Electronic file management hierarchical structure

• US 8,396,909 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Newman, Daniel Lee, Askin, Keith Michael, Burgess, Cleburne Robinson, Garcia, Ana Maria, Burns, Michael Patrick, Smelser, Theron Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Cao, Phuong Thao
• Application Number:
  US11/734,756
• Time in Patent Office: 2,161 Days
• Field of Search: 707/101, 707/829, 707/804, 707/999.1, 707/999.101, 707/999.102
• US Class Current: 707/829
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems

Abstract

Based on received data descriptive of an event, a hierarchical data structure is constructed comprising structural elements associated with components of an event. A file folder hierarchy corresponding to the hierarchical data structure is created. User interfaces facilitate user access to files and folders in the hierarchies. Certain documents may be designated as documents of record and access to those documents is limited to processes that will not modify the original electronic document, thereby preserving it. Facilities for creating working copies of documents of records and associating them within the hierarchies are provided. A scanning information sheet that may have an electronically readable data imprint containing information about a document to be scanned is described for facilitating the migration of paper documents into an electronic file management system.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a hierarchical data structure, stored in an electronic device, including nodes correlated to one or more components of an insurance event, wherein the components of the insurance event include a defined relationship to each other using the insurance event, and wherein at least one node corresponding to a particular type of component is automatically populated with a substructure defined for the type of component based on facts associated with the insurance event;

an electronic file folder hierarchy, stored in an electronic device, said electronic file folder hierarchy comprising electronic file folders each including a one-to-one correspondence to elements of a navigation structure; and

a user interface, including a processor, configured to display a navigation structure corresponding to at least a portion of the hierarchical data structure and including a plurality of elements, wherein the user interface is further configured to;

scan, using the processor, a paper document to an electronic document to be filed as an electronic file;

create a scan information sheet having a bar code thereon, the bar code containing data pertaining to;

the paper document; and

text data included on the scan information sheet;

detect, using the processor, a selection of the plurality of elements of the navigation structure; and

associate, using the processor, the electronic file, using the bar code of the scan information sheet associated with the electronic file, with a plurality of electronic file folders corresponding to the selected plurality of elements of the navigation structure, wherein associating includes providing a hyperlink to display the electronic file.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the navigation structure is a tree structure.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

detect, using the processor, a selection of an element of the navigation structure; and

provide a user electronic access to an electronic file folder corresponding to the selected element of the navigation structure.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface is further configured to:

detect, using the processor, a selection of an element of the navigation structure; and

associate, using the processor, an electronic file with an electronic file folder corresponding to the selected element of the navigation structure.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the user interface is configured to display only those elements of the navigation structure that correspond to electronic file folders that are associated with electronic files.

6. A computerized method comprising:

constructing, using a processor, a hierarchical data structure responsive to data descriptive of components of an insurance event with defined relationships between the components of the insurance event, wherein the hierarchical data structure comprises nodes corresponding to components of the insurance event, and wherein at least one node corresponding to a particular type of component is automatically populated with a substructure defined for the type of component based on facts associated with the insurance event;

providing, over an electronic connection, a user interface configured to display a navigation structure corresponding to at least a portion of the hierarchical data structure;

automatically creating, using the processor, an electronic file folder hierarchy, said electronic file folder hierarchy comprising electronic file folders each including a one-to-one correspondence to elements of the navigation structure;

scanning, using the processor, a paper document to an electronic document to be filed as an electronic file;

creating a scan information sheet having a bar code thereon, the bar code containing data pertaining to;

the paper document; and

text data included on the scan information sheet;

detecting, using the processor, a selection of a plurality of elements of the navigation structure; and

associating, using the processor, an electronic file, using the bar code of the scan information sheet associated with the electronic file, with a plurality of electronic file folders corresponding to the selected plurality of elements of the navigation structure, wherein associating includes providing a hyperlink to display the electronic file.

7. The computerized method as recited in claim 6, wherein the navigation structure is a tree structure.

8. The computerized method as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

detecting, using the processor, a selection of an element of the navigation structure; and

providing, over an electronic connection, a user access to an electronic file folder corresponding to the selected element of the navigation structure.

9. The computerized method as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

detecting, using the processor, a selection of an element of the navigation structure; and

associating, using the processor, an electronic file with an electronic file folder corresponding to the selected element of the navigation structure.

10. The computerized method as recited in claim 6 wherein the user interface is configured to display only those elements of the navigation structure that correspond to electronic file folders that are associated with electronic files.

11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions, which when implemented by a computer perform:

constructing a hierarchical data structure responsive to data descriptive of components of an insurance event with defined relationships between the components of the insurance event, wherein the hierarchical data structure comprises nodes corresponding to components of the insurance event, and wherein at least one node corresponding to a particular type of component is automatically populated with a substructure defined for the type of component based on facts associated with the insurance event;

providing a user interface configured to display a navigation structure corresponding to at least a portion of the hierarchical data structure;

automatically creating an electronic file folder hierarchy, said electronic file folder hierarchy comprising electronic file folders each including a one-to-one correspondence to elements of the navigation structure;

scanning a paper document to an electronic document to be filed as an electronic file;

creating a scan information sheet having a bar code thereon, the bar code containing data pertaining to;

the paper document; and

text data included on the scan information sheet;

detecting a selection of a plurality of elements of the navigation structure; and

associating an electronic file, using the bar code of the scan information sheet associated with the electronic file, with a plurality of electronic file folders corresponding to the selected plurality of elements of the navigation structure, wherein associating includes providing a hyperlink to display the electronic file.

12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 11, wherein the navigation structure is a tree structure.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 11, further comprising computer executable instructions for:

detecting a selection of an element of the navigation structure; and

providing a user access to an electronic file folder corresponding to the selected element of the navigation structure.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 11, further comprising computer executable instructions for:

detecting a selection of an element of the navigation structure; and

associating an electronic file with an electronic file folder corresponding to the selected element of the navigation structure.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 11 wherein the user interface is configured to display only those elements of the navigation structure that correspond to electronic file folders that are associated with electronic files.