US 6,725,220 B2 · System and method for integrating paper-based business documents with computer-readable data entered via a computer network

Abstract

In an Internet-based process, a method of integrating paper-based business documents requiring an original signature with electronic data about those documents, and for later retrieving the data entered by the end user to create the documents is characterized by the steps of having the end user enter all required information for creating the required document, saving the gathered data in a database, associating the saved data with a unique identification code, and printing the unique identification code on the paper-based document when it is printed by the end user. The method can further include verification steps for the business client to independently verify the information entered, certification steps for the end user to certify the information entered, and fraud detection elements to protect against altered information on the documents. The printed paper-based document is signed by the end user, and submitted with supporting documentation. When the document is received by the business client, the business client inputs the identification code which is then used to access the stored data, and populate the business client's own database with all of the data used to create the original documents. All data entry is completed and verified by the end user, thus virtually eliminating data entry by the business client.

Claims48

Dependent claims

A system for electronically generating a paper-based document customized for an individual end user, and for integrating said document with data used to create said document, said system including a computer system comprising:

a computer network;
a data entry computer connected to said computer network;
a transactional network site connected to said computer network, said transactional network site being accessible to said data entry computer through said computer network, said transactional network site having document creation software that is programmed to request document creation data from the end user, and uses at least a portion of said data provided by said end user to create a document that is to be printed for the end user;
software operating on the transactional network site for generating a unique identification code, for associating said gathered personalized document creation data with said unique identification code, and for generating a printable rendition of said identification code, said printable rendition of said identification code being provided to said document creation software for printing on said document;
a network accessible database for storing at least a portion of said data and said unique identification code associated with said data;
a printer for printing at least a portion of said document, said printed document including at least a portion of said data and said unique identification code;
a business client network site connected to said computer network, said business client network site capturing said unique identification code, said business client network site using said identification code for automatically accessing at least a portion of said data within said network accessible database and for automatically processing said accessed data.

4 more elements

A method of electronically generating a paper-based document and integrating said document with electronic data used to create said document, said method comprising the steps of:

providing access to a transactional network site via a computer network, said transactional network site having document creation software that requests document creation data from an end user for use in creating said document and uses at least a portion of said data provided by said end user to create a document that is to be printed for said end user and returned to a business client;
gathering said document creation data from said end user and entering said data through said computer network;
assigning said gathered data a unique identification code;
storing at least a portion of said gathered data and said unique identification code in a network accessible database;
generating a printable rendition of said unique identification code;
electronically generating a printable rendering of said document to be submitted by said end user to a business client, said document including at least a portion of said gathered data, and said printable rendition of said unique identification code;
printing at least a portion said document;
submitting said document to said business client;
inputting said identification code from said submitted document;
and
accessing at least a portion of said gathered data from said network accessible database using said identification code.

8 more elements

a computer network;
a data entry computer connected to said computer network;
a transactional network site connected to said computer network, said transactional network site being accessible to said data entry computer through said computer network, said transactional network site having document creation software that is programmed to request document creation data from the end user, and uses at least a portion of said data provided by said end user to create a customized document that is to be printed by the end user;
software operating on the transactional network site for generating a unique identification code, for associating said gathered personalized document creation data with said unique identification code, and for generating a printable rendition of said identification code, said printable rendition of said identification code being provided to said document creation software for printing on said document;
a network accessible database for storing at least a portion of said data and said unique identification code associated with said data;
a printer in communication with said data entry computer for end user local printing of at least a portion of said document, said printed document including at least a portion of said data and said unique identification code;
a business client network site connected to said computer network, said business client network site capturing said unique identification code, said business client network site using said identification code for automatically accessing at least a portion of said data within said network accessible database and for automatically processing said accessed data.