System and Method for Providing a Standardized Data Sharing Platform

Abstract

A standardized platform, implemented in a secure web-based environment, enables the sharing of data between different individuals, institutions and even industries. Data is shared between members of the platform in accordance with defined data objects with specified relationships and permissions which are managed, accessed and modified by members using the platform. Such data objects have defined relationships to entities and other data objects, and are controlled by designated preferred owners, which can vary over time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A standardized, data sharing platform comprising:
 a network;   a database; and   a server coupled to the database and to the network, wherein the server includes processing circuitry to execute programming code to,
 define a plurality of data objects for both entities and non-entities, wherein each of the plurality of data objects for entities comprises information that corresponds to specific entity types, while each of the plurality of data objects for non-entities comprises information that corresponds to specific tangible items; 
 store the plurality of data objects in a platform database; 
 populate an asset object, from the plurality of data objects, with information corresponding to an underlying asset which is provided by a user of the platform, wherein the user corresponds to a preferred owner of the asset object by virtue of having responsibility to maintain information relating to the underlying asset; 
 defining relationships between the asset object, the user and one or more of the other plurality of data objects, including at least one entity object, wherein said relationships are defined as a function of one or more commercial arrangements between the user and one or more other entities, wherein the at least one entity object corresponds to the one or more other entities; and 
 allow one or more other entities the right to access said asset object over the network and in accordance with said defined relationships and with permissions defined by said user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The platform of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of data objects is an information set comprising data fields, defined relationships to other data objects, and entity permission levels. 
     
     
         3 . The platform of  claim 2 , wherein the asset object further comprises documents relating to the underlying asset. 
     
     
         4 . The platform of  claim 1 , wherein said specific entity types comprise at least one of a buyer, seller, borrower, insurer, insured, guarantor, bank, investor and asset manager. 
     
     
         5 . The platform of  claim 1 , wherein said underlying asset comprises one of real estate, a loan and an insurance policy. 
     
     
         6 . The platform of  claim 1 , wherein ownership of the asset object varies in accordance with ownership of the underlying asset. 
     
     
         7 . The platform of  claim 6 , wherein, following a transfer of the underlying asset from a first owner to a second owner, the first owner retains ownership of the asset object as it existed prior to said transfer, while the second owner obtains ownership of the asset object as it exists following said transfer. 
     
     
         8 . The platform of  claim 1 , wherein only the preferred owner is allowed to modify and grant access permissions to the asset object. 
     
     
         9 . A method for providing a standardized, data sharing platform comprising:
 defining, by a platform server, a plurality of data objects for both entities and non-entities, wherein each of the plurality of data objects for entities comprises information that corresponds to specific entity types, while each of the plurality of data objects for non-entities comprises information that corresponds to specific tangible items;   storing, by the platform server, the plurality of data objects in a platform database;   populating, by the platform server, an asset object, from the plurality of data objects, with information corresponding to an underlying asset which is provided by a user of the platform over a network connection, wherein the user corresponds to a preferred owner of the asset object by virtue of having responsibility to maintain information relating to the underlying asset;   defining, by the platform server, relationships between the asset object, the user and one or more of the other plurality of data objects, including at least one entity object, wherein said relationships are defined as a function of one or more commercial arrangements between the user and one or more other entities, wherein the at least one entity object corresponds to the one or more other entities; and   allowing one or more other entities the right to access said asset object over the network and in accordance with said defined relationships and with permissions defined by said user.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of data objects is an information set comprising data fields, defined relationships to other data objects, and entity permission levels. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the asset object further comprises documents relating to the underlying asset. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said specific entity types comprise at least one of a buyer, seller, borrower, insurer, insured, guarantor, bank, investor and asset manager. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said underlying asset comprises one of real estate, a loan and an insurance policy. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein ownership of the asset object varies in accordance with ownership of the underlying asset. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein, following a transfer of the underlying asset from a first owner to a second owner, the method further comprises causing the first owner to retain ownership of the asset object as it existed prior to said transfer, and causing the second owner to obtain ownership of the asset object as it exists following said transfer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising allowing only the preferred owner to modify and grant access permissions to the asset object.