Model-driven user interview

Abstract

A framework is presented that can be used to create and execute software applications that include a user interview. The framework includes run-time engines and a data repository. The run-time engines include an interview driver. The data repository includes interview instructions and model information. The interview driver generates or modifies an instantiated data model by using the interview instructions and model information to obtain information from a user. The interview instructions include flow control information, prompts, and user interface (UI) information. The model information includes a meta-model, a data model, and an instantiated model. Once an instantiated model has been created, it can be used to generate an application-specific document, such as a tax form. Since the application is executed based on the contents of the repository, the application can be modified by changing the contents of the repository.

1 . A computer-implemented system for modifying an instantiated data model, the instantiated data model comprising one or more instantiated specialized elements, the system comprising: 
 a data model comprising an uninstantiated specialized element; and    an interview driver configured to present a prompt to a user, wherein the prompt is determined based on a location in a graph, the graph comprising the one or more instantiated specialized elements of the instantiated data model.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an element comprises an entity or a relation.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a meta-model comprising a generic element, wherein the uninstantiated specialized element is a type of the generic element.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interview driver is further configured to delete an instantiated specialized element from the instantiated data model.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interview driver is further configured to instantiate the uninstantiated specialized element and to add the instantiated specialized element to the instantiated data model.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the uninstantiated specialized element is associated with an element rule, and wherein the interview driver is further configured to instantiate the uninstantiated specialized element in accordance with the element rule.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interview driver is further configured to modify an instantiated specialized element.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the instantiated specialized element is associated with an element rule, and wherein the interview driver is further configured to modify the instantiated specialized element in accordance with the element rule.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the interview driver is further configured to modify a value of an attribute of the instantiated specialized element.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a rule engine and a rule set, wherein the rule engine is configured to perform rule chaining based on the rule set, and wherein the interview driver is further configured to modify the instantiated data model based on the rule chaining.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the interview driver is further configured to modify the instantiated data model based on information received from the user.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the set of interview instructions comprises a prompt, and wherein the interview driver is further configured to present the prompt to the user.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the prompt is associated with the uninstantiated specialized element.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the information received from the user is used to determine whether to instantiate the uninstantiated specialized element.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the information received from the user is used to instantiate the uninstantiated specialized element.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the set of interview instructions comprises flow information, and wherein the prompt is selected based on its associated uninstantiated specialized element, the uninstantiated specialized element being selected based on the instantiated data model and the flow information.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the prompt is associated with an instantiated specialized element.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the information received from the user is used to modify the instantiated specialized element.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the set of interview instructions comprises flow information, and wherein the prompt is selected based on its associated instantiated specialized element, the instantiated specialized element being selected based on the instantiated data model and the flow information.  
   
   
       20 . A computer-implemented method for modifying an instantiated data model, the instantiated data model comprising one or more instantiated specialized elements, the method comprising: 
 presenting a prompt to a user, wherein the prompt is determined based on a location in a graph, the graph comprising the one or more instantiated specialized elements of the instantiated data model;    obtaining information from the user; and    modifying the instantiated data model.    
   
   
       21 . A computer-implemented method for generating an application-specific document, comprising: 
 obtaining information from a user;    modifying an instantiated data model, the instantiated data model comprising one or more instantiated specialized elements;    creating, based on the modified instantiated data model, an instantiated application-specific data model; and    generating, based on the instantiated application-specific data model, the application-specific document.