otherwise transferring custodian profile data to the case management system/database, as need be.

Claims

1. A method for adding, in unison, a plurality of custodians to a case within an electronic discovery system, the method comprising:

receiving, at a computing device, a plurality of identifying data items, wherein each of the plurality of identifying data items is associated with one of a plurality of individuals that are potential custodians for a case within the electronic discovery system;

accessing, via a computing device processor, a database within the electronic discovery system, wherein the database stores data associated with custodians in the electronic discovery system;

determining, via a computing device processor, matches between the plurality of identifying data items and the data associated with the custodians;

presenting, at a computing device, for each of the determined matches, custodian profiles that include at least a portion of the data associated with the custodian; and

receiving, at a computing device, a first user input configured to add, in unison, a plurality of custodians to a case based on the presented custodian profiles.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising inputting, via a computing device processor, at least a portion of the data associated with the custodian into the case management system, wherein the input occurs automatically based on receipt of the first user input that adds the plurality of custodians to the case.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at a computing device, a second user input configured to initiate an electronic discovery activity on the plurality of custodians added to the case; and

initiating, via a computing device processor, the electronic discovery activity on the plurality of custodians added to the case.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a second user input further comprises receiving, at the computing device, the second user input configured to initiate communication of one or more preservation notices to each of the plurality of custodians and wherein initiating further comprises initiating, via the computing device processor, the communication of the preservation notice to the plurality of custodians.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a second user input further comprises receiving, at the computing device, the second user input configured to initiate electronic collection of data from devices associated with each of the plurality of custodians and wherein initiating further comprises initiating, via the computing device processor, the electronic collection of data from devices associated with each of the plurality of custodians.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the plurality of identifying data items further comprises receiving, at the computing device, the plurality of identifying data items, wherein the identifying data items include one or more of a first name, a last name, an email address, an operating system account number or an employee number.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the plurality of identifying data items further comprises receiving, at the computing device, the plurality of identifying data items, wherein each of the identifying data items correspond to a specific data entry in the database.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining matches further comprises determining more than one match between one of the identifying data items and the data associated with the custodians.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving, at a computing device, a second user input that selects one of the custodian profiles for inclusion in the plurality of custodians to be added to the case, wherein selection is based on the determination of more than one match between at least one of the identifying data items and the data associated with the custodians.

10. An apparatus for adding, in unison, a plurality custodians to a case within an electronic discovery system, the apparatus comprising:

a computing platform including at least one processor and a memory;

a bulk custodian entry application, stored in the memory executable by the at least one processor and including;

a first user interface configured to receive a plurality of identifying data items, wherein each of the plurality of identifying data items is associated with one of a plurality of individuals that are potential custodians for a case within the electronic discovery system,

a custodian match routine configured to access a database within the electronic discovery system, which stores data associated with custodians and determine matches between the plurality of identifying data items and the data associated with the custodians, and

a second user interface configured to present, for each of the determined matches, custodian profiles that include at least a portion of the data associated with the custodian and receive a first user input configured to add, in unison, a plurality of custodians to a case based on the presented custodian profiles.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the bulk custodian entry application further comprises a custodian data upload routine configured to automatically upload at least a portion of the data associated with the custodian into the case management system, wherein the automatic upload is based on receipt of the first user input that adds the plurality of custodians to the case.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a preservation notice application stored in the memory, executable by the processor, and configured to receive a second user input operable to initiate communication of a preservation notice to each of the plurality of custodians added to the case and including a preservation notice routine configured to initiate the communication of the preservation notice to the plurality of custodians based on the second input.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a data collection application stored in the memory, executable by the processor and configured to receive a second user input operable to initiate collection of data from devices associated with each of the plurality of custodians added to the case and including a data collection routine configured to initiate collection of data from the devices associated with each of the plurality of custodians based on the second input.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first user interface is further configured to receive the plurality of identifying data items, wherein the identifying data items include one of a first name, a last name, an email address, an operating system account number or an employee number.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first user interface is further configured to receive the plurality of identifying data items, wherein each of the identifying data items correspond to a specific data entry in the database.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the custodian match routine is further configured to determine more than one match between one of the identifying data items and the data associated with the custodians.

18. A computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to receive a plurality of identifying data items, wherein each of the plurality of identifying data items is associated with one of a plurality of individuals that are potential custodians within an electronic discovery system;

a second set of codes for causing a computer to access a database within the electronic discovery system, wherein the database stores data associated with custodians in the electronic discovery system;

a third set of codes for causing a computer to determine matches between the plurality of identifying data items and the data associated with the custodians;

a fourth set of codes for causing a computer to present, for each of the determined matches, custodian profiles that include at least a portion of the data associated with the custodian; and

a fifth set of codes for causing a computer to receive a first user input configured to add, in unison, a plurality of custodians to a case based on the presented custodian profiles.

17. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second user interface is further configured to receive a second user input that selects one of the custodian profiles for inclusion in the plurality of custodians to be added to the case, wherein selection is based on the determination of more than one match between at least one of the identifying data items and the data associated with the custodians.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising a sixth set of codes for causing a computer to input at least a portion of the data associated with the custodian into the case management system, wherein the input occurs automatically based on receipt of the first user input that adds the plurality of custodians to the case.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising:

a sixth set of codes for causing a computer to receive a second user input configured to initiate an electronic discovery activity on the plurality of custodians added to the case; and

a seventh set of codes for causing a computer to initiate the electronic discovery activity on the plurality of custodians added to the case.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the sixth set of codes is further configured to cause the computer to receive the second user input configured to initiate communication of one or more preservation notices to each of the plurality of custodians and wherein the seventh set of codes is further configured to cause the computer to initiate the communication of the preservation notice to the plurality of custodians.

22. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the sixth set of codes is further configured to cause the computer to receive the second user input configured to initiate electronic collection of data from devices associated with each of the plurality of custodians and wherein the seventh set of codes is further configured to cause the computer to initiate the electronic collection of data from devices associated with each of the plurality of custodians.

23. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the first set of codes is further configured to cause the computer to receive the plurality of identifying data items, wherein the identifying data items include one or more of a first name, a last name, an email address, an operating system account number or an employee number.

24. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the first set of codes is further configured to cause the computer to receive the plurality of identifying data items, wherein each of the identifying data items correspond to a specific data entry in the database.

25. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the third set of codes is further configured to cause the computer to determine more than one match between one of the identifying data items and the data associated with the custodians.

26. The computer program product of claim 25, further comprising a sixth set of codes for causing a computer to receive a second user input that selects one of the custodian profiles for inclusion in the plurality of custodians to be added to the case, and wherein selection is based on the determination of more than one match between at least one of the identifying data items and the data associated with the custodians.