Form Filling Patents (Class 715/224)
  • Patent number: 7984387
    Abstract: A widget is incorporated into a user interface associated with a processing system to provide the user with a display of the entered data, together with any added text or other data modifications that result from application of a default format. The display thus enables the user to determine whether or not the default format can be used with the entered data, before the data is processed. The widget also provides a toggle capability, to allow the user to override the default behavior of the processing system and select a different valid format for use with the entered data, from a format priority list contained in the widget. The display and toggle capabilities cause the entered data to be processed by the system as intended by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Violaine Batthish, John Frank Fellner
  • Patent number: 7975214
    Abstract: A method, medium and implementing processing system are provided for book marking a combination of frame URLs within a frameset and allowing the sharing on multiple PCs the saved form data that may have been filled in. The system uses an image as a hotspot, containing a complex target destination in the form of an XML structure with multiple URLs for multiple frames as well as captured form data. This system combines file types such as XML and JPG, e.g. as in sample file name ‘MyCapturedFramesAndFormData.XML.JPG’ or ‘MyCapturedFramesAndFormData.XML.GIF’. This combination provides a surprising effect compared to the prior systems, namely, launching the image in an enhanced web browser or in a web browser containing a new plug-in displays the frame just as it was when saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Flemming Boegelund, Steven Earl Hicks
  • Patent number: 7971135
    Abstract: A system, for automatic data aggregation, may include a communications module to access an electronic form, a detector to detect a workflow indication associated with the electronic form. The system further comprises an aggregator. The aggregator may be configured to associate electronic form data with an aggregate package in response to the detected workflow indication. The electronic form data may be presented in the aggregate package as a separate record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Roberto Perelman, Yuan Sheng Fu, Heather Winkle
  • Patent number: 7966561
    Abstract: System and method for accessing and displaying information related to information flow and relationships among various electronic tax or financial documents presented by tax programs or other types of financial return preparation programs. A mechanism or mechanisms may enable users to view information related to the flow of information among electronic documents in a tax program starting at the level of a field or a document, or alternatively starting at a high-level outline view or summary of the tax preparation process or a portion thereof. These mechanism(s) may enable a preparer or other user to access graphical and/or textual displays of information related to values in fields of electronic tax or financial documents presented by tax programs and in other types of financial return preparation programs and of the relationships among fields and documents in the tax or financial return preparation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: Hiep Nguyen, Jennifer L. Reeves, David N. Sterling, Sara D. Mattice, Laurie A. Irish-Duncan, Albert S. Baines, William W. Huckabee, Pamela R. Welch
  • Patent number: 7962845
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for populating a form with data is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a form is displayed to the user via the target application. Each form has one or more data receptacles. The data receptacles of a form are filled with data when the user executes a data population command. The form completion program executes the data population command when a graphical representation of a particular data set is placed over the form. Each data set is stored in an encrypted manner and is accessible to users who enter the appropriate information into an authentication mechanism. To populate a form with data the form completion program obtains an image of the form and then searches for a template file that resembles the form image to within a certain threshold. The template files are typically stored on the computer hosting the target application in a template directory that is arranged according to a predefined structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: AOL Inc.
    Inventors: Duane Maxwell, William Von Reis, Geoffrey D. Scott
  • Patent number: 7958443
    Abstract: A system for creating a structured report using a template having at least one predetermined heading and formatting data associated with each heading. The steps include recording a voice file, creating a speech recognized text file corresponding to the voice file, identifying the location of each heading in the text file, and the text corresponding thereto, populating the template with the identified text corresponding to each heading, and formatting the populated template to create the structured report.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Dictaphone Corporation
    Inventors: Lee Rosen, Ed Roe, Wade Poust
  • Publication number: 20110131480
    Abstract: A method and system to process an electronic form is provided. The system may include a communications module to receive a request to digitally sign an electronic form, the electronic form being direct rendered, a suspend module to respond to the request by suspending direct rendering, and a signed content generator to generate a signed version of the electronic form. The signed version of the electronic form is to reflect a state of the electronic form at the time of the request digitally sign the electronic form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Anatole A. Matveief, Darrell Dykstra, William Ie
  • Patent number: 7949940
    Abstract: A data entry restriction program capable of rejecting invalid structured documents out of structured documents of a general-purpose format with great flexibility. When a structured document is entered, a data entry restriction apparatus compares the structure of the structured document with flexibility requirements (step S1). When the structured document does not meet the flexibility requirements, the data entry restriction apparatus records error information in association with the sending client of the document (step S2). After the error information associated with the client exceeds prescribed limits, the data entry restriction apparatus rejects structured documents from the client (step S3). Structured documents which meet the flexibility requirements and the data entry restriction apparatus has accepted are entered into a data processing apparatus and analyzed (step S4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Masaru Uchida
  • Publication number: 20110106779
    Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing operations, administration, maintenance and provisioning (OAM&P) tasks includes a user interface for receiving a natural language request from an administrator of the system. The natural language request is then parsed into one or more tasks available on the system. A series of system commands are then generated to implement the one or more tasks. Required information may be obtained from the administrator or from other system resources. Once the commands, including required variables, are completed, the commands can be executed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Richard John GEORGE, Mukhtiar Singh MANN, Brian Alexander OLIVER
  • Publication number: 20110099466
    Abstract: The invention features a method, system, and computer program product. User input defining a form that has one or more fields is received. User input defining a set of entries associated with the form is also received, the set of entries identifying available connections to data repositories and fields of the form that are associated with the connections. Each data repository is connected with the fields associated with the data repository using one or more declarative statements that enable one-to-many mappings from fields in the form to data repositories as defined by the set of entries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: ADOBE SYSTEMS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Anatole Matveief, Jean Young, Chris Solc
  • Patent number: 7934157
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus for generating, on the basis of specific data containing a plurality of record data, print data to be processed by a printing apparatus, includes a tree view display unit adapted to display, when record data in a specific field contained in the specific data changes, a tree view that contains the record data before change and the record data after change as nodes of the same layer, and an acquisition unit adapted to acquire data corresponding to a node selected from the tree view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuo Kimura
  • Patent number: 7933914
    Abstract: A task system and method are provided. The system provides an automated approach for task creation, maintenance and/or execution. The system includes a browser that receives search results and at least one task associated with a query from a search engine. The system further includes a browser helper object that binds to the browser at runtime. The browser helper object provides information associated with a user's action with respect to the search results and/or at least one task. The information can be employed as feedback to update model(s) (e.g., query classification model(s) and/or slot-filling model(s)) of a semantic reasoning component that retrieves task based, at least in part, upon user query(ies).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Ramsey, Qi Steven Yao, Sanjeev Katariya, Zhanliang Chen
  • Publication number: 20110082780
    Abstract: A system and method for issuing and monitoring controlled forms, and in particular, insurance policies and bonds. The system generally comprises a server computer and a client computer coupled by a communication link, such as the Internet. A controlled form may be created by a user stationed at the client computer, and subsequently reported to a controlled form issuer at the server computer. The method begins with a user selecting a controlled form issuer and a form. The user enters information into fields of one or more data entry screens corresponding to the selected form, and then transmits the entered information to the server computer. Subsequently, the agent receives a completed controlled form from the server computer corresponding to the selected form that may be printed at the client computer and provided to a form applicant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: Western Surety Company
    Inventors: Amar R. Nagaram, Trevor M. Jurgensen
  • Patent number: 7917761
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products digitally sign an electronic entity, such as an electronic document, with a user-entered signature image. The method involves rendering the document and rendering a sign dialog. Rendering the sign dialog includes prompting the signer to write a signature to sign the document. The method also involves receiving and inking the signature from the signer, creating a digital representation incorporating an image of the signature; creating a unique value of the image of the signature and of the document, and saving the unique value in association with the document thereby digitally signing the document. The unique value saved in association with the document is verifiable for authenticity by users of the document. Additionally, the method may also involve automatically selecting a signing certificate appropriate for the signer based on selection criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jason Cahill, John Fan, Jeffrey Johnson, Lauren Antonoff
  • Patent number: 7917530
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to managing and sharing data between web accessed calculators. The systems include a data store to persist calculator inputs and outputs and share them with other calculators and with customer service representatives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Mason Eubank, Nikolay Eshkenazi, Neff Karl Hudson, Michael Wayne Lester
  • Patent number: 7917842
    Abstract: In an environment in which some forms are received in paper form and some in electronic form or an environment in which in which workers prefer using paper forms, the invention provides a method of producing a template for the purpose of producing paper forms from electronic forms, the paper forms produced from the electronic forms being similar in appearance to forms that were completed in hard copy. Variable information is extracted from one or more electronic forms that are to be mapped to the paper form. A template is created by placing the variables from the electronic form onto an image of the paper form. The template may include position coordinate information, variable name information, text, and logic. After the template is completed, the system uses the template to print paper forms from instances of electronic forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: CollegeNet, Inc.
    Inventor: Jonathan Garrison
  • Patent number: 7911631
    Abstract: A communication system includes a printing unit, an image scanning unit, an accessing system connectable to a web page. The printing unit prints out the web page on a first recording medium. When the web page includes an input field and the data input in the input field is to be transmitted to a predetermined destination, the printing unit prints out an image having a fill-in area to be filled in by the user, and a destination area indicating the destination, on a second recording medium. The communication system includes a scan controller that controls the scanning unit to scan the second recording medium to capture an image thereof, a recognition system that recognizes contents written in the fill-in area and the destination area based on the scanned image, and a data transmitting system that transmits contents extracted from the fill-in area to the destination extracted from the destination area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuma Aoki, Yuji Sato, Masatoshi Kokubo
  • Patent number: 7913159
    Abstract: A system and method validating entry of data into a structured data file in real-time is described. The system and method also described a real-time validation tool that enables a developer to create custom validation rules. These custom validation rules can include preset validation rules, which the real-time validation tool enables a developer to create in an easy-to-use way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Marie H. Larcheveque, Arungundram Narendran, Prakash Sikchi, Alexei Levenkov, Adriana Ardeleanu, Andrey Shur, Alessandro Catorcini, Nora S. Selim, Kamaljit S. Bath
  • Patent number: 7913184
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for selectively auto-tabbing between input fields of an interface based on received input. More specifically, the intelligent auto-tabbing systems and methods accommodate different user preferences related to providing input by selectively auto-tabbing between fields based on user preferences. One example of a method according to one embodiment involves receiving an input character and entering the input character into a first field. The entry of that input character into the first field causes a number of characters in the first field to reach a predetermined threshold. A subsequent input character is received subsequent to that input character being entered into the first field. An input focus is positioned in a second field based on the subsequent input character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Xi Zhang, Robert E. Opaluch, Joel S. Angiolillo, Elizabeth L. Fuller
  • Patent number: 7908564
    Abstract: A context menu including a group copy function is displayed and, when the function is selected, all parent nodes of a node corresponding to the input field the pointing device is positioned over are displayed as alternatives to be copied. In response to selection of a parent node for copying by the pointing device, data in all nodes lower than the parent node are copied into a memory. In response to clicking by the pointing device in the input field selected as a pasting destination, a data type of the input field selected as the copying destination and the data type of the data copied into the memory are compared, and if the same, all of the data copied into the memory are pasted in the fields lower than the input field previously selected as the pasting destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Hara, Motoharu Inoue, Koichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7908549
    Abstract: A workflow includes an activity that takes advantage of spreadsheet calculations. For a spreadsheet activity, calculation and extraction of values from a spreadsheet is performed. Thus, spreadsheet calculations are integrated into workflows without user intervention. Values from previous activities in the workflow may be obtained and provided to the spreadsheet (e.g., cell values are set, modified, or adjusted). The spreadsheet may then be recalculated using these obtained values. Moreover, values from the spreadsheet may be used in subsequent parts of the workflow. Also, any number of spreadsheet activities may be incorporated into a workflow, and one spreadsheet activity may provide values to a second spreadsheet activity in the workflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Y. Khen, Dan Battagin, Eran Megiddo, Liviu Asnash, Scott Walter Bishel
  • Publication number: 20110055047
    Abstract: A system and method providing a collection of associated servers in a data center connected to the Internet. The servers, each being related to a service, deliver a client to a user, encapsulating the related services to common standard Internet browser software. The system and method provide a window to the Internet. The associated servers perform browsing for a user, stripping out viruses and malware and delivering safe content. The content enables a user to view and interact with the content on its computer, but not processing that content on the user's computer; the content is not stored on any local storage at the user's computer. The system and method for the delivery of services is tightly integrated into the Internet browsing experience and provides the end-user with anonymity, privacy, fraud protection, and multiple-client sharing of meta-information pertaining to the browsing experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Brian J. Fox
  • Patent number: 7900132
    Abstract: A method and system to process an electronic form is provided. The system may include a communications module to receive a request to digitally sign an electronic form, the electronic form being direct rendered, a suspend module to respond to the request by suspending direct rendering, and a signed content generator to generate a signed version of the electronic form. The signed version of the electronic form is to reflect a state of the electronic form at the time of the request digitally sign the electronic form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Anatole A. Matveief, Darrell Dykstra, William Ie
  • Publication number: 20110040578
    Abstract: A method, system and device for storing and displaying medical records with a particular user. Once the medical records are inputted into a database, that information would be transferred to a portable device carried by or provided in close proximity with the user. Removable insulating strips are provided to complete an electrical circuit between one or more batteries and a circuit board. Once a circuit is created, contact will also be maintained between the one or more batteries and the circuit board. However, a timer is employed to power down the circuit, if an input button has not been engaged for a predetermined period of time. A second embodiment would allow a user in contact with a particular organization to include the user's identification number in a first relational database and the medical data in a second relational database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventor: James T. Ramsey
  • Patent number: 7890851
    Abstract: A computer program and a computer for drafting a patent application including a template memory for storing and duplicating standard headings and paragraphs of a patent and which interacts with other memories and processors to provide a structure and process to follow in preparing a patent application. An independent claim processor (12) duplicates an independent claim under the heading SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES and edits same into a grammatically correct sentence structure. A multiple claim processor (14) duplicates all of the claims under the heading DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT and edits same into grammatically correct sentence structure. A reference number processor (20) is responsive to a Figure number memory (18) for searching and adding reference numerals to the element names in the order of occurrence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Inventor: Harold W. Milton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7880921
    Abstract: A method enables users to make corrections to printed forms using a computer arrangement. The printed form is scanned and displayed to the user on a display of the computer arrangement. The user selects one or more regions of the printed form to be corrected. The selected regions are digitally whited out to create a corrected image that can be output to a printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Dattilo, Juan Carlos Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 7877729
    Abstract: A receiving unit receives a device icon of an input/output device and device layout data including positional information of the device icon from a device-layout managing apparatus. A viewing unit displays a device layout diagram including a device list area and a map area, based on the received device icon and device layout data. An editing unit edits the device layout diagram based on a shift operation received by an input unit from a use, and generates the device layout data including the positional information of the device icon after a shift. A transmitting unit transmits the generated device layout data to the device-layout managing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kanae Amemiya, Shuuichi Takeda
  • Patent number: 7877679
    Abstract: A method for optimizing forms includes generating a profile of a user of a web browser on a client computer and loading into the web browser a vendor form including a field to be filled in with information provided by the user. The form also includes a tag invoking a script-based engine. Software code is stored corresponding to a plurality of layers containing interactive instructions for assisting the user in filling in the field. Responsively to the tag, the script-based engine is loaded into the web browser. Responsively to at least one profile parameter of the user, a portion of the software code is selected and downloaded to the web browser, so that a layer from among the plurality of layers is displayed by the web browser. Via the displayed layer, input is received from the user for filling in the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Amadesa Ltd.
    Inventor: Avihai Ozana
  • Publication number: 20110016298
    Abstract: A method for configuring a machine including launching an administrative safe mode on the machine when a secured configuration file is detected on a removable storage medium and extracting metadata from the secured configuration file to populate one or more settings fields on the machine that the secured configuration file identifies to configure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: William G. McCollom
  • Patent number: 7870221
    Abstract: The invention features a method, system, and computer program product. User input defining a form that has one or more fields is received. User input defining a set of entries associated with the form is also received, the set of entries identifying available connections to data repositories and fields of the form that are associated with the connections. Each data repository is connected with the fields associated with the data repository using one or more declarative statements that enable one-to-many mappings from fields in the form to data repositories as defined by the set of entries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Anatole Matveief, Jean Young, Chris Solc
  • Patent number: 7870477
    Abstract: A system for portable data aggregation may include a communications module to receive an electronic form, an extractor to extract field data from the electronic form, an aggregator to associate the field data with an aggregate package. The system may further include a characterization module. The characterization module may be configured to preserve visual presentation of the electronic form. The field data may be presented in the aggregate package in an aggregated format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Roberto Perelman, Yuan Sheng Fu, Robert K. McAfee, Heather Winkle
  • Patent number: 7870479
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus are disclosed for generating a composite message representative of an application experience to be sent to a remote recipient by receiving a user input selecting multimedia information provided by an application, generating a message form from within the application to receive message information, combining the selected multimedia information and the message information into a composite message, and sending the composite message to the intended recipient. A composite message is created by any or all of the following: capturing a current image, linking an associated audio file to the message, removing extraneous user interfaces from the image, scaling the image to a more appropriate display size, adding corporate logo or other identifying information to the message, and receiving text to be transmitted to the remote recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Leinfellner, Karl Fitzhugh, Jeffrey Gamon
  • Patent number: 7865818
    Abstract: An apparatus places contents data of plural records of a database, in a template, which is represented by template data, and outputs the template data in which the contents data are inserted. The apparatus stores the template data defining a field area in which the contents data are placed, and sets replacement information for replacing annotation information to be placed in the template. When the contents represented by the contents data of the plural records are placed in the field area defined by the template data, the annotation information of each record is replaced with the replacement information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunari Yamanakajima
  • Patent number: 7853885
    Abstract: A system and method for automated processing requests for reviewing and approving business development materials, such as marketing flipbooks and request for proposals, etc., for compliance and performance approval employs an application server that presents a web-based request form. A requestor uses the request form to enter information regarding the approval request and to select reviewer. The application server then generates a request document and sends it with the business development materials to the selected reviewer(s). The request form and marketing presentation materials are archived in a database to allow real-time monitoring and future auditing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: American International Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Leon Ramcharran, Richard Biegen, Erik Mogavero, Cheryll Moore, Steve Weinreb, Sal Nargi
  • Patent number: 7849397
    Abstract: A system and method for providing electronic data entry forms with trainable data field sequencing includes a computing system implemented process for providing electronic data entry forms with trainable data field sequencing whereby as data fields are accessed in a specific sequence by a user to enter data associated with a first item, the specific sequence in which the data entry fields are accessed is learned/stored. Then the data fields are accessed in the same specific sequence for data entry associated with all subsequent items until the trainable data field sequencing feature is deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventor: Shahid Ahmed
  • Patent number: 7849398
    Abstract: A method is provided for selecting fields of an electronic form for automatic population with candidate text segments. The candidate text segments can be obtained by capturing an image of a document, applying optical character recognition to the captured image to identify textual content, and tagging candidate text segments in the textual content for fields of the form. The method includes, for each of a plurality of fields of the form, computing a field exclusion function based on at least one parameter selected from a text length parameter, an optical character recognition error rate, a tagging error rate, and a field relevance parameter; and determining whether to select the field for automatic population based on the computed field exclusion function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastien Dabet, Marco Bressan, Hervé Poirier
  • Patent number: 7844994
    Abstract: For interactive television subscribers, a system (10) and method for persistent storage of common information relating to a user (25) required by multiple disparate iTV applications to be shared among said applications to ease the burden of data entry off the user. Subscribers do not have to repeatedly enter the same common user information required by multiple applications. The registration information inputted by a user (25) is logged, temporarily stored in the STB (35), and its contents transmitted to a remote central repository (100) at predetermined intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Soloff, Carlos Gonzalez, Edward P. Jurado
  • Publication number: 20100293506
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of an interface structure and a method for automated data mining of a legacy system. A GUI is employed to navigate through the legacy system interface application and access a data field. Once the data field is displayed, the GUI can receive a tag from the user labeling the data field. Additionally, a screen tracing device can trace the sequence of events that ultimately results in the data field being displayed. The traced sequence and its corresponding tag are then stored in a data storage device. These processes can be repeated for multiple different data fields. Subsequently, a sequence applying device can retrieve one or more previously stored sequences in response to a request referencing the corresponding tag(s) and can apply the sequence(s) in order to access, for processing, data from the corresponding data field(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: David P. Rich
  • Patent number: 7836407
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for smart interfaces that shift the burden of cognition from a user or data input source to the computer system controlling the software or user interfaces requiring data input. More particularly, according to embodiments of present invention, by using information known about a user or the user's preferences, a user's geographic location, and/or the geographic location of the site or product being used etc., rules about how to interpret data inputs can be applied to data entries so that the data entries are redisplayed or processed in a normalized format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventor: Lucas Visvikis Pettinati
  • Publication number: 20100281355
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments disclosed herein relate to online survey systems and/or methods. In certain example embodiments, the questions to be asked are substantially insulated from an application that asks the questions. This abstraction may be accomplished in certain example embodiments by dynamically generating a computer-accessible (e.g., web-based) survey from one or more definition files. For example, a survey may be defined via a response definition file and a user interface definition file, thereby enabling the definition files to be read and the survey to be presented with the appropriate questions, validations, and transformations being specified by the response definition life, and with the look and feel being specified by the user interface definition file. Answers to questions may be persisted for a respondent in a storage location remote from the respondent. Such online surveys systems and/or methods may be suitable for census-related activities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: John WHITE, Russell E. Chandler, Frederic Highland
  • Patent number: 7818662
    Abstract: Merging data from LOB applications into document templates within productivity applications without the need for custom programming is provided. A document template within a productivity application is provided, and an XML schema is attached to the document template. The XML schema allows the LOB application data to be modeled generically using a business object paradigm. Meta-data is accessed from the LOB application. Using the attached XML schema, a user may mark-up the document template with schema nodes corresponding to the meta-data from the LOB application. Data from the LOB application may then be accessed and merged into the schema nodes, creating a data-merged document. Data may be further interactively merged from the LOB application into the data-merged document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Bhushan Sharad Nene, Chris Alan Keyser
  • Publication number: 20100261458
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for monitoring the filling of remote forms (10) with at least one electronic writing means (11), with at least one mobile station (12) and with a monitoring station (13). The electronic writing means (11) is equipped to read information written by said writing means (11) on a surface of a form (10), wherein the surface preferably is structured to comprise at least one predefined area (14), (15), (16) covered with a positioning coding pattern. The writing means (11) particularly is further equipped to convert the read information into digital data and to send said digital data to the mobile station (12) with a first transceiver (20). The mobile station (12) includes output means (21) for generating an output, a second transceiver (22) for receiving data and for sending the digital data received to the monitoring station (13) preferably substantially immediately after their receipt or shortly after (such as within few seconds to few minutes).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Ulisse Del Gallo, Carlo Ortensi, Francesco Zampini
  • Patent number: 7810030
    Abstract: Fault-tolerant systems and methods to process and correct input errors are disclosed. Original inputs can be received, each original input being defined as mapping to multiple characters in a language, each original input having one or more associated proximity measurements. Original inputs that have proximity measurements with one or more non-zero probabilities for respective intended inputs are identified as potentially incorrect original inputs. Each of the potentially incorrect original inputs is expanded to the respective intended inputs, and each of the original inputs and each of the respective intended inputs are converted to characters in the language, each of the conversions being a combination of the converted original inputs and/or the respective intended inputs. Likelihoods of conversions of the original inputs and the respective intended inputs to the characters based in part on the proximity measurements are determined, and most likely conversions are identified for presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Wu, Liren Chen
  • Publication number: 20100241642
    Abstract: A method for populating a form includes storing differing forms in a database, each form having at least one information location for entering an item of user information, selecting a first form to provide a first selected form, and entering an item of user information into the information location to provide an entered item of information. Storing the entered item of information in the database to provide a stored item of information, selecting a second form, determining whether the information location of the second selected form corresponds to the information location of first selected form and retrieving the stored item of information to provide a retrieved item of information in accordance with the determining are also included. The retrieved item of information is entered into the information location of the second form to provide a populated form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventor: Joseph R. Tordella
  • Publication number: 20100241518
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that allows a computer system to automatically navigate through a plurality of webpages is provided. A plurality of webpage objects are provided with each webpage object corresponding to a webpage having at least one input. Each webpage object has form completion data providing instructions how to successfully provide the inputs requested by the corresponding webpage and navigation action data indicating an action to be taken to navigate to a next webpage in the transaction series. In operation, a webpage is checked against the plurality of webpage objects and if the webpage corresponds to one of the webpage objects, the form completion data contained in the webpage object is used to properly provide the requested inputs on the webpage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventor: Daniel McCann
  • Publication number: 20100223543
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of obtaining form data can include selecting a control from within an electronic form, determining a textual representation of the control, and sending the textual representation of the control as part of a message to a client messaging system through a real-time communication system. A response message from the client messaging system can be received through the real-time communication system. Form data specified by the response message can be stored within memory when the form data is valid, as specified according to the electronic form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Cayce B. Marston
  • Publication number: 20100211863
    Abstract: Usage data representing users' actions with applications, client devices such as PCs, and peripheral devices like personal media players is collected from a variety of sources and utilized by an automated user profile population service to pre-populate user profile forms with suggestions for entries that can be presented to an application user when initially registering with the application or when a user profile gets updated. The user can review the suggested pre-populated entries in the user profile form and accept those that are appropriate and desired and reject those that are not.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katherine Jones, Christopher Parker
  • Patent number: 7779345
    Abstract: In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, every time a user submits a form the client software tries to match the submitted information with the stored profile of that user. If a match is discovered, the program tags the field of the recognized data with a corresponding type. The resulting profile can be used after that to help all subsequent users to fill the same form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: AOL Inc.
    Inventors: Ognian Z. Topalov, Eric Hohenstein
  • Patent number: 7778816
    Abstract: A method and system for applying input mode bias is disclosed. A schema is applied to an input field of an electronic document. The schema is associated with a grammar that defines the set of acceptable strings that may be input into the input field. When text is input into the input field, the schema is determined and the associated grammar is determined. The grammar is then sent to the input method. Based on the grammar, the input method may determine what text the user is trying to enter. The grammar may also be used to apply semantic categories to text input into a document. After the text is entered it is compared to a grammar. If the entered text matches the form of the grammar, then the schema is applied to the text as a semantic category.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Jeff Reynar
  • Patent number: 7774694
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for sequential insertion processing of speech recognition results and, more particularly, server-based automated processing of speech recognition results. In addition, the use of formed document templates to facilitate the server-based automated sequential insertion of speech recognition results is disclosed. The formed document templates can include embedded dictionaries with related processing rules, including processing rules including positioning information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovation Properties Company
    Inventors: Kirk L. Watson, Carol E. Kutryb, Joseph S. Forbes