WO2008034826A1

WO2008034826A1 - Method for cross-referencing information on a web page

Info

Publication number: WO2008034826A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/059854
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johan Vinckier; Bart Timmermans; Evgueni Smoliar; Ramil Israfilov; Tom Serru; Hans De Smaele; Dirk Matheussen
Original assignee: Certipost Nv/Sa
Priority date: 2006-09-18
Filing date: 2007-09-18
Publication date: 2008-03-27
Also published as: WO2008034827A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for cross-referencing information using an Internet browser (18), comprising the steps of: a) retrieving information (1) using the Internet browser (18), which information is to be displayed and cross-referenced; b) retrieving search data (19) using the Internet browser (18) comprising search terms (5) for cross-referencing, where step a) may be performed before step b) or vice versa; c) comparing (16), using the Internet browser (18), the information (1) of step a) with one or more of the search terms (5) of step b) to obtain a list (7) of common terms (5'); d) displaying, using the Internet browser (18), a browser window (8) comprising: i) the list (7) of common terms (5') of step c), and ii) the information (1) of step a) where the common terms (5') of step c) are emphasised (9) thereon, wherein the common terms (5') of step i) and/or the emphasised (9) information (1) of step ii) each provide hyperlink areas that may be selected to obtain further information. It also relates to a computer program and system for implementing the method.

Description

METHOD FOR CROSS-REFERENCING INFORMATION ON A WEB PAGE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of the invention is in the cross-referencing of information obtained via a web browser. The invention provides a method, computer program and device therefor.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

A user of the Internet may employ web-based services to store and organise information. The information can be any type of electronic downloadable data such as alphanumeric text, photographic, audio, video or raw data. Internet sites for retrieval and storage of personal data are commonly provided as a service by third parties. An Internet user has the possibility, for example, to access personal billing or financial information such as utility invoices (e.g. telephone, water, electricity, gas), tax returns, banking statements, credit cards statements etc. He can also subscribe to an Internet email account, a reminder service, storage services or other data organising services.

A problem with the storage and retrieval of information using the Internet is that data cannot be easily cross-referenced. For example, a web page providing a record of invoices provided by a telephone company will require a user to open a second browser for his bank to confirm that each telephone invoice has been paid from his bank account. In practice, the user would resort to printing both statements, and manually checking each invoice in a time consuming activity. Where the user is a large company, having multiple invoices and accounts, cross-referencing can become a laborious task.

A solution would be to provide a hyperlinked document, which hyperlink provides the desired cross-reference. For example, the invoice of the telephone company may be displayed as a series of balances, which are hyperlinks; upon selecting a hyperlink, the user may be shown the corresponding part of his bank statement indicating payment of the balance.

Cross-referencing information, particularly personal information, from one information provider with that from another is not feasible, however, because organisations would have to share confidential data. For example, situations may occur where a customer of two information providers, A and B, wants to have the information held by A and B cross- referenced; this may not be possible when one of the two information providers refuses to enable that type of cross-referencing because of business, technical or other reasons. Sharing information may contravene personal privacy, for example, or may be commercially compromising. Furthermore, the information may be spread internationally across several servers, making contractual agreements between the necessary parties complicated and expensive to arrange. The present invention provide a solution to the problem of cross-referencing information of internet data storage providers, which avoids the problems of the art.

LEGENDS TO THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts a flow chart showing the steps (from top to bottom) of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a flow chart showing the steps (from top to bottom) of an embodiment of the present invention, whereby symbols (e.g. #*@%) represent alphanumeric words or phrases.

FIG. 3 depicts a flow chart showing the steps (from top to bottom) of an embodiment of the present invention, whereby search data of server B is filtered by the browwer application and symbols (e.g. #* @%) represent alphanumeric words or phrases. FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart showing the steps (from top to bottom) of an embodiment of the present invention, whereby search data of server B is filtered by server B, and symbols (e.g. #* @%) represent alphanumeric words or phrases. FIG. 5 depicts a web browser implementing a method of the invention, whereby a home- banking account of a user is displayed in one browser window, and the search terms provided by an invoicing search service are displayed in another browser window. FIG. 6 depicts a web browser implementing a method of the invention, whereby a home- banking account of a user is displayed in one browser window, and the search terms provided by an invoicing search service are displayed in a pop-up window.

FIG. 7 shows an example of XML code that implements an embodiment of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of the invention is a method for cross-referencing information using an Internet browser (18), comprising the steps of: a) retrieving information (1 ) using the Internet browser (18), which information is to be displayed and cross-referenced, b) retrieving search data (19) using the Internet browser (18) comprising search terms (5) for cross-referencing, where step a) may be performed before step b) or vice versa, c) comparing (16), using the Internet browser (18), the information (1 ) of step a) with one or more of the search terms (5) of step b) to obtain a list (7) of common terms (5'), and d) displaying, using the Internet browser (18), a browser window (8) comprising: - i) the list (7) of common terms (5') of step c), and

- ii) the information (1 ) of step a) where the common terms (5') of step c) are emphasised (9) thereon, wherein the common terms (5') of step i) and/or the emphasised (9) information (1 ) of step ii) each provide hyperlink areas that may be selected to obtain further information.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the selection of a hyperlink area in step d) obtains further information (1 ) that is an archive document (3', 3").

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the archive document (3', 3") comprises alphanumeric words, and the search terms (5) present in the search data (19) of step b) correspond to said alphanumeric words.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the search data (19) is filtered using the Internet browser (18) after retrieval in step b), to provide the one or more search terms (5) used in step c).

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the archive document (3', 3") comprises alphanumeric words, and the search data (19) comprises search terms (5) that are alphanumeric words filtered from the archive document (3', 3") prior to retrieval in step b).

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the search data (19) is retrieved from a server in step b), which server also stores the archive document (3', 3").

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein each search term (5) is tagged, prior to comparing in step c), with an indication of the archive document (3', 3") with which it corresponds. Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the comparison of step c) is performed on alphanumeric words present in the information (1 ).

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein an alphanumeric word encoded as an image in the information (1 ) is recognised using optical character recognition.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the emphasis (9) of step ii) is applied also to the list (7) of common terms (5') in step i).

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the information (1 ) of step a) is retrieved in an encrypted form, and is decrypted by the Internet browser (18) after retrieval.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the search data (19) of step b) is retrieved in an encrypted from, and is decrypted by the Internet browser (18) after retrieval.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the hyperlink area is indicated by any of underlining, italicising, highlighting background, transparent overlay, or emboldening.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the display of list of common terms in step (d)(i) comprises additional indications.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein access to the search data (19) of step b) is controlled by a user credential.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein said credential controls access also to the information (1 ) of step a).

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the search data (19) of step b) is provided by an invoice search service.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the search data (19) of step b) corresponds to invoice data. Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the search data (19) of step b) can be divided into that made available to two or more users and that made available to a single user, which availability is user defined.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method as described above, wherein the display of step ii) is in a main browser window, and the display of step i) is in a frame, pop-up browser window or another browser window.

Another embodiment of the invention is a computer program held on a computer readable medium, for performing the method as defined above.

Another embodiment of the invention is a computer program as described above, which is a tool bar or Java plug-in suitable for use with the Internet browser.

Another embodiment of the invention is a system comprising one or more computers, further comprising the computer program as defined above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art. All publications referenced herein are incorporated by reference thereto. All United States patents and patent applications referenced herein are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety including the drawings.

The articles "a" and "an" are used herein to refer to one or to more than one, i.e. to at least one of the grammatical object of the article. By way of example, "a server" means one server or more than one server.

Throughout this application, the term "about" is used to indicate that a value includes the standard deviation of error for the device or method being employed to determine the value.

The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all integer numbers and, where appropriate, fractions subsumed within that range (e.g. 1 to 5 can include 1 , 2, 3, 4 when referring to, for example, a number of servers, and can also include 1.5, 2, 2.75 and 3.80, when referring to, for example, units of measurement).

Reference is made in the description below to the drawings which exemplify particular embodiments of the invention; they are not at all intended to be limiting. The skilled person may adapt the method and substituent components and features according to the common practices of the person skilled in the art. In FIGs. 2 to 4, symbols have been used to represent individual alphanumeric words.

With reference to FIG. 1 , the present invention relates to a method for cross-referencing information using an Internet browser 18, comprising the steps of: a) retrieving information 1 using the Internet browser 18, which information is to be displayed and cross-referenced, and b) retrieving search data 19 using the Internet browser 18, comprising search terms 5, where step a) may be performed before step b) or vice versa, c) comparing 16 the information of step a) with one or more search terms 5 of step b) to obtain a list 7 of common terms 5¹, using the Internet browser 18, d) displaying 26 using the Internet browser 18 a browser window 8 comprising: - i) the list 7 of common terms 5¹ of step c), and

- ii) the information 1 of step a) where the common terms 5¹ of step c) is emphasised 9, wherein the common terms 5¹ of step i) and/or the emphasised 9 data of step ii) each provide hyperlink areas that may be selected to obtain further information (e.g. an archive document 3¹, 3").

The information 1 is typically retrieved from a server (first server 2 - FIGS, 2, 3, 4) connected to the Internet 6, however, it is within the scope of the invention, that the information may be held on local drive 24 or computer, server or computer-readable storage device connected to a local area network 25. The information 1 is usually retrieved by typing or selecting a URL within a standard browser adapted with the method of the invention, typically via an input box or a pull-down menu. The URL of the displayed information 1 will not normally be the same as the URL of the search data 19.

The search data 19 is also typically retrieved from a server (second server 4) connected to the Internet 6; the search data may alternatively be held on local drive 24 or computer, server or computer-readable storage device connected to a local area network 25. The search data 19 is usually retrieved by typing or selecting a URL for retrieval by a standard browser adapted with the method of the invention, typically via an input box or pull down menu in a browser toolbar. As mentioned already URL of the search data 19 will not normally be the same as the URL of the displayed information 1.

Using the method above, information from one source (e.g. a bank) can be searched with search data from another source (e.g. telephone company) by the browser. The browser display remains simple because only one page is displayed in its original form, i.e. the information of step a). The main adjustment is that common terms are emphasised thereon e.g. highlighted in colour. By selecting a common term as a hyperlink area introduced into the displayed information, further information is obtained, optionally in a new window.

Because the method performs the cross-referencing locally, and not at the information provider's location, the method can be performed even when the information and search data providers of step a) or b), or both, are unwilling to co-operate in implementing this method. In one embodiment, the search data of step b) may be provided by a service for use in the present method, while the information of step a) is provided by a party who is not obliged to cooperate in this method. Despite the non-co-operation of latter, the method still permits cross-referencing, because it is performed locally. Typically, the method will be performed by a web-broswer, and implemented in the form of a browser tool bar, a javascript routine, or flash routine, or plug-in; this is a distinction from the present cross- referencing tools which are performed by a server providing the requested web pages i.e. at the information provider's location

The search data 19 of step b) may be provided by a service, which service also supplies the present method e.g. as a browser add-on. In supplying the method, the provider of search data 19 of step b) can choose to leave the display of website of provider of information of step a) untouched except for emphasising common terms, e.g. highlighting with a color as a generally accepted marking technique applied by search engines in the internet world. Provider of step b) can also choose to use other marking techniques in the website of step a) such as changing the found item into a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or the insertion of a button. Such techniques are accepted practices in browser applications. Alternatively, the information and search data of steps a) and b) may be provided by separate service providers, which providers agree to support the present method. In this case, the method works as described above, but type of emphasis can be agreed between the separate providers e.g. the highlight colour, use of trademark logos etc.

As mentioned above, a 'first server' may store and supply the information retrieved in step a), and a 'second server' may store and supply the search data retrieved in step b). The meaning of server as used herein, is a system which is capable of providing web pages and/or web services on request from an Internet browser. The server may be connected to the Internet or to a local area network (Intranet). The designations of a first and second server are arbitary, and includes the possibility that the respective servers are different or the same. When they are different, they may be assigned different IP addresses, for instance when a first server belongs to a bank and a second server belongs to a telephone company. When they are the same, the first and second servers may belong to the same hosting service which provides web space for a plurality of different enterprises. Thus, a single server may respond to the respective requests for data in step a) and b), which data will have different URLs. The server may comprise a computer with processing means to receive requests for data over the Internet or Intranet and to send data, typically in the form of a web page. It may further comprise a processing means to filter data, manage credentials (e.g. passwords, or other authentication details), manage storage or perform other tasks as a typical processing means can perform. The server may also comprise a database for the storage of invoices, search terms, other data, passwords, or URLs or any other information a typical database may store. The configuration of a server suitable to perform the method of the invention is known in the art. The number of servers from which information or search data is retrieved may be any number (e.g. 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or more).

Information of step a)

"Information" 1 (step a), refers to the data or information that is displayed on a browser window. It typically takes the form of a web page encoded in hypertext mark-up language

(HTML), comprising words, phrases, pictures elements, numbers, graphics, embedded

JAVA scripts, or embedded FLASH scripts, or a combination of these. The information 1 may be, for example, a standard web page containing a list of transactions from an

Internet banking account, a list of credit card transactions, a list mortgage account transactions etc. Generally, the information 1 comprises a mixture of alphanumeric text and graphics, to provide a web page having sentences in a particular language (e.g. English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish), graphical logos and pictures The alphanumeric text (referred to also as text herein) will comprise one or more "words", also known as alphanumeric words herein. A "word" (or "alphanumeric word") as used here refers to the words, numbers, letters and punctuation displayed on a web page that can be incorporated into written sentences and paragraphs and can be separated by spaces. Examples of words include "statement", "John", "12345", "01-12-87", "01/12/87", "001-9283745-84", "Vodaphone" etc. A collection of words may form a phrase such as "12 Jan 2006" or "account number: 001- 9283745-84". Thus, alphanumeric text part of the web page comprising a plurality of words, and includes, for example, names, addresses, descriptive language, reference numbers, telephone numbers, bank sort codes, dates, and times etc.

The alphanumeric text is normally encoded using HTML, where a paragraph of text to be displayed on an Internet browser will be encoded essentially verbatim in the source code for the web page as is commonly known in the art. Alternatively, the alphanumeric text may be present in an image file such as a JPEG, PICT, GIF or other image format that the browser can read. The invention may use optical character recognition (OCR) to obtain the alphanumeric text from an image file. The alphanumeric part of the information displayed by the Internet browser is that which is cross-referenced by the invention. OCR techniques and their implementation are within the practices of the skilled artisan.

Graphics part of the information displayed in a web page is pictorial in nature, such as a photograph, an illustration, an animation, an icon, and has no alphanumeric text content. The graphics part may be retrieved as an image file in a suitable format such as a JPEG, PICT, GIF or other image format that the browser can read. The graphics part of the information displayed by the Internet browser is not cross-referenced. Where an image file contains both alphanumeric text and graphics, the invention may use optical character recognition to extract the alphanumeric text.

While the displayed information 1 , comprises alphanumeric words and phrases, it may be sent to the Internet browser in any format that can be interpreted by the browser application, e.g. as HTML, fully encrypted, or partly encrypted formats. A decrypting algorithm may present in the method of the invention implemented by the browser application. The encryption/decryption may or may not make use of public key cryptography (e.g. PGP). The emphasis 9 may be indicated on the displayed information, particularly on the text content by any means. For example, by highlighting the text in colour/pattern, highlighting the background in colour/pattern, emboldening the text, italicising the text, underlining the text, flashing (blinking) the text etc. The emphasis 9 may be the same for every common element; for example, every occurrence may be highlighted with a black background (FIG. 1 ). Alternatively, emphasis 9 may be unique for each unique search term 5. This instance is shown for example in FIGs. 2 to 4 in Browser window 8, where the "+" term has a grey emphases, and the "-" has a wave-like emphasis; FIG. 3 additionally shows the "^*" term has a dotted emphases. The corresponding emphasising may be used to highlight the common terms 5¹, as also shown in FIGs. 2 to 4. It is also an embodiment that the common terms 5¹ are not emphasised.

These emphasised 9 elements and/or the common terms 5¹ displayed in the browser window 8 may provide hyperlink areas. When the common terms 5¹ of step i) or the emphasised 9 data of step ii) is selected in the browser 8 the further information can be obtained that may be displayed by the Internet browser, for example in new windows 10, 11 , 12. As explained later herein, this further information may be an archive document linked to the selected common term.

The information 1 is typically retrieved by a server (first server 2) connected to the Internet 6, though that it may alternatively be retrieved from a local hard drive 24 or local area network 25. The method may retrieve information 1 from more than one server in step a). This also allows the comparison of step c) across several sources of information. For example, the method may retrieve in step a) information 1 from a bank statement of a current account and a bank statement of a mortgage account. These statements may be displayed in the same browser window 8, side by side. The statements would be searched by the search terms 5, allowing the user to see multiple bank statements and invoices thereto on single page.

Search Data of step b)

The search data 19 is the data that is received by the browser 18 for cross-referencing against the displayed information 1. The search data 19 of step b) comprises search terms 5, one or more of which are used for the comparison of step c). A search term 5 is generally an alphanumeric word or phrase such as a name, reference number, telephone number, bank sort code, date, or time etc that is to be compared against the displayed information.

As mentioned above, an alphanumeric word refers to a word, number, letter and punctuation displayed on a web page that can be incorporated into sentences and paragraphs and separated by spaces. Examples of words include "statement", "John", "12345", "01-12-87", "01/12/87", "001-9283745-84", "Vodaphone" etc. A collection of words may form a phrase such as "12 Jan 2006" or "account number: 001-9283745-84". While the search data 19 comprises alphanumeric words and phrases, it may be sent to the Internet browser in any format that can be interpreted by the browser application, e.g. as HTML, fully encrypted, or partly encrypted formats. A decrypting algorithm may present in the method of the invention implemented by the browser application. The encryption/decryption may or may not make use of public key cryptography (e.g. PGP). According to one aspect of the invention, encrypted search data of step b) may only be read by the method of the invention made available by provider of the search data 19 of step b).

The search data 19 is typically retrieved by a server (second server 4) connected to the Internet 6, though that it may alternatively be retrieved from a local hard drive 24 or local area network 25. In practice, the search data 19 can be that held on the server of a supplier e.g. a utility company, an online shop, a financial service provider. The search data 19 is usually retrieved by typing or selecting a URL for retrieval by the browser, typically via an input box or pull down menu in a browser toolbar that the method provides. The URL of the displayed information 1 will not normally be the same as the URL of the search data 19.

As mentioned above, the search data 19 comprises search term 5, one or more of which are used for cross referencing. The method of the invention may use all the available text words present in the search data 19 as search terms 5; alternatively, it may employ a local filtering step to select certain key words from the search data 19 which are employed as search terms 5 in step c).

It is within the scope of the invention that the method filters the search data 19 of step b) in accordance with the Internet address being accessed, such filtering being performed by the browser application 18. For example, the method may filter out information that does not mention a predetermined account number or a balance for an internet site of a telecoms company. In the case of an electricity supply company, the method may filter out information that does not mention a date and a balance. The trigger for these different filters may be the URL address (IP address or DNS address) or domain name key word (e.g. "sprint", "vodaphone", "orange").

Where different filters are applied to different addresses, tables of filters and corresponding internet domain name identifiers may be held on the local computer. Alternatively, they may be held on an external server e.g. on a dedicated server connected to the Internet such as a (second) server from which search data is retrieved step b). Alternatively, they may be held on a combination of the two.

Archive document

According to one aspect of the invention, the search data 19 is derived from one or more archive documents 3¹, 3". An archive document is an electronic format of a page comprising alphanumeric text and optionally graphics, having sentences in a particular language (e.g. English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish), optionally graphical logos and pictures. The alphanumeric text (referred to also as text herein) will comprise one or more "words", also known as alphanumeric words herein. As mentioned elsewhere, a "word" (or "alphanumeric word") refers to the words, numbers, letters and punctuation displayed on a web page that can be incorporated into written sentences and paragraphs and separated by spaces. Examples of words include "statement", "John", "12345", "01-12-87", "01/12/87", "001-9283745-84", "Vodaphone" etc. A collection of words may form a phrase such as "12 Jan 2006" or "account number: 001-9283745-84". Thus, the alphanumeric text part an archive document comprises a plurality of words, and includes, for example, names, addresses, descriptive language, reference numbers, telephone numbers, bank sort codes, dates, and times etc.

The archive document 3¹, 3" may be encoded using HTML, where a paragraph of text to be displayed on an Internet browser is encoded essentially verbatim in the source code for the web page as is commonly known in the art. Alternatively or in addition, the alphanumeric text may be present in an image file such as a JPEG, PICT, GIF, PDF or other image format in which case optical character recognition (OCR) techniques may be employed to obtain the alphanumeric text from an image file, which OCR techniques are well known in the art. The search data 19 comprises at least part of the alphanumeric information of the archive document 3¹, 3", which search data 19 is cross-referenced by the invention. An archive document 3¹, 3" may be an invoice, letter, statement or any document that will later need to be retrieved when the search data 19 indicates a match against the displayed information 1. The archive document 3¹, 3" will typically be the further information of step d). An archive document 3¹, 3" may contain information such as dates, account numbers, balances, a name and address, previous payment information, interest rates, options for payment, contact telephone numbers, hours of business etc. An archive document 3¹, 3" may be sent to the Internet browser in step d) in any format that can be interpreted by the browser application, e.g. as HTML, encrypted, partly encrypted formats. A decrypting algorithm may present in the method of the invention implemented by the browser application. The encryption/decryption may or may not make use of public key cryptography (e.g. PGP). According to one aspect of the invention, encrypted archive document 3¹, 3" may only be read by the method of the invention made available by provider of the search data 19 of step b).

The archive document 3¹, 3" thus comprises alphanumeric words, and the search terms 5 present in the search data 19 of step b) correspond to said alphanumeric words. As can be deduced from elsewhere, the search data 19 may comprise all the alphanumeric words of the archive document 3¹, 3", or may comprise some words (key words) extracted from an archive document 3¹, 3", relevant for cross referencing such as, for example, dates, account numbers and balances. Embodiments describing the case where search data 19 contains all the alphanumeric words of the archive document 3¹, 3", is given in embodiments (A) and (B) below; embodiment (A) employs all the alphanumeric words as search terms 5 for cross-referencing, while embodiment (B) includes a filtering step of the search data 19 to provide fewer search terms 5 for cross-referencing. A third embodiment (C) is also described where the search data 19 has been-filtered before it is retrieved; the latter embodiment is applicable to invoicing services such as MyCertipost®.

A: Search data is not filtered prior to comparison step According to one embodiment of the invention, the search data 19 contains all or substantially all the alphanumeric words of the archive documents 3¹, 3". FIG. 2 shows an example of this embodiment of invention. Described in the following from the top of the page downwards, FIG. 2 shows the information 1 to be cross referenced is stored on a first server (A) 2, and the archived document 3¹, 3" - which will be the search data - are stored on a second server (B) 4. These are retrieved by the browser application 18 via the Internet 6. Within the browser application 18, the search data 19 comprises the archive documents 3\ 3"; each word present in the archive document is a search term 5 (i.e. "#", "§", "+", "Ω", "^*", "-", "%", "$", "@", "Δ", selected search terms indicated in FIG. 2). The information 1 is compared 16 with all the search terms 5 to obtain a list 7 of common terms 5¹. A browser window 8 comprising the list 7 of common terms 5\ and the information 1 where the common terms 5¹ are emphasised 9 thereon is produced. By selecting 13, 14, 15 the common terms or emphasised information, the respective archived documents 3¹, 3", are displayed (10, 11 , 12). Thus, according to this embodiment, all the alphanumeric words of the archive document 3¹, 3" are retrieved as search data 19 (step b), and each used as search terms 5 to cross-reference the information to be displayed 1.

The emphasis 9 may be indicated on the displayed information, particularly on the text content by any means. For example, by highlighting the text in colour/pattern, highlighting the background in colour/pattern, providing an overlay in colour/pattern, emboldening the text, italicising the text, underlining the text, flashing (blinking) the text etc. The emphasis 9 may be the same for every common element; for example, every occurrence may be highlighted with a black background. Alternatively, emphasis 9 may be unique for each unique search term 5. This instance is shown for example in FIG. 2 in Browser window 8, where the "+" term has a grey emphases, the "^*" term has a dotted emphases and the "-" has a wave-like emphasis. The corresponding emphasising may be used to highlight the common terms 5¹, as also shown in FIG. 2. It is also an embodiment that the common terms 5¹ are not emphasised.

These emphasised 9 elements and/or the common terms 5¹ displayed in the browser window 8 may be provided as hyperlink areas. When the common terms 5¹ are selected in the browser 8 the archive documents 3, 3" can be obtained that may be displayed by the Internet browser, for example in new windows 10, 11 , 12.

Because the browser retrieves the archive document 3¹, 3" as search data in step b) in this embodiment, its display may entail accessing a local cache or memory storing the archive document 3¹, 3". It is also within the scope of the invention, however, the archive document 3¹, 3" is retrieved from an Internet URL associated with the hyperlink area.

It will be appreciated that each search term 5 and ultimately each common term 5¹ will be associated with a hyperlink area to the corresponding archive document 3¹, 3". This allows selection of the common term to open a new window containing the archive document 3¹, 3" pertinent to the common term. The skilled person will therefore understand that the search data 19 may include additional tags, associating each search term 5 with the archive document 3\ 3" in which the search term 5 is found. Such tags may be added by the browser application after it has retrieved the search data 19.

B: Search data is filtered by the Internet browser prior to comparison step According to an alternative embodiment, the search data 19 retrieved in step b) contains search terms 5 corresponding to all the alphanumeric words of the archive documents 3¹, 3". However, in this embodiment, the one or more search terms 5 used in comparison step c) are filtered 21 from the search data 19 prior to step c). By filtered, it is meant the search terms 5 are selected from the search data 19 that are to be employed in the comparison step. It is within the scope of the invention that the method so filters the search data 19 of step b) to provide more meaningful search terms 5, namely key words. For example, it may filter the search data 19 to provide only account numbers, transaction numbers, reference codes, balances and credits etc. The search terms 5 that are filtered- out (not employed in the comparison of step c) or filtered-in (employed in the comparison of step c) may be definable by the user.

It is within the scope of the invention that the method filters 21 the search data 19 of step b) in accordance with the Internet address being accessed. For example, the method may filter out information that does not mention a predetermined account number or a balance for an internet site of a telecoms company. In the case of an electricity supply company, the method may filter out information that does not mention a date and a balance. The trigger for these different filters may be the URL address (IP address or DNS address) or domain name key word (e.g. "sprint", "vodaphone", "orange").

The filtered search data 19 described provides the search terms 5 used in step c) to search the information of step a), and to prepare the list 7 of common terms 5¹ in step c). By selecting the common terms or emphasised information in step d), the archive document is displayed in its complete form.

The filtering 21 according to this embodiment is performed by the method, implemented as a part of the web-browser application e.g. as a plug-in or toolbar. This means the method filters the search data 19 on the local computer. An example of this embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 3. Described in the following from the top, downwards, FIG. 3 shows the information 1 to be cross referenced is stored on a first server (A) 2, and the archived documents 3¹, 3" - which will be the search data - are stored on a second server (B) 4. These are retrieved by the browser application 18 across the Internet 6. Within the browser application 18, the search data 19 comprises the alphanumeric words present in archive documents 3¹, 3". In other words, the search data 19 comprises search terms 5 which correspond with the alphanumeric words present in archive documents 3¹, 3". In this embodiment, the search terms 5 present in the search data 19 are filtered 21 , to remove unmeaningful words 20 (Ae. "#", "§", "Ω", "^*", "%", "$", "@", "Δ", hatched boxes) and to retain search terms 5 that would provide meaningful cross referencing (i.e. "+", "-", bold boxes, selected search terms indicated in FIG. 3). The information 1 is compared 16 with the filtered search terms 5 to obtain a list 7 of common terms 5¹. A browser window 8 comprising the list 7 of common terms 5¹, and the information 1 where the common terms 5¹ are emphasised 9 thereon is displayed. By selecting 13, 14 the common terms or emphasised information, the respective archived documents 3¹, 3", are displayed (10, 11 ).

Because the browser retrieves the archive documents 3¹, 3" as search data in step b) in this embodiment, its display may entail accessing a local cache or memory storing the archive document 3¹, 3". It is also within the scope of the invention, however, the archive document 3¹, 3" is retrieved from an Internet URL associated with the hyperlink area. It will be appreciated that each search term 5 and ultimately each common term 5¹ will be associated with a hyperlink area to the corresponding archive document 3¹, 3". This allows selection of the common term to open a new window containing the archive document 3¹, 3" pertinent to the common term. The skilled person will therefore understand that, the search data 19 may include additional tags, associating each search term 5 with the archive document 3¹, 3" in which the search term 5 is found. Such tags may be added by the browser application as it receives a plurality of archive documents 3¹, 3".

C: Search data is filtered by prior to its retrieval in step b)

According to one aspect of the invention, the search data 19 is retrieved that comprises keywords, pre-filtered from the archive documents 3¹, 3". In other words, the search data (19) comprises search terms 5 that are alphanumeric words filtered from the archive document 3¹, 3" prior to retrieval in step b). By filtered, it is meant the search terms 5 are selected from the archive documents 3¹, 3" that are to be employed in the comparison step. According to this embodiment, a filtering step is performed beforehand, preferably by a server that stores a plurality of archive documents 3¹, 3", as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, all the search term present in the search data may be employed in step c). Pre-filtering avoids that large archive documents 3¹, 3" are retrieved by the Internet browser application 18; instead the search data 19 comprises keywords from filtered archive documents 3¹ 3".

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of this method. FIG. 4 shows the method of the invention, including a filtering step 21 performed on the server side. Described in the following from the top, downwards, FIG. 4 shows the information 1 to be cross referenced is stored on a first server (A) 2, and the archive documents 3¹, 3" are stored on a second server (B) 4. In this embodiment, the words present in the archive document is filtered 21 by the server 4, to remove unmeaningful words 20 (Ae. "#", "§", "Ω", "^*", "%", "$", "@", "Δ", hatched boxes) and to retain words that would provide meaningful search terms 5 (i.e. "+", "-", bold boxes in FIG. 4). Both the information and filtered search terms 5 are retrieved by the browser application 18 across the Internet 6. Within the browser application 18, the search data 19 comprises said filtered search terms 5. The information 1 is compared 16 with said search terms 5, typically all the search terms, to obtain a list 7 of common terms 5¹. A browser window 8 comprising the list 7 of common terms 5¹, and the emphasised 9 information 1 is produced. By selecting 13, 14 the common terms 5¹ or emphasised information 1 , the respective archived documents 3¹, 3", are displayed (10, 11 ). According to one aspect of the invention, the emphasis 9 is indicated in the same colour when common terms 5¹ belong to the same archived document 3¹, 3".

It will be appreciated that each search term 5 and ultimately each common term will be associated with a hyperlink area to the corresponding archive document 3¹, 3". In other words, each search term 5 may be tagged with an indication of the archive document 3¹,

3" with which it corresponds, prior to comparing in step c). This allows selection of the common term to open a new window containing the archive document 3¹, 3" pertinent to the common term. The skilled person will, therefore, understand that the search data 19 may include additional tags, associating each search term 5 with the archive document 3¹,

3" in which the search term 5 is found. Such tags may be added to the search data 19 by the (second) server 4 as it filters a plurality of archive documents 3¹, 3".

A practical example of this embodiment is a telecoms company that stores on its server the complete invoices (3¹, 3") of a client. It also stores a filtered list of search terms (5) such as the account number, statement date and amount, which filtered list is prepared by the telecoms company by parsing each invoice. The filtered list is the search data (19) retrieved by the method in step b) over the Internet (6). It provides the search terms (5) used in step c) and d); the full invoice (3\ 3"), is retrieved and displayed (10, 11 ) by selecting the hyperlink areas of step d).

The method may retrieve search data from more than one server of step b). This allows the comparison of step c) across several sources of information. For example, the method may retrieve in step b) data from a utility company, an online shop, and a telecoms provider. All these servers would provide search terms 5 against a single online bank statement, for example, allowing the user to see multiple invoices summaries and his bank statement on single page.

Common terms of step c)

The method compares the information 1 of step a) with one or more of the search terms 5 of step b) and prepares a list 7 of common terms 5¹ in step c).

The comparison may be performed on a word-for-word basis, where occurrences of the same alphanumeric words in both the information 1 and search term 5 are indicated as a common terms. The comparison may, in addition or alternatively, be performed on a phrase-for-phrase basis, where occurrences of the same phrases (e.g. "Great Ormond Street Hospital") in both the information 1 and search term 5 are indicated as a common terms.

In performing the comparison 16, the degree of matching identity between the information 1 and the search terms 5 can be absolute i.e. a word may align digit for digit, or letter for letter which allows no mismatches. Alternatively, it can allow some degree of mismatching. In the case of dates, these can be automatically translated e.g. "24-12-

2005" may be match if "December 24, 2005" or "12-24-2005" or other indicators of this date are present in the other data. Methods for searching absolute or partial identity or performing date searches are well known in the art.

In performing the comparison, a category of search terms 5 of step b) applied to the information 1 of step a) can optionally be predefined based on the source of information e.g. the user may defined the search terms 5 to be in the category of dates, balances, account transaction numbers, etc. The user may customise and extend the category of search words for any information source. Step c) is generally performed by the method, implemented as a part of the web-browser application e.g. as a plug-in or tool bar. This means the comparison 16 is performed on the local computer as the data received from the respective servers.

Displaying of step d)

The method displays a browser window 8 comprising the information 1 of step a) in essentially the original form; the common terms present in the displayed information 1 may have emphasis 9 thereon (step ii). The emphasis 9 may be indicated by any means. For example, by highlighting the relevant words or phrases in colour/pattern, highlighting the background in colour/pattern, providing an overlay in colour/pattern, emboldening the text, italicising the text, underlining the text, flashing (blinking) the text etc. The emphasis 9 may be the same for every common term; for example, every occurrence may be highlighted with a green background. Alternatively, emphasis 9 may be unique for each unique occurrence of a common term. This instance is shown for example in FIG. 2 in Browser window 8, where the "+" term has a grey emphases, the "^*" term has a dotted emphases and the "-" has a wave-like emphasis.

The emphasised displayed information 1 of step ii) displayed in the browser window 8 may provide hyperlink areas (e.g. hypertext) that may be selected to obtain further information.

The indication of the hyperlink nature of the area may be the emphasising described above (e.g. highlighting, bold lettering, underlined lettering, coloured background, coloured overlay etc). Thus, when the emphasised 9 displayed information 1 of step ii) is selected in the browser 8, the further information may be displayed by the Internet browser, for example in new windows 10, 11 , 12.

The browser may display at the same time a list 7 of common terms 5¹ (step i). The emphasising scheme described above may be used to highlight the common terms 5¹ of step i), as also shown in FIG. 2. It is also an embodiment that the common terms 5¹ are not emphasised. The common terms 5¹ may be displayed along side the information of step ii) by any means. For example, it may be displayed in a frame, in a pop up window, in a new browser window, in a side bar, in a tool bar etc. FIGs. 1 to 4 depict the instance where the list 7 of common terms 5¹ is displayed in a frame, however, it could equally be present as a pop-up window that can be moved around the computer display using a pointing tool. The list 7 of common terms 5¹ of step i) displayed, may also provide hyperlink areas. The indication of the hyperlink nature of the common terms 5¹ may be the emphasising described above (e.g. bold lettering, underlined lettering, coloured background, coloured overlay etc). Selecting 13, 14, 15 the hyperlink leads to the displaying 10, 11 , 12 by the Internet browser, of the complete data of step b). The further information (e.g. archive document 3¹, 3") may be displayed in a separate window. Further information may be retrieved over the Internet. Alternatively, it may be already available in a memory buffer, for example, where the archive documents 3¹, 3" were retrieved in step b) (e.g. FIGs. 2 and 3) in which case the data may be retrieved from said memory buffer.

The hyperlink areas used herein may be generated by the method, within the Internet Browser application. In the case of the displayed information 1 in step (d)(ii), the hyperlink areas may be generated by modifying the parts of the HTML code corresponding to the common terms 5¹. Techniques for achieving this are well known in the art. If displayed information 1 comprises alphanumeric text as part of an image, a hyperlink area may be generated by placing an overlay at the location of the image. Techniques for providing such overlays are well known in the art.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the display of the list 7 of common terms 5¹ in the present method (step i) also comprises additional indications. These additional indications may be derived from the further information of step d). They may be search terms 5, not present in the list 7 of common terms 5¹. An example of an additional indication might be a date of a transaction present in an invoice held on server of step b), but absent from a bank statement held on a server of step a). The presence of such additional indication is illustrated in FIG. 7 (see below).

The user may customise which additional indication to display and the organisation of the display of the common terms (e.g. grouping by date of the transaction).

Data protection

The method may store the URLs of certain visited internet sites and/or the user credentials, (e.g. logins and passwords, smart-card data, fingerprint data, iris data, face recognition data or other authentication details), so that the sites can be visited again by a user without retyping the URL or logging-in to each site. According to an aspect of the present method, the visited/favourite URLs and user credentials may themselves be protected by a separate user credential (e.g. logins and passwords, smart-cards, fingerprints, iris print, face recognition or other authentication details etc). The URLs and credentials may be held on the local computer. Alternatively, they may be held on an external server e.g. on a dedicated server connected to the Internet such as the server of step b). Alternatively, they may be held on a combination of the two.

Invoicing service (MyCertipost®)

As already described above, the archive documents 3¹, 3" may be held on a server 4 connected to the Internet and later retrieved by the method in step d). This embodiment of the invention may be employed by an invoice search service, for example, MyCertipost®.

An invoice search service may receive a variety of invoices such as telephone bills, utility bills, credit card statements etc. directly from the issuing company, or from the user. The service may archive them electronically. They may be received by the service electronically in which case archiving would entail storing the electronic files corresponding to the invoice. Alternatively they may be received as a paper document, in which case the document would require scanning before archiving.

The service may prepare search data 19 from each received invoice, which search data 19 comprises relevant search terms 5 such as account numbers, dates, and balances. The preparation may be automatic, or performed according to user-defined parameters. Each search data 19 word would be linked to a particular invoice 3¹, 3", for example, by way of a tag.

The search data 19 and archive documents 3¹, 3" may be stored by the service in a second server 4 in step b). The user would then only need to access the server (4) via a single URL in step b), rather than visiting multiple URLs of, for example, credit card companies, telecoms suppliers, utilities. A single URL will allow the user to access this disparate information in a filtered, summarised form in order to compare it against information (1 ) displayed as a web page such as a bank statement.

FIG. 5 shows a screenshot of a web browser running a method of the invention, where an invoice search service provides the search data of step b). A main browser window 40 displays a page from an online bank account of a customer 'Katrien De Cuyper' 48. A new browser window 41 displays a page provided by an invoice search service in respect of the same customer, 42. In this case, the customer is the same, but the method also applies when the customers are different.

The new browser window 41 displays a list (7) common terms (5¹) of, for example, two telecoms companies 'Belgacom' 43 and 'Telenet' 44. The list (7) of common terms (5¹) is the result of a third party (MyCertipost) scanning the invoices (3¹, 3") of the account holder 42 to provide search terms (5) and comparing the search terms (5) with information (1 ) from her online banking service. In the main window 40, the transactions of Belgacom 45 and Telenet 46 which match those in the MyCertiPost database are also present. The method has emphasised these Belgacom 45 and Telenet 46 transactions by highlighting their backgrounds. The search terms (5) in common to both the new browser window 41 and the main window 40 are, in particular "Telenet" 47, 49, "1234-ABCD", 50, 51 , "48.63", 52, 53, "Belgacom" 54, 55, "63000490589", 56, 57, "123.45", 58, 59. The service indicates to the user that it can also provide the service i.e. storage and filtering for bills received from "Brico" 60, 61.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative display employing the same concept of the invention. A main browser window 60 displays a page from an online bank account of a customer John Dow 61. A pop-up window 75 displays page from invoice search service account of the same customer, 61. In this case, the customer is the same, but the method also applies when the customers are different.

The pop-up window 75 displays a list (7) common terms (5¹) of the company 'Belgacom' as two transactions 64, 65. The list (7) of common terms (5¹) is the result of a third party (MyCertipost) scanning from the invoices (3¹, 3") of the account holder 61 and comparing the search terms 5 obtained with data (1 ) from his online banking service. In the main window 60, the transactions of Belgacom 66, 67 which match those in the MyCertiPost database are also present. The method has emphasised these Belgacom 66, 67 transactions by using bold fonts. The search terms (5) in common to both the pop-up window 75 and the main window 60 are, in particular "Belgacom", 68, 69, 70, 71 , "180.43", 72, 73, "561882365910", 74, 78, and "80.09", 76, 77.

FIG. 6 also shows an embodiment where the pop-up window 75 displays the list (7) of common terms (5¹), supplemented with additional indications, which indications are not present in the bank statement window 60. In this case the date 63 of each transaction in indicated. Furthermore a transaction number is indicated 79 which does not appear on the bank statement.

An example of how a (second) server 4 from which search data is retrieved in step b) would respond to a request for invoicing information from a customer is given below:

1 ) XML Web service request for invoice information for specified period of time is received by server 4 in step b),

2) Server 4 verifies incoming Web service request which is signed using W3C XML signature specification, 3) Server 4 authenticates Basic Security profile or el D authentication certificate,

4) Server 4 obtains user invoices (3¹, 3") for specified period of time,

5) Server 4 obtains search terms 5 corresponding to each invoice (3¹, 3") by parsing content of each invoice (3¹, 3"),

6) Server 4 saves the search terms 4 for future requests, 7) Server 4 returns web result comprising existing search terms and new search terms of step 5), 8) Server 4 constructs web page, signed with WS security.

The service may not be limited only to invoices, but could also be employed by the user to store non-financial information such as email records, contact information and schedule information. The method still permits cross-referencing of this information against any other information e.g. an email text invoice against a credit card statement.

Where two separate users of the service have some joint accounts (e.g. a credit card in joint names) and certain individual accounts (e.g. separate mobile phone accounts) the service may make available the joint invoices in both accounts, while making available only to the individual account holder, the individual invoices.

For example, a husband and wife sharing a joint bank account would each have separate credentials (e.g. login and password) to access the service, i.e. the server (4) of step b). The credentials may permit access to the documents stored by the service, and to their user-defined URLs, the user credentials of said URLs etc.

The husband may cross-reference invoices addressed solely or jointly to him against the joint bank account; the service will prevent him from accessing the invoices solely in the name of his wife, even though they may be available in the service and they may share the same address. Similarly, the wife may cross-reference invoices addressed solely or jointly to her against the joint bank account, but not see the invoices solely addressed to her husband.

Implementing the invention

The method of the invention may be implemented as an application (computer program) in a web-browser, the application being stored on a computer readable storage medium. The application may be a browser tool bar, which can be accessed by the user by selecting the relevant toolbar part of the browser. Alternatively, the application may be a javascript plug- in.

The skilled person can readily implement the invention using known programming techniques e.g. in javascript, XML etc. An example where an embodiment of the present invention is implemented in XML is provided in FIG. 7.

An example of steps performed by the tool bar or javascript plug-in, implemented in the invention is given below:

1 ) Logon onto the server 4 of step b),

2) Retrieve search data 19 comprising search terms 5 therefrom, 3) Match these search terms 5 with any information 1 displayed in the browser, and highlight this data,

4) Create hyperlink areas towards corresponding documents in an explorer bar,

5) Retrieve archive documents 3¹, 3" from server 4 and display them in a secondary window.

The methods of the invention may be provided as a computer program held on a computer readable medium, said program comprising computer code for performing one or more steps of the method. Examples of media include an optical disk, tape, magnetic disk, solid-state memory, hard-drive. The program may be available for download across a network.

According to one aspect of the invention a system comprising one or more computers, adapted and programmed to carry out the computer program for performing one or more steps of the method. The system may comprise, for example, a desktop computer with a screen and input device, a laptop computer, a PDA, a smart phone, interactive television, or IDTV etc. One embodiment of the invention is a device for performing a method of the invention.

Additional embodiments of the invention The following alternative embodiments describe the invention wherein the data (1 ) of step a) corresponds to information (1 ) in the foregoing description, data of step b) corresponds to search data (19) in the foregoing description, the server of step a) corresponds to the first server in the foregoing description, the server of step b) corresponds to the second server in the foregoing description, the complete data (3, 3") corresponds to the archive document (3, 3") in the foregoing description, and the list of common data (7) corresponds to the list of common terms (7) in the foregoing description.

One embodiment of the present invention is a method for cross-referencing data retrieved over the Internet (6) using an Internet browser, comprising the steps of: a) retrieving data (1 ) from one or more servers (2), which data is to be displayed by the browser, and b) retrieving data from one or more servers (4), which data comprises search terms (5) corresponding to complete data (3', 3"), where step a) may be performed before step b) or vice versa, c) comparing (16) the data (1 ) of step a) with the search terms (5) of step b) to obtain a list of common data (7), d) displaying a browser window (8) comprising:

- i) the list of common data (7) of step c), and

- ii) the data 1 of step a) where the common data (7) of step c) is emphasised (9), wherein the common data (7) of step i) and/or the emphasised (9) data of step ii) are hypertext links directed towards the complete data (3', 3") of step b).

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method as described above wherein the search terms (5) of step b) are the complete data (3', 3").

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method as described above wherein the search terms (5) of step b) are obtained by filtering (21 ) the complete data (3', 3").

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method as described above wherein the filtering (21 - Figure 3) is performed by the server of step b). Another embodiment of the present invention is a method as described above wherein the filtering (21 - Figure 4) is performed by the Internet browser.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method as described above wherein the emphasis (9) of step ii) is applied also to the list of common data (7) in step i)

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method as described above wherein access to the data of step b) is controlled by a user credential.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method as described above wherein said credential controls access also to the data of step a).

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method as described above wherein the data of step b) is provided by an invoice search service.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method as described above wherein the data of step b) corresponds to invoice data.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method as described above wherein the data of step b) can be divided into that made available to two or more users and that made available to a single user, which availability is user defined.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a method as described above wherein the display of step ii) is in a main browser window, and the display of step i) is in a frame, popup browser window or another browser window.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a computer program held on a computer readable medium, for performing the method as described above.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a system comprising one or more computers, further comprising the computer program as described above.

Claims

1. A method for cross-referencing information using an Internet browser (18), comprising the steps of: a) retrieving information (1 ) using the Internet browser (18), which information is to be displayed and cross-referenced, b) retrieving search data (19) using the Internet browser (18) comprising search terms (5) for cross-referencing, where step a) may be performed before step b) or vice versa, c) comparing (16), using the Internet browser (18), the information (1 ) of step a) with one or more of the search terms (5) of step b) to obtain a list (7) of common terms (5'), and d) displaying, using the Internet browser (18), a browser window (8) comprising:

- i) the list (7) of common terms (5') of step c), and - ii) the information (1 ) of step a) where the common terms (5') of step c) are emphasised (9) thereon, wherein the common terms (5') of step i) and/or the emphasised (9) information (1 ) of step ii) each provide hyperlink areas that may be selected to obtain further information.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the selection of a hyperlink area in step d) obtains further information (1 ) that is an archive document (3', 3").

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the archive document (3', 3") comprises alphanumeric words, and the search terms (5) present in the search data (19) of step b) correspond to said alphanumeric words.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the search data (19) is filtered using the Internet browser (18) after retrieval in step b), to provide the one or more search terms (5) used in step c).

5. Method according to claim 2, wherein the archive document (3', 3") comprises alphanumeric words, and the search data (19) comprises search terms (5) that are alphanumeric words filtered from the archive document (3', 3") prior to retrieval in step b).

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the search data (19) is retrieved from a server in step b), which server also stores the archive document (3', 3").

7. Method according to any of claims 2 to 6 wherein each search term (5) is tagged, prior to comparing in step c), with an indication of the archive document (3', 3") with which it corresponds.

8. Method according to any of claims 2 to 7 wherein the comparison of step c) is performed on alphanumeric words present in the information (1 ).

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein an alphanumeric word encoded as an image in the information (1 ) is recognised using optical character recognition.

10. Method according to any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the emphasis (9) of step ii) is applied also to the list (7) of common terms (5') in step i).

1 1. Method according to any of claim 1 to 10, wherein the information (1 ) of step a) is retrieved in an encrypted form, and is decrypted by the Internet browser (18) after retrieval.

12. Method according to any of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the search data (19) of step b) is retrieved in an encrypted from, and is decrypted by the Internet browser (18) after retrieval.

13. Method according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the hyperlink area is indicated by any of underlining, italicising, highlighting background, transparent overlay, or emboldening.

14. Method according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the display of list (7) of common (5') terms in step (d)(i) comprises additional indications.

15. Method according to any of claim 1 to 14 wherein access to the search data (19) of step b) is controlled by a user credential.

16. Method according to claim 15 wherein said credential controls access also to the information (1 ) of step a).

17. Method according to any of claims 1 to 16 wherein the search data (19) of step b) is provided by an invoice search service.

18. Method according to claim 17 wherein the search data (19) of step b) corresponds to invoice data.

19. Method according to any of claims 1 to 18 wherein the search data (19) of step b) can be divided into that made available to two or more users and that made available to a single user, which availability is user defined.

20. Method according to any of claims 1 to 19 wherein the display of step ii) is in a main browser window, and the display of step i) is in a frame, pop-up browser window or another browser window.

21. A computer program held on a computer readable medium, for performing the method according to any of claims 1 to 20.

22. Computer program according to claim 21 , which is a tool bar or Java plug-in suitable for use with the Internet browser.

23. A system comprising one or more computers, further comprising the computer program according to claim 21 or 22.