Automated Tax Data Acquisition via Machine Learning Browser Rendering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electronic tax return preparation systems face disruptions and errors due to manual data entry requirements from third-party websites, which can be inefficient and prone to user errors, especially when acquiring tax data from unknown websites without prior layout information.

Innovation Solution

A tax data acquisition system utilizing a client computer, a browser rendering computer, and a machine learning system that derives navigation information from user interactions with third-party websites, allowing for automatic or semi-automatic data acquisition by emulating a secondary webpage within the tax preparation process, thereby reducing manual intervention and enhancing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual data entry is used to acquire tax data from third-party websites, then users can access and verify data from unknown websites, but the process becomes inefficient and prone to user errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetax data acquisition efficiencyVSAvoiddata entry accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically navigating to third-party websites, extracting tax data, and populating forms without requiring manual user intervention. The automated browser executes pre-configured navigation sequences to acquire data independently, eliminating the need for users to manually copy and paste information between websites.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual data entry process with an automated computer-controlled system. The automated browser substitutes human hands and eyes by programmatically navigating websites, identifying data fields, extracting information, and transferring it to tax forms, thereby eliminating manual labor and associated errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If automated data acquisition is implemented without prior layout information from unknown websites, then efficiency improves, but the system cannot navigate websites without pre-configured navigation sequences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation levelVSAvoidcompatibility with unknown websites

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring navigation sequences for known third-party websites before tax season begins. These pre-configured sequences include pre-defined navigation paths, data extraction rules, and form mapping configurations that are prepared in advance and stored for rapid deployment when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts to different website structures by configuring navigation sequences based on the specific layout and organization of each third-party website. The automated browser can adjust its navigation path, data extraction points, and form population sequences to match the dynamic structure of various websites, enabling versatility across different platforms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a single browser is used for tax preparation, then the interface is simple, but the user must switch between multiple webpages manually causing disruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface simplicityVSAvoidtime spent switching between webpages

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the browser into multiple automated browser instances or tabs, each dedicated to a specific third-party website. This segmentation allows simultaneous access to multiple data sources without requiring manual switching, as each website operates in its own isolated browser context while the system coordinates data collection across all segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges multiple third-party website interfaces and the tax preparation form into a unified automated workflow within a single browser environment. By coordinating multiple browser tabs or instances under centralized control, the system combines the functionality of accessing external data sources with the tax preparation interface, eliminating the need for manual context switching while maintaining interface simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10740854B1Web browsing and machine learning systems for acquiring tax data during electronic tax return preparation

Publication Date: 2020.08.11 INTUIT INC

AI summary

A system for acquiring tax data during preparation of an electronic tax return includes a client computer executing a browser, a browser rendering computer in communication with the client computer, and a machine learning system utilized by the browser rendering computer. The client computer is configured to present a tax preparation webpage, and receive interface data representing s first user's interactions with a first tax data source website. The browser rendering computer is configured to execute the machine learning system, derive navigation information for the first tax data source website, generate rendering instructions for the first tax data source website, and transmit the rendering instructions to the client computer. The client computer is also configured to execute the rendering instructions to implement a second browser that presents a tax data source webpage that is controllable by a user independently of the tax preparation webpage.