Method and system for collecting information

• US 7,917,412 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Gang, Tahir, Marie Jeanette Floyd
• Primary Examiner(s): Refai; Ramsey
• Application Number:
  US12/023,740
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 705/31, 715/738, 715/779
• US Class Current: 705/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/123 Tax preparation or submission

Abstract

In general, the invention relates to a method for collecting information. The method includes receiving a request for user information from a preparer application executing on a preparer system and sending a notification of the request to a browser application executing on a user system, where the notification of the request is presented on a user interface of the browser application. The method further includes receiving the user information from the browser application, where the user information corresponds to content of the browser application. The method further includes sending a notification of receiving the user information to the preparer application, where the user information is used by the preparer application to prepare documentation, and where interactions with the browser application occur through a browser extension of the browser application.

Claims

1. A method for collecting information, comprising:

receiving, by a collection system, a request for user information from a preparer application executing on a preparer system;

sending, by the collection system, a notification of the request to a browser extension that extends functionality of a browser application executing on a user system, wherein the notification of the request comprises guidance for collecting the user information, and wherein the browser extension;

receives the notification of the request from the collection system;

presents the notification of the request on a user interface of the browser application, wherein a user of the user system directs, based on the guidance for collecting the user information, the web browser to a web page comprising the user information; and

captures the user information from the web page on the browser application;

receiving, by the collection system, the user information from the browser extension; and

sending, by the collection system, a notification of receiving the user information to the preparer application, wherein the user information is used by the preparer application to prepare documentation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that a preparer initiating the request for the user information is authorized to request the user information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification of the request is presented on the user interface as an alert displayed on a status bar of the browser application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein access to the user information is restricted to the preparer application.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification of the request further comprises:

a due date for submitting the user information; and

preparer information identifying a preparer requesting the user information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the guidance is determined based on historical guidance information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the preparer application is a tax preparation application.

8. A method for collecting information, comprising:

receiving, by a browser extension, a notification of a request for user information from a collection system, wherein the notification of the request comprises guidance for collecting the user information, wherein the browser extension extends functionality of a browser application executing on a user system, and wherein the request is initiated by a preparer application executing on a preparer system;

presenting, by the browser extension, the notification of the request on a user interface of the browser application, wherein a user of the user system directs, based on the guidance for collecting the user information, the web browser to a web page comprising the user information;

capturing, by the browser extension, the user information from the web page on the browser application; and

sending, by the browser extension, the user information to the collection system,

wherein the collection system sends a notification of receiving the user information to the preparer application, wherein the user information is used by the preparer application to prepare documentation.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising determining that a preparer initiating the request for the user information is authorized to request the user information.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the notification of the request is presented on the user interface as an alert displayed on a status bar of the browser application.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein access to the user information is restricted to the preparer application.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the notification of the request further comprises:

a due date for submitting the user information; and

preparer information identifying a preparer requesting the user information.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the preparer application is a tax preparation application.

14. A system for collection information, comprising:

a preparer application interface executing on at least one computer processor and configured to;

receive a request for user information from a preparer application executing on a preparer computer system; and

send a notification of receiving the user information to the preparer application, wherein the user information is used by the preparer application to prepare documentation;

a notification module executing on the at least one computer processor and configured to;

send a notification of the request to a browser extension that extends functionality of a browser application executing on a user computer system, wherein the notification of the request comprises guidance for collecting the user information, and

wherein the browser extension;

receives the notification of the request from the collection system;

presents the notification of the request on a user interface of the browser application, wherein a user of the user system directs, based on the guidance for collecting the user information, the web browser to a web page comprising the user information; and

captures the user information from the web page on the browser application; and

a collection module executing on the at least one computer processor and configured to receive the user information from the browser extension.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a security module configured to determine that a preparer initiating the request for the user information is authorized to request the user information.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the preparer application interface is further configured to restrict access to the user information to the preparer application.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the notification of the request is presented on the user interface as an alert displayed on a status bar of the browser application.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the notification of the request comprises:

a due date for submitting the user information; and

preparer information identifying a preparer requesting the user information.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the preparer application interface is further configured to determine the guidance based on historical guidance information.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the preparer application is a tax preparation application.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium, embodying instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for collection information, the instructions comprising functionality to:

receive, by a collection system, a request for user information from a preparer application executing on a preparer system;

send, by the collection system, a notification of the request to a browser extension that extends functionality of a browser application executing on a user system, wherein the notification of the request comprises guidance for collecting the user information, and wherein the browser extension;

receives the notification of the request from the collection system;

presents the notification of the request on a user interface of the browser application, wherein a user of the user system directs, based on the guidance for collecting the user information, the web browser to a web page comprising the user information; and

captures the user information from the web page on the browser application;

receive, by the collection system, the user information from the browser extension; and

send, by the collection system, a notification of receiving the user information to the preparer application, wherein the user information is used by the preparer application to prepare documentation.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the instructions further comprise functionality to determine that a preparer initiating the request for the user information is authorized to request the user information.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein the preparer application is a tax preparation application.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium, embodying instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for collection information, the instructions comprising functionality to:

receive, by a browser extension, a notification of a request for user information from a collection system, wherein the notification of the request comprises guidance for collecting the user information, wherein the browser extension extends functionality of a browser application executing on a user system, and wherein the request is initiated by a preparer application executing on a preparer system;

present, by the browser extension, the notification of the request on a user interface of the browser application, wherein a user of the user system directs, based on the guidance for collecting the user information, the web browser to a web page comprising the user information;

capture, by the browser extension, the user information from the web page on the browser application; and

send, by the browser extension, the user information to the collection system,

wherein the collection system sends a notification of receiving the user information to the preparer application, wherein the user information is used by the preparer application to prepare documentation.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the instructions further comprise functionality to determine that a preparer initiating the request for the user information is authorized to request the user information.