Automatic document exchange with document searching capability

• US 8,539,004 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2011
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adobe Inc.
• Original Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: Foygel, Dan A., Lemkin, Jason M., Zwelling, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DEBBIE M
• Application Number:
  US13/179,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20110264995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 707/608, 707/636, 707/667, 707/804, 713/155, 713/176, 709/206, 709/229
• US Class Current: 707/804
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/18 Legal services

Abstract

The exchange of documents for execution can be performed efficiently using an automated system that routes and stores documents based on routing information. Routing may be accomplished with reminders for individuals of deadline for responding. After execution is confirmed, an executed copy may be forwarded to all parties and desired non-parties. If execution or approval is desired from a plurality of individuals, documents received from each of the plurality of individuals can be merged into a single, fully executed document if the approval/signatures are obtained simultaneously. Search capability for identifying data regarding the document, text within the document, or both may also be provided.

Claims

1. A method for document exchange that is directed to execution of a document and implemented on a computer system, the method comprising:

generating at least one reminder of at least one due date through automatically inputting the at least one due date or examining the document for execution for the at least one due date, wherein the document is uploaded into a document handling system;

automatically routing the document for execution according to routing information with reminders for a signatory of at least one deadline for responding; and

sending a reminder to at least one signatory to return an executed copy of the document, wherein a timing of the reminder is based on the at least one due date and a time since the document was routed to the at least one signatory.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the at least one reminder of the at least one due date comprises automatically inputting the at least one due date during entry of the routing information.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein generating the at least one reminder of the at least one due date comprises examining the document for execution for the at least one due date, wherein the document is uploaded into the document handling system.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising requesting an originator of a document exchange transaction to confirm the at least one due date as at least one deadline for responding as the at least one due date is identified during examination of the document.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising sending an email message to an originator of a document exchange transaction, the email message requesting confirmation of the at least one due date as the at least one deadline for responding.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein routing the document for execution comprises automatically transmitting the document for execution along with metadata to a signatory.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the routing of the document for execution is performed with one or more email messages along with any attachments thereto.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein transmitting the document for execution comprises providing a signatory access to the document for execution through a website.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the document for execution is uploaded through a web interface.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the routing information is inputted to the document handling system through a website or computer interfaced with the Internet.

11. A method for a document exchange process that is directed to execution of a document and implemented on a computer system, the method comprising

receiving routing information from an individual initiating the document exchange process;

determining that at least one individual identified in the routing information lacks a system account;

automatically generating a new system account based on at least one email address for the at least one individual;

identifying additional information for enabling additional functionality of the new system account; and

notifying the at least one individual of the additional information for enabling the additional functionality of the new system account.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein an initial password is forwarded to the at least one email address for the at least one individual.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein automatically generating the new system account comprises identifying the new system account as a tentative account subject to a confirmation by the at least one individual and further comprising:

receiving, in response to notifying the at least one individual, the additional information and the confirmation from the at least one individual; and

providing, in response to receiving the additional information and the confirmation, the additional functionality for the new system account.

14. A method for a document exchange process directed to execution of a document and implemented on a computer system, the method comprising:

automatically routing the document for signature based on routing information input at an initiation of the document exchange process;

receiving the document following execution by individuals identified in the routing information to complete execution of the document;

automatically identifying that at least one non-party is not a signatory to the document, wherein the non-party is identified in the routing information after determining the complete execution of the document; and

automatically forwarding an executed copy of the document to the non-party based on the routing information.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving a document image with an electronic signature and placing a visual image indicating the integrity of the electronic signature on the document image to represent the electronic signature.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein automatically forwarding the executed copy of the document to the non-party is performed after notifying all of the individuals that the document is completely executed and providing the executed copy of the document to all of the individuals.

17. A method for a document exchange process directed to execution of a document and implemented on a computer system, the method comprising:

automatically routing the document for signature to a plurality of signatories based on routing information received at an initiation of the document exchange process;

receiving a plurality of copies of the executed document from the plurality of signatories;

for each of the plurality of copies of the executed document, extracting an executed segment of the executed document; and

automatically merging the executed segments into a single fully executed document, wherein the single fully executed document comprises each of the executed segments and a single copy of content of the document other than the executed segments.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the plurality of signatories are at a single company and/or its affiliates, thereby enabling automation of internal document execution by multiple employees and/or contractors with a single steps.

19. A method for document exchange directed to execution of a document and implemented on a computer system, the method comprising:

scanning the document to recognize at least one date included in the document;

automatically routing the document for signature a plurality of signatories,

automatically determining that at least one signatory of the plurality of signatories has not executed the document by at least one due date, wherein the at least one due date is based on the at least one date recognized in the document; and

automatically reminding the at least one signatory to execute the document.