TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed implementations relate generally to improvements to computer networks, and more specifically to user control of the sharing of private documents across a network.

BACKGROUND

Verifying the identity of an individual or entity is a common occurrence for many financial, business, and other transactions. For example, before an individual can open a checking account, a bank typically requires that the individual establish that they are, in fact, who they claim to be. Traditionally, this requirement is satisfied by the individual presenting a drivers' license and a recent utility bill, or other piece of official mail addressed to the individual. However, this can be cumbersome for the individual, who often has to physically present the required documents to the requestor. Also, because the individual typically must verify his or her identity to many different institutions for many different purposes, it can become a nuisance to have to repeatedly locate the particular information that is requested and provide it to the requestor. This is also less than ideal for the requestor of the documents, who may not be competent to (or may not want to) verify that the documents are legitimate.

Moreover, financial and other transactions are increasingly performed electronically and/or over long distances. This may make it even more impractical for individuals to provide original copies of documents to the requestor. Also, because the parties may not ever meet face-to-face, it places even more importance on accurate verification that the individual is, or at least, is likely to be, who he or she claims to be.

Finally, existing systems that collect user documents in a central repository for later distribution are magnets for hackers and require vigilant security. Storing and sharing documents from these systems are also fraught with privacy issues. Other issues arise with how long documents should be stored (i.e., document retention), as well as when and how documents should be destroyed.

In light of the above, it is desirable to provide a system, method, and computer readable media that addresses security, privacy and document retention and destruction issues.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide systems and methods that improve upon existing techniques for sharing verified identity documents of individuals or companies with others.

In accordance with some implementations, a server system for facilitating the sharing of documents includes a processor and memory storing one or more programs comprising computer instructions for execution by the processor. A pointer database electronically coupled to the processor stores a pointer to a document associated with a user and stored on a repository device of a plurality of repository devices remote from the server system. The pointer includes a unique identifier of the document and an associated location of that document on the repository device. A network communications interface electronically coupled to the processor is configured to electronically receive via a computer network, from a client device associated with the user, an electronic authorization to share the document with a recipient third-party device of a plurality of recipient third-party devices remote from the client device, and, in response to the electronic request, transmit an information package including the pointer to the document to one of the client device, the repository, or the third-party device to facilitate the sharing of the document stored on the repository device with the recipient third-party device, wherein the information package is encrypted using an encryption key.

In accordance with some implementations, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a server system with one or more processors and memory storing the one or more programs, cause the server system to receive, from a client device associated with a user, an electronic authorization to share a document associated with the user with a recipient third-party device of a plurality of third-party devices remote from the server system; search a pointer database for a pointer to the document, the pointer comprising a unique identifier for the document and a location of the stored document on a repository device; and transmit an information package including the pointer to the document to one of the client device, the repository, or the third party device to facilitate the sharing of the document stored on the repository device with the recipient third-party device, wherein the information package is encrypted using an encryption key.

The disclosed systems and methods obviate many logistical difficulties for both individuals and requesting parties. The sharing of pointers to facilitate the document sharing significantly improves the security of the system, reduces storage requirement of the entire system, and requires less bandwidth to send relatively large documents around the network. In particular, because documents are shared electronically, users do not need to physically present or mail original copies of documents to a requestor. Similarly, the requestor does not need to store or maintain original copies of the documents, reducing overhead and compliance risks. Leaving the documents in one location and sharing with multiple requesting parties further alleviate the need for each document to be duplicated on multiple dispersed server and/or devices. Moreover, because the documents are subject to verification tests, requesting entities can forgo independent verification of the documents, where appropriate, and can be alerted to potentially fraudulent identity claims quickly and easily. Finally, because the documents are encrypted and stored securely, both the individual and the requestor can be assured of the privacy and security of the information.

