Web-enabled transaction and matter management system

• US 7,392,254 B1
• Filed: 09/10/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clientcentric Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Steven R. Jenkins
• Inventors: Jenkins, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corrielus; Jean M.
• Application Number:
  US09/949,738
• Time in Patent Office: 2,479 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 4, 707/200, 707/202, 707/204, 707/10, 707/205, 707/9, 707/104.1, 705/1, 705/35, 705/37, 709/200, 709/204, 709/205, 711/100, 711/154, 711/161, 711/162, 345/700, 345/733, 345/751, 345/752, 345/759, 715/700, 715/733, 715/751, 715/752, 715/759
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a Web-enabled transaction and matter management application are described. In one embodiment, the application is centered around a user-friendly home navigation page designed to facilitate convenience for the user in accessing information or entering and tracking data. All information is sorted by project or matter name. A client user may view information one matter at a time, all matters at once, or any user-specified number of matters. Access is restricted to authorized users with password access rights. The application enables the tracking of information that is beneficial to all levels of the user'"'"'s organization, that is substantive and relevant to different levels of the user'"'"'s staff, and that aids the client in making informed decisions regarding its current transactions and documents relating thereto.

Claims

1. A method of implementing a collaborative management system, the method comprising:

posting an item to a project within the collaborative management system;

sending to a user an E-mail message notifying the user that the posted item has been posted;

storing in connection with the posted item the contents of the E-mail message; and

responsive to the user sending a response to the E-mail message, storing in connection with the posted item the contents of the response; and

displaying in connection with the posted item a response thread identifying a number of E-mail messages and a number of responses sent in connection with the posted item.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the posted item is a document, the method further comprising:

publishing the document to a separate website; and

sending to a third party an E-mail message notifying the third party that the document has been published.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the publishing occurs subsequent to the posting.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the publishing occurs simultaneously with the posting.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the E-mail message to the third party includes a hyperlink to the published document.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the posted item is a document, the method further comprising taking an action with respect to the document selected from the group consisting of viewing, printing, downloading, sorting, deleting, and adding a new version of the document.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

unpublishing the published document; and

sending to the third party an E-mail message notifying the third party that the document has been unpublished.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising creating a distribution list in connection with the project, the distribution list comprising a list of third parties to be notified that the document has been published.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating a user group in connection with the project, the user group comprising a list of users to be notified that the item has been posted.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising defining within the collaborative management system a company, comprising:

providing contact information for the company;

identifying a component of the collaborative management system that has been licensed for use by the company;

identifying user permissions for the company;

defining a people group for the company;

creating a project template for the company; and

creating a project category for the company.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising defining within the collaborative management system a user, wherein the defining includes at least one of the following steps:

providing contact and identification information for the user;

identifying a group to which the user is a member;

assigning administrative permissions to the user; and

assigning project permissions to the user.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising defining within the collaborative management system a project, wherein the defining includes at least one of the following steps:

creating a project profile for the project;

configuring the project; and

assigning permissions in connection with the project.

13. A method of implementing a collaborative management system, the method comprising:

posting an item to a project;

sending a first E-mail message notifying a user that the posted item has been posted;

storing in connection with the posted item the contents of the first E-mail message;

responsive to the user sending a response to the E-mail message, storing in connection with the posted item the contents of the response;

publishing the item to a website;

sending to a third party a second E-mail message notifying the third party that the item has been published; and

displaying in connection with the posted item a response thread identifying a number of E-mail messages to users and a number of responses sent in connection with the posted item.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising displaying in connection with the posted item the contents of the first E-mail message and responses sent regarding the posted item.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the publishing occurs subsequent to the posting.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the publishing occurs simultaneously with the posting.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the second E-mail message includes a hyperlink to the published item.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the posted item is a document, the method further comprising taking an action with respect to the document selected from the group consisting of viewing, printing, downloading, sorting, deleting, and adding a new version of the document.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

unpublishing the published item; and

sending to the third party an E-mail message notifying the third party that the item has been unpublished.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising creating a distribution list in connection with the project, the distribution list comprising a list of third parties to be notified that the item has been published.

21. The method of claim 13 further comprising creating a user group in connection with the project, the user group comprising a list of users to be notified that the item has been posted.

22. The method of claim 13 further comprising defining within the collaborative management system a company, wherein the defining includes at least one of the following steps:

providing contact information for the company;

identifying a component of the collaborative management system that has been licensed for use by the company;

identifying user permissions for the company;

defining a people group for the company;

creating a project template for the company; and

creating a project category for the company.

23. The method of claim 13 further comprising defining within the collaborative management system a user, wherein the defining includes at least one of the following steps:

providing contact and identification information for the user;

identifying a group to which the user is a member;

assigning administrative permissions to the user; and

assigning project permissions to the user.

24. The method of claim 13 further comprising defining within the collaborative management system a project, wherein the defining includes at least one of the following steps:

creating a project profile for the project;

configuring the project; and

assigning permissions in connection with the project.