Item tracking, database management, and relational database system associated with multiple large scale test and assessment projects
First Claim
1. A process for conducting an assessment project of testing multiple testees comprising the steps of:
- using a system comprising a document processing system for exposing articles and individual pages to electronic scanning, a computer network connected to the document processing system and to the internet, and a software program associated with said document processing system and said computer network;
said software program comprising global business rules, a relational database, a web browser application for host and client interface, and an image processing application associated with said document processing system;
storing in said relational database a unique project identifier and associated project data;
said project data comprising project rules, project locations and unique location identifiers, and quantities of testees at each said project location;
generating a master items production quantity requirement which includes each item of assessment materials for said project in accordance with said global business rules and said project data, said items comprising secure test materials and ancillary test materials, said secure test materials comprising sheets of answer pages susceptible of electronic scanning;
creating and storing in said relational database a unique item identifier corresponding to each respective item of secure test materials including each sheet containing at least one answer page;
producing said assessment materials corresponding to said master items production quantity requirement, including producing each said item of secure test materials with its respective said unique identifier inseparably affixed thereto;
generating a production plan for assembly of said assessment materials in accordance with said global business rules and said project data, said plan comprising using combinations of pre-selected intermediate quantities of said secure test materials and said ancillary test materials for packing shipping containers;
packaging said pre-selected intermediate quantities of said secure test materials into class packs according to said production plan, each said class pack being assigned and labeled with a unique identifier which is stored in said relational database and associated with the unique identifiers of the items of secure test materials within;
packaging said pre-selected intermediate quantities of said ancillary materials into kits according to said production plan such that at least one kit is required at each said project location, each said kit being assigned and labeled with a unique identifier which is stored in said relational database and associated with the master items within and the quantities thereof;
allocating selected said kits and said class packs to specific project locations, and associating in said relational database the unique identifiers of each said class pack and said kit with the unique identifier of the respective project location;
producing and including return shipping envelopes for each said project location for packaging and returning selected said items of secure test materials, each said envelope assigned and labeled with a unique identifier which is stored in said relational database and associated therein with the project location identifier and item identifiers of items expected to be returned therein;
packing said class packs, said return shipping envelopes and said kits by project location into said shipping containers, each said container being assigned and labeled with a unique identifier which is stored in said relational database and associated with the unique identifiers of the class packs and kits and return shipping labels within and the respective project location identifier of the project location for which it is intended;
consigning said containers to a shipper for shipping, obtaining therefrom a shipper'"'"'s identifier for each said container which is stored in said relational database and associated therein with the unique identifiers of the respective said container and the project location;
sending a notice of shipment including the shipper'"'"'s identifier for each said container to a designated POC at each respective project location;
periodically querying said shipper for status of said containers consigned, recording responses in said relational database, and associating said responses with respective said shipper'"'"'s identifier for each said container; and
generating on demand, status reports relating to said project.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and process includes: a relational database that has a core database of global rules and project data, an item tracking database, a scanning and image management database, and a scoring database; an enterprise integrated application software program and computer network; and a web interface linking host operations and users; all of which is used for generating a production order and packing schedule of test documents from the rules and project data, for tracking production, packing, shipping, return shipping, and processing of actual test documents by using unique identifiers assigned to every document and monitoring and recording every movement of every document and appending all records of movement and other changes of condition to the original project data in the relational database, for scanning all documents into image form and storing and scoring the images, and for generating reports based on the scores and demographics of the testees.
71 Citations
42 Claims
-
1. A process for conducting an assessment project of testing multiple testees comprising the steps of:
-
using a system comprising a document processing system for exposing articles and individual pages to electronic scanning, a computer network connected to the document processing system and to the internet, and a software program associated with said document processing system and said computer network;
said software program comprising global business rules, a relational database, a web browser application for host and client interface, and an image processing application associated with said document processing system;
storing in said relational database a unique project identifier and associated project data;
said project data comprising project rules, project locations and unique location identifiers, and quantities of testees at each said project location;
generating a master items production quantity requirement which includes each item of assessment materials for said project in accordance with said global business rules and said project data, said items comprising secure test materials and ancillary test materials, said secure test materials comprising sheets of answer pages susceptible of electronic scanning;
creating and storing in said relational database a unique item identifier corresponding to each respective item of secure test materials including each sheet containing at least one answer page;
producing said assessment materials corresponding to said master items production quantity requirement, including producing each said item of secure test materials with its respective said unique identifier inseparably affixed thereto;
generating a production plan for assembly of said assessment materials in accordance with said global business rules and said project data, said plan comprising using combinations of pre-selected intermediate quantities of said secure test materials and said ancillary test materials for packing shipping containers;
packaging said pre-selected intermediate quantities of said secure test materials into class packs according to said production plan, each said class pack being assigned and labeled with a unique identifier which is stored in said relational database and associated with the unique identifiers of the items of secure test materials within;
packaging said pre-selected intermediate quantities of said ancillary materials into kits according to said production plan such that at least one kit is required at each said project location, each said kit being assigned and labeled with a unique identifier which is stored in said relational database and associated with the master items within and the quantities thereof;
allocating selected said kits and said class packs to specific project locations, and associating in said relational database the unique identifiers of each said class pack and said kit with the unique identifier of the respective project location;
producing and including return shipping envelopes for each said project location for packaging and returning selected said items of secure test materials, each said envelope assigned and labeled with a unique identifier which is stored in said relational database and associated therein with the project location identifier and item identifiers of items expected to be returned therein;
packing said class packs, said return shipping envelopes and said kits by project location into said shipping containers, each said container being assigned and labeled with a unique identifier which is stored in said relational database and associated with the unique identifiers of the class packs and kits and return shipping labels within and the respective project location identifier of the project location for which it is intended;
consigning said containers to a shipper for shipping, obtaining therefrom a shipper'"'"'s identifier for each said container which is stored in said relational database and associated therein with the unique identifiers of the respective said container and the project location;
sending a notice of shipment including the shipper'"'"'s identifier for each said container to a designated POC at each respective project location;
periodically querying said shipper for status of said containers consigned, recording responses in said relational database, and associating said responses with respective said shipper'"'"'s identifier for each said container; and
generating on demand, status reports relating to said project. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
4. A process for preparing multiple controlled articles of multiple forms for distribution of the articles including a pre-determined scheme of distribution of the forms of the articles among a group of recipients, comprising the steps:
-
generating and storing in a relational database a schedule of form identifiers, each corresponding to a different said form of the article, and a unique article identifier for each article of the same form in the quantities required, where each type of form identifier is distributed according to said scheme throughout the schedule and associated with a said article identifier for an article of the same form. producing and labeling an arrangement of articles corresponding to said schedule;
validating the correct arrangement of said articles for proper distribution of said forms of said article by comparing the form and article identifier of articles at selected locations within said arrangement to the corresponding schedule of form and article identifiers at corresponding locations within the schedule. - View Dependent Claims (5)
-
-
9. A process for interpreting whether a specific, visible target of finite area on a sheet has been manually marked to indicate an intentional response directed at that target, comprising the steps
making an electronic image of at least a portion of the sheet containing the target at a scanned pixel density of at least 150 dpi; -
determining the target location within the image area;
superimposing a zone of measurement over the target location wherein the area of said zone of measurement is at least equal to the area of said target;
measuring the light density of each pixel within the zone of measurement;
calculating the sum of said light densities of all said pixels within the zone; and
comparing the sum to a pre-determined threshold light density indicating a mark.
-
-
17. A process for preparing multiple controlled articles of multiple forms for distribution of the controlled articles to identified recipients, including a pre-determined scheme of distribution of the forms of the controlled articles among the group of identified recipients, comprising the steps:
-
generating and storing in a relational database a schedule of form identifiers, each corresponding to a different said form of the article, and a unique article identifier for each article of each form in the quantities required, where each type of form identifier is distributed throughout the schedule and associated with a said article identifier for an article of the same form creating and storing a unique identifier in said relational database for each intended said recipient of said articles;
associating each said form identifier and associated said article identifier in said schedule with a respective said recipient identifier;
producing and labeling an arrangement of said articles according to said schedule;
validating the arrangement of said articles for proper distribution of said forms of said article by comparing the form and article identifier of articles at selected locations within said arrangement to the corresponding schedule of form and article identifiers at corresponding locations within of the respective set of identifiers in said relational database.
-
-
18. A method for receiving, processing, scoring and reporting on secure test materials returned in an assessment project testing multiple testees, comprising the steps:
-
using a system comprising a document processing system for exposing documents including individual sheets and pages to electronic scanning, a computer network connected to the document processing system and to the internet, and a software program associated with said document processing system and said computer network;
said software program comprising global business rules, a relational database, a web browser application for system host and client interface to said system, and an image processing application associated with said document processing system, said relational database containing and relating a project identifier to project data and identifiers including project rules, data and identifiers for project locations, data and item identifiers and production requirements on all master items of the secure test materials including all test booklets and other documents containing a test item and all documents having an answer page, the production plan and history for assembly and shipment of said master items, and the tracking history of said secure test materials;
maintaining a record of unique identifiers of said secure test materials shipped to project locations and not yet returned;
receiving previously shipped assessment materials as returned materials;
scanning and comparing the unique identifiers affixed to said returned materials to said record of said materials shipped;
updating said record of said materials shipped;
reducing packages of said returned materials to sheets of secure test materials;
scanning each page of secure test materials and storing an image thereof in a data warehouse in association with its page identifier;
pre-selecting scanning procedures for said document processing system and said image processing application by reference to a returned item identifier;
scanning and storing an answer page image of each answer page of said secure test materials in said relational database in association with its respective said answer page identifier;
associating each used said answer page with a respective test booklet;
extracting answer information from said images of said answer pages;
converting said answer information into raw scores;
compiling said raw scores into a final score for all answer pages associated with each used said test booklet, and hence with each associated said testee;
compiling final scores for each said testee by project location; and
generating project reports based on said final scores. - View Dependent Claims (20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
-
41. A process for conducting an assessment project of testing multiple testees comprising the steps of:
-
using a system comprising a document processing system for exposing articles and individual pages to electronic scanning, a computer network connected to the document processing system and to the internet, and a software program associated with said document processing system and said computer network;
said software program comprising global business rules, a relational database, a web browser application for host and client interface, and an image processing application associated with said document processing system;
storing in said relational database a unique project identifier and associated project data;
said project data comprising project rules, project locations and unique location identifiers, and quantities of testees at each said project location;
generating a master items production quantity requirement which includes each item of assessment materials for said project in accordance with said global business rules and said project data, said items comprising secure test materials, said secure test materials comprising test booklets and answer pages susceptible of electronic scanning;
creating and storing in said relational database a unique test booklet identifier corresponding to each respective said test booklet and a unique answer page identifier corresponding to each respective answer page;
producing said assessment materials corresponding to said master items production quantity requirement, including producing each said test booklet and answer page with their respective said unique identifiers inseparably affixed thereto;
generating a production plan for assembly of said assessment materials in accordance with said global business rules and said project data, said plan comprising using combinations of pre-selected intermediate quantities of said test booklets and said answer pages for packing shipping containers;
packaging said pre-selected intermediate quantities of said secure test materials into class packs according to said production plan, each said class pack being assigned and labeled with a unique identifier which is stored in said relational database and associated with the unique identifiers of the items of secure test materials within;
allocating selected said class packs to specific project locations, and associating in said relational database the unique identifiers of each said class pack with the unique identifier of the respective project location;
producing and including return shipping envelopes for each said project location for packaging and returning selected said items of secure test materials, each said envelope assigned and labeled with a unique identifier which is stored in said relational database and associated therein with the project location identifier and item identifiers of items expected to be returned therein;
packing said class packs said return shipping envelopes by project location into said shipping containers, each said container being assigned and labeled with a unique identifier which is stored in said relational database and associated with the unique identifiers of the class packs and return shipping labels within and the respective project location identifier of the project location for which it is intended;
consigning said containers to a shipper for shipping, obtaining therefrom a shipper'"'"'s identifier for each said container which is stored in said relational database and associated therein with the unique identifiers of the respective said container and the project location;
sending a notice of shipment including the shipper'"'"'s identifier for each said container to a designated POC at each respective project location;
periodically querying said shipper for status of said containers consigned, recording responses in said relational database, and associating said responses with respective said shipper'"'"'s identifier for each said container; and
generating on demand, status reports relating to said project.
-
-
42. A system for conducting large-scale test and assessment projects comprising
a relational database consisting of a core database of global rules and project data, a tracking database, a scanning and image management database, and a scoring database; a software program and computer network connected to said relational database, a web interface linking said software program and computer network to host and client users, said software program and said relational database configured for generating a production requirement of master items and a packing schedule of said master items from said rules and said project data, and for tracking the packing and shipping of said master items, tracking the return and scanning of secure said master items, scanning and scoring said secure said master items, and reporting on the resulting scores.
Specification