Automatic defaults proxy for web-delivered services
View Patent ↗A method, system and computer program product are presented for intercepting data entry by a proxy server to automatically define data entry fields in a webpage. The proxy server counts a number of instances in which a particular type of data is entered into each field in the webpage. If the number of instances exceeds a predetermined number for a specific field, then subsequent users are prompted to enter data of that particular type in that specific field.
1. A computer-implemented method of automatically defining a data entry classification of a data entry field on a webpage in a website, the computer-implemented method comprising:
intercepting, at a proxy server, a data entry for a data entry field in a first instance of the webpage, wherein the data entry was entered at a first computer of a plurality of computers coupled to the proxy server, and wherein the first instance of the webpage is provided to the first computer by a service provider, wherein the data entry field in the first instance of the webpage is not accompanied by a prompt;
determining, at the proxy server, a data entry classification for the data entry field based on the data entry;
in response to determining the data entry classification, incrementing, at the proxy server, a total count of instances of the data entry classification for the data entry field based on previous data entries for the data field in the webpage by the plurality of computers;
intercepting, by the proxy server, a second instance of the webpage, wherein the webpage is requested by a second computer of the plurality of computers coupled to the proxy server;
determining that the total count of instances exceeds a predetermined threshold;
in response to determining that the total count of instances satisfies the predetermined threshold, automatically generating a prompt for the data entry field that alerts a user to populate the data entry field with a type of data that comports with the data entry classification;
modifying the second instance of the webpage to include the prompt that tells the user to populate the data entry field with a type of data that comports with the data entry classification; and
transmitting the modified second instance of the webpage to the second computer.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
reiterating the intercepting, incrementing, determining, and transmitting steps for all other data entry fields in the webpage.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transmitting the data entry from the proxy server to the service provider.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein determining the data entry classification is performed by comparing the data entry with data that has been previously stored in fields in a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) entry for a user of the first computer;
incrementing the total count of instances of the data entry classification each time the data entry classification is used by another accessing computer for the data entry field.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising:
providing the second computer with a default data entry classification for data to be entered in the data entry field in the second instance of the webpage, wherein the default data entry classification is based on the LDAP entry for the first computer, and wherein the LDAP entry for the first computer also describes attributes for the second computer.
6. A system comprising:
a processor;
a data bus coupled to the processor;
a memory coupled to the data bus; and
a computer-usable medium embodying computer program code, the computer program code comprising instructions executable by the processor and configured for automatically defining a data entry classification of a data entry field on a webpage in a website by:
intercepting, at a proxy server, a data entry for a data entry field in a first instance of the webpage website, wherein the data entry was entered at a first computer of a plurality of computers coupled to the proxy server, and wherein the first instance of the webpage website is provided to the first computer by a service provider, wherein the data entry field in the first instance of the webpage is not accompanied by a prompt;
determining, at the proxy server, a data entry classification for the data entry field based on the data entry;
in response to determining the data entry classification, incrementing, at the proxy server, a total count of instances of the data entry classification for the data entry field based on previous data entries for the data field in the webpage website by the plurality of computers;
intercepting, by the proxy server, a second instance of the webpage, wherein the webpage is requested by a second computer of the plurality of computers coupled to the proxy server;
determining that the total count of instances satisfies exceeds a predetermined threshold;
in response to determining that the total count of instances satisfies the predetermined threshold, automatically generating a prompt for the data entry field that alerts a user to populate the data entry field with a type of data that comports with the data entry classification;
modifying the second instance of the webpage to include the prompt that alerts tells the user to populate the data entry field with a type of data that comports with the data entry classification; and
transmitting the modified second instance of the webpage to the second computer.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the instructions are further configured for:
reiterating the intercepting, incrementing, determining, and transmitting steps for all other data entry fields in the webpage.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the instructions are further configured for:
transmitting the data entry from the proxy server to the service provider.
9. The system of claim 6 , wherein:
determining the data entry classification is performed by comparing the data entry with data that has been previously stored in fields in a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) entry for a user of the first computer; and
the instructions are further configured for incrementing the total count of instances of the data entry classification each time the data entry classification is used by another accessing computer for the data entry field.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions are further configured for:
providing the second computer with a default data entry classification for data to be entered in the data entry field in the second instance of the webpage, wherein the default data entry classification is based on the LDAP entry for the first computer, and wherein the LDAP entry for the first computer also describes attributes for the second computer.
11. A computer program product for automatically defining a data entry classification of a data entry field on a webpage in a website, the computer program product comprising a tangible computer usable storage device having computer usable program code stored therein, which is executable for performing the functions of:
intercepting, at a proxy server, a data entry for a data entry field in a first instance of the webpage website, wherein the data entry was entered at a first computer of a plurality of computers coupled to the proxy server, and wherein the first instance of the webpage website is provided to the first computer by a service provider, wherein the data entry field in the first instance of the webpage is not accompanied by a prompt;
determining, at the proxy server, a data entry classification for the data entry field based on the data entry;
in response to determining the data entry classification, incrementing, at the proxy server, a total count of instances of the data entry classification for the data entry field based on previous data entries for the data field in the webpage website by the plurality of computers;
intercepting, by the proxy server, a second instance of the webpage, wherein the webpage is requested by a second computer of the plurality of computers coupled to the proxy server;
determining that the total count of instances satisfies exceeds a predetermined threshold;
in response to determining that the total count of instances satisfies the predetermined threshold, automatically generating a prompt for the data entry field that alerts tells a user to populate the data entry field with a type of data that comports with the data entry classification;
modifying the second instance of the webpage to include the prompt that alerts the user to populate the data entry field with a type of data that comports with the data entry classification; and
transmitting the modified second instance of the webpage to the second computer.
12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the computer usable program code further comprises:
computer usable program code configured to reiterate the intercept, increment, determine, and transmit steps for all other data entry fields in the webpage.
13. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the computer usable program code further comprises:
computer usable program code configured to transmit the data entry from the proxy server to the service provider.
14. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein:
determining the data entry classification is performed by computer usable program code for comparing the data entry with data that has been previously stored in fields in a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) entry for a user of the first computer; and
the computer usable program code further comprises program code configured for incrementing the total count of instances of the data entry classification each time the data entry classification is used by another accessing computer for the data entry field.
15. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the computer usable program code further comprises:
computer usable program code configured to provide the second computer with a default data entry classification for data to be entered in the data entry field in the second instance of the webpage, wherein the default data entry classification is based on the LDAP entry for the first computer, and wherein the LDAP entry for the first computer also describes attributes for the second computer.