Self-directed routable electronic form system and method
First Claim
1. A self-directed routable electronic form generation system to process one or more automated electronic forms, the system comprising:
- a client computer to generate the one or more self-directed routable electronic forms, wherein each automated electronic form includes;
a plurality of visual elements having text or data fields and graphical elements for receiving user data input for form fill-in; and
a plurality of non-visual programmatic elements linked to the plurality of visual elements to process the received user data input, wherein the client computer processes the received user data input to automatically change the plurality of visual elements or the plurality of non-visual programmatic elements in response to the received user data input without server intervention; and
a server remotely coupled to the client computer via a network, wherein a server-side application resident in the server processes the received user data input and determines whether to route the automated electronic form to a particular recipient according to the received user data input, wherein the particular recipient contact information is provided by the user upon request from the server, the server further to determine whether to change routing of the electronic form based on changes introduced into the electronic form by the particular recipient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides for a self-directed routable electronic form generation system and method where each user in the process defines the next, or all the subsequent user routing. The invention resides in providing rules and guidelines that define routing to exist completely within the electronic form itself. Residing in the electronic form these routing rules are dynamically changed based on data input to the form, providing visual clues to the routing based on that input. The present invention generates in the approver'"'"'s view of the form appropriate visual elements corresponding with allowable actions of this subsequent viewer. The present invention also provides visual clues as to the next routing destination based on the electronics form current fill-in data, or based on any changes the approver makes to fill-in data, all without server interaction. This sequence continues until the electronics “form flow” is complete and an end point is reached.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A self-directed routable electronic form generation system to process one or more automated electronic forms, the system comprising:
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a client computer to generate the one or more self-directed routable electronic forms, wherein each automated electronic form includes;
a plurality of visual elements having text or data fields and graphical elements for receiving user data input for form fill-in; and
a plurality of non-visual programmatic elements linked to the plurality of visual elements to process the received user data input, wherein the client computer processes the received user data input to automatically change the plurality of visual elements or the plurality of non-visual programmatic elements in response to the received user data input without server intervention; and
a server remotely coupled to the client computer via a network, wherein a server-side application resident in the server processes the received user data input and determines whether to route the automated electronic form to a particular recipient according to the received user data input, wherein the particular recipient contact information is provided by the user upon request from the server, the server further to determine whether to change routing of the electronic form based on changes introduced into the electronic form by the particular recipient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A self-directed routable electronic form comprising:
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a plurality of visual elements including text/data fields and graphical elements for data input and action selection for form fill-in; and
a plurality of non-visual programmatic elements linked to a set of user data input elements to modify or provide a selection of visual elements, wherein the visual elements and non-visual programmatic elements are modified according to user data input elements independently of a server, and wherein the server determines whether to route the electronic form to a particular recipient based on the user data input elements, wherein the particular recipient contact information is provided by the user upon request from the server, the server further to determine whether to change routing of the electronic form based on changes introduced into the electronic form by the particular recipient. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A self-directed routable electronic form generation process comprising:
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generating by a client computer at least one automated electronic form, wherein generating each automated electronic form includes;
providing a plurality of visual elements having text or data fields and graphical elements for received user data input for form fill-in; and
providing a plurality of non-visual programmatic elements linked to the plurality of visual elements to process the received user data input, wherein the client computer processes the received user data input to automatically change at least one of the visual elements and the non-visual programmatic elements in response to the received user data input without server intervention; and
providing a server-side application residing on a server to selectively provide the received user data input over the server to another computer, wherein the server-side application processes the received user data input and determines whether to route the automated electronic form to a particular recipient according to the received user data input, wherein the particular recipient contact information is provided by the user upon request from the server, the server further to determine whether to change routing of the electronic form based on changes introduced into the electronic form by the particular recipient. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification