Cross-Device Form Completion via Selective Data Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing browser-based automatic form completion is limited by device-specificity, security concerns, and inefficiency in providing relevant completions, as it typically loses functionality across different computers and may expose sensitive user information.
Innovation Solution
A system that captures and stores user entries as completions, selectively transmits relevant completions to a client based on user patterns, device capability, and available bandwidth, allowing seamless form completion across multiple devices while maintaining user privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If browser-based automatic completion is used to capture user information, then form completion efficiency is improved, but security and privacy are compromised due to exposure of confidential information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary completion suggestions from captured user information and transmits selectively to specific devices, rather than storing or exposing all captured information. This resolves the contradiction by obtaining completion functionality while minimizing security risks through selective extraction and transmission of only what is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the user's capturing device and other devices. The server acts as a secure mediator that receives captured information, processes it to generate completion suggestions, and transmits only relevant completions to authorized devices. This intermediary architecture protects user privacy by preventing direct exposure of confidential information while still enabling automatic completion functionality.
2Extent of automation
If browser-based automatic completion is used, then form completion is automated on a specific device, but the function is lost when using different computers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the automatic completion function to work across multiple devices by capturing information on one device and making it available on other devices through the server. The system is designed to be device-agnostic, allowing users to access their completion suggestions on any device that connects to the server, thus achieving universal functionality across different computing platforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the completion data from being confined to a single device (one-dimensional) to being accessible across multiple devices through network transmission (adding the network dimension). By storing captured information and completion suggestions on a server accessible via the network, the system enables cross-device functionality without being limited to the original capturing device.
3Measurement precision
If all user information is captured for completion, then completion accuracy is improved, but the amount of transmitted data and potential security exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential completion suggestions from the captured user information and transmits selectively to specific devices based on user patterns and device capabilities. Rather than transmitting all captured data, the system identifies and transmits only the relevant completion information needed, thereby maintaining completion accuracy while minimizing data transmission volume and security exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by transmitting only a subset of captured information that is most relevant for completion, rather than transmitting all captured data. The system determines which completions are most useful based on user patterns and device capabilities, sending only those partial results that provide the greatest benefit while reducing overall data transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus are described for sending completions to a client for aiding a user in completing electronic forms. The invention may identify a plurality of completions corresponding to a user; form a plurality of selected completions from the plurality of completions based, at least in part, on a use pattern of the user; and transmit the plurality of selected completions to a client associated with the user.