Titling system and method therefor

• US 5,899,978 A
• Filed: 10/07/1996
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Title America (Fidelity National Financial Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Title America (Fidelity National Financial Incorporated)
• Inventors: Irwin, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MacDonald, Allen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Irshadullah, M.
• Application Number:
  US08/726,668
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 705/28, 705/29, 705/1, 235/380, 364/479.03, 364/479.05, 364/479, 707/3, 707/531, 707/540, 345/202
• US Class Current: 705/311
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services

Abstract

A titling system processes titlework for a plurality of vehicles subject to jurisdiction-specific document requirements. The system receives data that identifies a number of vehicles and indicates specific jurisdictions in which titlework for each vehicle is to be filed. The system includes a database of electronic documents that represent form documents conforming to the requirements of the different jurisdictions. The database is accessed and the system processes the appropriate electronic documents to create the corresponding titlework documents.

Claims

1. A title transferring method comprising the steps of:

maintaining a database in a computer system located at a central office, said database containing a plurality of electronic documents configured in accordance with forms utilized by a plurality of jurisdictions;

receiving data in said computer system, said data identifying an article subject to titling requirements of one of said jurisdictions; and

transforming one of said electronic documents into a jurisdiction-specific document containing said data, said jurisdiction-specific document being associated with said one of said jurisdictions.

2. A title transferring method according to claim 1, wherein said transforming step includes the step of transposing said data into said one of said electronic documents.

3. A title transferring method according to claim 1, wherein said one of said jurisdictions is indicated by said data.

4. A title transferring method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of prompting a user to provide specific data to said computer system, said specific data being dependent upon said one of said jurisdictions.

5. A title transferring method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving step receives said data from a remote location relative said computer system.

6. A title transferring method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of obtaining, at said central office, an origination document associated with said article.

7. A title transferring method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

storing, in said computer system, a record containing said data; and

flagging said record if said obtaining step is not performed within a predetermined time period after said receiving step.

8. A title transferring method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of verifying said data with corresponding data contained in said origination document.

9. A method for transferring titles of a number of articles, said method comprising the steps of:

maintaining a database in a computer system, said database containing a plurality of electronic documents representing jurisdiction-specific forms associated with a plurality of jurisdictions;

receiving, at said computer system, first and second data records identifying first and second articles, respectively, said first and second articles being subject to titling requirements of a first jurisdiction;

identifying, from each of said first and second data records, said first jurisdiction;

selecting one of said electronic documents in response to said first jurisdiction;

transforming said one of said electronic documents into a first form document containing data from said first data record; and

transforming said one of said electronic documents into a second form document containing data from said second data record.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of altering one of said first and second data records, said altering step being performed after said receiving step.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein said receiving step receives at least one of said first and second data records from a remote location relative said computer system.

12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of obtaining first and second origination documents associated with said first and second articles, respectively.

13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of verifying data contained in said first and second data records with corresponding data contained in said first and second origination documents, respectively.

14. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

determining individual fee payments associated with said first and second form documents;

calculating a batch fee payment based upon said individual fee payments; and

producing a reconciliation document for said batch fee payment.

15. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

receiving, at said computer system, a third data record identifying a third article subject to titling requirements of a second jurisdiction;

identifying, from said third data record, said second jurisdiction;

selecting one of said electronic documents in response to said second jurisdiction; and

transforming said one of said electronic documents to generate a third form document containing data from said third data record.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of sorting said first, second, and third form documents according to said first and second jurisdictions.

17. A method according to claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

determining individual fee payments associated with said first, second, and third form documents;

sorting said individual fee payments according to said first and second jurisdictions; and

calculating batch fee payments for said first and second jurisdictions, said batch fee payments being based upon said individual fee payments.

18. A system for transferring title for an article subject to jurisdiction-specific titling requirements, said system comprising:

a central computer comprising;

a database configured to store a plurality of electronic documents configured in accordance with jurisdiction-specific forms utilized in a plurality of jurisdictions;

a memory element capable of storing data identifying said article; and

a processor configured to communicate with said database and with said memory element, said processor being configured to process one of said electronic documents in response to the receipt by said central computer of said data; and

an output device compatible with said central computer system, said output device being configured to generate a jurisdiction-specific document containing at least a portion of said data, said jurisdiction-specific document being derived from said one of said electronic documents.

19. A system according to claim 18, further comprising a data communication interface configured to receive said data from a remote location relative to said central computer.

20. A system according to claim 19, further comprising a remote workstation at said remote location, said remote workstation being configured to download said data to said central computer system via said data communication interface.

21. A system according to claim 18, wherein said central computer system further comprises at least one workstation in communication with said database, said at least one workstation being configured to access said electronic documents and to provide said data to said memory element.

22. A method for transferring titles for a plurality of articles subject to jurisdiction-specific titling requirements, said method comprising the steps of:

maintaining a database in a central computer system, said database including a plurality of electronic documents configured in accordance with jurisdiction-specific forms utilized in a plurality of jurisdictions;

receiving a plurality of data records at said central computer system, each of said data records identifying a different one of said articles;

processing one of said electronic documents for each of said data records; and

generating a plurality of jurisdiction-specific documents, each of said jurisdiction-specific documents containing data from an associated one of said data records.

23. A method according to claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

determining individual fee payments associated with a number of said jurisdiction-specific documents;

sorting said individual fee payments according to at least one of said jurisdictions; and

calculating a batch fee payment for said at least one of said jurisdictions, said batch fee payment being based upon said individual fee payments.

24. A method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of sorting said jurisdiction-specific documents according to at least first and second jurisdictions.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein said generating step sequentially generates a number of said jurisdiction-specific documents associated with said first jurisdiction prior to sequentially generating a number of said jurisdiction-specific documents associated with said second jurisdiction.

26. A method according to claim 22, wherein said receiving step receives said data records from at least one remote location relative said central computer system.