Obtaining consent for electronic delivery of compliance information

Abstract

A method and related system obtains consent from an individual for computer-aided delivery of compliance information. Initially, a computer-readable data storage device is provided to the individual. The device stores the compliance information and computer-executable instructions. By inserting the device into a computer, the instructions are executed and the individual is prompted by the computer to consent to the computer-aided delivery of additional compliance information. Once consent is indicated, it is communicated from the individual's computer to another computer such as a server over, for example, a modem connection. Having secured the individual's consent, the additional compliance information can be delivered to the individual's computer as, for example, a file attachment to an email message.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for obtaining consent for computer-aided delivery of compliance information, the method comprising: 
 electronically providing computer-executable instructions for obtaining consent from an individual for subsequent computer-aided delivery of additional compliance information to the individual;    prompting, by execution of the instructions on a first computer, the individual for consent to the subsequent computer-aided delivery of the additional compliance information to the individual;    communicating the individual's consent from the first computer to a second computer, the second computer connected to the first computer over a network; and    transmitting additional compliance information from the second computer to the first computer.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the computer-executable instructions includes instructions for providing a first set of compliance information to the individual.  
     
     
         3 . A system for obtaining consent from a user for computer-aided delivery of compliance information, the system comprising: 
 a sending computer arrangement programmed to send software to a user device, the software comprising computer executable instructions; and the user device programmed to: 
 execute the computer executable instructions,  
 prompt the user to consent to the computer aided delivery of compliance information, and  
 communicate the consent to a second device.  
   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the second device is the sending computer arrangement.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the software is sent in a message over a network.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the computer executable instructions allow the user to consent by replying to the message.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the computer executable instructions allow the user to consent by following a link in the message.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the computer executable instructions allow the user to consent by executing a form included in the message.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the sending computer arrangement is further programmed to send compliance information to the user device.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the sending computer arrangement is further programmed to send a notification about the compliance information to the user device.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the notification comprises a message sent over a network.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the notification contains a link to a location of the compliance information.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the location of the compliance information is a web page.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the web page is stored in the sending computer arrangement.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the compliance information comprises one or more additions or changes to a mutual fund prospectus.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the second device stores the communicated consent.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the sending computer arrangement comprises a server.  
     
     
         18 . A computer-implemented method of providing an entity with compliance information stored in a compliance information database, the method comprising: 
 (a) identifying a specific compliance information record in the compliance information database to be provided; and    (b) directing a database management function to send a hyperlink to the entity pointing to the specific compliance information record.    
     
     
         19 . A method of providing access to a compliance information database, the method comprising: 
 under control of a first client system: 
 sending an access instruction message; and  
   under control of a server system: 
 receiving the access instruction message from the first client system,  
 identifying a specific compliance information record within the access instruction message,  
 identifying a destination address within the access instruction message,  
 creating a hyperlink pointing to the specific compliance information record in the compliance information database, and  
 transmitting the hyperlink to the destination address.  
   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the destination address is located at a second client system and the hyperlink is transmitted from the server system to the second client system via the Internet.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the destination address is located at a second client system, the method further comprising: 
 under control of the second client system: 
 receiving the hyperlink from the server system, and  
   accessing the server system via the hyperlink.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 under control of the server system: 
 detecting an access to the server system by the second client system via the hyperlink;  
 determining whether or not the hyperlink is valid; and  
 when the hyperlink is determined to be valid: 
 identifying a specific compliance information record from the hyperlink,  
 retrieving the specific compliance information record from the compliance information database, and  
 causing the specific compliance information record to be displayed on the second client system.  
 
   
     
     
         23 . A computer-implemented method of providing compliance information stored in a compliance information database, the method comprising: 
 receiving an instruction that identifies a specific compliance information record in the compliance information database;    creating a hyperlink pointing to the specific compliance information record; and    sending the hyperlink to a destination address.    
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 receiving an access request to access the compliance information database via a received hyperlink;    determining whether the received hyperlink is valid; and    when the received hyperlink is determined to be valid, identifying a specific compliance information record from data in the received hyperlink and providing the specific compliance information record to a source of the received hyperlink.    
     
     
         25 . A system for sharing compliance information data stored in a compliance information database, the system comprising: 
 a first client system operative to: 
 search the compliance information database,  
 identify a specific compliance information record,  
 identify a destination address, and  
 send an access instruction message with respect to the specific compliance information record and destination; and  
   a database server system operative to: 
 receive the access instruction message,  
 determine the specific compliance information record and destination address from the access instruction message,  
 create a hyperlink pointing to the specific compliance information record in the compliance information database, and  
 send the hyperlink to the destination address.  
   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first client system communicates with the database server system over the Internet.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first client system communicates with the database server system over an intranet.  
     
     
         28 . A computer program product comprising: 
 a computer-readable medium; and    computer program instructions on the computer-readable medium, wherein the computer program instructions, when executed by a computer, direct the computer to perform a method of sharing compliance information data stored in a compliance information database, the method comprising: 
 receiving an access instruction,  
 identifying a specific compliance information record and a destination address in the access instruction,  
 creating a hyperlink pointing to the specific compliance information record, and  
 sending the hyperlink to the destination address.  
   
     
     
         29 . The computer program product of  claim 28 , wherein the method further comprises at least one of: 
 receiving the access instruction over the Internet; and    sending the hyperlink over the Internet.    
     
     
         30 . A system for sharing compliance information data stored in a compliance information database, the system comprising: 
 a database server system operative to: 
 receive an access instruction message;  
 determine a specific compliance information record and destination address from the access instruction message;  
 create a hyperlink pointing to the specific compliance information record in the compliance information database; and  
 send the hyperlink to the destination address.  
   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein a first client system sends the access instruction message to the database server system over the Internet.  
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the first client system sends the access instruction message to the database server system over an intranet.  
     
     
         33 . A method of obtaining consent for electronic delivery of compliance information, the method comprising: 
 (a) identifying a specific compliance information record in the compliance information database to be provided; and    (b) directing a database management function to send a hyperlink to the entity pointing to the specific compliance information record.