Method of analyzing question responses to select among defined possibilities and means of accomplishing same
First Claim
1. A method of selecting the most appropriate choice or choices from a set of possible choices, comprising;
- a) identifying the set of possible choices;
b) creating a set of questions pertaining to said possible choices, said questions having two answer options;
c) establishing a first numerical value associated with each question and choice pair;
d) establishing a second numerical value associated with each said question and choice pair;
e) determining the answers to a selected subset of said questions;
f) calculating scores for each of said possible choices based on the answers to said selected subset of said questions and said first numerical value associated with each said question and choice pair and said second numerical value associated with each said question and choice pair for the questions in said subset, and;
g) selecting the most appropriate choice or choices based on said scores.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosed invention is a computerized testing methodology which uses Yes/No answers to questions to make the most appropriate selection from a set of defined possibilities. With regard to a topic which is being analyzed, a set of possible outcomes is defined. A database of questions which bear upon these outcomes is developed and each outcome is ranked in relation to each question as to how much that question indicates that outcome. This is a serial ranking of 1 through the number of possible outcomes. Additional weight factors may be used along with these rankings. As questions are answered, these rankings and weights are used to calculate accumulating scores for the possible outcomes. A formula is provided to choose a balanced selection of questions initially and then shift to questions which focus on the indicated likely outcomes as the questioning progresses. Upon termination of the questioning process, the outcomes having the highest percent accumulated score to possible score are deemed indicated by the method. The process may be repeated to obtain a second most indicated outcome. Means of storing, using, and presenting the method are also disclosed.
-
Citations
37 Claims
-
1. A method of selecting the most appropriate choice or choices from a set of possible choices, comprising;
-
a) identifying the set of possible choices;
b) creating a set of questions pertaining to said possible choices, said questions having two answer options;
c) establishing a first numerical value associated with each question and choice pair;
d) establishing a second numerical value associated with each said question and choice pair;
e) determining the answers to a selected subset of said questions;
f) calculating scores for each of said possible choices based on the answers to said selected subset of said questions and said first numerical value associated with each said question and choice pair and said second numerical value associated with each said question and choice pair for the questions in said subset, and;
g) selecting the most appropriate choice or choices based on said scores. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of diagnosing pain disorders, comprising;
-
a) identifying the set of possible diagnoses;
b) creating a set of questions pertaining to said possible diagnoses, said questions having two answer options;
c) establishing a first numerical value, named a rank, associated with each question and choice pair;
d) establishing a second numerical value, called a hallmark, associated with each said question and choice pair;
e) determining the answers to a selected subset of said questions;
f) calculating scores for each of said possible choices based on the answers to said selected subset of said questions and said rank associated with each said question and choice pair and said hallmark associated with each said question and choice pair for the questions in said subset, and;
g) selecting the most appropriate diagnosis or diagnoses based on said scores. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36)
-
-
34. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:
-
maintaining a database identifying the possible choices in an analytical situation and the numerical relationships between said possible choices and a large set of questions having two answer options;
selecting questions from said database;
using the answers to said questions to calculate scores for each said choices;
using said scores to select the correct choice in said analytical situation.
-
-
35. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure comprising:
-
a first field containing data representing possible choices in a situation requiring analysis;
a second field containing data representing questions of discernment with regards to said possible choices, said questions having two answer options;
a third field containing data representing a first numerical relationship between each said choice and each said question, and;
a fourth field containing data representing a second numerical relationship between each said choice and each said question.
-
-
37. A system for selecting a subset of appropriate choices from among possible choices in a situation requiring analysis, said system comprising;
-
a storage device;
a processor programmed to;
maintain in the storage device a database identifying said choices, questions relating to said choices with said questions having two answer options, and two numerical value relationships between each said choice and each said question;
present a subset of questions from said database to users, and calculate scores for said choices based on answers provided by said users and said two numerical relationships between each said choice and each said answer, and;
present the most appropriate choices for said situation by evaluating said scores for said choices.
-
Specification