METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUBMITTING DATA TO AN ON-LINE FORM SYSTEM

Abstract: A system for providing on-line forms and methods of operating the same result in presenting key text as an embedded image to deter Scriptbots from automatically completing the on-line forms. The computer system for generating an on-line form for submitting user information to the computer system comprises a plurality of user entry fields and a graphic block representing random text for user input to at least one user entry field of the plurality of user entry fields.

Description: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUBMITTING DATA TO AN ON-LINE FORM SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to submitting data to forms and more particularly to entering data in on-line forms generated for the Internet and the like. Description of the Related Arts As the Internet becomes more and more popular, more and more people are accessing the Internet on a regular basis. Advertisers and other promoters have set up company websites on the Internet to reach the people. In efforts to attract customers to company websites, companies often sponsor promotions and contests to lure and advertise to the potential customers. Applications for these promotions and contests usually require users to complete a series of questions designed to gather marketing information and disseminate company product information. As incentives for users to complete the questionnaires, completion of these on-line forms are directly tied to entries to the contests that give away gifts and other promotional items. Consequently, there have been instances where these on-line forms are spoofed - that is, they are completed by the use of Scriptbots. Scriptbots are automated scripts that fill out the on-line forms without intelligent human interaction. They are used particularly in those instances where the number of entries increases a user's chance to achieve a prize. Not only is the spirit of a contest ruined by these Scriptbots, but much of the information gathered from the users resulting from these on-line forms may be skewed. Thus, many companies expend much of their resources sponsoring contests and giving away prizes and end up receiving inaccurate information. Many techniques have been used to combat these Scriptbots such as using HTML (HyperText Markup Language) "cookies," hidden fields in the HTML forms, and others. However, these techniques have been readily breached using appropriately modified Scriptbots. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a system for an on-line form apparatus, and methods of operating the same, which deter Scriptbots from completing the on-line forms. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an apparatus for on-line forms and methods for operating the same which ensure human submission of entries to the on-line form. The novel on-line form is based on randomly embedding key text as an image that prevents Scriptbots from identifying the key text in the on-line form. Thus, according to one aspect of the invention a computer system for generating an on-line form for submitting user information to the computer system comprises a plurality of user entry fields and a graphic block representing random text for user input to at least one user entry field of the plurality of user entry fields. According to another aspect of the invention, the computer system for generating an on-line form further comprises a plurality of graphic blocks each representing different random text for user input to the at least one user entry field of the plurality user entry fields. Each time a user accesses the on-line form, a different random text is presented to the user for entry to the at least one user entry field. Thus, each access to the on-line form selects a different graphic block from the plurality of graphic blocks. The graphic blocks may each store a different random text. According to another aspect of the invention the on-line form includes HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and the on-line form is accessible via the Internet. Thus, users access the on-line form via the Internet using an Internet browser such as HotJava from Sun Microsystems, Inc. According to yet another aspect of the invention, the computer system for generating an on-line form comprises a submission icon configured to submit a completed on-line form to the computer system. The completed on-line form includes entry of the random text to the at least one user entry field. If the random text does not match the entry in the at least one user entry field, the completed online form may be disregarded by the computer system. An apparatus and method of operating an on-line form are provided whereby key text that is displayed but embedded in an image has to be entered to a particular field in the on-line form. Key text that is displayed but embedded in an image can not be readily discerned by Scriptbots. Thus, Scriptbots can not independently complete the forms automatically. By randomly generating key text each time the on-line form is accessed, Scriptbots are further discouraged from completing the on-line forms. Once a receiving computer system receives the completed on-line forms, the contents of the key text field are verified with the embedded image of the key text. Other aspects and advantages of the present invention can be seen upon review of the figures, the detailed description and the claims that follow. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Fig. 1 illustrates a system level block diagram of a computer on-line form system. Fig. 2 shows a screen shot of a HotJava browser accessing a typical entry form. Fig. 3 shows an HTML view of HTML source code for the typical entry form. Fig. 4 shows an HTML view of HTML source code for a new entry form according to the present invention. Fig. 5 shows a screen shot of a Netscape browser accessing a new entry form according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention will be described with respect to the Figures in which Fig. 1 generally shows a system of a computer network 10. Like numeral designations represent like components throughout the description. The computer network 10 includes a client 110, a client 120, a client 130, a client 140, an Internet 150, and a network server 160. The Internet 150 couples the clients 110, 120, 130, and 140 and the network server 160 and provides a medium for communication between the clients and the network server 160. In accordance to the present invention, the Internet 150 provides TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol over Internet Protocol). Other represented segments operating TCP/IP, including intranets and local area networks, are also suitable. Referring to Fig. 1, data links 115, 125, 135, and 145 provide network connections between the clients 1 10, 120, 130, and 140 and the Internet 150. Data link 165 provides a network connection between the network server 160 and the Internet 150. The network server 160 includes a plurality of disk drives for storing program instructions and program data for the computer network 10. The clients 110, 120, 130, and 140 include logic circuits that are programmed to perform a series of specifically identified operations for data transfers to and from the Internet 150 and the network server 160. The network server 160 also includes logic circuits that are programmed to perform a series of specifically identified operations for data transfers to and from the Internet 150 and the clients 110, 120, 130, and 140. According to the present invention, the network server 160 includes an apparatus for generating an on-line form for submitting user information to the network server 160. Of course, any client such as client 130 or 140 may also include an apparatus for generating an on-line form according to the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a screen shot of a HotJava browser from Sun Microsystems, Inc. accessing a typical entry form 20. The typical entry form includes a name entry field 22, an address entry field 24, a key entry field 26, and a submit icon 28. In order to complete the typical entry form 20, a user types the requested information in the entry fields. For example, informative text "What's your name?" requesting a name corresponding to the name field 22 indicates entry of a user's name. The user completing the typical entry form 20 types his or her name in the corresponding entry field 22. The informative text "What's your address?" corresponding to the address entry field 24 requests entry of an address to the address entry field 24. The user enters the address information to the address entry field 24. Similarly, the informative text "Enter the following key: 1234" corresponding to the key entry field 26 includes a key 1234 for entry to the key entry field 26. Thus, in the present example, the user enters the characters "1234" in the key entry field 26. After completion of the form the user activates the submit icon 28 to submit the completed typical entry form 20. Fig. 3 shows an HTML view of HTML (HyperText Markup Language) source code for the typical entry form. Name entry field 32, address entry field 34, key entry field 36, and submit icon 38 are very similar to the screen shot of the HotJava browser accessing the typical entry form 20 of Fig. 2. HTML source code for the typical entry form of Fig. 3 is as follows: <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML//EN"> <HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Example of typical entry form</TITLE></HEAD> <BODY> <H1>A Typical Entry Form</Hl> <FORM METHOD="POST" ENCTYPE="application x-www-form-urlencoded"> What's your name? <INPUT TYPE="text" NAME="name" VALUE= ""> <P> What's your address? <INPUT TYPE="text" NAME= "address" VALUE=""> <P> Enter the following key: 1234 <INPUT TYPE="text" NAME="key" VALUE=""> <P> <INPUT TYPE="submit" NAME=". submit"> </FORM> <HR> </BODY> </HTML>. Line 10 of the HTML source code for the typical entry form supplies the HTML instruction for the HTML view of the key entry field 36 of Fig. 3. Line 10 provides 'Enter the following key: 1234 <INPUT TYPE= "text" NAME= "key" VALUE="">'. Note that the key "1234" is included as part of the HTML instruction for informative text "Enter the following key:". Contrast line 10 of the HTML source code for the typical entry form (shown above) with that of a new entry form according to the present invention: <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "J/IETF//DTD HTML//EN"> <HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Example of the new entry form</TITLE></HEAD> <BODY> <H1>A New Entry Form< Hl> <FORM METHOD="POST" ENCTYPE="application x-www-form-urlencoded"> What's your name? <INPUT TYPE="text" NAME="name" VALUE=""> <P> What's your address? <INPUT TYPE="text" NAME="address" VALUE=""> <P> Enter the following key: <img src="/images/l ec8d.gif 'xINPUT TYPE="text" NAME="key" VALUE- ""> <INPUT TYPE= "hidden" NAME="imgkey" VALUE="lec8d"> <P> <INPUT TYPE= "submit" NAME=".submit"> </FORM> <HR> </BODY> </HTML>. In the new entry form, HTML code of line 10 following informative text "Enter the following key:" references a key linked to an image file lec8d.gif to display the key. The image file lec8d.gif includes a depiction of the key embedded within a block of graphics. Thus, the key of the new entry form is non-scriptable but viewable. The image file having an embedded depiction of the key is varied to provide different keys. Varying the key affords added protection against automation of the form filling process. Referring to the HTML code line 12, a hidden field "imgkey" includes identification information that corresponds to the image file lec8d.gif As the new entry form is completed and sent to the receiving network server 160, the network server 160 includes logic that matches the hidden "imgkey" value with the corresponding image file lec8d.gif. The network server 160 includes storage for the corresponding information between a plurality of hidden field "imgkey" identification information and a plurality of corresponding image files. Accordingly, a user completing the new entry form can not readily decipher which particular "imgkey" value corresponds with which particular image file. Fig. 4 shows an HTML view of HTML source code for a new entry form according to the present invention. Similar to the HTML view for the typical entry form of Fig. 3 are name entry field 42, address entry field 44, and submit icon 48. However, key entry field 46 includes a placeholder icon 47. The placeholder icon 47 identifies a graphics display file, which in this instance is not available. The graphic display file unavailability illustrates that the key text is embedded as part of a graphics file. The graphics display file embeds the key text for the key entry field 46 as graphics. In operation, informative text "Enter the following key:" is followed by a graphic file having embedded text that displays the key text for entry to the key entry field 46. The HTML source code for the new entry form links a graphics file having the embedded key text for the display of the key. Thus, the key text for the key is embedded as a graphics field that is viewable but not selectable as characters of text. Programs written to decipher informative text to automatically fill out the entry fields are not able to select characters that are embedded as graphics. Fig. 5 shows a screen shot of a HotJava browser from Sun Microsystems, Inc. accessing a new entry form 50 according to the present invention. The new entry form 50 includes a name entry field 52, an address entry field 54, a key entry field 56, and a submit icon 58. In order to complete the form 50, a user types the requested information in the entry fields. Just as previously shown in Fig. 2, informative text "What's your name?" requesting a name corresponding to the name field 52 indicates entry of a name. A user completing the new entry form 50 types his or her name in the corresponding entry field 52. The informative text "What's your address?" corresponding to the address entry field 54 requests entry of an address to the address entry field 54. The user enters the address information to the address entry field 54. Similarly, the informative text "Enter the following key:" corresponding to the key entry field 56 includes a display of a key 1234 for entry to the key entry field 56. The user enters the characters 1234 to the key entry field 56. After completion of the form, the user activates the submit icon 58 to submit the completed form. The new entry form 50 includes the key entry field 56 having informative text that is linked to graphics to depict a key text. Thus, a program that selects text and parses the text in order to programmably fill out the various entry fields in a form can not decipher the key text that is embedded in a graphics file. Moreover, by randomizing the embedded graphics file to vary the key text, intelligent interaction to view the embedded graphics displaying the key text is required before the key text can be deciphered and entered into the key entry field 56. While the foregoing detailed description has described an embodiment of the apparatus and methods for generating an on-line form system in accordance with this invention, it is to be understood that the above description is illustrative only and not limiting of the disclosed invention. The apparatus and methods for generating an on-line form have been provided. The on-line form system ensures human submission of web-based forms by displaying a word or words in an image embedded display in the web page and asking the user to type the word or words into a particular field in the on-line form.

Claims: What is claimed is; 1. A computer system for generating an on-line form for submitting user information to the computer system, comprising: a plurality of user entry fields; and a graphic block representing random text for user input to at least one user entry field of the plurality of user entry fields. 2. The computer system for generating an on-line form according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of graphic blocks, each representing different random text for user input to the at least one user entry field of the plurality user entry fields. 3. The computer system for generating an on-line form according to claim 2, wherein each access to the on-line form selects a different graphic block from the plurality of graphic blocks. 4. The computer system for generating an on-line form according to claim 1, wherein the on-line form includes HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). 5. The computer system for generating an on-line form according to claim 4, wherein the on-line form is accessible via the Internet. 6. The computer system for generating an on-line form according to claim 4, further comprising a submission icon configured to submit a completed on-line form to the computer system. 7. The computer system for generating an on-line form according to claim 6, wherein the completed on-line form includes entry of the random text to the at least one user entry field. 8. A method of generating an on-line form comprising the steps: creating at least one user entry field; displaying an entry to enter in the user entry field; and randomizing the entry to display a different entry for each access to the on-line form. 9. The method of generating an on-line form according to claim 8, further comprising the step of presenting informative text to guide entry of information to the user entry field. 10. The method of generating an on-line form according to claim 9, wherein the step of presenting informative text includes the step of presenting the informative text as a graphic representation. 11. The method of generating an on-line form according to claim 8, wherein the step of randomizing the entry includes the step of linking graphic representations to depict the entry. 12. The method of generating an on-line form according to claim 11 , wherein the step of linking graphic representations includes the step of accessing a graphics file. 13. The method of generating an on-line form according to claim 8, wherein the on-line form includes an HTML generated form. 14. The method of generating an on-line form according to claim 13, further comprising the steps: accessing the on-line form via the Internet; and submitting the on-line form via the Internet. 15. A computer system for generating an on-line form comprising the steps: creating a plurality of entry fields; and displaying a graphic depiction of text for input to at least one entry field of the plurality of entry fields. 16. The computer system for generating an on-line form according to claim 15, further comprising the step of randomizing the graphic depiction of the text for each access to the on-line form. 17. The computer system for generating an on-line form according to claim 16, wherein the step of randomizing the graphic depiction of the text includes altering the text for input to the at least one entry field of the plurality of entry fields. 18. The computer system for generating an on-line form according to claim 16, wherein the step of randomizing the graphic depiction of the text includes the step of linking graphics to depict the text. 19. The computer system for generating an on-line form according to claim 15, further comprising the step of submitting a completed on-line form to the computer system. 20. The computer system for generating an on-line form according to claim 19, wherein the step of submitting a completed on-line form includes the step of transcribing the graphic depiction of the text to the at least one entry field.

Inventors: ONUFER GREGORY CHARLES, ONUFER, GREGORY, CHARLES
Applicants: SUN MICROSYSTEMS INC, SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G06F17
IPC codes: G06F15, G06Q10, G06Q30