Patent ID: 8250041

Claim:
A computer implemented method for propagation of file plans from an enterprise retention management system (ERM) to one or more records management systems (RMS), the method comprising: providing a processor-based RMS that is configured to store a plurality of records which need to be preserved for a certain period of time to meet companies' regulatory obligations, the records comprising documents with associated metadata; providing a processor-based ERM that is configured as a source of master data about record classification and record retention, the ERM configured to perform maintenance of record classes and retention/disposition rules and to propagate information to the RMS according to any of the following: automatically via a connector between the ERM and the RMS; semi-automatically via end user export of file plan information from the ERM in a form understood by RMS import tools; and manually; and wherein the ERM is configured to provide a mapping for translation between ERM and RMS objects to effect propagation of file plans which comprise a combination of a retention category tree, disposition schedules, and events, and which defines how records are stored and disposed of in a given RMS, from the ERM to the RMS, the mapping including: translating ERM record classes within a classification of retention schedules to RMS record categories within a hierarchy of record categories set up within the RMS, and translating ERM retention schedule codes (RSCs) into next level record categories under those created from record classes.