Traffic reduction in networked data collection

A system for data collection in a network, the system comprising:

• a form providing means for providing a form to a client for display by the client, the form including a plurality of data entry fields;
• a script providing means for providing a script to the client, the script detecting a change to one of the plurality of data entry fields, and in response to the detected change, transmitting a first message over a data network from the client to a server, the first message including information indicative of the detected change;
• and
• transmitting means for transmitting a second message over the data network from the server to the client, in response to the first message, the second message including data relating to a different one of the plurality of data entry fields.

A computer-readable medium containing a computer-implementable program for data collection in a client/server environment, the computer program comprising computer-implementable instructions for controlling a computer to:

• provide a form for display by a client, the form including a plurality of data entry fields;
• detect a change to one of the plurality of data entry fields, and in response to the detected change, transmits a first message over a data network from the client to a server, the first message including information indicative of the detected change;
• and
• transmit a second message over the data network from the server to the client, in response to the first message, the second message including data relating to a different one of the plurality of data entry fields.