Document management system and method

Abstract

A system for managing data items at an electronic data repository with respect to a plurality of parties includes an electronic data repository and a computer processor programmed to receive data items from parties remote from the repository and from each other. The program stores the received data items in the repository. It provides each remote party access only to those data items within one or more data item sets corresponding to the remote party. The program prohibits any remote party from modifying any data item in the repository, and from deleting any data item from the repository, while the data item is part of a data item set of another remote party. A first remote party may access data items in a set corresponding to a second remote party, responsively to the second remote party.

1 . A system for managing documents at an electronic data repository, wherein the documents relate to a transaction involving parties having different roles in the transaction, the system comprising: 
 an electronic data repository that is accessed by a plurality of parties that are remote from the repository, are remote from each other and have a role in the transaction; and    a computer program that 
 receives a document from a first party of the plurality of the parties,  
 stores the received document in the repository,  
 permits one or more of the parties access to the document, and  
 prohibits all of the parties from modifying the document in the repository, and from deleting the document from the repository, while any second party of the plurality of parties has access to the document.  
   
     
     
         2 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein 
 the computer program provides each said party access only to said documents stored in the repository that are within one or more document sets corresponding to the last-mentioned said party,    responsively to the last-mentioned party, the program defines types of documents that are needed to complete a first said document set corresponding to the last mentioned party, and    the program notifies the last-mentioned party when all the needed types of documents are stored in the repository in the first document set.    
     
     
         3 . They system as in  claim 1 , wherein 
 the computer program provides each said party access only to said documents stored in the repository that are within one or more document sets corresponding to the last-mentioned said party,    responsively to the last-mentioned party, the program monitors predetermined documents, and    the program notifies the last-mentioned party when each of the monitored documents is stored in the repository within a said document set corresponding to the last-mentioned party.    
     
     
         4 . A system for managing documents at an electronic data repository, wherein the documents relate to a transaction involving parties having different roles in the transaction, the system comprising: 
 an electronic data repository that is accessed by a plurality of parties that are remote from the repository, are remote from each other and have a role in the transaction; and    a computer program that 
 receives a document from a first party of the plurality of parties,  
 stores the received document in the repository,  
 permits the first party access to the document,  
 permits a second party of the plurality of parties access to the document responsively to the first party, and  
 prohibits all of the parties from modifying the document in the repository, and from deleting the document from the repository, while at least one said party other than the first party has access to the document.  
   
     
     
         5 . Within a transaction involving a plurality of parties having different roles in the transaction, a computerized method for managing documents related to the transaction and controlling access to the documents, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an electronic data repository that is accessed by a plurality of parties that are remote from the repository, are remote from each other and have a role in the transaction;    receiving a first document that relates to the transaction from a first party of the plurality of parties;    storing the received first document in the repository;    permitting the first party access to the first document;    permitting a second party of the plurality of parties access to the first document responsively to the first party;    prohibiting all of the parties from modifying the first document in the repository, and from deleting the first document from the repository, while at least one said party other than the first party has access to the first document;    receiving a second document that relates to the transaction from the second party;    storing the received second document in the repository;    permitting the second party access to the second document; and    prohibiting all of the parties from modifying the second document in the repository, and from deleting the second document from the repository, while at least one said party other than the second party has access to the second document.    
     
     
         6 . Within a transaction involving a plurality of parties having different roles in the transaction, a computerized method for managing documents related to the transaction and controlling access to the documents, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an electronic data repository that is accessed by a plurality of parties that are remote from the repository, are remote from each other and have a role in the transaction; and    for each of a plurality of documents that arise sequentially from and during the transaction, 
 receiving the document from a respective first party of the plurality of parties,  
 storing the received document in the repository,  
 permitting the first party access to the received document,  
 permitting a respective second party of the plurality of parties access to the received document responsively to the first party,  
 prohibiting all of the parties from modifying the received document in the repository, and from deleting the received document from the repository, while at least one said party other than the first party has access to the received document, and  
 receiving from the second party a next sequential document that relates to the transaction.  
   
     
     
         7 . A system for managing documents at an electronic data repository, wherein the documents relate to a transaction involving parties having different roles in the transaction, the system comprising: 
 an electronic data repository that is capable of being accessed by a plurality of parties that are remote from the repository, are remote from each other and have a role in the transaction; and    a computer program that 
 receives a document from a first party of the plurality of the parties,  
 stores the received document in the repository,  
 permits one or more of the parties access to the document, and  
 prohibits all of the parties from modifying the document in the repository, and from deleting the document from the repository, while any second party of the plurality of parties has access to the document,  
   wherein at least one of said parties comprises a plurality of entities that are not remote from each other,    wherein the computer program defines, responsively to the at least one party, access rights among the entities, and    wherein, based on the access rights, the computer program permits the entities access to documents that are stored in the repository and to which the computer program permits the at least one party access.