Automated survey kiosk

• US 6,381,744 B2
• Filed: 01/05/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ses Canada Research, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ses Canada Research, Inc.
• Inventors: Nanos, Nikita J., Nanos, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak, Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US09/225,561
• Publication Number:
  US 20010052122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 345/327, 345/328, 455/4.2, 348/6, 348/7, 348/12, 348/13, 348/552, 705/26, 705/27, 725/24, 725/23
• US Class Current: 725/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

An automated survey kiosk which is easy to install at a location, does not require access to standard telephone lines, can be easily reprogrammed, has unlimited language capabilities, which permits open-ended answers to inquiries or questions and whose survey responses can be sent directly to a client. The automated survey kiosk for administering a survey includes a touch screen for displaying the survey and for receiving survey responses, the touch screen being operatively connected to a general purpose computer for storing the survey, the general computer including a memory for storing the survey responses, operatively connected to the touch screen; and a wireless modem for transmitting the survey responses at a remote location at predetermined intervals. The automated survey kiosk is programmed to prompt a user for a desired language and then administer the survey in the chosen language. The automated survey kiosk may be remotely reprogrammed with new questions, by altering existing questions or by deleting existing questions, from the location of the research firm, even while a respondent is answering the survey. The survey responses may be transmitted to the research firm, or may be directly sent to the client, who must be equipped with the proper equipment to communicate with the automated survey kiosk. Accordingly, the client can have almost instantaneous access to the latest survey data, and can modify the survey during the survey period. The kiosk is also provided with a microphone in order to permit a respondent to record a verbal answer should the multiple choices offered not adequately described the respondent'"'"'s answer.

Claims

1. An automated survey kiosk for administering a market survey, said market survey being translated into at least two languages, said market survey including a plurality of inquiries, said kiosk comprising:

a central processing unit including memory means for storing said survey and for controlling the administration of the survey;

means for prompting a user to choose between said at least two languages and for receiving the choice of the user;

a video screen for sequentially displaying each inquiry in the survey in the chosen language in an order which changes from time to time;

means for receiving survey responses;

means for storing the survey responses operatively connected to the means for receiving survey responses; and

means for transmitting the survey responses to a remote location

whereby, in use, said central processing unit displays each inquiry sequentially on said video screen and prompts a respondent to answer each inquiry by selecting a response from a plurality of responses through said means for receiving the survey responses, said survey responses being stored in said means for storing said survey responses for subsequent transmission to said remote location; and

wherein said survey includes at least one inquiry permitting a verbal response, said plurality of responses including a response indicating that the respondent wishes to enter a verbal response, where said means for receiving survey responses further include a microphone and said means for storing survey responses include a voice recorder, whereby, in use, when a respondent selects said response indicating that the respondent wishes to enter a verbal response, said central processing unit indicates to said means for storing a survey response to record a signal coming from said microphone.

2. An automated survey kiosk according to claim 1, wherein said video screen is a touch-screen, whereby said means for receiving survey responses are integrated in said touch screen.

3. An automated survey kiosk according to claim 2, wherein said means for storing the survey responses are integrated in said central processing unit.

4. An automated survey kiosk according to claim 3, wherein said survey kiosk further includes means for dispensing an incentive to said respondent when all of the inquiries in the survey have been answered.

5. A system for gathering market survey responses, said market survey being translated into at least two languages, said system including:

at least one automated survey kiosk, said at least one automated survey kiosk comprising;

a central processing unit including memory means for storing said survey and for controlling the administration of the survey;

means for prompting a user to choose between said at least two languages and for receiving the choice of the user;

a video screen for sequentially displaying each inquiry in the survey in the chosen language in an order which changes from time to time;

means for receiving survey responses;

means for storing the survey responses operatively connected to the means for receiving survey responses; and

means for transmitting the survey responses to a remote location;

wireless means located at a central location for remotely sending information to said at least one automated survey kiosk and for receiving said survey responses for processing;

means located at a client'"'"'s location for remotely receiving, at said predetermined intervals or upon request, said survey responses;

whereby, in use, said central processing unit displays each inquiry sequentially on said video screen and prompts a respondent to answer each inquiry by selecting a response from a plurality of responses through said means for receiving the survey responses, said survey responses being stored in said means for storing said survey responses for subsequent transmission to said remote location; and

wherein said survey includes at least one inquiry permitting a verbal response, said plurality of responses including a response indicating that the respondent wishes to enter a verbal response, where said means for receiving survey responses further include a microphone and said means for storing survey responses include a voice recorder, whereby, in use, when a respondent selects said response indicating that the respondent wishes to enter a verbal response, said central processing unit indicates to said means for storing a survey response to record a signal coming from said microphone.

6. An automated survey kiosk according to claim 5, wherein said video screen is a touch-screen, whereby said means for receiving survey responses are integrated in said touch screen.

7. An automated survey kiosk according to claim 6, wherein said means for storing the survey responses are integrated in said central processing unit.

8. An automated survey kiosk according to claim 7, wherein said survey kiosk further includes means for dispensing an incentive to said respondent when all of the inquiries in the survey have been answered.