System and method for conducting product configuration research over a computer-based network
First Claim
1. A method for enabling product configuration research by a respondent at a computer system over a network, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) displaying the features of a product which is not being offered for sale;
b) selecting one of said displayed features;
c) displaying possible subfeatures for said selected feature;
d) selecting one of said displayed subfeatures for said selected feature, in which each said subfeature associated with the feature has a price value;
e) determining a total price based on the price value of said selected subfeature and other selected subfeatures of the product;
f) displaying said total price value;
g) repeating steps (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) for different selected displayed features until the selected subfeatures for each of the features provide a total price value acceptable to the respondent;
h) determining the elapse time until the selected subfeatures for each of the features provide a total price value acceptable to the respondent; and
i) sending configuration information to another computer system over the network representing at least said selected subfeatures for the features of the product, total price value, and the elapse time.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for enabling respondents at their computer systems to connect with a sever computer over a network, and receive a configuration program enabling each respondent to select for each feature of a product one or multiple subfeature attributes or levels. Each subfeature for each feature has a price value and the combination of selected subfeatures for the features provides a total price of the product. The total price value is displayed and updated as subfeatures for the features are selected or changed. When the total price of the product is acceptable to the respondent, and subfeatures have been selected for each feature of the product, the program returns information to the computer server having data representing the subfeatures selected, the total price, the time taken, and each subfeature selected or changed in arriving at the configured product. The configuration program may be part of a survey.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for enabling product configuration research by a respondent at a computer system over a network, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) displaying the features of a product which is not being offered for sale; b) selecting one of said displayed features; c) displaying possible subfeatures for said selected feature; d) selecting one of said displayed subfeatures for said selected feature, in which each said subfeature associated with the feature has a price value; e) determining a total price based on the price value of said selected subfeature and other selected subfeatures of the product; f) displaying said total price value; g) repeating steps (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) for different selected displayed features until the selected subfeatures for each of the features provide a total price value acceptable to the respondent; h) determining the elapse time until the selected subfeatures for each of the features provide a total price value acceptable to the respondent; and i) sending configuration information to another computer system over the network representing at least said selected subfeatures for the features of the product, total price value, and the elapse time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A tangible computer readable medium containing computer-executable code for enabling product configuration market research comprising:
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means for displaying the features of a product which is not being offered for sale; means for selecting one of said displayed features; means for displaying possible subfeatures for said selected feature; means for selecting at least one subfeature from said possible subfeatures for the selected feature, in which each subfeature associated with the feature has a price value; means for determining a total price based on the price value of said selected subfeature and other selected subfeatures of the product when selected; means for displaying said total price value, in which said means for selecting one of said displayed features, said means for displaying possible subfeatures, said means for selecting at least one subfeature, said means for determining, and said means for displaying are carried out for different selected displayed features until the selected subfeatures for each of the features provide a total price value acceptable to the respondent; means for determining the elapse time until the selected subfeatures for each of the features provide a total price value acceptable to the respondent; and means for sending configuration information to another computer system over a network representing at least said selected subfeatures for the features of the product, total price value, and the elapse time. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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- 9. A system for enabling a respondent to configure a product over a network comprising a computer system enabling the respondent to configure a product which is not being offered for sale by selecting features and subfeatures for the features of the product, recording any changes by the respondent between selections of different ones of the subfeatures for at least one of said features when selected until the product is configured, and sending over the network to another computer system configuration information representative of at least the selected features and subfeatures of the product, and any said recorded changes.
- 12. A network addressable site enabling product configuration market research comprising a computer server for sending market research software via a network to one or more computer systems which is executable by said one or more computer systems for enabling each user of said one or more computer systems to configure a hypothetical product which is not being offered for sale by selecting the features of said product while displaying a total price value of the product in accordance with price value of said selected features, and sending information via said network back to said network addressable site having data representing at least said selected features when the user has completed the configuration of the product, in which the market research software when executed operates at said one or more computer systems separate from the operation of said computer server to enable each user of the one or more computer systems to select each of the different configurable features of the product.
- 18. A computer system enabling product configuration market research comprising a tangible computer-readable medium containing computer-executable code providing at least means for enabling a user to configure a product which is not being offered for sale by separately selecting two or more of the features of said product, means for displaying a total price value to said user in accordance with selected ones of said features, and means for sending information representing at least said selected features when the user has completed the configuration of the product.
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23. A method for enabling product configuration market research comprising the steps of:
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sending from a first computer system via a network to at least one second computer system a program which when executed enables a user of said second computer system to configure a product by selecting the features of said product in which said product is not being offered for sale, displays a total price value in accordance with user selected ones of said features in which said total price value displayed is updated as each of said features are selected or said selection of said features is changed by said user, and sends information via said network to said first computer system having data representing at least said selected features when the user has completed the configuration of the product, in which the software when executed operates at said second computer system separate from the operation of said first computer system to enable the user of said second computer system to select each of the different configurable features of the product. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification