Method and apparatus for personalizing completion of electronic forms

• US 20050060280A1
• Filed: 07/14/2004
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CollegeNET Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CollegeNET Incorporated
• Inventors: Ratliff, Michael W., Fogarty, David M., Wolfston, James H. Jr., Hitchcock, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,869,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

The invention is a method and apparatus for encouraging applicants or others completing electronic forms to complete the forms and to become associated with the institution to which the form is directed. While completing the form or afterward, the applicant follows a hyperlink that presents a personal communication from an identified individual associated with the institution. The communication typically relates to the underlying purpose of the form rather than providing instructions on completing the form. For example, the communication may include a personalized message encouraging the applicant to attend the university. By varying the communication depending on the information entered onto the form by the applicant, the communication can be tailored to the specific background and interests of the applicant. The communication can also vary depending upon the applicants progress in the application process, for example, upon submission of verifiable payment information identifying the applicant, the applicant may be provided contact information to contact the identified individual.

Claims

1. A method of personalizing the completion of electronic applications to institutions by conditionally introducing during the forms completion process one or more links inviting the applicant to review relevant, additional information, the method comprising:

presenting an application form over a computer network to the applicant, the application form containing conditional logic statements capable of examining data entered by the applicant;

reviewing data entered by the applicant as it is entered by the applicant into the application form;

determining from data entered into the form whether to present a hyperlink on the form; and

determining from the entered data what information to present to the applicant in the event the applicant activates the hyperlink.

2. The method of claim 1 in which determining from data entered into the form whether to present a hyperlink on the form includes determining to display a hyperlink and displaying the hyperlink;

and

further comprising, upon activation of the hyperlink by the applicant, presenting to the applicant the information determined from the entered data.

3. The method of claim 2 in which presenting to the applicant the information determined from the entered data includes displaying customized information selected from previously created displays of information by computer code contained within the form.

4. The method of claim 2 in which presenting to the applicant the information determined from the entered data includes displaying a customized display assembled by computer code contained within the form.

5. The method of claim 1 in which determining from the entered data what information to present to the applicant includes determining the information by using logic incorporated into the form.

6. The method of claim 1 in which presenting an application form over a computer network to the applicant includes presenting an HTML form including programming code that determines the information to presented to the applicant in the event the applicant activates the hyperlink.

7. The method of claim 6 in which presenting an HTML form includes presenting an HTML form that includes within the form information that can be specified by the programming code to be presented to the applicant.

8. The method of claim 7 in which the programming code selects the information to be provided to the applicant from preexisting messages, the selection depending upon data entered by the applicant.

9. The method of claim 7 in which the programming code assembles information to be provided to the applicant, the assembly depending upon data entered by the applicant.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the institution is a college or university, in which the information presented to the applicant is a communication from an identified enrolled student, faculty member, or alumnus associated with the institution.

11. The method of claim 1 in which the information presented to the applicant describes the individual and provides the applicant a means to communicate to the individual after completing the form.

12. The method of claim 1 in which the information presented to the applicant includes a still or motion image of an individual associated with the institution.

13. The method of claim 1 in which the information presented to the applicant includes information about how to contact an individual associated with the institution.

14. The method of claim 13 in which the individual cannot be contacted until the user completes the form.

15. The method of claim 12 in which the communication is from an individual identified by a name and position at the institution.

16. A computer readable media comprising computer instructions for performing the steps of claim 1

17. A system for personalizing the completion of electronic applications to institutions by conditionally introducing during the forms completion process one or more links inviting the applicant to review relevant, additional information, the system comprising:

a computer including a memory storing a program including instructions to;

present an application form over a computer network to the applicant, the application form containing conditional logic statements capable of;

examining data entered by the applicant as it is entered by the applicant into the application form;

determining from data entered into the form whether to present a hyperlink on the form; and

determining from the entered data what information to present to the applicant in the event the applicant activates the hyperlink.

18. The system of claim 17 in which the computer including a memory storing a program including instructions to present an application form over a computer network comprises a computer including a memory storing a program to present an HTML form including programming code that determines the information to presented to the applicant in the event the applicant activates the hyperlink.

19. The system of claim 18 in the HTML form comprises an HTML form including within the form information that can be specified by the conditional logic within the form code to be presented to the applicant.

20. The system of claim 19 in which the conditional logic selects the information to be provided to the applicant from preexisting messages, the selection depending upon data entered by the applicant.

21. The system of claim 19 in which the conditional logic assembles information to be provided to the applicant, the assembly depending upon data entered by the applicant.

22. The system of claim 17 in which the institution is a college or university, in which the information presented to the applicant is a communication from an identified enrolled student, faculty member, or alumnus associated with the institution.

23. The system of claim 17 in which the information presented to the applicant describes the individual and provides the applicant a means to communicate to the individual after completing the form.

24. The system of claim 17 in which the information presented to the applicant includes a still or motion image of an individual associated with the institution.

25. The system of claim 17 in which the information presented to the applicant includes information about how to contact an individual associated with the institution.

26. The system of claim 25 in which the individual cannot be contacted until the user completes the form.

27. The method of claim 26 in which the communication is from an individual identified by a name and position at the institution.

28. A method of enhancing electronic forms provided by institutions for completion by users, the method comprising:

presenting an electronic form over a computer network to the user, the form including plural information fields and at least one user-activateable hyperlink that is activatable by the user after the user enters information into one or more predefined information fields of the form; and

upon activation of the hyperlink, displaying to the user customized information that is parametrically customized according to information entered by the user in one or more of the predefined information fields of the form, the customized information being determined by programming code embedded in the form and relating to the underlying purpose of the form.

29. The method of claim 28 in which displaying the customized information includes displaying customized information selected by the computer code from previously created displays of information.

30. The method of claim 28 in which displaying the customized information includes assembling information to create the customized information, the assembly determined by information entered by the user.

31. The method of claim 28 in which displaying the customized information includes displaying a communication to the user from an identified individual associated with the institution.

32. The method of claim 28 in which presenting an electronic form over a computer network to the user includes presenting an application for admission to a educational institution.