System and method for automated data processing
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for processing data using a data processing system having a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory operatively connected to the CPU and being capable of communicating via a communications network, the method comprising:
- receiving, via the communications network, an e-mail message having a body of text, the body of text including a key name, and a respective purchaser-supplied value associated with the key name; and
storing the purchaser-supplied value in the memory in association with the key name.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for automated data processing whereby data is extracted from an e-mail message and passed to an external data processing system, e.g. for processing purchase orders. The purchaser can thereby communicate directly with a vendor'"'"'s order processing system to initiate fulfillment of the purchase order without the need for human intervention. The method includes receiving an e-mail message having a body of text. Character strings of the body of text are compared to a database of valid key names to find a match. When a match is found, data associated with the character string in the body of text, as determined by convention, is stored in association with a respective key name. The data are purchaser-supplied values that are then transmitted to an external, e.g. order processing, system. A data processing system and a computer program product for extracting data from an e-mail message are also provided.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for processing data using a data processing system having a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory operatively connected to the CPU and being capable of communicating via a communications network, the method comprising:
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receiving, via the communications network, an e-mail message having a body of text, the body of text including a key name, and a respective purchaser-supplied value associated with the key name; and
storing the purchaser-supplied value in the memory in association with the key name. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-implemented method for processing a purchase order using a data processing system having a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory operatively connected to the CPU and being capable of communication via a communications network, the method comprising:
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receiving, via the communications network, an e-mail message having a body of text;
searching the body of text to identify a character string;
comparing the character string to a plurality of valid key names stored in the memory to determine whether the character string includes one of the plurality of valid key names;
if the character string includes one of the plurality of valid key names;
reading data associated with the character string in the body of text, the data associated with the character string being established by a predetermined convention;
storing the data in association with the one of the plurality of valid key names;
communicating the at least one purchaser-supplied value to an order processing system; and
the order processing system processing the order to automatedly print a document including printed text displaying the at least one purchaser-supplied value as information for the respective one of the plurality of key names. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A data processing system for extracting data from an e-mail message, said data processing system comprising:
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a microprocessor;
a memory operatively connected to said microprocessor;
a telecommunications device operatively connected to said microprocessor and capable of communicating via a communications network;
first instructions stored in said memory and executable by said microprocessor for receiving, via the communications network, an e-mail message having a body of text, the body of text including a plurality of key names, and a purchaser-supplied value for each of said plurality of key names;
second instructions stored in said memory and executable by said microprocessor for storing each purchaser-supplied value in the memory in association with a respective one of the plurality of key names; and
third instructions stored in said memory and executable by said microprocessor for transmitting at least one purchaser-supplied value to an order processing system for fulfilling the purchase order. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A computer program product embodied in one or more computer-readable media, the computer program product adapted for extracting data from an e-mail message and comprising:
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computer-readable program code for receiving, via the communications network, an e-mail message having a body of text, the body of text including a plurality of key names, and a purchaser-supplied value for each of said plurality of key names;
computer-readable program code for storing each purchaser-supplied value in the memory in association with a respective one of the plurality of key names; and
computer-readable program code for transmitting at least one purchaser-supplied value to an order processing system for fulfilling the purchase order. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification