System for electronically developing and processing a document

• US 6,603,487 B1
• Filed: 10/31/1996
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boies, Stephen Joy, Jones, Lauretta, Levy, Stephen Eric, Lovell, Douglas Charles, Lustig, Neil, Matchen, Paul Michael, Thompson, Richard Dean, Bennett, William Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, James W.
• Application Number:
  US08/741,459
• Time in Patent Office: 2,469 Days
• Field of Search: 705/38, 395/238, 345/751
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment, a customer, an automobile dealership, a participating financial institution, and a credit bureau may be electronically connected in a system that preferably uses the internet in order to develop and process a legal document comprising a credit application. The system thereby eliminates a paper-based process of credit approval, providing an efficient interaction between businesses and their customer.

Claims

1. A system for electronically developing and processing a document, the system comprising:

1) at least one local computer workstation, wherein at least one such a local workstation can electronically capture information input by a first party for originating and developing the document, said first party retaining control of said document until execution;

2) at least one remote information bureau computer, wherein at least one such information bureau computer is connectable to said at least one local workstation for electronically further developing the document; and

3) a plurality of remote entities selectively connectable by said first party to said at least one local computer workstation, at least one entity of said plurality of remote entities comprising a second party to the document and having at least one computer connectable to said at least one local computer workstation for electronically further developing the document for contemplated execution of the document by said first and second parties.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the local workstations comprises a display means for ascertaining a content of the document.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the local workstations comprises means for printing the document.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the input information comprises content information, and wherein said content information is verified as it is entered.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the local workstations comprises means for recognizing a qualitative extent of further developing the document and transmitting it to said at least one information bureau computer or said at least one entity based on the qualitative extent.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the local workstations comprises an interface device, said interface device comprising at least one of a mouse, a keyboard, a touch-screen, a signature pen, a trackball, and a tablet.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein any one or more of the devices may be active simultaneously.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the local workstations comprises means for dynamically concurrently affecting the content of the document as said document is being used.

9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a server operatively coupled to said at least one local computer workstation.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said server comprises means for acting as a store and forward node.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one local workstation, said at least one information bureau computer, and said at least one entity are connected through the internet.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of entities include at least one of a plurality of financial institutions, a plurality of insurance institutions, a plurality of retail institutions, and a plurality of consumer institutions.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said information electronically captured comprises content information, and said content information is reusable by said system.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said information electronically captured comprises content information, and said content information is savable generically in an independent format and is reformattable for specific ones of said plurality of remote entities.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said content information is captured onto an electronic form.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said electronic form is dynamically and concurrently modifiable, as said electronic form is being used, to fit a characteristic of at least one of said first party, said second party and a transaction therebetween.

17. The system according to claim 14, further comprising:

means for reformatting said content information, said content information being reformattable for each of said plurality of remote entities.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein said information electronically captured comprises content information, and said content information is reusable, and

wherein said content information is savable generically in an independent format and is reformattable for specific ones of said plurlity of remote entities.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least one local computer workstation, said at least one of said information bureau computer and said at least one of said plurality of remote entities comprises means for acting as a store and forward node.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein said information electronically captured comprises content information, said system further comprising:

means for reformatting said content information, said content information being reformattable for each of said plurality of remote entities.

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein said document comprises at least one of a legal document and a transactional document.

22. The system according to claim 1, wherein said information comprises content information, and said content information is captured onto an electronic form.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said electronic form is dynamically and concurrently modifiable, as said electronic form is being used, to fit a characteristic of at least one of said first party, said second party and a transaction therebetween.

24. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one local computer workstation controls interaction between said plurality of remote entities to shape completeness and quality of said document.

25. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one local computer workstation stores thereon said document being developed.

26. A system for electronically developing and processing a document, the system comprising:

1) at least one local computer workstation, wherein at least one such local workstation can electronically capture information input by a first party for originating and developing the document; and

2) a plurality of remote entities selectively connectable by said first party to said at least one local workstation, at least one entity of said plurality of remote entities comprising a second party to the document and having at least one computer connectable to said at least one local computer workstation for electronically further developing the document for contemplated execution of the document by said first and second parties, wherein said first party retains control of said document from origination until execution.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the local workstations comprises a display means for ascertaining a content of the document.

28. A system according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the local workstations comprises means for printing the document.

29. A system according to claim 26, wherein the input information comprises content information, and said content information is verified as it is entered.

30. A system according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the local workstations comprises means for recognizing a qualitative extent of further developing the document and transmitting it to an information bureau or said at least one entity based on the qualitative extent.

31. A system according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the local workstations comprises an interface device, said interface device comprising at least one of a mouse, a keyboard, a touch-screen, a signature pen, a trackball, and a tablet.

32. A system according to claim 31, wherein any one or more of the devices may be active simultaneously.

33. A system according to claim 26, wherein at least one of the local workstations comprises means for dynamically and concurrently affecting the content of the document as said document is being used.

34. A system according to claim 26, further comprising a server coupled to said at least one local computer workstation.

35. The system according to claim 34, wherein said server comprises means for acting as a store and forward node.

36. The system according to claim 26, wherein said plurality of entities include at least one of a plurality of financial institutions, a plurality of insurance institutions, a plurality of retail institutions, and a plurality of consumer institutions.

37. The system according to claim 26, wherein said information electronically captured comprises content information, and said content information is reusable.

38. The system according to claim 26, wherein said information electronically captured comprises content information, and said content information is savable generically in an independent format and is reformattable for specific ones of said plurality of remote entities.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein said information electronically captured comprises content information, said system further comprising:

means for reformatting said content information, said content information being reformattable for each of said plurality of remote entities.

40. The system according to claim 26, wherein said information electronically captured comprises content information, and said content information is reusable, and

wherein said content information is savable generically in an independent format and is reformattable for specific ones of said plurality of remote entities.

41. The system according to claim 26, wherein at least one of said at least one local computer workstation and said at least one of said plurality of remote entities comprises means for acting as a store and forward node.

42. The system according to claim 26, wherein said information electronically captured comprises content information, said system further comprising:

means for reformatting said content information, said content information being reformattable for each of said plurality of remote entities.

43. The system according to claim 26, wherein said document comprises at least one of a legal document and a transactional document.

44. The system according to claim 26, wherein said at least one local computer workstation controls interaction between said plurality of remote entities to shape completeness and quality of said document.

45. The system according to claim 26, wherein said at least one local computer workstation stores thereon said document being developed.

46. A method for electronically developing and processing a document, comprising:

electronically capturing, by at least one local computer workstation, information input by a first party for originating and developing the document;

selectively connecting said at least one local workstation to said at least one local workstation for electronically further developing the document; and

selectively connecting said at least one local computer workstation to a plurality of remote entities, at least one entity of said plurality of remote entities comprising a second party to the document and having at least one computer connectable to said at least one local computer workstation for electronically further developing the document for contemplated execution of the document by said first and second parties, wherein said first party retains control of said document from origination until execution.

47. The method according to claim 46, further comprising:

controlling, by said at least one local computer workstation, interaction between said plurality of remote entities to shape completeness and quality of said document.

48. The method according to claim 46, further comprising:

storing, on said at least one local computer workstation, said document being developed.