US6434547B1 — Data capture and verification system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 75 words

A method of recording and evaluating data comprising: receiving data on a computer into at least one data entry location in a computer generated document having a pre-defined structure with defined data entry locations; allocating a point value to each data entry location based on the effort and skill involved in obtaining the data that is supplied to the data entry location, and performing mathematical manipulations on the point values to obtain a resultant number.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 75 words

A method of recording and evaluating data comprising: receiving data on a computer into at least one data entry location in a computer generated document having a pre-defined structure with defined data entry locations; allocating a point value to each data entry location based on the effort and skill involved in obtaining the data that is supplied to the data entry location, and performing mathematical manipulations on the point values to obtain a resultant number.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising prompting a user for further data input to certain data entry locations based on the resultant number.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the mathematical manipulations comprise adding the point values to obtain a total number of points.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 1 wherein entering data on a computer includes voice input and the use of speech-recognition software to generate text data.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the allocating of the point values and the performing of mathematical manipulations is performed by a computer.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 5 , further comprising comparing the resultant number to at least one predefined value and determining potential data entry locations for further data entry to achieve one of the at least one predefined value.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 5 further comprising leading users through the document from one data entry location to the next by means of a visual prompt.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 7 , wherein the next data entry location is the next data entry location in the same row or column as the previous data entry location.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 7 , wherein the next data entry location is selected by the user.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 7 , wherein the next data entry location is selected by the computer based on a user data entry pattern determined from prior data entry activity.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 7 , wherein the visual prompt is moved to the next location once the user has indicated completion of data entry into the previous location.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 7 wherein the visual prompt moves to the next location after a predefined time interval.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 7 wherein the visual prompt moves to the next data entry location after a system determined time interval based on the user's prior data entry timing pattern.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 4 , wherein the entered data is compared to a dictionary of terms to identify potential errors.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 14 , wherein the entered data is compared to a dictionary of desired terms to determine which terms of the data entry fall outside the terms of the dictionary of desired terms.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 14 , wherein the method includes comparing the entered data to a dictionary of undesired terms that includes terms unlikely to be found in an area of interest to the user, for determining the terms of entered data likely to be incorrect.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 15 which includes the step of indicating to the user whenever a term likely to be incorrect is detected in the entered data.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 16 , wherein the user is presented with alternative words or phrases from which to select, whenever a term likely to be incorrect is detected in the entered data.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 14 , wherein Soundex codes or extended Soundex codes are used to identify potentially incorrect data.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein the extended Soundex codes are used to identify potentially incorrectly transcribed words and phrases.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method of claim 20 , wherein alternatives are presented when potentially incorrectly transcribed data is identified.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method of claim 14 , wherein the document has predefined regions dealing with different categories of information, each region being associated with a dictionary tailored to said region.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 22 , wherein data is entered orally using speech-recognition software to transcribe the oral input, and wherein potentially incorrectly transcribed input is identified and alternatives are generated based on Soundex codes or speech-recognition segments.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 4 , wherein the data is stored as objects that include positional information.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 24 , wherein the data is stored in a database.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 25 , further comprising the step of proofreading the data entered into the document.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the entering of data includes entering predefined data which is entered by downloading the predefined data from a memory location.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 27 , wherein the predefined data occupies more than one data entry location.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 28 , wherein the predefined data entry locations are each allocated at least one point.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 1 , wherein the number of data entry locations define the complexity of the document, and the complexity is selectable.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 30 , wherein the data is stored in a database having rows and columns, and wherein the complexity of the document chosen determines the number of rows pulled up for data entry.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 31 , wherein the data for each of the rows is allocated at least one point.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 27 , wherein the predefined data is entered by specifying a keyword associated with the data.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 24 , wherein the proofreading is done by a proofreader who is presented with a sound file of the oral data input, and a text file resulting from the conversion by the speech-recognition software.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 34 , wherein the sound file and the text file are synchronized with each other to facilitate moving forward or backward in either file and having the position in the other file automatically adjusted.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 34 , wherein the proofreader corrects mistakes in the text data and returns at least the corrected data and associated positional information to allow the stored data to be corrected.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 36 , wherein the returned data is used to teach the speech-recognition software.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 56 words

The method of claim 34 , wherein the entered data is compared to a dictionary of desired terms to determine which terms of the data entry fall outside the terms of the dictionary of desired terms, and wherein the proofreader is presented with a visual indicator indicating potentially incorrect terms and phrases in the text file.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 38 , wherein alternatives to the words and phrases that fall outside the terms of the dictionary of desired terms, are presented for selection.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 38 , wherein the entering of data includes entering predefined data which is entered by calling the predefined data from a memory location.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method of claim 40 , wherein the proofreader is presented with indicators defining the beginning and end of the predefined data.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method of claim 40 , wherein the user identifies the predefined data to be entered into the document, and marks the location where the data is to be inserted, and the data corresponding to the predefined data is inserted automatically by the computer or by the user or proofreader at any time thereafter.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 56 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of proofreading the data entered into the document, wherein a proofreader is presented with a sound file of the oral data input, and uses speech-recognition software to transcribe the oral data into text data, and uses the sound file to assist in proofreading the text data.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 43 , wherein the proofreader uses more powerful sound recognition software to more accurately transcribe the oral data input.

Claim 46

Independent Claim 72 words

A method of doing business comprising: providing users with an electronic data entry facility that includes a user interface defining a data entry document for data entry on a computer, wherein the document has pre-defined data entry locations with a predefined value associated with each of the data entry locations; and mathematically manipulating the values to arrive at least at one accumulated point total for use in a subsequent decision making process.

Claim 47

Independent Claim 72 words

A method of doing business comprising: providing users with an electronic data entry facility that includes a user interface defining a data entry document for data entry on a computer, wherein the document has pre-defined data entry locations with a predefined value associated with each of the data entry locations; and mathematically manipulating the values to arrive at least at one accumulated point total for use in a subsequent decision making process.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 45 , wherein data. is entered using oral commands and speech-recognition software.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 46 , further comprising providing a proofreading facility to verify and edit the data input.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 47 , wherein a proofreading facility is located at a different geographical location to the user and is linked to the user by means of a network.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 45 , wherein the mathematical manipulation comprises adding the points for predefined data entry locations of the document or for the entire document.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 45 , wherein the accumulated points are transmitted by means of a computer network to a third party.

Claim 53

Independent Claim 158 words

A method of verifying the accuracy of orally recorded data, comprises: saving oral input into an audio file; transcribing the oral input data into text data and saving the text data in a text file; synchronizing the sound file and text file; comparing at least a term or a phrase of at least the oral input data or the text data to at least a pre-defined term or phrase; and indicating terms or phrases that are potentially incorrect, wherein the step of comparing includes comparing the term or phrase to at least a dictionary of desired terms and a dictionary of undesired terms, wherein the dictionary of desired terms includes at least a term or phrase likely to be found in a field of use of the orally recorded data, and the dictionary of undesired terms includes at least a term or phrase not likely to be found in the field of use of the orally recorded data.

Claim 54

Independent Claim 158 words

A method of verifying the accuracy of orally recorded data, comprises: saving oral input into an audio file; transcribing the oral input data into text data and saving the text data in a text file; synchronizing the sound file and text file; comparing at least a term or a phrase of at least the oral input data or the text data to at least a pre-defined term or phrase; and indicating terms or phrases that are potentially incorrect, wherein the step of comparing includes comparing the term or phrase to at least a dictionary of desired terms and a dictionary of undesired terms, wherein the dictionary of desired terms includes at least a term or phrase likely to be found in a field of use of the orally recorded data, and the dictionary of undesired terms includes at least a term or phrase not likely to be found in the field of use of the orally recorded data.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 51 , wherein the step of indicating terms or phrases includes a visual or oral indicator.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 51 , wherein the step of synchronizing involves using tags in the sound and text files.

Claim 57

Independent Claim 65 words

A system for recording data comprising: with defined software for generating an electronic document having a pre-defined structure with defined data entry locations, and means for entering data into the data entry locations; wherein each of the data entry locations has a point value associated with it, the system further comprising means for performing mathematical manipulations on the point values to obtain a resultant number.

Claim 58

Independent Claim 65 words

A system for recording data comprising: with defined software for generating an electronic document having a pre-defined structure with defined data entry locations, and means for entering data into the data entry locations; wherein each of the data entry locations has a point value associated with it, the system further comprising means for performing mathematical manipulations on the point values to obtain a resultant number.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 77 words

The method of claim 6 , wherein determining potential data entry locations for further data entry includes the computer providing at least one visual depiction of the data entry locations that have data in them and the points associated with such data entry locations, and all or selected data entry locations or groups of data entry locations that do not have data in them but if filled with data would provide the opportunity for scoring additional points.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 55 , wherein the at least one visual depiction is a tree structure.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 55 , wherein a plurality of visual depictions are provided by the computer and a user can select from the depictions.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 57 , wherein the visual depictions show different amounts of detail.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method of claim 55 , wherein the computer selects which data entry locations or groups of data entry locations without data, to depict, based on predetermined score threshold levels and a determination of those data entry locations or groups of data entry locations that are most likely to lead to the next higher score threshold level.

Claim 64

Independent Claim 79 words

A method of verifying the accuracy of orally recording data that is recorded for entry into a document having a plurality of fields dealing with different subject matters, comprising saving oral input into an audio file; transcribing the oral input data into text data and saving the text data in a text file; synchronizing the sound file and text file; comparing each word or phrase to predefined words or phrases in a dictionary that is specific to the field.

Claim 65

Independent Claim 79 words

A method of verifying the accuracy of orally recording data that is recorded for entry into a document having a plurality of fields dealing with different subject matters, comprising saving oral input into an audio file; transcribing the oral input data into text data and saving the text data in a text file; synchronizing the sound file and text file; comparing each word or phrase to predefined words or phrases in a dictionary that is specific to the field.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 60 , wherein each field is associated with a dictionary of desired terms and a dictionary of undesired terms.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method of claim 51 , wherein at least one of the dictionaries includes multiple word phrases.

Claim 68

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method of claim 60 , wherein at least one of the dictionaries includes multiple word phrases.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-08-12	2006-02-11	2006-08-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-08-12	2010-02-11	2010-08-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-08-12	2014-02-11	2014-08-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Data capture and verification system

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag