System for electronically developing and processing a document

[0002] This invention relates to a novel system for electronically developing and processing a legal document.

[0003] Motivation for the present invention may be referenced to the following illustrative problem, which centers on retail automobile financial transactions.

[0004] A typical present day retail automobile financial transaction, for example, a loan or lease contract, may require the participation of a customer, a car dealership, one or more financial institutions (banks), and one or more information (credit) bureaus. These organizations develop a contract from a preliminary input draft stage to its final executable stage, in a process that takes from 4-10 days and which may require utilization of paper forms, faxes, and/or mail delivery. In sum, we believe this to be an unwieldy process: it is disadvantageously slow, inefficient, and can lead to frustrating dead-ends.

[0005] Our work addresses and ameliorates this situation, by eliminating the noted deficiencies of present day contract procurement processes. To this end, we disclose a system for electronically developing and processing a legal document. In a first aspect, the system comprises:

[0006] 1) at least one local computer workstation, wherein at least one such local workstation can electronically capture information input by a first party for developing the legal document;

[0007] 2) at least one remote information bureau computer workstation, wherein at least one such information workstation is connectable to the local workstation for electronically further developing the legal document; and

[0008] 3) at least one remote financial institution comprising a second party to the legal document and having a computer capability connectable to the local workstation for electronically further developing the legal document for contemplated execution of the legal document by said first and second parties.

[0009] In a second aspect, the system comprises:

[0010] 1) at least one local computer workstation, wherein at least one such local workstation can electronically capture information input by a first party for developing the legal document; and

[0011] 2) at least one remote financial institution comprising a second party to the legal document and having a computer connectable to the local workstation for electronically further developing the legal document for contemplated execution of the legal document by said first and second parties.

[0012] The invention as defined can realize significant advantages, including inter alia:

[0013] 1) reducing a contract procurement process from 4-10 days to under one hour;

[0014] 2) eliminating the use of paper forms, faxes, and overnight mail delivery;

[0015] 3) reducing inefficiencies and attendant costs;

[0016] 4) providing reusable information;

[0017] 5) providing encrypted information, for secure transmission; and

[0018] 6) providing valid test information as it is entered, thereby screening errors and mistakes and ensuring accuracy of transmitted information.

[0019] The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a preferred system architecture for realization of the present invention; and

[0021] FIGS. 2-11 show various computer display screens which illustrate different aspects of the present invention.

[0022] Attention is first directed to FIG. 1, which shows an architecture of a preferred system 10 of the present invention. In overview, the system 10 shows an internet hub 12, with radial electronic links to 1) a plurality of computer workstations 14 located at sundry automobile dealer stations; 2) a plurality of computer workstations 16 located at sundry financial companies; and, 3) a plurality of computer workstations 18 located at sundry credit information bureaus.

[0023] In operation, the FIG. 1 system 10 facilitates the following illustrative service wherein a car dealership, a customer, a selected financial institution, and a selected credit information bureau, may individually or severally cooperate to electronically develop and process a legal document e.g., a credit application for contemplated ultimate execution.

[0024] A preferred operation mode comprises the following steps:

[0025] 1) A dealer and/or customer may apply for credit, using a keyboard or preferably a touch-screen interface (disclosed in detail below) to enter a credit application.

[0026] 2) Once the credit application is completed, the dealer and/or customer may select from a list of participating financial institution (bank) for transmission of the credit application.

[0027] 3) The credit application preferably is encrypted and preferably transmitted over the internet, preferably to a server which can decrypt the application and feed it into the bank's loan processing system.

[0028] 4) A credit decision may be transmitted back to the dealer, preferably over the internet, in just a few minutes (rather than hours/days it typically takes today).

[0029] 5) Once the customer has agreed to the financing, a completed contract may be filled out in the system and electronically transmitted to this bank. This step preferably includes capturing a digital image of the customer's written signature for transmission to the financial institution.

[0030] In realization of this operation mode, a dealership workstation preferably comprises a flexible variety of configurations, ranging from a single workstation to multiple workstations.

[0031] A single workstation configuration typically is used by a manager, and preferably comprises:

[0032] A Pentium based PC keyboard, and mouse.

[0033] A 17″ touch screen high resolution monitor with signature pen.

[0034] A laser printer equipped to print legal sized, duplex documents.

[0035] A 28.8 modem.

[0036] An Internet access ID

[0037] Complete software environment.

[0038] Ongoing hardware and software support.

[0039] Help desk with ‘how to support’, and problem assistance.

[0040] In a typical multiple workstation configuration, an average dealership has a single primary workstation, probably used by the financial manager, and multiple sales workstations, one for each salesperson on the floor, with perhaps a workstation on a pedestal or stand located on the showroom floor for customer use. The primary workstation in a multi-station dealership is preferably configured to include:

[0041] A Pentium based PC, keyboard, and mouse.

[0042] A 17″ touch screen high resolution monitor with signature pen.

[0043] A laser printer equipped to print legal sized, duplex documents.

[0044] A 28.8 modem.

[0045] A LAN card and software.

[0046] An Internet access ID.

[0047] Complete software environment.

[0048] Ongoing hardware and software support.

[0049] Help desk with ‘how to support’, and problem assistance.

[0050] The sales workstation is preferably configured as follows:

[0051] A Pentium base PC, keyboard, and mouse.

[0052] A 17″ touch screen high resolution monitor with signature pen.

[0053] LAN card and software.

[0054] Complete software environment.

[0055] Ongoing hardware and software support.

[0056] Help desk with ‘how to’ support and problem assistance.

[0057] Large dealerships may have multiple financial workstations and multiple sales workstations.

[0058] User Interface

[0059] To facilitate the various styles of use anticipated for the system 10, the invention discloses two interaction styles. The user can select either the guided mode or the power mode, and can switch back and forth between styles at any point in the process. The interface also allows the user to interact with the customer using any combination of mouse, keyboard, touch-screen, tablet, trackball or other such devices and/or signature pen. All interface devices are allowed to be active simultaneously, allowing the user to develop the most comfortable interaction style.

[0060] Guided Mode

[0061] To facilitate the use of the system by consumers and dealership staff who are not familiar with computers, an easy to use guided mode is available. In this mode, the user is prompted for each item of information individually. The dealer workstation(s) 14 include means for recognizing a qualitative extent of further developing the document and transmitting it to the information (e.g, credit) bureau computer(s) or the financial company(ies) (e.g,., the remote entity) based on the qualitative extent. For example, as the information requirements change based on the information being solicited, the system displays a different interaction device such as a telephone keypad, a keyboard, or calendar on the screen. Through the use of graphics and the touch screen the guided mode enables the system to be used by the most inexperienced of users.

[0062] Power Mode

[0063] To facilitate the use of the system by experienced users, such as dealership staff familiar with the system, a fast path power mode is available. In this mode the user can enter all of the information required off of a few main screens, quickly and easily. Rather than being guided step by step, the system allows the user to provide the required information by tabbing from field to field. While this is less intuitive than the guided mode, it allows an experienced user to complete an application in as little as two minutes.

[0064] Aided Interaction

[0065] At several points in the process of completing a credit application, the user interface preferably provides aided interaction techniques; the system can make use of data bases to assist the user in completing the form. For example, a database of first names (sorted by frequency of occurrence in the population) helps the user enter his or her first name. By entering one or two keystrokes, a user can usually see his or her name on the dynamic pick list and simply touch the name to finish providing that information. Another example is during address entry, where the system uses an address database (such as USPS) to provide the user with appropriate City/State once a zip code is entered. It can even help select valid street names using the same database. The above are further examples of the workstation(s) 14 including means for recognizing a qualitative extent of further developing the document and transmitting it to the information (e.g., credit) bureau computer(s) or the financial company(ies) (e.g., the remote entity) based on the qualitative extent.

[0066] The goal of these aided interaction techniques is to assist the user by speeding data entry and helping avoid errors in data entry.

[0067] Intelligent Applications

[0068] The system 10 preferably embodies an intelligent application form. As opposed to a conventional paper based credit application form, the electronic form may be dynamically modified to fit the characteristics and needs of the consumer, and financial institution, and the specifics of the transactions. This is a further example of the above-mentioned means for recognizing a qualitative extent of further developing the document and transmitting it to the information (e.g., credit) bureau computer(s) or the financial company(ies) (e.g., the remote entity) based on the qualitative extent. For example, the system can shorten the application where particular information is not used in the current transaction. A good example of this is the requirement for a previous address. If a consumer has lived at their current address for a specified (parameter driven) period of time, the system will not ask for a previous address.

[0069] Just as we seek to shorten the application process for some consumers, we also ensure that all required information is captured, and that an application is not submitted unless it is complete. Completeness criteria will also vary by transaction. As in the above example, previous address might be required, as might previous employer, job title, or other information frequently left off applications. The goal of the intelligent application is to ensure that the system captures correct, complete information as quickly as possible, in a process that is easy for the consumer and dealership professional.

[0070] Credit Bureaus

[0071] As a part of the normal business process in the dealership for many financing transactions, the dealership obtains a credit report on the consumer. To facilitate this, the system is electronically connected to allow the dealer to obtain a credit report through our system. The dealer can then either read the report on-line, or print the report on an attached laser printer. The report is billed and recorded as if the dealer had obtained the report in a traditional manner.

[0072] Credit Response

[0073] After the electronic application is transmitted to financial institutions the dealer receives constant status as to the application. Preferably at each stage, an icon displays the current status of the application in the approval process, including, for example,:

[0074] Electronic Contract Processing

[0075] After receiving an approval or counter offer from a financial institution, the dealer can electronically build the contract, in the same method used to build the original credit application. All information from the original credit application is automatically carried over to the contract. Also automatically included in the contract is all information received from the financial institution during the approval process (net financed amount, rate, residual value, etc . . . ) The contract can then be completed, printed (for the consumer and/or dealership records) and transmitted to the approving financial institution. The electronic transmission is automatically entered into the financial institution's contract booking system, eliminating the need for overnight mail, and allowing the bank to fund the deal immediately.

[0076] By building the contract from existing data, combined with data received from the financial institution, we ensure that the contract, when received by the financial institution, is correct. This is another example of the workstation's means for recognizing a qualitative extent of further developing the document and transmitting it to the information (e.g., credit) bureau computer(s) or the financial company(ies) (e.g., the remote entity) based on the qualitative extent. This is in contrast to today's process where high error rates on contracts often delay the funding of retail deals to some extent, and lease deals in particular where error rates on contracts can run as high as 45%. By building the contract, and not allowing the dealer to modify fields relevant to the approved economics of the transaction (residual value, buy rate, etc . . . ) we dramatically reduce errors and simplify the process, both for the dealer and financial institution.

[0077] Forms Printing

[0078] The system is geared towards facilitating the creation of complete and accurate credit applications and contracts, so that they can be transmitted electronically and quickly processed by participating financial institutions. Of course, the consumer still requires a printed copy. The system, preferably through an attached laser printer, can print multiple copies of the credit application, and the contracts of any participating financial institution. These copies can be printed at any stage in the process, from printing a completely blank form, through printing a completed contract after it has been submitted to the financial institution. All printing may be done on plain paper, eliminating the need for pre-printed forms. A dealership might want to print a paper copy of the contract for the consumer to read prior to transmission, or may just wish to print out copies after the fact for dealership and consumer record keeping purposes.

[0079] Dealership Setup

[0080] The system installed in the dealership allows the dealer to customize certain aspects of the system to speed up application and contract processing. Such fields as vehicle type can be pre-loaded with the make of car sold by the dealer.

[0081] One of the most important dealer setup functions is the Financial Sources menu, which is used to direct completed applications. Here, the dealer specifies which FIs (Financial Institutions) the dealership can select from when submitting a credit application, both in E-mail mode (electronic transmissions) and fax mode (the method traditionally used by dealerships). Other key fields such as bank specific dealer ID numbers may also be entered via the dealer setup function.

[0082] Store and Forward

[0083] To enhance the reliability of the entire system, preferably each component of the system, including the workstation preferably acts as a store and forward, node. Each transaction is stored within the workstation until transmission over the network is reliably completed. If the network is unavailable, the transaction is stored within the workstation, and automatically completed as soon as the network connection is restored. In this manner, data within the system is never lost and, while transmission may be delayed, it is always completed.

[0084] Security

[0085] The F&I workstation preferably performs encryption and decryption on each transaction, ensuring the privacy of transactions. Each dealer-financial institution pair has a unique encryption key (preferably using 64 bit private key DES encryption) used to encrypt every communication over the network. Keys are preferably changed at random intervals to provide additional security.

[0086] At the Financial Institution

[0087] An important component of the system 10 resides at the financial institution: the Credit Server. This server acts as the interface between the dealerships communicating over the Internet, and the financial institution's back end credit scoring and contracting systems. The use of an intermediary system provides considerable value for the FI, including:

[0088] Allowing the bank to participate without major changes to their existing systems.

[0089] Internet security, at both a system and transaction level.

[0090] The credit server has several major functions, detailed below:

[0091] Interface to Host (Translation)

[0092] The Credit Server transfers data from the dealership to and from the financial institution's existing systems for credit scoring and contract booking systems. Data may be reformatted and remapped as required, so that the FI's existing systems require little or no change to interface with the dealer service. This is yet another example of the dealer workstation(s) 14 including means for recognizing a qualitative extent of further developing the document and transmitting it to the information (e.g., credit) bureau computer(s) or the financial company(ies) (e.g., the remote entity) based on the qualititive extent. The credit server can also handle required protocol translations, such as interfacing with the FI's system using LU 6.2, TCP/IP, LU 2, IPX, or other protocols.

[0093] Store and Forward

[0094] To enhance the reliability of the entire system preferably each component of the system including the credit server preferably acts as a ‘store and forward’ node. Each transaction is stored within the server until transmission over the network is reliably completed. If the network is unavailable, the transaction is stored within the server, and automatically completed as soon as the network connection is restored. In this manner, data within the system is never lost and, while transmission may be delayed, it is always completed with status notification at each step.

[0095] Forms Library

[0096] All of the contract, applications, and other misc. forms for the financial institution can be stored on the credit server. The forms are preferably stored encoded in a mark-up language on a document server which may be the same machine as the credit server, though they are logically distinct. From a document server, they are down-loaded on demand to an appropriate workstation. Once downloaded to the dealership workstation, the forms can be printed, either blank, or partially/completely filled in.

[0097] The process of downloading the correct, up to date and latest forms is completely automatic and executed in the background, without dealers ever having to explicitly request current forms. To accomplish this, the document server keeps track of the forms, and logs the ‘latest’ version of each specific form, by version number. When a dealer attempts to print a form, the workstation (in the background and automatically) queries the appropriate document server to determine if the workstation has the correct version of the form to be printed. If it does, printing commences. If not, the correct form is immediately downloaded to the dealership where it is stored and then made available for printing.

[0098] Rate/Program Information Storage

[0099] Preferably contained within the credit server is information containing the participating financial institution's product information, such as rates, programs, residual values, etc . . . This information, in one embodiment, is preferably stored within the credit server, and is maintained by the financial institution. In another embodiment, the information is stored within the financial institution's computer system and produced at request.

[0100] Archival Storage

[0101] The credit server can store each transaction conducted over the system between the particular financial institution and its associated dealers. These transactions (both coded data and images) can be stored on DASD, and then (if requested) can be stored on CD-ROM to become a permanent record for the financial institution.

[0102] Encryption

[0103] The credit server performs encryption and decryption on each transaction, ensuring the privacy of transactions. Each dealer-financial institution pair has a unique encryption key (preferably using 64 bit private key DES encryption) used to encrypt every communication over the network. Keys are preferably changed at random intervals to provide additional security.

[0104] Printing

[0105] The credit server can, on demand, or automatically (in real-time or at scheduled intervals) print all received applications and/or contracts. This provides the participating FI with paper copies of the required documentation for such purposes as fulfilling documentation requirements for securitization.

[0106] Screen Interface

[0107] As alluded to above, a dealer and/or a customer preferably use a touch-screen interface in order to enter and process a credit application. We now illustrate aspects of this interaction by examining its unfolding through five stages and referencing FIGS. 2-11.

[0108] FIGS. 2-4 (numerals 20-24), in particular, are dedicated to an initial stage of signing on to an application. Thus, one may touch the FIG. 2 screen to begin, which in turn, sequentially accesses the (self-evident) FIG. 3 “dealer password” screen and then a FIG. 4 main menu screen. FIG. 4 displays status indicators that preferably change as the credit application moves through an approval process. One can sort the applications-in-progress by name, time, or status by touching the push bottoms at the top of the screen.

[0109] FIG. 5 (numeral 26) is dedicated to a second stage of entering the credit application and comprises a primary applicant information power screen. The powerscreen preferably is organized into several logical groupings: name, current address, financial information, and vehicle. Fields to be completed may be highlighted. FIG. 6 (numeral 28) shows an exemplary filled out primary applicant information powerscreen.

[0110] FIGS. 7-9 (numerals 30-34) are dedicated to a third stage of transmitting the credit application. This stage may be initiated by touching the FIG. 6 “ready to submit” push button. This action, in turn, can prompt the screens shown in FIGS. 7-9. In particular, FIG. 7 illustrates a financial sources menu, FIG. 8 illustrates a credit authorization screen, and FIG. 9 features a signature screen.

[0111] A fourth stage comprising viewing a credit decision is illustrated in FIG. 10, numeral 36. Here, if the status of the decision was approved, with stipulation, then a “Stipulations” field would contain the stipulation information. On the other hand, if the credit application were rejected, then a “Turn down” field would contain the reason.

[0112] Finally, a fifth stage comprising contract preparation and printing, as illustrated in FIG. 11, numeral 38, may be initialized.

[0113] Note that other screens dedicated, for example to customizing, may be integrated with any of the aforementioned screens.