# US 7,035,748 B2 · Priority system and method for processing standardized tests > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,035,748 B2 - Document ID: US7035748B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/894,560 - Filed: 2004-07-20 - Published: 2004-12-30 - Granted: 2006-04-25 - Earliest claimed: 2002-05-21 - Assignees: Data Recognition Corporation - Inventors: Mark Gedlinske; Doyle Kirkeby; Michelle Edenborg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7035748B2 ## CPC - G09B 7/02: of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student - G09B 7/00: Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers (mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F) - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) ## Abstract Systems and methods are provided for prioritizing the processing of standardized tests. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to a method for processing completed standardized tests. In one embodiment, test-processing priority information is received, and is associated with machine-readable identifiers for standardized tests. Completed standardized tests are received, and are identified by reading machine-readable identifiers. The identified standardized tests are processed according to the associated test-processing priority information such that higher priority tests are automatically processed before lower priority tests. Other aspects are provided herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for processing completed standardized tests, comprising: means for associating test-processing priority information with machine-readable identifiers for standardized tests; means for reading the machine-readable identifiers for the standardized tests to identify the standardized tests; means for automatically prioritizing identified standardized tests using the associated test-processing priority information; and means for processing the identified standardized tests according to the associated test-processing priority information such that higher-priority tests are processed before lower-priority tests. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising means for electronically receiving a plurality of completed test items as a digital signal from a plurality of test-taking centers, wherein the means for reading the machine-readable identifiers for the standardized tests includes means for reading an electronic identifier for electronically-received test items. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the means for associating test-processing priority information with machine-readable identifiers for standardized tests includes means for associating test-processing priority information with machine-readable identifiers for boxes of completed test booklets and with machine-readable identifiers for the completed test booklets within the boxes; and the means for reading the machine-readable identifiers for the standardized tests includes means for reading the machine-readable identifiers for boxes of completed test booklets and means for reading the machine-readable identifiers for the test booklets. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the machine-readable identifiers includes bar codes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising means for receiving the test-processing priority information from a customer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising means for receiving test-processing priority information from a test-processing center. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the means for receiving test-processing priority information from a test-processing center includes: means for receiving initial test-processing priority information for a test project; and means for receiving test-processing priority information from test-processing feedback to provide dynamic prioritization, including means for receiving information regarding reader workload and means for receiving status information for tests that are in process. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the test priority information includes three or more priority levels. ### Claim 9 A system for processing completed standardized tests, comprising: one or more reading devices for machine-reading test identifiers for a plurality of tests; and a server connected to the one or more reading devices, the server including: a database module for associating test identifiers with test-processing priority information, the priority-information including processing time constraints; and at least one applications module to process the tests according to the test-processing priority information associated with the test identifiers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the processing time constraints include customer-provided time constraints. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the processing time constraints include internally-provided time constraints from a test-processing center for use to efficiently process tests. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one applications module includes a scoring application adapted to use the test-processing priority information to determine an order for scoring the test items. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one applications module includes a report generation application adapted to use the test-processing priority information to determine an order for generating reports. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the test-identifiers include bar codes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the test-identifiers include electronic-identifiers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the test identifiers include test identifiers for digitally-transmitted tests. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the test identifiers include test identifiers for standardized test documents that are associated with priority information for processing the standardized test documents. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the test identifiers include: box identifiers for boxes of standardized test documents that are associated with priority information for processing the boxes of standardized test documents; and test document identifiers for standardized test documents that are associated with priority information for processing the standardized test documents. ### Claim 19 A method for processing completed standardized tests, comprising: associating test-processing priority information with machine-readable identifiers for test items; reading the machine-readable identifier for each test item; automatically prioritizing each test item using the test-processing priority information; and processing the identified standardized test documents according to the associated test-processing priority information such that higher-priority test documents are processed before lower-priority test documents. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein processing the identified standardized test documents according to the associated test-processing priority information includes scoring higher priority test items before lower-priority test items. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein processing the identified standardized test documents according to the associated test-processing priority information includes generating reports for higher priority test items before lower-priority test items. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein automatically prioritizing each test item using the test-processing priority information includes using computer instruction to prioritize each test item in response to a start command provided as a user-input. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein automatically prioritizing each test item using the test-processing priority information includes using computer instruction to prioritize each test item at predetermined times. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein automatically prioritizing each test item using the test-processing priority information includes using computer instruction to prioritize each test item at periodic time intervals. ### Claim 25 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein automatically prioritizing each test item using the test-processing priority information includes using computer instruction to prioritize each test item in response to receiving test data. ### Claim 26 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving the test-processing priority information to be associated with machine-readable identifiers for test items from a customer. ### Claim 27 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving the test-processing priority information to be associated with machine-readable identifiers as test processing feedback from a test processing center.