System and method for conducting product configuration research over a computer-based network

• US 20080243645A1
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nielsen Consumer LLC (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Original Assignee: Harris Interactive Incorporated (Nielsen Holdings plc)
• Inventors: Bakken, David G., Jeavons, Andrew P., Bayer, Leonard R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,822,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• 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 30/0206 Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing

Abstract

A system and method is provided for enabling respondents at their computer systems to connect with a server computer over a network, such as the Internet, and receive an executable configuration program enabling each respondent to select for each of the features of a product one of multiple subfeature attributes or levels for that feature. Each of the subfeatures for each feature has a price value and the combination of selected subfeatures for the features of the product provides a total price value of the product. The total price value is displayed and updated as subfeatures for the features are selected by the respondent or the selection of subfeatures are changed by the respondent. When the total price value of the product is acceptable to the respondent, and subfeatures have been selected for each feature of the product, the program returns configuration information to the computer server having data representing the subfeatures selected for the product, the total price of the product, the time for the respondent to complete the configuration of the product, and each of the features and subfeatures selected and changed by the respondent in arriving at the final configured product. The configuration program may be part of a survey being conducted over the network by the server computer in which questions of the survey following receipt of the configuration information by the computer server may be in accordance with such configuration information.

Claims

1-7. -7. (canceled)

8. A method for enabling product configuration research by a respondent at a computer system over a network, said method comprising the steps of:

a) displaying the features of a product which is not being offered for sale;

b) selecting one of said displayed features;

c) displaying possible subfeatures for said selected feature;

d) selecting one of said displayed subfeatures for said selected feature, in which each said subfeature associated with the feature has a price value;

e) determining a total price based on the price value of said selected subfeature and other selected subfeatures of the product;

f) displaying said total price value;

g) repeating steps (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) for different selected displayed features until the selected subfeatures for each of the features provide a total price value acceptable to the respondent;

h) determining the elapse time until the selected subfeatures for each of the features provide a total price value acceptable to the respondent; and

i) sending configuration information to another computer system over the network representing at least said selected subfeatures for the features of the product, total price value, and the elapse time.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising the step of maintaining a list of each of the selected subfeatures and the associated selected feature after each of the selected subfeatures are selected until the selected subfeatures for each of the features provide a total price value acceptable to the respondent, wherein said configuration information further comprises said list.

10. The method according to claim 8 further comprising the step of storing said configuration information at said another computer system.

11. The method according to claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

answering questions of a survey in which one or more of said questions relate to said product; and

sending the answers to said questions to said another computer system.

12. The method according to claim 8 further comprising the steps of:

determining when one of the subfeatures selected for features of the product represent a conflict with said selected subfeatures for other features of the product;

providing a message informing the respondent when said selected subfeature represent said conflict; and

resetting the selection of the subfeature causing the conflict to avoid the conflict.

13. Software for enabling product configuration market research executable at a computer system comprising:

means for selecting features from a group of possible features for a product which is not being offered for sale;

means for selecting for one or more of said features, at least one subfeature from a group of possible subfeatures for the selected feature, in which each subfeature associated with the feature has a price value and said combination of at least said selected subfeatures for said features provides a total price value;

means for displaying said total price value;

means for updating said displayed total price value as selected subfeatures change;

means for indicating that selecting subfeatures of the product is complete; and

means for determining the elapse time between start of said selecting features step and said indicating complete step.

14. The software according to claim 13 further comprising:

means for sending configuration information representing at least said selected subfeatures for the features, total price value, and elapse time to another computer system over a network.

15. The software according to claim 13 further comprising:

means for maintaining a list of at least each selected subfeature and associated selected feature changed, and said configuration information further comprises said list.

16. (canceled)

17. A system for enabling a respondent to configure a product over a network comprising a computer system enabling the respondent to configure a product which is not being offered for sale by selecting features and subfeatures for the features of the product, recording changes in each of the selected features and subfeatures until the product is configured, and sending over the network to another computer system configuration information representative of at least the selected features and subfeatures of the product, and said recorded changes in selected features and subfeatures of the product.

18. The system according to claim 17 wherein each said subfeature for each of the features has a price value, and said computer system determines a total price value representing a combination of the price values of each selected subfeature, and displays the total price value as subfeatures are selected or the selection of subfeatures are changed.

19. The system according to claim 17 wherein said computer system has a timer for measuring the time for the respondent to configure the product, and said configuration information further comprises said determined time.

20. A network addressable site enabling product configuration market research comprising a computer server for sending software via a network to one or more computer systems which is executable by said computer systems for enabling each user of said computer systems to configure a product which is not being offered for sale by selecting the features of said product while displaying a total price value of the product in accordance with price value of said selected features, and sending information via said network back to said network addressable site having data representing at least said selected features when the user has completed the configuration of the product.

21. The network addressable site according to claim 20 wherein one or more of said features has a plurality of subfeatures for selection by each user of said computer systems, said total price value of the product is further in accordance with the price values of said selected subfeatures, and said data further represents said selected subfeatures for said selected features.

22. The network addressable site according to claim 20 wherein said software measures the elapse time for each user to configure the product, and said information further comprises data representing said elapse time.

23. The network addressable site according to claim 20 wherein said information further comprises data representing said selected features and any changes in the selection of said features until said product configuration is completed.

24. The network addressable site according to claim 20 wherein said information represents market research information to aid in at least one of new product development, product configuration, pricing, or segmentation.

25. The network addressable site according to claim 20 wherein said software measures elapse time for the user to configure the product, and said information further comprises data representing said elapse time.

26. A network addressable site enabling product configuration market research comprising means for enabling a user of at least one computer system, representing a client computer system to said network addressable site, to configure a product which is not being offered for sale by selecting the features of said product, and means for displaying a total price value to said user in accordance with selected ones of said features, in which said total price value displayed is capable of being updated as each of said features are selected or said selection of said features is changed.

27. The network site according to claim 26 further comprising means for sending information via said network to said network addressable site having data representing at least said selected features when the user has completed the configuration of the product.

28. The network site according to claim 27 wherein one or more of said features has subfeatures capable of being selected by said user, and said total price value of the product is further in accordance with said selected subfeatures, and said data further represents said selected subfeatures for said selected features.

29. A method for enabling product configuration market research comprising the steps of:

sending from a first computer system via a network to at least one second computer system a program enabling a user of said second computer system to configure a product by selecting the features of said product in which said product is not being offered for sale; and

displaying a total price value in accordance with user selected ones of said features in which said total price value displayed is capable of being updated as each of said features are selected or said selection of said features is changed by said user.

30. The method according to claim 29 further comprising the step of sending information via said network to said first computer system having data representing at least said selected features when the user has completed the configuration of the product.

31. The method according to claim 30 wherein one or more of said features has subfeatures capable of being selected by said user, and said total price value of the product is further in accordance with said selected subfeatures, and said data further represents said selected subfeatures for said selected features.

32. The method according to claim 30 further comprising the step of measuring the elapse time for said user to configure the product, and said information further comprises data representing said elapse time.