Method for Improving Document Review Performance

• US 20130013996A1
• Filed: 06/19/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jianqing Wu
• Original Assignee: Jianqing Wu
• Inventors: Wu, Jianqing
• Granted Patent: US 8,972,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems

Abstract

The present invention is a method for accurately coding documents. The method, if used by experienced and motivated document reviewers, has the potential to dramatically improve adjusted review consistency, reduce coding errors, and produce the best review product. The method will also result in useful case history files, which are useful to litigation attorneys in every phrase of litigation including motion argument, merit trial, appeal, and future litigation.

Claims

1. A method for accurately coding documents for a document request by a plurality of users or document reviewers on client computers connected to a server, the method comprising the steps of:

dividing elementary facts into a plurality of table or main types and sub-types for a specific case and document request, and setting up at least one database table for holding coding rules and elementary facts specifically for the case;

generating document review user interface for each of the users on the client computer so that each user can review documents on the document review user interface;

generating a real-time data-exchanging user interface for searching and retrieving data from the at least one table and for adding data to the at least one table, the data-sharing user interface being conveniently accessible to each user who reviews documents;

reviewing documents in a sequence by each of the users, coding each document, and saving the coding value for each document on the document review platform,

Wherein, each of the users, after reviewing a document and before coding the document, uses the data-changing interface user interface to search for coding rules and elementary facts from the at least one table, retrieves one or more coding rules and elementary facts for guidance, or adds a coding rule or an elementary fact in the at least one table for immediate access.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the data-exchanging user interface for the at least one table is part of separate information management system run by a separate server.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the steps for generating a global edit table for adding data records, method for deleting existing data records, method for copying and pasting data records, method for changing data records, and method for saving new and changed records.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of validating an existing data record on a tentative coding rule or elementary fact by user'"'"'s direct click on validation button or by casting a vote for it.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the data-exchanging user interface for the at least one table is part of a document review system.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of validating an existing record by clicking a button or by casting a vote for it.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the some users have user authorities to enter elementary facts while other privileged users have the user authorities to enter, edit and validate new coding rules.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising a reconciling review for the documents which are have selected by using the rule names or part of the rule names as keys to search previously reviewed documents, and by selecting the documents which were coded before respective rule dates.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step for generating the index table which shows the latest changes in coding rules and elementary facts so that each of the users may immediately know all changes and the latest changes.

10. A system for conducting document review by a group of users on client computers connected to document review system, each client computer being used by a user of the group, the system comprising:

a fully functional document review system for reviewing and coding documents by the users; and

a discovery-assisting system for distributing real-time coding rules and elementary facts, the coding-assisting system comprising;

means for customizing a database table for storing coding rules, elementary facts, and player names at any time, specifically for any particular case;

means for generating discovery-assisting user interface, which comprises an interactive search page, wherein the interactive search page is able to display a data record the user has selected during an interactive search, and allows the user to validate data and conduct global search by using the key the user has typed in the interactive search box;

means for adding a data-validating submission button whenever a data record is shown on the interactive search page; and

means for retrieving a data record from the at least one data table, validating data in the at least one data table, adding data records to the at least one data table, and search keys in all fields and all data tables,

Wherein, each of the users uses the discovery-assisting user interface to interactively search coding rules or elementary facts from the at least one table, retrieve any found coding rules or elementary facts for review, search any words and phrases in the at least one table, and add coding rules or elementary facts in the at least one table for real time share with other users.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising means for identifying the documents for reconciling review, wherein the documents are found by searching the coding keys or their more inclusive terms, and further narrowed down with coding dates before the effective dates of respective coding rules.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising means for conducting a reconciling review according to final coding rules.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising means for adding new type of elementary facts to the at least one table during the review.

14. A combination of document review method and discovery-assisting method, being used by a group of users or document reviewers for document review, the system comprising:

a fully functional document review method comprising delivering documents to the client computers, coding documents on the client computers, and saving the coding data on the server; and

a discovery-assisting method for distributing coding rules, elementary facts, and player names to the client computers of the users real-time by using a discovery-assisting user interface,

Wherein, a first document user enters a coding rule or elementary fact in a database table based upon information the user has acquired from reviewing a document, and a second user searches and find the coding rule or the elementary fact, and uses it in making a coding decision for a different document, whereby the work product of the first user is passed to the second user real time so that the second user can understand the coding rule or elementary fact.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a step for the first user to enter a coding rule or an elementary fact in the discovery-assisting system and a step for the one or more other users to validate the coding rule or elementary fact by clicking the validation button or by pressing a voting button to cast one vote on an interactive search page of the discovery-assisting system.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the privileged users have the user authority to enter and validate coding rules while ordinary users have the user authority to validate elementary facts.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising means for conducting a reconciling review according to the final coding rules.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising means for adding new type of elementary facts the data table in the middle project.

19. The system of claim 15 further comprising means for exporting elementary facts and coding rules for future use.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for generating an index table which shows the latest changes in coding rules and elementary facts so that each of the users instantly see all changes and the latest changes.