Computer form action zone summary system and method

• US 9,286,281 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2010
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Original Assignee: Citrix Systems, Inc. (Cloud Software Group)
• Inventors: Dunn, Cary, Siegel, Jonathan, Bernstein, Daryl
• Primary Examiner(s): Mills, Frank D
• Application Number:
  US12/908,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,973 Days
• Field of Search: 715/221, 715/224, 715/226
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/171 by use of digital ink
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A system and method for facilitating the entry by a signer user of information into a scaffold electronic document having multiple information entry fields, over the internet or similar network. The system includes a document summary server, in communication with a document execution server, and associated with a scaffold electronic document via network. The document summary server facilitates the entry by a signer user of information into one or more information entry fields in a scaffold document.

Claims

1. Method for facilitating the entry by a plurality of users, of information into a scaffold electronic document, wherein the scaffold electronic document includes content displayable to the plurality of users as text and/or graphics on one or more pages, and m groups of information entry fields U₁, . . . , U_i, . . . , U_m, each group being associated with a distinct user of the plurality of users, and wherein the i^th group of information entry fields includes n_i, information entry fields F_i1, . . . , F_iji, . . . , F_ini, wherein the information entry fields are adapted to receive information entered therein by an i^th user, comprising the steps of:

by a document summary server,

A. for the scaffold electronic document, establishing a group index i for each of the m groups of information entry fields where 1≦

i≦

m, and establishing a subgroup index j_i for the i^th group of information entry fields F_iji of the respective m groups where 1≦

i≦

m and where 1≦

j_i≦

n_i, wherein i and j_i for the i^th user have initial values equal to 1 for the scaffold electronic document, and i and j_i have maximum values equal to m and n_i respectively for the scaffold electronic document,

B. displaying to each i^th user of the plurality of users, over a network, a respective unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document, such that a different unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document is displayed to each of the plurality of users,

C. in response to receipt over the network of data indicative of entry by each i^th user of information into the j_i^th information entry field of the i^th group, modifying the respective unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document for that i^th user to include the entered information in the j_i^th information entry field, and incrementing the subgroup index j for the F_iji^th subgroup,

D. enabling display to each i^th user, a steps-to-go display representative of the difference between the maximum value of the subgroup index j_i for that i^th user and the current value of the subgroup index j_i for that i^th user,

E. generating a signed document for each i^th user by (i) creating a graphical representation based on data indicative of entry by that i^th user and (ii) combining the graphical representation with the respective unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document, and

F. combining the graphical representations created across all of the plurality of users into a single signed document.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the steps-to-go display is made available for display to each i^th user in the form of a gauge showing the initial value of index j_i (=1) for the i^th user, the maximum value of the index j_i (=n_i) for the i^th user and the current value of the index j_i (=j_i) for the i^th user.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising the further step of making available for display in relation to the i^th user, a next-field display representative of the location in the scaffold electronic document of the next information entry field in the i^th group in the scaffold electronic document having no user-entered data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling for display to the i^th user, a progress display representative of the current value of the subgroup index j_i for the i^th user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling for display in relation to the i^th user, a scope display representative of the maximum value of the subgroup index j_i for the i^th user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying, to each i^th user, the respective unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document includes, for each i^th user:

preparing an envelope for the i^th user, the envelope including an unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document and a signature entry pad for each field to be completed by the i^th user, each signature entry pad providing a dynamic field to facilitate entry of information;

delivering a link to the i^th user, the link enabling the i^th user to access the envelope for the i^th user; and

in response to receiving a request from the i^th user generated by the i^th user following the delivered link, locating the envelope for the i^th user and presenting the i^th user with the unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document within the envelope for the i^th user, the unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document to be filled in using the respective signature entry pad for each field to be completed by the i^th user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving names and contact information of a set of non-users designated to receive copies of the signed document; and

when combining the graphical representation with the respective unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document for each i^th user, delivering a progress update to each of the set of non-users, such that each of the set of non-users is caused to receive a respective progress update for each of the plurality of users.

8. A document summary server for facilitating the entry by a plurality of users, of information into a scaffold electronic document, wherein the scaffold electronic document includes content displayable to the plurality of users as text and/or graphics on one or more pages, and m groups of information entry fields U₁, . . . , U_i, . . . , U_m, each group being associated with a distinct user of the plurality of users, and wherein the i^th group of information entry fields includes n_i, information entry fields F_i1, . . . , F_iji, . . . , F_ini, wherein the information entry fields are adapted to receive information entered therein by an i^th user, the document summary server implemented on a computer system constructed and arranged to:

A. for the scaffold electronic document, establish a group index i for each of the m groups of information entry fields where 1≦

i≦

m, and establishing a subgroup index j_i for the i^th group of information entry fields F_iji of the respective m groups where 1≦

i≦

m and where 1≦

j_i≦

n_i, wherein i and j_i for the i^th user have initial values equal to 1 for the scaffold electronic document, and i and j_i have maximum values equal to m and n_i respectively for the scaffold electronic document,

B. display to each i^th user of the plurality of users, over a network, a respective unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document, such that a different unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document is displayed to each of the plurality of users,

C. generate a signed document for each i^th user by (i) creating a graphical representation based on data indicative of entry by that i^th user and (ii) combining the graphical representation with the respective unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document, and

D. combine the graphical representations created across all of the plurality of users into a single signed document.

9. The document summary server of claim 8, wherein, when constructed and arranged to display, to each i^th user, the respective unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document, the computer system is further constructed and arranged to, for each i^th user:

prepare an envelope for the i^th user, the envelope including an unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document and a signature entry pad for each field to be completed by the i^th user, each signature entry pad providing a dynamic field to facilitate entry of information;

deliver a link to the i^th user, the link enabling the i^th user to access the envelope for the i^th user; and

in response to receipt of a request from the i^th user generated by the i^th user following the delivered link, locate the envelope for the i^th user and present the i^th user with the unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document within the envelope for the i^th user, the unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document to be filled in using the respective signature entry pad for each field to be completed by the i^th user.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the computer system is further constructed and arranged to:

receive names and contact information of a set of non-users designated to receive copies of the signed document; and

when combining the graphical representation with the unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document for each i^th user, deliver a progress update to each of the set of non-users, such that each of the set of non-users is caused to receive a respective progress update for each of the plurality of users.

11. A computer program product including a set of non-transitory, computer-readable media having instructions which, when executed by a set of processors, cause the set of processors to perform a method for facilitating the entry, by a plurality of users, of information into a scaffold electronic document, wherein the scaffold electronic document includes content displayable to the plurality of users as text and/or graphics on one or more pages, and m groups of information entry fields U₁, . . . , U_i, . . . , U_m, each group being associated with a distinct user of the plurality of users, and wherein the i^th group of information entry fields includes n_i, information entry fields F_i1, . . . , F_iji, . . . , F_ini, wherein the information entry fields are adapted to receive information entered therein by an i^th user, wherein the method comprises:

A. for the scaffold electronic document, establishing a group index i for each of the m groups of information entry fields where 1≦

i≦

m, and establishing a subgroup index j_i for the i^th group of information entry fields F_iji of the respective m groups where 1≦

i≦

m and where 1≦

j_i≦

n_i, wherein i and j_i for the i^th user have initial values equal to 1 for the scaffold electronic document, and i and j_i have maximum values equal to m and n_i respectively for the scaffold electronic document,

B. displaying to each i^th user of the plurality of users, over a network, a respective unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document, such that a different unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document is displayed to each of the plurality of users,

C. generating a signed document for each i^th user by (i) creating a graphical representation based on data indicative of entry by that i^th user and (ii) combining the graphical representation with the respective unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document, and

D. combining the graphical representations created across all of the plurality of users into a single signed document.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein in response to receiving over the network of data indicative of entry by each i^th user of information into the j_i^th information entry field of the i^th group, the method further comprises modifying the respective unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document for that i^th user to include the entered information in the j_i^th information entry field, and incrementing the subgroup index j for the F_iji^th subgroup.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises enabling display to each i^th user, a steps-to-go display representative of the difference between the maximum value of the subgroup index j_i for that i^th user and the current value of the subgroup index j_i for that i^th user.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the steps-to-go display is made available for display to each i^th user in the form of a gauge showing the initial value of index j_i (=1) for the i^th user, the maximum value of the index j_i (=n_i) for the i^th user and the current value of the index j_i (=j_i) for the i^th user.

15. The computer program product of claim 11, the method comprising a further step of making available for display in relation to the i^th user, a next-field display representative of the location in the scaffold electronic document of the next information entry field in the i^th group in the scaffold electronic document having no user-entered data.

16. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises enabling for display to the i^th user, a progress display representative of the current value of the subgroup index j_i for the i^th user.

17. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises enabling for display in relation to the i^th user, a scope display representative of the maximum value of the subgroup index j_i for the i^th user.

18. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein displaying, to each i^th user, the respective unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document includes, for each i^th user:

preparing an envelope for the i^th user, the envelope including an unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document and a signature entry pad for each field to be completed by the i^th user, each signature entry pad providing a dynamic field to facilitate entry of information;

delivering a link to the i^th user, the link enabling the i^th user to access the envelope for the i^th user; and

in response to receiving a request from the i^th user generated by the i^th user following the delivered link, locating the envelope for the i^th user and presenting the i^th user with the unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document within the envelope for the i^th user, the unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document to be filled in using the respective signature entry pad for each field to be completed by the i^th user.

19. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving names and contact information of a set of non-users designated to receive copies of the signed document; and

when combining the graphical representation with the unsigned copy of the scaffold electronic document for each i^th user, delivering a progress update to each of the set of non-users, such that each of the set of non-users is caused to receive a respective progress update for each of the plurality of users.