Method and system of automating data capture from electronic correspondence

• US 20020174185A1
• Filed: 05/01/2001
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mercury Kingdom Assets Limited
• Original Assignee: Marathon Solutions LLC (Pendrell Corporation)
• Inventors: Gordon, Julian, Dʼsa, Oswald, Dhanapal, Vijayasankar, Kulkarni, Renuka, Gubbala, Srinivas, Raman, Santhosh, Rawat, Jai, Doundakova, Silvia, Anand, Rajiv
• Granted Patent: US 8,095,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/205 Parsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

A method and system of automating capture of electronic data provide a user with an effective universal Internet identity and e-mail address, comprehensive e-mail filtering and forwarding services, and e-receipt identification and data extraction. Detailed user e-mail preferences data stored at a central server may be selectively altered such that incoming correspondence is redirected in accordance with the user'"'"'s preferences. Computer program code at the central server parses incoming e-mail header information and data content, selectively extracts data from identified types of correspondence, and forwards extracted data in accordance with user preferences data. Additional computer program code may manipulate the extracted data in accordance with format requirements and display the manipulated data to a user in a desired format.

Claims

1. A system for capturing electronic receipts;

said system comprising;

a first computer server receiving electronic correspondence and parsing said electronic correspondence to identify commercial data related to a commercial transaction; and

program code residing on said first computer server for creating receipt data by extracting said commercial data from said electronic correspondence.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said first computer server permits display of said receipt data.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a database at said first computer server; and

wherein said first computer server permits alteration of header data of said electronic correspondence in accordance with data records stored in said database.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said program code includes instructions for storing said receipt data in said database.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said first computer server permits extraction of said receipt data from said database.

6. A method of capturing electronic receipts;

said method comprising;

receiving electronic correspondence; and

examining said electronic correspondence to extract commercial data related to a commercial transaction.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising updating header data of said electronic correspondence.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said updating header data includes:

querying a database of address data; and

altering header data of said electronic correspondence in accordance with a result of said querying.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said examining includes:

querying a database of template data; and

comparing said electronic correspondence with said template data obtained from said querying.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

providing a database for storing receipt data; and

storing identified commercial data as receipt data in said database.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

if said comparing does not identify said electronic correspondence as containing said commercial data, parsing said electronic correspondence to create parsed data; and

examining said parsed data to extract said commercial data, if said parsing results in an identification of said commercial data in said electronic correspondence.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said first computer server permits display of said data content.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said first computer server permits alteration of header data of said electronic correspondence and wherein said first computer server forwards said electronic correspondence to a second computer server in accordance with instructions contained in said data records.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said program code includes instructions for storing said data content in said database.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said first computer server permits extraction of said data content from said database.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein said first computer server permits alteration of said instructions contained in said data records.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein said electronic correspondence contains data content related to an e-receipt.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein said electronic correspondence contains data content related to contact information.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein said electronic correspondence contains data content related to news.

21. The system of claim 12 wherein said electronic correspondence contains data content related to a securities market.

22. The system of claim 12 wherein said electronic correspondence contains data content related to a schedule.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising updating header data of said electronic correspondence.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said updating header data includes:

querying a database of address data; and

altering header data of said electronic correspondence in accordance with a result of said querying.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein said examining includes:

querying a database of template data; and

comparing said electronic correspondence with said template data.

27. The method of claim 23 further comprising:

providing an additional database for storing said data content; and

storing said data content in said additional database in accordance with instructions contained in said data records.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein said first computer server permits alteration of said instructions contained in said data records.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein said examining includes extracting data content related to an e-receipt.

30. The method of claim 23 wherein said examining includes extracting data content related to contact information.

31. The method of claim 23 wherein said examining includes extracting data content related to news.

32. The method of claim 23 wherein said examining includes extracting data content related to a securities market.

33. The method of claim 23 wherein said examining includes extracting data content related to a schedule.

12. A system for capturing data from electronic correspondence;

said system comprising;

a first computer server receiving electronic correspondence;

a database having data records accessible to said first computer server;

program code residing on said first computer server for parsing said electronic correspondence to identify data content; and

additional program code for extracting said data content in accordance with instructions contained in said data records.

23. A method of capturing electronic data;

said method comprising;

maintaining a database of data records;

receiving electronic correspondence; and

examining said electronic correspondence to extract data content in accordance with instructions contained in said data records.