System and method for electronically delivering documents

• US 7,333,223 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Genworth Holdings, Inc. (Genworth Financial Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Genworth Financial Incorporated
• Inventors: Hamilton, Scott, Beck, Todd, Tandon, Varun, Gainer, Jeff, Harris, Randy, Young, Glen, Gupton, Junious
• Primary Examiner(s): Moe; Aung S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Menberu; Beniyam
• Application Number:
  US10/003,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20030107757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,266 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.15, 358/402, 358/403, 358/401, 702/188, 714/48, 709/206, 709/207, 709/238, 709/239
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32496 Changing the task performed, e.g. reading and transmitting, receiving and reproducing, copying facsimile mode changing H04N1/333
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/007 Selecting or switching between a still picture apparatus or function and another apparatus or function H04N2201/0022 takes precedence

Abstract

A system and method are provided for reliable and customer-friendly delivery of documents. One method of the present invention include the steps of: producing document data for printing documents; accepting requests to print selected documents; determining whether a selected document is accepted for electronic delivery or for non-electronic delivery; printing documents accepted for non-electronic delivery; and electronically delivering documents accepted for electronic delivery.

Claims

1. A system for electronically delivering documents, said system comprising:

a document system, said document system producing document information for printing documents;

a print management system, wherein said print management system accepts document data and document print requests from said document system, and further wherein said print management system determines whether a requested document is designated for electronic delivery or non-electronic delivery;

a recipient database, wherein said recipient database stores recipient information;

a print system, wherein said print system is configured to receive and print documents designated for non-electronic delivery, wherein said print management system determines whether to process a document for electronic or non-electronic delivery based upon a document delivery designation stored in a consent database;

an email system, said email system configured to accept and process document data for creating and delivering documents electronically, wherein said email system composes and transmits electronic notices regarding the status and availability of stored documents and document data, and wherein said email system combines multiple electronic notices for delivery to a single recipient at one time;

a failed email management system, wherein said failed email management system is configured and arranged to receive a notice of a failed email delivery including a failed email address, and to change a document delivery designation for an intended recipient of a failed email so that the intended recipient will no longer receive electronic documents;

said consent database storing each potential document recipient'"'"'s selected document delivery designation to receive documents electronically or non-electronically;

a parsing engine, wherein said parsing engine receives document data from said print management system for documents selected for electronic delivery, and further wherein said parsing engine processes said document data for storage; and

a server, wherein said server provides on-line access to the document data and electronic documents stored by said parsing engine.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein changing a document delivery designation comprises changing a stored document delivery designation so that future documents are delivered to the intended recipient only non-electronically.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein changing a preferred delivery option comprises changing a stored preferred delivery option so that future documents are delivered to the intended recipient only non-electronically.

2. A system for electronically delivering documents, said system comprising:

a document system, said document system producing document information for printing documents;

a print management system, wherein said print management system accepts document data and document print requests from said document system, and further wherein said print management system determines whether a requested document is designated for electronic delivery or non-electronic delivery;

a recipient database, wherein said recipient database stores recipient information;

a print system, wherein said print system is configured to receive and print documents designated for non-electronic delivery, wherein said print management system determines whether to process a document for electronic or non-electronic delivery based upon a document delivery designation stored in a consent database;

an email system, said email system configured to accept and process document data for creating and delivering documents electronically, wherein said email system composes electronic documents comprised of document data and transmits said electronic documents to electronic document recipients, and wherein said email system combines multiple electronic documents for delivery to a single recipient at one time;

a failed email management system, wherein said failed email management system is configured and arranged to receive a notice of a failed email delivery including a failed email address, and to change a document delivery designation for an intended recipient of a failed email so that the intended recipient will no longer receive electronic documents;

said consent database storing each potential document recipient'"'"'s selected document delivery designation to receive documents electronically or non-electronically;

a parsing engine, wherein said parsing engine receives document data from said print management system for documents selected for electronic delivery, and further wherein said parsing engine processes said document data for storage; and

a server, wherein said server provides on-line access to the document data and electronic documents stored by said parsing engine.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the document delivery designations for multiple recipients are changed together based upon common identifying criteria.

4. A system for electronically delivering documents, said system comprising:

a document system, said document system producing document information for printing documents;

a print management system, wherein said print management system accepts document data and document print requests from said document system, and further wherein said print management system determines whether a requested document is designated for electronic delivery or non-electronic delivery;

a recipient database, wherein said recipient database stores recipient information;

a print system, wherein said print system is configured to receive and print documents designated for non-electronic delivery;

an email system, said email system configured to accept and process document data for creating and delivering documents electronically;

a failed email management system, wherein said failed email management system is configured and arranged to receive a notice of a failed email delivery including a failed email address, and to change a document delivery designation for an intended recipient of a failed email so that the intended recipient will no longer receive electronic documents, wherein;

(1) said failed email management system extracts identifying email data fields from said notice of a failed email delivery and retrieves a name data field and an address data field from the recipient database based on the extracted identify email data fields, (2) said failed email management system further comprises an Internet server, wherein said Internet server provides access for the intended recipient to correct said failed email addresses, and (3) said failed email management system further comprises a postcard form template accessible via the Internet, wherein the intended recipient may print the postcard form template, provide information requested on the postcard form template and mail the postcard form template back for processing.

5. A method for electronically delivering documents, said method comprising the steps of:

producing document data for printing documents;

accepting requests to print selected documents;

determining whether a selected document is accepted for electronic delivery or for non-electronic delivery;

printing documents accepted for non-electronic delivery;

electronically delivering documents accepted for electronic delivery;

changing a corresponding document delivery designation if a failed email notification is received so that an intended recipient will no longer receive electronic documents;

storing one or more preferred document delivery options for each potential document recipient, wherein said preferred document delivery options include an option to receive documents electronically and an option to receive documents non-electronically;

determining whether to process a document for electronic delivery or for non-electronic delivery based upon the preferred document delivery option stored for each document recipient;

receiving document data for one or more documents selected for electronic delivery, and processing said document data for remote access and electronic document delivery;

composing electronic documents from said document data; and

combining multiple electronic documents for delivery to a single recipient at one time.

12. The method of claim 5 wherein changing a corresponding document delivery designation comprises changing a stored corresponding document delivery designation so that future documents are delivered to the intended recipient only non-electronically.

6. A method for electronically delivering documents, said method comprising the steps of:

producing document data for printing documents;

accepting requests to print selected documents;

determining whether a selected document is accepted for electronic delivery or for non-electronic delivery;

printing documents accepted for non-electronic delivery;

electronically delivering documents accepted for electronic delivery;

changing a corresponding document delivery designation if a failed email notification is received so that an intended recipient will no longer receive electronic documents, wherein the document delivery designations for multiple recipients are changed together based upon common identifying criteria;

storing one or more preferred document delivery options for each potential document recipient, wherein said preferred document delivery options include an option to receive documents electronically and an option to receive documents non-electronically;

determining whether to process a document for electronic delivery or for non-electronic delivery based upon the preferred document delivery option stored for each document recipient; and

receiving document data for one or more documents selected for electronic delivery, and processing said document data for remote access and electronic document delivery.

7. A method for electronically delivering documents, said method comprising the steps of:

producing document data for printing documents;

accepting requests to print selected documents;

determining whether a selected document is accepted for electronic delivery or for non-electronic delivery;

printing documents accepted for non-electronic delivery;

electronically delivering documents accepted for electronic delivery; and

changing a corresponding document delivery designation if a failed email notification is received so that an intended recipient will no longer receive electronic documents;

providing a non-electronic notice of a failed email delivery to the intended recipient of the failed email;

extracting one or more identifying email data fields from said non-electronic notice of a failed email delivery and retrieving a name data field and an address data field from the recipient database based on the extracted one or more identifying email data fields;

providing Internet access for intended recipients to correct failed email addresses and to view document data; and

providing a postcard form template accessible via the Internet, wherein the intended recipients may each print the postcard form template, provide information requested on the postcard form template and mail the postcard back to the appropriate department.

8. A method for electronically delivering documents, said method comprising the steps of:

producing document data for printing documents;

accepting requests to print selected documents;

determining whether a selected document is accepted for electronic delivery or for non-electronic delivery;

printing documents accepted for non-electronic delivery;

storing documents and document data for documents accepted for electronic delivery;

providing Internet access to the documents and document data accepted for electronic delivery;

providing notice regarding the status and availability of said stored documents and document data to intended document recipients;

changing a preferred delivery option for the intended recipient of a failed email so that the intended recipient will no longer receive electronic documents, wherein said preferred document delivery options include an option to receive documents electronically and an option to receive documents non-electronically; and

combining multiple electronic notices for delivery to a single recipient at one time.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises the step of determining whether to process a document for electronic delivery or for non-electronic delivery based upon the preferred document delivery option stored for each document recipient.

9. A method for electronically delivering documents, said method comprising the steps of:

producing document data for printing documents;

accepting requests to print selected documents;

determining whether a selected document is accepted for electronic delivery or for non-electronic delivery;

printing documents accepted for non-electronic delivery;

storing documents and document data for documents accepted for electronic delivery;

providing Internet access to the documents and document data accepted for electronic delivery;

providing notice regarding the status and availability of said stored documents and document data to intended document recipients;

changing a preferred delivery option for the intended recipient of a failed email so that the intended recipient will no longer receive electronic documents, wherein the document delivery designations for multiple recipients are changed together based upon common identifying criteria; and

storing one or more preferred document delivery options for each potential document recipient.

10. A method for electronically delivering documents, said method comprising the steps of:

producing document data for printing documents;

accepting requests to print selected documents;

determining whether a selected document is accepted for electronic delivery or for non-electronic delivery;

printing documents accepted for non-electronic delivery;

storing documents and document data for documents accepted for electronic delivery;

providing Internet access to the documents and document data accepted for electronic delivery;

providing notice regarding the status and availability of said stored documents and document data to intended document recipients;

changing a preferred delivery option for the intended recipient of a failed email so that the intended recipient will no longer receive electronic documents;

providing a non-electronic notice of a failed email delivery to the intended recipient of the failed email;

extracting one or more identifying email data fields from said non-electronic notice of a failed email delivery and retrieving a name data field and an address data field from the recipient database based on the extracted one or more identifying email data fields,

providing Internet access for intended recipients to correct failed email addresses and to view document data; and

providing a postcard form template accessible via the Internet, wherein the intended recipients may each print the postcard form template, provide information requested on the postcard form template and mail the postcard back to the appropriate department.