Multi-layer surveying systems and methods with multi-layer incentives

• US 6,446,044 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LUTH Research Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LUTH Research Incorporated
• Inventors: Luth, Roseanne, Rosen, Charles T.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMPAGNE, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US09/629,740
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 705/14
• US Class Current: 705/14.16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0214 Referral reward systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0217 involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0236 Incentive or reward received by requiring registration or ID from user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting

Abstract

A system and method for collecting data includes receiving first identification information of a first user, receiving second identification information of a second user that is referred to the data collector by the first user, analyzing the second identification information, determining whether to receive second user data based on the analysis of the second identification information and rewarding the first user if the second user data is received.

Claims

1. A method of collecting data by a data collector, comprising:

receiving first identification information of a first user;

receiving second identification information of a second user, the second user being referred to the data collector by the first user;

determining whether to receive second user data based on an analysis of the second identification information;

rewarding the first user a second amount if the second user data is received;

receiving first user data from the first user and rewarding the first user a first amount;

receiving third user data from a third user, the third user being referred to the data collector by the second user;

rewarding the first user a third amount after the third user data is received;

rewarding the second user the second amount after the third user data is received; and

rewarding the third user the first amount after the third user data is received.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether to receive first user data based on an analysis of the first identification information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first user is rewarded the first amount after the first user data is received.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first user data is first user survey response data and the second user data is second user survey response data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user data is second user survey response data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user data is initial second user data, the method further comprising:

requesting subsequent second user data;

receiving subsequent second user data; and

rewarding the first user a different amount.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the third user data is initial third user data, the method further comprising:

receiving subsequent third user data; and

rewarding the first user the third amount and the second user the second amount.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user data is second user survey response data and the third user data is third user survey response data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first amount, the second amount and the third amount are different.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first amount, the second amount and the third amount are substantially the same.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user data is first user survey response data, the second user data is second user survey response data and the third user data is third user survey response data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user data is received if the second user identification information indicates that the second user is a member of a target group.

13. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform functions comprising:

receiving first identification information of a first user;

receiving second identification information of a second user, the second user being referred to the processor by the first user;

analyzing the second identification information;

determining whether to receive second user data based on the analysis of the second identification information;

rewarding the first user an initial amount if the second user data is received, the medium further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive subsequent second user data, and

reward the first user a second amount, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to,

receive third user data from a third user, the third user being referred to the processor by the second user,

reward the first user a third amount,

reward the second user the second amount, and

reward the third user the first amount.

14. The medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive first user data from the first user and rewarding the first user a first amount.

15. The medium of claim 14, wherein the first user is rewarded the first amount after the first user data is received.

16. The medium of claim 14, wherein the first user data is first user survey response data and the subsequent second user data is second user survey response data.

17. The medium of claim 13, wherein the subsequent second user data is second user survey response data.

18. The medium of claim 13, wherein the third user data is initial third user data, the method further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive subsequent third user data; and

reward the first user the third amount and the second user the second amount and the third user the first amount upon receipt of the subsequent third user data.

19. The medium of claim 18, wherein the first user, the second user and the third user are rewarded after the third user data is received.

20. The medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

reward the first user for the third user data;

reward the second user for the third user data; and

reward the third user for the third user data.

21. The medium of claim 20, wherein the second user data is second user survey response data and the third user data is third user survey response data.

22. The medium of claim 20, wherein the first amount is greater than the second amount.

23. The medium of claim 22, wherein the second amount is greater than the third amount.

24. The medium of claim 20 further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive first user data from the first user and reward the first user a first amount.

25. The medium of claim 24, wherein the firs t user data is first user survey response data, the second user data is second user survey response data and the third user data is third user survey response data.

26. The medium of claim 13, where in the second user data is received if the second user identification information indicates that the second user is a member of a target group.

30. The medium of claim 13, further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive third user data from a third user, the third user being referred to the processor by the second user;

reward the first user upon receipt of the third data;

reward the second user upon receipt of the third data; and

reward the third user upon receipt of the third data.

27. A method of collecting data, comprising:

providing at least one first user an incentive to provide second identification information of a second user;

analyzing the second identification information to determine whether the second user is a member of a target group;

providing the second user the incentive to provide third identification information of a third user;

analyzing the third identification information to determine whether the third user is a member of a second target group;

rewarding each first user for first user data;

rewarding the at least one first user and the second user if the second user is a member of the target group and second user provides second user data;

rewarding the at least one first user and the second user if the third user is a member of the second target group and the third user provides third user data; and

rewarding the third user for the third user data.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the steps of providing are performed on a computer network.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the steps of providing are performed on the internet.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the second target group is also the target group.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the second user data is responsive to a survey collecting information, and wherein the target groups and the user data change according to the survey.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the incentive provided to the first user is a first reward received when the second user is a member of the target group and the second user provides second user data, and wherein the incentive provided to the second user is a second reward received when the third user is a member of the second target group and the third user provides third user data.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the second user data is responsive to a survey collecting information of a selected target group.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the target group changes responsive to a survey.

36. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

providing at least one second user an incentive to provide fourth identification information of a fourth user;

analyzing the fourth identification information to determine whether the fourth user is a member of a corresponding target group; and

rewarding the at least one first user and the at least one second user if the fourth user is a member of the corresponding target group and the fourth user provides fourth user data.

37. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

providing at least one third user an incentive to provide fourth identification information of a fourth user;

analyzing the fourth identification information to determine whether the fourth user is a member of a corresponding target group; and

rewarding the at least one first user, the at least one second user and the at least one third user if the fourth user is a member of the corresponding target group and the fourth user provides fourth user data.

38. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

providing at least one third user an incentive to provide fourth identification information of a fourth user;

analyzing the fourth identification information to determine whether the fourth user is a member of a corresponding target group; and

rewarding the at least one second user and the at least one third user if the fourth user is a member of the corresponding target group and the fourth user provides fourth user data.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein the first user receives a money reward after the second and third user data are received.

40. A method for a data collector to build a database of users containing user identification data and determining which users belong to a target group, comprising:

receiving a plurality of first user identification information;

receiving a plurality of second user identification information;

storing at least some of said plurality of first and second user identification information in the data base;

linking certain second users to certain ones of said plurality of first users if said certain ones of said first users referred said certain second users to the data collector;

requesting additional user information from some of said second users;

determining whether any of said second users fall within said target group using said additional user information;

requesting subsequent second user information of said second users within said target group; and

rewarding corresponding second users upon receipt of said subsequent second user information from said corresponding second users and those respective first users that are linked to said corresponding second users.

41. A method of collecting data by a data collector, comprising:

receiving first identification information of a first user;

receiving second identification information of a second user, the second user being referred to the data collector by the first user;

determining whether to receive second user data based on an analysis of the second identification information;

rewarding the first user a second amount if the second user data is received;

receiving first user data from the first user and rewarding the first user a first amount, wherein the second user data is initial second user data, the method further comprises,

requesting subsequent second user data,

receiving subsequent second user data, and

rewarding the first user a different amount;

receiving third user data from a third user, the third user being referred to the data collector by the second user;

rewarding the first user a third amount;

rewarding the second user the second amount; and

rewarding the third user the first amount.

42. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform functions comprising:

receiving first identification information of a first user;

receiving second identification information of a second user, the second user being referred to the processor by the first user;

analyzing the second identification information;

determining whether to receive second user data based on the analysis of the second identification information; and

rewarding the first user an initial amount and rewarding the second user if the second user data is received;

receiving third user data from a third user, the third user being referred to the data collector by the second user;

rewarding the first user for the third user data,

rewarding the second user for the third user data; and

rewarding the third user for the third user data.

43. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform functions comprising:

receiving first identification information of a first user;

receiving second identification information of a second user, the second user being referred to the processor by the first user;

analyzing the second identification information;

determining whether to receive second user data based on the analysis of the second identification information;

rewarding the first user an initial amount if the second user data is received, the medium further comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive subsequent second user data, and

reward the first user a second amount;

receive third user data from a third user, the third user being referred to the processor by the second user;

reward the first user upon receipt of the third data;

reward the second user upon receipt of the third data; and

reward the third user upon receipt of the third data.