Patent ID: 8155984

Claim:
A computer usable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for causing a computer system to execute a method of obtaining one of a variety of forms of bonds, said method comprising: receiving and storing information about a contractor, said information comprising information that is required by one or more sureties to issue said bond, said information being transmitted over a network connection from a contractor workstation; receiving and storing owner/obligee information required by said surety to issue said bond, said owner/obligee information being transmitted over said network from said contractor workstation; generating a list of sureties from said one or more sureties, said list of sureties comprising one or more sureties that have authorized said contractor to submit one or more bond applications thereto; sending said list of sureties over said network connection to said contractor workstation; receiving and storing a selection of a surety from said list of sureties, said selection being made by said contractor from said contractor workstation; generating a list of bond forms said contractor is authorized to submit to each surety on said list of sureties; sending said list of authorized bond forms to said contractor workstation over said network; receiving and storing a selection of a bond form from said authorized bond forms using said client workstation; receiving a request from said contractor workstation, said request being received by said selected surety, said request seeking approval of a bond application over said network, said bond application comprising transmitting of all information required by said selected surety; establishing a second network connection with a second workstation, said second workstation being accessible by an agent acting on behalf of said selected surety, said agent having access to said received bond application, said agent granting or denying said bond application.