Patent ID: 7617177

Claim:
A computer implemented method for processing benchmark information using an electronic file having a format readable by a SGML-based language and one or more processes running in a computer system of a first party, comprising: providing an authorization section in the electronic file with a parent-child block, the parent-child block including identification information for a parent entity and identification information for at least one corresponding child entity, the parent-child block indicating which of the child entities inherit authorization to access the benchmark information from the parent entity; receiving a request for benchmark information from a second party, the request including an identification information of said second party; comparing, using a processor, the identification information of said second party with the identification information for the parent entity and at least one child entity contained in the authorizing section of the electronic file; authorizing access to the benchmark information when the comparison indicates the identification information is contained in the authorizing section, wherein authorizing includes: if the identification information of said second party corresponds to the identification information of a child entity, determining if the corresponding child entity inherits authorization to access the benchmark information based on the parent-child block in the authorization section; and presenting the benchmark data stored in the file for access by the parent entity identified in the parent-child block.