US 2003/0198934 A1 · Branching script engine

Abstract

A system and method for providing a question-answer branching session over a stateless network. The invention provides a framework of reusable software objects implementing the creation and execution of any question-answer branching scripts. In the framework, scripts are used for the collection of structured information, surveys, interviews, evaluations, and expert diagnosis from application users. The components are data-driven by script definitions stored in a database. All persisted values, script progress path, and script results are kept in a predefined XML data structure. User interface and reported results are generated from the persisted data and sent to the client software for displaying via extensible style sheet transformation. Script questions are proceeded according to the values collected from previous answers. Script progress can be paused and resumed. Script answers can update token values and contains an additional text field. Script tokens can be used in questions and end of script processing. Questions with multiple answers cause recursive branching or stacking.

Claims51

Dependent claims

A system for providing a question-answer branching session over a stateless network, said system comprising:

a Web server;
a web content medium coupled to said Web server;
a database coupled to said Web content;
a branch script object coupled to said Web content, and a plurality of Web clients;
wherein said Web server and said Web clients communicate over the Internet.

2 more elements

A process for providing a question-answer branching session over a stateless network, said process comprising the steps of:

submitting, by a user, a first answer to a question;
receiving, by a Web server, said first answer;
encoding, by said Web server, a current script path;
calling, by said Web server, said branch script object;
if this is the start of a script path, then
querying, by said branch script object, said database for details of said script;
creating, by said branch object, an XML structure;
and
creating, by said branch object, said fifth node using a starting question for said script;
if this is not the start of said script path, then
decoding, by said Web server, said encoded current script path;
rebuilding, by said Web server, said XML structure;
and
checking whether an answer is provided;
wherein said answer may be a single answer, a text answer, or a multiple answer.

12 more elements

A method for providing a question-answer branching session over a stateless network, said method comprising the steps of:

submitting, by a user, a first answer to a question;
receiving, by a Web server, said first answer;
encoding, by said Web server, a current script path;
calling, by said Web server, said branch script object;
if this is the start of a script path, then
querying, by said branch script object, said database for details of said script;
creating, by said branch object, an XML structure;
and
creating, by said branch object, said fifth node using a starting question for said current script;
if this is not the start of said script path, then
decoding, by said Web server, said encoded current script path;
rebuilding, by said Web server, said XML structure;
and
checking whether an answer is provided;
wherein said answer may be a single answer, a text answer, or a multiple answer.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Branching script engine

Life of this patent

Branching script engine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims51