Method and apparatus for administering a survey
First Claim
1. A method for administering a survey, the method comprising the steps of:
- creating a respondent question based on at least one survey question;
selecting a respondent;
transmitting the respondent question to the respondent;
receiving a response from the respondent, the response corresponding to the respondent question;
applying an inconsistency test to the response to generate an inconsistency test result; and
generating a fraud signal based on the inconsistency test result.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with the present invention, a controller such as an online service provider computer or an ISP computer receives a survey including survey questions from a client desiring to have a survey conducted. The controller creates respondent questions based on the survey questions. The controller also selects one or more respondents from a list of possible respondents, such as a list of customer accounts. The respondent questions are transmitted to the selected respondents. Responses corresponding to the respondent questions are received. The controller applies an inconsistency test to the responses to generate an inconsistency test result. The inconsistency test determines if the responses originate from computers or humans not paying attention to the questions. Based on the inconsistency test result, a fraud signal may be generated. The fraud signal may result in several actions, such as the controller ignoring the responses received from the corresponding respondent, reducing or eliminating payment to the respondent, transmitting a message of reprimand to the respondent, and/or barring the respondent from future participation in surveys.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A method for administering a survey, the method comprising the steps of:
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creating a respondent question based on at least one survey question; selecting a respondent; transmitting the respondent question to the respondent; receiving a response from the respondent, the response corresponding to the respondent question; applying an inconsistency test to the response to generate an inconsistency test result; and generating a fraud signal based on the inconsistency test result. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for administering a survey, the method comprising the steps of:
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creating a first respondent question based on at least one survey question; selecting a respondent; transmitting the first respondent question to the respondent; receiving a first response from the respondent, the first response corresponding to the first respondent question; applying a first inconsistency test to the first response to generate a first inconsistency test result; creating a second respondent question if the first inconsistency test result is greater than a first predetermined threshold; transmitting the second respondent question to the respondent; receiving a second response from the respondent, the second response corresponding to the second respondent question; applying a second inconsistency test to the second response to generate a second inconsistency test result; and generating a fraud signal based on the second inconsistency test result. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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47. A method for administering a survey, the method comprising the steps of:
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creating a first respondent question based on at least one survey question; selecting a respondent; transmitting the first respondent question to the respondent; receiving a first response from the respondent, the first response corresponding to the first respondent question; applying a first inconsistency test to the first response to generate a first inconsistency rating; creating a second respondent question if the first inconsistency test result is greater than a first predetermined threshold, the second respondent question being based on one of a set of predetermined questions; transmitting the second respondent question to the respondent; receiving a second response from the respondent, the second response corresponding to the second respondent question; applying a second inconsistency test to the second response to generate a second inconsistency test result; and generating a fraud signal based on the second inconsistency test result. - View Dependent Claims (48)
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49. An apparatus for administering a survey, comprising:
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a storage device; and a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and the processor operative with the program to; create a respondent question based on at least one survey question; selecting a respondent; transmit the respondent question to the respondent; receive a response from the respondent, the response corresponding to the respondent question; apply an inconsistency test to the response to generate an inconsistency test result; and generate a fraud signal based on the inconsistency test result.
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50. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for administering a survey, the method comprising the steps of:
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creating a respondent question based on at least one survey question; selecting a respondent; transmitting the respondent question to the respondent; receiving a response from the respondent, the response corresponding to the respondent question; applying an inconsistency test to the response to generate an inconsistency test result; and generating a fraud signal based on the inconsistency test result.
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51. An apparatus for administering a survey, comprising:
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a storage device; and a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and the processor operative with the program to; create a first respondent question based on at least one survey question; selecting a respondent; transmit the first respondent question to the respondent; receive a first response from the respondent, the first response corresponding to the first respondent question; apply a first inconsistency test to the first response to generate a first inconsistency test result; create a second respondent question if the first inconsistency test result is greater than a first predetermined threshold; transmit the second respondent question to the respondent; receive a second response from the respondent, the second response corresponding to the second respondent question; apply a second inconsistency test to the second response to generate a second inconsistency test result; and generate a fraud signal based on the second inconsistency test result.
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52. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for administering a survey, the method comprising the steps of:
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creating a first respondent question based on at least one survey question; selecting a respondent; transmitting the first respondent question to the respondent; receiving a first response from the respondent, the first response corresponding to the first respondent question; applying a first inconsistency test to the first response to generate a first inconsistency test result; creating a second respondent question if the first inconsistency test result is greater than a first predetermined threshold; transmitting the second respondent question to the respondent; receiving a second response from the respondent, the second response corresponding to the second respondent question; applying a second inconsistency test to the second response to generate a second inconsistency test result; and generating a fraud signal based on the second inconsistency test result.
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53. An apparatus for administering a survey, comprising:
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a storage device; and a processor connected to the storage device, the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and the processor operative with the program to; create a first respondent question based on at least one survey question; selecting a respondent; transmit the first respondent question to the respondent; receive a first response from the respondent, the first response corresponding to the first respondent question; apply a first inconsistency test to the first response to generate a first inconsistency rating; create a second respondent question if the first inconsistency test result is greater than a first predetermined threshold, the second respondent question being based on one of a set of predetermined questions; transmit the second respondent question to the respondent; receive a second response from the respondent, the second response corresponding to the second respondent question; apply a second inconsistency test to the second response to generate a second inconsistency test result; and generate a fraud signal based on the second inconsistency test result.
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54. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for administering a survey, the method comprising the steps of:
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creating a first respondent question based on at least one survey question; selecting a respondent; transmitting the first respondent question to the respondent; receiving a first response from the respondent, the first response corresponding to the first respondent question; applying a first inconsistency test to the first response to generate a first inconsistency rating; creating a second respondent question if the first inconsistency test result is greater than a first predetermined threshold, the second respondent question being based on one of a set of predetermined questions; transmitting the second respondent question to the respondent; receiving a second response from the respondent, the second response corresponding to the second respondent question; applying a second inconsistency test to the second response to generate a second inconsistency test result; and generating a fraud signal based on the second inconsistency test result.
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Specification