Consumer to business data capturing system

• US 20060253316A1
• Filed: 02/02/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Buzzmetrics, Ltd. (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: Buzzmetrics, Ltd. (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Inventors: Kunz, Michael C., Fischer, Olivier, Blackshaw, Peter E., Coates, Daniel M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,271,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0203 Market surveys; Market polls
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0204 Market segmentation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus of the present invention collect data associated with a consumer through generation of a consumer feedback communication via a wide area network. A business to which the consumer feedback communication is directed is identified in response to input from a consumer via the wide area network. Feedback data relating to the business is obtained from the consumer via the wide area network. At least a portion of the consumer feedback communication is automatically generated using the feedback data. Data associated with the consumer is then collected from the obtained feedback data.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of collecting data associated with a consumer through generation of a consumer feedback communication via a wide area network, comprising:

in response to input from a consumer via the wide area network, identifying a business to which the consumer feedback communication is directed;

obtaining feedback data relating to the business from the consumer via the wide area network;

automatically generating at least a portion of the consumer feedback communication using the feedback data;

collecting data associated with the consumer from the obtained feedback data;

addressing the consumer feedback communication to an individual associated with the business; and

transmitting the consumer feedback communication to the individual.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the collected data includes data quantifying past experiences of the consumer.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the collected data includes data quantifying future intentions of the consumer.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the collected data includes data quantifying past purchases by the consumer of products and/or services rendered by the business.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the collected data includes data indicating economic value of the consumer over time for the business.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

selecting an industry for which data associated with the consumer is to be collected;

wherein collecting data comprises obtaining consumer data relating to the selected industry from the obtained feedback data.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

providing the collected data to one or more businesses within the selected industry.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

associating the collected data with the consumer feedback communication.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

providing the collected data to the business.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining socio-economic data associated with the consumer, wherein the socioeconomic data includes at least one of income of the consumer and occupation of the consumer; and

determining an economic value of the consumer to the business from the socioeconomic data.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining socio-economic data associated with the consumer, wherein the socioeconomic data includes at least one of income of the consumer and occupation of the consumer; and

combining the collected data and the socio-economic data to obtain one or more indices associated with the consumer.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the one or more indices includes a loyalty index indicating a level of loyalty of the consumer to the business.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the one or more indices includes a buyer power index indicating a level of purchase power of the consumer.

14. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

addressing the consumer feedback communication to one or more additional individuals; and

determining word of mouth impact of the consumer from information associated with addressing the consumer feedback communication to one or more additional individuals.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein addressing the consumer feedback communication to one or more additional individuals comprises:

addressing a carbon copy of the consumer feedback communication to the one or more additional individuals.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting the consumer feedback communication to the individual associated with the business and the one or more additional individuals.

17. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein determining word of mouth impact of the consumer comprises ascertaining a number of individuals carbon copied on the consumer feedback communication.

18. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

repeating the steps of identifying, obtaining, generating, collecting, addressing the consumer feedback communication to an individual associated with the business, and addressing the consumer feedback communication to one or more additional individuals for one or more consumer feedback communications sent by the consumer;

wherein determining word of mouth impact comprises ascertaining a total number of individuals carbon copied for the one or more consumer feedback communications sent by the consumer.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, further comprising:

determining a number of consumer feedback communications sent by the consumer; and

ascertaining an average number of individuals carbon copied by the consumer on a consumer feedback communication from the number of consumer feedback communications sent by the consumer and the total number of individuals carbon copied for the one or more consumer feedback communications sent by the consumer.

20. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

addressing the consumer feedback communication to a second set of one or more additional individuals;

wherein collecting data associated with the consumer further comprises obtaining information related to addressing the consumer feedback communication to the second set of one or more additional individuals.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein determining word of mouth impact of the consumer comprises:

ascertaining a number of individuals carbon copied on the consumer feedback communication; and

ascertaining a number of individuals in the second set of one or more additional individuals.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the second set of one or more additional individuals are direct addressees of the consumer feedback communication.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising:

repeating the steps of identifying, obtaining, generating, collecting, addressing the consumer feedback communication to an individual associated with the business, and addressing the consumer feedback communication to one or more additional individuals for one or more consumer feedback communications sent by the consumer; and

ascertaining a total number of individuals carbon copied for the one or more consumer feedback communications sent by the consumer;

ascertaining a total number of individuals in the second set of one or more additional individuals for the one or more consumer feedback communications sent by the consumer; and

adding the total number of individuals carbon copied and the total number of individuals in the second set over the one or more consumer feedback communications sent by the consumer to obtain a total number of individuals who received the one or more consumer feedback communications sent by the consumer.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, further comprising:

determining a number of the consumer feedback communications sent by the consumer; and

ascertaining an average number of individuals who received a consumer feedback communication sent by the consumer from the number of consumer feedback communications sent by the consumer and the total number of individuals who received the one or more consumer feedback communications sent by the consumer.

25. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

obtaining socio-economic data associated with the consumer;

wherein determining the word of mouth impact of the consumer further comprises using the socio-economic data to infer a socio-economic nature of the one or more additional individuals to whom the consumer feedback communication has been addressed.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the socio-economic data includes information indicating at least one of salary, job title and education level of the consumer.

27. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the socio-economic data includes at least one of a title, a political status, and an associated special interest group.

28. A computer implemented method of collecting data associated with a consumer through generation of a consumer feedback communication via a wide area network, comprising:

(a) in response to input from a consumer via the wide area network, identifying a business to which the consumer feedback communication is directed;

(b) obtaining feedback data relating to the business from the consumer via the wide area network;

(c) automatically generating at least a portion of the consumer feedback communication using the feedback data;

(d) addressing the consumer feedback communication to an individual associated with the business;

(e) addressing the consumer feedback communication to one or more additional individuals;

(f) repeating steps (a)-(e) for one or more consumer feedback communications that have been generated; and

(g) creating an index from information associated with the one or more individuals to whom the consumer feedback communications were addressed.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein (g) creating an index further comprises ascertaining a number of the consumer feedback communications that have been generated.

30. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein creating the index further comprises a computer-implemented step of accessing at least a portion of the obtained feedback data.

31. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the information indicates a title or status of the one or more individuals.

32. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising:

ascertaining from the index whether the consumer poses has a potential to negatively influence other consumers.

33. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising:

determining whether the index is within a predetermined set of index values; and

identifying the consumer as an expert user when the index is within the predetermined set of index values.

34. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising:

determining whether the index is within a predetermined set of index values; and

when the index is within the predetermined set of index values, identifying the consumer as a user to receive free product or services to generate positive word of mouth.

35. The method as recited in claim 28, further comprising:

determining whether the index is within a predetermined set of index values; and

when the index is determined to be within the predetermined set of index values, identifying the consumer as an individual that can be expected to generate positive word of mouth.

36. A system for collecting data associated with a consumer through generation of a consumer feedback communication via a wide area network, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, at least one of the processor and the memory being adapted for;

in response to input from a consumer via the wide area network, identifying a business to which the consumer feedback communication is directed;

obtaining feedback data relating to the business from the consumer via the wide area network;

automatically generating at least a portion of the consumer feedback communication using the feedback data;

collecting data associated with the consumer from the obtained feedback data;

addressing the consumer feedback communication to an individual associated with the business; and

transmitting the consumer feedback communication to the individual.

37. A computer readable medium storing thereon computer readable instructions for collecting data associated with a consumer through generation of a consumer feedback communication via a wide area network, comprising:

(a) instructions for identifying a business to which the consumer feedback communication is directed in response to input from a consumer via the wide area network;

(b) instructions for obtaining feedback data relating to the business from the consumer via the wide area network;

(c) instructions for automatically generating at least a portion of the consumer feedback communication using the feedback data;

(d) instructions for addressing the consumer feedback communication to an individual associated with the business;

(e) instructions for addressing the consumer feedback communication to one or more additional individuals;

(f) instructions for repeating steps (a)-(e) for one or more consumer feedback communications that have been generated; and

(g) instructions for creating an index from information associated with the one or more individuals to whom the consumer feedback communications were addressed.