Patent Application Titled “Systems, Devices, And Methods For Software Coding” Published Online (USPTO 20220043638): Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

2022 FEB 25 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- According to news reporting originating from Washington, D.C., by NewsRx journalists, a patent application by the inventors Elsamman, Sam (Springfield, MA, US); Krishnaswamy, Harish (Springfield, MA, US), filed on June 17, 2021, was made available online on February 10, 2022.

The assignee for this patent application is Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (Springfield, Massachusetts, United States).

Reporters obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “Data intake forms (e.g., questionnaires) may provide an interactive cellular interface for data intake and processing. Online questionnaires can be locally run or network-based. The questionnaires can contain a single worksheet or a plurality of worksheets, whether related or unrelated to each other in content or form. As the processing power of computers allow for greater computer functionality and the Internet technology era allows for interconnectivity between computing systems, many institutions rely on online questionnaires to receive data from users and potential clients. However, new technical challenges have been identified. For example, conventional software solutions utilize a static method to display data intake questionnaires by rendering the questionnaires based on existing code (e.g., code stored within an internal or an external database). To combat this problem, many existing software solutions have attempted to dynamically render the questionnaires by allowing an employee to update and/or modify the corresponding code. However, this method requires the employees to be familiar with complex coding algorithms; this task has been proven difficult because most employees have little or no software programming knowledge. For example, an employee must be familiar with XML or HTML in order to modify the code and to customize the data intake questionnaire. The technical challenges become more challenging if the network page (displaying the questionnaire) should contain a set of labels and a set of fields, both of which would dynamically change in real-time, whether in content or type, based on a set of user inputs into the set of fields. The technical challenges become even more challenging if the set of labels must precisely match a preexisting content output, such as a paper document or an electronic document. The technical challenges become yet even more challenging if a file should be generated based on the set of user inputs.

“Furthermore, many data intake questionnaires are associated with sensitive data, such as medical or personal data. These data intakes questionnaires may be regulated by various state and/or federal laws. For example, several federal and/or state laws require various disclaimers to be displayed based upon a potential client’s responses to certain questions. Conventional online questionnaires display all the disclaimers associated with the data intake (whether relevant to the potential client’s responses or not). These disclaimers are complicated, wordy, and confusing; therefore, conventional solutions create a negative user experience by “crowding” the graphical user interface provided to the potential clients. Some disclaimers are often unnecessary and not-applicable to all users. However, conventional software solutions usually include all the relevant disclaimers because modifying the code that controls the rendering of the graphical user interface is too burdensome and technically challenging. Moreover, many entities are not willing to risk allowing employees to modify the code because the employees (e.g., field agents) typically do not have proper programming experience and knowledge.”

In addition to obtaining background information on this patent application, NewsRx editors also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent application: “For the aforementioned reasons, there is a need for an accurate and efficient computer-implemented system and method for dynamically generating and rendering an online data intake questionnaire, which is configured to be modified by a person with a minimal knowledge of programming. This disclosure at least partially addresses at least one of the above challenges. However, this disclosure can prove useful to other technical areas. Therefore, at least some claims should not be construed as necessarily limited to addressing any of the above challenges.

“In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving, by a server, from a first computing device, a first file comprising a spreadsheet, wherein the spreadsheet comprises at least a first row and a second row, wherein the first row comprises a first statement cell comprising a first statement, a first data type cell comprising a first data type identifier, a first logic cell comprising a first logic, and a first field cell comprising a first field identifier, wherein the second row comprises a second statement cell comprising a second statement, a second data type cell comprising a second data type identifier, a second logic cell comprising a second logic, and a second field cell comprising a second field identifier; dynamically rendering, by the server, a graphical user interface configured to be displayed on a second computing device, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a first label and a first input element, wherein the first label comprises the first statement sourced from and corresponding to the first statement cell, wherein the first input element is configured for a first input according to the first data type identifier sourced from and corresponding to the first data type cell; in response to receiving, by the server, the first input from the second computing device: evaluating, by the server, the first input against the first logic, and in response to the first input corresponding to the first logic: dynamically rendering, by the server, a second label and a second input element to be displayed on the graphical user interface, wherein the second label comprises the second statement sourced from and corresponding to the second statement cell, and wherein the second input element is configured for a second input according to the second data type identifier sourced from and corresponding to the second data type cell; and in response to receiving, by the server, the second input: evaluating, by the server, the second input against the second logic, and in response to the second input corresponding to the second logic: generating, by the server, a second file, wherein the server inserts the first input into a first field of the second file based on the first field identifier and inserts the second input into a second field of the second file based on the second field identifier; and transmitting, by the server, the second file comprising the first input and the second input to the first computing device.

“In another embodiment, a computer system comprises a server, which is configured to a server configured to: receive, from a first computing device, a first file comprising a spreadsheet, wherein the spreadsheet comprises at least a first row and a second row, wherein the first row comprises a first statement cell comprising a first statement, a first data type cell comprising a first data type identifier, a first logic cell comprising a first logic, and a first field cell comprising a first field identifier, wherein the second row comprises a second statement cell comprising a second statement, a second data type cell comprising a second data type identifier, a second logic cell comprising a second logic, and a second field cell comprising a second field identifier; dynamically render a graphical user interface configured to be displayed on a second computing device, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a first label and a first input element, wherein the first label comprises the first statement sourced from and corresponding to the first statement cell, wherein the first input element is configured for a first input according to the first data type identifier sourced from and corresponding to the first data type cell; in response to receiving the first input from the second computing device: evaluate the first input against the first logic, and in response to the first input corresponding to the first logic: dynamically render a second label and a second input element to be displayed on the graphical user interface, wherein the second label comprises the second statement sourced from and corresponding to the second statement cell, and wherein the second input element is configured for a second input according to the second data type identifier sourced from and corresponding to the second data type cell; and in response to receiving the second input: evaluate the second input against the second logic, and in response to the second input corresponding to the second logic: generate a second file, wherein the server inserts the first input into a first field of the second file based on the first field identifier and inserts the second input into a second field of the second file based on the second field identifier; and transmit the second file comprising the first input and the second input to the first computing device.

“In another embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises receiving, by a server, from a first computing device, a rendering request comprising a request to render a graphical user interface displayed on a second computing device; querying, by the server, a database to retrieve a spreadsheet associated with the graphical user interface, wherein the spreadsheet comprises at least a first row and a second row, wherein the first row comprises a first statement cell comprising a first statement, a first data type cell comprising a first data type identifier, a first logic cell comprising a first logic, and a first field cell comprising a first field identifier, wherein the second row comprises a second statement cell comprising a second statement, a second data type cell comprising a second data type identifier, a second logic cell comprising a second logic, and a second field cell comprising a second field identifier; upon retrieving the spreadsheet, dynamically rendering, by the server, the graphical user interface on the second computing device, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a first label and a first input element, wherein the first label comprises the first statement sourced from and corresponding to the first statement cell, wherein the first input element is configured for a first input according to the first data type identifier sourced from and corresponding to the first data type cell; upon displaying the first label, receiving, by the server, a first input from the second computing device; in response to receiving the first input: evaluating, by the server, the first input against the first logic, and in response to the first input corresponding to the first logic: dynamically rendering, by the server, a second label and a second input element to be displayed on the graphical user interface, wherein the second label comprises the second statement sourced from and corresponding to the second statement cell, and wherein the second input element is configured for a second input according to the second data type identifier sourced from and corresponding to the second data type cell; and in response to receiving, by the server, the second input: evaluating, by the server, the second input against the second logic.

“In another embodiment, a computer system comprises a server, which is configured to: receive from a first computing device, a rendering request comprising a request to render a graphical user interface displayed on a second computing device; query a database to retrieve a spreadsheet associated with the graphical user interface, wherein the spreadsheet comprises at least a first row and a second row, wherein the first row comprises a first statement cell comprising a first statement, a first data type cell comprising a first data type identifier, a first logic cell comprising a first logic, and a first field cell comprising a first field identifier, wherein the second row comprises a second statement cell comprising a second statement, a second data type cell comprising a second data type identifier, a second logic cell comprising a second logic, and a second field cell comprising a second field identifier; upon retrieving the spreadsheet, dynamically render the graphical user interface on the second computing device, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a first label and a first input element, wherein the first label comprises the first statement sourced from and corresponding to the first statement cell, wherein the first input element is configured for a first input according to the first data type identifier sourced from and corresponding to the first data type cell; upon displaying the first label, receive a first input from the second computing device; in response to receiving the first input: evaluate the first input against the first logic, and in response to the first input corresponding to the first logic: dynamically render a second label and a second input element to be displayed on the graphical user interface, wherein the second label comprises the second statement sourced from and corresponding to the second statement cell, and wherein the second input element is configured for a second input according to the second data type identifier sourced from and corresponding to the second data type cell; and in response to receiving the second input: evaluate the second input against the second logic.”

There is additional summary information. Please visit full patent to read further.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A method comprising: receiving, by a server, a message from an application running on a client; reading, by the server, a spreadsheet containing a plurality of rows each having a plurality of cells among which a text statement, a data type identifier, and a logic statement are linearly distributed in separate cells, wherein the spreadsheet is remote from the client, wherein the rows include a first row and a second row; generating, by the server, a first set of executable code programmed to cause the application to present a first text string based on the text statement of the first row and a first user input field based on the data type identifier of the first row, wherein the first string one-to-one corresponds to the first user input field; transmitting, by the server, the first set of executable code to the application responsive to the message; receiving, by the server, a user input from the first user input field; evaluating, by the server, the user input against the logic statement of the first row; generating, by the server, a second set of executable code based on the user input satisfying the logic statement of the first row, wherein the second set of executable code is programmed to cause the application to present a second text string based on the text statement of the second row and a second user input field based on the data type identifier of the second row, wherein the second string one-to-one corresponds to the second user input field; and transmitting, the second set of executable code to the application responsive to the user input.

“2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first row is not immediately adjacent to the second row.

“3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first row and the second row do not contain any graphics.

“4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first row and the second row contains only text.

“5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first set of executable code or the second set of executable code includes a markup language content.

“6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the rows includes a key, wherein the second set of executable code is generated based on the logic statement of the first row referencing the key of the second row.

“7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the rows includes a help statement that is presentable in association with the text statement of that respective row when the help statement is requested within the application.

“8. The method of claim 1, wherein the application presents a reflexive questionnaire including at least one of (a) the first text string based on the text statement of the first row and the first user input field based on the data type identifier of the first row, or (b) the second text string based on the text statement of the second row and the second user input field based on the data type identifier of the second row.

“9. The method of claim 1, wherein the spreadsheet includes a parent worksheet and a child worksheet, wherein the parent worksheet includes the rows, wherein the child worksheet includes a third row inheriting at least one of a property, an attribute, or a feature of at least one of the rows.

“10. The method of claim 1, wherein the application is a browser.

“11. A system comprising: a server programmed to: receive a message from an application running on a client; read a spreadsheet containing a plurality of rows each having a plurality of cells among which a text statement, a data type identifier, and a logic statement are linearly distributed in separate cells, wherein the spreadsheet is remote from the client, wherein the rows include a first row and a second row; generate a first set of executable code programmed to cause the application to present a first text string based on the text statement of the first row and a first user input field based on the data type identifier of the first row, wherein the first string one-to-one corresponds to the first user input field; transmit the first set of executable code to the application responsive to the message; receive a user input from the first user input field; evaluate the user input against the logic statement of the first row; generate a second set of executable code based on the user input satisfying the logic statement of the first row, wherein the second set of executable code is programmed to cause the application to present a second text string based on the text statement of the second row and a second user input field based on the data type identifier of the second row, wherein the second string one-to-one corresponds to the second user input field; and transmit the second set of executable code to the application responsive to the user input.

“12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first row is not immediately adjacent to the second row.

“13. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the first row and the second row do not contain any graphics.

“14. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the first row and the second row contains only text.

“15. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first set of executable code or the second set of executable code includes a markup language content.

“16. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the rows includes a key, wherein the second set of executable code is generated based on the logic statement of the first row referencing the key of the second row.

“17. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the rows includes a help statement that is presentable in association with the text statement of that respective row when the help statement is requested within the application.

“18. The system of claim 17, wherein the application presents a reflexive questionnaire including at least one of (a) the first text string based on the text statement of the first row and the first user input field based on the data type identifier of the first row, or (b) the second text string based on the text statement of the second row and the second user input field based on the data type identifier of the second row.

“19. The system of claim 17, wherein the spreadsheet includes a parent worksheet and a child worksheet, wherein the parent worksheet includes the rows, wherein the child worksheet includes a third row inheriting at least one of a property, an attribute, or a feature of at least one of the rows.

“20. The system of claim 11, wherein the application is a browser.”

For more information, see this patent application: Elsamman, Sam; Krishnaswamy, Harish. Systems, Devices, And Methods For Software Coding. Filed June 17, 2021 and posted February 10, 2022. Patent URL: https://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220220043638%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20220043638&RS=DN/20220043638

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