Method and apparatus for obtaining consumer product preferences through product selection and evaluation
First Claim
1. A method for delivering product information and anonymously obtaining consumer preferences for a product/service category over a communications network from a plurality of consumers, comprising the steps of:
- anonymously receiving one or more product/service criteria for said product/service category from a consumer and at least one of said product/service criteria as a ranking parameter from said consumer, such that no information identifying or specific to said consumer is received or collected;
searching a database having product and service information for products or services in said product/service category based solely on said product/service criteria anonymously received from said consumer, such that the search is based solely on consumer'"'"'s explicit search criteria;
ranking products or services in said product/service category satisfying said product/service criteria in accordance with said ranking parameter anonymously received from said consumer to provide a ranked list, thereby ranking the search result based solely on said consumer'"'"'s explicit order of importance; and
storing said product/service criteria anonymously received from said consumer and said ranking parameter anonymously received from said consumer as market research data of consumer preferences, thereby anonymously obtaining market research data based solely on consumer'"'"'s explicit selections without receiving or collecting information identifying or specific to said consumer to preserve the privacy of said consumer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for obtaining consumer preferences over a communication network from consumers. The system searches the product database for products or services based on consumer'"'"'s search criteria. The system displays the products or services and/or advertisements related to the consumer'"'"'s search criteria in accordance with the ranking parameter(s) specified by the user. The consumer'"'"'s preferences, i.e., the search criteria and the ranking parameter(s), are stored in the database for future references, e.g., determine consumer trends, etc.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for delivering product information and anonymously obtaining consumer preferences for a product/service category over a communications network from a plurality of consumers, comprising the steps of:
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anonymously receiving one or more product/service criteria for said product/service category from a consumer and at least one of said product/service criteria as a ranking parameter from said consumer, such that no information identifying or specific to said consumer is received or collected; searching a database having product and service information for products or services in said product/service category based solely on said product/service criteria anonymously received from said consumer, such that the search is based solely on consumer'"'"'s explicit search criteria; ranking products or services in said product/service category satisfying said product/service criteria in accordance with said ranking parameter anonymously received from said consumer to provide a ranked list, thereby ranking the search result based solely on said consumer'"'"'s explicit order of importance; and storing said product/service criteria anonymously received from said consumer and said ranking parameter anonymously received from said consumer as market research data of consumer preferences, thereby anonymously obtaining market research data based solely on consumer'"'"'s explicit selections without receiving or collecting information identifying or specific to said consumer to preserve the privacy of said consumer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer readable medium comprising code for delivering product information and anonymously obtaining consumer preferences for a product/service category over a communications network from a plurality of consumers, said code comprising instructions for:
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anonymously receiving one or more product/service criteria for said product/service category from a consumer and at least one of said product/service criteria as a ranking parameter from said consumer, such that no information identifying or specific to said consumer is received or collected; searching a database having product and service information for products or services in said product/service category based solely on said product/service criteria anonymously received from said consumer, such that the search is based solely on consumer'"'"'s explicit search criteria; ranking products or services in said product/service category satisfying said product/service criteria in accordance with said ranking parameter anonymously received from said consumer to provide a ranked list, thereby ranking the search result based solely on said consumer'"'"'s explicit order of importance; and storing said product/service criteria anonymously received from said consumer and said ranking parameter anonymously received from said consumer as market research data of consumer preferences, thereby anonymously obtaining market research data based solely on consumer'"'"'s explicit selections without receiving or collecting information identifying or specific to said consumer to preserve the privacy of said consumer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for targeting advertisement over a communication network, comprising the steps of:
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anonymously receiving one or more product/service criteria for said product/service category from a consumer and at least one of said product/service criteria as a ranking parameter from said consumer, such that no information identifying or specific to said consumer is received or collected; searching a product database having product and service information for products or services in said product/service category based solely on said product/service criteria anonymously received from said consumer and an advertisement database for an advertisement based solely on said product/service criteria anonymously received from said consumer, such that searches are based solely on consumer'"'"'s explicit search criteria; ranking products or services in said product/service category satisfying said product/service criteria in accordance with said ranking parameter anonymously received from said consumer to provide a ranked list, thereby ranking the search result based solely on said consumer'"'"'s explicit order of importance; displaying said advertisement and said ranked list on a processing device associated with said consumer; and storing said product/service criteria anonymously received from said consumer and said ranking parameter anonymously received from said consumer as market research data of consumer preferences, thereby anonymously obtaining market research data based solely on consumer'"'"'s explicit selections without receiving or collecting information identifying or specific to said consumer to preserve the privacy of said consumer.
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23. A computer readable medium comprising code for targeting advertisement over a communications network, said code comprising instructions for:
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anonymously receiving one or more product/service criteria for said product/service category from a consumer and at least one of said product/service criteria as a ranking parameter from said consumer, such that no information identifying or specific to said consumer is received or collected; searching a product database having product and service information for products or services in said product/service category based solely on said product/service criteria anonymously received from said consumer and an advertisement database for an advertisement based solely on said product/service criteria anonymously received from said consumer, such that searches are based solely on consumer'"'"'s explicit search criteria; ranking products or services in said product/service category satisfying said product/service criteria in accordance with said ranking parameter anonymously received from said consumer to provide a ranked list, thereby ranking the search result based solely on said consumer'"'"'s explicit order of importance; displaying said advertisement and said ranked list on a processing device associated with said consumer; and storing said product/service criteria anonymously received from said consumer and said ranking parameter anonymously received from said consumer as market research data of consumer preferences, thereby anonymously obtaining market research data based solely on consumer'"'"'s explicit selections without receiving or collecting information identifying or specific to said consumer to preserve the privacy of said consumer.
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Specification