US 12,748,787 B1 · Container question architecture with auto-answer propagation and schema-agnostic data integration

Abstract

Disclosed herein are system, method, and/or computer program product aspects, and/or combinations thereof, for a runtime-configurable question-and-answer system that dynamically determines question flow and ordering without hard-coded logic. The system includes a domain-agnostic evaluation engine that evaluates matcher expressions against a context object, a matcher expression evaluation system that determines question visibility and behavior using configurable expressions, a context object builder that aggregates data from multiple sources, and a tiered priority comparator that determines question ordering through a five-tier comparison algorithm enabling both iteration and grouping behaviors. The system also includes a container question architecture for hierarchical data collection, an auto-answer staging system for propagating answers, and a schema-agnostic data integration system for operating on untyped key-value data structures without code changes. The system enables runtime configuration of questions, ordering, and conditional logic without code deployment, improving flexibility and reducing maintenance burden compared to traditional hard-coded systems.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A runtime-configurable question-and-answer system for collecting hierarchical data structures and integrating with multiple backend systems, the question-and-answer system comprising:

one or more hardware processors;
and
one or more memories, coupled to the one or more hardware processors;
wherein the one or more hardware processors are configured to implement:
a container question architecture configured to support (1) container creator questions that create multiple entities stored in a first staging area with indexed contexts and (2) container iterator questions that automatically repeat for each of the created multiple entities, with iterator answers grouped by iteration context;
an auto-answer staging system configured to stage an auto-generated answer in a second staging area when receiving a comprehensive answer to a comprehensive overview question, and process the staged auto-generated answer through a normal answer processing flow using a conditional matcher that is configured to skip questions corresponding to the staged auto-generated answer, wherein the conditional matcher is configured to process the staged auto-generated answer as a user-provided answer and generate any follow-up questions corresponding to the staged auto-generated answer;
a schema-agnostic data integration system configured to operate on untyped key-value data structures, thereby enabling operation on arbitrary data schemas from multiple external systems as received, wherein the schema-agnostic data integration system operates agnostic to any specific data structure;
and
an ID mapping system with configurable expression language scripts configured to transform identifiers between a plurality of systems, thereby enabling seamless integration with the multiple backend systems.

6 more elements

A method for collecting hierarchical data structures and integrating with multiple backend systems in a runtime-configurable question-and-answer system, the method comprising:

creating, by at least one computer processor, multiple entities using container creator questions, wherein the created multiple entities are stored in a first staging area with indexed contexts;
automatically repeating container iterator questions for each of the created multiple entities, with iterator answers grouped by iteration context;
receiving a comprehensive answer to a comprehensive overview question;
staging an auto-generated answer in a second staging area, wherein the auto-generated answer is auto-generated based on the received comprehensive answer;
processing the staged auto-generated answer through a normal answer processing flow using a conditional matcher that is configured to skip questions corresponding to the staged auto-generated answer, wherein the conditional matcher is configured to process the staged auto-generated answer as a user-provided answer and generate any follow-up questions corresponding to the staged auto-generated answer;
operating on untyped key-value data structures, thereby enabling operation on arbitrary data schemas from multiple external systems as received, wherein the operating is performed agnostic to any specific data structure;
and
transforming identifiers between a plurality of systems using configurable expression language scripts in an ID mapping system, thereby enabling seamless integration with the multiple backend systems.

5 more elements

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more hardware processors, cause the one or more hardware processors to perform operations comprising:

creating multiple entities using container creator questions, wherein the created multiple entities are stored in a first staging area with indexed contexts;
automatically repeating container iterator questions for each of the created multiple entities, with iterator answers grouped by iteration context;
receiving a comprehensive answer to a comprehensive overview question;
staging an auto-generated answer in a second staging area, wherein the auto-generated answer is auto-generated based on the received comprehensive answer;
processing the staged auto-generated answer through a normal answer processing flow using a conditional matcher that is configured to skip questions corresponding to the staged auto-generated answer, wherein the conditional matcher is configured to process the staged auto-generated answer as a user-provided answer and generate any follow-up questions corresponding to the staged auto-generated answer;
operating on untyped key-value data structures, thereby enabling operation on arbitrary data schemas from multiple external systems as received, wherein the operating is performed agnostic to any specific data structure;
and
transforming identifiers between a plurality of systems using configurable expression language scripts in an ID mapping system, thereby enabling seamless integration with multiple backend systems.

5 more elements

A runtime-configurable question-and-answer system for collecting hierarchical data structures and integrating with multiple backend systems, the question-and-answer system comprising:

one or more hardware processors;
and
one or more memories, coupled to the one or more hardware processors;
wherein the one or more hardware processors are configured to implement:
means for creating multiple entities using container creator questions, wherein the created multiple entities are stored in a first staging area with indexed contexts;
means for automatically repeating container iterator questions for each of the created multiple entities, with iterator answers grouped by iteration context;
means for receiving a comprehensive answer to a comprehensive overview question;
means for staging an auto-generated answer in a second staging area, wherein the auto-generated answer is auto-generated based on the received comprehensive answer;
means for processing the staged auto-generated answer through a normal answer processing flow using a conditional matcher that is configured to skip questions corresponding to the staged auto-generated answer, wherein the conditional matcher is configured to process the staged auto-generated answer as a user-provided answer and generate any follow-up questions corresponding to the staged auto-generated answer;
means for operating on untyped key-value data structures, thereby enabling operation on arbitrary data schemas from multiple external systems as received, wherein the operating is performed agnostic to any specific data structure;
and
means for transforming identifiers between a plurality of systems using configurable expression language scripts, thereby enabling seamless integration with the multiple backend systems.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Container question architecture with auto-answer propagation and schema-agnostic data integration

Life of this patent

Container question architecture with auto-answer propagation and schema-agnostic data integration

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30