|l|||||||||||||||||||||||||||l||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||l||||
`
`USle661874éBZ
`
`(12) Ulllted States Patent
`(10) Patent N0.:
`US 6,613,746 B2
`
`Desai et al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Sep. 9, 2003
`
`(54) SURVEY COMMUNICATION ACROSSA
`NETWORK
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Sohag H. Dani, Fremont, CA (US);
`.
`..
`Kmmm Prabhakar, rmmc’m’ C‘MUS)
`." ,
`.
`.
`_
`‘
`.
`(73) Awgnw‘ Markellools, 1m" M'” Valley. CA
`(US)
`,
`_
`,
`T1119 Pale!" {5511?d 0" a confirmed Pms-
`ccutlon application filed under 37 CFR
`1.53m), and is subject to the twenty year
`patent
`term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`154(09)‘
`
`*
`
`_
`) N011“:
`
`(
`
`5,913,203 A *
`5,920,856 A "
`5,930,491 A "
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`90592
`70133
`'9099204
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`9099200
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`5,963,939 A * 1091999 MeCann et al.
`90794
`5,963,951 A * 1091999 Collins
`,, 9099102
`
`5,966,695 A * 1091999 Melchione elal.
`905910
`5,974,446 A " 1091999 Sonnenrcieh etal.
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`”90593
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`Mil/(1352009 Al * 122001 Desaiclal.
`70979224
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`
`..
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent 15 extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) byll clays.
`
`(21) APPIv No: 099050y331
`0
`I'IICdI
`
`M3“ 30: 1998
`Prior Publication Data
`
`(32)
`(6,!)
`‘
`
`US 200190052009 A1 Dec. 13, 2001
`1.6. (:19
`(51)
`m 1590
`59) US Cl
`90992041 9099205
`(“
`'
`'
`'
`’
`‘
`(58) Field of Search
`7099203, 204,
`70993013, 303, 304, 217, 205; 705935, 10,
`27, 50; 7(17f5l6, 513, 3; 706960, "9'6, 54,
`61. 46
`
`(56)
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`lzhak Dar Kana, “Simple Adaptive Control—A Survey",
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`PC World May 1996, 1 page.*
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`implement new features”, 02988, 3 pages“
`Powell, "Do—il—yoursell' survey software", Marketing com-
`puter, Feb. 1996, v16. n2, 3 pages.‘
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`‘
`.‘ (1‘ L a” 1
`6'
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`,
`Whttehead, Auto —Faq, NCSA.UIUC.EDU9SDG9’I'] 94 ll
`pages, 1994.*
`
`* ciled by examiner
`.
`.
`.
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`Prmtmjv Exmtttner—Bu it] oh J aroe nchonwa on
`("IQ/1996999919; Agent, or Efren—Davis Wright Tremaine
`LLl’; Brian L. Johnson; Shella Pox—Morrison
`‘
`‘
`ABS1RACT
`
`(57)
`
`Asurvey network system that allows gathering ol'informa-
`lion across a network quickly and efficiently, including a
`‘
`-
`-
`-
`-
`‘
`-
`questionnaire server,a communication interface. aqucstion—
`natre distributor, a
`uesttonnatre Cl’Sl n‘r and a
`uestton-
`Rain: “hm
`q
`" g l”
`q
`
`5"
`
`28 Claims, 4Drawing Sheets
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`

`US 6,618,746 B2
`
`1
`SURVEY COMMUNICATION ACROSS A
`N ETWORK
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the invention
`
`invention relates generally to perl'om'ting
`The present
`surveys and more particularly to survey communications
`across a network, such as the Interneti'World-Wide-Web.
`2. Description of the Background Art
`Prior art systems and methods exist to perform surveys
`over a computer network, but such systems and methods
`provide limited capabilities in survey questioning and analy-
`sis. Many computer companies developed purely e—mail—
`based survey, distribution and analysis utility programs
`which were deployed during the time that computer net-
`working was a relatively new technology before the World-
`Wide-Web (Web) gained popularity.
`Prior art survey utility programs usually allow a designer
`to create a survey comprised of limited question types. such
`as multiple choice, fill-in-the-blanks, rating scale (with a
`maximum of two—dimensions), essay—type and ranking
`choice. Prior art surveys can be mailed to list of recipients,
`who can usually activate an attachment
`in their e-mail *
`program. which brings up a client program that displays the
`survey. After responding to the survey, the survey takers
`send the responses to the e-mail box of the designer. The
`prior art usually analyzes the responses and looks for a
`proprietary tag, which identifies the survey and the response
`data, collates them and summarizes the responses. However,
`the prior art sufiers from a number of limitations.
`The prior art usually requires a client program to be
`launched from every survey respondent’s desktop in order to
`display the survey and enable the respondent to reply. This
`is fine in a networked environment where every computer
`desktop has access to a server upon which the client program
`resides, but
`it can only work if every single potential
`respondent has had the client program distributed to their
`desktop. The prior art does not take advantage of the fact the
`Web browser has become a de facto “universal client"—it is
`ubiquitous on peoples’ desktops.
`is that
`Another limitation of the prior art
`proprietary operating system environments.
`Another limitation of the prior art is that it is usually tied
`to a proprietary windowing system environment.
`Another limitation of the prior art is that it is not linked
`to a Web server or Web browser in any way. It cannot be
`associated with the Web, if required to make the survey
`distribution more targeted or more like a broadcast.
`Another limitation of the prior art
`is that
`it has no
`capability of associating, delivering or receiving multimedia
`objects such as video clips, audio clips and images to or from
`survey recipients.
`Another limitation of the prior art is that it has limited
`analysis capability—only summary reporting for most ques-
`tion types and second order cross—tabulation for rating
`questions. The prior art cannot support summary tabulation
`and nth order cross—tabulation with associated graphical
`display of two or more variables.
`is has no
`is that
`Another limitation of the prior art
`interface to databases or existing survey packages. The prior
`an does not lie in to Object-Relational Databases.
`Another limitation of the prior art is that it supports only
`limited types of questions, and even in the common types of
`
`2
`it has limited flexibility in adding
`questions supported,
`choice types. Many more question types with the ability to
`mix-and-match choice types between the base question
`types are not supported by the prior art.
`it does not
`Another limitation of the prior art
`is that
`support ”intelligent" survey behavior such as branching or
`piping. The prior art does not support a survey programming
`language called “Survey Intermediate Form" which uses
`common programming language constructs such as macro
`expansion, conditional and unconditional branching, itera-
`tive loops, procedure calls and so forth.
`Another limitation of the prior an is that it works only
`with proprietary e-mail programs. It does not support Inter-
`net mail standards such as MIME.
`
`A practical survey network system should provide high
`capability in gathering of information across a network.
`Therefore, what is needed is a high-capability system for
`performing survey communications across a network.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`One object of the invention is to allow the display of the
`survey and the response to the survey without requiring a
`client program to be distributed to and launched from every
`survey respondent’s desktop.
`Another object of the invention is to link the survey
`system to a Web server or Web browser, so that it can be
`associated with the Web, or it can be unlinked from the Web
`if required, to make the survey distribution more targeted or
`more broadcast-like.
`
`is to provide a capability to operate
`Another object
`independently of proprietary operating system environments
`and proprietary windowing environments.
`Another object is to provide the capability of associating,
`delivering or receiving multimedia objects such as video
`clips, audio clips and images to or from survey recipients.
`Another object is to provide greater analysis capability for
`most question types, such as supporting summary tabulation
`and nth order cross-tabulation with associated graphical
`display of [We or more variables.
`Another object is to provide an interlace to databases or
`existing survey packages and tie in to Object-Relational
`Databases.
`
`Another object is to provide support for more types of
`questions, with more flexibility in adding choice types and
`to allow many more question types with the ability to
`mix-and-match choice types between the base question
`types.
`is to provide support for "intelligent"
`Another object
`survey behavior such as branching or piping and to provide
`support for survey programming languages using common
`programming language constructs such as macro expansion,
`conditional and unconditional branching, iterative loops and
`procedure calls.
`Another object is to support Interrlet mail standards such
`as MIME.
`
`The present invention comprises a survey network system
`for performing surveys across a communications network
`including a computer network, a questionnaire server, a
`client and a response processor. The questionnaire server
`includes a communication interface, a questionnaire library,
`a questionnaire designer and a questionnaire distributor. The
`client
`includes a communication interface, a browser, a
`response engine and a local dedicated profile. The response
`processor includes a communication interface, an analysis
`engine and a prior response database. This provides a
`high-capability survey network system.
`
`RPX-1016
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`US 6,618,746 B2
`
`3
`invention will
`These and other objecLs of the present
`become apparent to those skilled in the art from the follow-
`ing detailed description and accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`is a diagram of a survey network system for
`I
`FIG.
`performing survey communications across a network such
`as the InterneUWorld-Wide-Web;
`FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the details of the ques-
`tionnaire designer and distributor;
`FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the details of the client;
`and
`
`it]
`
`FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the details of the analysis
`engine of the response processor shown in FIG. 1.
`
`IS
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION 017 THE
`INVENTION
`
`Survey Communication Across a Network
`
`4
`to the client or to other
`information package via e-mail
`individuals based on the client’s specific response or sending
`an applet which adds additional functionality to an applica-
`tion program operated by the client 115.
`Further. the multimedia questionnaire designer 135 may
`include means for linking questions so that, based on a
`response, selected questions are presented. That is, based on
`the response from the client, the questionnaire may include
`links to present related questions or may include links to skip
`unnecessary questions. Thus, more realistic dialogues can be
`achieved. For example, to the question “Do you have a pet?”
`if a client responds “no" then the question “Would you be
`interested in buying a pet?" would be appropriate but the
`question “What type of pet?” would be inappropriate. This
`process is termed "branching." Also, based on actual prior
`responses from the client, substitutions in later questions can
`be provided. For example, it‘ the question is “What is your
`favorite pet?“ and the client responds "dog” then later
`questions can automatically insert "dog" wherever specifics
`are requested such as “Why do you like dogs so much?” This
`process is termed “piping.”
`
`Details of the Questionnaire Designer and
`Distributor
`
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating details of the
`distributor 130 and questionnaire designer 135. Question-
`naire designer 135 includes a questionnaire editor 2115, an
`artificial intelligence module 211] and a logic processor 215.
`The questionnaire editor 2115 includes a questionnaire pro—
`cessor 220 coupled to a user interface 225, a library interface
`230, a multimedia objects library 235, a questionnaire parser
`240, a question wizard 245, a spell checker 250, an HTML
`protocol engine 255 and a branching engine 257. The
`artificial
`intelligence module 210 includes an inference
`engine 260 and a question rules database 265.
`The questionnaire editor 205 is much like a conventional
`word processor that enables a user to generate and format a
`multimedia-based questionnaire, preferably in outline or
`graphical form. More particularly,
`the user interface 225
`enables a user to generate questions or to use the library
`interface 230 to select questions or parts of questions from
`the question library 149 (FIG. 1). The multimedia objects
`library 235 enables the user to include multimedia objects in
`the questionnaire. The questionnaire parser 240 parses the
`questionnaire for proper grammar. The question wizard 245
`examines the syntax of the questions in the questionnaire.
`The spell checker 250 checks the spelling in the question-
`naire. The HTML protocol engine 255 converts the ques-
`tionnaire to an HTML format for publication on the com—
`puter network 119. The branching engine 257 enables the
`user to link related questions so that, based on real—time
`responses by a client, only appropriate questions will be
`presented. The piping engine 258 enables the user to sub-
`stitute the client responses to prior questions in later ques—
`tions thus tailoring the wording of later questions to suit the
`client. The object-relational database interface 259 stores the
`questionnaire information in a persistent storage area for
`future retrieval and querying.
`The inference engine 260 cooperates with questionnaire
`editor 205 to use and generate rules in questionnaire rules
`database 265 for checking question consistency. The logic
`processor 215 is used to insert links to actions corresponding
`to the questions for enabling the reaction engine 175 (FIG.
`4) to make cflicient use of the question responses.
`The distributor 1311 consists ofa Web server interface 131,
`an e-mail
`interface 132 and an object-relational database
`
`RPX-1016
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`Page 7 of 10
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`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a survey network
`system 190 for performing survey communications across a
`network 110 such as the lnterrtetMorld—Wide—Web. The
`network system 100 includes a questionnaire server 105
`coupled via the computer network 110 to a questionnaire *
`client or client terminal 115 and to a response processor 120.
`The server 105 includes a communications interface 125
`coupled to a questionnaire distributor 130 coupled in turn to
`a multimedia questionnaire designer 135 coupled in turn to
`a questionnaire library 140. The multimedia questionnaire
`designer 135 enables a user to retrieve multimedia questions
`from the question library 140 and to generate a multimedia-
`based questionnaire. Examples of multimedia include text,
`sound, still images. moving pictures, animation, VRML and
`hyperlinks to other pieces of information. The distributor
`130 uses e-mail or a Web server to forward the questionnaire
`as a self-configurable applet via the communications inter-
`face 125 and network 110 to the client 115.
`The client 115 includes a communications interface 145
`
`an
`
`35
`
`4t]
`
`coupled to a Java®-enablcd browser or resident browser
`program 150 coupled in turn to a response engine 155
`coupled in turn to a local dedicated profile 160. The com—
`tnunications interface 145 receives the questionnaire via the
`computer network 110 from the questionnaire server 105.
`The JavaTM—enabled browser 150 enables the client user to
`read the questionnaire. The response engine 155 enables the
`user to generate and send a response to the response pro-
`cessor 120. The response may also be multimedia-based. For
`example. a question may request and the response may
`include a digital photograph or digital voice sample. The
`local dedicated profile 160 is a data file storing client user
`information such as previous responses and user information
`for authenticating the user. The local dedicated profile 160
`may accompany the response for use by the response
`processor 120.
`The response processor 120 includes a communications
`interface 165 coupled to an analysis engine 170 coupled in
`turn to a prior response database 181]. The communications
`interface 165 receives the multimedia—based responw from
`the client 115. The analysis engine 170 retrieves relevant
`prior responses from the prior response database 180 and
`performs statistical analyses from the prior responses and
`current response to generate graphical representations such
`as pie charts or bar graphs of the results. The analysis engine
`170 includes a reaction engine 175 to respond to the client
`by, for example sending to the client 115 a customized
`
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`US 6,618,746 B2
`
`5
`interface 133. The Web server interface 131 enables the
`questionnaire to be published on a Web site for general
`deployment whereas the e-mail interface 132 enables the
`questionnaire to be sent as an e—mail attachment to a targeted
`audience. The database interface 133 sends information
`about the distribution (to whom the questionnaire was sent,
`when it was sent, what are the access passwords to the
`questionnaire for each respondent, and so on).
`Links to multimedia associated with the questionnaire as
`well as the piping branching and reaction logic are also sent
`at the time the questionnaire is distributed. When the ques-
`tionnaire is implemented as a self-configuring Java® applet,
`it is an intelligent program.
`
`Details of the Client
`
`ll]
`
`15
`
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating details of the client
`115, which includes a CPU 305, a communications interface
`310, an operating system 315, a Graphical User Interface
`(GUI) 320, a data storage device 325 and random access
`memory 330.
`The data storage device 325 stores the local dedicated
`profile 160, the questionnaire 3411 created by the multimedia
`questionnaire designer 135, response data 345 for use by the
`response engine 155 in generating a response, and common
`multimedia objects 350 such as sound clips, pictures, etc. for —
`use by the response engine 155 when viewing the question-
`naire 340.
`
`RAM 330 stores the Java®-enabled browser 150, which
`includes an e-mail reader 365 for reviewing an e-mail-based
`questionnaire 340, an HTML engine 370 for reviewing an
`HTML-based questionnaire 340 and an applet engine 375
`for reviewing a Java®-bascd questionnaire 340.
`RAM 330 also stores a
`response engine 155, which
`includes questionnaire response applets 380 and a response
`generator 385. The questionnaire response applets 380 may
`have been included in the questionnaire 340 by the multi~
`media questionnaire designer 135 so that
`the client 115
`could easily respond to the questions. For example, if a
`question were multiple choice, the corresponding question-
`naire response applet 380 may, via the applet engine 375,
`poll for one of the proper responses and add the selected
`response to the response data 345. Otherwise, the response
`generator 385 would use a predetermined protocol
`for
`generating the response. To control branching, the question—
`naire response applets 380 may examine client 115
`responses and may instruct
`the browser 150 to present
`subsequent questions based on links included in the ques~
`tionnaire 340. To control piping, the questionnaire response
`applets 380 may examine the client 115 responses and may
`instruct the response engine 155 to substitute the specific
`response to prior questions in later questions.
`
`Analysis Engine of the Response Processor
`
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating details of the
`analysis engine 170 of the response processor 120. The
`analysis engine 170 includes a
`response reader 405, a
`statistical analysis engine 410, a graphics engine 415, a
`reaction engine 175 and a response buffer 465.
`The response reader 405 includes a response validation
`processor 420 for performing security services to authenti—
`cate responses. The statistical analysis engine 410 includes
`a math library 430 for performing statistical analyses, a prior
`response database interface 435 for communicating with the
`prior response database 180 and a statistical package inter-
`face 440 for communicating with a commercially available
`statistical package, for example SAST'“ or SPSST“ or a
`spreadsheet, such as Microsoft Excel“. For example, if the
`question requested a digital sample of the client 115 user’s
`
`so
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`35
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`4t]
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`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`55
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`6
`then the digital sample response is stored in the
`voice,
`response buffer 465 for current use and then into the prior
`response database 180 for future use and analysis. The
`statistical analysis engine 410 sends its results to the graph-
`ics engine 415 and to the reaction engine 175.
`The graphics engine 415 includes a graphics display
`engine 440 for presenting the results as a graphical repre—
`sentation such as a pie chart or bar graph. Graphics engine
`415 also includes graphics objects 445 for establishing the
`proper formats of the graphical representations.
`The reaction engine 175 selects and performs a proper
`reaction to the response or to the results of the statistical
`analysis. The reaction engine 175 includes policies 455 for
`selecting the proper reaction based on the response or on the
`statistical analysis. For example, the reaction engine 175
`includes an applet launcher 450 for launching applets to
`perform the selected reaction. The applets may add addi—
`tional functionality to the client 115 or may draft a "thank
`you " letter. The reaction engine 175 also includes an e-mail
`launcher 460 for forwarding information back to the client
`115 or to other individuals to trigger actions that need to be
`taken based upon the client response. Other modules may be
`included in the reaction engine 175 for performing other
`proper reactions.
`Those skilled in the art will recognize that the network
`survey system described above can be implemented with a
`variety of configurations, depending on the application.
`Therefore,
`the present
`invention is limited only by the
`following claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A survey system for performing surveys across a
`communications network, comprising:
`a questionnaire server including a questionnaire designer
`for creating and editing survey questions;
`a questionnaire client comprises a response validation
`processor for performing security services to authentin
`cations responses form a digital sample, a local dedi-
`cated profile containing user information and said digiw
`tal sample on the user, and the client terminal allows the
`survey to access the profile; for receiving said survey
`questions and generating a response of a user to said
`survey questions;
`the
`receiving the response,
`for
`a response processor
`response processor including a statistical analysis
`engine operable to perform a statistical analysis of the
`response; and
`including a
`a reaction engine [or selecting a reaction,
`customized information package or an applet, based on
`the response or on the statistical analysis, and for
`sending the reaction to the user or to another individual;
`the questionnaire server includes a linking module eonn
`figured to link survey questions based on a prior
`response so that selected survey questions are presented
`based on the prior response by including a link to a
`related survey question or a link to skip an unnecessary
`question.
`2. The survey system of claim 1, wherein said statistical
`analysis engine further includes a statistical package inter-
`face.
`3. The survey system of claim 2, wherein the reaction
`engine is operable to send information based on the response
`or on the statistical analysis.
`4. The survey system of claim 2, wherein said response
`processor further comprises:
`a prior response database.
`5. The survey system of claim 4, wherein said response
`processor further comprises a communications interface.
`
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`7
`6. The survey system of claim 1, wherein said question-
`naire server further comprises:
`a distributor;
`a multimedia objects library; and
`a question library.
`7. The survey system of claim 6, wherein said question~
`naire server further comprises a communications interface.
`8. The survey system of claim 1, wherein said question-
`naire client comprises:
`a browser;
`a response engine; and
`a local dedicated profile.
`9. The survey system of claim 8, wherein said browser is
`a Java®-enabled browser.
`10. The survey system of claim 8, wherein said questionv
`naire client further comprises a communications interface.
`11. The survey system of claim 10, wherein said browser
`is a Java®-enabled browser.
`12. A survey system for performing survey communica-
`tions across a network, comprising:
`a questionnaire server linked through a first communica-
`tions interface to said network, and including a ques—
`tionnaire designer for creating and editing survey ques-
`trons;
`
`It]
`
`a
`
`8
`16. A computer system for conducting surveys, compris-
`ing:
`a questionnaire server for sending a survey, the question-
`naire server including a questionnaire designer
`for
`creating and editing survey questions;
`a client terminal having a resident browser program for
`receiving the survey:
`allowing a user to provide a response to the survey;
`sending the response;
`a response validation processor for performing security
`services to authentications responses form a digital
`sample; and
`a local dedicated profile containing user information
`and said digital sample on the user, and the client
`terminal allows the survey to access the profile;
`response processor for receiving and storing the
`response, the response processor including a statistical
`analysis engine operable to perfomt a statistical analy-
`sis of the response;
`a reaction engine for selecting a reaction, including a
`customized information package or an applet, based on
`the response or on the statistical analysis, and for
`sending the reaction to the user or to another individual;
`the questionnaire server includes a linking module con—
`figured to link survey questions based on a prior
`response so that selected survey questions are presented
`based on the prior response by including a link to a
`related survey question or a link to skip an unnecessary
`question.
`17. The system of claim 16, wherein the resident browser
`program is selected from the group consisting of:
`a web browser, an e-mail reader, an HTML engine, and an
`applet engine.
`18. The system of claim 16, wherein the resident browser
`program can receive a survey that contains multimedia.
`19. The system of claim 16, wherein the resident browser
`program can send a response that contains multimedia.
`20. The system of claim 16, wherein said response pro—
`cessor further comprises:
`a communications interface which receives the response
`from the client terminal, and wherein
`the analysis engine statistically analyzes the response to
`generate a survey result, the analysis engine including
`a statistical package interface for providing the survey
`result to a statistical package.
`21. The system of claim 20, wherein said response pro-
`cessor further comprises a prior response database oontain~
`ing data from at least one prior survey response.
`22. The system of claim 20, wherein said analysis engine
`comprises: a reaction engine for sending a follow-up ques-
`tion to the client terminal based on the received response.
`23. The system of claim 16, wherein said questionnaire
`server further comprises:
`a questionnaire library that enables a user to select dif—
`ferent styles and types of questions to design the
`survey; and
`a distributor which sends the survey to the client terminal.
`24. The system of claim 23, wherein said questionnaire
`library includes multimedia.
`25. A survey system for performing surveys across a
`communications network, comprising:
`a questionnaire server, communicatively coupled to the
`communications network, for creating survey quesv
`lions;
`a questionnaire client, communicatively, and separately
`from the server, comprises a response validation pro-
`cessor for performing security services to authentica-
`tions responses form a digital sample and a local
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`a questionnaire client linked through a second communi- _
`cations interface to said network comprises a response
`validation processor for performing security services to
`authentications responses form a digital sample and a
`local dedicated profile containing user information and
`said digital sample on the user, and the client terminal
`allows the survey to access the profile, for receiving
`said survey questions and generating a response to said
`survey questions; and
`a response processor linked through a third communica-
`tions interface to said network for
`receiving said
`response, the response processor including a statistical
`analysis engine;
`the questionnaire server includes a linking module eon~
`figured to link survey questions based on a prior
`response so that selected survey questions are presented
`based on the prior response by including a link to a
`related survey question or a link to skip an unnecessary
`question.
`13. The survey system of claim 12, wherein said quesv
`tionnaire server comprises:
`a distributor;
`a multimedia questionnaire designer, including a ques-
`tionnaire processor, an artificial
`intelligence module
`and a logic processor; and
`a question library.
`14. The survey system of claim 12, wherein said response
`processor comprises:
`a response buffer;
`a response validation processor;
`a graphics engine;
`a reaction engine; and
`a prior response database.
`15. The survey system of claim 12, wherein said ques-
`tionnaire client comprises:
`a browser including an e-mail reader, a Web server and an
`applet engine;
`a response engine including a plurality of questionnaire
`response applets and a response generator; and
`a data storage device storing a local dedicated profile, a
`questionnaire, response data and a plurality of multi-
`media objects.
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`US 6,618,746 B2
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`an
`
`a distributor that is coupled to the first communications
`interface;
`
`a multimedia questionnaire designer; and
`a question library.
`27. The survey system of claim 25, wherein the question-
`naire client comprises:
`a second communications interface that is coupled to the
`communications network;
`
`a browser that is coupled to the second communications
`interface; and
`
`a response engme that is coupled to the bro ser
`28. l'he survey system of claim 25, wherein the response
`‘5 processor comprises:
`a third communications interface that
`Communications nelwork;
`
`is coupled to the
`
`dedicated profile containing user information and said
`digital sample on the user, and the client
`terminal
`allows the survey to access the profile, coupled to the
`communications network,
`for
`receiving the survey
`questions through the communications network from
`the questionnaire SCWCE and _for generating a response
`of a user to the survey questions, and
`a response processor, communicatively, and separately
`from the server and the client, coupled to the commu-
`nications network, for receiving the response thro