How Software Automatically Collects and Organizes Data from Multiple Websites
A system that automatically logs into multiple websites, pulls information, and stores it locally before you even ask for it, so it is ready to view instantly.
Original patent title: “Cache and look ahead aggregation system”
A system that automatically logs into multiple websites, pulls information, and stores it locally before you even ask for it, so it is ready to view instantly. Granted to Confluence Commons Inc in 2012 with 62 claims and 18 forward citations.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent describes a software-based aggregation system that acts as a middleman between a user's computer and various third-party websites. The system automatically authenticates (logs in) to multiple sites, retrieves data from them, and parses that data into a unified display. A key feature is the 'look ahead' mechanism, where the system caches information in the local memory of the user's computer based on an anticipated request. For example, if you use a dashboard that aggregates your email, social media, and news, this system pre-fetches and stores that data locally so it appears immediately when you open the application.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover server-side aggregation where the data is collected and processed on a remote server before being sent to the user.
- Does not cover aggregation methods that do not use local caching based on anticipated requests.
- Does not cover systems that lack an automated authentication mechanism for the third-party sites.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation lies in moving the 'look ahead' caching logic to the client-side (the user's computer) rather than the server, allowing the system to be platform-independent and faster by reducing latency for the end user.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Personalized news and social media dashboards
Unified email clients that pull from multiple providers
Job search aggregators
Multi-platform instant messaging clients
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent addresses the challenge of managing fragmented information across the early web, such as disparate email accounts, social networks, and job boards. By moving the heavy lifting of authentication and data retrieval to the client-side and using predictive caching, it aimed to create a faster, more integrated user experience for desktop-based dashboard applications.
Filed
April 4, 2011
Granted
February 7, 2012
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
The technology relates to the broader field of data aggregation and dashboard software. Companies like Microsoft with their Outlook integration, and various developers of personal information management (PIM) tools and browser-based feed aggregators, operate in this space by managing local data synchronization and authentication.
Market impact
This patent reflects the era of desktop-centric web integration, where developers sought to solve the 'silo' problem of the early web. It highlights the transition toward client-side intelligence, though many of these functions have since migrated to cloud-based APIs and server-side aggregation services.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent describes a software-based aggregation system that acts as a middleman between a user's computer and various third-party websites. The system automatically authenticates (logs in) to multiple sites, retrieves data from them, and parses that data into a unified display. A key feature is the 'look ahead' mechanism, where the system caches information in the local memory of the user's computer based on an anticipated request. For example, if you use a dashboard that aggregates your email, social media, and news, this system pre-fetches and stores that data locally so it appears immediately when you open the application.
The clever bit
The innovation lies in moving the 'look ahead' caching logic to the client-side (the user's computer) rather than the server, allowing the system to be platform-independent and faster by reducing latency for the end user.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover server-side aggregation where the data is collected and processed on a remote server before being sent to the user.
- Does not cover aggregation methods that do not use local caching based on anticipated requests.
- Does not cover systems that lack an automated authentication mechanism for the third-party sites.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
26/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
20/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$176K – $564K
Midpoint $353K · 4.8 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
62 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Wilson, M. C., McMahon, M. D., Young, C., Hartman, A., Polis, J., Trzyna, P. K., Shaver, S., Wu, E., Goyal, P., Wu, S. C., Calone, D. L., Hyde, A., & Herman, J. D. (2012). How Software Automatically Collects and Organizes Data from Multiple Websites (U.S. Patent No. 8,112,476). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8112476/amazon-ec2-elastic-compute-cloud
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Software Automatically Collects and Organizes Data from Multiple Websites cover?
A system that automatically logs into multiple websites, pulls information, and stores it locally before you even ask for it, so it is ready to view instantly.
Who owns patent US 8112476?
Confluence Commons Inc owns this patent, granted in 2012.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on February 7, 2032, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8112476 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 18 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent addresses the challenge of managing fragmented information across the early web, such as disparate email accounts, social networks, and job boards. By moving the heavy lifting of authentication and data retrieval to the client-side and using predictive caching, it aimed to create a faster, more integrated user experience for desktop-based dashboard applications.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover server-side aggregation where the data is collected and processed on a remote server before being sent to the user.
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