Method and apparatus for performing an information search and retrieval by submitting an electronic form over e-mail

Abstract

Invention provides a method and apparatus for an e-mail based interface to function as a single common access point for requesting, receiving, publishing, accessing and sharing various data from multiple, remote information systems. The invention becomes akin to a human relay operator in the loop which is transparent to the user. By relaying the e-mail chain, the invention performs multiple functions based on the originating request, and reply as a human would.

1 . Method for performing an information search and retrieval by submitting an electronic form over e-mail, comprising the steps of:
 extracting search terms and search parameters from each field on said electronic form;   modulating said extracted terms and parameters onto a standard header of a first e-mail;   inserting semicolon delineation between said modulated terms in said header;   forwarding said e-mail to a domain specific server;   demodulating said forwarded first e-mail header by identifying said search terms and said search parameters;   processing said identified search terms and said search parameters;   connecting to those APIs corresponding to said identified search terms;   receiving search results;   synthesizing a second e-mail message body from received search results; and   sending said second e-mail to user.   
   
   
       2 . Apparatus for performing an information search and retrieval by submitting an electronic form over e-mail, comprising:
 a computing device;   an e-mail application program being accessible by said computing device;   a software program being executed by said computing device in cooperation with said e-mail application,
 wherein said computer program comprises a set of computer-implementable instructions, that, when executed by said computing device, cause said computing device to
 extract search terms and search parameters from each field on said electronic form; 
 modulate said extracted terms and parameters onto a standard header of a first e-mail; 
 insert semicolon delineation between said modulated terms in said header; 
 forward said e-mail to a domain specific server; 
 demodulate said forwarded first e-mail header by identifying said search terms and said search parameters; 
 process said identified search terms and said search parameters; 
 connect to those APIs corresponding to said identified search terms; 
 receive search results; 
 synthesize a second e-mail message body from received search results; and 
 send said second e-mail to user.