Method and apparatus for personalizing completion of electronic forms

• US 8,869,021 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2004
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CollegeNET Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CollegeNET Incorporated
• Inventors: Wolfston, James H. Jr., Hitchcock, Michael D., Fogarty, David M., Ratliff, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, THU V
• Application Number:
  US10/890,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20050060280A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,751 Days
• Field of Search: 715/513, 715/500, 715/501.1, 715505-506, 715/205, 715/221, 715/222, 715/224, 715/234
• US Class Current: 715/221
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging

Abstract

The invention is a method and apparatus for encouraging applicants or others completing electronic forms to complete the forms and to become associated with the institution to which the form is directed. While completing the form or afterward, the applicant follows a hyperlink that presents a personal communication from an identified individual associated with the institution. The communication typically relates to the underlying purpose of the form rather than providing instructions on completing the form. For example, the communication may include a personalized message encouraging the applicant to attend the university. By varying the communication depending on the information entered onto the form by the applicant, the communication can be tailored to the specific background and interests of the applicant. The communication can also vary depending upon the applicants progress in the application process, for example, upon submission of verifiable payment information identifying the applicant, the applicant may be provided contact information to contact the identified individual.

Claims

1. A method of receiving a college or university admissions application from a college or university applicant over a computer network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a college or university admissions application from a college or university applicant, the request being communicated over a computer network;

in response to receiving the request for a college or university admissions application from a college or university applicant, generating the college or university admissions application, said college or university admissions application comprising an electronic form having a plurality of data entry fields for entering college or university admissions data;

transmitting the college or university admissions application to the college or university applicant, the transmission being communicated over the computer network;

receiving college or university admissions data from the college or university applicant, the college or university admissions data being entered into the data entry fields of the college or university admissions application by the college or university applicant; and

detecting a selection of a user-selectable hyperlink by the college or university applicant, the indication being communicated over the computer network;

in response to detecting of the selection of the hyperlink;

analyzing the college or university admissions data received from the college or university applicant to determine one or more interests of the college or university applicant;

selecting a communication based on the one or more interests of the college or university applicant, the communication being about or from a real, identified person;

transmitting the selected communication to the college or university applicant;

in which the identified person is a student enrolled in or attending the college or university to which the college or university applicant is applying for admission; and

in which the communication from the identified person includes a message of encouragement for the college or university applicant and an invitation to contact the identified person after completing the electronic form.

2. The method of claim 1, in which a universal forms engine generates the college or university admissions application.

3. The method of claim 2, in which the universal forms engine is hosted by a third party servicer.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the computer network is the world-wide-web, the college or university admissions application is a world-wide-web page, and the communication is a world-wide-web page.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the hyperlink is displayed to the college or university applicant in response to receiving a predetermined threshold of college or university admissions data from the college or university applicant.

6. The method of claim 1, in which detecting the selection of the hyperlink causes the content of the communication to the applicant to be assembled based upon the college or university admissions data already completed by the applicant.

7. The method of claim 1, in which detecting the selection of the hyperlink causes a communication from a NetCounselor to be selected based upon the college or university admissions data already completed by the applicant.

8. A system for receiving a college or university admissions application from a college or university applicant over a computer network, the system comprising:

a computer processor coupled;

a computer network interface coupled to the computer processor and a computer network;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the computer processor, the computer-readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the computer processor to perform the steps of;

receiving a request for a college or university admissions application from a college or university applicant, the request being communicated over the computer network;

in response to receiving the request for a college or university admissions application from a college or university applicant, generating the college or university admissions application, said college or university admissions application comprising an electronic form having a plurality of data entry fields for entering college or university admissions data;

transmitting the college or university admissions application to the college or university applicant, the transmission being communicated over the computer network;

receiving college or university admissions data from the college or university applicant, the college or university admissions data being entered into the data entry fields of the college or university admissions application by the college or university applicant; and

detecting a selection of a user-selectable hyperlink by the college or university applicant, the indication being communicated over the computer network;

in response to detecting of the selection of the hyperlink;

analyzing the college or university admissions data received from the college or university applicant to determine one or more interests of the college or university applicant;

selecting a communication based on the one or more interests of the college or university applicant, the communication being about or from a real, identified person; and

transmitting the selected communication to the college or university applicant;

in which the identified person is a student enrolled in or attending the college or university to which the college or university applicant is applying for admission; and

in which the communication from the identified person includes a message of encouragement for the college or university applicant and an invitation to contact the identified person after completing the electronic form.

9. The system of claim 8, in which a universal forms engine generates the college or university admissions application.

10. The system of claim 9, in which the universal forms engine is hosted by a third party servicer.

11. The system of claim 8, in which the computer network is the world-wide-web, the college or university admissions application is a world-wide-web page, and the communication is a world-wide-web page.

12. The system of claim 8, in which the hyperlink is displayed to the college or university applicant in response to receiving a predetermined threshold of college or university admissions data from the college or university applicant.

13. The system of claim 8, in which detecting the selection of the hyperlink causes the content of the communication to the applicant to be assembled based upon the college or university admissions data already completed by the applicant.

14. The system of claim 8, in which detecting the selection of the hyperlink causes a communication from a NetCounselor to be selected based upon the college or university admissions data already completed by the applicant.

15. A computer program product for receiving a college or university admissions application from a college or university applicant over a computer network, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer processor, cause the computer processor to perform the steps of:

receiving a request for a college or university admissions application from a college or university applicant, the request being communicated over a computer network;

in response to receiving the request for a college or university admissions application from a college or university applicant, generating the college or university admissions application, said college or university admissions application comprising an electronic form having a plurality of data entry fields for entering college or university admissions data;

transmitting the college or university admissions application to the college or university applicant, the transmission being communicated over the computer network;

receiving college or university admissions data from the college or university applicant, the college or university admissions data being entered into the data entry fields of the college or university admissions application by the college or university applicant; and

detecting a selection of a user-selectable hyperlink by the college or university applicant, the indication being communicated over the computer network;

in response to detecting of the selection of the hyperlink;

analyzing the college or university admissions data received from the college or university applicant to determine one or more interests of the college or university applicant;

selecting a communication based on the one or more interests of the college or university applicant, the communication being about or from a real, identified person; and

transmitting the selected communication to the college or university applicant;

in which the identified person is a student enrolled in or attending the college or university to which the college or university applicant is applying for admission; and

in which the communication from the identified person includes a message of encouragement for the college or university applicant and an invitation to contact the identified person after completing the electronic form.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, in which a universal forms engine generates the college or university admissions application.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, in which the universal forms engine is hosted by a third party servicer.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, in which the computer network is the world-wide-web, the college or university admissions application is a world-wide-web page, and the communication is a world-wide-web page.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, in which the hyperlink is displayed to the college or university applicant in response to receiving a predetermined threshold of college or university admissions data from the college or university applicant.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, in which detecting the selection of the hyperlink causes the content of the communication to the applicant to be assembled based upon the college or university admissions data already completed by the applicant.

21. The computer program product of claim 15, in which detecting the selection of the hyperlink causes a communication from a NetCounselor to be selected based upon the college or university admissions data already completed by the applicant.