Unified data entry for generating multiple forms
First Claim
1. A method for populating forms based on a user interview, comprising:
- generating, using a computer processor, a plurality of binary questions according to a first rule to form a top level menu;
receiving a plurality of binary answers corresponding to the plurality of binary questions from the user;
adjusting, using the computer processor, at least one of the plurality of binary questions based on the plurality of binary answers according to a second rule during the user interview;
identifying, using the computer processor, a plurality of forms from a forms library based on the plurality of binary answers according to a third rule, wherein the plurality of forms comprises a Federal tax return form and a state tax return form associated with a first State;
extracting, based on the plurality of binary answers, a plurality of data entry fields from the plurality of forms by at least;
excluding any duplicate data entry field in the plurality of forms, andcombining at least two related data entry fields based on a pre-determined criterion;
presenting the plurality of data entry fields to the user in a unified format by;
grouping related data entry fields of the plurality of data entry fields based on the plurality of binary answers to form a plurality of data entry menus, wherein the plurality of data entry menus are organized as multiple levels in lower level menu structures associated with the top level menu; and
selectively presenting the plurality of data entry menus to the user based on a condition of the plurality of binary answers;
receiving data from the user for the plurality of data entry fields, wherein the lower level menu structures of the unified format are further generated and added to the user interview based on the data, wherein further generating the lower level menu structures of the unified format comprises;
identifying an additional state tax return form associated with a second State based on the data; and
grouping additional binary questions associated with all data entry fields for a particular deduction required by the Federal tax return form, the State tax return form, and the additional State tax return form together in a single data entry menu for the particular deduction;
populating at least a portion of the plurality of forms to generate a plurality of populated forms; and
storing the plurality of populated forms in a repository on behalf of the user.
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Abstract
A method for populating forms based on a user interview. The method includes generating, using a computer processor, binary questions according to a first rule, receiving answers to the binary questions from the user, adjusting, using the computer processor, a binary question based on answers according to a second rule during the user interview, and identifying, using the computer processor, forms from a forms library based on the answers according to a third rule. The method also includes presenting based on the answers, data entry fields of forms to the user in a unified format, where related data entry fields are grouped together to form data entry menus in the unified format, receiving data from the user for the data entry fields, populating a portion of the forms to generate populated forms based on the data, and storing the populated forms in a repository on behalf of the user.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for populating forms based on a user interview, comprising:
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generating, using a computer processor, a plurality of binary questions according to a first rule to form a top level menu; receiving a plurality of binary answers corresponding to the plurality of binary questions from the user; adjusting, using the computer processor, at least one of the plurality of binary questions based on the plurality of binary answers according to a second rule during the user interview; identifying, using the computer processor, a plurality of forms from a forms library based on the plurality of binary answers according to a third rule, wherein the plurality of forms comprises a Federal tax return form and a state tax return form associated with a first State; extracting, based on the plurality of binary answers, a plurality of data entry fields from the plurality of forms by at least; excluding any duplicate data entry field in the plurality of forms, and combining at least two related data entry fields based on a pre-determined criterion; presenting the plurality of data entry fields to the user in a unified format by; grouping related data entry fields of the plurality of data entry fields based on the plurality of binary answers to form a plurality of data entry menus, wherein the plurality of data entry menus are organized as multiple levels in lower level menu structures associated with the top level menu; and selectively presenting the plurality of data entry menus to the user based on a condition of the plurality of binary answers; receiving data from the user for the plurality of data entry fields, wherein the lower level menu structures of the unified format are further generated and added to the user interview based on the data, wherein further generating the lower level menu structures of the unified format comprises; identifying an additional state tax return form associated with a second State based on the data; and grouping additional binary questions associated with all data entry fields for a particular deduction required by the Federal tax return form, the State tax return form, and the additional State tax return form together in a single data entry menu for the particular deduction; populating at least a portion of the plurality of forms to generate a plurality of populated forms; and storing the plurality of populated forms in a repository on behalf of the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 23, 24)
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9. A computer readable medium storing instructions for populating forms based on a user interview, the instructions when executed by a computer processor comprising functionality for:
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generating a plurality of binary questions according to a first rule to form a top level menu; receiving a plurality of binary answers corresponding to the plurality of binary questions from the user; adjusting, using the computer processor, at least one of the plurality of binary questions based on the plurality of binary answers according to a second rule during the user interview; identifying, using the computer processor, a plurality of forms from a forms library based on the plurality of binary answers according to a third rule, wherein the plurality of forms comprises a Federal tax return form and a state tax return form associated with a first State; extracting, based on the plurality of binary answers, a plurality of data entry fields from the plurality of forms by at least; excluding any duplicate data entry field in the plurality of forms, and combining at least two related data entry fields based on a pre-determined criterion; presenting the plurality of data entry fields to the user in a unified format by; grouping related data entry fields of the plurality of data entry fields based on the plurality of binary answers to form a plurality of data entry menus, wherein the plurality of data entry menus are organized as multiple levels in lower level menu structures associated with the top level menu; and selectively presenting the plurality of data entry menus to the user based on a condition of the plurality of binary answers; receiving data from the user for the plurality of data entry fields, wherein the lower level menu structures of the unified format are further generated and added to the user interview based on the data, wherein further generating the lower level menu structures of the unified format comprises; identifying an additional state tax return form associated with a second State based on the data; and grouping additional binary questions associated with all data entry fields for a particular deduction required by the Federal tax return form, the State tax return form, and the additional State tax return form together in a single data entry menu for the particular deduction; populating at least a portion of the plurality of forms to generate a plurality of populated forms based on the data; and storing the plurality of populated forms in a repository on behalf of the user. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 25, 26)
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15. A system for populating forms based on a user interview, comprising:
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a repository for storing a forms library and a rule set; an interview module executing on a computer processor and configured to present a plurality of binary questions as a top level menu to a user and receive a plurality of binary answers from the user during the user interview; an interview menu generator executing on a computer processor and configured to generate the plurality of binary questions according to a first rule of the rule set and adjust, during the user interview, at least one of the plurality of binary questions based on the plurality of binary answers according to a second rule of the rule set; and a memory storing instructions when executed by the computer processor comprising functionality for; identifying a plurality of forms from a forms library based on the plurality of binary answers according to a third rule, wherein the plurality of forms comprises a Federal tax return form and a state tax return form associated with a first State; extracting, based on the plurality of binary answers, a plurality of data entry fields from the plurality of forms by at least; excluding any duplicate data entry field in the plurality of forms, and combining at least two related data entry fields based on a pre-determined criterion; presenting the plurality of data entry fields to the user in a unified format by; grouping related data entry fields of the plurality of data entry fields based on the plurality of binary answers to form a plurality of data entry menus, wherein the plurality of data entry menus are organized as multiple levels in lower level menu structures associated with the top level menu; and selectively presenting the plurality of data entry menus to the user based on a condition of the plurality of binary answers; receiving data from the user for the plurality of data entry fields, wherein the lower level menu structures of the unified format are further generated and added to the user interview based on the data, wherein further generating the lower level menu structures of the unified format comprises; identifying an additional state tax return form associated with a second State based on the data; and grouping additional binary questions associated with all data entry fields for a particular deduction required by the Federal tax return form, the State tax return form, and the additional State tax return form together in a single data entry menu for the particular deduction; populating at least a portion of the plurality of forms to generate a plurality of populated forms; and storing the plurality of populated forms in the repository on behalf of the user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification