Method and apparatus for automatic form filling

• US 20050149854A1
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Inventors: Martin, Anthony, Pennell, Mark E.
• Application Number:
  US11/055,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20050149854A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/226
• 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 for inputting information into a form, comprising:

detecting an access to a first site that presents a form for receiving data from a user;

determining whether a script for completing at least a portion of the form resides in a database local to the user;

accessing a second site to ascertain whether the second site has a version of the script if the script does not reside in the local database; and

completing at least a portion of the form utilizing the script.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a browser is monitored for detecting the access to the first site.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second site is accessed via a network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein an identifier associated with the first site is utilized to determined whether the script resides in at least one of the local database and the second site.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the identifier comprises a Universal Resource Locator (URL).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the script includes contact information associated with the user for inputting into the form.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the script is utilized to present data for completing the at least a portion of the form prior to the user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the user is permitted to modify the presented data prior to the completing.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the presented data is presented in a pop-up window displayed to the user.

10. A system for inputting information into a form, comprising:

means for detecting an access to a first site that presents a form for receiving data from a user;

means for determining whether a script for completing at least a portion of the form resides in a database local to the user;

means for accessing a second site to ascertain whether the second site has a version of the script if the script does not reside in the local database; and

means for completing at least a portion of the form utilizing the script.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein a browser is monitored for detecting the access to the first site.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the second site is accessed via a network.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein an identifier associated with the first site is utilized to determined whether the script resides in at least one of the local database and the second site.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the identifier comprises a Universal Resource Locator (URL).

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the script includes contact information associated with the user for inputting into the form.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the script is utilized to present data for completing the at least a portion of the form prior to the user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the user is permitted to modify the presented data prior to the completing.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the presented data is presented in a pop-up window displayed to the user.

19. A computer program product for inputting information into a form, comprising:

computer code for detecting an access to a first site that presents a form for receiving data from a user;

computer code for determining whether a script for completing at least a portion of the form resides in a database local to the user;

computer code for accessing a second site to ascertain whether the second site has a version of the script if the script does not reside in the local database; and

computer code for completing at least a portion of the form utilizing the script.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein an identifier associated with the first site is utilized to determined whether the script resides in at least one of the local database and the second site.