US6782375B2 — Neural network based decision processor and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 114 words

A method of selecting a preferred product from a list that includes a plurality of products, the method comprising: (a) presenting a sequence of queries to a user, the user responding to each query in sequence with a corresponding response; (b) in response to a user response to a query in the sequence, using a neural network to delete at least one product from the list to provide an updated list; (c) in the event that the user does not select a preferred product from the updated list, continuing with the presentation of the sequence of queries to the user; and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until the user selects a preferred product.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 114 words

A method of selecting a preferred product from a list that includes a plurality of products, the method comprising: (a) presenting a sequence of queries to a user, the user responding to each query in sequence with a corresponding response; (b) in response to a user response to a query in the sequence, using a neural network to delete at least one product from the list to provide an updated list; (c) in the event that the user does not select a preferred product from the updated list, continuing with the presentation of the sequence of queries to the user; and (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until the user selects a preferred product.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 118 words

A method of selecting a preferred from a list that includes a plurality of products, the method comprising: (a) providing a first query to a user; (b) in response to a user response to the first query, using a neural network to delete at least one product from the list to provide an updated list; (c) in the event that the user does not select a preferred product from the updated list, presenting a new query to the user and, in response to a user response to the new query, deleting at least one additional product from the updated list to provide a new updated list; and (d) repeating item (c) until the user selects a preferred product.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 118 words

A method of selecting a preferred from a list that includes a plurality of products, the method comprising: (a) providing a first query to a user; (b) in response to a user response to the first query, using a neural network to delete at least one product from the list to provide an updated list; (c) in the event that the user does not select a preferred product from the updated list, presenting a new query to the user and, in response to a user response to the new query, deleting at least one additional product from the updated list to provide a new updated list; and (d) repeating item (c) until the user selects a preferred product.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 2 , and wherein the products are selected from a group consisting of banking services, mortgage services, brokerage services, credit card services, insurance services, telecommunications services, and combinations thereof.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 2 , and wherein the products comprise services.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 2 , and wherein the queries are presented to the user via a network based browser.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 82 words

A customer acquisition server that dynamically generates an updated list of products from an original list of a plurality of products, comprising: a neural network-based decision engine that iteratively responds to user responses to a sequence of queries provided to a user by, upon receipt of a user response to a query, deleting at least one product from a current list of products to provide the updated list of products until the user selects a preferred product from the list of products.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 82 words

A customer acquisition server that dynamically generates an updated list of products from an original list of a plurality of products, comprising: a neural network-based decision engine that iteratively responds to user responses to a sequence of queries provided to a user by, upon receipt of a user response to a query, deleting at least one product from a current list of products to provide the updated list of products until the user selects a preferred product from the list of products.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 4 , and wherein the services include stock brokerage services.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 4 , and wherein the services include banking services.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 4 , and wherein the services include insurance services.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 5 , and wherein the network is an internet network.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 5 , and wherein the network is an intranet network.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 79 words

A customer acquisition server, comprising: a neural network based decision engine that automatically generates a sequence of a plurality of queries and selects a preferred product as a function of responses to the queries, wherein the decision engine generates subsequent queries as a function of a response to a previous query, and wherein the decision engine selects the preferred product as a function of a number of response that is less than or equal to the plurality of queries.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 79 words

A customer acquisition server, comprising: a neural network based decision engine that automatically generates a sequence of a plurality of queries and selects a preferred product as a function of responses to the queries, wherein the decision engine generates subsequent queries as a function of a response to a previous query, and wherein the decision engine selects the preferred product as a function of a number of response that is less than or equal to the plurality of queries.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

The server of claim 12 , and further comprising: a database operatively connected to the decision engine, wherein the database stores the queries and query correlations.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 43 words

The server of claim 12 , and wherein the decision engine calculates a confidence level after receiving a response and wherein the decision engine selects a preferred product as a function of the responses received before the confidence level exceeds a confidence threshold.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 19 words

The server of claim 14 , and wherein the decision engine determines a confidence level after receiving each response.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 24 words

The server of claim 12 , and wherein the queries include an investor type query that classifies a user by the user's investing preferences.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 38 words

The server of claim 16 , and wherein the investing preferences is selected from a group consisting of life goal planner, serious investor, hyperactive investor, one-stop shopper, short-term trader, long-term investor, futures trader, options trader, and combinations thereof.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 24 words

The server of claim 12 , and wherein the queries include a banking type query that classifies a user by the user's banking preferences.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 24 words

The server of claim 12 , and wherein the queries include an insurance type query that classifies a user by the user's insurance preferences.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 95 words

A customer acquisition server, comprising: a neural network based decision engine that automatically generates queries and selects a preferred product as a function of responses to the queries, wherein the decision engine generates first and second queries, where the second query is a function of a response to the first query, and wherein the decision engine comprises a plurality of self organizing maps comprising a plurality of memory locations for storing subwords, wherein the memory locations comprises a corresponding link weight, and wherein the decision engine compares a response to a subset of the subwords.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 95 words

A customer acquisition server, comprising: a neural network based decision engine that automatically generates queries and selects a preferred product as a function of responses to the queries, wherein the decision engine generates first and second queries, where the second query is a function of a response to the first query, and wherein the decision engine comprises a plurality of self organizing maps comprising a plurality of memory locations for storing subwords, wherein the memory locations comprises a corresponding link weight, and wherein the decision engine compares a response to a subset of the subwords.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 17 words

The server of claim 20 , and further comprising: a training module for training the decision engine.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 18 words

The server of claim 21 , and wherein the training module allows iterative training of the decision engine.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 17 words

The server of claim 20 , and wherein the decision engine generates the queries using stochastic modulation.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 24 words

The server of claim 20 , and further comprising: a retraining module that adjusts links between memory locations as a function of a response.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 28 words

The server of claim 24 , and wherein the response being responsive to a query relating to the accuracy of the neural network in selecting the preferred product.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 22 words

The server of claim 14 , and further comprising: a retraining module that adjusts a correlation as a function of a response.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 24 words

The server of claim 26 , and wherein the retraining module adjusts a correlation as a function of an activity with the preferred product.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 20 words

The server of claim 26 , and wherein the retraining module adjusts a correlation as a function of vendor input.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 17 words

The server of claim 28 , and wherein the vendor is a vendor of stock brokerage services.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 16 words

The server of claim 28 , and wherein the vendor is a vendor of banking services.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 16 words

The server of claim 28 , and wherein the vendor is a vendor of insurance services.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 88 words

A method of automatically selecting a preferred product from a list of products, the method comprising: generating a plurality of queries, and automatically selecting a preferred product from the list of products using a neural network decision engine to analyze responses to the queries, wherein the decision engine automatically generates first and second queries, where the second query is a function of a response to the first query, and wherein the decision engine selects the preferred product is a function of fewer responses than the plurality of queries.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 88 words

A method of automatically selecting a preferred product from a list of products, the method comprising: generating a plurality of queries, and automatically selecting a preferred product from the list of products using a neural network decision engine to analyze responses to the queries, wherein the decision engine automatically generates first and second queries, where the second query is a function of a response to the first query, and wherein the decision engine selects the preferred product is a function of fewer responses than the plurality of queries.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 32 , and further comprising: presenting the queries to a user via a network based browser.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 33 , and wherein the network is an internet network.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 33 , and wherein the network is an intranet network.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 32 , and wherein the step of generating queries comprises generating queries using stochastic modulation.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 32 , and wherein the step of generating queries comprises generating a retraining query and retraining the neural network as a function of a response to the retraining query.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 32 , and wherein the step of generating queries comprises generating a query with a set of response options, where the response options are a function of trend data.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 38 , and wherein the trend data includes stock-related trend data.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 38 , and wherein the trend data includes banking-related trend data.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 38 , and wherein the trend data includes insurance-related trend data.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 38 , and wherein the trend data comprises market trend data.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 38 , and wherein the trend data comprises user trend data.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 32 , and wherein the step of selecting a preferred product comprises selecting a preferred product as a function of a user profile that includes information submitted during a current user session.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 44 , and wherein the user profile includes information relating to responses from a user's prior selection process.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 44 , and wherein the user profile comprises information relating to responses from a user's prior activities with a vendor.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 44 , and further comprising: generating a confidence level as a function of the responses, wherein the generating queries includes generating queries until the confidence level exceeds a confidence threshold.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 32 , and further comprising: retraining the neural network.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 48 , and wherein the retraining the neural network comprises retraining the neural network as a function of the responses.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 48 , and wherein the retraining the neural network comprises retraining the neural network as a function of response trends.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 48 , and wherein the retraining the neural network comprises retraining the neural network as a function of market trends.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-08-24	2008-02-23	2008-08-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-08-24	2012-02-23	2012-08-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-08-24	2016-02-23	2016-08-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Neural network based decision processor and method

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