System and method for performing market research studies on online content

• US 20020072955A1
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue Bear LLC
• Original Assignee: Blue Bear LLC
• Inventors: Brock, Stephen P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,181,696 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A system and method for conducting market research studies on online content utilizing moderator and respondent computers connected over a network. A moderator at the moderator computer directs a plurality of respondents at the respondent computers to view preselected subject matter displayed on the respondent computers and collects comments and reactions on the subject matter from the respondents in a database for later review and for benchmarking. Software resident in the respondent computers enables the respondents to view a plurality of screens showing different aspects of the online content and, in a preferred embodiment, provides buttons that can be activated by the respondents to indicate a reaction to the content. In addition, the preferred embodiment enables the respondents to provide text comments to the content. Software resident in the moderator computer enables a moderator to view the progress of the respondents through the online content and view the reactions and comments of the respondents to each screen display, all in real time, as well as view the time spent by each respondent viewing each different screen. The moderator software also enables the moderator to force comments and reactions from the respondents, as well as gather personal data from the respondents, and to print out reports displaying the results. The system of the invention also includes client computers so the clients for whom the study is conducted may view the comments and reactions in real time and exchange messages with the moderator.

Claims

1. A system for performing focus group studies on at least one software application accessible by remote computers over a network, comprising:

a plurality of respondent computers operatively coupled to the network, each of said respondent computers having a respondent software device programmed to download and run the software application from the network and including a respondent graphical user interface programmed to operate substantially simultaneously with said software application on said respondent computer, said respondent graphical user interface including at least two rating buttons, said rating buttons including a favorable rating button and an unfavorable rating button; and

at least one moderator computer operatively coupled to each of said respondent computers having a moderator software device and a database, said moderator software device being programmed to communicate with each of said respondent software devices operating on said respondent computers, collect rating signals from the respondent computers corresponding to activation of said rating buttons on said respondent graphical user interfaces of said respondent computers and store data associated with said rating signals collected in the database.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

said respondent graphical user interface is further programmed to query a user of one of said respondent computers for a comment responsive to a user activating a particular one of said rating buttons; and

said moderator software device being further programmed to collect said comment from said respondent graphical user interface and store said comment in said database along with data associated with said rating signal collected from said respondent computer corresponding to said particular rating button.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

said moderator computer includes a moderator graphical user interface programmed to display data associated with said rating signals and comments collected in real-time.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said moderator graphical user interface is programmed to display real-time rating signal data and corresponding comments for several of said plurality of respondent computers in real-time.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said software application is an image-based application; and

said respondent software device is further programmed to generate a snapshot of image-based output of said software application substantially as it appears on a display device of said respondent computer; and

said moderator software device is further programmed to collect the snapshot from said respondent software device and store said snapshot in said database along with data associated with said rating signals collected in said database.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein:

said moderator computer includes a moderator graphical user interface programmed to display data associated with said rating signals and further programmed to display a snapshot collected from said respondent software device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said moderator graphical user interface is programmed to display real-time rating signal data and corresponding snapshots for more than one of said plurality of respondent computers.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said respondent graphical user interface is programmed to allow a user to overwrite marks and notations on said snapshot.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said moderator computer includes a moderator graphical user interface programmed to display data associated with said rating signals collected in real-time.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said moderator graphical user interface is programmed to display real-time rating signal data for several of said plurality of respondent computers in real-time.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the respondent graphical user interface further includes a frustration (or analogous) ratings button.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the respondent graphical user interface further includes a question ratings button.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the moderator software device is further programmed to record timing of various events, including the activation of rating buttons, in the database.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the network is the World Wide Web;

the software application is a Web page from a Web Site on the World Wide Web; and

the respondent software device is a Web browser.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the respondent computer is a hand-held computer.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the hand-held computer includes a wire-less modem for operatively coupling to the network.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a digital sound recorder operatively coupled to the respondent software device, wherein the respondent software device is further programmed to create a digital recording of sounds made by a user, and wherein the moderator software device is further programmed to collect the digital recording from the respondent software device and store the digital recording in the database along with data associated with rating signals collected in the database.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a digital video recorder operatively coupled to the respondent software device, wherein the respondent software device is further programmed to create a digital recording of facial gestures made by a user, and wherein the moderator software device is further programmed to collect the digital recording from the respondent software device and store the digital in the database along with data associated with rating signals collected in the database.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one client computer operatively coupled to the moderator computer and including a client software device for displaying real-time data collected by the moderator software device from the respondent software devices.

20. A system for performing focus group studies on at least one Web page accessible by remote computers over the Internet, comprising:

a plurality of respondent computers operatively coupled to the Internet, each of the respondent computers having a respondent browser device programmed to download and display the Web page, the respondent browser having a graphical user interface that includes at least two rating buttons, the rating buttons including a favorable rating button and a disfavorable rating button; and

at least one moderator computer operatively coupled to each of the respondent computers having a moderator software device and a database, the moderator software device being programmed to communicate with each of the respondent browser devices operating on the respondent computers, collect rating signals from the respondent computers corresponding to the activation of rating buttons on the graphical user interfaces of the respondent browsers, and store data associated with the rating signals collected in the database.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein:

the graphical user interface of the respondent browser device is further programmed to query a user of the respondent computer for a comment responsive to a user activating a particular rating button; and

the moderator software device is further programmed to collect the comment from the respondent browser device and store the comment in the database along with data associated with the rating signal collected from the respondent computer that corresponds to the particular rating button.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein:

the moderator computer includes a moderator graphical user interface programmed to display data associated with the rating signals and comments collected in real-time.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the moderator graphical user interface is programmed to display real-time rating signal data and corresponding comments for several of the plurality of respondent computers in real-time.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the moderator software device includes a clock, and is further programmed to record timing data corresponding to the rating signal data and comments stored in the database.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein:

the moderator software device is further programmed to collect address data from the respondent browser device and store the address data in the database with the corresponding rating signal data, comments and timing data, the address data indicating a Web page address of the Web page downloaded and displayed on the respondent'"'"'s computer.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the moderator graphical user interface is programmed to display real-time rating signal data, comments, timing data and address data for several of the plurality of respondent computers in real-time.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the moderator software device is further programmed to specify the Web page address for each of the respondent computers.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein:

the respondent browser device is further programmed to generate a snap shot of the Web page substantially as it appears on a display device of the respondent computer; and

the moderator software device is further programmed to collect the snap shot from the respondent software device and store the snap shot in the database along with data associated with rating signals collected in the database.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein moderator graphical user interface is further programmed to display a snap shot collected from the respondent software device along with real-time rating signal data, comments, timing data and address data for at least one of the plurality of respondent computers.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the respondent browser device is further programmed to allow a user to overwrite marks and notations onto the snap shot.

31. The system of claim 20, wherein the graphical user interface of the respondent browser device further includes a frustration (or analogous) ratings button.

32. The system of claim 20, wherein the graphical user interface of the respondent browser device further includes a question ratings button.

33. A method for performing focus group studies on at least one Web page accessible by remote computers over the Internet, comprising the steps of:

operatively coupling a plurality of respondent computers to the Internet, each of the respondent computers including a respondent browser device for downloading and displaying a Web page from the Internet and a graphical user interface that includes at least two ratings buttons programmed to generate rating signals when activated, the ratings buttons including a favorable rating button and a disfavorable rating button;

operatively coupling a moderator computer to the plurality of respondent computers, the moderator computer including a moderator software device;

downloading and displaying a Web page from the Internet by the respondent browser device on a first one of the plurality of respondent computers

collecting a rating signal by the moderator software device from the first one of the respondent computers; and

storing the rating signal collected by the moderator software device into a database record associated with the first one of the respondent computers.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of storing a Web address of the Web page into the database record associated with the first one of the respondent computers.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising the steps of:

responsive to the activation of a rating button on the first one of the respondent computers, recording comment data by the first one of the respondent computers;

collecting the comment data by the moderator software device from the first one of the respondent computers; and

storing the comment data collected by the moderator software device into the database record associated with the first one of the respondent computers.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of recording comment data includes a step of providing an area on the graphical user interface of the respondent browser device of the first one of the respondent computers for recording comments typed in by a user of the first one of the respondent computers.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of recording comment data includes a step of recording a voice of a user of the first one of the respondent computers.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of recording comment data includes a step of recording a video of a user of the first one of the respondent computers.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein the step of recording comment data includes a step of providing a snap shot of the Web page and recording notations made by a user of the first one of the respondent computers on the snap shot using a marking device associated with the graphical user interface of the respondent browser device of the first one of the respondent computers.

40. The method of claim 35, further comprising the steps of:

using at least one of the rating signals and comment data to identify specific issues regarding the Web page;

generating a questionnaire related to the specific issues;

distributing the questionnaire to a large group of remote respondents; and

receiving responses to the questionnaire from at least a portion of the large group of respondents.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the step of distributing the questionnaire to the large group of remote respondents includes the step of sending an electronic mail message to each of the large group of respondents, wherein the electronic mail message includes the questionnaire and a representation of the Web page.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the representation of the Web page is a link to the Web page.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the questionnaire and Web page representation are embodied in an executable program sent with the electronic mail message.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the step of distributing the questionnaire to the large group of remote respondents includes the step of directing the large group of respondents to a location on the Internet from which the large group of respondents can download the questionnaire and representation of the Web page.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the representation of the Web page is a link to the Web page.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the questionnaire and Web page representation are embodied in an executable program downloaded from the location on the Internet.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein said moderator computer includes a display screen for displaying said data in real time.

47. A system for performing focus group studies on a subject over a network comprising:

a respondent computer having a respondent software device programmed to display an image of said subject to a human recipient and to provide said recipient a graphical user interface including a button to enable said recipient to indicate his or her reaction to said subject; and

a moderator computer operatively coupled to said respondent computer over said network having a moderator software device, said moderator software device being programmed to communicate with said respondent computer and collect data therefrom pertaining to said reaction.

48. A system for performing focus group studies on a subject over a network comprising:

a respondent computer having a respondent software device programmed to display an image of said subject to a human recipient and to provide said recipient a graphical user interface to enable said recipient to indicate his or her reaction to said subject; and

a moderator computer operatively coupled to said respondent computer over said network having a moderator software device, said moderator software device being programmed to communicate with said respondent computer, collect data therefrom pertaining to said reaction and display said data in real time.

50. A system for performing a focus group study on a subject over a network comprising:

a respondent computer having a respondent software device programmed to display an image of said subject to a human recipient and to provide said recipient a graphical user interface to enable said recipient to indicate his or her reaction to said subject; and

a moderator computer operatively coupled to said respondent computer over said network having a moderator software device, said moderator software device being programmed to communicate with said respondent computer and receive said reaction, said moderator software device including a moderator graphical user interface to enable a human moderator to solicit a reaction from said subject in real time at the discretion of said moderator during said focus group study.

51. The system of claim 50 wherein said moderator software device is programmed to prevent said respondent computer from progressing from a first image to a second image without providing said reaction from said respondent computer.

52. The system of claim 50 wherein said respondent software device graphical user interface includes a button actuatable by a respondent using said respondent computer to indicate said reaction.

53. The system of claim 50 wherein said respondent software device graphical user interface includes a menu of buttons, each of said buttons representing a different respondent reaction to said image and being actuatable by a respondent using said respondent computer to indicate said reaction.

54. The system of claim 50 wherein said respondent software device graphical user interface includes a comment window to enable a respondent to enter and transmit to said moderator computer a reaction in the form of a text comment.

55. The system of claim 50 wherein said respondent software device graphical user interface includes a menu of buttons, each of said buttons representing a different respondent reaction to said image, and wherein actuation of a selected one of said buttons opens a window to enable a respondent to enter and transmit to said moderator computer a reaction in the form of a text comment.

56. The system of claim 50 wherein said moderator software device graphical user interface includes a window displaying said reaction from said respondent computer.

57. The system of claim 56 wherein said reaction includes a text comment.

58. The system of claim 56 wherein said respondent software device graphical user interface includes a menu of buttons, each of said buttons representing a different respondent reaction to said image, and wherein said window displays a button selected from among said menu of buttons by said respondent.

59. The system of claim 50 wherein said respondent software device graphical user interface provides said moderator software device graphical user interface data pertaining to activity of said respondent computer;

and said moderator software device graphical user interface displays said respondent computer activity data.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein said respondent computer activity includes identifying indicia of images viewed by said respondent on said respondent computer.

61. The system of claim 60 wherein said images include Web pages.

62. The system of claim 59 wherein said respondent computer activity data includes an interval of time each of said images is displayed by said respondent computer.

63. The system of claim 59 wherein said respondent computer activity data includes a table of images displayed by said respondent computer, an interval of time each of said images is displayed by said respondent computer and a respondent reaction corresponding to each of said images.

64. The system of claim 50 further comprising a plurality of respondent computers, each of said respondent computers being coupled to said moderator computer.

65. The system of claim 64 wherein said moderator software device graphical user interface displays selected ones of said reactions from said plurality of respondent computers.

66. The system of claim 64 wherein said moderator software device graphical user interface displays said reactions from selected ones of said plurality of respondent computers.

67. The system of claim 64 wherein said moderator software device graphical user interface assigns a task marker to each of said respondent reactions.

68. The system of claim 67 further comprising a database and wherein said moderator software device stores said reactions in said database associated with said task marker.

69. The system of claim 67 wherein said moderator software device graphical user interface stores a list of available task markers from which said assigned task marker is selected.

70. The system of claim 64 wherein said moderator software device graphical user interface enables a moderator to assign a preselected project name to said focus group study.

71. The system of claim 70 wherein said moderator software device graphical user interface enables a moderator to assign preselected groups to said project name.

72. The system of claim 71 wherein said moderator software device graphical user interface enables a moderator to assign preselected respondents to a selected group.

73. The system of claim 70 wherein said moderator software device graphical user interface enables a moderator to assign a preselected subject to said project name.

74. The system of claim 50 wherein said moderator software device graphical user interface includes a survey and said moderator software device graphical user interface enables a moderator to transmit said survey to said recipient computers.

75. The system of claim 50 wherein said moderator software device graphical user interface enables a moderator to print a report displaying said reaction.

76. The system of claim 70 wherein said moderator software device graphical user interface enables a moderator to print a report displaying said reactions from said respondent computers for a preselected project.

77. The system of claim 76 wherein said moderator software device graphical user interface enables a moderator to print a report displaying said reactions from said respondent computers for a preselected group within a selected project.

78. The system of claim 76 wherein said moderator software device graphical user interface enables a moderator to print a report displaying said reactions from said respondent computers for a preselected image within a selected project.

79. The system of claim 77 wherein said image includes a Web page.

81. The system of claim 66 wherein said moderator software device and said client software device are programmed to exchange instant messages therebetween.

80. A system for performing a market study on a subject over a network comprising:

a respondent computer having a respondent software device programmed to display an image of said subject to a human recipient and to provide said recipient a graphical user interface including a button to enable said recipient to indicate his or her reaction to said subject;

a moderator computer operatively coupled to said respondent computer over said network having a moderator software device, said moderator software device being programmed to communicate with said respondent computer and collect data therefrom pertaining to said reaction; and

a client computer operatively coupled to said respondent computer having a client software device, said client computer device being programmed to communicate with said moderator computer to display said collected data in real time.

82. A method for performing a focus group study on a subject over a network comprising the steps of:

providing a respondent computer having a respondent software device programmed to display an image of said subject to a human recipient and to provide said recipient a graphical user interface to enable said recipient to indicate his or her reaction to said subject;

providing a moderator computer operatively coupled to said respondent computer over said network having a moderator software device, said moderator software device being programmed to communicate with said respondent computer and receive said reaction, said moderator software device including a moderator graphical user interface to enable a human moderator to solicit a reaction from said subject in real time at the discretion of said moderator during said focus group study;

directing a respondent to view said image and provide said reaction thereto;

receiving said reaction in said moderator computer; and

displaying said reaction on said moderator computer in real time.

83. The method of claim 82 further comprising the step of storing said respondent reaction in a database.

84. The method of claim 82 wherein said directing step further includes the step of directing said respondent to provide said reaction at a preselected time.

85. The method of claim 84 wherein said step of directing said respondent to provide said reaction at a preselected time is performed by said moderator in real time.

86. The method of claim 82 wherein said displaying step includes the step of displaying an amount of time spent by said respondent viewing said subject.

87. The method of claim 82 wherein said directing step includes directing said respondent to view a plurality of subjects.

88. The method of claim 87 wherein said displaying step includes the step of displaying identifying indicia for each of said subjects viewed by said respondent, and for each of said subjects, displaying an amount of time spent by said respondent viewing said subject.

89. The method of claim 88 wherein said displaying step includes displaying said respondent reactions for each of said subjects.

90. The method of claim 88 wherein said displaying step includes displaying said subjects viewed by said respondent in chronological order.

91. The method of claim 82 further comprising the step of, subsequent to said displaying step, conducting a discussion with said respondent relating to said subject.

92. The method of claim 82 wherein said respondent computer providing step includes the step of providing a plurality of respondent computers;

said directing step includes the step of directing a plurality of respondents to view said subject and supply said reactions thereto;

said receiving step includes the step of receiving said reactions in said moderator computer and said displaying step includes the step of displaying said reactions on said moderator computer.

93. The method of claim 92 wherein said displaying step includes displaying information identifying each of said respondents, said subjects viewed thereby, an amount of time spent viewing each of said subjects, reactions of said respondents, and information indicating whether each of said reactions was solicited by said moderator.

94. The method of claim 93 further comprising the step of providing a report of said information displayed.

95. The method of claim 93 further comprising the step of utilizing said information to create a baseline database.

96. The method of claim 92 further comprising the step of, prior to said respondent computer providing step, using said moderator computer to create a project, to create a group of respondents identified to said project and a task to assign to each of said respondents.

97. The method of claim 82 further comprising the step of providing a client computer for viewing said reaction.