System and method for automatically learning information used for electronic form-filling

• US 7,206,998 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Claria Corporation
• Inventors: Martin, Anthony, Pennell, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ludwig, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US09/860,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20020013788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,160 Days
• Field of Search: 715/506, 715/507, 715/531, 715/508, 715/505, 704/251, 705/26, 705/42
• US Class Current: 715/224
• 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, comprising:

receiving a request for user data, the request being presented as an electronic form;

determining whether a script for inputting the user data into the electronic form is available;

if a script is determined to be available;

displaying a dialog window containing the user data, wherein the dialog window allows for input of the user data into the electronic form and allows for modification of the user data, and

if a script is determined not to be available;

capturing information corresponding to the user data entered into the electronic form and a format of the electronic form;

obtaining an electronic-form identifier for identifying the electronic form, the electronic form identifier identifying a location from which the electronic form was received;

storing the electronic-form identifier and the information corresponding to the user data entered into the electronic form for future use; and

sending, via a network, the electronic-form identifier and the captured information about the format of the electronic form to a remote location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic form is received from a visited network site that is connected to a user computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic form is available on a computer used by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request for user data includes a request for at least one of personal information, user attribute information, contact information, login information, account information, membership information, or credit information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic form includes multiple data fields, each data field being a request for a piece of user data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic form is a login window.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic form is a purchase order.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the captured information corresponding to the user data includes user-data identifiers.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the captured information corresponding to the user data includes user-data types.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the captured information corresponding to the user data includes the user data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the captured information corresponding to the user data includes the order of entry of the user data into the electronic form.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes a URL of the visited network site.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes an identifier assigned to the electronic form.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes electronic-form attributes.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the electronic form includes data fields having an order and wherein the electronic-form attributes include the order of the data fields.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the information corresponding to the user data is stored in a database on a user computer.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the information corresponding to the user data is stored in a remote database.

18. A system, comprising:

a browser for receiving a request for user data, the request being presented as an electronic form;

a processor having logic for determining whether a script for inputting the user data into the electronic form is available;

if a script is determined to be available;

a processor having logic for displaying a dialog window containing the user data, wherein the dialog window allows for input of the user data into the electronic form and allows for modification of the user data; and

if a script is determined not to be available;

logic for capturing information corresponding to the user data entered into the electronic form and information corresponding to a format of the electronic form;

a communications engine for obtaining an electronic-form identifier for identifying the electronic form;

a storage medium for storing the electronic-form identifier and the information corresponding to the user data entered into the electronic form for future use; and

logic for sending, via a network, the electronic-form identifier and the captured information about the format of the electronic form to a remote location.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the browser receives the electronic form from a visited network site that is connected to a user computer.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes a URL of the visited network site.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic form is available on a computer used by the user.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the request for user data includes a request for at least one of personal information, user attribute information, contact information, login information, account information, membership information, or credit information.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic form includes multiple data fields, each data field being a request for a piece of user data.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic form is a login window.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic form is a purchase order.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the captured information corresponding to the user data includes user-data identifiers.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the captured information corresponding to the user data includes user-data types.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the captured information corresponding to the user data includes the user data.

29. The system of claim 18, wherein the captured information corresponding to the user data includes the order of entry of the user data into the electronic form.

30. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes an identifier assigned to the electronic form.

31. The system of claim 18, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes electronic-form attributes.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the electronic form includes data fields having an order and electronic-form attributes include the order of the data fields.

33. The system of claim 18, wherein the storage medium storing the information corresponding to the user data is located on a user computer.

34. The system of claim 18, wherein the storage medium storing the information corresponding to the user data is located on a remote server.

35. A system including memory, comprising:

means for receiving a request for user data, the request being presented as an electronic form;

means for determining whether a script for inputting the user data into the electronic form is available;

if a script is determined to be available;

means for displaying a dialog window containing the user data, wherein the dialog window allows for input of the user data into the electronic form and allows for modification of the user data, and

if a script is determined not to be available;

means for capturing information corresponding to the user data entered into the electronic form and information corresponding to a format of the electronic form;

means for obtaining a electronic-form identifier for identifying the electronic form; and

means for storing the electronic-form identifier and the information corresponding to the user data entered into the electronic form for future use; and

means for sending, via a network, the electronic-form identifier and the captured information about the format of the electronic form to a remote location.

36. A computer-readable storage medium storing program code for causing a computer to:

receive a request for user data, the request being presented as an electronic form;

determine whether a script for inputting the user data into the electronic form is available;

if a script is determined to be available;

display a dialog window containing the user data, wherein the dialog window allows for input of the user data into the electronic form and allows for modification of the user data; and

if a script is determined not to be available;

capture information corresponding to the user data entered into the electronic form and information corresponding to a format of the electronic form;

obtain an electronic-form identifier for identifying the electronic form;

store the electronic-form identifier and the information corresponding to the user data entered into the electronic form for future use; and

send, via a network, the electronic-form identifier and the captured information about the format of the electronic form to a remote location.

37. A method, comprising:

receiving a request for user data, the request being presented as an electronic form, the electronic form including an electronic-form identifier;

comparing the electronic-form identifier against stored electronic-form identifiers that correspond to previously filled electronic forms;

retrieving stored information corresponding to a stored electronic-form identifier if a match is found, the stored information including a script associating content and order of data fields in the electronic form with user data to be entered into at least a portion of the data fields;

displaying a dialog window containing the user data, wherein the dialog window allows for input of the user data into the electronic form and allows for modification of the user data; and

contacting a remote location utilizing a network if a match is not found.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

using the script retrieved to enter user data in the electronic form automatically.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

presenting the user data in the received electronic form.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

permitting the user to modify the user data presented.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

presenting the user data to a user in a dialog window.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

enabling the user to transfer available user data from the dialog window to the electronic form by drag and drop mechanism.

43. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

enabling the user to transfer user data from the dialog window to the electronic form by highlighting a field in the electronic form and selecting a user data piece to be transferred from the dialog window.

44. The method of claim 37, wherein the browser receives the electronic form from a visited network site that is connected to a user computer.

45. The method of claim 37, wherein the electronic form is available on a user computer.

46. The method of claim 37, wherein the request for user data includes a request for at least one of personal information, user attribute information, contact information, login information, account information, membership information, or credit information.

47. The method of claim 37, wherein each data field of the electronic form comprises a request for a piece of user data.

48. The method of claim 37, wherein the electronic form is a login window.

49. The method of claim 37, wherein the electronic form is a purchase order.

50. The method of claim 37, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes a URL of the visited network site and the stored electronic-form identifiers each include a URL of a previously visited network site.

51. The method of claim 37, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes an identifier assigned to the electronic form and the stored electronic-form identifiers each include an identifier assigned to a previously filled electronic form.

52. The method of claim 37, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes electronic form attributes and the stored electronic-form identifiers each include attributes of a previously filled electronic form.

53. The method of claim 37, wherein the stored information includes user data identifiers, and further comprising retrieving stored user data corresponding to the user data identifiers.

54. The method of claim 37, wherein the stored information includes user data types further comprising retrieving stored user data types, and further comprising retrieving stored user data corresponding to the user data types.

55. The method of claim 37, wherein the stored information includes the user data.

56. The method of claim 37, further comprising retrieving stored user data corresponding to the order of the data fields.

57. A system, comprising:

a browser for receiving a request for user data, the request being presented as an electronic form, the electronic form including an electronic-form identifier;

a processor having logic for comparing the electronic-form identifier of the electronic form against stored electronic-form identifiers corresponding to previously filled electronic forms;

an engine for retrieving stored information corresponding to the received electronic form if a match is found, the stored information including a script associating content and order of data fields in the electronic form with user data to be entered into at least a portion of the data fields;

an engine for displaying a dialog window containing the user data, wherein the dialog window allows for input of the user data into the electronic form and allows for modification of the user data; and

logic for contacting a remote location utilizing a network if a match is not found.

58. The system of claim 57, further comprising:

the processor having logic for using the stored information retrieved to enter user data in the electronic form automatically.

59. The system of claim 58, farther comprising:

a user interface for presenting the user data.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the processor for permitting a user to modify the user data presented.

61. The system of claim 59, wherein the user interface presents available user data in a dialog window and the processor enables a user to transfer user data from the dialog window to the electronic form by drag and drop mechanism.

62. The system of claim 59, wherein the user interface presents available user data in a dialog window and the processor enables the user to transfer user data from the dialog window to the electronic form by highlighting a field in the electronic form and by selecting a user data piece to be transferred from the dialog window.

63. The system of claim 57, further comprising:

a storage medium for storing the information corresponding to the received electronic form.

64. The system of claim 57, wherein the browser receives the electronic form from a visited network site that is connected to a user computer.

65. The system of claim 57, wherein the browser obtains the electronic form from a computer used by the user.

66. The method of claim 57, wherein the request for user data includes a request for at least one of personal information, user attribute information, contact information, login information, account information, membership information, or credit information.

67. The system of claim 57, wherein each data field of the electronic form comprises a request for a piece of user data.

68. The system of claim 57, wherein the electronic form is a login window.

69. The system of claim 57, wherein the electronic form is a purchase order.

70. The system of claim 57, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes a URL of the visited network site.

71. The system of claim 57, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes an identifier assigned to the electronic form.

72. The system of claim 57, wherein the electronic-form identifier includes electronic form attributes.

73. The system of claim 57, wherein the stored information includes user data identifiers.

74. The system of claim 57, wherein the stored information includes user data types.

75. The system of claim 57, wherein the stored information includes the user data.

76. A system including memory, comprising:

means for receiving a request for user data, the request being presented as an electronic form, the electronic form including an electronic-form identifier;

means for comparing the electronic-form identifier of the electronic form against stored electronic-form identifiers corresponding to previously filled electronic forms;

means for retrieving stored information corresponding to the received electronic form if a match is found, the stored information including a script associating content and order of data fields in the electronic form with user data to be entered into at least a portion of the data fields;

means for displaying a dialog window containing the user data, wherein the dialog window allows for input of the user data into the electronic form and allows for modification of the user data and

means for contacting a remote location utilizing a network if a match is not found.

77. The method of claim 76, further comprising:

means for using the retrieved stored information to enter user data into the electronic form automatically.

78. A computer-readable storage medium storing program code for causing a computer to:

receive a request for user data, the request being presented as an electronic form, the electronic form including an electronic-form identifier;

compare the electronic-form identifier of the electronic form against stored electronic-form identifiers corresponding to previously filled electronic forms;

retrieve stored information corresponding to the received electronic form if a match is found, the stored information including a script associating content and order of data fields in the electronic form with user data to be entered into at least a portion of the data fields;

display a dialog window containing the user data, wherein the dialog window allows for input of the user data into the electronic form and allows for modification of the user data; and

contact a remote location utilizing a network if a match is not found.

79. The computer-readable storage medium storing program code of claim 78, to further cause a computer to:

use the stored information retrieved to enter user data in the electronic form automatically.