(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2001/0052009 A1
`DESA et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Dec. 13, 2001
`
`US 20010052009A1
`
`(54) SURVEY COMMUNICATION ACROSSA
`NETWORK
`
`(76) Inventors: SOHAG H. DESAI, FREMONT, CA
`(US); KRISHNAPRABHAKAR,
`FREMONT, CA (US)
`Correspondence Address:
`WILLIAM KEVIN ROE
`CARR & FERRELL
`2225 EAST BAYSHORE ROAD
`SUTE 200
`PALO ALTO, CA 94303
`(*) Notice:
`This is a publication of a continued pros-
`ecution application (CPA) filed under 37
`CFR 1.53(d).
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`(22) Filed:
`
`09/050,331
`Mar. 30, 1998
`
`Publication Classification
`(51) Int. Cl." ......................... G06F 15/16; G06F 15/173
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................................ 709/224; 709/203
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A Survey network System that allows gathering of informa
`tion acroSS a network quickly and efficiently, including a
`questionnaire Server, a communication interface, a question
`naire distributor, a questionnaire designer and a question
`naire library.
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`Patent Application Publication Dec. 13, 2001 Sheet 1 of 4
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Dec. 13, 2001 Sheet 4 of 4
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`US 2001/0052009 A1
`
`Dec. 13, 2001
`
`SURVEY COMMUNICATION ACROSSA
`NETWORK
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0001) 1. Field of the Invention
`0002 The present invention relates generally to perform
`ing Surveys and more particularly to Survey communications
`across a network, Such as the Internet/World-Wide-Web.
`0.003
`2. Description of the Background Art
`0004 Prior art systems and methods exist to perform
`Surveys over a computer network, but Such Systems and
`methods provide limited capabilities in Survey questioning
`and analysis. Many computer companies developed purely
`e-mail-based Survey, distribution and analysis utility pro
`grams which were deployed during the time that computer
`networking was a relatively new technology before the
`World-Wide-Web (Web) gained popularity.
`0005 Prior art Survey utility programs usually allow a
`designer to create a Survey comprised of limited question
`types, Such as multiple choice, fill-in-the-blanks, rating Scale
`(with a maximum of two-dimensions), essay-type and rank
`ing choice. Prior art Surveys can be mailed to list of
`recipients, who can usually activate an attachment in their
`e-mail program, which brings up a client program that
`displays the Survey. After responding to the Survey, the
`Survey takerS Send the responses to the e-mail box of the
`designer. The prior art usually analyzes the responses and
`looks for a proprietary tag, which identifies the Survey and
`the response data, collates them and Summarizes the
`responses. However, the prior art Suffers from a number of
`limitations.
`0006 The prior art usually requires a client program to be
`launched from every Survey respondent's desktop in order to
`display the Survey and enable the respondent to reply. This
`is fine in a networked environment where every computer
`desktop has access to a Server upon which the client program
`resides, but it can only work if every Single potential
`respondent has had the client program distributed to their
`desktop. The prior art does not take advantage of the fact the
`Web browser has become a de facto “universal client'-it is
`ubiquitous on peoples desktops.
`0007 Another limitation of the prior art is that it is tied
`to proprietary operating System environments.
`0008 Another limitation of the prior art is that it is
`usually tied to a proprietary windowing System environ
`ment.
`0009. Another limitation of the prior art is that it is not
`linked to a Web server or Web browser in any way. It cannot
`be associated with the Web, if required to make the Survey
`distribution more targeted or more like a broadcast.
`0.010 Another limitation of the prior art is that it has no
`capability of associating, delivering or receiving multimedia
`objects Such as Video clips, audio clipS and images to or from
`Survey recipients.
`0.011) Another limitation of the prior art is that it has
`limited analysis capability-only Summary reporting for most
`question types and Second order cross-tabulation for rating
`questions. The prior art cannot Support Summary tabulation
`
`and nth order croSS-tabulation with associated graphical
`display of two or more variables.
`0012 Another limitation of the prior art is that is has no
`interface to databases or existing Survey packages. The prior
`art does not tie in to Object-Relational Databases.
`0013 Another limitation of the prior art is that it supports
`only limited types of questions, and even in the common
`types of questions Supported, it has limited flexibility in
`adding choice types. Many more question types with the
`ability to mix-and-match choice types between the base
`question types are not Supported by the prior art.
`0014) Another limitation of the prior art is that it does not
`Support “intelligent Survey behavior Such as branching or
`piping. The prior art does not Support a Survey programming
`language called “Survey Intermediate Form” which uses
`common programming language constructs Such as macro
`expansion, conditional and unconditional branching, itera
`tive loops, procedure calls and So forth.
`0015. Another limitation of the prior art is that it works
`only with proprietary e-mail programs. It does not Support
`Internet mail standards Such as MIME.
`0016 A practical Survey network system should provide
`high-capability in gathering of information acroSS a net
`work. Therefore, what is needed is a high-capability System
`for performing Survey communications acroSS a network.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0017. One object of the invention is to allow the display
`of the Survey and the response to the Survey without requir
`ing a client program to be distributed to and launched from
`every Survey respondent's desktop.
`0018. Another object of the invention is to link the survey
`system to a Web server or Web browser, so that it can be
`associated with the Web, or it can be unlinked from the Web
`if required, to make the Survey distribution more targeted or
`more broadcast-like.
`0019. Another object is to provide a capability to operate
`independently of proprietary operating System environments
`and proprietary windowing environments.
`0020. Another object is to provide the capability of
`asSociating, delivering or receiving multimedia objects Such
`as Video clips, audio clipS and images to or from Survey
`recipients.
`0021 Another object is to provide greater analysis capa
`bility for most question types, Such as Supporting Summary
`tabulation and nth order croSS-tabulation with associated
`graphical display of two or more variables.
`0022. Another object is to provide an interface to data
`bases or existing Survey packages and tie in to Object
`Relational Databases.
`0023. Another object is to provide support for more types
`of questions, with more flexibility in adding choice types
`and to allow many more question types with the ability to
`mix-and-match choice types between the base question
`types.
`0024. Another object is to provide Support for “intelli
`gent Survey behavior Such as branching or piping and to
`provide Support for Survey programming languages using
`
`6
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`

`US 2001/0052009 A1
`
`Dec. 13, 2001
`
`common programming language constructs Such as macro
`expansion, conditional and unconditional branching, itera
`tive loops and procedure calls.
`0.025. Another object is to support Internet mail standards
`Such as MIME.
`0026. The present invention comprises a survey network
`System for performing Surveys acroSS a communications
`network including a computer network, a questionnaire
`Server, a client and a response processor. The questionnaire
`Server includes a communication interface, a questionnaire
`library, a questionnaire designer and a questionnaire dis
`tributor. The client includes a communication interface, a
`browser, a response engine and a local dedicated profile. The
`response processor includes a communication interface, an
`analysis engine and a prior response database. This provides
`a high-capability Survey network System.
`0027. These and other objects of the present invention
`will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the
`following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0028 FIG. 1 is a diagram of a survey network system for
`performing Survey communications acroSS a network Such
`as the Internet/World-Wide-Web;
`0029 FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the details of the
`questionnaire designer and distributor;
`0030 FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the details of the
`client; and
`0.031
`FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the details of the
`analysis engine of the response processor shown in FIG. 1.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`0.032 Survey Communication Across a Network
`0.033
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a Survey
`network system 100 for performing Survey communications
`across a network 110 Such as the Internet/World-Wide-Web.
`The network system 100 includes a questionnaire server 105
`coupled via the computer network 110 to a client 115 and to
`a response processor 120.
`0034. The server 105 includes a communications inter
`face 125 coupled to a questionnaire distributor 130 coupled
`in turn to a multimedia questionnaire designer 135 coupled
`in turn to a questionnaire library 140. The multimedia
`questionnaire designer 135 enables a user to retrieve mul
`timedia questions from the question library 140 and to
`generate a multimedia-based questionnaire. Examples of
`multimedia include text, Sound, Still images, moving pic
`tures, animation, VRML and hyperlinks to other pieces of
`information. The distributor 130 uses e-mail or a Web server
`to forward the questionnaire as a Self-configurable applet via
`the communications interface 125 and network 110 to the
`client 115.
`0035. The client 115 includes a communications interface
`145 coupled to a Java-enabled browser 150 coupled in turn
`to a response engine 155 coupled in turn to a local dedicated
`profile 160. The communications interface 145 receives the
`questionnaire via the computer network 110 from the ques
`tionnaire server 105. The Java TM-enabled browser 150
`
`enables the client user to read the questionnaire. The
`response engine 155 enables the user to generate and Send a
`response to the response processor 120. The response may
`also be multimedia-based. For example, a question may
`request and the response may include a digital photograph or
`digital voice sample. The local dedicated profile 160 is a data
`file Storing client user information Such as previous
`responses and user information for authenticating the user.
`The local dedicated profile 160 may accompany the
`response for use by the response processor 120.
`0036) The response processor 120 includes a communi
`cations interface 165 coupled to an analysis engine 170
`coupled in turn to a prior response database 180. The
`communications interface 165 receives the multimedia
`based response from the client 115. The analysis engine 170
`retrieves relevant prior responses from the prior response
`database 180 and performs statistical analyses from the prior
`responses and current response to generate graphical repre
`Sentations Such as pie charts or bar graphs of the results. The
`analysis engine 170 includes a reaction engine 175 to
`respond to the client by, for example, Sending to the client
`115 a customized information package via e-mail to the
`client or to other individuals based on the client’s specific
`response or Sending an applet which adds additional func
`tionality to an application program operated by the client
`115.
`0037. Further, the multimedia questionnaire designer 135
`may include means for linking questions So that, based on a
`response, Selected questions are presented. That is, based on
`the response from the client, the questionnaire may include
`links to present related questions or may include links to skip
`unnecessary questions. Thus, more realistic dialogues can be
`achieved. For example, to the question “Do you have a pet?”
`if a client responds “no” then the question “Would you be
`interested in buying a pet?” would be appropriate but the
`question “What type of pet?” would be inappropriate. This
`process is termed “branching.” Also, based on actual prior
`responses from the client, Substitutions in later questions can
`be provided. For example, if the question is “What is your
`favorite pet'?” and the client responds “dog” then later
`questions can automatically insert “dog” wherever Specifics
`are requested such as “Why do you like dogs so much?' This
`process is termed "piping.”
`0038. Details of the Questionnaire Designer and Dis
`tributor
`0039 FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating details of the
`distributor 130 and questionnaire designer 135. Question
`naire designer 135 includes a questionnaire editor 205, an
`artificial intelligence module 210 and a logic processor 215.
`The questionnaire editor 205 includes a questionnaire pro
`cessor 220 coupled to a user interface 225, a library interface
`230, a multimedia objects library 235, a questionnaire parser
`240, a question wizard 245, a spell checker 250, an HTML
`protocol engine 255 and a branching engine 257. The
`artificial intelligence module 210 includes an inference
`engine 260 and a question rules database 265.
`0040. The questionnaire editor 205 is much like a con
`ventional word processor that enables a user to generate and
`format a multimedia-based questionnaire, preferably in out
`line or graphical form. More particularly, the user interface
`225 enables a user to generate questions or to use the library
`interface 230 to Select questions or parts of questions from
`
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`US 2001/0052009 A1
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`Dec. 13, 2001
`
`the question library 140 (FIG. 1). The multimedia objects
`library 235 enables the user to include multimedia objects in
`the questionnaire. The questionnaire parser 240 parses the
`questionnaire for proper grammar. The question wizard 245
`examines the Syntax of the questions in the questionnaire.
`The spell checker 250 checks the spelling in the question
`naire. The HTML protocol engine 255 converts the ques
`tionnaire to an HTML format for publication on the com
`puter network 110. The branching engine 257 enables the
`user to link related questions So that, based on real-time
`responses by a client, only appropriate questions will be
`presented. The piping engine 258 enables the user to Sub
`Stitute the client responses to prior questions in later ques
`tions thus tailoring the wording of later questions to Suit the
`client. The object-relational database interface 259 stores the
`questionnaire information in a persistent Storage area for
`future retrieval and querying.
`0041. The inference engine 260 cooperates with ques
`tionnaire editor 205 to use and generate rules in question
`naire rules database 265 for checking question consistency.
`The logic processor 215 is used to insert links to actions
`corresponding to the questions for enabling the reaction
`engine 175 (FIG. 4) to make efficient use of the question
`responses.
`0042. The distributor 130 consists of a Web server inter
`face 131, an e-mail interface 132 and an object-relational
`database interface 133. The Web server interface 131
`enables the questionnaire to be published on a Web site for
`general deployment whereas the e-mail interface 132
`enables the questionnaire to be sent as an e-mail attachment
`to a targeted audience. The database interface 133 sends
`information about the distribution (to whom the question
`naire was sent, when it was sent, what are the acceSS
`passwords to the questionnaire for each respondent, and So
`on).
`Links to multimedia associated with the question
`0.043
`naire as well as the piping branching and reaction logic are
`also sent at the time the questionnaire is distributed. When
`the questionnaire is implemented as a Self-configuring Java
`applet, it is an intelligent program.
`0044) Details of the Client
`004.5
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating details of the
`client 115, which includes a CPU 305, a communications
`interface 310, an operating system 315, a Graphical User
`Interface (GUI) 320, a data storage device 325 and random
`access memory 330.
`0046) The data storage device 325 stores the local dedi
`cated profile 160, the questionnaire 340 created by the
`multimedia questionnaire designer 135, response data 345
`for use by the response engine 155 in generating a response,
`and common multimedia objects 350 such as sound clips,
`pictures, etc. for use by the response engine 155 when
`viewing the questionnaire 340.
`0047 RAM 330 stores the Java TM-enabled browser 150,
`which includes an e-mail reader 365 for reviewing an
`e-mail-based questionnaire 340, an HTML engine 370 for
`reviewing an HTML-based questionnaire 340 and an applet
`engine 375 for reviewing a JavaTM-based questionnaire 340.
`0048 RAM330 also stores a response engine 155, which
`includes questionnaire response applets 380 and a response
`
`generator 385. The questionnaire response applets 380 may
`have been included in the questionnaire 340 by the multi
`media questionnaire designer 135 so that the client 115
`could easily respond to the questions. For example, if a
`question were multiple choice, the corresponding question
`naire response applet 380 may, via the applet engine 375,
`poll for one of the proper responses and add the Selected
`response to the response data 345. Otherwise, the response
`generator 385 would use a predetermined protocol for
`generating the response. To control branching, the question
`naire response applets 380 may examine client 115
`responses and may instruct the browser 150 to present
`Subsequent questions based on links included in the ques
`tionnaire 340. To control piping, the questionnaire response
`applets 380 may examine the client 115 responses and may
`instruct the response engine 155 to substitute the specific
`response to prior questions in later questions.
`0049 Analysis Engine of the Response Processor
`0050 FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating details of the
`analysis engine 170 of the response processor 120. The
`analysis engine 170 includes a response reader 405, a
`Statistical analysis engine 410, a graphics engine 415, a
`reaction engine 175 and a response buffer 465.
`0051. The response reader 405 includes a response vali
`dation processor 420 for performing Security Services to
`authenticate responses. The Statistical analysis engine 410
`includes a math library 430 for performing statistical analy
`Ses, a prior response database interface 435 for communi
`cating with the prior response database 180 and a statistical
`package interface 440 for communicating with a commer
`cially available statistical package, for example SASTM or
`SPSSTM or a spreadsheet, such as Microsoft ExcelTM. For
`example, if the question requested a digital Sample of the
`client 115 user's voice, then the digital Sample response is
`stored in the response buffer 465 for current use and then
`into the prior response database 180 for future use and
`analysis. The Statistical analysis engine 410 Sends its results
`to the graphics engine 415 and to the reaction engine 175.
`0052 The graphics engine 415 includes a graphics dis
`play engine 440 for presenting the results as a graphical
`representation Such as a pie chart or bar graph. Graphics
`engine 415 also includes graphics objects 445 for establish
`ing the proper formats of the graphical representations.
`0053. The reaction engine 175 selects and performs a
`proper reaction to the response or to the results of the
`Statistical analysis. The reaction engine 175 includes poli
`cies 455 for selecting the proper reaction based on the
`response or on the Statistical analysis. For example, the
`reaction engine 175 includes an applet launcher 450 for
`launching applets to perform the Selected reaction. The
`applets may add additional functionality to the client 115 or
`may draft a “thank you' letter. The reaction engine 175 also
`includes an e-mail launcher 460 for forwarding information
`back to the client 115 or to other individuals to trigger
`actions that need to be taken based upon the client response.
`Other modules may be included in the reaction engine 175
`for performing other proper reactions.
`0054 Those skilled in the art will recognize that the
`network Survey System described above can be implemented
`with a variety of configurations, depending on the applica
`tion. Therefore, the present invention is limited only by the
`following claims.
`
`8
`
`

`

`US 2001/0052009 A1
`
`Dec. 13, 2001
`
`What is claimed is:
`1. A Survey network System for performing Surveys acroSS
`a communications network, comprising:
`a questionnaire Server;
`a client, and
`a response processor.
`2. A Survey network System as in claim 1 further com
`prising a computer network.
`3. The survey network system of claim 2, wherein said
`analysis engine further comprises a reaction engine.
`4. The Survey network system of claim 1, wherein said
`questionnaire Server comprises:
`a distributor;
`a multimedia questionnaire designer; and
`a question library.
`5. The Survey network system of claim 4, wherein said
`questionnaire Server further comprises a communications
`interface.
`6. The survey network system of claim 1 wherein said
`response processor comprises:
`an analysis engine; and
`a prior response database.
`7. The Survey network system of claim 6, wherein said
`response processor further comprises a communications
`interface.
`8. The Survey network system of claim 1 wherein said
`analysis engine comprises a reaction engine.
`9. The Survey network system of claim 1, wherein said
`client comprises:
`a browser;
`a response engine; and
`a local dedicated profile.
`10. The Survey network system of claim 9, wherein said
`browser is a JavaTM-enabled browser.
`11. The Survey network system of claim 9, wherein said
`client further comprises a communications interface.
`12. The Survey network system of claim 11, wherein said
`browser is a JavaTM-enabled browser.
`13. A Survey network System for performing Survey
`communications acroSS a network, comprising:
`a computer network;
`a questionnaire Server linked through a first communica
`tions interface to Said computer network;
`a client linked through a Second communications interface
`to Said computer network, and
`a response processor linked through a third communica
`tions interface to Said computer network.
`14. The survey network system of claim 13, wherein said
`questionnaire Server comprises:
`
`a distributor;
`a multimedia questionnaire designer, including a ques
`tionnaire processor, an artificial intelligence module
`and a logic processor, and
`a question library.
`15. The Survey network system of claim 13, wherein said
`response processor comprises:
`a response buffer;
`a response validation processor,
`a Statistical analysis engine;
`a graphics engine;
`a reaction engine; and
`a prior response database.
`16. The Survey network system of claim 13, wherein said
`client comprises:
`a browser including an e-mail reader, an Web Server and
`an applet engine;
`a response engine including a plurality of questionnaire
`response applets and a response generator; and
`a data Storage device including a local dedicated profile,
`a questionnaire, response data and a plurality of mul
`timedia objects.
`17. A method for performing Survey communications
`acroSS a network, comprising the Steps of:
`distributing questions from a question library; and
`processing a response with an analysis engine and a prior
`response database.
`18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step
`of communicating with a client by means of Said client's
`browser.
`19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step
`of processing a response by means of an inference engine
`and a questionnaire rules database.
`20. A method for performing Survey communications
`acroSS a network, comprising the Steps of:
`receiving a response;
`buffering a response in a response buffer;
`validating Said response with a response validation pro
`CeSSOr,
`Statistically analyzing Said response with a Statistical
`analysis engine;
`graphically displaying Said response with a graphics
`engine; and
`reacting to Said response with a reaction engine.
`
`9
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