Interview question modification during preparation of electronic tax return
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for personalizing a user interface generated by a computerized tax return preparation application during preparation of an electronic tax return, the method being performed by a computer a processor executing computer-executable instructions of the computerized tax return preparation application stored in a data store accessed by the computer and comprising:
- the computer, by execution of a modular rule-based logic agent of the computerized tax return preparation application, reading runtime data of the electronic tax return from a shared data store and selecting a first question to be included in a non-binding suggestion, the first question being selected by the modular rule-based logic agent based on a data structure comprising a decision table including a plurality of rows defining respective rules and a plurality of columns defining respective questions and which rules remain after elimination of at least one rule based on the runtime data;
the computer, by execution of a modification module of the computerized tax return preparation application that is in communication with the modular rule-based logic agent and a modular user interface controller, receiving the non-binding suggestion including the selected first question, determining data of a pre-determined attribute of the user based at least in part upon the runtime data of the electronic tax return, and modifying the non-binding suggestion by rephrasing the first question to a second question different from the first question based at least in part upon the pre-determined attribute data and the first question;
the computer, by execution of a modular user interface controller in communication with the modification module, generating an interview screen comprising the second question, presenting the interview screen to the user through a display of the computer such that the second question but not the first question is presented to the user, receiving an answer to the second question through the interview screen, and writing the answer to the second question to the shared data store, and flagging the answer to the second question in the shared data store;
the computer, by execution of a conversion module of the shared data store, detecting the flagged answer to the second question, and determining an answer to the first question that was not presented to the user based at least in part upon the answer to the second question that was presented to the user, wherein the answer to the first question is stored to the shared data store to update the runtime data.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Computer-implemented methods, systems and articles of manufacture for modifying the manner in which interview questions are presented to a user of a tax return preparation application to provide a more personalized experience during preparation of an electronic tax return. A selected question that is consistent with a data model or schema is modified or twisted such that the selected question is reworded or rephrased. The modified question, rather than the original question, is presented to the user. The user'"'"'s answer to the modified question is converted, mapped or “untwisted” to derive a corresponding answer to the original question that is consistent with the data model or schema utilized by the tax return preparation application. The corresponding answer may then be read by a rule engine or logic agent that utilizes a decision table that defines rules to determine which additional or other questions can be presented to the user.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for personalizing a user interface generated by a computerized tax return preparation application during preparation of an electronic tax return, the method being performed by a computer a processor executing computer-executable instructions of the computerized tax return preparation application stored in a data store accessed by the computer and comprising:
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the computer, by execution of a modular rule-based logic agent of the computerized tax return preparation application, reading runtime data of the electronic tax return from a shared data store and selecting a first question to be included in a non-binding suggestion, the first question being selected by the modular rule-based logic agent based on a data structure comprising a decision table including a plurality of rows defining respective rules and a plurality of columns defining respective questions and which rules remain after elimination of at least one rule based on the runtime data; the computer, by execution of a modification module of the computerized tax return preparation application that is in communication with the modular rule-based logic agent and a modular user interface controller, receiving the non-binding suggestion including the selected first question, determining data of a pre-determined attribute of the user based at least in part upon the runtime data of the electronic tax return, and modifying the non-binding suggestion by rephrasing the first question to a second question different from the first question based at least in part upon the pre-determined attribute data and the first question; the computer, by execution of a modular user interface controller in communication with the modification module, generating an interview screen comprising the second question, presenting the interview screen to the user through a display of the computer such that the second question but not the first question is presented to the user, receiving an answer to the second question through the interview screen, and writing the answer to the second question to the shared data store, and flagging the answer to the second question in the shared data store; the computer, by execution of a conversion module of the shared data store, detecting the flagged answer to the second question, and determining an answer to the first question that was not presented to the user based at least in part upon the answer to the second question that was presented to the user, wherein the answer to the first question is stored to the shared data store to update the runtime data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a processor of a computing device, causes the computing device to execute a process for presenting a personalized interview question to a user of a tax return preparation application during preparation of an electronic tax return perform a method comprising:
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executing a modular rule-based logic agent of the computerized tax return preparation application, wherein execution of the modular rule-based logic agent comprises reading runtime data of the electronic tax return from a shared data store and selecting a first question to be included in a non-binding suggestion, the first question being selected by the modular rule-based logic agent based on a data structure comprising a decision table including a plurality of rows defining respective rules and a plurality of columns defining respective questions and which rules remain after elimination of at least one rule based on the runtime data; executing a modification module of the computerized tax return preparation application that is in communication with the modular rule-based logic agent and a modular user interface controller, wherein execution of the modification module comprises receiving the non-binding suggestion including the selected first question, determining data of a pre-determined attribute of the user based at least in part upon the runtime data of the electronic tax return, and modifying the nonbinding suggestion by rephrasing the first question to a second question different from the first question based at least in part upon the pre-determined attribute data and the first question; executing a modular user interface controller in communication with the modification module, wherein execution of the modular user interface controller comprises generating an interview screen comprising the second question, presenting the interview screen to the user through a display of the computer such that the second question but not the first question is presented to the user, receiving an answer to the second question through the interview screen, and writing the answer to the second question to the shared data store, and flagging the answer to the second question in the shared data store; and executing a conversion module of the shared data store, wherein execution of the conversion module comprises detecting the flagged answer to the second question, and determining an answer to the first question that was not presented to the user based at least in part upon the answer to the second question that was presented to the user, wherein the answer to the first question is stored to the shared data store to update the runtime data.
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Specification