Patent JPS6174773A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6137488A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for creating structured fields on electronic forms
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1998-07-29
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Granted: 2000-10-24
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Expires: 2018-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A computer system enables a user to conveniently fill-out, configure, and submit a structure of interrelated data fields, where the order and type of linking between the fields is user selected. A graphical user interface presents a field template having one or more data fields. The user may extend the electronic form by selecting an expand form field; in response to selection of the expand field, the user interface adds a second field template and a connective field to the display. This second template, like the first, includes one or more data fields. Using a connective field, the user identifies a logical relationship between the first field template and the second field template. For instance, the user may select from Boolean or other connective terms to construct a form having a complex format of interrelated fields. As each new field template is added with its corresponding connective field, the user interface also presents a nesting icon, allowing the user to establish a logical hierarchy between the various field templates.
Inventors
- 👤 Reiner Kraft
- 👤 Qi Lu
- 👤 Ron Yair Pinter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/166; G06F40/174; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0489; G06F3/04895; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A computer-driven method of providing a user interface to gather data, the method comprising: transmitting a program of machine-readable instructions from a host computer to a local computer; the local computer receiving and executing the instructions, the executing of the instructions directing the local computer to perform operations comprising: displaying on a video display a field template including at least one data field; displaying on the video display an expand field and a submit field; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields; determining whether the user has selected the expand field, and for each user selection of the expand field, displaying on the video display an additional field template and a connective field, each connective field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable Boolean terms defining relationships between the additional field template and a previous field template; displaying a nesting field in association with each additional field template; receiving user entry to each connective field, each entry comprising selection of one of the predefined connective terms; determining whether user entry to the nesting fields has occurred, each entry comprising selection of a nesting level, and responsive to user entry to a particular nesting field, changing the display of the associated field template to include indentation according to the selected nesting level; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields of each additional field template; and determining whether user selection of the submit field has been received, and if so, transmitting a machine-readable representation of the user entries and their relationship to the host computer; and the host computer receiving the representation from the local computer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
A computer-driven method of providing a user interface to gather data, the method comprising: transmitting a program of machine-readable instructions from a host computer to a local computer; the local computer receiving and executing the instructions, the executing of the instructions directing the local computer to perform operations comprising: displaying on a video display a field template including at least one data field; displaying on the video display an expand field and a submit field; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields; determining whether the user has selected the expand field, and for each user selection of the expand field, displaying on the video display an additional field template and a connective field, each connective field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable Boolean terms defining relationships between the additional field template and a previous field template; displaying a nesting field in association with each additional field template; receiving user entry to each connective field, each entry comprising selection of one of the predefined connective terms; determining whether user entry to the nesting fields has occurred, each entry comprising selection of a nesting level, and responsive to user entry to a particular nesting field, changing the display of the associated field template to include indentation according to the selected nesting level; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields of each additional field template; and determining whether user selection of the submit field has been received, and if so, transmitting a machine-readable representation of the user entries and their relationship to the host computer; and the host computer receiving the representation from the local computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
254 words
A computer-driven method of providing a user interface to gather data, the method comprising: a host computer transmitting a program of machine-readable instructions from a host computer to a local computer, the program being executable by the local computer to perform operations comprising: displaying on a video display a field template including at least one data field; displaying on the video display an expand field and a submit field; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields; determining whether the user has selected the expand field, and for each user selection of the expand field, displaying on the video display an additional field template and a connective field, each connective field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable Boolean terms defining relationships between the additional field template and a previous field template; displaying a nesting field in association with each additional field template; receiving user entry to each connective field, each entry comprising selection of one of the predefined connective terms; determining whether user entry to the nesting fields has occurred, each entry comprising selection of a nesting level, and responsive to user entry to a particular nesting field, changing the display of the associated field template to include indentation according to the selected nesting level; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields of each additional field template; and determining whether user selection of the submit field has been received, and if so, transmitting a machine-readable representation of the user entries and their relationship to a predefined destination.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
254 words
A computer-driven method of providing a user interface to gather data, the method comprising: a host computer transmitting a program of machine-readable instructions from a host computer to a local computer, the program being executable by the local computer to perform operations comprising: displaying on a video display a field template including at least one data field; displaying on the video display an expand field and a submit field; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields; determining whether the user has selected the expand field, and for each user selection of the expand field, displaying on the video display an additional field template and a connective field, each connective field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable Boolean terms defining relationships between the additional field template and a previous field template; displaying a nesting field in association with each additional field template; receiving user entry to each connective field, each entry comprising selection of one of the predefined connective terms; determining whether user entry to the nesting fields has occurred, each entry comprising selection of a nesting level, and responsive to user entry to a particular nesting field, changing the display of the associated field template to include indentation according to the selected nesting level; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields of each additional field template; and determining whether user selection of the submit field has been received, and if so, transmitting a machine-readable representation of the user entries and their relationship to a predefined destination.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2, the predefined destination comprising the storage at the local computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 2, the operations further comprising displaying one or more contract fields each associated with one field template and determining whether user selection of any contract field has occurred, and if so, deleting the associated field template from the display.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2, where the connective terms comprise Boolean connectors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2, where the indentation of each field template is proportional to the selected nesting level of the field's associated nesting field.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, where the nesting field comprises an icon and the determining of whether user entry to any nesting field has occurred comprises detecting user input selecting the nesting icon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 2, where the data fields of each field template comprise: a data-entry field; and a classification field associated with the data-entry field, the classification field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable classification entries to categorize contents of the data-entry field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 2, the predefined destination comprising the host computer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2, predefined destination comprising the host computer, the method further including the host computer receiving the representation from the local computer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
214 words
A computer-driven method of providing a user interface to gather data, the method comprising: displaying on a video display a field template including at least one data field; displaying on the video display an expand field and a submit field; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields; determining whether the user has selected the expand field, and for each user selection of the expand field, displaying on the video display an additional field template and a connective field, each connective field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable Boolean terms defining relationships between the additional field template and a previous field template; displaying a nesting field in association with each additional field template; receiving user entry to each connective field, each entry comprising selection of one of the predefined connective terms; determining whether user entry to the nesting fields has occurred, each entry comprising selection of a nesting level, and responsive to user entry to a particular nesting field, changing the display of the associated field template to include indentation according to the selected nesting level; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields of each additional field template; and determining whether user selection of the submit field has been received, and if so, performing a predetermined action.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
214 words
A computer-driven method of providing a user interface to gather data, the method comprising: displaying on a video display a field template including at least one data field; displaying on the video display an expand field and a submit field; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields; determining whether the user has selected the expand field, and for each user selection of the expand field, displaying on the video display an additional field template and a connective field, each connective field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable Boolean terms defining relationships between the additional field template and a previous field template; displaying a nesting field in association with each additional field template; receiving user entry to each connective field, each entry comprising selection of one of the predefined connective terms; determining whether user entry to the nesting fields has occurred, each entry comprising selection of a nesting level, and responsive to user entry to a particular nesting field, changing the display of the associated field template to include indentation according to the selected nesting level; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields of each additional field template; and determining whether user selection of the submit field has been received, and if so, performing a predetermined action.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11, the predetermined action comprising storing a data structure representing the user entries and relationship between the user entries.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 11, the method further comprising displaying one or more contract fields each associated with one field template, and determining whether user selection of any contract field has occurred, and if so, deleting the associated field template from the display.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11, where the connective terms comprise Boolean connectors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11, where the indentation of each field template is proportional to the selected nesting level of the field's associated nesting field.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 11, where the nesting field comprises an icon and the determining of whether user entry to any nesting field has occurred comprises detecting user input selecting the nesting icon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 11, where the data fields of each field template comprise: a data-entry field; and a classification field associated with the data-entry field, the classification field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable classification entries to categorize contents of the data-entry field.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
267 words
A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method of providing a user interface to gather data, the method comprising: a host computer transmitting a program of machine-readable instructions to a local computer, the program being executable by the local computer to perform operations comprising: displaying on a video display a field template including at least one data field; displaying on the video display an expand field and a submit field; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields; determining whether the user has selected the expand field, and for each user selection of the expand field, displaying on the video display an additional field template and a connective field, each connective field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable Boolean terms defining relationships between the additional field template and a previous field template; displaying a nesting field in association with each additional field template; receiving user entry to each connective field, each entry comprising selection of one of the predefined connective terms; determining whether user entry to the nesting fields has occurred, each entry comprising selection of a nesting level, and responsive to user entry to a particular nesting field, changing the display of the associated field template to include indentation according to the selected nesting level; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields of each additional field template; and determining whether user selection of the submit field has been received, and if so, transmitting a machine-readable representation of the user entries and their relationship to a predefined destination.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
267 words
A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method of providing a user interface to gather data, the method comprising: a host computer transmitting a program of machine-readable instructions to a local computer, the program being executable by the local computer to perform operations comprising: displaying on a video display a field template including at least one data field; displaying on the video display an expand field and a submit field; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields; determining whether the user has selected the expand field, and for each user selection of the expand field, displaying on the video display an additional field template and a connective field, each connective field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable Boolean terms defining relationships between the additional field template and a previous field template; displaying a nesting field in association with each additional field template; receiving user entry to each connective field, each entry comprising selection of one of the predefined connective terms; determining whether user entry to the nesting fields has occurred, each entry comprising selection of a nesting level, and responsive to user entry to a particular nesting field, changing the display of the associated field template to include indentation according to the selected nesting level; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields of each additional field template; and determining whether user selection of the submit field has been received, and if so, transmitting a machine-readable representation of the user entries and their relationship to a predefined destination.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The medium of claim 18, the predefined destination comprising storage at the local computer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
The medium of claim 18, the operations further comprising displaying one or more contract fields each associated with one field template, and determining whether user selection of any contract field has occurred, and if so, deleting the associated field template from the display.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The medium of claim 18, where the connective terms comprise Boolean connectors.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The medium of claim 18, where the indentation of each field template is proportional to the selected nesting level of the field's associated nesting field.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The medium of claim 18, where the nesting field comprises an icon and the determining of whether user entry to any nesting field has occurred comprises detecting user input selecting the nesting icon.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
The medium of claim 18, where the data fields of each field template comprise: a data-entry field; and a classification field associated with the data-entry field, the classification field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable classification entries to categorize contents of the data-entry field.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The medium of claim 18, the predefined destination comprising the host computer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The medium of claim 18, predefined destination comprising the host computer, the method further including the host computer receiving the representation from the local computer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
231 words
A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method of providing a user interface to gather data, the method comprising: displaying on a video display a field template including at least one data field; displaying on the video display an expand field and a submit field; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields; determining whether the user has selected the expand field, and for each user selection of the expand field, displaying on the video display an additional field template and a connective field, each connective field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable Boolean terms defining relationships between the additional field template and a previous field template; displaying a nesting field in association with each additional field template; receiving user entry to each connective field, each entry comprising selection of one of the predefined connective terms; determining whether user entry to the nesting fields has occurred, each entry comprising selection of a nesting level, and responsive to user entry to a particular nesting field, changing the display of the associated field template to include indentation according to the selected nesting level; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields of each additional field template; and determining whether user selection of the submit field has been received, and if so, performing a predetermined action.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
231 words
A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method of providing a user interface to gather data, the method comprising: displaying on a video display a field template including at least one data field; displaying on the video display an expand field and a submit field; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields; determining whether the user has selected the expand field, and for each user selection of the expand field, displaying on the video display an additional field template and a connective field, each connective field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable Boolean terms defining relationships between the additional field template and a previous field template; displaying a nesting field in association with each additional field template; receiving user entry to each connective field, each entry comprising selection of one of the predefined connective terms; determining whether user entry to the nesting fields has occurred, each entry comprising selection of a nesting level, and responsive to user entry to a particular nesting field, changing the display of the associated field template to include indentation according to the selected nesting level; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields of each additional field template; and determining whether user selection of the submit field has been received, and if so, performing a predetermined action.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The medium of claim 27, the predetermined action comprising storing a data structure representing the user entries and relationship between the user entries.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
43 words
The medium of claim 27, the method further comprising displaying one or more contract fields each associated with one field template, and determining whether user selection of any contract field has occurred, and if so, deleting the associated field template from the display.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The medium of claim 27, where the connective terms comprise Boolean connectors.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The medium of claim 27, where the indentation of each field template is proportional to the selected nesting level of the field's associated nesting field.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
33 words
The medium of claim 27, where the nesting field comprises an icon and the determining of whether user entry to any nesting field has occurred comprises detecting user input selecting the nesting icon.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
44 words
The medium of claim 27, where the data fields of each field template comprise: a data-entry field; and a classification field associated with the data-entry field, the classification field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable classification entries to categorize contents of the data-entry field.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
299 words
A system for gathering structured data, comprising: a host computer; a local computer; and a communications link interconnecting the host computer and local computer; where the host computer and local computer are programmed to perform a method of gathering data, the method comprising: the host computer transmitting a program of machine-readable instructions to the local computer; the local computer receiving and executing the instructions, the executing of the instructions directing the local computer to perform operations comprising: displaying on a video display a field template including at least one data field; displaying on the video display an expand field and a submit field; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields; determining whether the user has selected the expand field, and for each user selection of the expand field, displaying on the video display an additional field template and a connective field, each connective field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable Boolean terms defining relationships between the additional field template and a previous field template; displaying a nesting field in association with each additional field template; receiving user entry to each connective field, each entry comprising selection of one of the predefined connective terms; determining whether user entry to the nesting fields has occurred, each entry comprising selection of a nesting level, and responsive to user entry to a particular nesting field, changing the display of the associated field template to include indentation according to the selected nesting level; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields of each additional field template; and determining whether user selection of the submit field has been received, and if so, transmitting a machine-readable representation of the user entries and their relationship to the host computer; and the host computer receiving the representation from the local computer.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
299 words
A system for gathering structured data, comprising: a host computer; a local computer; and a communications link interconnecting the host computer and local computer; where the host computer and local computer are programmed to perform a method of gathering data, the method comprising: the host computer transmitting a program of machine-readable instructions to the local computer; the local computer receiving and executing the instructions, the executing of the instructions directing the local computer to perform operations comprising: displaying on a video display a field template including at least one data field; displaying on the video display an expand field and a submit field; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields; determining whether the user has selected the expand field, and for each user selection of the expand field, displaying on the video display an additional field template and a connective field, each connective field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable Boolean terms defining relationships between the additional field template and a previous field template; displaying a nesting field in association with each additional field template; receiving user entry to each connective field, each entry comprising selection of one of the predefined connective terms; determining whether user entry to the nesting fields has occurred, each entry comprising selection of a nesting level, and responsive to user entry to a particular nesting field, changing the display of the associated field template to include indentation according to the selected nesting level; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields of each additional field template; and determining whether user selection of the submit field has been received, and if so, transmitting a machine-readable representation of the user entries and their relationship to the host computer; and the host computer receiving the representation from the local computer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 34, the communications link comprising a computer network.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
271 words
A system for gathering structured data, comprising: a host computer, including a digital data processing apparatus and an interface, where the digital data processing apparatus is programmed to perform a method of gathering data comprising: transmitting a program of machine-readable instructions via the interface to a local computer, the program being executable by the local computer to perform operations comprising: displaying on a video display a field template including at least one data field; displaying on the video display an expand field and a submit field; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields; determining whether the user has selected the expand field, and for each user selection of the expand field, displaying on the video display an additional field template and a connective field, each connective field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable Boolean terms defining relationships between the additional field template and a previous field template; displaying a nesting field in association with each additional field template; receiving user entry to each connective field, each entry comprising selection of one of the predefined connective terms; determining whether user entry to the nesting fields has occurred, each entry comprising selection of a nesting level, and responsive to user entry to a particular nesting field, changing the display of the associated field template to include indentation according to the selected nesting level; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields of each additional field template; and determining whether user selection of the submit field has been received, and if so, transmitting a machine-readable representation of the user entries and their relationship for a predefined destination.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
271 words
A system for gathering structured data, comprising: a host computer, including a digital data processing apparatus and an interface, where the digital data processing apparatus is programmed to perform a method of gathering data comprising: transmitting a program of machine-readable instructions via the interface to a local computer, the program being executable by the local computer to perform operations comprising: displaying on a video display a field template including at least one data field; displaying on the video display an expand field and a submit field; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields; determining whether the user has selected the expand field, and for each user selection of the expand field, displaying on the video display an additional field template and a connective field, each connective field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable Boolean terms defining relationships between the additional field template and a previous field template; displaying a nesting field in association with each additional field template; receiving user entry to each connective field, each entry comprising selection of one of the predefined connective terms; determining whether user entry to the nesting fields has occurred, each entry comprising selection of a nesting level, and responsive to user entry to a particular nesting field, changing the display of the associated field template to include indentation according to the selected nesting level; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields of each additional field template; and determining whether user selection of the submit field has been received, and if so, transmitting a machine-readable representation of the user entries and their relationship for a predefined destination.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
259 words
A system for gathering structured data, comprising: a user interface, including a display device and a user input device; a digital data processing apparatus, coupled to the user interface and programmed to perform a method of gathering data comprising: displaying on the display device a field template including at least one data field; displaying on the display device an expand field and a submit field; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields via the user input device; determining whether the user has selected the expand field, and for each user selection of the expand field, displaying on the video display an additional field template and a connective field, each connective field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable Boolean terms defining relationships between the additional field template and a previous field template; displaying a nesting field in association with each additional field template; receiving user entry to each connective field via the user input device, each entry comprising selection of one of the predefined connective terms; determining whether user entry to the nesting fields has occurred, each entry comprising selection of a nesting level, and responsive to user entry to a particular nesting field, changing the display of the associated field template to include indentation according to the selected nesting level; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields of each additional field template via the user input device; and determining whether user selection of the submit field has been received via the user input device, and if so, performing a predetermined action.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
259 words
A system for gathering structured data, comprising: a user interface, including a display device and a user input device; a digital data processing apparatus, coupled to the user interface and programmed to perform a method of gathering data comprising: displaying on the display device a field template including at least one data field; displaying on the display device an expand field and a submit field; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields via the user input device; determining whether the user has selected the expand field, and for each user selection of the expand field, displaying on the video display an additional field template and a connective field, each connective field displaying a list of predefined user-selectable Boolean terms defining relationships between the additional field template and a previous field template; displaying a nesting field in association with each additional field template; receiving user entry to each connective field via the user input device, each entry comprising selection of one of the predefined connective terms; determining whether user entry to the nesting fields has occurred, each entry comprising selection of a nesting level, and responsive to user entry to a particular nesting field, changing the display of the associated field template to include indentation according to the selected nesting level; receiving user entry to one or more of the data fields of each additional field template via the user input device; and determining whether user selection of the submit field has been received via the user input device, and if so, performing a predetermined action.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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