Interactively entering data into the database

Abstract

A system and method for facilitating the accurate entry of information into a highly structured database by initially extracting information from a plurality of nonuniformly formatted source data streams, e.g., documents/files, and subsequent interactions with users before storing the accepted and/or modified information into the database. Embodiments of the present invention provide an interactive path for each user (e.g., the author of the source document/file) to interactively modify the extracted data, e.g., according to the source document/file. Preferably, this interactive path is provided via the Internet and the extracted information can be modified by editing and/or selectively copying portions of the source documents/files to supplement and/or modify the extracted information.

1 . A method for facilitating via an interactive path a transfer of resume data to a service provider, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving, by a service provider via an interactive path with a job applicant, digital data comprising a resume of the job applicant, the interactive path provided via a remote communication interface;   (b) extracting, by the service provider, a plurality of data strings from the resume;   (c) sending, by the service provider via the interactive path to the job applicant, an inquiry form asking the job applicant a supplemental question;   (d) receiving, by the service provider via the interactive path from the job applicant, a data string responsive to the supplemental question; and   (e) sending, by the service provider via the interactive path to the job applicant, a structured form comprising a plurality of fields, a first field of the plurality of fields accommodating an extracted data string from the resume and a second field of the plurality of fields accommodating the data string responsive to the supplemental question.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (a) further comprises receiving, by the service provider via the interactive path, digital data representing a source data stream from the job applicant, the source data stream containing data corresponding to multiple discernable data strings. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (a) further comprising receiving, by the service provider, a request from the job applicant for a web page to begin a process via the interactive path of interactively transferring the resume to the service provider. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising sending, by the service provider via the interactive path, the web page for display by a browser used by the job applicant. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (a) further comprises storing, by the service providers, the resume to a database. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (b), further comprises extracting, by the service provider, the plurality of data strings according to syntactical rules. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (b), further comprises storing, by the service provider, the extracted plurality of data strings to a database. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (c) further comprises sending, by the service provider via the interactive path, a web page comprising the inquiry form. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (d) further comprises receiving, by the service provider via the interactive path from the job applicant, a filled-in inquiry form. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (e) further comprises sending, by the service provider via the interactive path to the job applicant, a web page comprising the structured form. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (e) further comprises receiving, by the service provider via the interactive path from the job applicant, one of acceptance or modification of data of the plurality of fields of the structured form. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (e) further comprises receiving, by the service provider via the interactive path from the job applicant, modification of data in the one or more fields of the plurality of fields of the structured form. 
     
     
         13 . A system for facilitating via an interactive path a transfer of resume data to a service provider, the system comprising:
 a remote communication interface of a service provider receiving digital data comprising a resume of a job applicant, the remote communication interface providing an interactive path with the job applicant;   an extractor extracting a plurality of data strings from the resume;   a form generator sending via the interactive path to the job applicant, an inquiry form asking the job applicant a supplemental question; and   wherein the service provider receives via the interactive path from the job applicant, a data string responsive to the supplemental question; and   wherein the form generator sends via the interactive path to the job applicant, a structured form comprising a plurality of fields, a first field of the plurality of fields accommodating an extracted data string from the resume and a second field of the plurality of fields accommodating the data string responsive to the supplemental question.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the service provider receives via the interactive path digital data representing a source data stream from the job applicant, the source data stream containing data corresponding to multiple discernable data strings. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the remote communication interface receives a request from the job applicant for a web page to begin a process via the interactive path of interactively transferring the resume to the service provider. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the form generator sends via the interactive path the web page for display by a browser used by the job applicant. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a database to store the resume. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the extractor extracts the plurality of data strings according to syntactical rules. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein a database stores the extracted plurality of data strings. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the form generator sends, via the interactive path, a web page comprising the inquiry form. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the service provider receives via the interactive path from the job applicant a filled-in inquiry form. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the form generator sends via the interactive path to the job applicant a web page comprising the structured form. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the service provider receives via the interactive path from the job applicant, one of acceptance or modification of data of the plurality of fields of the structured form. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the service provider receives via the interactive path from the job applicant, modification of data in the one or more fields of the plurality of fields of the structured form.