METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SINGLE-POINT-DELEGATION OF A TASK TO MULTIPLE WEB-BASED SERVICES

摘要

An Internet portal system for accomplishing a multi-component task involving interaction with one or more Internet Web sites includes an Internet-connected server (21) having access to client-related data (25), an Internet-capable client station (35) usable by a client, and software executing on the server for managing individual component tasks in execution of the multi-component task. The software, in response to initiation of a multi-component task specified by the client, defines the component tasks, identifies Internet Web sources for completion of the tasks, manages interaction with the identified Web sites (17(l-n)) gathering results of the interactions, integrates the gathered results, and communicates final results to the client at the client station. Tasks may be such as trip planning and may include payment for services rendered at Web sites, such as airline reservations, car rentals and the like. A similar system is provided for broadcasting messages to multiple Internet destinations, and further for gathering answers to such messages and communicating the answers to the client.