Method and apparatus for performing an information search and retrieval by submitting an electronic form over e-mail

• US 20100228772A1
• Filed: 04/14/2010
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Manno
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Manno
• Inventors: Manno, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US12/798,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228772A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/332 Query formulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail

Abstract

Invention provides a method and apparatus for an e-mail based interface to function as a single common access point for requesting, receiving, publishing, accessing and sharing various data from multiple, remote information systems. The invention becomes akin to a human relay operator in the loop which is transparent to the user. By relaying the e-mail chain, the invention performs multiple functions based on the originating request, and reply as a human would.

Claims

1. Method for performing an information search and retrieval by submitting an electronic form over e-mail, comprising the steps of:

extracting search terms and search parameters from each field on said electronic form;

modulating said extracted terms and parameters onto a standard header of a first e-mail;

inserting semicolon delineation between said modulated terms in said header;

forwarding said e-mail to a domain specific server;

demodulating said forwarded first e-mail header by identifying said search terms and said search parameters;

processing said identified search terms and said search parameters;

connecting to those APIs corresponding to said identified search terms;

receiving search results;

synthesizing a second e-mail message body from received search results; and

sending said second e-mail to user.

2. Apparatus for performing an information search and retrieval by submitting an electronic form over e-mail, comprising:

a computing device;

an e-mail application program being accessible by said computing device;

a software program being executed by said computing device in cooperation with said e-mail application,

wherein said computer program comprises a set of computer-implementable instructions, that, when executed by said computing device, cause said computing device to

extract search terms and search parameters from each field on said electronic form;

modulate said extracted terms and parameters onto a standard header of a first e-mail;

insert semicolon delineation between said modulated terms in said header;

forward said e-mail to a domain specific server;

demodulate said forwarded first e-mail header by identifying said search terms and said search parameters;

process said identified search terms and said search parameters;

connect to those APIs corresponding to said identified search terms;

receive search results;

synthesize a second e-mail message body from received search results; and

send said second e-mail to user.