Automatic response interface

A method for preparing an automatically generated communication in response to an event requiring generation of a communication, the method comprising the steps of:

• presenting an image of a list of at least one selectable operational option;
• selecting at least one operational option from the list;
• accepting said at least one operational option selected;
• presenting an image of said at least one operational option selected as a chosen option list;
• subsequently generating an automatically generated communication which implements said at least one chosen option listed;
• wherein the step of generating a communication comprises reading a response template which contains data definitions and conditional criteria and wherein conditional criterion in the response template automatically activates alternative selections of text and data according to whether the criterion is met and whether the criterion is not met;
• said list of said at least one selectable operational option comprises a list of a plurality of different media by which the automatically generated communication can be transmitted;
• and
• wherein said list of chosen options comprises at least one chosen media for transmission of the automatically generated communication and
• wherein the text and data content of the automatically generated communication comprises at least one of an instruction to the recipient for handling a response to the communication and an indication of a medium of an associated communication, which at least one instruction and indication is automatically changed depending on the characteristic of the chosen medium so that differences in such at least one instruction and indication between communications are identifiable by the recipient of a communication.

A graphical user interface for use in preparation of an automatically generated communication in response to an event requiring generation of a communication, said graphical user interface comprising:

• means for presenting an image of a list of at least one selectable operational option comprising at least one of:
• at least one criteria to be fulfilled to cause generation of the automatically generated communication;
• at least one text item comprising items in a plurality of selectable languages, items for use in at least one selectable idiom and items for use in at least one selectable medium;
• at least one criteria to be fulfilled to select a text item;
• and at least one fixed item to be selected comprising at least one selectable place holder for use with at least one medium, at least one selectable place holder for fixing the position of items with at least one medium and at least one selectable item for use with at least one medium;
• conversion means for accepting a criterion definition for each of said at least one criteria and for converting the criterion definition into plain language for display;
• means for accepting selection of an operational option for use;
• means for presenting an image of said at least one operational option selected as a chosen option list.
• means for selecting a chosen option on the chosen option list;
• and means for accepting return of a selected chosen option to the list of selectable operational options, wherein:
• said means for presenting an image of a list of at least one selectable operational option and said means for presenting an image of said at least one operational option as a chosen option list together comprise a screen split into a first side and a second side and being operative to display said list of said at least one selectable operational option as a tree structure in said first side and to display said chosen option list in said second side thereof;
• said list of said at least one selectable operational option comprises a list of a plurality of different media by which the automatically generated communication can be transmitted;
• said list of chosen options comprises at least one chosen media for transmission of the automatically generated communication;
• said graphical user interface comprises means for accepting selection of said at least one chosen media and means for directing the automatically generated communication for transmission on said at least one chosen media selected
• and wherein the text and data content of the automatically generated communication comprises at least one of an instruction to the recipient for handling a response to the communication and an indication of a medium of an associated communication, which at least one instruction and indication is automatically changed depending on the characteristic of the chosen medium so that differences in such at least one instruction and indication between communications are identifiable by the recipient of a communication.