Automated software robot generator

• US 20040133897A1
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vertafore Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vertafore Incorporated
• Inventors: Covely, Frederick Henry III
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/328
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3006 where the computing system is distributed, e.g. networked systems, clusters, multiprocessor systems multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/302 where the computing system component is a software system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3072 where the reporting involves data filtering, e.g. pattern matching, time or event triggered, adaptive or policy-based reporting

Abstract

A system and a method for using a computer program to automate the process of searching and or retrieving data from a particular data pool for introduction to a user is provided. More specifically, a program is used that may robotically manipulate existing web sites, using computer source codes that are generated all or in part by the computer program and/or software. The system may trace, monitor and analyze a browser or network application to produce transactions and manipulate the data retrieved to automatically access previously un-accessible data from a web site.

Claims

1. A system for manipulating existing websites, said system comprising:

a computer software program to collect data on existing websites;

a tracing means for tracing an existing website when the website is being accessed by third party users;

a filtering means for filtering the collected data on existing websites;

a generated source code; and

a generated software robot that mimic a user using a web browser on the site.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a tracing means wherein said tracing means uses an application programming interface wherein said interface intercepts application programming calls and records the parameters and data passed to the call.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a tracing means wherein said tracing means collects data from internet protocol network events, including winsock, WinInet, shell, security, User, Active Directory, HTML and DOM application programming interfaces.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a computer program wherein said computer program monitors data and events running on Microsoft Windows operating systems.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a computer program wherein said computer program monitors data and events running on a third party operating system.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a filtering means wherein said filtering means allows for removal of redundant and useless information collected during the tracing, said information including;

removal of network management packets that are acknowledgements and retries;

collation of IP packets into single HTTP based messages; and

collation of HTTP messages into single records of content objects, including HTML, images, audio, and other HTTP content.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a filtering means wherein said filtering means analysis the trace performed, said analysis produces;

an XML record for each content object in the order the content was received;

an XML record redirect records and added redirect information;

an XML record for cookie reads;

an XML record for cookie writes;

an XML record for user navigation events;

HTTP header information as XML; and

various other management information relating to the network and user event traces.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the source code wherein said source code is generated by the computer program and further wherein said source code mimics what a user is doing during tracing and is generated by transforming XML to XSL.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the source code wherein said source code is generated by the computer program and further wherein said source code is generated by hard coding and further wherein said source code is generated by using a computer language to parse filtering means and generate some other useful product from the filtering means.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the source code wherein said source code is transformed to XSL wherein a XSL code exists for popular languages including Java, JavaScript, Visual Basic, Cold Fusion, C/C++, Pascal and a plurality of other computer languages.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

the software robot wherein said software robot can interface with a website and manipulate the website during use.

12. A method for manipulating an existing website, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a computer software program to collect data on existing websites;

tracing an existing website when the website is being accessed by third party users;

filtering the collected data on existing websites;

analyzing the data collected from traced and filtered websites; and

generating a source code.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

providing an application programming interface to, record data from existing websites.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

tracing an existing website to collect data from internet protocol events and a plurality of application programming interfaces.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

allowing an end user to hard code the generated source code.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

automating the generation of source code to an end user.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

allowing the computer program to interface with an existing website to automatically produce a desired outcome including;

automatic form fill-in on a web page;

interfacing with a website to obtain information previously unattainable;

performing system testing of a website; and

performing software change controls to monitor existing websites for change to the underlying site.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

integrating the software into a web browser as a browser plug-in.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

integrating the software into a web browser as an extension wherein the integrated software may display debug messages, HTTP header parameters, and other data.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

allowing an end user to click on a button in a web browser plug-in that completes multiple forms without further user intervention.