US6189029B1 — Web survey tool builder and result compiler

Claim 1

Independent Claim 178 words

A computer system for performing a survey over a computer network, said computer network comprising a client computer coupled by a network link to a server computer, said computer system comprising: a network server system disposed in said server computer; a browser disposed in said client computer, said browser for accessing said network server system; and a dynamic survey system residing in said server system, said dynamic survey system adapted to allow users to construct survey questions for a plurality of surveys on said server system via said client computer, said dynamic survey system further adapted to present said survey over said network link, said dynamic survey system further adapted to enable said users to access results of said survey located on said server system using said client computer without requiring said client computer to have a second survey system disposed therein, said dynamic survey system adapted to provide a new survey from a decision tree having a plurality of available surveys if an appropriate response to a previously answered survey question is provided in a first survey.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 178 words

A computer system for performing a survey over a computer network, said computer network comprising a client computer coupled by a network link to a server computer, said computer system comprising: a network server system disposed in said server computer; a browser disposed in said client computer, said browser for accessing said network server system; and a dynamic survey system residing in said server system, said dynamic survey system adapted to allow users to construct survey questions for a plurality of surveys on said server system via said client computer, said dynamic survey system further adapted to present said survey over said network link, said dynamic survey system further adapted to enable said users to access results of said survey located on said server system using said client computer without requiring said client computer to have a second survey system disposed therein, said dynamic survey system adapted to provide a new survey from a decision tree having a plurality of available surveys if an appropriate response to a previously answered survey question is provided in a first survey.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 26 words

The computer system for performing a survey over a computer network as recited in claim 1 wherein said network server system further comprises: a web page.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

The computer system for performing a survey over a computer network as recited in claim 1 wherein said network server system further comprises: software scripts for generating a survey question on said network server system.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 63 words

The computer system for performing a survey over a computer network as recited in claim 3 wherein said network server system is further adapted to enable said client computer to access said software script such that client computer is able to generate a survey question on said network server system without requiring said client computer to have a survey generation system disposed therein.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 66 words

The computer system for performing a survey over a computer network as recited in claim 4 wherein said network server system further comprises: an authorization system for selectively providing access to said software scripts such that only said client computer is able to generate a survey question on said network server system without requiring said selected client computer to have a survey generation system disposed therein.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 65 words

The computer system for performing a survey over a computer network as recited in claim 1 wherein said network server system further comprises: an authorization system for selectively providing access to said survey results such that only said client computer is able to access said survey results on said network server system without requiring said client computer to have a second survey system disposed therein.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 68 words

The computer system for performing a survey over a computer network as recited in claim 1 wherein said network server system further comprises: a relational database system adapted to tabulate said results to said survey presented by said survey system, such that said client computer is able to access relational database tabulated survey results without requiring said client computer to have a second relational database system disposed therein.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 44 words

The computer system for performing a survey over a computer network as recited in claim 1 wherein said network server system is further adapted to enable said client computer to access survey results sent to said dynamic survey system from a second client computer.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 140 words

A networked computer system having at least a first computer, said first computer having a CPU, a memory, a browser, a display device and an input device and a means for conducting an electronic survey on a network comprising: an HTTP web server resident in the memory of said computer; software scripts for generating at least one web page displayable by said HTTP web server, said Web page comprising a plurality of survey questions accessible by said browser; and a relational database application resident in the memory of said computer, said relational database application having a plurality of tables for storing a plurality of surveys, said electronic survey adapted to provide a new survey from a decision tree having a plurality of available surveys if an appropriate response to a previously answered survey question is provided in a first survey.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 140 words

A networked computer system having at least a first computer, said first computer having a CPU, a memory, a browser, a display device and an input device and a means for conducting an electronic survey on a network comprising: an HTTP web server resident in the memory of said computer; software scripts for generating at least one web page displayable by said HTTP web server, said Web page comprising a plurality of survey questions accessible by said browser; and a relational database application resident in the memory of said computer, said relational database application having a plurality of tables for storing a plurality of surveys, said electronic survey adapted to provide a new survey from a decision tree having a plurality of available surveys if an appropriate response to a previously answered survey question is provided in a first survey.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

The networked computer system of claim 9 further comprising storing responses to said survey questions in said tables and for summarizing and presenting results of said responses to said questions.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 81 words

The networked computer system of claim 9 further comprising a second computer, having a second CPU, a second memory, a second display device and a second input device, connected by a network connection to said first computer, said second computer further having a second browser resident in said second memory for accessing said Web page and for providing responses to said survey questions, said responses stored in at least one of said tables resident in the memory of said first computer.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 46 words

The networked computer system of claim 11 further comprising means for selecting at least one of said tables and for transferring selected information stored in said tables to the display of said second computer without requiring said second computer to have a survey system disposed therein.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 25 words

The networked computer system of claim 9 , wherein said electronic survey is dynamically modified by adding at least one of said plurality of tables.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 25 words

The networked computer system of claim 9 , wherein said electronic survey is dynamically modified by modifying at least one of said plurality of tables.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 118 words

A method for conducting a survey on the Internet comprising: configuring a plurality of tables in a relational database environment; populating at least one of said plurality of tables with survey questions in response to input from a client computer for a survey creator; creating a Web page on a server computer for displaying the survey questions; viewing the survey questions with a Web browser located on a client computer for a survey taker; receiving input at said server computer to the survey questions via the Internet; and providing a new survey from a decision tree having a plurality of available surveys if an appropriate response to a previously answered survey question is provided in a first survey.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 118 words

A method for conducting a survey on the Internet comprising: configuring a plurality of tables in a relational database environment; populating at least one of said plurality of tables with survey questions in response to input from a client computer for a survey creator; creating a Web page on a server computer for displaying the survey questions; viewing the survey questions with a Web browser located on a client computer for a survey taker; receiving input at said server computer to the survey questions via the Internet; and providing a new survey from a decision tree having a plurality of available surveys if an appropriate response to a previously answered survey question is provided in a first survey.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of: notifying users of the URL of said survey; storing said input in at least a different one of said plurality of tables; and tabulating results of electronic surveys.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of: receiving further input responsive to a second set of survey questions from said new survey; and accessing one of said plurality of tables in response to said further input.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of modifying the data set contained in said table selected in response to said further input.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of transmitting at least a selected portion of the accessed table.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method recited in claim 15 , further comprising the steps of: checking said survey questions for correct syntax; and prompting said survey creator to correct a survey question having an incorrect syntax.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method recited in claim 15 , further comprising the steps of: discarding said input to said survey question if it is a null answer.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 115 words

In a network system having a server with a memory and network connections, said server having application software, including a relational database, resident in the memory, a method for invoking said application software from a computer connected to said server by said network connections, said method comprising: presenting a sequence of surveys, stored in said relational database; receiving, via the network connection, input to said sequence of surveys; analyzing said input; and responsive to said analysis of said input, invoking said application software to dynamically provide a new survey from a decision tree having a plurality of available surveys if an appropriate response to a previously answered survey question is provided in a first survey.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 115 words

In a network system having a server with a memory and network connections, said server having application software, including a relational database, resident in the memory, a method for invoking said application software from a computer connected to said server by said network connections, said method comprising: presenting a sequence of surveys, stored in said relational database; receiving, via the network connection, input to said sequence of surveys; analyzing said input; and responsive to said analysis of said input, invoking said application software to dynamically provide a new survey from a decision tree having a plurality of available surveys if an appropriate response to a previously answered survey question is provided in a first survey.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of: receiving, via the network connection, input to said second sequence of surveys; analyzing said input; and responsive to said analysis of said input, initiating operational functions of said application software.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 22 wherein said sequence of surveys is dynamically modified by adding an additional survey to said sequence of surveys.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 22 wherein said sequence of surveys is dynamically modified by modifying at least one of said sequence of surveys.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-02-13	2004-08-14	2005-02-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-02-13	2008-08-14	2009-02-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-02-13	2012-08-14	2013-02-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Web survey tool builder and result compiler

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