Automated electronic document filing system, method, and article of manufacture

• US 8,381,087 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2000
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stripe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: G&H Nevada-Tek
• Inventors: Gough, James J., Hickman, Paul L.
• Primary Examiner(s): STORK, KYLE R
• Application Number:
  US09/625,300
• Time in Patent Office: 4,593 Days
• Field of Search: 715/500.1, 715/205, 715/224, 715/226, 715/234, 705/35, 707/10, 707/3, 707/104.1, 706/45, 706/46, 706/47
• US Class Current: 715/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

An automated electronic filing system including a web server coupled to a wide area network, a receiving agency server coupled to the wide area network, and a client machine coupled to the wide area network for communication with the web server. The web server serves as an interface to the receiving agency server, the client machine providing information to the web server forming at least a part of an electronic document to be filed with the receiving agency server by the web server. The web server and the receiving agency server can communicate directly with each other without going through the wide area network, such as via a local area network (not shown) or by a direct connection between the servers (also not shown). Preferably, the web server and the receiving agency server communicate with each other over the wide area network, which is preferably a TCP/IP protocol network such as the Internet. A method for electronically filing documents in accordance with the present invention includes providing an HTML based form to a client machine coupled to a TCP/IP network, at least partially automatically filling-in the form based upon input from the client machine, verifying information on the form based upon stored heuristics, and submitting the form to a receiving agency over the network. Additional information is usually added to the form based upon input from the client machine prior to verifying the information.

Claims

1. An automated electronic filing system comprising:

a web server coupled to the Internet;

a receiving agency server separate from said web server and coupled to the Internet such that it is capable of communication with said web server, wherein communication between said receiving agency server and said web server is subject to authentication and is at least partially encrypted;

a client machine separate from said web server and said receiving agency server and coupled to the Internet for communication with said web server, wherein communication between said client machine and said web server is subject to authentication and is at least partially encrypted, wherein said web server provides said client machine with a form which can be verified by said web server using heuristics, said client machine providing information to said web server forming at least a part of an electronic document to be filed with said receiving agency server by said web server in a manner that said web server serves as an interface to said receiving agency computer for said client machine, said electronic document filed for further processing by a receiving agency associated with said receiving agency server in accordance with a procedure for which said receiving agency is in some manner responsible; and

wherein said web server automatically produces at least a portion of said electronic document in response to a selection originating from said client machine, wherein said form includes at least one of a blank form and a partially filled-in form based upon information stored on said web server, wherein said form can be at least partially automatically filled-in in response to said selection, wherein said web server automatically updates docketing information, and wherein said web server transacts a financial transaction with said receiving agency server on behalf of said client machine.

2. An automated electronic filing system as recited in claim 1 further comprising an applicant machine coupled to the Internet.

3. An automated electronic filing system as recited in claim 2 wherein said applicant machine communicates with said web server the Internet.

4. An automated electronic filing system as recited in claim 3 wherein communications between said applicant machine and said web server are at least partially encrypted.

5. An automated electronic filing system as recited in claim 4 wherein communications between said applicant machine and said web server are subject to authentication.

6. An automated electronic filing system for use in electronic prosecution of trademark applications comprising:

a web server coupled to a wide area network;

a receiving agency server separate from said web server and coupled to said wide area network such that it is capable of communicating with said web server, said receiving agency server associated with a governmental agency responsible for the administration of trademark registration;

a client machine separate from said web server and said receiving agency server and coupled to said wide area network for communication with said web server, such that said web server serves as an interface to said receiving agency server, said client machine providing information to said web server forming at least a part of an electronic document related to prosecution of a trademark application or maintenance of a trademark registration, said electronic document to be filed with said receiving agency server by said web server in a manner that said web server serves as an interface to said receiving agency computer, said electronic document filed for further processing by said governmental agency in accordance with preestablished rules;

wherein said web server automatically produces at least a portion of said electronic document in response to a selection originating from said client machine, wherein said web server provides said client machine with a form, wherein said form can be at least partially automatically filled-in in response to said selection; and

wherein said web server serves as an interface between said client machine and said receiving agency server, and wherein said web server makes a payment to said government agency for the filing of said electronic document.

7. An automated electronic filing system comprising:

a web server capable of communicating over the Internet;

a receiving agency server separate from said web server and capable of communicating over the Internet, said receiving agency server associated with a governmental agency;

a client machine separate from said web server and said receiving agency server and capable of communicating over the Internet, such that said web server serves as an interface to said receiving agency server, said client machine providing information to said web server forming at least a part of an electronic document, said electronic document to be filed with said receiving agency server by said web server for further processing by said governmental agency in accordance with pre-established rules, wherein said web server serves as an interface between said client machine and said receiving agency server, whereby said receiving agency server communicates with said web server as if said receiving agency server were communicating directly with said client machine; and

wherein said web server makes a payment to said governmental agency on behalf of a client for the filing of said electronic document.

8. A communications system comprising:

a client computer coupled to the Internet;

an applicant computer coupled to the Internet and communicating with said client computer;

an intermediary server coupled to the Internet communicating with said client computer, said client computer serving as an intermediary between said applicant computer and said intermediary computer; and

a recipient server coupled to the Internet and communicating with said intermediary server, said intermediary server serving as an interface between said client computer and said recipient server, whereby said recipient server communicates with said intermediary server as if said recipient server were communicating directly with said applicant computer.