Litigation-related document repository

• US 7,043,489 B1
• Filed: 02/21/2002
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hubert C. Kelley
• Original Assignee: Hubert C. Kelley
• Inventors: Kelley, Hubert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALAUBAIDI, HAYTHIM J
• Application Number:
  US10/081,523
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/5, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707/103.Y, 707/101, 705/77
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/085 involving remote charge determination or related payment systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A litigation-related document repository for management and exchange of documents independent of courts or other tribunals. Users can upload litigation-related documents for on-line case folders in order to exchange documents with other parties to a dispute or other users. The repository maintains the documents in a common format in a structured database and can convert the documents for uploading to the database or downloading to user machines. It can also provide various services such as searching for documents and managing case folders. Users can select various fee-based approaches for access to the repository, including paying time-based fees, session-based fees, or agreeing to receive on-line advertisements in exchange for access.

Claims

1. A method for providing dedicated online-accessible document storage and handling services, wherein the services are provided by a business entity as a supplement or alternative to public courthouse services, comprising:

receiving, at the business entity, one or more electronic documents from an uploading party per specifications and terms agreed upon by the uploading party and the business entity;

securing the received one or more electronic documents in a non-alterable format into an electronic data repository per the specifications and terms agreed upon by the uploading party and the business entity, wherein the securing includes identifying the uploading party with the received one or more electronic documents and time and date stamping the received one or more electronic documents; and

providing electronic access and searchability of the one or more electronic documents, and contents of the one or more electronic documents, to one or more downloading parties per specifications agreed upon by the one or more downloading parties and the business entity;

wherein the specifications and terms agreed to by the uploading party and the business entity include publicly-disclosed and fixed fees charged to the uploading party for the document storage and handling services and prohibit the business entity from providing any other services to the uploading party and the fees charged to the uploading party may be paid for by the uploading party agreeing to receive advertising that generates net revenue for the business entity at least equal to the fees charged.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the specifications and terms agreed to by the uploading party and the business entity and by the one or more downloading parties and the business entity include publicly-disclosed and fixed fees charged to the uploading party and the one or more downloading parties and require the business entity to provide the document storage and handling services to any uploading or downloading party that agrees to pay the fees or to receive advertising that generates net revenue for the business entity at least equal to the fees charged.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

charging the uploading party and the one or more downloading parties publicly-disclosed and fixed fees for providing the document storage and handling services; and

providing the document storage and handling services to any uploading or downloading party that agrees to pay the publicly-disclosed and fixed fees or to receive advertising that generates net revenue for the business entity at least equal to the fees charged.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if a downloading party'"'"'s or the uploading party'"'"'s identity is disclosed on a website of the business entity, the business entity accepting advertising revenue or investment capital from the identified downloading party or uploading party.

5. A computerized method for compiling and maintaining litigation-related documents, comprising:

receiving litigation-related documents, filed with adjudication entities, from corresponding representatives without requiring submission of the documents by or to the adjudication entities;

maintaining a central repository for electronically storing the litigation-related documents, including;

organizing the litigation-related documents in a data structure;

associating each of the litigation-related documents with the corresponding adjudication entity in which the litigation-related document was filed;

hyperlinking the litigation-related documents with information referenced in the litigation-related documents; and

providing one or more uniform templates for presentation of the litigation-related documents; and

selectively providing access to the stored litigation-related documents based on a fee charged for access or advertising provided in lieu of the fee, wherein specifications and terms agreed to by an uploading party that uploads litigation-related documents and a business entity that accesses stored litigation-related documents, include publicly-disclosed and fixed fees charged to the uploading party for the document storage and handling services and prohibit the business entity from providing any other services to the uploading party and the fees charged to the uploading party may be paid for by the uploading party agreeing to receive advertising that generates net revenue for the business entity at least equal to the fees charged.