Method and system for compliance forms and compliance forms user interface

• US 7,707,487 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2003
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scantron Corporation (MX Holdings One LLC)
• Original Assignee: Spectrum K12 School Solutions, Inc. (MX Holdings One LLC)
• Inventors: Easter, Clark, Banoczi, Gabor, Ewers, Theodosia, Volker, Robert, Bealer, Jonathon, Mabelle, David Williams Adams
• Primary Examiner(s): Ries; Laurie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Maikhanh
• Application Number:
  US10/648,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,435 Days
• Field of Search: 715/505, 715506-508, 715/780, 715221-226, 715/234, 709/218, 705/44, 434/118, 434/323, 434/350, 434/362
• US Class Current: 715/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/30 Semantic analysis

Abstract

A method and system for interactive and automated assistance with document (e.g., forms) completion for use in complying with requirements or otherwise performing functions for which automated documents are useful, and a user interface for a code authoring tool to support development, customization, and revision of such documents. The user interface for document completion includes search functions to identify documents needing completion, highlighting of fields of documents based on priority for completion of those fields, and a compliance check feature to confirm proper document completion. The code authoring tool allows a user to customize the format of data limitations for fields in documents, define selection choices presented, which are linked to the fields, create help, warning, or error messages, build calculations, define business rules, and generate code and associated documentation, which may be optionally exported.

Claims

1. In a computer system, a method for providing interactive assistance with populating an automated document that includes at least one field, the computer system comprising a processor, a data repository, and a user interface, the method comprising:

selecting, via the processor, an entity to which the automated document applies;

assigning, via the processor, a prioritization to each of the at least one field, the prioritization stored in the data repository;

prompting, via the user interface, for a response for each of the at least one field, the prompting varying based on the prioritization of each of the at least one field;

varying, via the processor, a color of each of the at least one field based on the prioritization;

performing, via the processor, a compliance check of each response for the at least one field to determine if the response complies with predetermined legal requirements, wherein a validation rule triggers the compliance check to occur as the response for the at least one field is being entered;

iteratively revising, via the processor, the prioritization of all of the at least one field upon receiving the response to each of the at least one field;

prompting varying based on the iteratively revised prioritization of all of the at least one field;

identifying data from an accessible repository responsive to any of the at least one field of the automated document;

automatically populating each of the at least one field of the automated document for which the responsive data from the accessible repository are identified;

highlighting each of the at least one field containing automatic populating; and

displaying, via the user interface, the populated automated document.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the populated automated document is a form.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the form is used for compliance with educational requirements.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the educational requirements include requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined legal requirements are legal requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

if the compliance check passes, providing an option to lock the automated document.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a response to the option to lock the populated automated document; and

if the selection is to lock the populated automated document, preventing revision of each of the responses to the at least one field.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prompting a user for security information.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the entity is an individual.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the automated document with the response to each of the at least one field.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein prompting for a response to each of the at least one field is selected from a group consisting of prompting for a required response, and prompting for an optional response.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting an entity to which the automated document applies includes:

searching the data repository containing at least one entity.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an option to select the automated document form a plurality of documents.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating the plurality of documents via a search.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the automated document is associating with a meeting.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the meeting includes at least one event.

17. A computer system for providing interactive assistance with populating a automated document that includes at least one field, the computer system comprising a processor, a data repository, and a user interface, the computer system further comprising:

means for, via the processor, selecting an entity to which the automated document applies;

means for, via the processor, assigning a prioritization to each of the at least one field, the prioritization stored in the data repository;

means for prompting, via the user interface, for a response for each of the at least one field, the prompting varying based on the prioritization of each of the at least one field;

means for varying, via the processor, a color of each of the at least one field based on the prioritization;

means for performing, via the processor, a compliance check of each response for the at least one field to determine if the response complies with predetermined legal requirements, wherein a validation rule triggers the compliance check to occur as the response for the at least one field is being entered;

means for iteratively revising, via the processor, the prioritization of all of the at least one field upon receiving the response to each of the at least one field;

means for prompting, via the user interface, for a response to at least one field, the prompting varying based on the iteratively revised prioritization of all of the at least one field;

means for identifying data from an accessible repository responsive to any of the at least one field of the automated document;

means for automatically populating each of the at least one field of the automated document for which the responsive data from the accessible repository are identified;

means for highlighting each of the at least one field containing automatic populating; and

means for displaying, via the user interface, the populated automated document.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the predetermined legal requirements are legal requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

19. A system for providing interactive assistance with populating a automated document that includes at least one field, the system comprising:

a processor;

a user interface functioning via the processor; and

a repository accessible by the processor;

wherein an entity to which the automated document applies is selected by the processor;

wherein a prioritization to each of the at least one field is assigned, the prioritization stored in the data repository;

wherein a response for each of the at least one field is prompted for, the prompting varying based on the prioritization of each of the at least one field;

wherein a color of each of the at least one field varies based on the prioritization;

wherein the response for each of the at least one field is checked for compliance with predetermined legal requirements;

wherein a validation rule triggers the compliance check to occur as the response for the at least one field is being entered;

wherein the prioritization of all of the at least one field is iteratively revised upon receiving the response to each of the at least one field;

wherein data from an accessible repository responsive to any of the at least one field of the automated document is identified;

wherein each of the at least one field of the automated document is automatically populated for which the responsive data from the accessible repository are identified;

wherein each of the at least one field containing automatic populating is highlighted; and

wherein the populated automated document is displayed.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is housed on a terminal.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the terminal is selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, a minicomputer, a main frame computer, a microcomputer, a hand held device, and a telephonic device.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor is housed on a server.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the server is selected from a group consisting of a personal computer, a minicomputer, a microcomputer, and a main frame computer.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the server is coupled to a network.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the network is the Internet.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the server is coupled to the network via a coupling.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the coupling is selected from a group consisting of a wired connection, a wireless connection, and a fiberoptic connection.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein the repository is housed on a server.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the server is coupled to a network.

30. The system of claim 19, wherein the predetermined legal requirements are legal requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

31. A computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to provide interactive assistance with populating an automated document that includes at least one field, the control logic comprising:

first computer readable program code means for selecting an entity to which the automated document applies;

second computer readable program code means for assigning a prioritization to each of the at least one field;

third computer readable program code means for prompting for a response for each of the at least one field, the prompting varying based on the prioritization of each of the at least one field, wherein a color of each of the at least one field varies based on the prioritization;

fourth computer readable program code means for performing a compliance check of each response for the at least one field, wherein a validation rule triggers the compliance check to occur as the response for the at least one field is being entered;

fifth computer readable program code means for iteratively revising the prioritization of all of the at least one field upon receiving the response to each of the at least one field;

sixth computer readable program code means for identifying data from an accessible repository responsive to any of the at least one field of the automated document;

seventh computer readable program code means for automatically populating each of the at least one field of the automated document for which the responsive data from the accessible repository are identified;

eighth computer readable program code means for highlighting each of the at least one field containing automatic populating; and

ninth computer readable program code means for displaying the populated automated document.