IP Library Granted Patent US 9,135,598
Granted Patent B2
US 9,135,598 · App. 10/288,835 · Granted Sep 15, 2015

Anonymous reporting system

Inventor: Eugene F. Ferraro (Morrison, CO)
Assignee: Excel Communications
G06Q10/10G06Q10/103
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,135,598
App. No.
10/288,835
Granted
Sep 15, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An anonymous reporting system ( 10 ) is provided for use in reporting and following up on incidents, accidents and the like. The system ( 10 ) is initiated by a system provider ( 12 ) on behalf of an institutional participant/client ( 14 ) for access by any number of individual users ( 16 ). The most common implementation is a web based interface ( 24 ) including a web site ( 27 ). The interface ( 24 ) includes an anonymizer ( 38 ) for safeguarding the identity of each individual user ( 16 ). The system ( 10 ) permits the user ( 16 ) to enter a report ( 28 ) and then assigns a random number identifier ( 74 ) associated with the report ( 28 ). The report ( 28 ) is forwarded to selected recipients ( 22 ) and to one or more administrators ( 32 ) associated with the participant/client ( 14 ). The administrators ( 32 ) may request follow up comments or send messages ( 64 ) associated with the report ( 28 ) by the access number ( 74 ) so that the user ( 16 ) may continue dialog, all while remaining totally anonymous. The system ( 10 ) is especially adapted for use in school or large company situations.

Claims (32)

1. In a computing system with a web site operating on a computer, a computer-implemented method for facilitating anonymous reporting of events and incidents comprising:

assigning, by a computer, an access code and password to a group of administrators that includes a group of client participants;

saving, by the computer, the access code and password;

receiving, at a web-based interface, content;

generating, by the computer, a report using the content;

storing the report in a first relational database;

assigning, by the computer, a random number identifier to the report;

purging, by the computer, the content from the first relational database;

storing, by the computer, the report and the random number identifier in a second relational database;

routing, by the computer, the report to a computer of a designated subscriber client of the group of client participants using a fuzzy algorithm;

receiving, by the computer, a request for the report, the request including the random number identifier; and

sending the report, using the computer, in response to the request.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, receiving a user selection of a recipient to receive the report.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the random number identifier is unique to the report.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fuzzy algorithm is configured to route the report using portions of the content having typographical errors.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, at the web-based interface, a selection of a type of report.

6. A computer-implemented method comprising:

assigning, by a computer, an access code and password to a group of administrators that includes a group of client participants;

saving, by the computer, the access code and password;

receiving, at a web-based interface, content;

generating, by the computer, a report using the content;

storing the report in a first relational database;

assigning, by the computer, a random number identifier to the report;

purging, by the computer, the content from the first relational database;

storing, by the computer, the report and the random number identifier in a second relational database;

routing, by the computer, the report to a computer of a designated subscriber client of the group of client participants using a fuzzy algorithm;

receiving, by the computer, a request for the report, the request including the access code and password; and

sending, by the computer, the report in response to the request.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, receiving, at the web-based interface, a selection of a type of report.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the random number identifier is unique to the report.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the fuzzy algorithm is configured to route the report using portions of the content having typographical errors.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising receiving, at the web-based interface, a selection of a type of report.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2025
From: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ONETRUST LLC
Reel/Frame 073164/0197 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2024
From: ONETRUST, LLC
To: CONVERCENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 069344/0840 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 5, 2022
From: ONETRUST LLC
To: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 060573/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 22, 2022
From: CONVERCENT, INC.
To: ONETRUST, LLC
Reel/Frame 059067/0092 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2021
From: GOLUB CAPITAL LLC
To: CONVERCENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 056184/0409 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2019
From: CONVERCENT, INC.
To: GOLUB CAPITAL LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 051331/0499 →
ENTITY CONVERSION Recorded Apr 5, 2019
From: CONVERCENT, INC.
To: CONVERCENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 050724/0930 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 13, 2015
From: EXCEL COMMUNICATIONS, INCORPORATED
To: CONVERCENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 037111/0297 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2002
From: FERRARO, EUGENE F.
To: EXCEL COMMUNICATIONS
Reel/Frame 013466/0763 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 60337036 · Nov 6, 2001
Related Publication 20030088645A1 · May 8, 2003