Computerized method and system for managing amendment voting in a networked secure collaborative exchange environment

• US 9,148,417 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2013
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IntraLinks Incorporated (SS&C Technologies Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: IntraLinks Incorporated (SS&C Technologies Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fieweger, James Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Tabor, Amare F
• Application Number:
  US13/871,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20140143831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 726/3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/645 using a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/032 Protect output to user by software means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/463 Electronic voting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 : User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3231 : Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for managing amendment voting in a networked secure collaborative computer data exchange environment, the method comprising establishing a secure exchange server-based environment between users of at least two business entities, the secure exchange server environment managed by an intermediate business entity, the users exchanging content, and providing an amendment voting facility when the content relates to a proposed amendment to an agreement wherein the amendment voting facility enables users to vote on the proposed amendment.

Claims

1. A method for managing a networked secure collaborative computer data exchange environment, the method comprising:

establishing, by a secure exchange server controlled by an intermediate business entity, a client login data authentication procedure that allows at least one client computing device of a plurality of client computing devices operated by users of a plurality of business entities to access the secure exchange server, wherein communications between the secure exchange server and the plurality of client computing devices is through a communications network;

storing, by the secure exchange server, at least one client login authentication data for each of the plurality of client computing devices;

receiving content from a first of the plurality of client computing devices;

by the secure exchange server, permitting access to the content for a subset of the plurality of computing devices through an exchange content access facility, wherein the exchange content access facility is managed by at least one business entity of the plurality of business entities;

granting, by the exchange server, access to the received content to a second of the plurality of client computing devices when the secure exchange server receives from the second of the plurality of client computing devices its client login authentication data provided that the second of the plurality of client computing devices is one of the subset of the plurality of computing devices;

providing an amendment voting facility for conducting a process of voting when the content relates to a proposed amendment to an agreement wherein the amendment voting facility enables users of the subset of the plurality of computing devices to vote on the proposed amendment; and

providing an electronic signature facility for managing a process of signing the received content by at least one of the subset of the plurality of computing devices, wherein the electronic signature facility provides for secure viewing of the received content as presented to a signing user through a computer display of the signing user'"'"'s client computing device, wherein the user'"'"'s client computing device utilizes a camera for viewing the environment around the signing user and a face detection facility for recognizing the signing user and detecting whether the signing user is present in the viewed environment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the process of voting on the proposed amendment is traceable.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein traceability includes tracing at least one of vote documentation, consent forms, signature pages, digital distribution, vote collection and signature page submission.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the amendment voting facility provides for the aggregating of vote metrics for tracking the process of voting amongst the users of the subset of the plurality of computing devices.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the aggregating of vote metrics utilizes weighted voting calculations for consent percentage and visualization of responses.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the amendment voting facility provides for a vote graphical user interface dashboard for tracking of progress and statistics.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the tracking of progress and statistics comprises group tracking, reminders, and export for vote tally and reporting.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the amendment voting facility provides for relative weighting of votes amongst the users that vote.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the amendment voting facility provides for management of the process of voting including at least one of a voting date, a vote distribution list, an inclusion of associated documents, a facility for signature-providing page submissions, an inclusion of instructions to voters, a process of approval, and a step for outside counsel to review.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the process of voting includes casting a vote as at least one of a yes-no vote, and a yes-no vote with signature.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a voting form is provided.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the voting form is configured to be dynamically generated by users.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the voting form is based on a user participant relationship.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the voting form includes a user customizable text or a user customizable logo.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein access to the exchange server by a client processor is through a host server controlled by the business entity that controls the client processor.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the client computing devices is at least one of owned and managed by at least one of the plurality of business entities.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the client computing devices is owned by an individual user.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the secure exchange server is one of a plurality of exchange servers.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the content is at least one of a document, a spreadsheet, a message, a data, an image, an audio content, a video content, and a multimedia content.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising transferring the content is to the secure exchange server via encrypted data transmission.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera is adapted to obfuscate the viewing of the content if an individual other than an intended signatory of the received content is detected.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the obfuscation is at least one of blanking the screen and distorting the viewing of the content.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection of the signing user by the face detection facility is accomplished by comparing an image of a previously stored facial image of the signing user to the face detected in the viewed environment.

21. A method for managing a networked secure collaborative computer data exchange environment, the method comprising:

establishing, by a secure exchange server controlled by an intermediate business entity, a user login data authentication procedure that allows at least one of a plurality of users of a plurality of business entities to access the secure exchange server, wherein communications between the secure exchange server and the plurality of users is through a communications network;

storing, by the secure exchange server, at least one user login authentication data for each of the plurality of users;

receiving content from a first of the plurality of users;

by the secure exchange server, permitting access to the content for a subset of the plurality of users through an exchange content access facility, wherein the exchange content access facility is managed by at least one business entity of the plurality of business entities;

granting, by the exchange server, access to the content to a second of the plurality of users when the secure exchange server receives from the second of the plurality of users its client user login authentication data provided that the second of the plurality of users is one of the subset of the plurality of users; and

providing an amendment voting facility when the content relates to a proposed amendment to an agreement wherein the amendment voting facility enables users to vote on the proposed amendment; and

providing an electronic signature facility for managing a process of signing the received content by at least one of the subset of the plurality of users, wherein the electronic signature facility provides for secure viewing of the received content as presented to a signing user through a computer display of the signing user'"'"'s client computing device, wherein the user'"'"'s client computing device utilizes a camera for viewing the environment around the signing user and a face detection facility for recognizing the signing user and detecting whether the signing user is present in the viewed environment.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the camera is adapted to obfuscate the viewing of the content if an individual other than an intended signatory of the received content is detected.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the obfuscation is at least one of blanking the screen and distorting the viewing of the content.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the detection of the signing user by the face detection facility is accomplished by comparing an image of a previously stored facial image of the signing user to the face detected in the viewed environment.