United States Patent
`Wright, Jr.
`
`[19]
`
`III~
`
`111I1
`
`I~IIII~ 111111111 ~IIIIII
`US005704029A
`5,704,029
`[11] Patent Number:
`Dec. 30, 1997
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`[54] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPLETING
`AN ELECTRONIC FORM
`
`Brochure entitled "Form Factor, Business and Personal Data
`Collection for PDAs", Meta Pacific, 1993.
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor: Gerald V. Wright, Jr., San Diego,
`Calif.
`
`Apple Computer, Inc., The NewtonScript Programming
`Language, Alpha Draft 1.0, JuI. 1993.
`
`[73] Assignee: Wright Strategies, Inc., La Jolla, Calif.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 247,777
`
`May 23, 1994
`
`[22] Filed:
`Int. CL 6
`...................................................... GOCiF 17130
`[51]
`[52] U.S. Cl ............................................................... 3951149
`[58] Field of Search ..................................... 395/146, 148,
`395/149
`
`[56]
`
`4,603,232
`4,651,288
`4,730,253
`4,863,384
`4,937,439
`5,047,960
`5,100,329
`5,204,813
`5,208,907
`5,225,996
`5,283,861
`5,335,164
`
`References Cited
`u.s. PATENr DOCUMENTS
`7/1986 Kurland et aI ............................ 379192
`3/1987 Zeising .................................... 395/117
`3/1988 Gordon .....•.•.••..•.•.••••••••••••• 364/413.02
`911989 Slade ....................................... 4341107
`611990 Wanninger et aI. • .••••.•....••••.••• 2351456
`9/1991 Sloan ...................................... 395/149
`3/1992 Deesen et aI ..•.••.•••.•..•....••.•.••• 4341327
`411993 Samph et aI ......................... 3641419.2
`5/1993 Shelton et aI ........................... 395/149
`7/1993 Weber ..................................... 3641550
`2/1994 Dangler et aI .......................... 395/149
`8/1994 Gough, Jr. et aI ...................... 3641149
`
`OTHER PUBUCATIONS
`
`Straley, Straley's Programming with Clipper 5.0, 1991, pp.
`166-169, 1015-1020, 1079-1107.
`Goodman, Danny, 'The Newton Shuffle," MacUser, pp.
`183-184, Feb. 1994.
`Thornton, J., et al. "Using Computers to survey property,"
`Public Finance Account, Feb. 12, 1993 (abstract only).
`Brochure entitled "Introducing the ErE Communicator",
`Ete, Inc., 1993.
`Brochure entitled "Newton Software Titles, Starcore", New(cid:173)
`ton, 1993.
`
`Primary Examiner-Heather R. Herndon
`Assistant Examiner-Anton W. Fetting
`Attome~ Agen~ or Fimr-Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A system and method for providing computerized forms
`completion and processing. A forms designer utilizes a
`forms creation module that includes a scripting feature to
`create an electronic form. The scripting feature provides
`flow of control statements and a variety of functions useful
`in forms, e.g., such as questionnaires. These functions
`include data validation, field navigation/control (e.g., skip),
`context sensitive help, data formatting, alert sounds and
`dialog boxes. The scripting feature ensures that skip patterns
`are followed correctly and that the form is completed
`accurately. The forms creation program generates a field
`description record for each field created by the forms
`designer. The set of field description records that define the
`electronic form is then transferred to a handheld computer,
`such as a personal digital assistant (PDA). A user of the
`form. such as a respondent to a survey, utilizes the PDA to
`respond to the statements or questions that are part of the
`form. A forms engine executing on the PDA interprets one
`field at a time and displays that field in the sequence
`designed by the forms designer. Each field includes a prompt
`portion, an answer box portion, and a control portion that are
`displayed together on the display screen of the PDA. After
`the form is completed, the response data is optionally
`transferred to another computer for further processing or
`reporting.
`
`23 Claims, 16 Drawing Sheets
`
`Microfiche Appendix Included
`(1 Microfiche, 56 Pages)
`
`Cardiocom Ex. 1002
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Dec. 30, 1997
`
`Sheet 1 of 16
`
`5,704,029
`
`IIJ2,
`
`100
`
`)
`
`D
`
`I
`
`r=::::Il
`
`~02~ 1'~~~O~rJ)
`
`1031
`
`-
`
`.A- -
`
`110
`112
`Digital camera
`..... - - -1 Bar code reader V
`~ - - ~ Microphone ~
`II~
`
`IOe
`
`12IJ "
`
`PC program
`creates field data
`structures
`representing form
`
`122,
`
`Form is sent from
`PC to POA
`
`12-1,
`
`Form is filled out
`with POA forms
`engine
`(Fig.B)
`
`126',
`
`Form data sent
`back to PC
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Dec. 30, 1997
`
`Sheet 2 of 16
`
`5,704,029
`
`Joe's Diner
`:<--.f.--I: T oday's Oat.:
`r----------------7--------~
`I
`~_____________ __ _____
`_
`/
`:-
`
`Customer Comment Card
`
`~
`
`I --
`~-
`
`r-----------------------------------~
`-1 Number of people In your party:
`:
`~-----------------------------------~
`0 lunch a Dinner
`r-----------------------------------------------~
`-1 Meal/s ordered: 0 Breakfast
`:
`L _______________________________________________ ~
`r--------------------------------------------------,
`: If breakfast ordered. did JOu come for the $2.99 breolcfast special? :
`I
`~~
`:
`0 Yes
`0 No
`:
`l __________________________________________________ J
`r--------------------------------------------------,
`Please rate the following:
`:
`Poor
`Excellent
`:
`000 00
`:
`I
`o 0 o o o
`I
`I
`I
`o 0 o o o
`o 0
`0
`0
`0
`I
`o o 0 o o
`I
`Food Temperture
`I
`l __________________________________________________ J
`I
`r--------------------------------------------------,
`I
`I
`I Which two of the following would JOU Ilk' to ... added to the menu?
`I
`I
`: 0 Wore seafood entrees
`0 Vegetarian entrees
`:
`r--
`:
`: a Larger sllection of desserts
`0 Reduced calorl. entrees :
`I
`:
`I
`:
`0 Imported beer
`I
`t
`L __________________________________________________ J
`I
`I
`
`Restaurant Cleanliness
`
`Prompt Service
`
`Courteousne ..
`
`Food Appearance
`
`I
`I
`
`I
`
`r~l
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Dec. 30, 1997
`
`Sheet 3 of 16
`
`5,704,029
`
`1,(2
`
`Form
`RIM
`FIIIItI
`T)'IM
`OFFs,1
`SCH)JI
`
`100
`• Joe's Diner Comment Card"
`1
`Script
`.
`1
`SET datar 1] TO dat.O
`NEXT
`
`Form
`rMld
`/'nM
`OFls,1
`Pl'rJmpl
`H,/p
`SCH)JI
`
`Fonn
`n6ltl
`TJ'p.
`OFFSII
`Pnnnpi
`Answr$
`H./p
`Scrlpl
`
`100
`2
`Numeric
`2
`.. Number ~f pea pl. In your party·
`• Please Enfer a number
`IF' AnsweRd(2) THEN
`NEXT
`ELSE
`BEEP
`MESSAGE .. Please enter a numberr
`ENDlr
`
`L'.f6
`
`100
`3
`Multiple Dichotomy
`13,4,5]
`"eals ordered:·
`r Breakfast·, • Lunch· t
`• Dinner"]
`.. Please select one or more meals·
`IF' data[3] = 1 THEN
`NEXT
`ELSE IF' Answered(3) THEN
`GOTO 5
`ELSE
`BEEP
`MESSAGE • Please make a selection·
`ENDIF'
`
`I
`
`r--lri
`
`I---..J I I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`____ --1
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Dec. 30, 1997
`
`Sheet 4 of 16
`
`5,704,029
`
`rtNm
`n,1d
`r,p.
`O"s,1
`PnJmpl
`MSII'tII'$
`hsuH
`III/p
`Senpl
`
`rtH71l
`nlld
`r,p.
`Olh,1
`PnJmpl
`Ansll'tll'$
`
`Hong'
`H,suH
`Scnpl
`
`rtNm
`fWI
`r""
`Olls,1
`Pn:Impl
`
`-
`
`-I
`
`r
`I
`I
`I
`
`r~
`
`---
`I
`I
`
`100 • Multiple Response
`16]
`Old tOU come for the $2.99 breakfast special?"
`rVes, No"]
`1~,2]
`Please select 'Ves' or, 'No'"
`NEXT
`
`/150
`
`100
`S
`Matrix 17,8,9,10,11 ]
`r Restaurant Cleanliness" ... Prompt Service" t
`
`Please Rate the following:-
`
`Courteousness", "food Appearance". "food
`Temp:]
`[" Poor·. .. Excellent" ]
`[1 ,2,3,~.5]
`NEXT
`
`100
`6
`Multiple Response
`1'2•13]
`Which two of the following would you like to
`r More seafood entrees". "Larger selection of
`s.. added to the menu?"
`
`desserts·. "Import Beet, ·Vegetarlan
`entrees". .. Reduced calorie entr .. s"]
`[1,2.3,~,S]
`EXIT
`
`

`

`Please enter the number of
`people in your party.
`
`loJ
`
`Prompt Box
`
`~
`
`II 1-'
`
`/"1-1-1
`
`/62-J
`
`II
`
`I~~
`
`II
`
`225 ~ /54
`
`~
`•
`.2.28
`2JO
`'--'t
`
`~
`
`Field Description Record
`
`FtNtrI
`n.1d
`TRH
`Off .. 1
`Prompl
`H./p
`Scripl
`
`100
`2
`Numeric
`2
`"Number of People In your party:"
`"Please enter a number"
`IF Answered(2). THEN
`NEXT
`ELSE
`BEEP
`MESSAGE .. Please enter a number"
`ENDIF
`
`Iig.J
`
`00
`•
`
`o •
`~ = g ......
`
`t::'
`~
`t.W =
`,..
`I-/.
`\C
`\C
`---I
`
`~
`
`rJ'j co
`~ ....
`til
`S,
`
`I-/.
`~
`
`...
`01
`....;J
`
`~ ... = N
`
`\0
`
`

`

`Select meal/I ordered.
`
`C8I Breakfast
`181 Lunch
`o Dinner
`
`/55
`
`' -
`
`'"
`V --
`--
`
`l,..../
`
`/5J
`
`'rompl Box
`
`fl1swer Box
`
`158
`
`Field Status Record
`
`tIM..sIt1f¥I
`
`[1.1.NIL]
`
`170
`
`1/~5
`
`/5#
`
`Field Description Record
`
`~)
`
`'---
`
`..
`... •
`
`(1]00
`-
`
`100
`Form
`3
`IWd
`"ultlpl. Dichotomy
`,.".
`tm.I 13,4.5]
`... als- orde,ed:"
`Ptwnpf
`...... "B,eakfast". "lunch". • Dlnne,·
`II Please select on. 0' more meals"
`IItIIp
`IF data[3] = 1 THEN
`StJrfpf
`NEXT
`ELSE IF Answered(3) THEN
`GOTO 5
`ELSE
`BEEP
`.. ESSAGE "Please make a selection"
`ENDlf,
`
`/ig.4
`
`~ • rJ).
`•
`~ =
`~
`
`w
`~
`~
`
`I-'
`
`r:n
`If
`Il
`~
`~
`I-'
`~
`
`til
`.... .......
`E
`....
`S
`
`\C
`
`

`

`/
`
`"'I
`
`Old you come for the $2.99 V
`breakfast special?
`
`--
`
`10J
`
`'rompl Box
`
`£178
`
`FI.ld Status R.cord
`
`OVes
`eND
`
`170
`
`' -
`
`'nswer Box
`
`10-1
`
`(
`180
`
`--
`----
`
`fl-l8
`
`l.n.J
`
`'---
`
`.. •
`•
`
`(1JOO
`
`-
`
`Fig. 5
`
`Fl.ld Dncrlptlon R.cord
`
`100 • Multiple Response
`
`F"""
`FWd
`:If/.,
`6
`PtwnpI 8D1d ~ come for lilt $2.99 brtakfalf special"
`.AIJIatn rYes8
`8 No·]
`[1,2]
`IIMIII
`IItIIp
`·Pleasl .llect 'Yes' or 'No"
`NEXT
`ScrIp'
`
`,
`
`e •
`00 •
`~ = f"t"
`~ a
`
`w
`~
`~
`
`~
`
`ga
`::g
`
`~
`~
`
`s,
`
`~
`~
`
`Ut
`'!..I
`~
`
`--= N
`
`\C
`
`

`

`/
`
`Please rate the following:
`
`16J
`
`Prompl Box
`
`II
`.-'"
`...
`
`186
`
`Field status Record
`
`~ [1,3,2.NIL.S]
`
`/"'5()
`
`Answer Box
`
`16-1
`
`188
`
`18-1
`
`Exetflent
`Poor
`Cleanliness eoooo ...
`ooeoo
`Service
`Friendliness oeooo
`"- food Gppearonce 0 0 0 0 0
`food temperaiutl 0 0 0 a • ---
`.. •
`moo
`•
`-
`
`( •• +)
`
`'--
`
`Form Description Record
`
`100
`Tonn
`FWd
`5
`, . Matrtx
`()j,., 17,8,9.10,11 ]
`PnImpI Plea.. rate the following-
`...... rRntaurant Cleannness-, -Prompt Servlce-,
`-CourteousntSs-, -Food Appearanc.-.
`-Food Temp:]
`
`r Poor. • Excenenf]
`[1,2.3,4,5]
`NEXT
`
`/ttl.
`!lauD
`Sl:tlpl
`
`Fig. 0
`
`•
`
`o • r.r.;.
`"'0 = .....
`~ .....
`
`w
`~
`"""" ~
`
`~
`~
`oc
`~
`"""" Q\
`
`OJ
`'!...l
`
`~ -. = ~
`
`\C
`
`

`

`Which two of the following would
`you like to SII added to the menu?
`
`II
`L/
`
`loJ
`.--s Prompt BOK
`
`~ Wore seofood entrees
`
`o larger selection of d.ss.rts
`o Reduced colorie entre.s
`
`I8Ilmported Beer
`
`OVegetorlon entrees
`
`192
`
`r---
`
`1.98.
`200.
`~ Answer BOK 202.
`
`16-1
`
`. - /
`
`19-1
`
`FIeld Status Record
`
`2
`~
`[Nll,Nll]
`twtJIIOff-*
`....",."/
`[12,NIl., , 3,NIl.,Nll]
`ansWM'S/aM
`
`152
`
`~ • 00 •
`~ = .... ~ a
`
`w
`~
`~
`
`~
`11
`\Q
`
`~ -~
`
`Ul
`....,J
`
`~
`
`E ~ =
`
`~
`
`(.1.)
`
`---
`
`.. •
`..
`
`[fJOO
`-
`
`FIeld Description Record
`
`'00
`6
`Multiple. Response
`1'2,13)
`WhIch two of the following would you
`like to 'ee added to the menu?'"
`rUn Seafood enfrets-, -Larger .. Iectlon of
`dene"'-, -Imported be.r, ·Vegetarlan
`entre.'·, • R.duced calorie .nt,..e.·]
`[ 1,2,3,4,5]
`EXIT
`
`F,.",
`FWd·
`
`:rr;..,
`
`I'nJmpI
`
`R.ull
`Nul
`
`Fig. 7
`
`

`

`DRAW
`FIELD
`
`316
`
`YES
`
`12J
`
`Figure 8
`
`CREAn FOil STATUS AWY TO
`HOLD FIELD STATUS RECORDS
`
`310
`
`d •
`rJJ •
`
`~ = f"'f'. a
`
`w
`~
`.....
`~
`
`g;
`!
`..... =
`~
`.....
`~
`
`0'1
`
`... .......
`E
`... = N
`
`\C
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Dec. 30, 1997
`
`Sheet 11 of 16
`
`5,704,029
`
`DrnMINE MUKlElOF
`IESPOII5£S AllOWED IY
`MUllin Of OffSETYAlJES
`1M nELD
`
`410
`
`DUW ONE UJI AT TOP Of
`AllSWEllOX FOI usa TO
`WIIlEO.
`
`444
`
`464
`
`DUW atE(l BOllS STAlTlNG
`>N_0---l~AT TOP OF ANSWER BOX UNTI
`AU ANSWERS HAVE BEEN
`DUWII 01 NO KORf Will FIT
`
`DUWQWUTY
`1EYl00000,IIOTtOK
`or AllSWU lOX
`
`DlAW IIUtlEII(
`1EYl0AID ,I IOTtOll
`OfAMSWUIOX
`
`"412
`
`DUW WlIO BUTTOMS
`STAlTlNG AT TOP Of ANSWER
`lOX UNTIL All AllSWERS
`HAVE 1m DRAWl! 01110
`1101[ WIll FIT
`
`446
`
`CHEa fOlK DATUWY
`TO SEE IF fiELD HAS
`AWADY BEEII flLlfD
`
`DlAW A-Z IIiDEXING BAA
`AT IOnotl OF AllSWfI
`BOX
`
`DRAW VALUE Flotl
`fOlltDATA WAY 011
`UIIE 01 UIIES AICM
`
`ClEATE fiELD
`STAM 1E(0RJl
`
`Figure 9a
`
`428
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Dec. 30, 1997
`
`Sheet 12 of 16
`
`5,704,029
`
`ClEATE A ROW OF BUBBLES WITH AS
`MANY BUBBLES AS IESULT VAlUES IN THE
`FIELD DESCRlPnON IECOaD
`
`473
`
`DRAW COLUMN HEADINGS BASED ON
`RANGE FIELD OF FIELD DESCIIPnON
`RECORD
`
`DRAW A BUTTON IN THE MIDDLE OF
`THE ANSWER BOX
`
`494
`
`CHEa FOUl DATA ARMY TO SEE IF
`fiELD HAS AWADY BEEN FlWD
`
`476
`
`WATE AELD
`STATUS IE(OID
`
`.....-.... FOI EACH aow OF BUBBLES ~--
`
`DRAW PIEVIOUS YALUE 011 BUTTON
`ALWDYDRAWN
`
`MARl BUBBLE IN CUWNT lOW AT
`BUBBLE (OLUMN IDENTIFIED IN
`AHSWERSTATE AT INDEX (lUBBLEIOW]
`
`Figure 9b
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Dec. 30, 1997
`
`Sheet 13 of 16
`
`5,704,029
`
`372
`
`j
`
`546
`
`RE"OYE OmET FaD"
`USEDOmm ARRAY AND ADD TO
`AYAILOFFSm ARMY IN
`fIELD STATUS RECORD
`
`If"OYE FIRST NON·NILOFFSfT
`nO" AYAILOfFsm WAY AND
`ADD TO USEDOFfSm ARRAY IN
`fiELD STAtus REtORD AT INDEX
`[CHECDOX NO.]
`
`532
`
`548
`
`SET FORlt DATA AWY AT
`FREED OFFSET TO Nil
`
`SET fOlK DATA ARMY AT OFfSET
`PlOnD 1M PlEYlOUS STATE TO
`If5ULT AWY AT INDEX
`[CHECIBOX NO.]
`
`534
`
`550
`
`DECREItEHT
`BOIESCHEClED BY liN
`FIELD STATUS RECOID
`
`IIICIEHENT
`BOIESCHEClED IT liN
`FlUD STATUS RECDID
`
`AIISWEISTATE AT INDEX
`[CHEClIOI NO.] = lOR
`(AJlWERSrATE AT INDEX
`[CHECDOI NO.] • I)
`
`570
`
`DRAW CHECI II
`tHECDOI
`
`572
`
`REHOYECHECK
`flOK CHECDOI
`
`SET FOIH DATA AWY AT
`INDEX [OfFSET WAY AT
`INDEX [CHECIIOX NO.D
`TO I
`
`568
`
`SET FORtI ItATA ARRAY AT
`INDEX [OFfSET ARRAY AT
`I NOEl [CHECDOI NO.D
`TO Nil
`
`Figure lOa
`
`536
`
`

`

`INTEIPRET
`HANDWNnNG AND
`DIAWON UNES
`
`ADD LETTER OR
`ACTION OF KEY
`PRESSED TO TEXT
`
`INTERPRET
`HANDWIITING AND
`DlAWON LINE
`
`ADD DIGIT OR ACTION
`OF lEY PRESSED TO
`MUHBEl
`
`DESELECT PREVIOUSLY
`SELEmD BUBBLE III
`lOW
`
`INCREKENT FORtI DATA
`AWY AT INDEX [OFFSET)
`IT I AND DRAW NUHBElIN
`BUTTON
`
`CHANGE AIISWEKSTATE OF
`fiELD STATUS RECOil) AT
`IIDEX[KOWOfIUTTON] TO
`COW". OF 1UTT0II SELECTED
`
`CHANGE fOIltl DATU.Y AT
`INDEX [OFFSET AWY AT
`IINDEX[IOWOFIUTTON)] TO
`kESULl AMAY AT INDEX
`(COLUKNOfBUTTON]
`
`640
`
`,
`
`.. III!
`I
`
`t
`
`'f
`
`Figure lOb
`
`~ • rJ1 • ;p
`f"'tIo. a
`
`w
`~
`~
`
`~
`
`00 =-
`m.
`~ .a;..
`s,
`
`~
`Q'\
`
`...
`0'1
`"'-l
`~ ... = N
`
`\C
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Dec. 30, 1997
`
`Sheet 15 of 16
`
`5,704,029
`
`525
`
`527
`
`SET ANSWEISTATE TO BUTTON
`NUHBER OF BUTTON SELECTED
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`529
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`SET FOut DATA AWY AT INDEX
`[OFFSET] TO muLT VALUE Of
`RESULT AllAY CORRESPONDING
`TO BOTION
`
`RETURN
`
`Figure IOc
`
`

`

`u.s. Patent
`
`Dec. 30, 1997
`
`Sheet 16 of 16
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`5,704,029
`
`722
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`>-----i~ SAVE FORM DATA AWY 1---+1
`IN PDA
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`PUSH (uMENT FIELD 011 STA(I
`AND ACCESS FIELD DESalPTlON
`>---I~ RECORD OF NElT FIELD fOUHD IN
`MUHERICAl. OIDEl
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`PUSH CUIRENT FIELD 01 STAU
`>-...... AND ACCESS FIELD DESCIIPTlON
`RECORD AT NUH EXPM
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`>-_--I~ SAVE FORM DATUIMY 1--.....
`IMPDA
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`YES
`"OTHER RETURNING" I--~
`~-.-t ACTION
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`SOUND BEEP
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`782
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`DISPlAY DIALOG BOX
`>---+1 WITH "TEXl" ON SCREENI---.-t
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`ASSIGN EXPN TO
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`ACCESS NEXT
`STATEItENT IN
`SCRIPT
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`Figure 11
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`

`

`5,704,029
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPLETING
`AN ELECTRONIC FORM
`
`MICROFICHE APPENDIX
`
`A Microfiche Appendix containing computer source code
`is attached. The Microfiche Appendix comprises one (1)
`sheet of microfiche having 56 frames, including one title
`frame.
`The Microfiche Appendix contains material which is
`subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no
`objection to the reproduction of such material, as it appears
`in the files of the Patent and Trademark Office, but otherwise
`reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to business forms and, more
`particularly, to systems for electronically creating and com- 20
`pleting a business form.
`2. Description of the Related Technology
`For most people, completing a paper form is a bother.
`Frequently, many questions do not apply to the person or the 25
`situation, but the person completing the form must read all
`the items on the form to determine what is or is not
`applicable. To avoid the answering of irrelevant questions,
`the form may have instructions to skip one or more questions
`under certain conditions, which may cause confusion for the 30
`person filling out the form. Then, because there may be
`unanswered questions due to the skip instructions, the per(cid:173)
`son completing the form may not be sure that all the
`necessary items or questions were properly answered.
`One common type of form, known as a questionnaire. is 35
`used to complete a survey. For example, an amusement park
`operator may want to determine from survey information
`which rides are popular. why people came on that particular
`day, and so forth. There are basically two ways survey
`information is acquired in the field and then processed. The 40
`first, and perhaps oldest, method of recorded survey is
`simply to distribute copies of a paper form which are filled
`out by hand and. at a later time, entered into a computer by
`a typist. This is obviously an inefficient approach as data
`must be entered twice, once during the survey itself and 45
`again when the data is entered into the computer. It is also
`a process which allows two opportunities for error.
`A more modern and widely used method utilizes
`ScantronlNational Computer Systems (NCS) technology.
`This is the approach taken by most field survey data col- 50
`lectors today. In this situation the questionnaire is printed
`according to stringent technical specifications in a special
`form which is marked with a #2 pencil during the survey and
`then fed through a scanner utilizing Optical Mark Recogni(cid:173)
`tion (OMR)/Optical Character Recognition (OCR). An 55
`example of OMR is a ScantronlNCS scanning machine. The
`ScantronlNCS machine, hereafter referred to as the
`'scanner', then compiles all survey results into a computer
`file for use in analysis. OCR scanners are also used. OCR
`forms are also specially printed, but can be written on with 60
`block letters.
`The scanner approach can provide an order of magnitude
`increase in survey efficiency and accuracy. Since such forms
`no longer need to be manually entered into the computer, the
`significant accuracy loss associated with this process is also
`eliminated. The high cost of entering the data is also
`eliminated.
`
`5
`
`2
`However, the scanner approach also has several serious
`limitations. First. the questionnaire forms are very expen(cid:173)
`sive. Companies doing even a small number of surveys are
`incurring costs in the thousands on form duplication alone.
`Second, although accuracy is generally enhanced, the
`opportunity for human error still exists during the survey
`itself. Many forms, especially questionnaires, contain com(cid:173)
`plex sequences of jumps to other parts of the form in the
`questionnaire depending on information filled in. For
`10 instance, if a question asks for gender, the subsequent skip
`instruction could be "If you answered male to the previous
`question, go to question 10" and the answer to question 10
`may also be the subject of a skip instruction. These instruc(cid:173)
`tions are collectively known as skip patterns. Often times
`15 survey takers will become lost trying to follow the skip
`pattern and will answer a question that should not be
`answered. The only time this mistake can be caught is in the
`scanning process. The scanner software can perform data
`validation checks to make sure the survey taker has not
`answered any questions he shouldn't have, or to check that
`the answer to a particular questions falls within a certain set
`of values. However, such post-survey validation takes time.
`It takes time for someone to pull out a bad form, try to
`determine the error from a message on a computer screen,
`change the fonn., and re-scan it Furthermore, it may be
`impossible to determine what the error was, and the form
`may thus have to be discarded. As a third limitation, creating
`new questionnaires is time consuming and expensive.
`Because the scanner forms must follow stringent technical
`specifications to be read by the scanner, expensive artwork
`is involved in creating a new form. To create a new survey,
`one must create the survey on paper, submit it to the scanner
`vendor, and pay around $800 for a two-sided 8Y2x14 form.
`Once it is created and thousands have been ordered. it is
`usually no longer economical or feasible to make any
`changes to the form itself.
`Other ways of improving the completion of forms have
`been proposed. One such system is described in U.S. Pat.
`No. 4,937,439 to Wanninger, et al. ("Wanninger") wherein a
`desktop survey system for creating and scanning a survey
`form to be completed by a survey respondent is described.
`The survey forms are printed on a scannable form having a
`preprinted timing track which is scanned by an optical mark
`scanner. The system also includes a processor for entering
`and editing customized questions and corresponding
`response areas and for tabulating and analyzing the scanned
`results.
`Other forms software packages are available for personal
`computers. The limitations of these forms packages include
`the following. Either the entire form is displayed on a
`monitor, or a section of the form is displayed at a time as the
`user scrolls the display to show the other pieces of the form.
`The latter situation is more common in a handheld computer
`environment, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA),
`because of the smaller screen size as compared to a PC
`monitor. In either case, the user's attention is not fixed on a
`single field of the form. To conserve space on a typical form
`created by a forms package, one or more levels of menus
`andlor dialog boxes must be selected. Thus, a discrete set of
`choices or answers are not shown on the form.
`Another limitation based on the display of the entire form
`is that the order of completing the form cannot be controlled.
`A user may choose to fill in responses in an arbitrary order
`which may lead to incorrect results. A further limitation is
`65 the inability to easily and automatically backtrack through
`the completed sequence of items to correct a previous
`answer.
`
`

`

`5,704,029
`
`3
`Thus a need exists for a system which (1) inexpensively
`creates new and modifies existing forms, (2) automatically
`handles skip patterns, (3) perfonns error validation as the
`form is filled out, (4) reduces error by limiting the presen(cid:173)
`tation of information to a survey taker, and (5) is mobile.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`15
`
`30
`
`35
`
`4
`Another aspect of the present invention includes, in an
`automated forms system including a portable computer, a
`method of completing an electronic form comprising a
`plurality of form descriptors that define displayable items,
`5 comprising the steps of displaying only one of the display(cid:173)
`able items on a graphics display of the computer, wherein
`the displayable item includes a sentence and a plurality of
`possible responses; receiving one or more response entries
`to the displayable item selected by a user of the computer;
`10 storing the response in the computer; branching to a subse(cid:173)
`quent displayable item in response to the selected response;
`and displaying the subsequent displayable item, wherein the
`subsequent item includes a plurality of possible response
`entries, on the display of the computer.
`Yet another aspect of the present invention includes, in an
`automated forms system including a portable computer, a
`method of completing an electronic form, comprising a
`plurality of form descriptors that define displayable items,
`comprising the steps of displaying only one of the display-
`20 able items on a graphics display of the computer at anyone
`time, wherein the displayable item includes a sentence and
`a plurality of possible responses; receiving one or more user
`selected response entries to the displayable item; storing the
`response in the computer; and validating the response
`25 according to a criteria.
`Still yet another aspect of the present invention includes,
`in an automated forms system including a portable
`computer, a method of completing an electronic form,
`comprising a plurality of form descriptors that define dis-
`playable items, comprising the steps of displaying only OIIe
`of the displayable items on a graphics display of the
`computer, wherein the displayable item includes a sentence
`and a plurality of possible responses, and wherein the OIIe
`displayable item utilizes the entire display; receiving one or
`more response entries to the displayable item selected by a
`user of the computer; storing the responses in the computer;
`and automatically sending the responses to a remote com(cid:173)
`puter via a communications device.
`40 Yet another aspect of the present invention includes, in an
`automated forms system including a portable computer, a
`method of completing an electronic form, comprising the
`steps of providing the electronic form comprising a form
`descriptor that defines a displayable item; and displaying the
`45 one displayable item on a graphics display of the computer,
`wherein the screen displays a button and a number, and
`wherein the number is changed when the button is selected
`by a user of the computer.
`Yet another aspect of the present invention includes a
`system for completing an electronic form. comprising a
`portable unit including a processor, a graphics display, an
`input device mechanism and a memory; an electronic form
`stored in the memory of the unit comprising a plurality of
`form descriptors that define displayable items; a forms
`55 engine to display a single displayable item on the graphics
`display described by one of the form descriptors, wherein
`the displayable item includes a sentence and a set of possible
`response entries, and wherein the one displayable item
`utilizes the entire display; and wherein the input device
`60 mechanism accepts one or more of the responses selected by
`a user of the unit.
`Another aspect of the present invention includes a system
`for completing an electronic form, comprising means for
`processing and storing data; means connected to the pro(cid:173)
`cessing means for displaying graphics; means for defining
`an electronic form including a plurality of displayable items;
`means for displaying a single one of the displayable items on
`
`The present solution to the problem of creating and
`accurately, quickly, and completely filling-in a business
`form is a computerized forms engine and system designed to
`automate and simplify the process. The goal of the fonns
`system is to accurately and easily gather information and
`present it for further processing in a known format, or to
`even electronically send the gathered information to a
`desired party.
`For example, a company may use an electronic form
`version of a product registration card. When the end user
`completes or fills out the registration focm. the fonns engine
`verifies the form information and then electronically for(cid:173)
`wards the infonnation to the company in a format desired
`and recognized by the computer of the company. Thus, no
`paper fonns are needed, the mail system is not needed,
`people to sort the mail at the company are not needed, and
`people to enter the form information into the company
`computer are not needed. These benefits all lead to savings
`in resources, overhead and money.
`In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, a
`personal computer (PC) program (e.g., running on a Apple
`Macintosh, or mM compatible) creates a set of field struc(cid:173)
`tures representing the electronic form. The data representing
`the electronic form is sent from the PC to a portable
`computerized device, such as a Personal Digital Assistant
`(PDA) that has a graphics display. The electronic form is
`completed by a user of the PDA, and then the forms engine
`verifies the input data or information. The PDA sends a form
`data array containing the responses by the user to the
`computer. The first item in the form data array is a form
`identification so that the computer can identify the form that
`the data is associated with.
`The forms engine presents a single item or question to the
`person, using as much of the display screen as is needed.
`Then, based on user-defined script contained in the form, the
`forms engine presents the next item or question to the person
`or beeps or displays a message. When a person answers a
`question and desires to move to the next field, the fonns
`engine 124 executes a script written by the form designer.
`Although the most expected and common result of the script
`will be to advance to another question, it may also perform
`other actiOlls such as beep and display a message, quit, or so
`launch another form. TItis continues until all the pertinent
`questions have been answered, and only the questions appli(cid:173)
`cable to the person or situation will be asked. Each question
`corresponds to a certain location on a hard copy version of
`the electronic form.
`One aspect of the present invention includes, in an auto(cid:173)
`mated forms system including a portable computer, a
`method of displaying a response driven sentence, compris(cid:173)
`ing the steps of providing an electronic form comprising a
`plurality of form descriptors, wherein each form descriptor
`defines a displayable item; displaying only one of the
`displayable items on a graphics display of the computer,
`wherein the displayable item includes a sentence and a
`plurality of possible responses, and wherein the one display(cid:173)
`able item utilizes the entire display; and receiving one or 65
`more response entries to the displayable item selected by a
`user of the computer.
`
`

`

`5,704,029
`
`6
`FIGS. lOa, lOb and lOe are a flow diagram of the
`"Process answer box input" function 372 presented in FIG.
`8; and
`FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of the "execute script" function
`5 354 presented in FIG. 8.
`
`DErAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENf
`
`The following detailed description of the preferred
`embodiments presents a description of certain specific
`embodiments to assist in understanding the claims.
`However, the present invention can be embodied in a
`multitude of different ways as defined and covered by the
`claims.
`For convenience, the following description is topicalized
`into the following principal sections: Introduction, System
`Overview, Forms Creation, Forms Engine, Drawing Fields,
`Answer Box Input, Execute Script, Benefits of the Forms
`System, Optional System Configuration, and Summary of
`Advantages of the Present Invention.
`
`15
`
`5
`the graphic means, wherein the displayable item includes a
`sentence and a set of possible response entries, and wherein
`the one displayable item utilizes the entire graphic means;
`and input means connected to the processing means for
`accepting one or more of the responses selected by a user of
`the system.
`Still yet another aspect of the present invention includes,
`in a forms system including a computer and a portable
`computer, a method of automated forms completion, com(cid:173)
`prising the steps of generating an electronic form using the 10
`computer; sending data defining the electronic form from the
`computer to the portable computer; completing the elec(cid:173)
`tronic form, so that response data is generated and stored in
`the portable computer; and sending the response data from
`the portable computer to the computer.
`Another aspect of the present invention includes, in an
`automated forms system including a portable computer, a
`method of completing an electronic form comprising a
`plurality of form descriptors, each form descriptor defining
`a displayable item, the system comprising the steps of 20
`displaying a selected one of the displayable items on a
`graphics display of the computer, wherein the displayable
`item includes a sentence and a plurality of possible
`responses, and wherein only the one displayable item is
`visible at anyone time; receiving one or more user selected 25
`response entries to the selected displayable item; and pro(cid:173)
`viding a script stored in the form descriptor defining the
`selected displayable item, wherein the script defines a set of
`one or more actions to be executed.
`
`30
`
`L INTRODUcnON
`The present invention utilizes electronic forms to gather
`information. Electronic forms are easier to complete and can
`be validated as they are being completed. Paper forms do not
`have to be printed and stored. Revisions are easily made to
`an electronic form. thus eliminating the cost associated with
`a new printing of a paper form.
`The system of the present invention is typically used in
`either a forms creation and forms completion mode, or in
`just the forms completion mode, if the electronic form
`already exists. Referring to FIG. 1 showing a presently
`preferred embodiment, if a new form is necessary