Reverse Mapping Method and Apparatus for Form Filling

• US 20090287773A1
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Inventors: Topalov, Ognian, Hohenstein, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,407,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/167 using a common memory, e.g. mailbox
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, every time a user submits a form the client software tries to match the submitted information with the stored profile of that user. If a match is discovered, the program tags the field of the recognized data with a corresponding type. The resulting profile can be used after that to help all subsequent users to fill the same form.

Claims

1. A caching method for a form fill application, comprising the steps of:

a client maintaining a cache of form fill mapping data that it receives from a site profile server;

said client maintaining an index of all domains for which said site profile server has form fill mapping data, wherein said index is identified by a version number and contains a record for each domain supported;

said client periodically polling said site profile server to identify differences between an index version at said client and a most recent index;

said client using said differences to update said client'"'"'s local index; and

removing form fill mapping data for a domain stored in said cache, if it was present, when said differences indicate that a mapping for said domain has changed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

while said client is used for browsing, said client checking to see if it has mapping data for each domain it visits;

if said client navigates to a domain for which it has form fill mapping data, said client operating under an assumption that form fill mapping data that it has for said domain is the most current available, and said client proceeding to use said form fill mapping data to recognize checkout forms and offer to fill them; and

if said client navigates to a domain for which it does not have form fill mapping data, said requesting form fill mapping data for said domain from said site profile server, and said client storing said form fill mapping data in said cache when said data are received.

3. A caching apparatus for a form fill application, comprising:

a client-based cache of form fill mapping data that said client receives from a site profile server;

an index maintained at said client of all domains for which said site profile server has form fill mapping data, wherein said index is identified by a version number and contains a record for each domain supported;

a mechanism at said client for periodically polling said site profile server to identify differences between an index version at said client and a most recent index;

a module at said client for using said differences to update said client'"'"'s local index; and

a module for removing form fill mapping data for a domain stored in said cache, if it was present, when said differences indicate that a mapping for said domain has changed.