Workforce response based event management methods and systems

Abstract

Event organizers must assign volunteers, staff, sub-contractors etc. over multiple roles, multiple shifts, and multiple locations. Assigning individuals, whether a few to hundreds or thousands, requires the user to filter through registration information and align this to the roles/shifts etc. This is further complicated when the registration forms used to acquire user data are custom questionnaires. Embodiments of the invention automatically generates custom filters for subsequently filtering of the entries made by registrants where the user generates custom questions. Further, embodiments of the invention allow the importation of data from other sources wherein if it includes fields not supported by the database into which the data is being imported the system automatically adds new custom fields to the database as well as supporting the establishment of new questionnaires, new custom filters, and triggering registration updates from existing registrants to acquire new data for the new custom fields.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a first electronic device comprising a first microprocessor, a first memory for storing first executable instructions, and a first network interface for interfacing to a communications network, wherein the first executable instructions when executed by the first microprocessor configure the first electronic device to:
 present to a user of an electronic device a first graphical user interface (GUI) enabling the user to generate a new question for a questionnaire; 
 receive from the user one or more first inputs made via a first user interface of the electronic device from which the first electronic device establishes content of the new question to be rendered to other users; 
 receive from the user one or more second inputs made via the first user interface from which the first electronic device establishes a format of an answer to the new question to be rendered to other users; and 
 store the content of the new question and the format of the answer to the new question within a database upon a memory accessible to the first electronic device via the communications network for subsequent retrieval and transmittal to a first software application in execution upon second electronic devices associated with other users registering for an event. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a second electronic device comprising a second microprocessor, a second memory for storing first executable instructions, and a second network interface for interfacing to the communications network, wherein the second executable instructions when executed by the first microprocessor configure the second electronic device to:
 receive the content of the new question from the database; 
 receive the format of the answer to the new question from the database; 
 automatically generate in dependence upon the content of the new question and the format of the answer to the new question a first custom filter; and 
 store the first custom filter within the database; wherein 
   the first custom filter is employed to filter responses received from the second electronic devices associated with the other users who registered for the event by completing the questionnaire; and   the filtering with the first custom filter is performed in dependence upon the answers made by the other users to the new question within the questionnaire.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first executable instructions when executed by the first microprocessor further configure the first electronic device to:
 present to the user of the electronic device a second GUI enabling the user to generate a sub-question of the new question for the questionnaire to be presented to the other users registering for the event; 
 receive from the user one or more third inputs made via the first user interface of the electronic device from which the first electronic device establishes content of the new question to be rendered to other users; 
 receive from the user one or more fourth inputs made via the first user interface of the electronic device from which the first electronic device establishes a format of an answer to the sub-question of the new question to be rendered to other users; and 
 store the content of the sub-question of the new question and the format of the answer to the sub-question of the new question within the database upon a memory accessible to the first electronic device via the communications network for subsequent retrieval and transmittal the first software application in execution upon to the second electronic devices associated with other users registering for the event. 
   
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second executable instructions when executed by the second microprocessor further configure the second electronic device to:
 receive the content of the sub-question of the new question from the database; 
 receive the format of the answer to the sub-question of the new question from the database; 
 automatically generate in dependence upon the content of the sub-question of the new question and the format of the answer to the sub-question of the new question a second custom filter; and 
 store the second custom filter within the database; wherein 
   the second custom filter is employed to filter responses received from the second electronic devices associated with the other users who registered for the event by completing the questionnaire; and   the filtering with the second custom filter is performed in dependence upon the answers made by the other users to the sub-question of the new question within the questionnaire.   
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first executable instructions when executed by the first microprocessor further configure the first electronic device to:
 determine whether the format of the answer to the new question requires one or more user defined responses defined by the user or employs a series of default responses; 
 upon a positive determination that the format of the answer to the new question requires one or more user defined responses defined by the user executing a process comprising:
 presenting to the user a second graphical user interface (GUI) identifying the requirement for the one or more user defined responses; 
 receiving from the user one or more third inputs made via the first user interface of the electronic device from which the first electronic device establishes content of the one or more user defined responses; and 
 storing the content of the one or more user defined responses in the database in association with the new question for subsequent retrieval and transmittal to the second electronic devices associated with the other users registering for the event for rendering to the other users when answering the new question. 
 
   
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first executable instructions when executed by the first microprocessor further configure the first electronic device to:
 determine whether the format of the answer to the new question requires one or more user defined responses defined by the user or employs a series of default responses; 
 upon a positive determination that the format of the answer to the new question employs a series of default responses executing a process comprising:
 presenting to the user a second graphical user interface (GUI) identifying the requirement for the series of default responses; 
 receiving from the user one or more third inputs made via the first user interface of the electronic device from which the first electronic device establishes the series of default responses; and 
 storing the established series of default responses in the database in association with the new question for subsequent retrieval and transmittal to the second electronic devices associated with the other users registering for the event for rendering to the other users when answering the new question. 
 
   
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first executable instructions when executed by the first microprocessor further configure the first electronic device to:
 determine whether the format of the answer to the new question requires one or more user defined responses defined by the user or employs a series of default responses; 
 upon a positive determination that the format of the answer to the new question requires one or more user defined responses defined by the user executing a process comprising:
 presenting to the user a second graphical user interface (GUI) identifying the requirement for the one or more user defined responses; 
 receiving from the user one or more third inputs made via the first user interface of the electronic device from which the first electronic device establishes content of the one or more user defined responses; and 
 storing the content of the one or more user defined responses in the database in association with the new question for subsequent retrieval and transmittal to the second electronic devices associated with the other users registering for the event for rendering to the other users when answering the new question; and 
 
 upon a positive determination that the format of the answer to the new question employs a series of default responses executing another process comprising:
 presenting to the user a third graphical user interface (GUI) identifying the requirement for the series of default responses; 
 receiving from the user one or more third inputs made via the first user interface of the electronic device from which the first electronic device establishes the series of default responses; and 
 storing the established series of default responses in the database in association with the new question for subsequent retrieval and transmittal to the second electronic devices associated with the other users registering for the event for rendering to the other users when answering the new question. 
 
   
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first executable instructions when executed by the first microprocessor further configure the first electronic device to:
 receive from a second electronic device via the first network interface a first identifier, the first identifier relating of a source of data comprising responses to completed questionnaires from a plurality of registrants for events stored upon a first remote storage accessible to the first electronic device; 
 access the source of data; 
 parse the source of data to identify a plurality of headers within the data stored within the source of data where each header of the plurality of headers is associated with the content of a question within the completed questionnaires; 
 for each header of the plurality of headers determining whether the header is already present within the registrant database or not; 
 upon determining the header is not already present within the database the first electronic device is further configured to:
 automatically create a new field within the registrant database associated with the header; 
 store the contents of the source of data associated with the header which is not already present within the database within the new field of the registrant database; 
 automatically create a new question for a first software application allowing registrants upon other electronic devices to register for one or more events in dependence upon the header which is not already present; 
 automatically create a filter for a second software application which can access the database allowing another user of the second software application to filter entries within the database; 
 automatically establish first options for the filter to be presented to the another user within the second software application where the first options are established in dependence upon the contents of the source of data associated with the header which is not already present now stored within the new field of the registrant database; and 
 automatically establish second options for a new question to presented to registrant using the first software application. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the first executable instructions when executed by the first microprocessor configure the first electronic device to:
 generate a registration update comprising the new questions and the second options for each new question; 
 parsing the database to establish registrants within the database for which no data exists within the database; 
 transmitting the registration update to an electronic address associated with each registrant for which no data exists within the database; 
 receive from each registrant for which no data exists a response to the registration update generated upon an electronic device associated with the registrant by the registrant with the first software application; 
 store the responses to the registration updates received from the registrants within the database. 
   
     
     
         10 . One or more non-transitory non-volatile memories storing first executable instructions for execution by one or more first microprocessors, wherein the first executable instructions when executed by the one or more first microprocessor configure them to:
 present to a user of an electronic device a first graphical user interface (GUI) enabling the user to generate a new question for a questionnaire;   receive from the user one or more first inputs made via a first user interface of the electronic device from which the first electronic device establishes content of the new question to be rendered to other users;   receive from the user one or more second inputs made via the first user interface from which the first electronic device establishes a format of an answer to the new question to be rendered to other users; and   store the content of the new question and the format of the answer to the new question within a database upon a memory accessible to the first electronic device via the communications network for subsequent retrieval and transmittal to a first software application in execution upon second electronic devices associated with other users registering for an event.   
     
     
         11 . The one or more non-transitory non-volatile memories according to  claim 10 , further comprising
 second executable instructions for execution by one or more second microprocessors, wherein the second executable instructions when executed by the one or more second microprocessor configure them to:
 receive the content of the new question from the database; 
 receive the format of the answer to the new question from the database; 
 automatically generate in dependence upon the content of the new question and the format of the answer to the new question a first custom filter; and 
 store the first custom filter within the database; wherein 
   the first custom filter is employed to filter responses received from the second electronic devices associated with the other users who registered for the event by completing the questionnaire; and   the filtering with the first custom filter is performed in dependence upon the answers made by the other users to the new question within the questionnaire.   
     
     
         12 . The one or more non-transitory non-volatile memories according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the first executable instructions when executed by the one or more first microprocessors further configure them to
 present to the user of the electronic device a second GUI enabling the user to generate a sub-question of the new question for the questionnaire to be presented to the other users registering for the event; 
 receive from the user one or more third inputs made via the first user interface of the electronic device from which the first electronic device establishes content of the new question to be rendered to other users; 
 receive from the user one or more fourth inputs made via the first user interface of the electronic device from which the first electronic device establishes a format of an answer to the sub-question of the new question to be rendered to other users; and 
 store the content of the sub-question of the new question and the format of the answer to the sub-question of the new question within the database upon a memory accessible to the first electronic device via the communications network for subsequent retrieval and transmittal the first software application in execution upon to the second electronic devices associated with other users registering for the event. 
   
     
     
         13 . The one or more non-transitory non-volatile memories according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the second executable instructions when executed by the one or more second microprocessors further configure them to:
 receive the content of the sub-question of the new question from the database; 
 receive the format of the answer to the sub-question of the new question from the database; 
 automatically generate in dependence upon the content of the sub-question of the new question and the format of the answer to the sub-question of the new question a second custom filter; and 
 store the second custom filter within the database; wherein 
   the second custom filter is employed to filter responses received from the second electronic devices associated with the other users who registered for the event by completing the questionnaire; and   the filtering with the second custom filter is performed in dependence upon the answers made by the other users to the sub-question of the new question within the questionnaire.   
     
     
         14 . The one or more non-transitory non-volatile memories according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the first executable instructions when executed by the one or more first microprocessors further configure them to:
 determine whether the format of the answer to the new question requires one or more user defined responses defined by the user or employs a series of default responses; 
 upon a positive determination that the format of the answer to the new question requires one or more user defined responses defined by the user executing a process comprising:
 presenting to the user a second graphical user interface (GUI) identifying the requirement for the one or more user defined responses; 
 receiving from the user one or more third inputs made via the first user interface of the electronic device from which the first electronic device establishes content of the one or more user defined responses; and 
 storing the content of the one or more user defined responses in the database in association with the new question for subsequent retrieval and transmittal to the second electronic devices associated with the other users registering for the event for rendering to the other users when answering the new question. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The one or more non-transitory non-volatile memories according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the first executable instructions when executed by the one or more first microprocessors configure them to:
 determine whether the format of the answer to the new question requires one or more user defined responses defined by the user or employs a series of default responses; 
 upon a positive determination that the format of the answer to the new question employs a series of default responses executing a process comprising:
 presenting to the user a second graphical user interface (GUI) identifying the requirement for the series of default responses; 
 receiving from the user one or more third inputs made via the first user interface of the electronic device from which the first electronic device establishes the series of default responses; and 
 storing the established series of default responses in the database in association with the new question for subsequent retrieval and transmittal to the second electronic devices associated with the other users registering for the event for rendering to the other users when answering the new question. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The one or more non-transitory non-volatile memories according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the first executable instructions when executed by the one or more first microprocessors further configure them to:
 determine whether the format of the answer to the new question requires one or more user defined responses defined by the user or employs a series of default responses; 
 upon a positive determination that the format of the answer to the new question requires one or more user defined responses defined by the user executing a process comprising:
 presenting to the user a second graphical user interface (GUI) identifying the requirement for the one or more user defined responses; 
 receiving from the user one or more third inputs made via the first user interface of the electronic device from which the first electronic device establishes content of the one or more user defined responses; and 
 storing the content of the one or more user defined responses in the database in association with the new question for subsequent retrieval and transmittal to the second electronic devices associated with the other users registering for the event for rendering to the other users when answering the new question; and 
 
 upon a positive determination that the format of the answer to the new question employs a series of default responses executing another process comprising:
 presenting to the user a third graphical user interface (GUI) identifying the requirement for the series of default responses; 
 receiving from the user one or more third inputs made via the first user interface of the electronic device from which the first electronic device establishes the series of default responses; and 
 storing the established series of default responses in the database in association with the new question for subsequent retrieval and transmittal to the second electronic devices associated with the other users registering for the event for rendering to the other users when answering the new question. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . A one or more non-transitory non-volatile memories according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the first executable instructions when executed by the one or more first microprocessors further configure them to:
 receive from a second electronic device via the first network interface a first identifier, the first identifier relating of a source of data comprising responses to completed questionnaires from a plurality of registrants for events stored upon a first remote storage accessible to the first electronic device; 
 access the source of data; 
 parse the source of data to identify a plurality of headers within the data stored within the source of data where each header of the plurality of headers is associated with the content of a question within the completed questionnaires; 
 for each header of the plurality of headers determining whether the header is already present within the registrant database or not; 
 upon determining the header is not already present within the database the first electronic device is further configured to:
 automatically create a new field within the registrant database associated with the header; 
 store the contents of the source of data associated with the header which is not already present within the database within the new field of the registrant database; 
 automatically create a new question for a first software application allowing registrants upon other electronic devices to register for one or more events in dependence upon the header which is not already present; 
 automatically create a filter for a second software application which can access the database allowing another user of the second software application to filter entries within the database; 
 automatically establish first options for the filter to be presented to the another user within the second software application where the first options are established in dependence upon the contents of the source of data associated with the header which is not already present now stored within the new field of the registrant database; and 
 automatically establish second options for a new question to presented to registrant using the first software application. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . The one or more non-transitory non-volatile memories according to  claim 17 , wherein
 the first executable instructions when executed by the one or more first microprocessors configure them to:
 generate a registration update comprising the new questions and the second options for each new question; 
 parsing the database to establish registrants within the database for which no data exists within the database; 
 transmitting the registration update to an electronic address associated with each registrant for which no data exists within the database; 
 receive from each registrant for which no data exists a response to the registration update generated upon an electronic device associated with the registrant by the registrant with the first software application; 
 store the responses to the registration updates received from the registrants within the database.