Computerized system and method for work management

A computer implemented method of managing work through a system, said system including a processing means for processing data related to a work matter, a storage means, and a plurality of intelligent terminals, wherein said storage means and said intelligent terminals are electronically linked with such processing means, comprising the steps of:

• collecting and storing data in said storage means, which data may include information generated externally to said system, information resident in said system at an initial time, information developed in the course of work management activity, and staffing information related to said work matter;
• scanning a plurality of documents with an electronic scanner having an output suitably linked with a processing instrumentality for processing and storage of an output signal from said scanner whereby a plurality of electronic images, corresponding to scanned portions of said plurality of documents, are created and stored, and wherein said scanned documents may include a portion of said information generated externally to said system, and further wherein characterization information in respect to said scanned documents may be linked to said electronic images through operation of said processing instrumentality;
• causing said electronic images created by said scanner, including such characterization information as may have been linked to said images, to be stored in said data storage means, through operation of said processing instrumentality;
• creating a document summary file for each document so stored in electronic image form, including at least a portion of said characterization information, time, date, and location information for that document, and writing that summary file information to a record in a database table in said data storage means;
• routing a preselected portion of said summary file information to one of said intelligent terminals for display at said terminal and, at an operator's option, causing at least one of said electronic images associated with one of said documents included in said preselected portion of said summary file information to be displayed by said terminal for processing by said operator;
• and
• recording all processing activities by said operator in an activity log associated with said work matter, whereby said activity log is electronically stored in said storage means and linked with said work matter at all times during which said work matter is being processed in said system.

A computer-implemented method for managing work through a system, said system including a processing means for processing data related to a work matter, a storage means interconnected with said processing means and a plurality of intelligent terminals electronically linked with said processing means, said method comprising the steps of:

• scanning a plurality of documents with an electronic scanner having an output suitably linked with a processing instrumentality for processing and storage of an output signal from said scanner whereby a plurality of electronic images, corresponding to scanned portions of said plurality of documents, are created and stored, and wherein said scanned documents may include a portion of said data related to said work matter, and further wherein characterization information in respect to said scanned documents may be linked to said electronic images through operation of said processing instrumentality,
• summarizing said data related to said work matter into a summary file,
• electronically linking said data and said summary file,
• storing said data and said summary file in said storage means subject to retrieval by an operator at one of said intelligent terminals for processing by said operator, and
• recording the processing by said operator in an activity log associated with said work matter, whereby said activity long is electronically stored in said storage means and linked with said work matter at all times during which said work matter is being processed in said system.

A computer-implemented method of managing work through a system, said system including a processing means for processing data related to a work matter, a storage means interconnected with said processing means and a plurality of intelligent terminals electronically linked with said processing means, comprising the steps of:

• scanning a plurality of documents with an electronic scanner having an output suitably linked with a processing instrumentality for processing and storage of an output signal from said scanner whereby a plurality of electronic images, corresponding to scanned portions of said plurality of documents, are created and stored, and wherein said scanned documents may include a portion of said data related to said work matter, and further wherein characterization information in respect to said scanned documents may be linked to said electronic images through operation of said processing instrumentality;
• providing an electronic reference library for storage and display of reference images used in making decisions with respect to work matters, wherein said reference images are associated with particular activity log comments to substantiate a decision;
• causing said elctronic images created by said scanner, including such characterization information as may have been linked to said images, to be stored in said dtat storage means, through operation of said processing instrumentality;
• providing a plurality of system functions for processing work, wherein said work is derived from said electronic images;
• and
• automatically moving a user between said plurality of functions based on document type and function.

A computer-automated system for managing work comprising:

• a processing means for processing data relates to a work matter and a storage means electronically linked thereto, wherein data is collected and stored in storage means, which data may include information generated externally to said system, information resident in said system at an initial time, information developed in the course of work management activity, and staffing information related to said work matter;
• a plurality of intelligent terminals interconnected with said processing means and said data storage means such that said terminals are able to access, display and store data stored n said data storage means;
• an electronic scanner for scanning a plurality of documents, said scanner having an output suitably linked with a processing instrumentality for processing and storage of an output signal from said scanner, whereby a plurality of electronic images, corresponding to scanned portions of said plurality of documents, are created and stored, and wherein said scanned documents may include a portion of said information generated externally to said system, and further wherein characterization information in respect to said scanned documents may be linked to said electronic images through operation of said processing instrumentality;
• document summary means for creating a document summary file respecting each document so stored in electronic image form, including at least a portion of said characterization information, time, date, and location information for that document, and for writing that summary file information to a record in a database table in said data storage means;
• means for routing a preselected portion of said summary file information to one of said intelligent terminals for display at said terminal and, at an operator's option, for causing at least one of said electronic images associated with one of said documents included in said preselected portion of said summary file information to be displayed by said terminal for processing by said operator;
• and
• means for recording processing activities by said operator in an activity log associated with said work matter, whereby said activity log is electronically stored in said storage means and linked with said work matter at all times during which said work matter is being processed in said system.

A work management system comprising:

• processing means, including a data bank into which data is written and from which data is read, said data bank storing information regarding an initial transaction, work source information, office staff information, policy information, information regarding dates of importance, information regarding work processing activities, staff case lead information, and predetermined text data for preparing documents, the data bank including staff table means for storing, retrieving, displaying and modifying information about staff members who access the system, wherein said stored information includes one or more data items selected from the group consisting of:
• name, user ID, job title, supervisor, experience level, cost rate, diary rollover limit, scheduled vacation, payment authority, and staff functional and processing authority levels;
• at least one terminal means for communicating with said processing means and operable by at least one operator to produce requests and to enter information and/or retrieve information for writing and/or reading from said data bank;
• display means for displaying information that is entered and retrieved;
• first merging means operatively interacting with said processing means for reading out from said data bank selected information regarding work processing activities and selected office staff information and merging said read out work processing activities information and said read out office staff information to compile an activity log listing key work activities and a staff member associated with those activities;
• case summary means for automatically summarizing said initial transaction information;
• routing means for routing transaction information to a staff member for processing in response to input through one of said terminal means;
• and
• staff member electronic queue means for receiving said initial transaction summary and other electronic messages;
• assignment means for assigning a case to a particular staff member for processing in response to input through one of said terminal means;
• reassignment means for reassigning cases from a particular staff member to another staff member for processing;
• diary means for automatically and manually setting, storing and displaying dates for various activities associated with the processing of a case including means for manually overriding automatically set diary dates;
• activity log means for automatically recording information about transactions undertaken through the system in the processing of a case and for manually recording information and comments about other activities in the processing of a case including means for selectively displaying said recorded information and comments on said display means;
• inquiry means for selectively retrieving and displaying transaction information in response to input of at least one case number through one of said terminal means;
• system controller means for controlling an operator's movements within the system, wherein said system controller means verifies the availability of each requested function during a system session and verifies said operator's authority to access a system function prior to permitting such access;
• and
• security means comprising security level means for selectively limiting access to certain predetermined functions of the system in accordance with a preset security level associated with each authorization code.