Internet browser based data entry architecture

• US 5,963,952 A
• Filed: 07/15/1997
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Derek Kent William
• Primary Examiner(s): Amsbury, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jung, David Yiuk
• Application Number:
  US08/893,167
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-206, 707/501-540, 395/200.3-200.61, 345/227-349, 709/1-400
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/123 Storage facilities
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

The technical field of the present invention is directed to Internet based data entry systems. Problems with existing WEB Browser technologies include an inability to support local storage of entered data due to security issues. A file save option simply saves the source contents of the currently displayed WEB page without any entered data. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for capture of data entered into a WEB page displayed in a WEB Browser including local storage of the entered data on a hard disk of the client computer. The present invention receives entered data in a primary document and generates a secondary document having the entered data as initial conditions within the secondary document for local storage to a hard disk. The primary use of the present invention provides data capture with storage to a local file through a WEB Browser for retaining a personal record of a business transaction and for later transmission through the Internet in a connect mode to a WEB server computer.

Claims

1. A method of capturing and storing at a client computer user generated data entered into a WEB page displayed in a WEB browser comprising the computer implemented steps of:

receiving user generated data entered into an input object of a WEB page primary document displayed in said WEB browser at the client computer;

accessing said object for extracting said data from the primary document;

generating a secondary document capturing said data; and

storing said secondary document and said data in a local store in said client computer.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of presenting at least one data input object in said primary document for accepting user generated data.

3. A method according to claim 2 further comprising the step of providing activation control in said primary document for selectively activating said step of accessing said object after said data is entered into said input object.

4. A method according to claim 3 further comprising the step of generating a WEB Server address and a submit control in said secondary document for sending said data to a WEB Server for processing.

5. A method according to claim 4 further comprising the step of transforming said input object from said primary document to an input object in said secondary document having an initial setting.

6. A method according to claim 5 further comprising the step of checking said data received in said input object for error and providing a capability to correct said error.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said step of checking said input object for error includes identification of blank data.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said step of checking said input object for error includes validation of said data to a predefined business rule.

9. A method according to claim 8 further comprising the step of presenting said secondary document within said WEB Browser prior to storing said secondary document in said a local store.

24. A method according to claim 9 in which said WEB page contains hypertext markup language and Internet programming language functions.

10. In a computer system for capturing and storing user generated data entered into a WEB page displayed in a WEB browser comprising the:

means for receiving, at a client computer, user generated data into an input object of a primary document displayed in said WEB browser at the client computer;

means for accessing said object for extracting said data from the primary document;

means for generating a secondary document in said WEB Browser and capturing said data; and

means for storing said secondary document and said data from said WEB Browser at a local store in said client computer.

11. The computer system according to claim 10 further comprising:

activation control means in said primary document for selectively activating said means for accessing said object and said means for generating a secondary document.

12. The computer system according to claim 11 further comprising:

means for generating a WEB Server address and a submit control in said secondary document for sending said data to a WEB Server for processing.

13. The computer system according to claim 12 further comprising:

means for checking said input object for data errors.

14. The computer system according to claim 13, wherein said means for checking said input object for data errors includes means to check for blank data and to provide error correction.

15. The computer system according to claim 14 wherein said means for checking said input object for data errors includes means to validate said data with predefined business rules and to provide error correction.

16. The computer system according to claim 13 wherein said primary document includes a first logic area containing document transformation and data processing controls and a second logic area containing document presentation and data input controls.

17. The computer system according to claim 16 wherein said secondary document includes a second logic area containing document presentation and data input controls.

18. The computer system according to claim 17 wherein said means for receiving said user generated data includes a hypertext markup language input tag in said primary document.

19. The computer system according to claim 18 further comprising means for transforming said input tag from said primary document to a corresponding hypertext markup language tag with an initial setting in said secondary document.

20. A secondary document created from a WEB page displayed by a WEB browser comprising:

a hypertext markup language WEB page having at least one computer-generated hypertext markup language input tag including an initial value; and

said initial value having been extracted and captured from user generated data entered into a previously displayed hypertext markup language primary document in a WEB Browser.

21. A secondary document according to claim 20, further comprising a control for sending said initial value to a WEB Server for processing of said data.

22. A secondary document created from a WEB page displayed on a WEB browser comprising:

a hypertext markup language WEB page having at least one computer-generated hypertext markup language option tag including an initial selection; and

said initial selection extracted and captured from data entered into a previously displayed hypertext markup language primary document in a WEB Browser.

23. A secondary document according to claim 22, further comprising a control for sending said initial selection to a WEB Server for processing of said data.