US5640501A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Development system and methods for visually creating goal oriented electronic form applications having decision trees
Assignee: Borland Software Corp
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Filing: 1993-10-06
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Granted: 1997-06-17
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Expires: 2013-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A system for creation and completion of goal oriented electronic forms creates a graphical image data file which defines: a graphical image of a form for display and printing; a graphical image of tree branches, tree nodes, and conclusions in association with fields of the form; reading and writing links between form fields and data sources and destinations; and links to other forms which, with the original form, comprise a related stack of forms. The system includes a form creation mode and a run time mode. The trees are defined by an application developer using the form creation mode to establish both qualitative and quantitative relationships between the various fields on the forms thereby providing the basis for the goal oriented prompting for the application user using the run time mode.
Inventors
- 👤 William Monroe Turpin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:35
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F8/00; G06F8/30; G06F8/34; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/166; G06F40/174
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A goal oriented electronic form system comprising: means for generating and means for using form data files which define: a graphical image of at least one goal oriented form for display on a monitor, said form including at least one field for storing information; a graphical image of at least one decision tree, said at least one decision tree defining specific operations to be performed by the system in response to storage of information at a selected one of said at least one field; means for generating form data files comprising means for selectively defining data links between selected fields of one or more forms and a variety of different external data sources, said means for generating form data files including means for reading data from the sources into fields and for writing information from fields to the sources; means, responsive to a user request, for establishing a link to an external data source; and means for creating the external data source in the event that an appropriate one does not already exist, the source being automatically created with fields which correspond in name and characteristics to the selected fields of at least one form named in said link request.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A goal oriented electronic form system comprising: means for generating and means for using form data files which define: a graphical image of at least one goal oriented form for display on a monitor, said form including at least one field for storing information; a graphical image of at least one decision tree, said at least one decision tree defining specific operations to be performed by the system in response to storage of information at a selected one of said at least one field; means for generating form data files comprising means for selectively defining data links between selected fields of one or more forms and a variety of different external data sources, said means for generating form data files including means for reading data from the sources into fields and for writing information from fields to the sources; means, responsive to a user request, for establishing a link to an external data source; and means for creating the external data source in the event that an appropriate one does not already exist, the source being automatically created with fields which correspond in name and characteristics to the selected fields of at least one form named in said link request.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: each said decision tree comprises branch objects and conclusion objects; and wherein said objects define selected ones of logical relations and computational operations for achieving a goal, whereby the system prescribes a sequence of prompting within a form and among forms of a set of forms for achieving said goal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said data links are defined as being selected ones of reading links for reading data from the sources and writing links for writing information to the sources.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said variety of data sources include a selected one of a data base file and an ASCII data file.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said data links include means for exchanging information with another application program.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said means for generating includes first interactive means for visually creating said form on said monitor and second interactive means for visually creating said at least one decision tree on said monitor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said means for defining data links includes interactive means for specifying links between said fields of forms and said data sources.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said system comprises a form creation mode of operation for generating and using said graphical images of at least one goal oriented form and at least one decision tree; and a run time mode of operation, whereby the system prevents end user alteration of said form data files.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 8 wherein: said run time mode of operation comprises means for selecting a field of a form; and means for selectively displaying a decision tree assigned to that field.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-16 | 2000-12-16 | 2001-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-16 | 2004-12-16 | 2005-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-16 | 2008-12-16 | 2009-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |