Patent ID: 6460042
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of processing over a computer network forms directed by multiple public forms users to multiple institutions of higher education, the forms being processed by a third party forms servicer that is neither one of the institutions of higher education nor one of the public forms users, the method comprising:presenting to a form user over a computer network by a third party forms servicer in response to a request from the form user, a form directed to one of the multiple institutions of higher education, the form being generated by a forms generator that generates multiple forms corresponding to multiple institutions of higher education, the forms generator generating forms that are customized in appearance and content in accordance with the preference of the institution to which each of the forms is directed and that include an indication of source corresponding to the institution to which each of the forms is directed so as to provide to the users of the forms the appearance that the forms are associated with the specific institutions to which they are directed, the forms including fields for the forms users to enter user information; entering user information onto the form; entering payment information; receiving by the third party forms servicer over the computer network user information and electronic payment information entered by the user; processing by the third party forms servicer an electronic payment associated with the form, the processed payment being from the user to the one of the multiple institutions to which the form is directed; processing by the third party forms servicer the user information in accordance with the preferences of the institution of higher education to which the form is directed to make the user information available to the institution in a format specified by the institution, the third party forms servicer thereby providing to public users customized forms identified with institution of higher education and providing to the institutions custom-formatted data, while relieving the institution of the administrative burden of processing forms and payments.