Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-01
2001-06-12
Hong, Stephen S. (Department: 2776)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247029
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer programs and in particular to software for entering data at a client computer in a form accessed from an intra- or internet source, which software may be incorporated into a web browser.
2. Description of Related Art
Users of intra-active (i.e., intra-net) or internet websites often are required to provide data in utilizing such web sites. Often, such data comprises standard and often repetitive information such as name, address, telephone number, fax number, e-mail address and the like. Such repetitive data may have to be re-entered even when accessing the same HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) source file at the same web site. In other instances, similar information may have to be provided for different web sites.
Current web browsers have no way of saving data from previously completed forms, and allowing users to select the saved data to load into a new form. In the manner HTML source file forms are currently processed, a blank form is presented each time a form is presented. There is currently no automatic and convenient way to do this for any form, nor is there a way to have this capability controlled by the client with the web browser using personal storage. There is also currently no way to automatically save multiple forms of data and to allow a user to select from the list of previously data and saved forms to input the selected data on the form currently being accessed.
Accordingly, it would be useful to have a process and system for entering saved data from previously completed forms into new blank forms, and to automatically save multiple forms of data for access in completing new blank forms.
Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a process and system for simplifying entry of data at a client computer in a blank form accessed from an intra- or internet source.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a process and system for saving data entered into a blank form for a possible future use in the same or other blank form.
A further object of the invention is to provide such a process and system that may be incorporated in a web browser which is accessed at a client computer or workstation which has access to a personal storage device containing such previously saved data.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a process and system which may be easily accessed by a client computer or a workstation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects and advantages, which will be apparent to one of skill in the art, are achieved in the present invention which is directed to, in a first aspect, a process for entering data at a client computer in a form accessed from an intra- or internet source. The process initially comprises providing a set of data in a form file in a program storage device accessible by the client computer, the form file further containing information concerning time of creation of the data and a unique identification which distinguishes the form file from other forms. The blank form is then accessed from an intra- or internet source and viewed on the client computer. The form file is then accessed from the program storage device and data from the form file is utilized to complete the blank form.
Preferably, process includes the further step of transmitting the completed blank form to the intra- or internet source.
In one embodiment, the form file is stored as an HTML source file. The form file may include an HTML source file previously accessed from an intra- or internet source combined with a set of data for the source file, and the process may include accessing the form file from the program storage device and determining if the blank form corresponds to the form file. The program storage device then includes a plurality of form files, each of which includes an HTML source file previously accessed from an intra- or internet source combined with a set of data for the source file and containing information concerning time of creation of the form and a unique identification. The program storage device may further include a combined form table containing a list of the form files. The process then includes accessing the combined form table from the program storage device and determining if the blank form corresponds to the form file.
In another embodiment, the form file includes a plurality of sets of data, the sets of data being for a plurality of HTML source files previously accessed from an intra- or internet source. The process then includes the step of accessing one of the sets of data to complete the blank form. The program storage device further includes a separate form table containing a list of a plurality of HTML source files previously accessed from an intra- or internet source and information concerning time of saving of the source file and a unique identification for each source file. The process then includes the step of accessing the separate form table from the program storage device and determining if the blank form corresponds to one of the HTML source files.
In another aspect, the present invention relates to a system for entering data at a client computer in a form accessed from an intra- or internet source. The system includes a client computer capable of accessing a blank form from an intra- or internet source and viewing the blank form and a program storage device accessible by the client computer. A set of data containing data adapted for use by the client computer to complete the blank form is stored in a form file in the program storage device. The form file also contains information concerning time of creation of the data and a unique identification which distinguishes the form file from other forms.
In one embodiment, the program storage device includes a plurality of form files, each of which includes an HTML source file previously accessed from an intra- or internet source combined with a set of data for the source file and containing information concerning time of creation of the data and a unique identification. The program storage device also includes a combined form table containing a list of the form files.
In another embodiment, the program storage device includes a separate form table containing a list of a plurality of HTML source files previously accessed from an intra- or internet source and information concerning time of saving of the source file and a unique identification for each source file. The form file includes a plurality of sets of data, with the sets of data being for the HTML source files.
In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a process for entering data at a client computer in a form accessed from an intra- or internet source. The process comprises accessing a blank form from an intra- or internet source and viewing the blank form on the client computer. A set of data is then entered in the client computer to complete the blank form. A form file containing the set of data used to complete the blank form is then stored in a program storage device accessible by the client computer. The form file further contains information concerning time of creation of the data and a unique identification which distinguishes the form file from other forms. Preferably, the process further includes accessing the form file from the program storage device and utilizing data from the form file to complete another blank form accessed from an intra- or internet source. The completed blank form may be transmitted to the intra- or internet source.
In one embodiment, the form file is stored as an HTML source file. In such an instance, the stored form file includes the HTML source file combined with the set of data used to complete the source file. The program storage device may further include a combined form table containing a list of HTML source files previously accessed from an intra- or internet source and information concerning time of saving of the source file and a unique identi
Dauerer Norman J.
Kelley Edward E.
Ahsan Aziz M.
DeLio & Peterson LLC
Hong Stephen S.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Peterson Peter W.
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