Unified Web Browsing System for Automated Tax Data Acquisition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic tax return preparation systems face disruptions and user errors due to manual acquisition of tax data from third-party websites, which can lead to incomplete tax returns and frustration, as they require users to switch between software experiences and handle sensitive authentication information.

Innovation Solution

A web browsing system comprising a client computer and a browser server connected by a network, executing primary and secondary webpages where the secondary webpage emulates the third-party webpage, allowing for automated or semi-automated tax data acquisition from financial accounts, with the secondary webpage rendered in a modal window within the primary webpage, ensuring seamless data transfer while maintaining security and user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users manually acquire tax data from third-party websites, then they can obtain necessary tax information, but user errors and disruptions increase due to switching between software experiences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of tax data acquisitionVSAvoidcompleteness of tax return

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the tax return preparation interface and the third-party financial account interface into a single unified application window. This merging eliminates the need for users to switch between separate software experiences, thereby reducing user errors while maintaining ease of tax data acquisition through integrated controls and seamless navigation between data entry and acquisition functions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a nested interface structure where the second interface (financial account access) is embedded within the first interface (tax return preparation). This nesting allows users to access tax data from financial accounts directly within the tax preparation environment, maintaining ease of operation while preventing disruptions and errors associated with switching between separate applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users manually handle authentication information, then they can access financial accounts, but security risks and user frustration increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to access financial accountsVSAvoidsecurity risks

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automated authentication mechanisms where the system automatically handles the secure transmission of credentials and authentication tokens between the unified application and third-party financial accounts. This self-service approach maintains the ability to access financial accounts while eliminating security risks associated with manual handling of sensitive authentication information by users

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary authentication layer within the unified application that securely manages communication with third-party financial accounts. This intermediary handles credential transmission and authentication processes, maintaining account accessibility while reducing security risks by preventing direct exposure of sensitive authentication information to users

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If users switch between software experiences, then they can access different data sources, but productivity decreases due to time loss and frustration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to multiple data sourcesVSAvoidspeed of tax return preparation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple data source access interfaces into a single unified application, allowing users to access both tax return preparation and financial account data within one environment. This eliminates the time loss and frustration associated with switching between separate software experiences, thereby maintaining adaptability to multiple data sources while significantly improving productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent nests the financial account access interface within the tax return preparation interface, enabling users to access multiple data sources without leaving the primary application. This nested structure maintains the versatility to access different data sources while eliminating productivity losses from software switching by keeping all functions integrated within a single application window

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS10789654B1Web browsing systems for acquiring tax data during electronic tax return preparation

Publication Date: 2020.09.29 INTUIT INC

AI summary

A system for acquiring tax data during electronic tax return preparation includes a client computer configured to render a first webpage and receive interface data from a tax data source computer. The system also includes a browser server computer configured to receive the interface data from the client computer, process the interface data to generate rendering instructions, and transmit the rendering instructions to the client computer. The client computer and the browser server computer are configured such that, when the client computer executes the rendering instructions, the client computer renders a secondary webpage. The secondary webpage is controllable independent of the primary webpage.