Generation and implementation of dynamic surveys

• US 20080028313A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Ebert, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,941,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/730
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls

Abstract

Techniques are described for generating and implementing dynamic surveys, in which a subsequent query is presented based at least in part on a selected response option of a previous query. For example, a system may include presentation logic configured to display a plurality of queries, each query being associated with a plurality of response options. Sequence logic of the system may be configured to display a graphical sequence controller in association with each of the plurality of response options, and to receive a graphical manipulation of the graphical sequence controllers by which a sequence is designated for presenting a subsequent query based on a selected response option of a previous query. Thus, during implementation of the resulting dynamic survey, the subsequent query may be presented based on the selected response option.

Claims

1. A computer program product, tangibly embodied on computer-readable media, the computer program product being configured to cause a data processing apparatus to:

display a first query, a second query, and a third query, the first query being associated with a first response option and a second response option;

display a first graphical sequence controller associated with the first response option and a second graphical sequence controller associated with the second response option;

receive a first designation of the first graphical sequence controller to provide the second query in response to selection of the first response option;

receive a second designation of the second graphical sequence controller to provide the third query in response to selection of the second response option; and

store the first designation and the second designation in association with an electronic survey that includes the first query, second query, and third query.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first graphical sequence controller and the second graphical sequence controller are displayed in alignment with the first response option and the second response option, respectively.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first graphical sequence controller and the second graphical sequence controller include editable text-entry boxes in which the second query and the third query, respectively, are designated.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first graphical sequence controller and the second graphical sequence controller include arrows pointed, respectively, from the first response option to the second query and from the second response option to the third query.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the second query and third query are stored in association with instructions to be concealed until a selection is received of the first response option or the second response option, respectively.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first query, the first response option, the second response option, the first designation and the second designation are stored together as a discrete survey element.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured to cause the data processing apparatus to:

receive a changed order of one or more of the first query, second query, and third query; and

update the first graphical sequence controller, second graphical sequence controller, first designation, and second designation, based on the changed order.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program product is configured to cause the data processing apparatus to:

provide a suggestion regarding use of the first graphical sequence controller.

9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first designation designates the second query based on a topic or type of the second query.

10. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first designation designates the second query as being on a subsequent page of the electronic survey.

11. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first designation designates the second query and at least a fourth query of the electronic survey as being provided in response to the first response option.

12. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first query, second query and/or the third query include question types having a format of one or more of:

single-select of a plurality of responses, multi-select of a plurality of responses, single-select of a yes or no selection, single-select of a true or false selection, or selection of a point on a rating scale, or a free text entry element.

13. A system comprising:

presentation logic configured to display a plurality of queries, each query being associated with a plurality of response options; and

sequence logic configured to display a graphical sequence controller in association with each of the plurality of response options, and to receive a graphical manipulation of the graphical sequence controllers by which a sequence is designated for presenting a subsequent query based on a selected response option of a previous query.

14. The system of claim 13 comprising a query generator configured to generate and/or access a plurality of survey elements that include the plurality of queries and associated response options.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the presentation logic is configured to present a mode selector configured to present a design mode for designing a dynamic survey to include the queries and response options, and a test mode for testing the designed dynamic survey.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein the sequence logic is configured to store a discrete component that includes a query, associated response options, and one or more designations of subsequent queries as determined from the graphical manipulation of one or more of the graphical sequence controllers.

17. A computer program product, tangibly embodied on computer-readable media, the computer program product being configured to cause a data processing apparatus to:

provide a first query, second query, and third query, the first query having a first response option and a second response option;

display the first query, first response option, and second response option within a graphical user interface while concealing the second query and third query;

receive a selection of the first response option;

determine a stored designation in which selection of the first response option indicates a providing of the second query; and

display the second query within the graphical user interface, based on the stored designation.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the graphical user interface includes a browser, and wherein, in causing the data processing apparatus to provide the first query, second query, and third query, the computer program product causes the data processing apparatus to:

store the first query, second query, third query, first response option, and second response option in association with a local memory of the browser.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the first query, first response option, and second response option are stored in a first discrete software element together with the sequence designation, and wherein the second query is stored in a second discrete software element, and the third query is stored in a third discrete software element.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 wherein displaying and concealing of the first query, second query, third query, first response option, and second response option are based on corresponding visibility indicators stored within the first software element, second software element, and third software element.