Method and system for electronic delivery of sensitive information
View Patent ↗A method and related system obtains consent from a user for electronic delivery of sensitive information. The user operating a first computer accesses a web page on a server system to input the consent. The web page prompts for the consent from the user. Once the consent is received at the server system, the consent is stored and sensitive information is delivered electronically to an e-mail address specified by the user. Once consent is indicated, it is communicated from the individual's computer to another computer such as a server over, for example, a modem connection. Having secured the individual's consent, the additional sensitive information may be delivered to the individual's computer as, for example, a URL attachment to an email message.
1. A method for obtaining consent for delivery of information to an entity, the method comprising:
forwarding, to the entity, computer-executable instructions for obtaining the entity's consent for delivery of information in electronic form;
prompting, by execution of the instructions on a first computer, the entity for consent to delivery of the information in electronic form; and
communicating the entity's consent to a second computer.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising delivering a notification to the entity about the information in electronic form.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the notification comprises an identification of the location of the information in electronic form.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the notification comprises an address of a site on the World Wide Web where the information in electronic form is located.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein the notification comprises instructions on accessing the information in electronic form with the assistance of a computer.
6. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the communicated consent.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising sending the entity the information in electronic form via computer-aided delivery.
8. The method of claim 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 or 5 wherein the delivery is to occur over a computer communications link.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the sending occurs over a computer communications link.
10. The method of claim 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 or 7 wherein the information is sensitive information.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the information is compliance information.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first computer is a portable digital device.
13. A method for determining consent to electronically sending information to an entity, the method comprising:
displaying, on a first computer, instructions prompting the entity regarding consent to electronic delivery of the information;
determining, from the entity's response or lack of response to the prompting, whether the entity consents to receiving electronic delivery of the information; and
if it is determined that the entity consents to receiving electronic delivery of the information, causing the information to be electronically delivered.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the instructions further comprise disclosure information regarding electronic delivery of the information.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the entity's response to the prompting is communicated over a computer communications link.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein causing the information to be sent comprises causing an address on the World Wide Web where the information is located to be sent.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein causing the information to be sent comprises causing instructions for obtaining the information via computer-aided delivery to be sent.
18. The method of claim 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 or 17 wherein the information is sent over a computer communications link.
19. The method of claim 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 or 17 wherein the information is sensitive information.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the information is compliance information.
21. The method of claim 13 further comprising storing a record of the entity's response or lack of response to the prompting.
22. A method comprising:
requesting consent of an entity to the electronic delivery of information; and
once that consent is deemed given, enabling the delivery of the information to a destination associated with the entity.
23. The method of claim 22 further comprising receiving a record of whether the consent is deemed given.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein the record is received over a computer communications link.
25. The method of claim 23 further comprising storing the record of whether the consent is deemed given.
26. The method of claim 22 wherein enabling the delivery of information comprises sending the information to the destination associated with the entity.
27. The system of claim 26 wherein enabling the delivery of information in electronic form comprises sending the information.
28. The method of claim 26 wherein enabling the delivery of information comprises providing instructions for obtaining the information electronically.
29. The method of claim 26 wherein enabling the delivery of information comprises providing an address on the World Wide Web where the information is located.
30. The method of claim 21 wherein the consent is deemed given by an affirmative action from the entity.
31. The method of claim 21 wherein the consent is requested by sending the entity a computer-readable device.
32. The method of any of claims 21 - 31 wherein the information is sensitive information.
33. The method of claim 32 wherein the information is compliance information.