METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPLETION OF FIELDS ON INTERNET WEBPAGE FORMS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is related to Application No. 09/231 ,644 filed
January 15, 1999, entitled SERVER FOR ENABLING THE AUTOMATIC INSERTION OF DATA INTO ELECTRONIC FORMS ON A USER COMPUTER, and to Application No. 09/231,254, filed January 15, 1999, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLIENT SIDE AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC FORM COMPLEΗON, disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for providing automatic form filling for an aggregate of websites for Internet related orders, with the consumer data maintained in a centralized database according to user privacy preferences. 2. DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART Internet and electronic commerce (or e-commerce) continues to grow at a substantial rate. However, certain obstacles exist towards encouraging further users to shop and purchase goods online. In particular, the user must typically fill out a form when an item is purchased, wherein the information in the form is used by the merchant selling the good to complete the order, and to complete payment. An online form generally requires such information as name, address, and the like. The form additionally requires a method of
payment such as a credit card number or other form of payment. Depending upon the complexity of the form, it may take a user several minutes to fill in the information. If the form becomes too complex, a user will often abandon the effort, and a potential sale will then have been lost by the merchant. The tedium and frustration on the part of the user is further compounded by the need for the same information to be entered repeatedly for any new purchase being placed by the user.
Still other concerns exist over privacy. Consumers are unsure about how their personal information is being used. Consumers generally fear that the information they are providing — including for instance credit card information, personal contact information, and/or demographical information - - will be used in ways that are offensive or invasive to their privacy. In the past, certain websites have manifested these fears by selling user information to third parties. Moreover, the explosive growth of unsolicited email (e.g. "spam") has further perpetuated feelings among consumers that websites might be distributing their information to third parties, which in turn send the consumer unsolicited emails based upon such personal information. Since consumers find it both tedious and risky to provide their personal information to a website, many of them are altogether reluctant to register with sites, or to shop online.
As a result, a variety of efforts have been made to streamline and safeguard the process of ordering a product online. Such efforts include server side wallets, universal consumer infomediaries, single click buy services, client-side software tools, and registry services which help automate the process of filling in a form. Each such system, however, has certain drawbacks, which are topically discussed below.
Side wallets. Examples of server side wallets come from Transactor Networks, and CyberCash. Electronic wallets, sometimes called electronic purses, provide a method for customers to securely manage on-line identification and payment information such as: name, bill to address, ship to address, public digital certificates, private encryption keys, credit card numbers, debit card numbers, digital cash numbers, electronic check numbers, and merchant loyalty program numbers. Server side wallets involve the storage of this information on merchant or third party servers, while client side wallets involve the storage of this information on client machines. This payment related information should generally be encrypted when not in use; ordinarily the encryption process is unlocked with a fixed password provided by the customer.
Merchants face the drawback that the wallets must provide cross- browser support. For instance, the Transactor example requires a user to launch the Transactor application in a separate browser window. Referring to Figure 1 , a prior art example is shown with a customer 102 interacting with a merchant in a first browser window 104. A second browser window 106 is opened in order to facilitate the Transactor (or similar) application. The browser windows 104 and 106 interact via link 108 in order to facilitate providing the customer informauon to the merchant 104. This configuration is often confusing to the average user, who is generally accustomed to π ning only one browser window at a time.
Single-click buy services. Certain portals operators offer single-click buy service for repeat buyers. Such service is generally facilitated through the use of "cookies" to exchange user information. Cookies are a special type of text file placed on a customer's machine by a merchant's server. Beyond keeping track of items purchased (these systems are called "shopping carts"),
cookies can be used to identify specific customers. Cookies thus allow customers to be recognized when they make future connections with a merchant server, whether this connection is with a web or commerce system. This approach prevents customers from having to reenter their name, phone number, and other details because the cookie can user-transparently serve as a pointer to a record in a customer database or master file.
One immediate drawback is that cookies are specifically oriented to the particular server that created them. Also, while appropriate for low security systems, cookie-based customer identification requires that merchants should disclose the use of cookies to customers. If such disclosure does not occur, the result might include many calls directed to the merchant customer service line with potential customers inquiring as to why transactions cannot be properly completed (e.g. cookies may be disabled within a customer's browser). Merchants should also be aware that cookies left on a shared customer machine could allow unauthorized users to gain access to a merchant's commerce system. Likewise, merchants should know that it is easy for unauthorized people to steal a cookie from the machine of an authorized user.
Amazon.com offers a one-click service, but in their case it is based upon proprietary technology that only works for the Amazon site.
Additionally, single-click service is not available for first time buyers, who must go through the thne-corisuming registration process. If a user ventures to-or-from another portal, the single-click buying service is generally not available, and further registrations must be filled out. Universal consumer infomediaries. Such companies include Prϊvaseek and Lumeria. The technical implementation is based heavily upon client-side tools (see drawbacks below).
Client-side software tools. This form of implementation requires the user to download certain client-side software. The client-side software also requires compatible server-side support in order to perform its designated task. Referring now to figure 2, a prior art example is shown. A software source 202 is shown external to the customer 204. The customer must then download 206 the software application as a resident program on the customer's computer. This can take up valuable diskspace and processing resources. A merchant (or a portal leading to merchants) 208 then interacts via 210 with the customer 204 which now has the client-side software application downloaded. The customer information is transported via 210 through the server-side application.
Registry services. Registry services are generally used to provide a gift-buying customer with information about the gift-recipient. As such, the gift-recipient must complete the time consuming task of registering with each registry service. The gift-buying customer then accesses this information in order to select an appropriate gift. Convenience and privacy concerns continue to prevail for the gift-recipient who must register.
Still other approaches are used to streamline the user's experience in shopping online, particularly in relation to the rniriimization of filling out forms for various merchants. Portals exist as centralized locations for an online shopping experience, with a variety of merchant sites being accessible through the portal. For example, a portal site such as Yahoo provides shopping access to further merchant sites which describe and sell items such as shoes, apparel, and sporting goods. Figure 3 shows a prior art representation of a customer 302 interacting with a similar portal site 304. The customer interacts with the portal site via link 306. When the customer wants to further interact with a merchant site 310, the customer is forwarded
onward via link 308. However, when the customer ultimately wishes to purchase a product, the customer is redirected back to the portal site via link 312 and the ordering information is secured at the portal. Such information is either entered into forms by a first time user, or the information is pulled from a previous profile entered by the user and stored by the system. Thereafter, the resulting completed order form must be sent (via a link 314 involving fax, email, or the like) back to the merchant to complete the transaction. In the end, this can prove to be cumbersome given the need to re-route the customer and ordering information. Also, this customer would face the same tedious registration process all over again when visiting a new portal for further shopping with different merchants.
Accordingly, what is needed in the field is a method that provides for automation of filling out forms associated with various merchants, but which uses centralized data arranged according to user privacy preferences. The method should be applicable across many different portals via a link to a form-filling feature. Also the method should provide for automated filling out of a merchant's form via a selectable link from that merchant's site. In other words, the customer should not necessarily be re-directed back to the portal site in order to complete a particular merchant's order form. Instead, the information should be accessible for import from the centralized database.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing automated completion, or the importation of data, into forms which are generally used for a transaction on the Internet. In one embodiment, a centralized server (or service) — referred to also by the trademark and trade name PrivacyBank.com server (service) — is provided which stores, in an associated data store, various customer information. The customer information is entered once by first time by a user to any portal or merchant site which incorporates a link to the centralized form-filling service. Thereafter the information which is stored in the database can be applied to any other form which has been registered with the centralized server. This eliminates the need for re-direction of the customer from a merchant site back to an originating portal site for completion of a form. The merchant is also given direct access to the completed form information without further need to re-direct the completed form back to the merchant. The customer can ultimately control the privacy preferences associated with the entered data via contacting the centralized server site. Hence, the customer data exists in a centralized database, and the user has direct control over usage and dispersement of the information. This eliminates many of the fears associated by a user with privacy, and encourages users to register with the centralized server.
The apparatus and method arranges the centralized server, or hub, in terms of clusters merchants and customer nodes around a Privacy Bank (PB) host. Each host, which is typically represented as a portal provider, will have a separate store of data pertinent to the host cluster. As more merchants and customers are added, the host cluster grows. Further host clusters are also
provided as each new PB host registers with the centralized system. Generally, each PB host set of data is maintained separate from the next PB host set of data in order to protect the value gleaned from usage patterns witiiin the PB host cluster. PB hosts might, however, share information between clusters, and thereby provide a user with the ability to visit different host clusters without having to re-register (or cross-register) with each new PB host the joins the system. Regardless, the cross-registration procedure could be configured to be an easier task to complete than the full task of registering as a new user. In yet another embodiment, the present method also allows for the continual updating and aggregation of information relating to a particular user, as the user visits different websites. Since the user data is centrally stored, any link by a portal or merchant to the centralized server could serve to further compile any new information as it is entered. In still another embodiment, the centralized server also facilitates gift shopping by one registered user for another. If particular information has been flagged by a user as non-private (e.g. hat size), then the gift buyer can complete the shopping experience without finding out such necessary information beforehand from the gift recipient. Relatedly, the centralized storage and access of gift registry information would further ease the task of the gift buyer.
In still another embodiment, the centralized data will be accessible by the portal (PB host) in order to compile reports on consumer behavior and the like. Moreover, the data would be available for sale to third parties (e.g. marketing companies) provided that the registered customer has indicated permission to be targeted for relevant marketing promotions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of a prior art system that utilizes multiple browser windows.
Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of a prior art system that uses client-side downloaded software which further interacts with associated server-side software.
Figure 3 shows a block diagram of a prior art system that directs a customer back from a merchant to a portal when an order is placed.
Figure 4 illustrates, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a representative block diagram of the centralized form-filling server applied to a portal, merchant, and customers.
Figure 5 illustrates, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, representative clusters which comprise aggregates of merchants and customers using the centralized server via a host registered with the centralized system.
Figure 6 shows, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a flowchart of representative steps which comprise the formation of host clusters.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
An invention is described herein which relates to an apparatus and method for providing automatic form filling for Internet orders, with the consumer data maintained in a centralized data store (or database) according to user privacy preferences. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invenuon may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known structures and/or process steps have not been described in detail so that the present invention is not unnecessarily obscured.
For ease of discussion, the following detailed descπption is made with reference to a portal and associated merchants being linked via a centralized server, referred to as "Privacy Bank." The Pπvacy Bank server (or related device) is used to access data which might be stored in a database or otherwise. The portal or hub is also interchangeably referred to as a Privacy Bank (PB) host. While portals, merchants, and customers are referred to as interacting via links or connections using a communicaUon medium such as the Internet, the principles of the present invention are readily applicable to other device mteracuons across other types of commumcation media. The invention provides, regardless of the devices or media used, a centralized hub or server which is an aggregauon of informauon sites (i.e. websites or the like), wherein associated merchant forms can be automatically filled out for registered merchant/members via interaction with the centralized hub or server (the PπvacyBank server)
The incorporated references entitled "Server for Enabling the Automatic Insertion of Data Into Electronic Forms on a User Computer" and " Method and Apparatus for Client side Automatic Electronic Form Completion" relate generally to computer software for filling out form documents over a computer network. More particularly, the references provide a method and system for automatically filling out fields in an electronic form document on a browser program using a remote server. Apparatus, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for constructing and fransmitting an executable software module on a personal information server to a remote computer. The software module is constructed such that once it is received by a browser displaying a form, it is executed, and user data is automatically inserted into an electronic form. When references are made in relation to automatically filling out a form or enabling a site for automatic form filling, the principles described in these references are meant to provide any enabling reference material, where needed. Otherwise, the general principles described in the present application are not meant to be limited by the techniques and/or methods described in the incorporated references.
For example, in the figures below, the "portal" or hub might equivalentiy be a hardware supplier such as Cisco. The "merchant" might equivalentiy be a value added reseller (VAR). The "customer" would then be a user who buys networking equipment. An ever increasing network interlinked parties could similarly be created via the registration system described below. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a centralized server is provided which stores, in an associated data store, various customer information. The customer information is entered once by a user to a
merchant site on a server which incorporates a link to the centralized form- filling ability. The customer information can also be entered at a site on the centralized server. Thereafter the information which is stored in the data store can be applied to any other form which has been registered with the centralized server. This eliminates the need for re-direction of the customer from a merchant site back to an originating portal site for completion of a form. The merchant is also given direct access to the completed form information without further need to re-direct the completed form back to the merchant from the portal. The customer can ultimately control the pπvacy preferences associated with the entered data via contacting the centralized server or site. Hence, the customer data exists in a centralized data store, and the user has direct control over usage and dispersement of the information.
Referring now to Figure 4, a block diagram 400 depicts representative elements of the present invention, which illustrate the interaction of the centralized hub or server with vaπous associated elements. A portal or hub server (or computer) 402 is shown which can represent a host for a plurality of merchant registrations. A merchant server (or computer) 404 is shown with multiple mteractions with and between the portal server 402. While only one example merchant server is shown, the mvention is mtended to include multiple merchant servers mteractmg with the portal server 402. The multiple mteractions 405 between merchant 404 and portal 402 might include, for instance, the registration process wherein a merchant server registers a form, through the portal or directly with the centralized server (or computer) 406 such as the PπvacyBank (PB) server The portal server 402, also registers and mteracts (as a hub or collection of users) with the PB server 406 via example connection 407. If a particular portal had, for instance, millions of currently registered users, then the registration of the portal with the PB server would
import these registered users into the registration hierarchy of the PB server system. In such a fashion, the PB server can quickly expand the base of registered users for automatic form filling operations.
A link area 408 is shown on the merchant side and represents a button or the like displayed on some portion of the merchant's online form. This link area might also be referred to as an autofill button. A user/visitor/customer of the merchant webpage form can click on this link area 408 and automatically fill out a form displayed on the merchant webpage. Two example customers 410 and 412 are shown interacting with the merchant website 404 via respective connections 411 and 413. While customers 410 and 412 are shown interacting directly with the customer, they might originally have contacted the portal 406 and have been re-directed via a URL to the merchant 404 (see dotted connection 409). Upon achieving connection with the merchant website, the customer can then peruse the associated webpages and select an item for purchase. If a purchase is desired, appropriate forms would be pulled up and the user would then click-through on the link 408. The link 408 would interact with the PB server 406 via example connection 409 and this operation would invoke filling out of the displayed forms. A customer might also interact directly with the portal website to similarly purchase items. A similar link 414 is provided on the portal side, and a user of the portal website can similarly click on area 414 to interact with the PB server via connection 415 and invoke automatic filling of forms which might be displayed on the portal side webpages. Partial filling of the fields offered on the form is also intended within the scope of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the link area 408 on the merchant side is used to indicate the hosting portal, e.g. "autofill hosted by [portal or hub name]." In such a fashion, co-branding can occur. If a merchant is registered
or associated with a second portal, then a second link can be provided which similarly indicates the association with the second portal, and so forth.
The PB server 406 is shown interacting with a data store 416 via connection 417. This data store might be comprised of any of a variety of database configurations and/or memory storage devices (e.g. hard disk, electronic memory, a storage array, or combinations thereof). This data ultimately belongs to the portal, and can be accessed by the portal through the PB server 406. Alternatively, a certain percentage of the portals using the PB server 406 might prefer to host the data on their own system. Accordingly, a second data store 418 is shown connected to the hosting portal 402 via connection 420. The PB server 406 would similarly need access to this data and connection 422 is shown linking data store 418 and PB server 406 (with elements 418, 420, and 422 shown in fathom).
Each example customer 410 and 412 is also provided access to the PB server 406 in order to set privacy preferences and the like. Respective connections 424 and 426 are shown between the customers 410, 412 and the PB server 406.
Referring now to Figure 5, a diagram 500 is shown of representative clusters which comprise aggregates of merchants and customers using the centralized server via a host registered with the centralized system or hub. Each PB host 502, 504, and 506 is treated as separate respective clusters numbered 1, 2, through n (and shown as elements 501, 503, and 505). Referring generally to cluster 1 (501), a series of five merchants (nodes labeled Ml through M5) are shown communicating with the PB host 502. A vast plurality of customers (nodes labeled "C") are shown interacting with the various merchants M1-M5. Certain example customers, for instance customer 510, are shown interacting with more than one merchant, in this case M 1 and
M2. Each cluster represents a different storage area for data, as most portals (or PB hosts) desire to keep their customer data proprietary. However, certain PB hosts might find it advantageous to share or trade customer data to facilitate automatic form filling across portal boundaries. Accordingly, arrows 512, 514, and 516 represent interactions which might occur between PB hosts 502, 504 and 506 respectively. If the portals or PB hosts eventually desire a universal sharing of customer data, the present system accommodates this, particularly in relation to automatic form filling operations.
Referring now to Figure 6, a flowchart 600 is shown of representative steps that comprise the formation of host clusters to thereby populate the overall system. In step 602, the PB host is shown establishing a relationship with the various merchants, and the merchants with the customers. This is essentially the day-by-day operation of currently existing portals, with registration information being collected for each new user who registers with that portal. In step 604, the Privacy Bank form filling technology is provided by the PB host machine. This is accomplished via the PB host (or portal) registering with the PB server. As described above in relation to Figure 4, the form fill links are thereafter provided by the portal site. Thereafter, step 606 shows the customers registering with Privacy Bank through the portal. A loop is created wherein more customers join the portal in step 608. The portal also increases the number of merchants associated with that portal's shopping sites as more merchants register with the portal in step 610. This loop can continue until capacity is reached in the system. Block 612 thereafter shows the subsequent step of customers cross-registering with other portals that are also Privacy Bank enabled. Thereafter, a new host registers with the Privacy Bank system in step 614 and the process repeats as the new host is populated and the host constituents are Privacy Bank enabled.
A variety of revenue generation schemes are facilitated by the present invention. In general, the preferred Privacy Bank model has a portal-focused approach to generate revenues. In providing an easier to use online shopping experience, the Privacy Bank technology will drive commerce on PB enabled sites as more merchants and consumers are attracted to the network. Privacy Bank will generate revenues from the relationship with portals and from premium services which might also be offered. Examples of portals or hubs include: traditional portals or entrances to the Web, shopping sites, affiliate networks, vertical networks (e.g., financial, jobs, college sites), and financial institutions (e.g., banks, brokerage firms).
In general, three example tiers are provided in the revenue model: 1 ) Setup fee. In this preferred embodiment the portal will be change a initiation fee for establishing registration with the Privacy Bank system; 2) Per merchant fee. Here, the merchant might be charged a flat fee per month for use of the service; 3) Transaction fee. In this instance, as transactions are fulfilled on the network from PB services, a charge is rendered for each transaction.
Additional "premium" services might also be offered which carry further charges, including, but not limited to: 1) Gift shopping. If a consumer needs to buy a gift for another party, certain information might be shared across the PB network in order to facilitate an accurate gift match (e.g. sizes, color preferences, etc.). 2) Registry Services. This service will allow consumers to add to their "wish list" and thereby encourage shopping within the network of merchants. 3) Detailed reports of aggregate consumer behavior. As more data is collected form registered users, aggregate patterns of behavior can be generated. Such data does not necessarily violate privacy concerns of an individual user. For instance, if a trend is noted wherein 25
year old males tend to visit rock-and-roll websites, this generalized information might be used by a marketing firm, yet an particular individuals habits would not be revealed. 4) Permission marketing. In contrast to the privacy concerns above, certain individuals might actually desire to be contacted regarding certain materials. Hence, the Privacy Bank system will enable consumers to express their interests in relevant promotions to allow merchants to appropriately target that consumer.
The present centralized database system also facilitates the continual generation and updating of aggregate profiles for a particular user. As a user progresses through various websites and indicates new and continued interests, the user's profile can be augmented on a dynamic basis without requiring the user to re-address updating their profile.
Yet another benefit of the present system, that exists over prior systems, is the fact that forms are continually updated on the system by individual merchants. Other systems (e.g. the Transactor system described above) requires a mapping of forms via a table on the Transactor website.
This proves to be a laborious effort to remap the forms as they might be changed or updated according the a particular merchant's needs.
While this invention has been described in terms of several embodiments, there are alterations, permutations, and equivalents which fall within the scope of this invention. It should be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the methods and system of the present invention. For example, the portal described above can be a home page for a company's Intranet and the automatic form filling can be used by employees of a single company. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims be interpreted as including all such alternations, permutations, and equivalents as they fall with the true spirit and scope of the present invention.