System and methods for integration of a Web site with a repository server

• US 20020083095A1
• Filed: 12/13/2000
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Propel Software Corporation (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Propel Software Corporation (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Kline, Charles, Wu, Jackie Zhanhong, Rose, William W., Natarajan, Satish, Wyllie, Russell D., Kirsch, Steven T.
• Application Number:
  US09/738,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20020083095A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/513
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A Web site is integrated with an information repository server storing user-information to provide for the selective submission of user-information to the Web site. A form Web page deployable by the Web site is first prepared by establishing a specification of user-information needed to complete the form Web page for a given user. The Web page is then coded to issue a request including the specification to the information repository server in response to a predetermined user action. The specification is evaluable by the information repository server to determine a mapping between user-information requested by the Web page and the user-information stored by the information repository server for the user. The Web page is then deployed for retrieval by the user. When the specification is subsequently evaluated, mapping and conversion functions are applied, specific to the user-information stored for a particular user, to return data for completion of the form Web page.

Claims

1. A method of integrating a Web site with an information repository server storing user-information to provide for the selective submission of such user-information to said Web site, said method comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a specification of user-information requested by a Web page from a user;

b) encoding said Web page to issue a request including said specification to said information repository server in response to a predetermined user action, wherein said specification is evaluated by said information repository server to establish a mapping between user-information requested by said Web page and the user-information stored by said information repository server for said user; and

c) deploying said Web page for retrieval by said user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein user-information requested by said Web page is identified by form field name and wherein user-information stored by said information repository server is identified by data field name and wherein said specification encodes a mapping between form field name and data field name.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said mapping further encodes a conversion between first user-information identified by form field name and second user-information identified by data field name.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of constructing said specification utilizing said information repository server.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said step of constructing includes defining said mapping.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of constructing includes defining data field names for the storage of custom user-information by said information repository server.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of constructing includes defining alias names for sub-mappings of data field names.

8. A method of integrating a Web site with an information repository server storing user-information to provide for the selective submission of such user-information to said Web site, said method comprising the step of

providing a user control on a form Web page as served by said Web site for activation by a user of said form Web page, wherein said user control includes an identification of requested user-information corresponding to fields provided on said form Web page, wherein activation of said user control will submit said specification to said information repository server for evaluation and return of user-information corresponding to the fields provided on said form Web page, and wherein said specification supports a name and value mapping between requested user-information and user-information stored by said information repository server.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of relying on said information repository server to evaluate said name and value mapping to provide said requested user-information in dynamic response to activation of said user control.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of associating user-information returned from said information repository server the fields provided on said form Web page, wherein the fields provided on said form Web page have field name and wherein the user-information returned from said information repository server are referenced by said field names.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said activation of said user control submits a secure identification of said Web site to said information repository server.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:

a) determining, by said information repository server, an access profile for said Web site relative to the user information stored by said information repository server on behalf of a predetermined user;

b) evaluating said specification in relation to said access profile; and

c) providing a response containing said requested user-information subject to said evaluation.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of determining said information repository server obtains a secure identification of said predetermined user.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of evaluating provides for the identification the requested user-information that is stored by said information repository server and that is within the scope of said access profile.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said coded expression includes said form data request mapping.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said coded expression includes an identifier of said form data request mapping, and wherein said form data request mapping is stored separately with respect to said coded user-interface control.

18. The method of claim 16 and 17 wherein said step of mapping includes defining data conversions between the presentation value of data stored with respect to said data field names and the presentation value of the data desired for display in correspondence with said identified form field names.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said coded user-interface is returned to said designated site as part of said Web page representation.

15. A method of integrating a Web page, as presented to a user by a Web site, with an information repository system storing user-information for selected distribution in filling-out form data fields on said Web page, said method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving, from a designated source, a form Web page representation;

b) parsing said Web page representation to identify a first set of form field names carried by said form Web page representation;

c) mapping said first set to a second set of storage field names corresponding to data stored by the information repository system to establish a form data request mapping;

d) generating a coded user-interface control, including a coded expression of said form data request mapping, suitable for incorporation in said representation; and

e) returning said coded user-interface control to said designated source.

20. A method of integrating a secure repository server, including an information database having a plurality of named columns, with client account site over a communications network, said method comprising the steps of:

a) processing a displayable form deployable by said client account site, wherein said displayable form includes a plurality of named fields; and

b) producing a coded structure embeddable in said displayable form in association with a user-control, wherein said coded structure defines a mapping between said plurality of named fields and said plurality of named columns.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein a portion of said mapping is stored by said secure repository server.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said mapping defines a data conversion relationship between said plurality of named fields and said plurality of named columns.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said repository server is responsive to said mapped identification to provide a format conversion of said fielded data to the format of said named fields.

23. A method of operating a repository server storing fielded data to securely provide user-information to a presentation server on behalf of a user, wherein said presentation server presents a electronic form containing named fields for receiving data of correspondingly defined format, said method comprising:

a) first enabling an electronic control triggerable in connection with the presentation of said electronic form to provide, to said repository server, a mapped identification of said named fields relative to the fielded data of said repository server;

b) authenticating said presentation server in connection with the receipt of said mapped identification and in connection with said user;

c) providing fielded data to said presentation server wherein said fielded data is provided in unambiguous correspondence with said named fields and in the defined format of the named fields; and

d) second enabling said presentation server to autonomously fill-in said named fields of said electronic form.