Grant administration system

• US 20090117529A1
• Filed: 11/02/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Altum, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Altum, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldstein, Dahna
• Granted Patent: US 10,304,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/350
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for facilitating the completion of a questionnaire. A storage medium stores a plurality of questions and associated answers. Similar questions are linked. An interface presents to a user through a computer network a presented question as part of a questionnaire to be completed. The interface also presents to the user answers associated with similar questions linked to the presented question. Upon user selection, an answer to a similar question is stored as an answer to the selected question. The user may modify the answer. The method and system may present additional questions and answers associated with similar questions linked to the additional question. A user may have access to stored questions, add questions, and link similar questions. Answers to questions may be stored before the user completes the questionnaire. The questionnaire may include fields populated with information previously supplied by the user without user selection. The storage medium may be a database.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating completion of a questionnaire comprising:

storing in a storage medium a plurality of questions and associated answers;

linking similar questions;

presenting to a user through a computer network a presented question as part of a questionnaire to be completed;

presenting to a user answers associated with similar questions linked to the presented question; and

upon user selection, storing as an answer to the presented question a user-selected answer associated with a similar question.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of storing a user-selected answer includes a step of storing a modified answer derived by the user from the presented answer associated with the similar question.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of allowing the user to add a question to the storage medium.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of linking similar questions includes a step of allowing a user to link similar questions.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of linking similar questions includes a step of providing access to the user to a set of stored questions that may be linked.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of storing an answer upon user selection occurs before the user completes the questionnaire.

7. The method of claim 1 further including a step of presenting to a user a questionnaire with fields populated without user selection with information previously supplied from the user.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

presenting to a user at least one additional question from a questionnaire to be completed;

for an additional question, presenting to a user an answer associated with a similar question linked to the additional question; and

for the additional question, upon user command, storing as an answer to the additional question an answer associated with a similar question linked to the additional question.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of storing an answer to the additional question includes a step of storing an answer associated with a similar question linked to the additional question after modification by the user.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the storage medium is a database.

11. An apparatus for facilitating completion of a questionnaire comprising:

a storage medium storing a plurality of questions and associated answers;

links among similar questions;

a computer network interface connected to the storage medium, said interface operable (a) to present to a user a presented question as part of a questionnaire to be completed, (b) to present to the user one or more answers associated with similar questions that are linked to the presented question, and (c) upon user selection, to store as an answer to the presented question a user-selected answer associated with a similar question to the presented question.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the computer network interface is operable to store as an answer to the presented question a modified answer derived by the user from the presented answer associated with the similar question.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the computer network interface is further operable to allow the user to add a question to the storage medium.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the computer network interface is operable to allow a user to link similar questions.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the computer network interface is operable to provide access to the user to a set of stored questions that may be linked.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the computer network interface is operable to store an answer upon user selection before the user completes the questionnaire.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the computer network interface is further operable to present to a user a questionnaire with fields populated without user selection with information previously supplied from the user.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the computer network interface is further operable:

to present to a user at least one additional question from a questionnaire to be completed;

for an additional question, to present to a user an answer associated with a similar question linked to the additional question; and

for the additional question, upon user command, to store as an answer to the additional question an answer associated with a similar question linked to the additional question.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the computer network interface is operable store an answer associated with a similar question linked to the additional question after modification by the user.

20. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the storage medium is a database.