Computerized dispute resolution system and method

Abstract

A method and system for automated dispute resolution is disclosed. The method and system are used in testing non-equal values in normal rounds for satisfaction of a condition. If the condition is not satisfied in the normal rounds, power round values are tested for satisfaction of a power round condition. If the power round condition is satisfied, a binding settlement payment is calculated. The awardee of the settlement payment is offered a plurality of disbursement options for the settlement payment which he or she may choose from. Additional options involve an automated facilitator, windfalls to initiators, automatic payment initiation, multiparty aggregation and automatic settlement document generation.

1 . A computer executable method for dispute resolution, operative to control a computer and the method when executed comprising: 
 a) receiving at least one demand from a first party for a claim;    b) receiving at least one settlement offer from a second party for the claim;    c) preventing disclosure of the at least one demand to the second party and preventing disclosure of the at least one settlement offer to the first party;    d) calculating differences between the at least one demand and the at least one settlement offer in rounds wherein the differences are calculated in a round using one demand and one settlement offer for each round;    e) determining whether any of the differences fall within at least one predetermined criterion;    f) if any of the differences fall within the at least one predetermined criterion in any round transmitting a message to the first party and the second party that the claim is resolved;    g) if, in any round, the differences do not fall within the at least one predetermined criterion, transmitting a message to the first party and the second party that the claim has not been resolved; and    h) repeating the above steps until either (i) the claim has been resolved or (ii) a predetermined number of rounds has failed to result in a resolution of the claim.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein at least the first demand and the first settlement offer are unequal in value.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the demand for a given round is received before the settlement offer for that round.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein demand for a given round is received after the settlement offer for that round.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 limiting the number of settlement offers which may be received to a maximum of three.    
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein all settlement offers are received before any of the demands are received.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein a binding claim resolution is calculated as a function of the demand or the settlement offer in that round, if the differences between the demand and settlement offer in that round fall within the at least one predetermined criterion.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the demand and settlement offer in each round are kept confidential from the second party and first party, respectively.  
     
     
         9 . A dispute resolution method for resolving a claim between two adverse parties in a round-by-round method which requires at least one round, the method comprising: 
 testing a pair of values in a first round, one value in the pair submitted by each of the parties;    applying a settlement algorithm to the pair of values to determine if a settlement has been achieved, if a settlement is not achieved in the first round, calculating a binding settlement payment of an amount at least equal to a lower of the pair of values submitted for a second or subsequent round by applying a settlement algorithm which is binding on both parties.    
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  further comprising: 
 limiting the settlement payment to the greater of the pair of non-equal values.    
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 9  wherein a binding claim resolution is calculated as a function of the demand or the settlement offer in that round, if the differences between the demand and settlement offer in that round fall within the at least one predetermined criterion.