System and method for automatically learning information used for electronic form-filling

• US 20020013788A1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Claria Corporation
• Inventors: Martin, Anthony, Pennell, Mark E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,206,998 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/507
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/957 Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A method and apparatus allowing for entry of form data in a browser. In the described embodiment, a browser automation program executes on the user'"'"'s computer and communicates with a browser program in order to determine when forms are encountered.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a request for user data, the request being presented as an electronic form;

capturing information corresponding to the user data entered into the electronic form;

obtaining an electronic-form identifier for identifying the electronic form; and

storing the electronic-form identifier and the information corresponding to the user data entered into the electronic form for future use.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic form is received from a visited network site that is connected to a user computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic form is available on a computer used by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for user data includes a request for at least one of personal information, user attribute information, contact information, login information, account information, membership information, or credit information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic form includes multiple data fields, each data field being a request for a piece of user data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic form is a login window.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic form is a purchase order.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the captured information corresponding to the user data includes user-data identifiers.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the captured information corresponding to the user data includes user-data types.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the captured information corresponding to the user data includes the user data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the captured information corresponding to the user data includes the order of entry of the user data into the electronic form.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes a URL of the visited network site.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes an identifier assigned to the electronic form.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes electronic-form attributes.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the electronic form includes data fields having an order and wherein the electronic-form attributes include the order of the data fields.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the information corresponding to the user data is stored in a database on a user computer.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the information corresponding to the user data is stored in a remote database.

18. A system, comprising:

a browser for receiving a request for user data, the request being presented as an electronic form;

a processor for capturing information corresponding to the user data entered into the electronic form;

a communications engine for obtaining an electronic-form identifier for identifying the electronic form; and

a storage medium for storing the electronic-form identifier and the information corresponding to the user data entered into the electronic form for future use.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the browser receives the electronic form from a visited network site that is connected to a user computer.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic form is available on a computer used by the user.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the request for user data includes a request for at least one of personal information, user attribute information, contact information, login information, account information, membership information, or credit information.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic form includes multiple data fields, each data field being a request for a piece of user data.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic form is a login window.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic form is a purchase order.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the captured information corresponding to the user data includes user-data identifiers.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the captured information corresponding to the user data includes user-data types.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the captured information corresponding to the user data includes the user data.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the captured information corresponding to the user data includes the order of entry of the user data into the electronic form.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes a URL of the visited network site.

30. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes an identifier assigned to the electronic form.

31. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes electronic-form attributes.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the electronic form includes data fields having an order and electronic-form attributes include the order of the data fields.

33. The system of claim 18, wherein the storage medium storing the information corresponding to the user data is located on a user computer.

34. The system of claim 18, wherein the storage medium storing the information corresponding to the user data is located on a remote server.

35. A system, comprising:

means for receiving a request for user data, the request being presented as an electronic form;

means for capturing information corresponding to the user data entered into the electronic form;

means for obtaining a electronic-form identifier for identifying the electronic form; and

means for storing the electronic-form identifier and the information corresponding to the user data entered into the electronic form for future use.

36. A computer-readable storage medium storing program code for causing a computer to:

receive a request for user data, the request being presented as an electronic form;

capture information corresponding to the user data entered into the electronic form;

obtain a electronic-form identifier for identifying the electronic form; and

store the electronic-form identifier and the information corresponding to the user data entered into the electronic form for future use.

37. A method, comprising:

receiving a request for user data, the request being presented as an electronic form, the electronic form including an electronic-form identifier;

comparing the electronic-form identifier against stored electronic-form identifiers that correspond to previously filled electronic forms; and

retrieving stored information corresponding to a stored electronic-form identifier if a match is found.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

using the stored information retrieved to enter user data in the electronic form automatically.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the browser receives the electronic form from a visited network site that is connected to a user computer.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein the electronic form is available on a user computer.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the request for user data includes a request for at least one of personal information, user attribute information, contact information, login information, account information, membership information, or credit information.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the electronic form includes multiple data fields, each data field being a request for a piece of user data.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the electronic form is a login window.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein the electronic form is a purchase order.

45. The method of claim 37, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes a URL of the visited network site and the stored electronic-form identifiers each include a URL of a previously visited network site.

46. The method of claim 37, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes an identifier assigned to the electronic form and the stored electronic-form identifiers each include an identifier assigned to a previously filled electronic form.

47. The method of claim 37, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes electronic form attributes and the stored electronic-form identifiers each include attributes of a previously filled electronic form.

48. The method of claim 37, wherein the stored information includes user data identifiers, and further comprising retrieving stored user data corresponding to the user data identifiers.

49. The method of claim 37, wherein the stored information includes user data types further comprising retrieving stored user data types, and further comprising retrieving stored user data corresponding to the user data types.

50. The method of claim 37, wherein the stored information includes the user data.

51. The method of claim 37, wherein the stored information includes an order required by the user data fields, and further comprising retrieving stored user data corresponding to the order of the user data fields.

52. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

presenting the user data in the received electronic form.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

permitting the user to modify the user data presented.

54. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

presenting the user data to a user in a dialog window.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

enabling the user to transfer available user data from the dialog window to the electronic form by drag and drop mechanism.

56. The method of claim 54, further comprising:

enabling the user to transfer user data from the dialog window to the electronic form by highlighting a field in the electronic form and selecting a user data piece to be transferred from the dialog window.

57. A system, comprising:

a browser for receiving a request for user data, the request being presented as an electronic form, the electronic form including an electronic-form identifier;

a processor for comparing the electronic-form identifier of the electronic form against stored electronic-form identifiers corresponding to previously filled electronic forms; and

an engine for retrieving stored information corresponding to the received electronic form if a match is found.

58. The system of claim 57, further comprising:

a processor for using the stored information retrieved to enter user data in the electronic form automatically.

59. The system of claim 57, further comprising:

a storage medium for storing the information corresponding to the received electronic form.

60. The system of claim 57, wherein the browser receives the electronic form from a visited network site that is connected to a user computer.

61. The system of claim 57, wherein the browser obtains the electronic form from a computer used by the user.

62. The method of claim 57, wherein the request for user data includes a request for at least one of personal information, user attribute information, contact information, login information, account information, membership information, or credit information.

63. The system of claim 57, wherein the electronic form includes multiple data fields, each data field being a request for a piece of user data.

64. The system of claim 57, wherein the electronic form is a login window.

65. The system of claim 57, wherein the electronic form is a purchase order.

66. The system of claim 57, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes a URL of the visited network site.

67. The system of claim 57, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes an identifier assigned to the electronic form.

68. The system of claim 57, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes electronic form attributes.

69. The system of claim 57, wherein the stored information includes user data identifiers.

70. The system of claim 57, wherein the stored information includes user data types.

71. The system of claim 57, wherein the stored information includes the user data.

72. The system of claim 58, further comprising:

a user interface for presenting the user data.

73. The system of claim 72, further comprising:

a processor for permitting a user to modify the user data presented.

74. The system of claim 72, wherein the user interface presents available user data in a dialog window and the processor enables a user to transfer user data from the dialog window to the electronic form by drag and drop mechanism.

75. The system of claim 72, wherein the user interface presents available user data in a dialog window and the processor enables the user to transfer user data from the dialog window to the electronic form by highlighting a field in the electronic form and by selecting a user data piece to be transferred from the dialog window.

76. A system, comprising:

means for receiving a request for user data, the request being presented as an electronic form, the electronic form including an electronic-form identifier;

means for comparing the electronic-form identifier of the electronic form against stored electronic-form identifiers corresponding to previously filled electronic forms; and

means for retrieving stored information corresponding to the received electronic form if a match is found.

77. The method of claim 76, further comprising:

means for using the retrieved stored information to enter user data into the electronic form automtically.

79. The computer-readable storage medium storing program code of claim 77, to further cause a computer to:

use the stored information retrieved to enter user data in the electronic form automatically.

78. A computer-readable storage medium storing program code for causing a computer to:

receive a request for user data, the request being presented as an electronic form, the electronic form including an electronic-form identifier;

compare the electronic-form identifier of the electronic form against stored electronic-form identifiers corresponding to previously filled electronic forms; and

retrieve stored information corresponding to the received electronic form if a match is found.

80. A method comprising:

receiving, from a client, an electronic-form identifier corresponding to an electronic form previously filled in by a user having a user identifier;

receiving, from the client, user data information corresponding to the electronic form; and

storing the user identifier, the electronic-form identifier, and the user data information for future use.

81. A method comprising:

receiving, from a client, a request, including a user identifier and an electronic-form identifier corresponding to an electronic form;

comparing the user identifier against previously stored user identifiers;

comparing the electronic-form identifier against previously stored electronic-form identifiers;

retrieving stored user data information corresponding to a matching user identifier and a matching electronic-form identifier; and

transmitting the stored information to the client.