Abstract:
An automated court docketing system that supplies evidence of the time and date that a document was filed with the court. This invention also processes and accepts payment and generates a receipt reflecting the date/time of submission and payment of the required fees. When needed, a docket number is supplied.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Reference is made to commonly assigned co-pending patent applications: Ser. No. 09/058,025 filed herewith entitled “Electronic Automated Court Document Docketing Filing System” in the name of Patrick D. Mahoney, Terrence M. Doeberl, Ronald P. Sansone and Ronald Reichman. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to the field of filing systems and more particularly to automated docketing systems. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Governments have created judicial systems for administering justice by resolving disputes between parties. In the United States, each state and the federal government has its own judicial system. The federal and state courts dispense justice in as fair and efficient manner as is possible. The caseload of the federal Judiciary increased in fiscal year 1997, reaching historic levels in nearly every category. For instance, filings in: the twelve regional courts of appeals rose 1 percent to 52,319; the district courts rose 2 percent to 322,390 and; the bankruptcy court filings climbed 23 percent to 1,367,364. The state courts are also experiencing an increase in new case filings. The increase in case filings is making it more difficult for the judiciary to decide cases in a timely manner. 
     In a typical United States District Court civil filing, a party called the plaintiff presents a document called a complaint to the court clerk. The court clerk reviews the complaint and advises the plaintiff of the required fee. Then the plaintiff pays the specified fee to the clerk. At this point the top page of the complaint may be rubber stamped with a docket number and/or date/time stamped by the clerk and a receipt is given to the plaintiff, if requested. The clerk also records the payment of the filing fee in a ledger and processes the complaint. After the defendant receives a copy of the complaint, the defendant files an answer to the complaint with the court. During the discovery process, the plaintiff and the defendant may file many motions with the court. The plaintiff and defendant may also file motions with the court during pre-trial proceedings. After the trial, the parties may be entitled to file post trial motions. It is not uncommon in some lawsuits for the parties to have over two hundred separate document filings. 
     Most papers that are filed with the court have to be submitted within specified time periods. Most filings contain many pages. Exhibits containing many pages may also be attached to the filings. Typically, only the first page of a filing contains the docket number and the time the filing was submitted to the court. 
     One of the problems encountered by the prior art is that sometimes it is difficult to read the rubber stamped docket number. This may cause papers to be filed with the wrong case or the improper docket number to be placed on future filings. 
     Another problem encountered by the prior art is that an attorney&#39;s office may place an improper docket number on a filing, which causes that filing to be filed in another case. The clerk may also misread the docket number and file the paper in the wrong case. 
     An additional problem encountered by the prior art is that the filing of papers in a court is a complex, manual fragmented process in which many papers have to be received, paid for and entered into the court system. 
     The bankruptcy court is trying to make it easier for parties to submit petitions and other documents to the court. This is being accomplished by allowing the parties to submit petitions and other documents in an after hours depository. The forgoing does not provide the filer with a receipt that reflects the time of his/her submission to the court or a receipt indicating payment. To facilitate the above type of filing, the Court has previously provided access to a time/date stamping machine to reflect the date and time of his submission to the court. This service was withdrawn after episodes of inadvertent or deliberate filing errors. 
     An additional problem encountered by the prior art is that a document may be stamped with the incorrect date/time and the actual document may be submitted after the filing deadline for that particular document. 
     Another problem encountered by the prior art is that the date/time stamp is on the wrong document due to inadvertent error by the filer or clerk. 
     A further problem encountered by the prior art is that there may be inaccurate fee submission. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an automated court docketing system that supplies evidence of the time and date that a document was filed with the court. This invention also processes and accepts payment and generates a receipt reflecting the date/time of submission and payment. When needed, a docket number is supplied. The foregoing is advantageous to the court because the court knows the exact date and time that the document was filed. The processing of payment also relieves the court of an administrative burden. The above is advantageous to the party because the party has proof of the actual date and time that the document was filed and the fee paid. 
     An additional advantage of this invention is that it provides more accurate reporting and checking of the fees received by the court. 
     It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that any government agency, government department or private organization may use the docketing system of this invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a drawing of a prior art court date/time stamp; 
     FIG. 2 is a drawing of the date/time stamp  16  of this invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the date/time/payment/docketing stamp  25  affixed to a document  30 ; 
     FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the date/time/payment/receipt stamp  42  that the filer receives; 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the system of this invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective drawing of the housing that contains document acceptor  50  of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a drawing of a flow chart of the program contained in system controller  54  of FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 8 is a drawing of a flow chart showing the interaction of data center computer  65  with system controller  54  and data link  62 ; 
     FIG. 9 is a drawing of a flow chart showing the manner in which data center computers  65  deals with someone who decides to pay for the filing at a later date. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the reference character  11  represents a prior art court date/time stamp. The court date/time stamp  11  contains a indication  12  that a document was filed, the title and name of the court  13  that received the filing, the date/time  14  that the filing was made and the division of the court  15  that received the filing. 
     FIG. 2 is a drawing of the date/time stamp  16  of this invention. The date/time stamp  16  contains: an indication  17  that a document was filed; the title and name of the court  18  that received the filing; the date/time  19  that the filing was made; the division of the court  20  that received the filing; a graphic identification symbol  21 ; a meter identification number  22 ; a unique encrypted identification number  23 ; and a bar code  24 , that is the bar code equivalent of number  23 . Number  23  may be obtained by encrypting the combination of the meter identification number  22  with the date and time of filing  19 . Any encryption process may be utilized to encrypt number  23 , i.e., Digital Encryption Standard (DES). 
     FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the date/time/payment/docketing stamp  25  affixed to the first page of a document  30 . The date/time/payment/docketing stamp  25  contains: an indication  17  that a document was filed; the title and name of the court  18  that received the filing; the date/time  19  that the filing was made; the division of the court  20  that received the filing; a graphic identification symbol  21 ; a meter identification number  22 ; a unique encrypted identification number  23 ; and a bar code  24  that is the bar code equivalent of number  23 ; the type of filing  31 ; the filer  32 ; the required fee  33 ; the method of payment  34 ; the expiration date  35  of the credit card or debit card used; the credit card or debit card number; the approval code  40 ; the amount actually paid  41 ; and the docket number  37 . Docket number  37  may include the year in which the document is being filed (e.g., 1998), four alphabetic characters that indicate the court in which the document is being filed, and fifteen numbers that indicate the number of the document being filed. 
     FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the date/time/payment/receipt stamp  42  that the filer receives. Other than the term receipt  43 , the information contained in receipt  42  is the same as the information contained in stamp  25 . 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the system of this invention. The system comprises: a secure document acceptor  50 ; a data center  51 ; and a financial center  52 . Secure document acceptor  50  comprises: a filer interface  53  that includes a personal computer keyboard and a touch screen display; a computer/systems controller  54  that is coupled to interface  53 ; a debit/credit card module  55  that is coupled to controller  54 ; a cash module  56  that is coupled to controller  54 ; a document scanner  57  that is coupled to controller  54 ; a secure metering module  58  that is coupled to controller  54 ; a document marking and holding module  59  (which includes a printer) that is coupled to controller  54 , module  59  will be more fully described in the description of FIG. 6; a document storage module  60  that is coupled to controller  54 , a transport module  47  that is coupled to controller  54 ; current rates and fees data base  44  that is coupled to controller  54 ; a docket data base  48  (which contains all of the previously used docket numbers and a list of docket numbers that may be used) that is coupled to controller  54 ; a receipt printer  61  that is coupled to controller  54 ; and a data link  62  (data link  62  includes an Electronic Interface Unit [EIU] and a modem) that is coupled to controller  54  and modems  63  and  64 . Documents are moved from module  59  to module  60  after printer  78  (FIG. 6) affixes stamp  25  to a document  30  (FIG.  3 ). It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that printers  78  and  61  may be combined into one printer that performs the tasks of printers  78  and  61 . An example of data link  62  is the B 900  Data Link Electronic Interface Unit manufactured by Pitney Bowes of Stamford, Conn. 
     The components of metering module  58  are contained in a secure enclosure that includes physical interlocks or sensors that prevent unauthorized personnel from tampering with the components of metering module  58 . The secure enclosure may be constructed in accordance with United States Federal Information Processing Standard No. 140-1, herein incorporated by reference. Metering module  58  includes an ascending register and a descending register. The ascending register maintains a record of all the fees affixed by the metering module  58  to documents  30  (described in the description of FIG. 3) and the descending register maintains a record of the amount of fees that has been purchased by the filers of documents  30 . Each fee transaction performed by metering module  58  is communicated to system controller  54 . Controller  54  classifies the transactions of metering module  58  into various categories. Some of the categories are: the court in which the fee was paid; the location of the court in which the fee was paid; the type of document filed; and the fee for filing the document. The data from the transactional categories are then stored in data link  62 . It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that the transactions may be classified into many other different categories. 
     Document scanner  57  is used to scan the top page of a document  30  to produce a user replica of the top page of document  30 . Scanner  57  may also be used to scan receipt  42  if error conditions exist during the cash acceptance process. 
     Acceptor  50  also contains a debit/credit card module  55  and a cash module  56  for receiving bills. The manner in which modules  55  and  56  operate are well known in the art. 
     Data center  51  comprises: a modem  63 ; a data center computer  65  that is coupled to modem  63 ; a payment data base  66  that is coupled to computer  65 ; a court data base  67  that is coupled to computer  65 ; a rates and fees data base  68  that is coupled to computer  65 ; a registered documents data base  69  that is coupled to computer  65 ; a universal name and address directory  45  (that contains current names and addresses for most of the people in the United States); and a statement and billing services  70  that is coupled to computer  65 . Funds data base  66  maintains a record of all credit card funds, debit card funds and currency collected by each court. Each court location that collects funds will have its own listing. Court data base  67  maintains a listing of all court locations. The rates and fees data base  68  list the fees required for the courts services. The registered documents data base  69  lists all information pertaining to the document accepted by acceptor  50 . A universal directory is sold by Pitney Bowes Inc. of Stamford, Conn. under the trade name ReUnion. 
     The statement and billing services  70  produces periodic statements for the services performed by data center  51 . 
     Financial center  52  is a bank or credit card center that comprises: a modem  64  that communicates with a computer  48 . 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective drawing of housing  75  that contains document acceptor  50  of FIG.  5 . The display and keyboard of filer interface  53  is shown on top surface  79  of housing  75 . Module  56 , debit/credit card module  55 , receipt printer  61  and document receiving and marking modules  59  are shown on front surface  80 . Document receiving and marking module  59  includes a drawer that is capable of being pushed into the interior of housing  75  and pulled out of the interior of housing  75 . Module  59  contains a printer  78  that is used to print date/time/payment/docketing stamp  25  on document  30  (described in the description of FIG.  3 ). Funds access drawer  76  and document access drawers  77  are connected to rear panel  81  of housing  75 . 
     The user of system  50 , i.e., the person filing the paper enters information regarding the document to be filed, i.e., type of filing, filers name, the fee due, method of paying the fee, expiration date of the card used to pay the fee, if required, etc., into interface  53 . Relevant information regarding the document to be filed is displayed on the display of interface  53 . The filer pays the required fee by placing cash in module  56  or placing a credit card or debit card in module  55 . After the required fee is received and a notice is placed on the display of interface  53 , the filer places the document to be filed in module  59  and closes the drawer of module  59 . Module  59  is now locked. Then controller  54  (FIG. 5) formats stamp  25 , stamp  25  is imprinted on the top sheet of the document placed in the drawer of module  59 . Printer  61  then prints a receipt  42  for the above filing. At this point document scanner  57  may be used to scan the top page of document  30  to produce a user replica of the top page of document  30 . Scanner  57  may also be used to scan receipt  42  if error conditions exist during the cash acceptance process. The document in which stamp  25  is affixed is now moved to document storage module  60 . The document may be moved from module  59  to module  60  by transport module  47 . Module  47  may be a belt connected to a motor. It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that other methods may be used by module  47  to move the document from module  59  to module  60 . At a subsequent time an authorized representative of the court opens locked doors  76  and  77  and removes the filed papers and monies collected. 
     If sufficient fees are not received for the filing, a notice will appear on the display of interface  53 , stamp  25  and receipt  42 . The notice will indicate that the fee has not been fully paid. The notice will also inform the filer of ways in which he/she can pay the fee. 
     Articles like books, tapes etc. may be returned to their owner or filed with an organization by using the apparatus of this invention. The foregoing may be accomplished by attaching a surface that can be printed on, like a piece of paper, to the top surface of the article and depositing the article in module  59 , and entering relevant information via interface  53 . 
     FIG. 7 is a drawing of a flow chart of the program contained in system controller  54  of FIG.  5 . The program begins in block  100 , where controller  54  (FIG. 5) displays a welcome message on the display of interface  53 . Then the program goes to decision block  101 . Decision block  101  determines whether or not a service has been requested. If a service has not been requested, the program goes back to the input of block  101 . If a service has been requested, the program proceeds to block  103 . Block  103  displays a detailed list of services, i.e., find a docket number, verify a receipt, etc. Now the program goes to decision block  105 . Decision block  105  determines whether or not a service has been selected. If a service has not been selected, the program goes back to the input of block  105 . If a service has been requested, the program proceeds to block  110 . 
     In block  110  the program reads the current rates and fees data base  44  and displays the filing options on the display of interface  53 . At this point the program goes to decision block  111 . Decision block  111  determines whether or not a service has been selected. If a service has not been selected, the program goes to the input of block  113 . Block  113  determines whether or not the filer wants to quit this program. If the filer wants to quite this program the program goes to block  900  security cycle. If the filer does not want to quit this program, the program goes back to the input of block  111 . If a service has been selected the program proceeds to block  114 . Block  114  reads the payment options and shows the choices on the display of interface  53 , i.e., cash, debit card, credit card. Then the program goes to decision block  115  to determine whether or not a method of payment was selected. Decision block  115  determines whether or not a method of payment has been selected. If a method of payment has not been selected, the program goes to the input of bock  116 . Block  116  determines whether or not the filer wants to quit this program. If the filer wants to quit this program, the program goes to block  900  security cycle. If the filer does not want to quit this program, the program goes back to the input of block  115 . If a method of payment has been selected the program goes to block  117 . 
     Block  117  transfers the selected transaction parameters to data link  62 . Then the program goes to block  118  to transfer the contents of block  117  to the memory of data link  62 . Now the program goes to block  119  to read to data link  62  and begin the payment process. If the filer selected pay later, the program would go to block  127 . Block  127  would show the pay later terms on the screen of the display of interface  53  and then the program would go to block  500  (FIG. 9 ). If the filer did not select the pay later option in block  119 , the program would go to decision block  120 . 
     Block  120  determines whether or not the payment process is working. If block  120  determines that the payment process is not working, then the program goes back to the input of block  120 . One of the components of the payment process is to verify that the name and address appearing on the filed document matches the name and address in national name and address data bases  45 . If block  120  determines that the payment process is working, then the program goes to the input of decision block  124 . Decision block  124  determines whether or not the payment process was successful. If block  124  determines that the payment process was not successful, the program goes to the input of decision block  125 . Block  125  determines whether or not the filer wants to end this program. If the filer wants to end this program, the program goes to block  900  security cycle. If the filer does not want to end this program, the program goes back to the input of block  124 . If the payment process is successful, the program goes to block  126 .. 
     Block  126  transfers the value of the money credited for the filing of this document to block  118 , i.e., the volatile memory of secure meter module  58 . The money credited information is also shown on the display of interface  53 . At this point the program goes to decision block  128 . Decision block  128  determines whether or not the filer agrees with the money credited information or with the terms of future payment of the filing fee. 
     If the filer does not agree with the terms of future payment, the program goes to block  900  security cycle. Then the program goes to block  910  to reset the parameters in block  118 , i.e., data link  62 . Now the program goes to decision block  920 . Decision block  920  determines whether or not the drawer in module  59  is empty. If the drawer in module  59  is not empty, the program goes to block  922 . Block  922  asks the user to empty the drawer of module  59  by showing a message on the display of interface  53 . Then the program goes back to the input of decision block  920 . If block  920  determines that the drawer of module  59  is empty, the program proceeds to block  925  to lock the drawer of module  59 . Now the program goes back to the input of block  100 . 
     If decision block  128  determines that the filer agrees with the money credited information or with the terms of future payment the program goes to block  200 . Block  200  shows instructions on the screen of the display of interface  53 . An example of the aforementioned instructions are “place the document you wish to file face up in the drawer of module  59 ”. Then the program goes to block  210  to wait for the placing of the document to be filed in the drawer of module  59  and the closing of the drawer of module  59 . After the drawer of module  59  is closed, the program causes the drawer of module  59  to be locked. Now the program goes to block  220  and prints stamp  25  on the top page of document  30 . 
     At this point the program goes to block  225  to request transport module  47  to transport document  30  from module  59  to document storage module  60 . Then the program goes to decision block  226 . Block  226  obtains, if requested, the next docket number from docket data base  48  and prints this docket number, if required, within the space provided in stamp  25 , i.e., docket number  37 . Now the program proceeds to decision block  230 . Block  230  determines whether or not the functions performed in blocks  200  to  226  have been completed. If block  230  determines that the functions performed in blocks  200  to  226  have not been completed, the program goes back to the input of block  230 . If block  230  determines that the functions performed in blocks  200  to  226  have been completed, the program goes to the input of block  240 . Block  240  composes receipt  42  and causes printer  61  to print receipt  42 . Then the program goes to block  250  and then to block  800  (FIG.  8 ). 
     FIG. 8 is a drawing of a flow chart showing the interaction of data center computer  65  with system controller  54  and data link  62 . In block  800  the buffer of data link  62  is cleared and then the buffer in data links  62  is set to T=T+1, where T equals the index transaction number. Then the program goes to decision block  802 . Block  802  determines whether or not need meter modules  58  is low or data link  62  or rates and fees data base  44  needs to be updated. If block  802  determines that meter module  58  is not low or the above databases do not need updating, the program goes to block  900  (FIG.  7 ). If block  802  determines that meter module  58  is low or the above data bases need updating, the program goes to block  880 . Block  880  connects data link  62  to data center computer  65 . Then the program goes to block  882  to upload all stored transactions center updates and refill meter  58 . The program goes to block  884  to verify all transfers of information to data center computer  65 . Then data links  62  is disconnected from data center computer  65 . At this point program goes to  900  (FIG.  7 ). 
     FIG. 9 is a drawing of a flow chart showing the manner in which data center computers  65  deals with someone who decides to pay for the filing at a later date. In block  500  the buffer of controller  54  is cleared and then the buffer in controller  54  is set to J=J+1, where J equals the index transaction number. Then the program goes to block  502  to request that the user enter his name and address into interface  53 . Now with the program goes to decision block  504 . Decision block  504  determines whether or not the dialogue between the user and interface  53  is complete. If block  504  determines that the dialogue between the user and interface  53  is not complete, the program goes back to the input of block  504 . If block  504  determines that the dialogue between the user and interface  53  is complete, the program goes to the input of block  508 . Block  508  connects data link  62  to data center computer  65  via modem  63 . Then the program goes to block  510  where controller  54  transfers data in controller  54  data to data center computer  65 . At this point the program goes to block  512  where data center computer  65  verifies the data entry and transfers the results to controller  54 . Then the program goes to block  513  to transfer data to the buffer of controller  54 . At this point the program goes to block  514  to disconnect data link  62  from data center computer  65  and to block  777  to input the data in transition data buffer  66 . 
     Then the program proceeds to decision block  514  to determine whether or not the user&#39;s name was found In data base  45 . If block  516  determines that the user&#39;s name was found in data base  45  then the program goes to block  128 . If block  516  determines that the users name was not found in data base  45  then the program goes to block  518  to clear the buffer in controller  54 . Then the program goes to block  114 . 
     The program goes from block  777  to decision block  700 . Decision block  700  determines whether or not had the transaction in transaction data base  66  are complete. If block  700  determines that the transactions are not complete, the program goes back to the input of block  700 . . If block  700  determines that the transactions are complete, the program goes to block  702 . Block  702  transfers the user file in data base  66 . 
     The above specification describes a new and improved automated docketing system. It is realized that the above description may indicate to those skilled in the art additional ways in which the principles of this invention may be used without departing from the spirit. It is, therefore, intended that this invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.