Generation and implementation of dynamic surveys

• US 7,941,751 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Ebert, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Stephen S
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBINSON, MARSHON L
• Application Number:
  US11/496,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20080028313A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,744 Days
• Field of Search: 715/730, 715/731, 715/780, 705/10
• 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 for creating an electronic survey, the computer program product being tangibly embodied on a computer-readable storage medium and being configured to cause a data processing apparatus to:

display, using a graphical user interface, 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 within the graphical user interface, and a second graphical sequence controller associated with the second response option within the graphical user interface;

receive a first graphical association from a user of the computer program product, the first graphical association having a first designation of the first graphical sequence controller, the first designation including an indication that the second query is to be provided in response to selection of the first response option;

receive a second graphical association from the user of the computer program product, the second graphical association having a second designation of the second graphical sequence controller, the second designation including an indication that the third query is to be provided in response to selection of the second response option; and

store the first designation, the second designation, the first query, the second query, and the third query as being included within the electronic survey for use in execution thereof.

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 for creating an electronic survey, the system including instructions recorded on a computer-readable storage medium and comprising:

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

sequence logic configured to display, within the graphical user interface and in conjunction with the plurality of queries and the associated plurality of response options, a graphical sequence controller in association with each of the plurality of response options, and to receive from a user of the system a graphical manipulation of the graphical sequence controllers by which a sequence is graphically designated for presenting a subsequent query during a later execution of the electronic survey being created, to be based on a selected response option of a previous query during the execution, wherein the designated sequence is visually displayed within the graphical user interface.

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.