EXPERT SYSTEM FOR DESIGNING EXPERIMENTS

• US 20090281896A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Brooks, Brian E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,594,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.440
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/186 Templates
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/04 Inference or reasoning models
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0245 Surveys
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0246 Traffic

Abstract

Computer implemented methods and systems for designing a true experiment, and optionally conducting the experiment and analyzing the experimental data are described. Information required to design the true experiment is identified. Questions are presented to a user eliciting responses that provide the required information. The required information is extracted from responses received from the user. The true experiment is designed based on the required information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

identifying information required to design a true experiment to evaluate digital signage content;

presenting questions to a user, the questions eliciting responses that provide the required information;

receiving the responses to the questions from the user;

extracting the required information from the user responses; and

designing the true experiment based on the required information extracted from the user responses.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the questions elicit responses that provide information about a dependent variable of the true experiment, the dependent variable related to the digital signage content.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein designing the true experiment comprises determining a control group and a treatment group for the true experiment based on information extracted from the user responses, wherein the control group is exposed to the digital signage content.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein designing the true experiment comprises determining a schedule for the digital signage content based on the information extracted from the user responses.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the schedule comprises determining one or more playlists for digital signage content based on the information extracted from the user responses.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the schedule comprises determining one or more venues for digital signage content based on the information extracted from the user responses.

7. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

identifying information required to design a true experiment;

presenting questions to a user, the questions eliciting responses that provide the required information;

receiving the responses to the questions from the user;

extracting the required information from the user responses; and

designing the true experiment based on the required information extracted from the user responses.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the required information comprises information associated with one or more dependent variables and one or more independent variables of the true experiment.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the required information comprises information associated with one or more levels of an independent variable of the true experiment.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the required information comprises information associated with one or both of confound variables and nuisance variables of the true experiment.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the required information comprises information associated with a hypothesis of the true experiment.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the questions elicit responses that provide information used to perform a power analysis.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the questions elicit responses that provide information used to choose a control group or a treatment group of the true experiment.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the questions elicit responses that provide information used to determine a treatment schedule of the true experiment.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein presenting the questions comprises presenting the questions using language selected to correspond to a knowledge level of the user in the field of experimental design.

16. The method of claim 7, further comprising presenting the user with information related to a cost of performing the true experiment.

17. The method of claim 7, further comprising presenting the user with information related to a cost of measuring one or more dependent variables.

18. The method of claim 7, further comprising conducting the true experiment.

19. The method of claim 7, further comprising analyzing experimental data produced by the true experiment.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein analyzing the experimental data comprises analyzing the experimental data based on information extracted from the user responses.

21. A system, comprising:

a user interface configured to present questions to a user and receive user responses to the questions; and

an experimental design processor coupled to the user interface and configured to identify information required to perform a true experiment, generate questions eliciting responses from the user that provide the required information, extract the required information from the user responses, and design a true experiment using the required information.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the required information comprises information associated with one or more dependent variables and one or more independent variables of the true experiment.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the required information comprises information associated with one or more levels of an independent variable of the true experiment.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the required information comprises information associated with one or both of confound variables and nuisance variables of the true experiment.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the required information comprises information associated with a hypothesis of the true experiment.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the true experiment evaluates digital signage content.

27. The system of claim 21, further comprising an experimental control processor configured to control performance of the true experiment.

28. The system of claim 21, further comprising an analysis unit configured to analyze experimental data produced by the true experiment.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the analysis unit is configured to use information acquired by the design processor to analyze the experimental data.

30. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon and executable by a computing device to perform steps comprising:

identifying information required to design a true experiment;

presenting questions to a user, the questions eliciting responses that provide the required information;

receiving the responses to the questions from the user;

extracting the required information from the user responses; and

designing the true experiment based on the required information extracted from the user responses.

31. A system, comprising:

means for identifying information required to design a true experiment;

means for presenting questions to a user, the questions eliciting responses that provide the required information;

means for receiving the responses to the questions from the user;

means for extracting the required information from the user responses; and

means for designing the true experiment based on the required information extracted from the user responses.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for conducting the true experiment.

33. The system of claim 31, further comprising means for analyzing experimental data produced by the true experiment.