IP Library Granted Patent US 10,826,951
Granted Patent B2
US 10,826,951 · App. 14/177,656 · Granted Nov 3, 2020

Electronic content sharing

Inventors: G. Austin Allison (Cincinanti, OH); Justin Y. Hu (Talmage, CA); Matthew A. Vorst (Blue Ash, OH)
Assignee: dotloop, LLC
H04L65/403G06Q10/101
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,826,951
App. No.
14/177,656
Granted
Nov 3, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for sharing electronic content between a plurality of users. The electronic content can be accessed by the users through interactions with a virtual collaborative workspace. The members of a virtual collaborative workspace can be dependent upon the shared electronic content. Certain actions can be asked of various users with regard to the electronic content. Once the action has been performed, the electronic content can be routed to various other users in an automated fashion.

Claims (74)

1. A method, performed by an electronic content sharing system having a memory and a processor, of sharing electronic content, the method comprising:

receiving, by the electronic content sharing system, electronic content, wherein the electronic content is associated with an originator and a specific electronic action to be performed against the electronic content;

receiving, by the electronic content sharing system, information of two or more recipients, wherein the two or more recipients are each to individually perform the electronic action, wherein each of the two or more recipients is an individual user, and wherein at least one recipient among the two or more recipients is located remotely from other recipients among the two or more recipients;

for the electronic content, assigning, by the electronic content sharing system, a document access level for each of the two or more recipients based on a type of transaction involving the electronic content and the specific electronic action to be performed against the electronic content,

wherein each assigned document access level establishes permissions of a particular recipient among the two or more recipients for the electronic content, and

wherein each assigned document access level is not based on a role of the particular recipient;

for the electronic content, accessing, by the electronic content sharing system, the assigned document access level for each of the two or more recipients;

providing, by the electronic content sharing system, the electronic content to the two or more recipients based on the assigned document access level of each recipient, wherein the provided content comprises a request to perform the electronic action against the electronic content;

when the electronic action is performed against the electronic content by a first subset of two or more recipients:

updating, by the electronic content sharing system, the electronic content to reflect the performed electronic action;

providing, by the electronic content sharing system, the updated electronic content to the originator; and

providing, by the electronic content sharing system, the updated electronic content to a second subset of the two or more recipients.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the two or more recipients consists of the first subset and the second subset.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the updated electronic content is automatically provided to the originator in response to performance of the electronic action.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the updated electronic content is automatically provided to the second subset of the two or more recipients in response to performance of the electronic action.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing, by the electronic content sharing system, the electronic content to a secondary recipient, wherein the secondary recipient is identified by a transmitting recipient, wherein the transmitting recipient is one of the two or more recipients.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the electronic content provided to the secondary recipient comprises a request by the transmitting recipient for the secondary recipient to perform a secondary recipient action.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

when the secondary recipient action is performed by the secondary recipient providing, by the electronic content sharing system, an indication of the performed secondary recipient action only to the transmitting recipient.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic action comprises a request to: execute an electronic signature by a first recipient among the two or more recipients, wherein upon execution of the electronic action by the first recipient against the electronic content, the electronic signature uniquely identifies the first recipient from other recipients among the two or more recipients.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic action comprises a request to: agree to terms and conditions, supply information, or a combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first document access level establishes permissions of a first workspace member for a first electronic document in the user workspace and a second document access level establishes permissions of the first workspace member for a second electronic document in the user workspace, and wherein the permissions established by the first document access level are different from the permissions established for the first workspace member by the second document access level.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying, by the electronic content sharing system, the electronic content to the two or more recipients; and

receiving, by the electronic content sharing system, an indication of performing the specific electronic action against the displayed electronic content from at least one recipient among the two or more recipients.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

when the electronic action is performed by the first subset of two or more recipients, displaying the updated electronic content to the second subset of the two or more recipients.

13. An electronic content sharing computing system for sharing electronic content between a plurality of users, the electronic content sharing computing system comprising one or more processors and one or more memory units, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

store a first electronic document received from a first user, wherein the first electronic document comprises first metadata identifying:

a first originator indicator, wherein the first originator indicator identifies the first user; and

a first recipient list, wherein the first recipient list identifies a second user and a third user, and wherein the second user is located remotely from the third user;

for the first electronic document, assign, by the electronic content sharing system, a document access level for the second user based on a type of transaction involving the first electronic document and the specific electronic action to be performed against the first electronic document,

wherein the assigned document access level for the second user establishes permissions of the second user for the first electronic document, and

wherein the assigned document access level for the second user is not based on a role of the second user;

for the first electronic document, access the assigned document access level for the second user;

share the first electronic document with the second user as a second electronic document based on the assigned document access level of the second user, wherein the shared first electronic document comprises a request to perform a specific electronic action against the second electronic document, and wherein the second electronic document comprises second metadata identifying:

a second originator indicator, wherein the second originator indicator identifies the second user;

a second recipient list, wherein the second recipient list is automatically populated with:

the first user as identified by the first originator indicator, and

the third user as identified by the first recipient list;

for the second electronic document, assign, by the electronic content sharing system, a document access level for the third user and a document access level for the first user, wherein the document access levels for the first user and the third user are based on a type of transaction involving the second electronic document and the specific electronic action to be performed against the second electronic document,

wherein the assigned document access level for the first user establishes permissions of the first user for the second electronic document,

wherein the assigned document access level for the third user establishes permissions of the third user for the second electronic document,

wherein the assigned document access level for the first user is not based on a role of the first user, and

wherein the assigned document access level for the third user is not based on a role of the third user;

for the second electronic document, access the document access levels for the first user and the third user;

in response to completion of the electronic action by the second user against the second electronic document, automatically share the second electronic document with the first user and the third user as a third electronic document based on the accessed document access levels of the first user and the third user.

14. The electronic content sharing computing system of claim 13 , wherein the first recipient list is received from the first user.

15. The electronic content sharing computing system of claim 14 , wherein the second recipient list is automatically populated without input from the second user.

16. The electronic content sharing computing system of claim 14 , wherein the second recipient list comprises additional recipients, wherein the additional recipients are received from the second user.

17. The electronic content sharing computing system of claim 16 , wherein the additional recipients identifies a fourth user.

18. The electronic content sharing computing system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to in response to completion of the electronic action by the second user; automatically share the second electronic document with the first user, the third user, and the fourth user.

19. The electronic content sharing computing system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

provide each the first user and the second user with access to a virtual collaborative workspace, wherein each of the first user and the second user can access the first electronic document and the second electronic document, respectively, through interactions with the virtual collaborative workspace.

20. A method, performed by a computing system having a memory and a processor, of sharing electronic content, the method comprising:

hosting, by the computing system, a user workspace, wherein the user workspace identifies:

an electronic document, wherein the electronic document is selectably sharable with a plurality of workspace members;

the plurality of workspace members, each having access to the electronic document, wherein the user workspace is centralized around the electronic document;

for each electronic document in the user workspace:

assigning a document access level for each workspace member in the plurality of workspace members based on a type of transaction involving the electronic document,

wherein each assigned document access level establishes permissions of a particular workspace member among the plurality of workspace members for the electronic document, and

wherein each assigned document access level is not based on a role of the particular workspace member;

accessing a document access level for each workspace member,

wherein a first document access level establishes permissions of a first workspace member for a first electronic document in the user workspace and a second document access level establishes permissions of the first workspace member for a second electronic document in the user workspace, and

wherein the permissions established by the first document access level are different from the permissions established for the first workspace member by the second document access level;

controlling access rights to an electronic document by a workspace member based on an assigned document access level of the workspace member for the electronic document; and

when the electronic document is shared with an additional party, increasing the number of workspace members identified by the user workspace.

21. The method of sharing electronic content of claim 20 , wherein the document access level comprises at least one of access to view the document and access to edit the document.

22. The method of sharing electronic content of claim 20 , further comprising:

facilitating a virtual introduction between two members in a user workspace, wherein each of the two members is associated with a respective user workspace.

23. The method of sharing electronic content of claim 20 , wherein hosting a user workspace comprises:

hosting a plurality of share-centric loops, wherein each share-centric loop is accessible by each of a plurality of users, wherein each of the plurality of share-centric loops comprises one or more electronic documents accessible by each of the plurality of users.

24. The method of sharing electronic content of claim 23 , wherein accessibility to each of the share-centric loop is granted based on a sharing of the one or more electronic documents.

Assignments (7)
MERGER Recorded Jan 12, 2023
From: PUSH SUB I, INC.
To: MFTB HOLDCO, INC.
Reel/Frame 062389/0035 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2023
From: ZILLOW, LLC
To: PUSH SUB I, INC.
Reel/Frame 062353/0901 →
ARTICLES OF ENTITY CONVERSION AND CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION Recorded Dec 15, 2022
From: ZILLOW, INC.
To: ZILLOW, LLC
Reel/Frame 062136/0427 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ADDING 4 PATENT APPLICATION THAT WERE OMITTED. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 055395 FRAME: 0198. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Oct 13, 2022
From: DOTLOOP, LLC
To: ZILLOW, INC.
Reel/Frame 062543/0531 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2021
From: DOTLOOP, LLC
To: ZILLOW, INC.
Reel/Frame 055395/0198 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 2, 2016
From: DOTLOOP, INC.
To: DOTLOOP, LLC
Reel/Frame 037680/0943 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2015
From: ALLISON, G. AUSTIN; HU, JUSTIN Y.; VORST, MATTHEW A.
To: DOTLOOP, INC.
Reel/Frame 036002/0288 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 61875352 · Sep 9, 2013
Provisional Application 61763278 · Feb 11, 2013
Related Publication 20140229543A1 · Aug 14, 2014
Cited By (1)
US 12,361,205