Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A goal oriented electronic form system comprising: means for generating and means for using form data files which define: a graphical image of at least one goal oriented form for display on a monitor; a graphical image of at least one decision tree discretely associated with fields of a form.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: each said decision tree comprises branch objects and conclusion objects; and wherein said objects define logical relations and/or mathematical operations which are the basis for goal oriented prompting within a form and among forms of a set of forms as defined in said form data files.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said system for generating form data files further comprises: means for selectively defining data links between selected fields of one or more forms and a variety of different data sources/destinations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said data links are selectively defined as being reading and/or writing links.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said variety of data sources/destinations include: a file of a relational data base; and an ASCII data file.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said variety of data sources/destinations includes a dynamic data exchange link (DDE) to an application program.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said system comprises means for detecting a request for a link to a non-existant data source/destination; and means for creating a data base in which the fields correspond in name and characteristics to the fields named in said link request.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said means for generating comprises a form tool and a tree tool.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said means for defining data links comprises a link tool.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said system comprises a form creation mode of operation for generating and using said graphical images; and a run time mode of operation with facilities limited to use, but not alteration, of said form data files.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A goal oriented electronic form system in accordance with claim 9 wherein: said run time mode of operation comprises means for selecting a field of a form; and means for selectively displaying a decision tree assigned to that field.