US20120109711A1 - System and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing - Google Patents

System and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20120109711A1
US20120109711A1 US13/280,003 US201113280003A US2012109711A1 US 20120109711 A1 US20120109711 A1 US 20120109711A1 US 201113280003 A US201113280003 A US 201113280003A US 2012109711 A1 US2012109711 A1 US 2012109711A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
customer
data
survey
business
processing system
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US13/280,003
Inventor
Barbara J. Boe
Julia M. Hamrick
Marjorie L. Aarant
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ignite Sales Inc
Original Assignee
Ignite Sales Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ignite Sales Inc filed Critical Ignite Sales Inc
Priority to US13/280,003 priority Critical patent/US20120109711A1/en
Assigned to IGNITE SALES, INC. reassignment IGNITE SALES, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: AARANT, MARJORIE L., BOE, BARBARA J., HAMRICK, JULIA M.
Publication of US20120109711A1 publication Critical patent/US20120109711A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00Commerce
    • G06Q30/02Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00Commerce
    • G06Q30/02Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G06Q30/0201Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
    • G06Q30/0202Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00Commerce
    • G06Q30/02Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G06Q30/0201Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
    • G06Q30/0203Market surveys; Market polls
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00Commerce
    • G06Q30/02Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G06Q30/0201Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
    • G06Q30/0204Market segmentation
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00Commerce
    • G06Q30/02Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G06Q30/0207Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
    • G06Q30/0217Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates involving input on products or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00Commerce
    • G06Q30/02Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G06Q30/0241Advertisements
    • G06Q30/0242Determining effectiveness of advertisements
    • G06Q30/0245Surveys
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00Commerce
    • G06Q30/02Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
    • G06Q30/0241Advertisements
    • G06Q30/0251Targeted advertisements
    • G06Q30/0269Targeted advertisements based on user profile or attribute
    • GPHYSICS
    • G06COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06QINFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q30/00Commerce
    • G06Q30/06Buying, selling or leasing transactions
    • G06Q30/0601Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
    • G06Q30/0641Shopping interfaces

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to the field of data processing and more particularly to a system and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing.
  • Businesses have a need to market their products and services to potential customers.
  • Some of them rely on non-targeted advertising systems such as mass mailings to a general geographic area.
  • this approach lacks the ability to target specific potential customers for specific products or services.
  • a system and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing is provided which substantially eliminates or reduces disadvantages and problems associated with prior systems and methods for marketing.
  • a method of compiling customer data using an on-line interaction between a customer and a survey system that supplies the customer with questions, receives responses, and stores data associated with the responses.
  • a relative situation display is then provided to the customer that graphically illustrates data associated with the customer's standing in a selected peer group. Later, the customer is provided with the opportunity to adjust his or her actual situation to a hypothetical situation. After receiving and processing the data associated with these adjustments, hypothetical situation information is displayed that graphically illustrates the standing of the customer within the selected hypothetical peer group such that the customer can see the effect of the adjustments.
  • An important technical advantage of the present invention is that a business may obtain information from customers that allows the business to target its marketing efforts for specific products and services to specific customers who are more likely than the general population to purchase those products and services.
  • One important aspect of the present invention is that the customer is encouraged to provide data to the customer survey system because the customer is provided with interesting and useful information in exchange for that data, such as relative and hypothetical situation information and information relating to setting and achieving goals.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a targeted marketing system constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates the routing and exchange of various types of data within one embodiment of a survey system constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of a process through which a potential or existing customer may access one embodiment of a survey system constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 a is a diagram showing an embodiment of a survey system constructed according to the teachings of the present invention from the perspective of a potential or existing customer.
  • FIG. 4 b is a screen shot depicting one embodiment of a main menu of a survey system constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 c is a screen shot depicting an exemplary planner constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 d is a screen shot depicting an exemplary survey question and possible answers constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 e is a screen shot depicting an exemplary feedback page constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 f is a screen shot depicting an exemplary hypothetical “what-if” page constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 5 a - d are flowcharts showing the progress of a session using an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 a is a diagram showing the progress of a session using an embodiment of the present invention from the perspective of a business.
  • FIG. 6 b is a screen shot showing an exemplary InterestMatch report constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 c is a screen shot showing an exemplary TargetMatch report constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 d is a screen shot depicting one embodiment of a business menu of a survey system constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a targeted marketing system 10 which comprises a survey system 12 , a business system 14 and a customer system 16 .
  • Survey system 12 , business system 14 and customer system 16 are coupled to one another and communicate through a network 18 .
  • Network 18 may comprise a plurality of communication lines 20 .
  • the system of the present invention allows a business to survey specific customers and to identify ones of such customers that might want to purchase particular products or services. This is accomplished by encouraging the customer to complete a series of demographic questions. The customer wants to do this because at the end of the process the customer receives feedback showing where he stands relative to his peers. The customer is also allowed to explore various “what-if” scenarios to see how his relative position changes when various elements of his demographic are altered. Accordingly, the customer receives valuable evaluative information as a result of the process and the business receives information that allows for highly-defined targeted marketing efforts. All of this may be accomplished in the convenient, non-intrusive environment of an on-line interaction.
  • Business system 14 may be used by a business to communicate to survey system 12 the business' preferences regarding a survey for its existing or potential customers. These preferences may include survey questions and answers, as well as color schemes, logos, advertisements, and the like. Survey system 12 may then prepare a customized survey for that business' existing or potential customers.
  • survey system may request demographic information to characterize that customer. This information may include income level, number of children, education level, gender, age, or any other information. After the customer has been characterized using the information supplied by the customer, survey system 12 may present survey questions to the customer. Once the survey, or a specified portion of it, is completed by the customer, survey system 12 may then transmit graphical feedback reports to customer system 16 to show the customer how his or her responses compare to responses of other customers with the same or similar demographics.
  • Survey system 12 may also process the data associated with numerous demographics and survey responses in order to prepare customized reports for the business.
  • Business system 14 may then retrieve from survey system 12 these customized reports, allowing the business to target its marketing efforts to specific potential customers who may be more likely to purchase specific products or services than other potential customers.
  • Communication lines 20 may be any type of communication link capable of supporting data transfer.
  • the communication lines 20 may comprise, alone or in combination, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), T1 or T3 communication lines, hardwire lines, or telephone links. It will be understood that the communication lines 20 may comprise other suitable types of data communication links. Communication lines may also connect to a plurality of intermediate servers between network 18 and survey system 12 , business system 14 and customer system 16 .
  • the network 18 may comprise dial access via a telephone link.
  • survey system 12 , business system 14 and customer system 16 may be remote from each other and located anywhere in the world.
  • systems 12 , 14 and 16 may connect and communicate with each other via modems and analog or digital communication lines.
  • the network 18 may be any interconnection found on any computer network such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, or any other communications and data exchange systems created by connecting two or more computers.
  • LAN local area network
  • WAN wide area network
  • the Internet or any other communications and data exchange systems created by connecting two or more computers.
  • survey system 12 comprises matching server 22 and matching database 24 .
  • Matching server 22 may comprise a dedicated computer, with one or more processors, one or more input devices, one or more output devices, and one or more communication devices.
  • Business system 14 comprises business server 26 and business database 28 .
  • Business server 26 comprises mapping table 30 .
  • Mapping table 30 may be a relational data structure that provides a correlation between an input and an output.
  • Business system 14 may further comprise one or more firewalls 32 .
  • firewall 32 may be located between network 18 and business server 26 .
  • Firewall 32 protects business system from both intentional and unintentional damage which could pass through network 18 .
  • Firewall 32 may comprise hardware such as a computer with security measures, e.g., a dial-back feature, or may comprise defensive coding software.
  • firewall 32 receives data from network 18 , determines whether the data could be harmful and, if not, transmits the data to business system 14 .
  • one or more firewalls 32 may be placed between business server 26 and business database 28 , between network 18 and matching server 22 , between matching server 22 and matching database 24 , or in any other suitable location.
  • Customer system 16 may be a personal computer that comprises a processor 34 ; one or more input devices, such as a keyboard 36 or a mouse 38 ; one or more output devices, such as a printer or display 40 ; and a communication device, such as a modem 42 .
  • business system 14 communicates with survey system 12 through network 18 .
  • Business system 14 provides to survey system 12 a variety of information to customize the survey to be completed by a business' existing or potential customers, such as questions and answers, color choices, logos, advertisements, banners, services and products, product information, application information, or the like.
  • an existing or potential customer using customer system 16 communicates with survey system 12 through network 18 and provides information that may be used by survey system 12 to create a demographic characterization of that customer. This information may include income level, number of children, education level, gender, age, or the like.
  • the customer then provides to survey system 12 responses to the series of survey questions previously chosen by the business.
  • Survey system 12 may then process the data associated with numerous customers' demographics and survey responses in order to present product and service information to the customer while he or she is on-line and to prepare customized reports for the business.
  • Business system 14 may then retrieve from survey system 12 through network 18 these customized reports, allowing the business to target its marketing efforts to specific potential customers who may be more likely to purchase specific products or services than other potential customers.
  • Business system 14 may also retrieve from survey system 12 any applications received from customers requesting specific products or services.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates the routing and exchange of various types of data within survey system 12 .
  • survey system 12 prepares customized surveys based on data received from business system 14 , characterizes customers based on demographic information, submits surveys to customers, stores responses to surveys, presents feedback to customers, presents product and service information to customers, receives applications from customers, and prepares reports for business system 14 to use for targeted marketing.
  • Survey system 12 may comprise a number of features designed to benefit customers in order to encourage them to complete the survey. For example, survey system 12 may provide to customer system 16 graphical reports that compare the customer's responses to the responses of other customers with the same demographics. Survey system 12 may also comprise a feature that allows a user of customer system 16 to retrieve information regarding a business' products or services and to apply for those products or services. The applications for the products or services may be stored by survey system 12 in matching database 24 for later retrieval by business system 14 . Survey system 12 may also comprise a feature that allows a customer to partially complete the survey by storing data in matching database 24 regarding which survey question was last answered by the customer and on what date.
  • survey system 12 may then present the subsequent question without requiring the customer to start again from the first question.
  • survey system 12 may display a customized menu to show the user of customer system 16 what percentage of the survey he or she has completed and the date of the most recent visit.
  • Survey system 12 may also comprise a feature that allows a customer to provide information regarding certain financial goals, such as retirement or education, and to graphically ascertain in real time what adjustments need to be made to meet those goals.
  • survey system 12 comprises communication interface 44 and control unit 46 .
  • Communication interface 44 allows survey system 12 to communicate through network 18 with business system 14 and customer system 16 .
  • Control unit 46 comprises page generator 48 , graphical report generator 49 , survey creation/maintenance controller 50 , and business report generator 51 .
  • Page generator 48 , graphical report generator 49 , survey creation/maintenance controller 50 , and business report generator 51 may all access matching database 24 .
  • Matching database 24 may comprise a plurality of tables containing useful data. These tables may include, among others, business identification table 52 , customer identification table 54 , customer navigation history table 56 , customer response table 58 , question and answer tables 60 , survey flow table 61 , banners/logos/advertisements/colors table 62 , images table 64 , product/service information table 65 , application table 66 , authorized entry identification table 68 and stored reports table 70 .
  • Customer response table 58 may comprise customer demographics 72 created by survey system 12 from information provided by customers, and application table 66 may comprise completed application table 74 with application information received from customers.
  • Page generator 48 may retrieve data from tables 52 , 54 , 56 , 58 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 64 , 65 and 66 in order to generate data sets which may be sent through communication interface 44 and network 18 to business system 14 or customer system 16 .
  • page generator 48 may receive an identification number from customer system 16 , as described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 3 .
  • Page generator 48 may match this identification number with data in business identification table 52 and customer identification table 54 in order to allow page generator 48 to retrieve the corresponding data from tables 56 , 58 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 64 , 65 , and 66 that is associated with that particular business and that particular customer.
  • page generator 48 may generate the data sets and display them at customer system 16 .
  • Page generator 48 may also generate data sets in a similar manner for communication with business system 14 .
  • the data sets generated by page generator 48 may be used either to communicate information produced by survey system 12 to customers or businesses or to prompt customers or businesses to communicate information to survey system 12 .
  • page generator 48 does not generate the same data sets for all customers, but instead generates data sets that are customized both for the business and for the customer. For example, when a user of customer system 16 accesses survey system 12 , page generator 48 may determine which business is associated with that customer. After establishing this, page generator 48 may retrieve information regarding that business' preferences for presenting a survey for that customer, such as colors, banners, logos, advertisements, questions and answers, products, services and applications. Thus, page generator 48 presents different data sets depending on which business is involved. In addition, page generator 48 may also retrieve information regarding the customer, such as how the customer responded to demographic questions and which survey questions the customer has already answered. Page generator 48 may use this information in addition to the business-related information to generate data sets within the survey, such as by customizing the survey menu to show the percentage completed by that customer and the previous date of entry.
  • Page generator 48 may also determine which question to present next to the customer based on the business identification number and the customer's response to the previous question.
  • the business identification number is used by page generator 48 to access the set of questions associated with that business in matching database 24 .
  • each business may choose a different set of questions that may be customized to include questions related to any or all products and services the business offers while omitting questions related to any products or services that it does not offer.
  • the customer's response to the previous question may be used by page generator 48 to omit questions chosen by the business for inclusion in the survey but made irrelevant by the customer's previous response. For example, if a customer responds to a question that he or she rents housing, page generator 48 could skip subsequent questions relating to mortgage payments because they would not apply to that customer.
  • Page generator 48 may also present advertisements for products and services during the survey. These advertisements may be chosen based on the customer's demographics, as well as the subject matter of the associated survey questions. In addition, the advertisements may be chosen based on the combination of the customer's demographics and his or her responses to the previous survey questions. Thus, the choice of advertisements may be updated as the customer responds to survey questions and survey system 12 can better determine to which advertisements that particular customer will respond favorably.
  • survey system 12 may compare the customer's demographics to the attributes of each previously established “demographic” profile. Survey system 12 may then select the “demographic” profile with matching attributes. Survey system 12 may then select the product or service with the highest probability of purchase for that “demographic” profile. Finally, survey system 12 may select from matching database 24 advertisements and/or links for those products or services to display for the customer. As the customer responds to the survey questions, survey system 12 may update the choice of advertisement by repeating the above process for profiles based on all data as opposed to profiles based on demographic data only. Thus, with each response from a customer, survey system 12 may update the “all data” profile for that particular customer and choose a new advertisement from matching database 24 with a more reliable probability of purchase each time.
  • Graphical report generator 49 may use data processed by survey system 12 to generate graphical reports for users of customer system 16 . These graphical reports show the customer how his or her survey responses compare to the survey responses of other customers with the same demographics. Thus, as with the data sets generated by page generator 48 , these graphical reports are customized for each customer because the data presented will vary based on the particular customer's demographics.
  • Graphical report generator 49 also comprises summary/what-if routine 76 which generates graphical summaries of the comparison data previously prepared by the graphical report generator 49 . Summary/what-if routine 76 also generates graphical summaries of comparison data based on hypothetical adjustments made by a customer to his or her demographics, such as number of children, income level, or the like.
  • the reports produced by graphical report generator 49 may be generated in real time and may be stored in matching database 24 in stored reports table 70 .
  • Survey creation/maintenance controller 50 may retrieve data from and store data in matching database 24 .
  • the data retrieved by page generator 48 and graphical report generator 49 from tables 52 , 54 , 56 , 58 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 64 , 65 and 66 may be created and edited by survey creation/maintenance controller 50 .
  • survey creation/maintenance controller 50 may be manipulated by a user of survey system 12 in order to establish customized surveys for businesses.
  • a business may manipulate survey creation/maintenance controller 50 using business system 14 to create or edit its own survey.
  • Business report generator 51 may use data processed by survey system 12 to generate reports for users of business system 14 . As described in more detail below in connection with FIGS. 6 a - d , business report generator 51 may generate a variety of reports based on the data obtained through the demographics, survey responses, and planner information collected from customer systems 16 .
  • Survey system 12 may further comprise an anonymity feature to ensure that the identity of a user of customer system 16 would only be available to the business.
  • a customer may be required to access business system 14 before being given access to survey system 12 . While the customer is accessing business system 14 , business system 14 may request a customer identification number, such as an account number or any other specially designated personal identification number(s). Business system 14 may then validate and encrypt the customer identification number using mapping table 30 , with the customer identification number as the input and the encrypted number as the output. This encrypted number may then be provided to survey system 12 to identify that particular customer.
  • a customer may be required to access business system 14 before being given access to survey system 12 . While the customer is accessing business system 14 , business system 14 may request a customer identification number, such as an account number or any other specially designated personal identification number(s). Business system 14 may then validate and encrypt the customer identification number using mapping table 30 , with the customer identification number as the input and the encrypted number as the output. This encrypted number may then be provided to survey system 12 to
  • survey system 12 may never have access to the original customer identification number, making it impossible for survey system 12 to identify the actual customer by name, address, or any other means.
  • This anonymity feature will encourage users of customer system 16 to provide the personal information to survey system 12 that is beneficial for targeted marketing. If the customer does apply for a product or service and provides identifying information to survey system 12 , this information may be stored in completed application table 74 of matching database 24 with security features designed to prevent unauthorized access. In addition, this identifying information may be immediately deleted from matching database 24 after it is retrieved by business system 14 .
  • the data entered by the customer may be encrypted before being transmitted from customer system 16 to survey system 12 .
  • the data may be encoded using a mathematical formula, for example, that makes the data unreadable without the survey system's 12 key to decode it.
  • Survey system 12 further comprises a set of graphical planners 80 with which users of customer system may set and see how to attain financial goals for various situations, such as retirement, education, vacation, or the like. These planners 80 are beneficial because they provide the user of customer system 16 the opportunity to easily see what adjustments, if any, the customer needs to make in order to meet his or her financial goals. This feature may be used as a reward for customers and may motivate them to access survey system 12 and provide responses to a survey.
  • survey system 12 may store the data entered by a user of customer system 16 when setting these financial goals. Survey system 12 may then provide the data to the business via business system 14 to allow the business to help the customer attain those financial goals by marketing related products and services to that customer.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of a process through which a user of customer system 16 may access survey system 12 .
  • a user of customer system 16 first accesses business system 14 through network 18 , as shown in step 100 .
  • the method then proceeds to step 102 where business system 14 prompts the customer to enter a customer identification number.
  • This customer identification number may comprise one or more identifying numbers or words, such as an account number, a name, a birth date, or the like.
  • business system 14 verifies that the identification number is valid, as shown in step 106 .
  • business system 14 If the identification number is invalid, business system 14 notifies the customer and allows the customer to choose whether to enter a new number or contact the business, as shown in step 108 . If the customer chooses to contact the business, business system 14 displays an e-mail page that prompts the customer to enter the necessary information to notify the business that the identification number is not being accepted, as shown in step 110 . Otherwise, the customer is prompted to enter a new identification number in step 104 .
  • step 112 business system 14 presents an icon to allow the customer to access survey system 12 . If the customer selects the icon, as shown in step 114 , business system 14 encrypts the customer's identification number using mapping table 30 , as shown in step 116 . The method then proceeds to step 118 where business system 14 passes the encrypted customer identification number and the business' own identification number(s) to customer system 16 through network 18 . Business system 14 then transfers the customer to survey system 12 in step 122 . Finally, survey system 12 retrieves from customer system 16 the encrypted customer identification number and the business identification number(s) in step 124 .
  • business system 14 may present an icon to allow the customer to access survey system 12 before business system 14 prompts the customer to enter a customer identification number. If the customer then selects the icon, business system 14 may prompt the customer to enter a customer identification number. The method may then continue as before with step 104 in FIG. 3 .
  • FIG. 4 a is a process flow diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention from the perspective of a user of customer system 16 .
  • Block 126 shows the customer beginning by accessing business system 14 .
  • the customer accesses survey system in block 128 , where survey system 12 displays a welcome message.
  • survey system 12 presents a demographics question page to the customer, as shown in block 130 .
  • This demographics question page prompts the customer to enter demographic information about himself or herself.
  • This demographic information includes personal characteristics of the customer, such as income level, number of children, education level, age, gender, and the like.
  • Survey system 12 may also present the demographics question page to customers who have accessed the survey system in the past if a certain period of time has passed, such as six months or one year, so that their demographic information can be updated. In addition, survey system 12 may prompt the customer upon each visit to update demographic information if any characteristics have changed since the previous visit.
  • survey system 12 presents to the customer a main menu that allows the customer to choose which part of the survey to answer and also allows the customer to access the planners 80 to set financial goals.
  • FIG. 4 a shows two types of choices a customer could make from the main menu. If the customer wants to access the planners 80 , he or she may choose the “goals” option. Survey system 12 may then present a goals menu, as shown in block 134 . However, if the customer wants to access the survey, he or she may choose any one of the survey options from the main menu, such as the “spend” option. The customer may then be given the corresponding survey questions that were previously chosen by the business and stored in matching database 24 , as shown in block 136 . Within the survey section, the customer may receive feedback pages after answering each question or each few questions. Then survey system 12 may present a “what-if” page, as shown in block 138 , after the customer has completed the survey section.
  • FIG. 4 b is a screen shot depicting one embodiment of the main menu 500 presented by survey system 12 in block 132 .
  • This embodiment includes three survey options: borrow 502 , spend 504 , and save & invest 506 . It will be understood that either fewer or more survey options may be included without departing from the scope of this invention.
  • Planners 80 are accessed through the fourth option of goals 508 .
  • Main menu 500 may also be customized for each user of customer system 16 by displaying beneath the survey options 502 , 504 and 506 a percentage-completed/date line 510 to inform the customer what percentage of that survey option he or she has already completed, as well as the date of the most recent visit.
  • survey system 12 then presents a goals menu in block 134 , along with a default planner 80 .
  • the goals menu may be presented in the form of a drop-down selection box that the user may select to access the goals menu.
  • This goals menu may include any situation for which a customer might want to set goals. For example, this menu may include choices such as credit card, down payment, loan payoff, major purchase, retirement, tuition, vacation, wedding, and the like. It will be understood that other suitable choices relating to financial planning may be included in this menu without departing from the scope of this invention.
  • the associated planner 80 is presented.
  • FIG. 4 c is a screen shot depicting an exemplary planner 80 , in particular a retirement planner 512 .
  • Retirement planner 512 comprises an input section 514 , an output section 515 , an information button 519 , an apply button 520 , a goals menu 521 , a survey section selector 522 , and a save goal button 523 .
  • Input section 514 allows a customer to input the necessary information relating to planning for retirement, such as current amount of savings, current age, retirement age, rate of interest, rate of inflation, monthly savings, monthly retirement income, and the like.
  • Output section 515 shows the retirement savings increasing until the retirement age and, typically, decreasing afterwards.
  • Planners 80 may comprise Java applets that are sent to customer system 16 through network 18 and which allow planners 80 to make real-time adjustments to output when the customer changes the input. In this way, the customer avoids the delay caused by requiring customer system 16 to send each change in input to survey system 12 through network 18 and survey system 12 to send the corresponding output back to customer system 16 through network 18 . As an alternative to Java applets, this may be accomplished with any other minimal footprint application.
  • sliders 516 and arrows 517 the customer may make continuous adjustments back and forth while viewing corresponding changes in the output section 515 in real time. For example, as the customer moves the slider 516 associated with retirement age to the right or left, the graph shown in the output section 515 expands or contracts to show the corresponding increase or decrease in savings before and after retirement. Arrows 517 may be used in the same manner to adjust the input information and thereby change the output section 515 . Data cells 518 may also be used to adjust the input information, but data cells 518 allow the customer to input one specific number at a time, as opposed to the continuous changes possible with sliders 516 and arrows 517 .
  • Information button 519 allows the customer to access information about products and/or services offered by the business relating to the specific financial goal the customer has chosen.
  • Apply button 520 presents an application that allows the customer to apply for those products and/or services.
  • Survey system 12 may automatically prepare and transmit an e-mail message to the business to indicate that such an application has been received and stored in completed application table of matching database 24 for retrieval by business system 14 .
  • information button 519 may comprise adjacent text to inform the customer what type of information may be accessed by clicking on information button 519
  • apply button 520 may also comprise adjacent text to inform the customer what type of product or service is available through the associated application.
  • Survey system 12 may also store in matching database 24 the customer's identification number, as well as data relating to whether the customer chose information button 519 or apply button 520 and whether the customer submitted an application. This data may be used by business report generator 51 to generate reports for business system 14 , as described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 6 c.
  • the goals menu 521 may be presented in the form of a drop-down selection box.
  • This goals menu 521 may include any situation for which a customer might want to set goals.
  • the customer may select another option from the goals menu 521 .
  • Survey system 12 will then present the appropriate planner 80 .
  • the customer may choose to switch to another survey section through the survey section selector 522 , which may also be presented in the form of a drop-down selection box. For example, the customer may select “spend” from the survey section selector 522 , and survey system 12 will then present the appropriate question from the spend section of the survey.
  • Save goal button 523 allows the customer to save the data entered into input section 514 for later retrieval.
  • Survey system 12 may then provide the data to the business via business system 14 to allow the business to target marketing efforts for products and/or services related to the goals in which the customer showed an interest.
  • FIG. 4 d is a screen shot depicting an exemplary question 524 and possible textual and graphical answers 525 from a spend 504 survey section. This screen also includes the survey section selector 522 described above in connection with FIG. 4 c to allow the customer to switch to another survey section at any time. Also shown in FIG.
  • buttons 4 d are a back button 526 and a next button 528 . If the customer decides that he or she wants to move backward to the previous screen, the customer may select the back button 526 . Alternatively, the customer may select the next button 528 after choosing a response to a particular question. Selecting the next button 528 allows the customer to go forward to the next screen, which could be either another question or a feedback page.
  • FIG. 4 e is a screen shot depicting an exemplary feedback page.
  • a feedback page allows a customer to see after each question or after every few questions how his or her responses compare with other customers sharing the same or similar demographics. This feature may be used as another reward for customers to motivate them to respond to the survey.
  • FIG. 4 e comprises one or more charts 530 and one or more comparison statements 532 .
  • Chart 530 could be a pie chart, a bar chart, a percentile chart, or the like.
  • Chart 530 shows the customer how all other customers with the same or similar demographics have responded to the previous questions.
  • Comparison statement 532 is a statement informing the customer of how the greatest portion of other customers with the same or similar demographics responded.
  • the customer may click on chart 530 or comparison statement 532 and survey system 12 will present a tally and percentages for each possible answer.
  • Data represented in chart 530 and comparison statement 532 may be updated at regular intervals, such as once each hour or once each day. Alternatively, the data may be updated with every response so that each customer's responses are included in the data presented to that customer in the feedback page.
  • the information presented in the feedback page may change at specified times to reflect new data received from users of customer system 16 .
  • the feedback page also includes the survey section selector 522 described above in connection with FIG. 4 c to allow the customer to switch to another survey section at any time.
  • each feedback page may also comprise information button 519 and apply button 520 .
  • Information button 519 allows the customer to access information about products and/or services offered by the business relating to the material presented in the feedback page.
  • Apply button 520 allows the customer to apply for those products and/or services. This feature is beneficial to both the customer and the business.
  • the customer has the convenience of applying for a product or service by simply clicking the apply button 520 and providing the appropriate information, while the business has the marketing advantage provided by the availability of this application to the customer in conjunction with the material presented in the feedback page. For example, a customer may learn from a feedback page that his or her peers generally have three credit cards, while he or she has only one. As soon as this information is presented, the customer has the option of clicking on the apply button 520 and applying for another credit card. Thus, this is one form of targeted marketing provided by the present invention. If a customer applies for a product or service in this manner, survey system 12 may also automatically prepare and transmit an e-mail message to the business to indicate that an application has been received and stored in matching database 24 for retrieval by business system 14 .
  • information button 519 may comprise adjacent text to inform the customer what type of information may be accessed by clicking on information button 519
  • apply button 520 may also comprise adjacent text to inform the customer what type of product or service is available through the associated application.
  • Survey system 12 may also store in matching database 24 the customer's identification number, as well as data relating to whether the customer chose information button 519 or apply button 520 and whether the customer submitted an application. This data may be used by business report generator 51 to generate reports for business system 14 , as described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 6 c.
  • the feedback page also comprises a next button 538 to allow the customer to continue to the next screen and an exit button 540 to allow the customer to return to the main menu 500 , as shown in FIG. 4 b and in block 132 of FIG. 4 a . If the customer chooses the next button 538 , the customer will either continue to another question, such as the one shown in FIG. 4 d , or will continue to a “what-if” page if the survey section has been completed.
  • survey system 12 After the customer has completed any one section of the survey, such as borrow 502 , spend 504 , or save & invest 506 , survey system 12 presents a “what-if” page, as shown in block 138 of FIG. 4 a .
  • the “what-if” page displays the information previously communicated to the customer in all the feedback pages, such as the one shown in FIG. 4 e , that are associated with that particular survey section. Thus, previously displayed charts 530 and comparison statements 532 are redisplayed for the customer to review.
  • the “what-if” page also displays information that relates to topics not presented to the customer during the survey. These topics may not have been presented during the survey because the customer's response to a question made the topic irrelevant for that customer.
  • the “what-if” page also allows the customer to make adjustments by changing his or her demographic parameters such as income level, number of children, and the like. Then survey system 12 displays the comparison information for the customer's hypothetical demographic. This allows the customer to see how his or her situation compares with others who have a demographic the customer wonders about or expects or hopes to have in the future. On the “what-if” page, the customer may also click on any one of the charts 530 or comparison statements 532 and survey system 12 will present a tally and percentages for each possible answer.
  • FIG. 4 f is a screen shot depicting an exemplary “what-if” page.
  • the “what-if” page may comprise a demographic line 542 and a feedback section 544 .
  • Demographic line 542 may be used by the customer to access the comparison data associated with the hypothetical demographic in which he or she is interested. This comparison data may then be displayed in feedback section 544 .
  • demographic line 542 may be preset to the customer's actual demographics, and feedback section 544 may display the associated comparison data.
  • Survey system 12 may then retrieve the appropriate data from matching database 24 and display that data in feedback section 544 . The customer may continue to make adjustments and view the comparison data as often as he or she wishes.
  • Feedback section 544 may comprise multiple charts 530 and comparison statements 532 that may be accessed through scrolling.
  • the “what-if” page also includes the survey section selector 522 described above in connection with FIG. 4 c to allow the customer to switch to another survey section at any time.
  • each “what-if” page may also comprise information button 519 and apply button 520 .
  • Information button 519 allows the customer to access information about products and/or services offered by the business. Apply button 520 allows the customer to apply for those products and/or services.
  • Information button 519 may comprise adjacent text to inform the customer what type of information may be accessed by clicking on information button 519 , and apply button 520 may also comprise adjacent text to inform the customer what type of product or service is available through the associated application.
  • Survey system 12 may also store in matching database 24 the customer's identification number, as well as data relating to whether the customer chose information button 519 or apply button 520 and whether the customer submitted an application. This data may be used by business report generator 51 to generate reports for business system 14 , as described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 6 c.
  • FIGS. 5 a - d are flowcharts showing one embodiment of the present invention.
  • survey system 12 presents a welcome display to the user of customer system 16 .
  • Next survey system 12 determines whether the customer has entered demographic information previously or whether a certain amount of time has passed since the customer entered demographic information, as shown in step 142 . If the customer is new or enough time has passed since the customer entered demographic information, survey system 12 then presents the demographics question page to the customer in step 144 . Alternatively, the customer may choose to have the demographics question page presented if any characteristics have changed since the previous visit.
  • the demographics question page prompts the customer to enter information relating to the customer's income level, age, gender, and the like.
  • survey system 12 After the information has been entered by the customer, survey system 12 stores the demographic information in matching database 24 , as shown in step 146 . If the customer was not required to enter demographic information or after the demographic information has been stored, survey system 12 next presents to the customer the main menu 500 in step 148 .
  • the customer selects an option from the main menu 500 , and survey system 12 responds in one of two ways based on which icon the customer selects, as shown in step 150 .
  • the customer may select an icon for either goals 508 or one of the survey options 502 , 504 or 506 .
  • survey system 12 presents a default planner 80 by sending an applet created using Java or any other suitable applet technology to customer system 16 , as shown in step 151 .
  • Survey system 12 also presents a goals menu 521 in step 152 that allows the customer to access a planner 80 other than the one originally presented by choosing a new goal type. If the customer selects a new goal type, survey system 12 searches matching database 24 to determine whether or not the customer has previously saved input information for that goal type, as shown in step 154 . If the customer has saved input information, survey system 12 retrieves the saved data in step 156 .
  • This saved data will be automatically entered into the appropriate fields of the input section 514 of the planner 80 . If the customer has not saved input information for that goal type, default input information is entered into the input section 514 of the planner 80 . At this point, the customer may enter new input information or change saved input information, as shown in step 160 , in order to adjust the output section 515 , as shown in step 162 , until the results are satisfactory to the customer. As the customer changes the input information, the results in output section 515 are adjusted dynamically in real time. The customer may change the input information to see in real time the corresponding output as often as desired, as indicated in steps 160 and 162 .
  • the customer may choose an option that will save the input information for future use, as shown in step 164 . If the customer chooses this option, survey system 12 will save the data entered into input section 514 in matching database 24 in step 166 . Survey system 12 may then provide the data to the business to allow the business to help the customer attain those financial goals by marketing related products and services to that customer.
  • Survey system 12 may automatically prepare and transmit an e-mail message to the business to indicate that such an application has been received.
  • Survey system 12 may also store in matching database 24 the customer's identification number, as well as data relating to whether the customer chose information button 519 or apply button 520 and whether the customer submitted an application. This data may be used by business report generator 51 to generate reports for business system 14 .
  • the customer may also choose the survey section selector 522 , as shown in step 181 . If the customer chooses to switch to a survey section, survey system 12 will present the appropriate question as shown at step 184 in FIG. 5 c.
  • the customer may also decide to exit the planners 80 or to select a new goal type, as shown in step 182 . If the customer decides to exit the planners 80 , he or she will be returned to the main menu 500 , at step 148 in FIG. 5 a . If the customer decides to select a new goal type, survey system 12 returns to step 152 to allow the customer to make the new selection.
  • the customer may select an icon related to one of the survey options, 502 , 504 or 506 .
  • survey system 12 presents a question from the corresponding survey section to the customer in step 184 , as shown in FIG. 5 c .
  • the customer may also choose the survey section selector 522 , as shown in step 185 . If the customer chooses to switch to another survey section, survey system 12 will present the appropriate question as shown at step 184 in FIG. 5 c .
  • survey system 12 stores the response in matching database 24 , as shown in step 188 .
  • Survey system 12 also stores data to indicate that the customer has answered this particular question.
  • Survey system 12 may use this data to customize the main menu 500 with a percentage-completed/date line 510 and to allow the customer to return to the following question when returning to the survey after completing only part of it.
  • survey system 12 determines whether or not there is a feedback page to be presented at this point in the survey in step 190 . If not, survey system 12 determines which question to present next based on the business identification number and the customer's previous response, as shown in step 191 .
  • step 184 survey system 12 presents the next appropriate question.
  • survey system 12 presents the appropriate feedback page with the comparison data compiled from the responses of customers with the same or similar demographics as the current customer, as shown in step 192 .
  • Survey system will also present a tally and percentages for each possible answer if the customer clicks on chart 530 or comparison statement 532 .
  • Survey system 12 may automatically prepare and transmit an e-mail message to the business to indicate that such an application has been received.
  • Survey system 12 may also store in matching database 24 the customer's identification number, as well as data relating to whether the customer chose information button 519 or apply button 520 and whether the customer submitted an application. This data may be used by business report generator 51 to generate reports for business system 14 .
  • the customer may also choose the survey section selector 522 , as shown in step 205 . If the customer chooses to switch to another survey section, survey system 12 will present the appropriate question as shown at step 184 .
  • the customer may select the exit button 540 , as shown in step 206 . If the exit button 540 is selected, the customer is returned to the main menu 500 in step 148 of FIG. 5 a . Otherwise, survey system 12 determines whether the survey section has been completed, as shown in step 207 . If the survey section has not been completed and the customer selects the next button 538 , survey system 12 presents the next question in step 184 .
  • survey system 12 displays a “what-if” page in step 208 of FIG. 5 d .
  • the “what-if” page displays the information previously communicated to the customer in all the feedback pages that are associated with that particular survey section.
  • previously displayed charts 530 and comparison statements 532 are redisplayed for the customer to review.
  • charts 530 and comparison statements 532 are generated and displayed that relate to topics not presented to the customer during the survey. For example, if during the survey the customer responded to a question that he or she rents housing, questions regarding mortgage payments would not have been presented to that customer.
  • Survey system 12 will also display a tally and percentages for each possible answer if the customer clicks on one of the charts 530 or comparison statements 532 .
  • survey system 12 While viewing the “what-if” page, the customer may choose to exit the page and return to the main menu 500 in step 209 . In this case, survey system 12 will return to step 148 in FIG. 5 a . If the customer does not choose to return to the main menu 500 , survey system 12 continues to display the “what-if” page with the demographic of the customer or, if adjustments are made by the customer as described below, with the hypothetical demographic.
  • Survey system 12 may automatically prepare and transmit an e-mail message to the business to indicate that such an application has been received.
  • Survey system 12 may also store in matching database 24 the customer's identification number, as well as data relating to whether the customer chose information button 519 or apply button 520 and whether the customer submitted an application. This data may be used by business report generator 51 to generate reports for business system 14 .
  • the customer may also choose the survey section selector 522 , as shown in step 215 . If the customer chooses to switch to another survey section, survey system 12 will present the appropriate question as shown at step 184 of FIG. 5 c.
  • the “what-if” page also allows the customer to make adjustments by making changes to his or her income level, number of children, education level, or the like, as shown in step 216 .
  • survey system 12 displays the charts 530 and comparison statements 532 for the customer's hypothetical demographic, as shown in step 217 . This allows the customer to see how his or her responses compare with others who have a demographic the customer expects or hopes to have in the future.
  • FIG. 6 a is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention from the perspective of a user of business system 14 , such as a business representative.
  • Block 218 shows the business representative beginning by accessing survey system 12 .
  • survey system presents to the business representative a business menu that allows the business representative to choose from several different options. This embodiment includes five options: demonstration, features, results, company, and contact us.
  • FIG. 6 a shows one path a business representative might take through the various menus offered by survey system 12 .
  • Other possible paths will be described below.
  • the business representative selects the “results” option from the business menu, he or she will be presented with a login screen, as shown in block 222 .
  • the business representative will be prompted by survey system 12 to supply identifying information, such as a business identification number, password, or the like.
  • Survey system 12 compares this information with the data stored in authorized entry identification table 68 of matching database 24 to determine whether or not the user of business system 14 should be granted access to the information stored in and the reports generated by survey system 12 .
  • survey system 12 If the business representative enters invalid identifying, information, as shown in block 224 , survey system 12 provides an invalid menu that gives the business representative the option of resubmitting new identifying information or contacting the survey management company. If the business representative chooses to contact the survey management company, survey system 12 displays an e-mail page that prompts the business representative to enter the necessary information to notify the survey management company that the identifying information is not being accepted. Otherwise, the business representative is prompted to enter new identifying information in block 222 .
  • survey system 12 provides an entry menu, as shown in block 226 .
  • the business representative may choose to access the customized survey for his or her business, to access the reports prepared by survey system 12 , to retrieve the applications submitted by users of customer system 16 , or to perform administrative functions such as granting or removing authorized entry status to users of business system 14 .
  • survey system 12 presents a report menu, as shown in block 228 .
  • This report menu may comprise options such as customer response data, demographic profiles, TargetMatch, and
  • InterestMatch allows the business representative to access the reports that show how likely users of customer system 16 are to respond to marketing efforts for a particular product or service. For example, if the business representative selects InterestMatch, survey system 12 presents an InterestMatch menu, as shown in block 230 . This InterestMatch menu may list any or all of the business' products and services.
  • the business representative chooses an analysis report for a specific product or service, such as Product B. As shown in block 232 , this will cause survey system to present yet another menu, allowing the business representative to choose between such options as “demographic data only” or “all data.” These options allow the business representative to choose what types of data to use as a basis for the reports. Choosing “demographic data only” will cause business report generator 51 to generate a report based only on the customers' demographic data. Choosing “all data” will cause business report generator 51 to generate a report based on demographic data, psychographic data, and all other data. Psychographic data includes behavioral characteristics of each customer. This data is obtained from the customers' responses to the survey questions relating to behavior or lifestyle.
  • reports generated from demographic data only could be based on each customer's income level.
  • reports generated from all data could also be based on each customer's response to a question about how much money he or she would give away after unexpectedly receiving a large amount of money.
  • these reports would be based not only on the factual demographic information provided by the customer, but also on less tangible behavioral factors that can be measured through his or her survey responses. It will be understood that other suitable options may be presented by survey system 12 on which to base reports without departing from the scope of this invention.
  • survey system 12 displays the analysis of the data associated with the pre-selected product or service.
  • This analysis may include probabilities that were determined by using a commercially available statistical processing program, such as one provided by Statistical Product & Service Solutions.
  • input data for the statistical processing program may be retrieved by survey system 12 from matching database 24 and may comprise the business identification number, the specific product or service (dependent variable), customer identification numbers, customer demographics (attributes), and customer responses (attributes).
  • the statistical processing program may then segment the data and predict probabilities of purchase.
  • the output data from the statistical processing program may comprise profile numbers, profile rules, profile attributes, and profile probabilities.
  • survey system 12 may extract the customer identification numbers from matching database 24 that match the profile attributes in the profile rules.
  • Survey system 12 may then remove the customer identification numbers of those customers who indicated they already have the product or are using the service.
  • Business report generator 51 may then generate a report for each profile showing the remaining customer identification numbers, the profile number, the profile probabilities, and the profile attributes.
  • survey system 12 may then present the report for Product B by listing the encrypted identification numbers of users of customer system 16 along with the probabilities that the customers with those identification numbers will purchase Product B. This is shown in block 234 .
  • FIG. 6 b is a screen shot showing an exemplary report 554 for a business representative generated by business report generator 51 .
  • This example includes a basis statement 556 that notifies the business representative which data was used to prepare the report 554 .
  • the report 554 may also include a product/service identifier 558 .
  • Columns in the report 554 may include customer identification number 560 , probability of purchase 562 , and link to probability profile 564 .
  • FIG. 6 b also shows a probability profile 566 that might be displayed if a business representative selects a particular link in the link-to-probability-profile column 564 .
  • the information displayed in probability profile 566 would show the business representative which attributes in the profile were shared by users of customer system 16 that have the associated probability of purchase.
  • This probability profile 566 may comprise three columns, such as profile number 567 , probability 568 , and profile description 570 .
  • Profile number column 567 would identify the corresponding probability profile, as shown in the link-to-probability-profile column 564 .
  • Probability column 568 would repeat the probability of purchase as shown in the probability-of-purchase column 562 of the report 554 .
  • Profile description column 570 would show the profile attributes associated with that set of customers. The profile may be a group of common characteristics of the set of customers who share the same probability of purchase. This profile may include demographic as well as psychographic data.
  • business report generator 51 would present customer demographic and survey response data. This data could be presented in a spreadsheet, in a comma or tab delimited file, or by any other suitable method or format. If the business representative selected the “demographic profiles” option, business report generator 51 would present graphical depictions of the demographic data for users of customer system 16 .
  • business report generator 51 would present information regarding users of customer system 16 who had previously requested information on or applications for particular products or services. This information could be presented either as month-to-date or year-to-date tallies or as a list of encrypted customer identification numbers.
  • FIG. 6 c is a screen shot depicting one embodiment of a TargetMatch report 600 prepared according to one embodiment of the present invention. Every time a customer selects information button 519 or apply button 520 , survey system 12 may store that customer's identification number in matching database 24 along with the corresponding selection made by the customer. Survey system 12 may also store similar data each time a customer submits an application. When a business representative selects TargetMatch as an option from report menu, business report generator 51 may generate in real time a TargetMatch report 600 from the data previously stored in matching database 24 . As shown in FIG. 6 c , TargetMatch report 600 may comprise both monthly and yearly tallies for each customer selection, such as information tally, apply tally and submit tally.
  • TargetMatch report 600 may be further broken down into separate tallies for each product or service which may be presented when the business representative makes his or her selection.
  • TargetMatch report 600 shows that during this year, ten customers have selected the information button to view information regarding credit cards, five customers have selected the apply button in connection with credit cards, and two customers have actually submitted an application for a credit card.
  • the business representative may click on any of the numbers listed in TargetMatch report 600 for more information.
  • Business report generator 51 may then generate in real time a list of customer identification numbers that identify to the business those customers who requested the information or application or who submitted an application.
  • the business may use this as a tool to target marketing efforts for a specific product or service to a particular customer who has shown an interest by requesting information or an application, but who did not submit an application.
  • a business representative would have the option of choosing “results tracking & measurement” from the menu presented in block 232 of FIG. 6 a . This would cause survey system 12 to present a chart listing each customer's identification number along with the probability of purchase for that customer as reported to the business by survey system 12 . The business representative would then be asked to supply information regarding each customer, such as whether or not targeted marketing was performed and whether or not that customer purchased the associated product or service. This information supplied by the business representative would then be used by survey system 12 to refine the algorithms used to determine probabilities of purchase, which would make future predictions of probabilities more accurate.
  • FIG. 6 d is a screen shot depicting one embodiment of the business menu 620 presented by survey system 12 in block 220 of FIG. 6 a .
  • the business representative could choose the option of results 626 , as described above.
  • the business representative could also select other options from the business menu 620 . If the business representative selected demonstration 622 , survey system 12 would present to the business representative a series of demonstration screens to show the business representative how survey system 12 functions. Selecting features 624 would allow the business representative to view information regarding the various features offered by survey system 12 , while selecting company 628 would allow the business representative to view information regarding the survey management company.
  • survey system 12 would present an e-mail page that would prompt the business representative to enter the necessary information to notify the survey management company that the business representative would like more information or would like to set up a survey system for potential and/or existing customers.
  • the present invention benefits the business by allowing it to survey specific customers and to identify ones of such customers that might want to purchase particular products or services. This is accomplished by encouraging the customer to complete a series of profiling questions. The customer wants to do this because at the end of the process the customer can compare his situation relative to his peers. The customer is also allowed to explore various “what-if” scenarios to see how his relative position changes when various elements of his demographics are altered. Accordingly, the customer receives valuable evaluative information as a result of the process and the business receives information that allows for highly-defined targeted marketing efforts. All of this may be accomplished in the convenient, non-intrusive environment of an on-line interaction.
  • an integrated system that prepares customized surveys, characterizes existing and potential customers, submits surveys to customers, stores responses to surveys, allows customers to retrieve product and service information, allows customers to apply for specific products and services, and prepares reports for businesses to use for targeted marketing.
  • this system provides graphical reports for customers that compare their responses to the responses of others with the same or similar demographics. This system also allows a customer to provide information regarding financial goals and to graphically ascertain what adjustments need to be made to meet those goals.

Abstract

A targeted marketing system and method are provided that provide a customer with customer questions, receive responses to the customer questions from the customer, and store data associated with the responses. The customer is provided with a feedback page that graphically illustrates data associated with the customer's standing in a selected peer group. The customer is provided with options operable to adjust the customer's actual demographic to a hypothetical demographic, and data associated with hypothetical demographic changes from the customer is received and processed. Hypothetical feedback information is then displayed that graphically illustrates the hypothetical standing of the customer within the selected peer group such that the customer can see the effect of the hypothetical demographic changes.

Description

    CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
  • This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/966,845 filed Sep. 28, 2001.
  • TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • This invention relates generally to the field of data processing and more particularly to a system and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing.
  • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • Businesses have a need to market their products and services to potential customers. Currently, some of them rely on non-targeted advertising systems such as mass mailings to a general geographic area. However, this approach lacks the ability to target specific potential customers for specific products or services.
  • Alternatively, some businesses purchase previously compiled statistical data. However, the data obtained by this method is limited in that the research is typically based on small samples of the population and is typically historical data. Thus, the data is generalized and does not give the businesses any information regarding the desires or needs of specific potential customers.
  • Still other businesses conduct surveys through telemarketing or other types of research companies. Although telemarketing may be used to sell products and services to willing customers, this approach requires businesses to contact all potential customers without any knowledge as to the likelihood that any particular one will purchase a specific product or service.
  • Therefore, a need has arisen for a new system and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing that overcomes the disadvantages and deficiencies of prior art systems and methods.
  • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing is provided which substantially eliminates or reduces disadvantages and problems associated with prior systems and methods for marketing.
  • In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method of compiling customer data using an on-line interaction between a customer and a survey system is provided that supplies the customer with questions, receives responses, and stores data associated with the responses. A relative situation display is then provided to the customer that graphically illustrates data associated with the customer's standing in a selected peer group. Later, the customer is provided with the opportunity to adjust his or her actual situation to a hypothetical situation. After receiving and processing the data associated with these adjustments, hypothetical situation information is displayed that graphically illustrates the standing of the customer within the selected hypothetical peer group such that the customer can see the effect of the adjustments.
  • An important technical advantage of the present invention is that a business may obtain information from customers that allows the business to target its marketing efforts for specific products and services to specific customers who are more likely than the general population to purchase those products and services. One important aspect of the present invention is that the customer is encouraged to provide data to the customer survey system because the customer is provided with interesting and useful information in exchange for that data, such as relative and hypothetical situation information and information relating to setting and achieving goals.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers indicate like features and wherein:
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a targeted marketing system constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates the routing and exchange of various types of data within one embodiment of a survey system constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of a process through which a potential or existing customer may access one embodiment of a survey system constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 a is a diagram showing an embodiment of a survey system constructed according to the teachings of the present invention from the perspective of a potential or existing customer.
  • FIG. 4 b is a screen shot depicting one embodiment of a main menu of a survey system constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 c is a screen shot depicting an exemplary planner constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 d is a screen shot depicting an exemplary survey question and possible answers constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 e is a screen shot depicting an exemplary feedback page constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 f is a screen shot depicting an exemplary hypothetical “what-if” page constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 5 a-d are flowcharts showing the progress of a session using an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 a is a diagram showing the progress of a session using an embodiment of the present invention from the perspective of a business.
  • FIG. 6 b is a screen shot showing an exemplary InterestMatch report constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 c is a screen shot showing an exemplary TargetMatch report constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 d is a screen shot depicting one embodiment of a business menu of a survey system constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  • FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a targeted marketing system 10 which comprises a survey system 12, a business system 14 and a customer system 16. Survey system 12, business system 14 and customer system 16 are coupled to one another and communicate through a network 18. Network 18 may comprise a plurality of communication lines 20.
  • In general, the system of the present invention allows a business to survey specific customers and to identify ones of such customers that might want to purchase particular products or services. This is accomplished by encouraging the customer to complete a series of demographic questions. The customer wants to do this because at the end of the process the customer receives feedback showing where he stands relative to his peers. The customer is also allowed to explore various “what-if” scenarios to see how his relative position changes when various elements of his demographic are altered. Accordingly, the customer receives valuable evaluative information as a result of the process and the business receives information that allows for highly-defined targeted marketing efforts. All of this may be accomplished in the convenient, non-intrusive environment of an on-line interaction.
  • Business system 14 may be used by a business to communicate to survey system 12 the business' preferences regarding a survey for its existing or potential customers. These preferences may include survey questions and answers, as well as color schemes, logos, advertisements, and the like. Survey system 12 may then prepare a customized survey for that business' existing or potential customers.
  • When a customer accesses the survey, survey system may request demographic information to characterize that customer. This information may include income level, number of children, education level, gender, age, or any other information. After the customer has been characterized using the information supplied by the customer, survey system 12 may present survey questions to the customer. Once the survey, or a specified portion of it, is completed by the customer, survey system 12 may then transmit graphical feedback reports to customer system 16 to show the customer how his or her responses compare to responses of other customers with the same or similar demographics.
  • Survey system 12 may also process the data associated with numerous demographics and survey responses in order to prepare customized reports for the business. Business system 14 may then retrieve from survey system 12 these customized reports, allowing the business to target its marketing efforts to specific potential customers who may be more likely to purchase specific products or services than other potential customers.
  • Communication lines 20 may be any type of communication link capable of supporting data transfer. In one embodiment, the communication lines 20 may comprise, alone or in combination, Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), T1 or T3 communication lines, hardwire lines, or telephone links. It will be understood that the communication lines 20 may comprise other suitable types of data communication links. Communication lines may also connect to a plurality of intermediate servers between network 18 and survey system 12, business system 14 and customer system 16.
  • In one embodiment, the network 18 may comprise dial access via a telephone link. In this embodiment, survey system 12, business system 14 and customer system 16 may be remote from each other and located anywhere in the world. In one embodiment, systems 12, 14 and 16 may connect and communicate with each other via modems and analog or digital communication lines. Moreover, the network 18 may be any interconnection found on any computer network such as a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, or any other communications and data exchange systems created by connecting two or more computers.
  • As shown in FIG. 1, survey system 12 comprises matching server 22 and matching database 24. Matching server 22 may comprise a dedicated computer, with one or more processors, one or more input devices, one or more output devices, and one or more communication devices.
  • Business system 14 comprises business server 26 and business database 28. Business server 26 comprises mapping table 30. Mapping table 30 may be a relational data structure that provides a correlation between an input and an output. Business system 14 may further comprise one or more firewalls 32. In one embodiment, firewall 32 may be located between network 18 and business server 26. Firewall 32 protects business system from both intentional and unintentional damage which could pass through network 18. Firewall 32 may comprise hardware such as a computer with security measures, e.g., a dial-back feature, or may comprise defensive coding software. In general, firewall 32 receives data from network 18, determines whether the data could be harmful and, if not, transmits the data to business system 14. In an alternative embodiment, one or more firewalls 32 may be placed between business server 26 and business database 28, between network 18 and matching server 22, between matching server 22 and matching database 24, or in any other suitable location.
  • Customer system 16 may be a personal computer that comprises a processor 34; one or more input devices, such as a keyboard 36 or a mouse 38; one or more output devices, such as a printer or display 40; and a communication device, such as a modem 42.
  • As will be described in more detail below, business system 14 communicates with survey system 12 through network 18. Business system 14 provides to survey system 12 a variety of information to customize the survey to be completed by a business' existing or potential customers, such as questions and answers, color choices, logos, advertisements, banners, services and products, product information, application information, or the like.
  • After a business has provided the necessary information to survey system 12, an existing or potential customer using customer system 16 communicates with survey system 12 through network 18 and provides information that may be used by survey system 12 to create a demographic characterization of that customer. This information may include income level, number of children, education level, gender, age, or the like. The customer then provides to survey system 12 responses to the series of survey questions previously chosen by the business. Survey system 12 may then process the data associated with numerous customers' demographics and survey responses in order to present product and service information to the customer while he or she is on-line and to prepare customized reports for the business. Business system 14 may then retrieve from survey system 12 through network 18 these customized reports, allowing the business to target its marketing efforts to specific potential customers who may be more likely to purchase specific products or services than other potential customers. Business system 14 may also retrieve from survey system 12 any applications received from customers requesting specific products or services.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram that illustrates the routing and exchange of various types of data within survey system 12. In general, survey system 12 prepares customized surveys based on data received from business system 14, characterizes customers based on demographic information, submits surveys to customers, stores responses to surveys, presents feedback to customers, presents product and service information to customers, receives applications from customers, and prepares reports for business system 14 to use for targeted marketing.
  • Survey system 12 may comprise a number of features designed to benefit customers in order to encourage them to complete the survey. For example, survey system 12 may provide to customer system 16 graphical reports that compare the customer's responses to the responses of other customers with the same demographics. Survey system 12 may also comprise a feature that allows a user of customer system 16 to retrieve information regarding a business' products or services and to apply for those products or services. The applications for the products or services may be stored by survey system 12 in matching database 24 for later retrieval by business system 14. Survey system 12 may also comprise a feature that allows a customer to partially complete the survey by storing data in matching database 24 regarding which survey question was last answered by the customer and on what date. When that customer later returns to complete more of the survey, survey system 12 may then present the subsequent question without requiring the customer to start again from the first question. In these situations in which the customer only partially completes the survey, survey system 12 may display a customized menu to show the user of customer system 16 what percentage of the survey he or she has completed and the date of the most recent visit. Survey system 12 may also comprise a feature that allows a customer to provide information regarding certain financial goals, such as retirement or education, and to graphically ascertain in real time what adjustments need to be made to meet those goals.
  • As shown in FIG. 2, survey system 12 comprises communication interface 44 and control unit 46. Communication interface 44 allows survey system 12 to communicate through network 18 with business system 14 and customer system 16. Control unit 46 comprises page generator 48, graphical report generator 49, survey creation/maintenance controller 50, and business report generator 51.
  • Page generator 48, graphical report generator 49, survey creation/maintenance controller 50, and business report generator 51 may all access matching database 24. Matching database 24 may comprise a plurality of tables containing useful data. These tables may include, among others, business identification table 52, customer identification table 54, customer navigation history table 56, customer response table 58, question and answer tables 60, survey flow table 61, banners/logos/advertisements/colors table 62, images table 64, product/service information table 65, application table 66, authorized entry identification table 68 and stored reports table 70. Customer response table 58 may comprise customer demographics 72 created by survey system 12 from information provided by customers, and application table 66 may comprise completed application table 74 with application information received from customers.
  • Page generator 48 may retrieve data from tables 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 61, 62, 64, 65 and 66 in order to generate data sets which may be sent through communication interface 44 and network 18 to business system 14 or customer system 16. For example, page generator 48 may receive an identification number from customer system 16, as described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 3. Page generator 48 may match this identification number with data in business identification table 52 and customer identification table 54 in order to allow page generator 48 to retrieve the corresponding data from tables 56, 58, 60, 61, 62, 64, 65, and 66 that is associated with that particular business and that particular customer. Using the retrieved data, page generator 48 may generate the data sets and display them at customer system 16. Page generator 48 may also generate data sets in a similar manner for communication with business system 14. The data sets generated by page generator 48 may be used either to communicate information produced by survey system 12 to customers or businesses or to prompt customers or businesses to communicate information to survey system 12.
  • Thus, page generator 48 does not generate the same data sets for all customers, but instead generates data sets that are customized both for the business and for the customer. For example, when a user of customer system 16 accesses survey system 12, page generator 48 may determine which business is associated with that customer. After establishing this, page generator 48 may retrieve information regarding that business' preferences for presenting a survey for that customer, such as colors, banners, logos, advertisements, questions and answers, products, services and applications. Thus, page generator 48 presents different data sets depending on which business is involved. In addition, page generator 48 may also retrieve information regarding the customer, such as how the customer responded to demographic questions and which survey questions the customer has already answered. Page generator 48 may use this information in addition to the business-related information to generate data sets within the survey, such as by customizing the survey menu to show the percentage completed by that customer and the previous date of entry.
  • Page generator 48 may also determine which question to present next to the customer based on the business identification number and the customer's response to the previous question. The business identification number is used by page generator 48 to access the set of questions associated with that business in matching database 24. Thus, each business may choose a different set of questions that may be customized to include questions related to any or all products and services the business offers while omitting questions related to any products or services that it does not offer. The customer's response to the previous question may be used by page generator 48 to omit questions chosen by the business for inclusion in the survey but made irrelevant by the customer's previous response. For example, if a customer responds to a question that he or she rents housing, page generator 48 could skip subsequent questions relating to mortgage payments because they would not apply to that customer.
  • Page generator 48 may also present advertisements for products and services during the survey. These advertisements may be chosen based on the customer's demographics, as well as the subject matter of the associated survey questions. In addition, the advertisements may be chosen based on the combination of the customer's demographics and his or her responses to the previous survey questions. Thus, the choice of advertisements may be updated as the customer responds to survey questions and survey system 12 can better determine to which advertisements that particular customer will respond favorably.
  • In order to determine which advertisement to display initially, survey system 12 may compare the customer's demographics to the attributes of each previously established “demographic” profile. Survey system 12 may then select the “demographic” profile with matching attributes. Survey system 12 may then select the product or service with the highest probability of purchase for that “demographic” profile. Finally, survey system 12 may select from matching database 24 advertisements and/or links for those products or services to display for the customer. As the customer responds to the survey questions, survey system 12 may update the choice of advertisement by repeating the above process for profiles based on all data as opposed to profiles based on demographic data only. Thus, with each response from a customer, survey system 12 may update the “all data” profile for that particular customer and choose a new advertisement from matching database 24 with a more reliable probability of purchase each time.
  • Graphical report generator 49 may use data processed by survey system 12 to generate graphical reports for users of customer system 16. These graphical reports show the customer how his or her survey responses compare to the survey responses of other customers with the same demographics. Thus, as with the data sets generated by page generator 48, these graphical reports are customized for each customer because the data presented will vary based on the particular customer's demographics. Graphical report generator 49 also comprises summary/what-if routine 76 which generates graphical summaries of the comparison data previously prepared by the graphical report generator 49. Summary/what-if routine 76 also generates graphical summaries of comparison data based on hypothetical adjustments made by a customer to his or her demographics, such as number of children, income level, or the like. The reports produced by graphical report generator 49 may be generated in real time and may be stored in matching database 24 in stored reports table 70.
  • Survey creation/maintenance controller 50 may retrieve data from and store data in matching database 24. Thus, the data retrieved by page generator 48 and graphical report generator 49 from tables 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 61, 62, 64, 65 and 66 may be created and edited by survey creation/maintenance controller 50. According to one embodiment of the present invention, survey creation/maintenance controller 50 may be manipulated by a user of survey system 12 in order to establish customized surveys for businesses. In an alternative embodiment, a business may manipulate survey creation/maintenance controller 50 using business system 14 to create or edit its own survey.
  • Business report generator 51 may use data processed by survey system 12 to generate reports for users of business system 14. As described in more detail below in connection with FIGS. 6 a-d, business report generator 51 may generate a variety of reports based on the data obtained through the demographics, survey responses, and planner information collected from customer systems 16.
  • Survey system 12 may further comprise an anonymity feature to ensure that the identity of a user of customer system 16 would only be available to the business. For example, a customer may be required to access business system 14 before being given access to survey system 12. While the customer is accessing business system 14, business system 14 may request a customer identification number, such as an account number or any other specially designated personal identification number(s). Business system 14 may then validate and encrypt the customer identification number using mapping table 30, with the customer identification number as the input and the encrypted number as the output. This encrypted number may then be provided to survey system 12 to identify that particular customer.
  • Therefore, unless a customer provides information while applying for products or services, survey system 12 may never have access to the original customer identification number, making it impossible for survey system 12 to identify the actual customer by name, address, or any other means. This anonymity feature will encourage users of customer system 16 to provide the personal information to survey system 12 that is beneficial for targeted marketing. If the customer does apply for a product or service and provides identifying information to survey system 12, this information may be stored in completed application table 74 of matching database 24 with security features designed to prevent unauthorized access. In addition, this identifying information may be immediately deleted from matching database 24 after it is retrieved by business system 14. Finally, as another security feature, the data entered by the customer may be encrypted before being transmitted from customer system 16 to survey system 12. In accordance with this feature, the data may be encoded using a mathematical formula, for example, that makes the data unreadable without the survey system's 12 key to decode it.
  • Survey system 12 further comprises a set of graphical planners 80 with which users of customer system may set and see how to attain financial goals for various situations, such as retirement, education, vacation, or the like. These planners 80 are beneficial because they provide the user of customer system 16 the opportunity to easily see what adjustments, if any, the customer needs to make in order to meet his or her financial goals. This feature may be used as a reward for customers and may motivate them to access survey system 12 and provide responses to a survey. In addition, survey system 12 may store the data entered by a user of customer system 16 when setting these financial goals. Survey system 12 may then provide the data to the business via business system 14 to allow the business to help the customer attain those financial goals by marketing related products and services to that customer.
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing one embodiment of a process through which a user of customer system 16 may access survey system 12. In this embodiment, a user of customer system 16 first accesses business system 14 through network 18, as shown in step 100. The method then proceeds to step 102 where business system 14 prompts the customer to enter a customer identification number. This customer identification number may comprise one or more identifying numbers or words, such as an account number, a name, a birth date, or the like. After the customer enters the identification number in step 104, business system 14 verifies that the identification number is valid, as shown in step 106. If the identification number is invalid, business system 14 notifies the customer and allows the customer to choose whether to enter a new number or contact the business, as shown in step 108. If the customer chooses to contact the business, business system 14 displays an e-mail page that prompts the customer to enter the necessary information to notify the business that the identification number is not being accepted, as shown in step 110. Otherwise, the customer is prompted to enter a new identification number in step 104.
  • Once the customer has entered a valid identification number, the method proceeds to step 112 where business system 14 presents an icon to allow the customer to access survey system 12. If the customer selects the icon, as shown in step 114, business system 14 encrypts the customer's identification number using mapping table 30, as shown in step 116. The method then proceeds to step 118 where business system 14 passes the encrypted customer identification number and the business' own identification number(s) to customer system 16 through network 18. Business system 14 then transfers the customer to survey system 12 in step 122. Finally, survey system 12 retrieves from customer system 16 the encrypted customer identification number and the business identification number(s) in step 124.
  • In an alternative embodiment, business system 14 may present an icon to allow the customer to access survey system 12 before business system 14 prompts the customer to enter a customer identification number. If the customer then selects the icon, business system 14 may prompt the customer to enter a customer identification number. The method may then continue as before with step 104 in FIG. 3.
  • FIG. 4 a is a process flow diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention from the perspective of a user of customer system 16. Block 126 shows the customer beginning by accessing business system 14. Through a process such as the one described in connection with FIG. 3, the customer then accesses survey system in block 128, where survey system 12 displays a welcome message. If the customer has not accessed survey system 12 before, survey system 12 presents a demographics question page to the customer, as shown in block 130. This demographics question page prompts the customer to enter demographic information about himself or herself. This demographic information includes personal characteristics of the customer, such as income level, number of children, education level, age, gender, and the like. Survey system 12 may also present the demographics question page to customers who have accessed the survey system in the past if a certain period of time has passed, such as six months or one year, so that their demographic information can be updated. In addition, survey system 12 may prompt the customer upon each visit to update demographic information if any characteristics have changed since the previous visit.
  • In block 132, survey system 12 presents to the customer a main menu that allows the customer to choose which part of the survey to answer and also allows the customer to access the planners 80 to set financial goals. FIG. 4 a shows two types of choices a customer could make from the main menu. If the customer wants to access the planners 80, he or she may choose the “goals” option. Survey system 12 may then present a goals menu, as shown in block 134. However, if the customer wants to access the survey, he or she may choose any one of the survey options from the main menu, such as the “spend” option. The customer may then be given the corresponding survey questions that were previously chosen by the business and stored in matching database 24, as shown in block 136. Within the survey section, the customer may receive feedback pages after answering each question or each few questions. Then survey system 12 may present a “what-if” page, as shown in block 138, after the customer has completed the survey section.
  • FIG. 4 b is a screen shot depicting one embodiment of the main menu 500 presented by survey system 12 in block 132. This embodiment includes three survey options: borrow 502, spend 504, and save & invest 506. It will be understood that either fewer or more survey options may be included without departing from the scope of this invention. Planners 80 are accessed through the fourth option of goals 508. Main menu 500 may also be customized for each user of customer system 16 by displaying beneath the survey options 502, 504 and 506 a percentage-completed/date line 510 to inform the customer what percentage of that survey option he or she has already completed, as well as the date of the most recent visit.
  • Returning to FIG. 4 a, if the customer chooses goals 508 in block 132, survey system 12 then presents a goals menu in block 134, along with a default planner 80. The goals menu may be presented in the form of a drop-down selection box that the user may select to access the goals menu. This goals menu may include any situation for which a customer might want to set goals. For example, this menu may include choices such as credit card, down payment, loan payoff, major purchase, retirement, tuition, vacation, wedding, and the like. It will be understood that other suitable choices relating to financial planning may be included in this menu without departing from the scope of this invention. After the customer chooses one of the options presented by the goals menu, the associated planner 80 is presented.
  • FIG. 4 c is a screen shot depicting an exemplary planner 80, in particular a retirement planner 512. Retirement planner 512 comprises an input section 514, an output section 515, an information button 519, an apply button 520, a goals menu 521, a survey section selector 522, and a save goal button 523. Input section 514 allows a customer to input the necessary information relating to planning for retirement, such as current amount of savings, current age, retirement age, rate of interest, rate of inflation, monthly savings, monthly retirement income, and the like. Output section 515 shows the retirement savings increasing until the retirement age and, typically, decreasing afterwards. By adjusting the figures in input section 514, a customer can determine by simply looking at output section 515 what actions must be taken in order to reach his or her retirement goals. Planners 80 may comprise Java applets that are sent to customer system 16 through network 18 and which allow planners 80 to make real-time adjustments to output when the customer changes the input. In this way, the customer avoids the delay caused by requiring customer system 16 to send each change in input to survey system 12 through network 18 and survey system 12 to send the corresponding output back to customer system 16 through network 18. As an alternative to Java applets, this may be accomplished with any other minimal footprint application.
  • Thus, there is no need for the customer to submit one set of changes to the input information at a time and wait for the corresponding output. This makes possible features such as sliders 516 and arrows 517. Using sliders 516 and arrows 517, the customer may make continuous adjustments back and forth while viewing corresponding changes in the output section 515 in real time. For example, as the customer moves the slider 516 associated with retirement age to the right or left, the graph shown in the output section 515 expands or contracts to show the corresponding increase or decrease in savings before and after retirement. Arrows 517 may be used in the same manner to adjust the input information and thereby change the output section 515. Data cells 518 may also be used to adjust the input information, but data cells 518 allow the customer to input one specific number at a time, as opposed to the continuous changes possible with sliders 516 and arrows 517.
  • Information button 519 allows the customer to access information about products and/or services offered by the business relating to the specific financial goal the customer has chosen. Apply button 520 presents an application that allows the customer to apply for those products and/or services. Survey system 12 may automatically prepare and transmit an e-mail message to the business to indicate that such an application has been received and stored in completed application table of matching database 24 for retrieval by business system 14. According to one embodiment, information button 519 may comprise adjacent text to inform the customer what type of information may be accessed by clicking on information button 519, and apply button 520 may also comprise adjacent text to inform the customer what type of product or service is available through the associated application. Survey system 12 may also store in matching database 24 the customer's identification number, as well as data relating to whether the customer chose information button 519 or apply button 520 and whether the customer submitted an application. This data may be used by business report generator 51 to generate reports for business system 14, as described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 6 c.
  • As described above in connection with block 132 of FIG. 4 a, the goals menu 521 may be presented in the form of a drop-down selection box. This goals menu 521 may include any situation for which a customer might want to set goals. At any time while the customer is using retirement planner 512 or any other planner 80 to set financial goals, the customer may select another option from the goals menu 521. Survey system 12 will then present the appropriate planner 80. In addition, at any time while using the retirement planner 512 or any other planner 80, the customer may choose to switch to another survey section through the survey section selector 522, which may also be presented in the form of a drop-down selection box. For example, the customer may select “spend” from the survey section selector 522, and survey system 12 will then present the appropriate question from the spend section of the survey.
  • Save goal button 523 allows the customer to save the data entered into input section 514 for later retrieval. Survey system 12 may then provide the data to the business via business system 14 to allow the business to target marketing efforts for products and/or services related to the goals in which the customer showed an interest.
  • If, instead of choosing goals 508 from the main menu 500, a customer chooses one of the survey options, such as spend 504, the customer is then given the corresponding survey questions that were previously chosen by the business and stored in matching database 24, as shown in block 136 of FIG. 4 a. The possible answers to each question may also be chosen by the business and stored in matching database 24, and they may be presented with both text and graphics. For example, FIG. 4 d is a screen shot depicting an exemplary question 524 and possible textual and graphical answers 525 from a spend 504 survey section. This screen also includes the survey section selector 522 described above in connection with FIG. 4 c to allow the customer to switch to another survey section at any time. Also shown in FIG. 4 d are a back button 526 and a next button 528. If the customer decides that he or she wants to move backward to the previous screen, the customer may select the back button 526. Alternatively, the customer may select the next button 528 after choosing a response to a particular question. Selecting the next button 528 allows the customer to go forward to the next screen, which could be either another question or a feedback page.
  • FIG. 4 e is a screen shot depicting an exemplary feedback page. A feedback page allows a customer to see after each question or after every few questions how his or her responses compare with other customers sharing the same or similar demographics. This feature may be used as another reward for customers to motivate them to respond to the survey. The feedback page pictured in
  • FIG. 4 e comprises one or more charts 530 and one or more comparison statements 532. Chart 530 could be a pie chart, a bar chart, a percentile chart, or the like. Chart 530 shows the customer how all other customers with the same or similar demographics have responded to the previous questions. Comparison statement 532 is a statement informing the customer of how the greatest portion of other customers with the same or similar demographics responded. On the feedback page, the customer may click on chart 530 or comparison statement 532 and survey system 12 will present a tally and percentages for each possible answer. Data represented in chart 530 and comparison statement 532 may be updated at regular intervals, such as once each hour or once each day. Alternatively, the data may be updated with every response so that each customer's responses are included in the data presented to that customer in the feedback page. Thus, the information presented in the feedback page may change at specified times to reflect new data received from users of customer system 16.
  • The feedback page also includes the survey section selector 522 described above in connection with FIG. 4 c to allow the customer to switch to another survey section at any time. In addition, each feedback page may also comprise information button 519 and apply button 520. Information button 519 allows the customer to access information about products and/or services offered by the business relating to the material presented in the feedback page.
  • Apply button 520 allows the customer to apply for those products and/or services. This feature is beneficial to both the customer and the business. The customer has the convenience of applying for a product or service by simply clicking the apply button 520 and providing the appropriate information, while the business has the marketing advantage provided by the availability of this application to the customer in conjunction with the material presented in the feedback page. For example, a customer may learn from a feedback page that his or her peers generally have three credit cards, while he or she has only one. As soon as this information is presented, the customer has the option of clicking on the apply button 520 and applying for another credit card. Thus, this is one form of targeted marketing provided by the present invention. If a customer applies for a product or service in this manner, survey system 12 may also automatically prepare and transmit an e-mail message to the business to indicate that an application has been received and stored in matching database 24 for retrieval by business system 14.
  • According to one embodiment, information button 519 may comprise adjacent text to inform the customer what type of information may be accessed by clicking on information button 519, and apply button 520 may also comprise adjacent text to inform the customer what type of product or service is available through the associated application. Survey system 12 may also store in matching database 24 the customer's identification number, as well as data relating to whether the customer chose information button 519 or apply button 520 and whether the customer submitted an application. This data may be used by business report generator 51 to generate reports for business system 14, as described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 6 c.
  • The feedback page also comprises a next button 538 to allow the customer to continue to the next screen and an exit button 540 to allow the customer to return to the main menu 500, as shown in FIG. 4 b and in block 132 of FIG. 4 a. If the customer chooses the next button 538, the customer will either continue to another question, such as the one shown in FIG. 4 d, or will continue to a “what-if” page if the survey section has been completed.
  • After the customer has completed any one section of the survey, such as borrow 502, spend 504, or save & invest 506, survey system 12 presents a “what-if” page, as shown in block 138 of FIG. 4 a. The “what-if” page displays the information previously communicated to the customer in all the feedback pages, such as the one shown in FIG. 4 e, that are associated with that particular survey section. Thus, previously displayed charts 530 and comparison statements 532 are redisplayed for the customer to review. The “what-if” page also displays information that relates to topics not presented to the customer during the survey. These topics may not have been presented during the survey because the customer's response to a question made the topic irrelevant for that customer. The “what-if” page also allows the customer to make adjustments by changing his or her demographic parameters such as income level, number of children, and the like. Then survey system 12 displays the comparison information for the customer's hypothetical demographic. This allows the customer to see how his or her situation compares with others who have a demographic the customer wonders about or expects or hopes to have in the future. On the “what-if” page, the customer may also click on any one of the charts 530 or comparison statements 532 and survey system 12 will present a tally and percentages for each possible answer.
  • FIG. 4 f is a screen shot depicting an exemplary “what-if” page. The “what-if” page may comprise a demographic line 542 and a feedback section 544. Demographic line 542 may be used by the customer to access the comparison data associated with the hypothetical demographic in which he or she is interested. This comparison data may then be displayed in feedback section 544. Initially, demographic line 542 may be preset to the customer's actual demographics, and feedback section 544 may display the associated comparison data. After making adjustments to the parameters in demographic line 542, the customer may click on the go button 546. Survey system 12 may then retrieve the appropriate data from matching database 24 and display that data in feedback section 544. The customer may continue to make adjustments and view the comparison data as often as he or she wishes. Feedback section 544 may comprise multiple charts 530 and comparison statements 532 that may be accessed through scrolling. The “what-if” page also includes the survey section selector 522 described above in connection with FIG. 4 c to allow the customer to switch to another survey section at any time.
  • In addition, each “what-if” page may also comprise information button 519 and apply button 520. Information button 519 allows the customer to access information about products and/or services offered by the business. Apply button 520 allows the customer to apply for those products and/or services. Information button 519 may comprise adjacent text to inform the customer what type of information may be accessed by clicking on information button 519, and apply button 520 may also comprise adjacent text to inform the customer what type of product or service is available through the associated application. Survey system 12 may also store in matching database 24 the customer's identification number, as well as data relating to whether the customer chose information button 519 or apply button 520 and whether the customer submitted an application. This data may be used by business report generator 51 to generate reports for business system 14, as described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 6 c.
  • FIGS. 5 a-d are flowcharts showing one embodiment of the present invention. At step 140 of FIG. 5 a, survey system 12 presents a welcome display to the user of customer system 16. Next survey system 12 determines whether the customer has entered demographic information previously or whether a certain amount of time has passed since the customer entered demographic information, as shown in step 142. If the customer is new or enough time has passed since the customer entered demographic information, survey system 12 then presents the demographics question page to the customer in step 144. Alternatively, the customer may choose to have the demographics question page presented if any characteristics have changed since the previous visit. The demographics question page prompts the customer to enter information relating to the customer's income level, age, gender, and the like. After the information has been entered by the customer, survey system 12 stores the demographic information in matching database 24, as shown in step 146. If the customer was not required to enter demographic information or after the demographic information has been stored, survey system 12 next presents to the customer the main menu 500 in step 148.
  • The customer then selects an option from the main menu 500, and survey system 12 responds in one of two ways based on which icon the customer selects, as shown in step 150. The customer may select an icon for either goals 508 or one of the survey options 502, 504 or 506.
  • As shown in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b, if the customer selects goals 508 in step 150, survey system 12 presents a default planner 80 by sending an applet created using Java or any other suitable applet technology to customer system 16, as shown in step 151. Survey system 12 also presents a goals menu 521 in step 152 that allows the customer to access a planner 80 other than the one originally presented by choosing a new goal type. If the customer selects a new goal type, survey system 12 searches matching database 24 to determine whether or not the customer has previously saved input information for that goal type, as shown in step 154. If the customer has saved input information, survey system 12 retrieves the saved data in step 156. This saved data will be automatically entered into the appropriate fields of the input section 514 of the planner 80. If the customer has not saved input information for that goal type, default input information is entered into the input section 514 of the planner 80. At this point, the customer may enter new input information or change saved input information, as shown in step 160, in order to adjust the output section 515, as shown in step 162, until the results are satisfactory to the customer. As the customer changes the input information, the results in output section 515 are adjusted dynamically in real time. The customer may change the input information to see in real time the corresponding output as often as desired, as indicated in steps 160 and 162. Once the customer has finished making adjustments to the input information, the customer may choose an option that will save the input information for future use, as shown in step 164. If the customer chooses this option, survey system 12 will save the data entered into input section 514 in matching database 24 in step 166. Survey system 12 may then provide the data to the business to allow the business to help the customer attain those financial goals by marketing related products and services to that customer.
  • While the customer is using the planner 80, he or she may also select the information button 519, as shown in step 170, or the apply button 520, as shown in step 176. If the customer selects the information button 519, survey system 12 presents the related information about the business' products and/or services, as shown in step 172. On the other hand, if the customer selects the apply button 520, survey system 12 presents the related application for the business' products and/or services in step 178. After the customer has entered the requested information, survey system 12 formats the data and transmits it to the completed application table 74 of matching database 24 in step 180 for storage and later retrieval by the business. Survey system 12 may automatically prepare and transmit an e-mail message to the business to indicate that such an application has been received. Survey system 12 may also store in matching database 24 the customer's identification number, as well as data relating to whether the customer chose information button 519 or apply button 520 and whether the customer submitted an application. This data may be used by business report generator 51 to generate reports for business system 14.
  • While using the planner 80, the customer may also choose the survey section selector 522, as shown in step 181. If the customer chooses to switch to a survey section, survey system 12 will present the appropriate question as shown at step 184 in FIG. 5 c.
  • The customer may also decide to exit the planners 80 or to select a new goal type, as shown in step 182. If the customer decides to exit the planners 80, he or she will be returned to the main menu 500, at step 148 in FIG. 5 a. If the customer decides to select a new goal type, survey system 12 returns to step 152 to allow the customer to make the new selection.
  • Returning to the customer's choice of options in the main menu 500, as shown in step 148 of FIG. 5 a, the customer may select an icon related to one of the survey options, 502, 504 or 506. In this situation, survey system 12 presents a question from the corresponding survey section to the customer in step 184, as shown in FIG. 5 c. While viewing the question, the customer may also choose the survey section selector 522, as shown in step 185. If the customer chooses to switch to another survey section, survey system 12 will present the appropriate question as shown at step 184 in FIG. 5 c. However, if the customer chooses a response to the presented question in step 186, survey system 12 stores the response in matching database 24, as shown in step 188. Survey system 12 also stores data to indicate that the customer has answered this particular question. Survey system 12 may use this data to customize the main menu 500 with a percentage-completed/date line 510 and to allow the customer to return to the following question when returning to the survey after completing only part of it. After storing the response and related data, survey system 12 determines whether or not there is a feedback page to be presented at this point in the survey in step 190. If not, survey system 12 determines which question to present next based on the business identification number and the customer's previous response, as shown in step 191. The method then proceeds to step 184 where survey system 12 presents the next appropriate question. However, if at step 190 it is determined that there is a feedback page to be presented, survey system 12 presents the appropriate feedback page with the comparison data compiled from the responses of customers with the same or similar demographics as the current customer, as shown in step 192. Survey system will also present a tally and percentages for each possible answer if the customer clicks on chart 530 or comparison statement 532.
  • While the customer is viewing the feedback page, he or she may also select the information button 519, as shown in step 194, or the apply button 520, as shown in step 200. If the customer selects the information button 519, survey system 12 presents the related information about the business' products and/or services, as shown in step 196. On the other hand, if the customer selects the apply button 520, survey system 12 presents the related application for the business' products and/or services in step 202. After the customer has entered the requested information, survey system 12 formats the data and transmits it to the completed application table 74 of matching database 24 in step 204 for storage and later retrieval by the business. Survey system 12 may automatically prepare and transmit an e-mail message to the business to indicate that such an application has been received. Survey system 12 may also store in matching database 24 the customer's identification number, as well as data relating to whether the customer chose information button 519 or apply button 520 and whether the customer submitted an application. This data may be used by business report generator 51 to generate reports for business system 14.
  • While viewing the feedback page, the customer may also choose the survey section selector 522, as shown in step 205. If the customer chooses to switch to another survey section, survey system 12 will present the appropriate question as shown at step 184.
  • Also while viewing the feedback page, the customer may select the exit button 540, as shown in step 206. If the exit button 540 is selected, the customer is returned to the main menu 500 in step 148 of FIG. 5 a. Otherwise, survey system 12 determines whether the survey section has been completed, as shown in step 207. If the survey section has not been completed and the customer selects the next button 538, survey system 12 presents the next question in step 184.
  • However, if the survey section has been completed, survey system 12 displays a “what-if” page in step 208 of FIG. 5 d. The “what-if” page displays the information previously communicated to the customer in all the feedback pages that are associated with that particular survey section. Thus, previously displayed charts 530 and comparison statements 532 are redisplayed for the customer to review. In addition, charts 530 and comparison statements 532 are generated and displayed that relate to topics not presented to the customer during the survey. For example, if during the survey the customer responded to a question that he or she rents housing, questions regarding mortgage payments would not have been presented to that customer. However, the “what-if” page allows the customer to see the charts 530 and comparison statements 532 that would have been presented in the feedback pages associated with the mortgage-related questions. Survey system 12 will also display a tally and percentages for each possible answer if the customer clicks on one of the charts 530 or comparison statements 532.
  • While viewing the “what-if” page, the customer may choose to exit the page and return to the main menu 500 in step 209. In this case, survey system 12 will return to step 148 in FIG. 5 a. If the customer does not choose to return to the main menu 500, survey system 12 continues to display the “what-if” page with the demographic of the customer or, if adjustments are made by the customer as described below, with the hypothetical demographic.
  • While the customer is viewing the “what-if” page, he or she may also select the information button 519, as shown in step 210, or the apply button 520, as shown in step 212. If the customer selects the information button 519, survey system 12 presents the related information about the business' products and/or services, as shown in step 211. On the other hand, if the customer selects the apply button 520, survey system 12 presents the related application for the business' products and/or services in step 213. After the customer has entered the requested information, survey system 12 formats the data and transmits it to the completed application table 74 of matching database 24 in step 214 for storage and later retrieval by the business. Survey system 12 may automatically prepare and transmit an e-mail message to the business to indicate that such an application has been received. Survey system 12 may also store in matching database 24 the customer's identification number, as well as data relating to whether the customer chose information button 519 or apply button 520 and whether the customer submitted an application. This data may be used by business report generator 51 to generate reports for business system 14.
  • While viewing the “what-if” page, the customer may also choose the survey section selector 522, as shown in step 215. If the customer chooses to switch to another survey section, survey system 12 will present the appropriate question as shown at step 184 of FIG. 5 c.
  • The “what-if” page also allows the customer to make adjustments by making changes to his or her income level, number of children, education level, or the like, as shown in step 216. Then survey system 12 displays the charts 530 and comparison statements 532 for the customer's hypothetical demographic, as shown in step 217. This allows the customer to see how his or her responses compare with others who have a demographic the customer expects or hopes to have in the future.
  • FIG. 6 a is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention from the perspective of a user of business system 14, such as a business representative. Block 218 shows the business representative beginning by accessing survey system 12. In block 220, survey system presents to the business representative a business menu that allows the business representative to choose from several different options. This embodiment includes five options: demonstration, features, results, company, and contact us.
  • FIG. 6 a shows one path a business representative might take through the various menus offered by survey system 12. Other possible paths will be described below. If the business representative selects the “results” option from the business menu, he or she will be presented with a login screen, as shown in block 222. At the login screen, the business representative will be prompted by survey system 12 to supply identifying information, such as a business identification number, password, or the like. Survey system 12 then compares this information with the data stored in authorized entry identification table 68 of matching database 24 to determine whether or not the user of business system 14 should be granted access to the information stored in and the reports generated by survey system 12. If the business representative enters invalid identifying, information, as shown in block 224, survey system 12 provides an invalid menu that gives the business representative the option of resubmitting new identifying information or contacting the survey management company. If the business representative chooses to contact the survey management company, survey system 12 displays an e-mail page that prompts the business representative to enter the necessary information to notify the survey management company that the identifying information is not being accepted. Otherwise, the business representative is prompted to enter new identifying information in block 222.
  • Once the identifying information has been validated, survey system 12 provides an entry menu, as shown in block 226. At this screen, the business representative may choose to access the customized survey for his or her business, to access the reports prepared by survey system 12, to retrieve the applications submitted by users of customer system 16, or to perform administrative functions such as granting or removing authorized entry status to users of business system 14. If the business representative chooses to access the reports, survey system 12 presents a report menu, as shown in block 228. This report menu may comprise options such as customer response data, demographic profiles, TargetMatch, and
  • InterestMatch. It will be understood that the report menu may comprise other suitable options without departing from the scope of this invention. Choosing InterestMatch allows the business representative to access the reports that show how likely users of customer system 16 are to respond to marketing efforts for a particular product or service. For example, if the business representative selects InterestMatch, survey system 12 presents an InterestMatch menu, as shown in block 230. This InterestMatch menu may list any or all of the business' products and services.
  • Next the business representative chooses an analysis report for a specific product or service, such as Product B. As shown in block 232, this will cause survey system to present yet another menu, allowing the business representative to choose between such options as “demographic data only” or “all data.” These options allow the business representative to choose what types of data to use as a basis for the reports. Choosing “demographic data only” will cause business report generator 51 to generate a report based only on the customers' demographic data. Choosing “all data” will cause business report generator 51 to generate a report based on demographic data, psychographic data, and all other data. Psychographic data includes behavioral characteristics of each customer. This data is obtained from the customers' responses to the survey questions relating to behavior or lifestyle. For example, reports generated from demographic data only could be based on each customer's income level. However, reports generated from all data could also be based on each customer's response to a question about how much money he or she would give away after unexpectedly receiving a large amount of money. Thus, these reports would be based not only on the factual demographic information provided by the customer, but also on less tangible behavioral factors that can be measured through his or her survey responses. It will be understood that other suitable options may be presented by survey system 12 on which to base reports without departing from the scope of this invention.
  • Once the business representative decides on this option, survey system 12 displays the analysis of the data associated with the pre-selected product or service. This analysis may include probabilities that were determined by using a commercially available statistical processing program, such as one provided by Statistical Product & Service Solutions. According to one embodiment of the present invention, input data for the statistical processing program may be retrieved by survey system 12 from matching database 24 and may comprise the business identification number, the specific product or service (dependent variable), customer identification numbers, customer demographics (attributes), and customer responses (attributes). The statistical processing program may then segment the data and predict probabilities of purchase. This may be accomplished by detecting the influence of attributes on the dependent variable, modeling continuous and non-continuous data and missing data, detecting statistically significant differences among groups of customers, merging non-significant groups of data, and creating decision rules. The output data from the statistical processing program may comprise profile numbers, profile rules, profile attributes, and profile probabilities. At this point, survey system 12 may extract the customer identification numbers from matching database 24 that match the profile attributes in the profile rules. Survey system 12 may then remove the customer identification numbers of those customers who indicated they already have the product or are using the service. Business report generator 51 may then generate a report for each profile showing the remaining customer identification numbers, the profile number, the profile probabilities, and the profile attributes. Returning to our example using Product B, survey system 12 may then present the report for Product B by listing the encrypted identification numbers of users of customer system 16 along with the probabilities that the customers with those identification numbers will purchase Product B. This is shown in block 234.
  • FIG. 6 b is a screen shot showing an exemplary report 554 for a business representative generated by business report generator 51. This example includes a basis statement 556 that notifies the business representative which data was used to prepare the report 554. The report 554 may also include a product/service identifier 558. Columns in the report 554 may include customer identification number 560, probability of purchase 562, and link to probability profile 564. FIG. 6 b also shows a probability profile 566 that might be displayed if a business representative selects a particular link in the link-to-probability-profile column 564. The information displayed in probability profile 566 would show the business representative which attributes in the profile were shared by users of customer system 16 that have the associated probability of purchase. This probability profile 566 may comprise three columns, such as profile number 567, probability 568, and profile description 570. Profile number column 567 would identify the corresponding probability profile, as shown in the link-to-probability-profile column 564. Probability column 568 would repeat the probability of purchase as shown in the probability-of-purchase column 562 of the report 554. Profile description column 570 would show the profile attributes associated with that set of customers. The profile may be a group of common characteristics of the set of customers who share the same probability of purchase. This profile may include demographic as well as psychographic data.
  • Returning to FIG. 6 a, the business representative could select options other than InterestMatch from the report menu in block 228. If the business representative selected customer response data, business report generator 51 would present customer demographic and survey response data. This data could be presented in a spreadsheet, in a comma or tab delimited file, or by any other suitable method or format. If the business representative selected the “demographic profiles” option, business report generator 51 would present graphical depictions of the demographic data for users of customer system 16.
  • If the business representative selected the TargetMatch option from the report menu, business report generator 51 would present information regarding users of customer system 16 who had previously requested information on or applications for particular products or services. This information could be presented either as month-to-date or year-to-date tallies or as a list of encrypted customer identification numbers.
  • FIG. 6 c is a screen shot depicting one embodiment of a TargetMatch report 600 prepared according to one embodiment of the present invention. Every time a customer selects information button 519 or apply button 520, survey system 12 may store that customer's identification number in matching database 24 along with the corresponding selection made by the customer. Survey system 12 may also store similar data each time a customer submits an application. When a business representative selects TargetMatch as an option from report menu, business report generator 51 may generate in real time a TargetMatch report 600 from the data previously stored in matching database 24. As shown in FIG. 6 c, TargetMatch report 600 may comprise both monthly and yearly tallies for each customer selection, such as information tally, apply tally and submit tally. These tallies may be further broken down into separate tallies for each product or service which may be presented when the business representative makes his or her selection. Thus, as shown in TargetMatch report 600, during this year, ten customers have selected the information button to view information regarding credit cards, five customers have selected the apply button in connection with credit cards, and two customers have actually submitted an application for a credit card.
  • According to one embodiment of the present invention, the business representative may click on any of the numbers listed in TargetMatch report 600 for more information. Business report generator 51 may then generate in real time a list of customer identification numbers that identify to the business those customers who requested the information or application or who submitted an application. Thus, the business may use this as a tool to target marketing efforts for a specific product or service to a particular customer who has shown an interest by requesting information or an application, but who did not submit an application.
  • According to one embodiment of the present invention, a business representative would have the option of choosing “results tracking & measurement” from the menu presented in block 232 of FIG. 6 a. This would cause survey system 12 to present a chart listing each customer's identification number along with the probability of purchase for that customer as reported to the business by survey system 12. The business representative would then be asked to supply information regarding each customer, such as whether or not targeted marketing was performed and whether or not that customer purchased the associated product or service. This information supplied by the business representative would then be used by survey system 12 to refine the algorithms used to determine probabilities of purchase, which would make future predictions of probabilities more accurate.
  • FIG. 6 d is a screen shot depicting one embodiment of the business menu 620 presented by survey system 12 in block 220 of FIG. 6 a. From the business menu 620, the business representative could choose the option of results 626, as described above. The business representative could also select other options from the business menu 620. If the business representative selected demonstration 622, survey system 12 would present to the business representative a series of demonstration screens to show the business representative how survey system 12 functions. Selecting features 624 would allow the business representative to view information regarding the various features offered by survey system 12, while selecting company 628 would allow the business representative to view information regarding the survey management company. Finally, if the business representative selected the “contact us” option 630, survey system 12 would present an e-mail page that would prompt the business representative to enter the necessary information to notify the survey management company that the business representative would like more information or would like to set up a survey system for potential and/or existing customers.
  • The present invention benefits the business by allowing it to survey specific customers and to identify ones of such customers that might want to purchase particular products or services. This is accomplished by encouraging the customer to complete a series of profiling questions. The customer wants to do this because at the end of the process the customer can compare his situation relative to his peers. The customer is also allowed to explore various “what-if” scenarios to see how his relative position changes when various elements of his demographics are altered. Accordingly, the customer receives valuable evaluative information as a result of the process and the business receives information that allows for highly-defined targeted marketing efforts. All of this may be accomplished in the convenient, non-intrusive environment of an on-line interaction.
  • Accordingly, an integrated system is provided that prepares customized surveys, characterizes existing and potential customers, submits surveys to customers, stores responses to surveys, allows customers to retrieve product and service information, allows customers to apply for specific products and services, and prepares reports for businesses to use for targeted marketing. In addition, this system provides graphical reports for customers that compare their responses to the responses of others with the same or similar demographics. This system also allows a customer to provide information regarding financial goals and to graphically ascertain what adjustments need to be made to meet those goals.
  • While the invention has been particularly shown and described by the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (59)

1. A method for profiling customers for targeted marketing, comprising:
receiving survey questions from a business data processing system;
receiving demographic data from a customer data processing system;
identifying at least a portion of the survey questions based on the demographic data;
providing the identified survey questions to the customer data processing system;
receiving responses to the identified survey questions from the customer data processing system;
dynamically generating at least one targeted marketing report based on the responses received from the customer data processing system; and
providing the targeted marketing report to the business data processing system.
2. The method of claim 1, the targeted marketing reports dynamically generated based on a set of decision rules.
3. The method of claim 2, the set of decision rules dynamically generated based on the responses received from the customer data processing system.
4. The method of claim 2, the set of decision rules received from the business data processing system.
5. The method of claim 1, the targeted marketing reports comprising a probability associated with at least one customer regarding the likelihood that the customer will purchase a specific product or service.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
generating targeted advertisements based on the responses received from the customer data processing system; and
providing the targeted advertisements to the customer data processing system.
7. A method for profiling customers for targeted marketing, comprising:
receiving survey questions from a business data processing system;
receiving demographic data from a customer data processing system;
identifying at least a portion of the survey questions based on the demographic data;
providing the identified survey questions to the customer data processing system;
receiving responses to the identified survey questions from the customer data processing system;
identifying a specified product or service based on the responses received from the customer data processing; and
providing information associated with the specified product or service to the customer data processing system.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
receiving an apply selection from the customer data processing system; and
providing a blank application for the specified product or service to the customer data processing system, the blank application requesting customer information.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving a completed application for the specified product or service from the customer data processing system, the completed application comprising the customer information requested by the blank application.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a message regarding the completed application to the business data processing system when the completed application is received.
11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
receiving an apply selection from the customer data processing system; and
providing an application for the specified product or service to the customer data processing system, the application at least partially pre-populated with customer information.
12. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving information associated with the specified product or service from the business data processing system.
13. A method for generating a data set in a customer survey system, comprising:
receiving an identification number from a customer data processing system;
identifying a customer based on the identification number;
identifying a business based on the identification number;
retrieving data associated with the customer and the business, the data stored in the customer survey system; and
generating a data set based on the retrieved data.
14. The method of claim 13, the data stored in the customer survey system comprising preferences associated with the business.
15. The method of claim 14, the preferences comprising colors for the data set.
16. The method of claim 14, the preferences comprising at least one banner for the data set.
17. The method of claim 14, the preferences comprising at least one logo for the data set.
18. The method of claim 14, the preferences comprising at least one advertisement for the data set.
19. The method of claim 14, the preferences comprising survey questions and possible answers to each survey question.
20. The method of claim 19, the preferences comprising an order for presenting the survey questions.
21. The method of claim 14, the preferences comprising products and services.
22. The method of claim 21, the preferences comprising at least one application for one of the products or services.
23. The method of claim 13, the data stored in the customer survey system comprising customer information associated with the customer.
24. The method of claim 23, the customer information comprising demographic data received from the customer.
25. The method of claim 23, the customer information comprising psychographic data received from the customer.
26. The method of claim 13, the data stored in the customer survey system comprising preferences associated with the business and customer information associated with the customer, the preferences comprising survey questions and possible answers to each survey question, and the customer information comprising information identifying survey questions to which the customer previously provided a response.
27. A customer survey system comprising:
a page generator operable to receive an identification number from a customer data processing system, to identify a customer based on the identification number, to identify a business based on the identification number, to retrieve data associated with the customer and the business, the data stored in the customer survey system, and to generate a data set based on the retrieved data; and
a graphical report generator operable to generate in real-time graphical reports based on data received from the customer data processing system.
28. The system of claim 27, the data stored in the customer survey system comprising preferences associated with the business and customer information associated with the customer.
29. The system of claim 28, the preferences comprising colors, at least one banner, and at least one logo for the data set.
30. The system of claim 28, the preferences comprising at least one advertisement for the data set.
31. The system of claim 28, the preferences comprising survey questions, possible answers to each survey question, and an order for presenting the survey questions.
32. The system of claim 28, the preferences comprising products, services, and at least one application for one of the products or services.
33. The system of claim 28, the preferences comprising survey questions and possible answers to each survey question, and the customer information comprising demographic data received from the customer and information identifying survey questions to which the customer previously provided a response.
34. The system of claim 28, the preferences comprising survey questions and possible answers to each survey question, and the customer information comprising psychographic data received from the customer and information identifying survey questions to which the customer previously provided a response.
35. The system of claim 27, the graphical report generator further operable to generate comparison data based on demographic data received from the customer in relation to demographic data associated with a selected peer group and to generate a graphical summary of the comparison data.
36. The system of claim 27, the graphical report generator further operable to generate hypothetical comparison data based on hypothetical demographic data received from the customer in relation to demographic data associated with a selected peer group and to generate a graphical summary of the comparison data.
37. A customer survey system comprising:
a page generator operable to receive an identification number from a customer data processing system, to identify a customer based on the identification number, to identify a business based on the identification number, to retrieve data associated with the customer and the business, the data stored in the customer survey system, and to generate a data set based on the retrieved data; and
a business report generator operable to generate reports for the business based on data received from the customer data processing system.
38. The system of claim 37, the data stored in the customer survey system comprising preferences associated with the business and customer information associated with the customer.
39. The system of claim 38, the preferences comprising colors, at least one banner, and at least one logo for the data set.
40. The system of claim 38, the preferences comprising at least one advertisement for the data set.
41. The system of claim 38, the preferences comprising survey questions, possible answers to each survey question, and an order for presenting the survey questions.
42. The system of claim 38, the preferences comprising products, services, and at least one application for one of the products or services.
43. The system of claim 38, the preferences comprising survey questions and possible answers to each survey question, and the customer information comprising demographic data received from the customer and information identifying survey questions to which the customer previously provided a response.
44. The system of claim 38, the preferences comprising survey questions and possible answers to each survey question, and the customer information comprising psychographic data received from the customer and information identifying survey questions to which the customer previously provided a response.
45. The system of claim 37, the business report generator further operable to receive demographic data from a plurality of customers, to receive responses to survey questions from the customers, to receive from a business data processing system a selection of a particular product or service, and to generate a report associated with the particular product or service, the report comprising a plurality of customer identification numbers, a probability of purchase for each customer identification number, and a link to an associated probability profile for each probability of purchase, and to provide the report to the business data processing system.
46. The system of claim 45, the business report generator further operable to receive from the business data processing system a selection of a specified link for a specified probability of purchase and to provide the probability profile associated with the specified link to the business data processing system, the probability profile comprising a profile description for the specified probability of purchase.
47. A method for providing anonymous access to a survey system, comprising:
receiving a customer identification number from a customer, the customer identification number operable to identify the customer;
validating the customer based on the customer identification number;
generating an encrypted number based on the customer identification number; and
providing the encrypted number to the survey system to enable the customer to access the survey system, the survey system unable to identify the customer based on the encrypted number.
48. The method of claim 47, the customer identification number comprising an account number.
49. The method of claim 47, the customer identification number comprising a personal identification number.
50. The method of claim 47, further comprising:
storing a mapping table comprising a plurality of customer identification numbers and a corresponding encrypted number for each customer identification number; and
generating an encrypted number based on the customer identification number comprising retrieving from the mapping table the encrypted number corresponding to the customer identification number.
51. A method for targeted marketing, comprising:
receiving demographic data from a plurality of customers;
receiving responses to survey questions from the customers;
receiving from a business data processing system a selection of a particular product or service;
generating a report associated with the particular product or service, the report comprising a plurality of customer identification numbers, a probability of purchase for each customer identification number, and a link to an associated probability profile for each probability of purchase; and
providing the report to the business data processing system.
52. The method of claim 51, further comprising:
receiving from the business data processing system a selection of a specified link for a specified probability of purchase; and
providing the probability profile associated with the specified link to the business data processing system, the probability profile comprising a profile description for the specified probability of purchase.
53. The method of claim 52, the profile description comprising demographic data.
54. The method of claim 52, the profile description comprising psychographic data.
55. The method of claim 52, the profile description comprising demographic data and psychographic data.
56. A method for generating a report for targeted marketing, comprising:
receiving a selection of a specified product or service;
receiving a selection of at least one data type for use as a basis for the report;
retrieving input data based on the data type;
providing the input data to a statistical processing program;
receiving output data from the statistical processing program, the output data based on the input data and comprising profile attributes and associated profile probabilities;
generating a list of potential customers by matching stored customer identification numbers to the profile attributes; and
generating the report for targeting marketing, the report comprising the list of potential customers and, for each potential customer, the profile probability associated with the profile attributes for the potential customer.
57. The method of claim 56, further comprising:
identifying customer identification numbers corresponding to customers already utilizing the specified product or service; and
removing the customer identification numbers corresponding to the customers already utilizing the specified product or service from the list of potential customers.
58. The method of claim 56, the data type comprising demographic data.
59. The method of claim 56, the data type comprising demographic and psychographic data.
US13/280,003 1998-09-29 2011-10-24 System and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing Abandoned US20120109711A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/280,003 US20120109711A1 (en) 1998-09-29 2011-10-24 System and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/162,825 US6236975B1 (en) 1998-09-29 1998-09-29 System and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing
US09/966,845 USRE42869E1 (en) 1998-09-29 2001-09-28 System and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing
US13/280,003 US20120109711A1 (en) 1998-09-29 2011-10-24 System and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/966,845 Division USRE42869E1 (en) 1998-09-29 2001-09-28 System and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20120109711A1 true US20120109711A1 (en) 2012-05-03

Family

ID=22587281

Family Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/162,825 Ceased US6236975B1 (en) 1998-09-29 1998-09-29 System and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing
US09/966,845 Expired - Lifetime USRE42869E1 (en) 1998-09-29 2001-09-28 System and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing
US13/280,003 Abandoned US20120109711A1 (en) 1998-09-29 2011-10-24 System and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing

Family Applications Before (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/162,825 Ceased US6236975B1 (en) 1998-09-29 1998-09-29 System and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing
US09/966,845 Expired - Lifetime USRE42869E1 (en) 1998-09-29 2001-09-28 System and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (3) US6236975B1 (en)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110239243A1 (en) * 2010-03-26 2011-09-29 Google Inc. Exposure based customization of surveys
US20150066593A1 (en) * 2013-08-30 2015-03-05 Google Inc. Determining a precision factor for a content selection parameter value
US20150312321A1 (en) * 2014-04-24 2015-10-29 Bank Of America Corporation System for generating a response to a client request
US20160225014A1 (en) * 2015-01-30 2016-08-04 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. System and method for building a targeted audience for an online advertising campaign
US9477973B2 (en) 2013-06-25 2016-10-25 International Business Machines Visually generated consumer product presentation
US20170109784A1 (en) * 2000-01-07 2017-04-20 Home Producers Network, Llc. System and method for trait based people search based on genetic information
US9836444B2 (en) * 2015-12-10 2017-12-05 International Business Machines Corporation Spread cell value visualization
US9916600B2 (en) 2013-06-20 2018-03-13 Yahoo Japan Corporation Auction apparatus and auction method
US20180181978A1 (en) * 2016-12-27 2018-06-28 Mastercard International Incorporated System and method to provide a reward during a cashless transaction
US10318996B2 (en) 2013-06-20 2019-06-11 Yahoo Japan Corporation Auction apparatus and auction method
US20190265852A1 (en) * 2018-02-27 2019-08-29 Oath Inc. Transmitting response content items
US20200388184A1 (en) * 2019-06-07 2020-12-10 The Toronto-Dominion Bank System and method for providing status indications using multiple-choice questions
US20210209642A1 (en) * 2012-01-31 2021-07-08 Groupon, Inc. Pre-feature promotion system

Families Citing this family (462)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USRE48056E1 (en) 1991-12-23 2020-06-16 Blanding Hovenweep, Llc Ergonomic man-machine interface incorporating adaptive pattern recognition based control system
USRE46310E1 (en) 1991-12-23 2017-02-14 Blanding Hovenweep, Llc Ergonomic man-machine interface incorporating adaptive pattern recognition based control system
US8352400B2 (en) 1991-12-23 2013-01-08 Hoffberg Steven M Adaptive pattern recognition based controller apparatus and method and human-factored interface therefore
USRE47908E1 (en) 1991-12-23 2020-03-17 Blanding Hovenweep, Llc Ergonomic man-machine interface incorporating adaptive pattern recognition based control system
US6850252B1 (en) 1999-10-05 2005-02-01 Steven M. Hoffberg Intelligent electronic appliance system and method
US10361802B1 (en) 1999-02-01 2019-07-23 Blanding Hovenweep, Llc Adaptive pattern recognition based control system and method
US5903454A (en) 1991-12-23 1999-05-11 Hoffberg; Linda Irene Human-factored interface corporating adaptive pattern recognition based controller apparatus
US5561377A (en) 1995-04-14 1996-10-01 Cascade Microtech, Inc. System for evaluating probing networks
US8574074B2 (en) 2005-09-30 2013-11-05 Sony Computer Entertainment America Llc Advertising impression determination
US7895076B2 (en) 1995-06-30 2011-02-22 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Advertisement insertion, profiling, impression, and feedback
US5987434A (en) * 1996-06-10 1999-11-16 Libman; Richard Marc Apparatus and method for transacting marketing and sales of financial products
US7774230B2 (en) 1996-06-10 2010-08-10 Phoenix Licensing, Llc System, method, and computer program product for selecting and presenting financial products and services
US6999938B1 (en) * 1996-06-10 2006-02-14 Libman Richard M Automated reply generation direct marketing system
US20060253884A1 (en) * 1997-01-06 2006-11-09 Gray James H Methods and systems for network based capture of television viewer generated clickstreams
US7802276B2 (en) * 1997-01-06 2010-09-21 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Systems, methods and products for assessing subscriber content access
US20060075456A1 (en) * 1997-01-06 2006-04-06 Gray James Harold Methods and systems for collaborative capture of television viewer generated clickstreams
US8640160B2 (en) 1997-01-06 2014-01-28 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Method and system for providing targeted advertisements
US7617508B2 (en) * 2003-12-12 2009-11-10 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Methods and systems for collaborative capture of television viewer generated clickstreams
US7587323B2 (en) 2001-12-14 2009-09-08 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. System and method for developing tailored content
ATE355662T1 (en) * 1997-01-06 2006-03-15 Bellsouth Intellect Pty Corp METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NETWORK USAGE COLLECTION
US20100257037A1 (en) * 2001-12-14 2010-10-07 Matz William R Method and system for targeted incentives
US8364578B1 (en) 1998-03-05 2013-01-29 Cgi Technologies And Solutions Inc. Simultaneous customer/account strategy execution in a decision management system
US6609120B1 (en) 1998-03-05 2003-08-19 American Management Systems, Inc. Decision management system which automatically searches for strategy components in a strategy
US6546545B1 (en) 1998-03-05 2003-04-08 American Management Systems, Inc. Versioning in a rules based decision management system
US6601034B1 (en) 1998-03-05 2003-07-29 American Management Systems, Inc. Decision management system which is cross-function, cross-industry and cross-platform
US6189008B1 (en) * 1998-04-03 2001-02-13 Intertainer, Inc. Dynamic digital asset management
US6606602B1 (en) 1998-07-20 2003-08-12 Usa Technologies, Inc. Vending machine control system having access to the internet for the purposes of transacting e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business, and for conducting vending transactions
US6604086B1 (en) 1998-07-20 2003-08-05 Usa Technologies, Inc. Electronic commerce terminal connected to a vending machine operable as a telephone
US6611810B1 (en) 1998-07-20 2003-08-26 Usa Technologies, Inc. Store display window connected to an electronic commerce terminal
US6604087B1 (en) 1998-07-20 2003-08-05 Usa Technologies, Inc. Vending access to the internet, business application software, e-commerce, and e-business in a hotel room
US6601037B1 (en) 1998-07-20 2003-07-29 Usa Technologies, Inc. System and method of processing credit card, e-commerce, and e-business transactions without the merchant incurring transaction processing fees or charges worldwide
US6604085B1 (en) 1998-07-20 2003-08-05 Usa Technologies, Inc. Universal interactive advertising and payment system network for public access electronic commerce and business related products and services
US6601039B1 (en) 1998-07-20 2003-07-29 Usa Technologies, Inc. Gas pump control system having access to the internet for the purposes of transacting e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business, and for conducting vending transactions
US6615183B1 (en) 1998-07-20 2003-09-02 Usa Technologies, Inc. Method of warehousing user data entered at an electronic commerce terminal
US6601038B1 (en) 1998-07-20 2003-07-29 Usa Technologies, Inc. Delivery of goods and services resultant from an electronic commerce transaction by way of a pack and ship type company
US6807532B1 (en) * 1998-07-20 2004-10-19 Usa Technologies, Inc. Method of soliciting a user to input survey data at an electronic commerce terminal
US6763336B1 (en) 1998-07-20 2004-07-13 Usa Technologies, Inc. Method of transacting an electronic mail, an electronic commerce, and an electronic business transaction by an electronic commerce terminal using a wirelessly networked plurality of portable digital devices
US6609102B2 (en) 1998-07-20 2003-08-19 Usa Technologies, Inc. Universal interactive advertizing and payment system for public access electronic commerce and business related products and services
US6317881B1 (en) * 1998-11-04 2001-11-13 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus for collecting and providing viewer feedback to a broadcast
US6193518B1 (en) * 1998-11-20 2001-02-27 Tina M. Nocera Method for developing answer-options to issue-questions relating to child-development
US6922672B1 (en) * 1999-01-15 2005-07-26 International Business Machines Corporation Dynamic method and apparatus for target promotion
US7966078B2 (en) 1999-02-01 2011-06-21 Steven Hoffberg Network media appliance system and method
GB9902480D0 (en) * 1999-02-05 1999-03-24 Ncr Int Inc Method and apparatus for advertising over a communications network
US6594638B1 (en) * 1999-04-07 2003-07-15 Netstakes, Inc. On-line method and apparatus for collecting demographic information about a user of a world-wide-web site and dynamically selecting questions to present to the user
US7539628B2 (en) 2000-03-21 2009-05-26 Bennett James D Online purchasing system supporting buyer affordability screening
US6542913B1 (en) 1999-04-23 2003-04-01 Xerox Corporation Integrated document output management in a hybrid environment
US6681369B2 (en) * 1999-05-05 2004-01-20 Xerox Corporation System for providing document change information for a community of users
US20030204426A1 (en) * 1999-06-18 2003-10-30 American Management Systems, Inc. Decision management system which searches for strategy components
US6321179B1 (en) * 1999-06-29 2001-11-20 Xerox Corporation System and method for using noisy collaborative filtering to rank and present items
US6445202B1 (en) 1999-06-30 2002-09-03 Cascade Microtech, Inc. Probe station thermal chuck with shielding for capacitive current
US6952741B1 (en) 1999-06-30 2005-10-04 Computer Sciences Corporation System and method for synchronizing copies of data in a computer system
US6708155B1 (en) * 1999-07-07 2004-03-16 American Management Systems, Inc. Decision management system with automated strategy optimization
US7158986B1 (en) * 1999-07-27 2007-01-02 Mailfrontier, Inc. A Wholly Owned Subsidiary Of Sonicwall, Inc. Method and system providing user with personalized recommendations by electronic-mail based upon the determined interests of the user pertain to the theme and concepts of the categorized document
US7340426B1 (en) 1999-07-30 2008-03-04 Computer Sciences Corporation Event-triggered transaction processing for electronic data interchange
US6487539B1 (en) * 1999-08-06 2002-11-26 International Business Machines Corporation Semantic based collaborative filtering
US6970844B1 (en) 1999-08-27 2005-11-29 Computer Sciences Corporation Flow designer for establishing and maintaining assignment and strategy process maps
US6961708B1 (en) 1999-08-27 2005-11-01 Computer Sciences Corporation External interface for requesting data from remote systems in a generic fashion
US6421724B1 (en) * 1999-08-30 2002-07-16 Opinionlab, Inc. Web site response measurement tool
US7085820B1 (en) * 1999-08-30 2006-08-01 Opinionlab, Inc. System and method for reporting to a website owner user reactions to particular web pages of a website
US8041805B2 (en) * 1999-08-30 2011-10-18 Opinionlab, Inc. System and method for reporting to a website owner user reactions to particular web pages of a website
US20030216942A1 (en) * 1999-08-31 2003-11-20 Comsort, Inc. System for influence network marketing
WO2001016839A2 (en) * 1999-08-31 2001-03-08 Video Ventures Joint Venture D/B/A Comsort System for influence network marketing
US8108245B1 (en) * 1999-09-17 2012-01-31 Cox Communications, Inc. Method and system for web user profiling and selective content delivery
JP3916809B2 (en) * 1999-09-17 2007-05-23 富士通株式会社 Automatic planning apparatus and computer-readable recording medium on which automatic planning program is recorded
US20080097830A1 (en) * 1999-09-21 2008-04-24 Interpols Network Incorporated Systems and methods for interactively delivering self-contained advertisement units to a web browser
WO2001022261A2 (en) * 1999-09-21 2001-03-29 Kim Peter H I Method and apparatus for delivery of targeted advertising and content based on user interaction with online queries on a wide area network
US6886000B1 (en) * 1999-09-29 2005-04-26 International Business Machines Corporation On-line negotiations with dynamic profiling
US7693731B1 (en) 1999-09-30 2010-04-06 Computer Sciences Corporation Business process framework for reinsurance
US7353196B1 (en) 1999-10-29 2008-04-01 Computer Sciences Corporation Configuring dynamic database packageset switching for use in processing business transactions
US7546304B1 (en) 1999-10-29 2009-06-09 Computer Sciences Corporation Configuring keys for use in processing business data
US7356541B1 (en) 1999-10-29 2008-04-08 Computer Sciences Corporation Processing business data using user-configured keys
US7363264B1 (en) 1999-10-29 2008-04-22 Computer Sciences Corporation Processing business transactions using dynamic database packageset switching
US7693844B1 (en) 1999-10-29 2010-04-06 Computer Sciences Corporation Configuring processing relationships among entities of an organization
US7571171B1 (en) 1999-10-29 2009-08-04 Computer Sciences Corporation Smart trigger for use in processing business transactions
US7526487B1 (en) 1999-10-29 2009-04-28 Computer Sciences Corporation Business transaction processing systems and methods
US6925468B1 (en) 1999-10-29 2005-08-02 Computer Sciences Corporation Configuring systems for generating business transaction reports using processing relationships among entities of an organization
US7921048B2 (en) * 1999-11-01 2011-04-05 Accenture Global Services Gmbh Financial planning and counseling system projecting user cash flow
US7831494B2 (en) * 1999-11-01 2010-11-09 Accenture Global Services Gmbh Automated financial portfolio coaching and risk management system
US7783545B2 (en) * 1999-11-01 2010-08-24 Accenture Global Services Gmbh Automated coaching for a financial modeling and counseling system
US7818233B1 (en) 1999-11-01 2010-10-19 Accenture, Llp User interface for a financial modeling system
US7571131B1 (en) 1999-11-05 2009-08-04 Ford Motor Company Method of conducting online competitive price quoting events
US6876991B1 (en) 1999-11-08 2005-04-05 Collaborative Decision Platforms, Llc. System, method and computer program product for a collaborative decision platform
US7822636B1 (en) 1999-11-08 2010-10-26 Aol Advertising, Inc. Optimal internet ad placement
US7475032B1 (en) * 1999-11-16 2009-01-06 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Systems and methods for creating financial advice applications
US6741969B1 (en) 1999-12-15 2004-05-25 Murray Huneke System and method for reducing excess capacity for restaurants and other industries during off-peak or other times
AU2592701A (en) * 1999-12-23 2001-07-03 My-E-Surveys.Com, Llc System and methods for internet commerce and communication based on customer interaction and preferences
US6901406B2 (en) 1999-12-29 2005-05-31 General Electric Capital Corporation Methods and systems for accessing multi-dimensional customer data
US7003476B1 (en) 1999-12-29 2006-02-21 General Electric Capital Corporation Methods and systems for defining targeted marketing campaigns using embedded models and historical data
US7006979B1 (en) 1999-12-29 2006-02-28 General Electric Capital Corporation Methods and systems for creating models for marketing campaigns
US7720707B1 (en) * 2000-01-07 2010-05-18 Home Producers Network, Llc Method and system for compiling a consumer-based electronic database, searchable according to individual internet user-defined micro-demographics
GB2365571A (en) * 2000-01-18 2002-02-20 Valuestar Inc System and method for realtime updating service provider ratings
JP2001229209A (en) * 2000-02-14 2001-08-24 Nec Corp Design system
US8290809B1 (en) 2000-02-14 2012-10-16 Ebay Inc. Determining a community rating for a user using feedback ratings of related users in an electronic environment
US7428505B1 (en) * 2000-02-29 2008-09-23 Ebay, Inc. Method and system for harvesting feedback and comments regarding multiple items from users of a network-based transaction facility
US9614934B2 (en) 2000-02-29 2017-04-04 Paypal, Inc. Methods and systems for harvesting comments regarding users on a network-based facility
US7797373B1 (en) 2000-03-03 2010-09-14 Martin S Berger System and method for promoting intellectual property
WO2001067333A1 (en) * 2000-03-06 2001-09-13 Benderev Theodore V On-line survey method
US7231608B1 (en) 2000-03-08 2007-06-12 Accenture Llp Financial manager user interface as filed
US8024213B1 (en) 2000-03-08 2011-09-20 Accenture Global Services Limited System and method and article of manufacture for making financial decisions by balancing goals in a financial manager
US20010032123A1 (en) * 2000-03-20 2001-10-18 Megan Burns Electronic commerce utilizing a value parameter
US7284064B1 (en) 2000-03-21 2007-10-16 Intel Corporation Method and apparatus to determine broadcast content and scheduling in a broadcast system
US8504438B2 (en) 2000-03-21 2013-08-06 James D. Bennett Online purchasing system supporting lenders with affordability screening
JP2001265906A (en) * 2000-03-23 2001-09-28 Nec Corp On-line real time monitoring system and on-line real time monitor business method
WO2001071591A1 (en) * 2000-03-24 2001-09-27 Optim Corporation Advertising system
JP2001282984A (en) * 2000-03-30 2001-10-12 Sony Corp System and device for investigating contents market, contents voting device, contents market investigating method and recording medium
US7801766B2 (en) * 2000-03-31 2010-09-21 You Technology Brand Services, Inc. Method, system, and computer readable medium for facilitating a transaction between a customer, a merchant and an associate
US20010032117A1 (en) * 2000-04-07 2001-10-18 Persky Robert E. Continuous and updatable revenue sharing process for lists
US6757661B1 (en) * 2000-04-07 2004-06-29 Netzero High volume targeting of advertisements to user of online service
US7979880B2 (en) * 2000-04-21 2011-07-12 Cox Communications, Inc. Method and system for profiling iTV users and for providing selective content delivery
US7451094B2 (en) * 2000-05-22 2008-11-11 Royall & Company Method for electronically surveying prospective candidates for admission to educational institutions and encouraging interest in attending
US7082427B1 (en) 2000-05-24 2006-07-25 Reachforce, Inc. Text indexing system to index, query the archive database document by keyword data representing the content of the documents and by contact data associated with the participant who generated the document
US7096220B1 (en) 2000-05-24 2006-08-22 Reachforce, Inc. Web-based customer prospects harvester system
US7120629B1 (en) * 2000-05-24 2006-10-10 Reachforce, Inc. Prospects harvester system for providing contact data about customers of product or service offered by business enterprise extracting text documents selected from newsgroups, discussion forums, mailing lists, querying such data to provide customers who confirm to business profile data
US7003517B1 (en) * 2000-05-24 2006-02-21 Inetprofit, Inc. Web-based system and method for archiving and searching participant-based internet text sources for customer lead data
US20020073005A1 (en) * 2000-05-25 2002-06-13 Welnicki Raymond P. Computerized lifestyle planning system and method
AU2001270054A1 (en) * 2000-06-22 2002-01-02 Advisorteam.Com, Inc. Method and system for determining personal characteristics of an individual or group
AU2001271259A1 (en) * 2000-06-28 2002-01-08 Intertainer, Inc. Intelligent media targeting system and method
US7031651B2 (en) * 2000-07-21 2006-04-18 Englishtown, Inc. System and method of matching teachers with students to facilitate conducting online private instruction over a global network
JP2002041761A (en) * 2000-07-28 2002-02-08 Toshiba Corp Article information managing device, article information input/output device, and article information managing method
US6446044B1 (en) * 2000-07-31 2002-09-03 Luth Research Inc. Multi-layer surveying systems and methods with multi-layer incentives
US7054900B1 (en) 2000-08-18 2006-05-30 Netzero, Inc. Automatic, profile-free web page recommendation
KR100371662B1 (en) * 2000-08-23 2003-03-28 김정욱 Method for real time survey on the internet
US6965226B2 (en) 2000-09-05 2005-11-15 Cascade Microtech, Inc. Chuck for holding a device under test
US6914423B2 (en) 2000-09-05 2005-07-05 Cascade Microtech, Inc. Probe station
WO2002019790A2 (en) * 2000-09-07 2002-03-14 Briere Daniel D Marketing collateral repository and supporting data management and communication environment
US20060074727A1 (en) 2000-09-07 2006-04-06 Briere Daniel D Method and apparatus for collection and dissemination of information over a computer network
US20020107972A1 (en) * 2000-09-19 2002-08-08 Keane Kerry C. System and method for distributing media content
FI113413B (en) * 2000-09-20 2004-04-15 Interquest Oy Method for collecting and processing data
CA2321144A1 (en) * 2000-09-25 2002-03-25 Philippe Lemay System and method for inferring an individual's mental representations by successive comparisons of a list of items
US7299255B2 (en) * 2000-09-26 2007-11-20 I2 Technologies Us, Inc. System and method for migrating data in an electronic commerce system
US7590558B2 (en) * 2000-09-26 2009-09-15 I2 Technologies Us, Inc. System and method for facilitating electronic commerce transactions
JP2002106348A (en) * 2000-09-28 2002-04-10 Toyo Radiator Co Ltd Pressure cap
US7703611B1 (en) 2000-09-29 2010-04-27 Aol Inc. Targeted geographical condition notification of users based on a geographic location and device types or software of the users
US7904318B2 (en) * 2000-10-02 2011-03-08 Computer Sciences Corporation Computerized method and system of determining right of way and liability for an accident
US7330850B1 (en) 2000-10-04 2008-02-12 Reachforce, Inc. Text mining system for web-based business intelligence applied to web site server logs
US7043531B1 (en) 2000-10-04 2006-05-09 Inetprofit, Inc. Web-based customer lead generator system with pre-emptive profiling
US20020098891A1 (en) * 2000-10-10 2002-07-25 Graham Michael B. Computerized system and method for providing advertising to a consumer
US20060129458A1 (en) * 2000-10-12 2006-06-15 Maggio Frank S Method and system for interacting with on-demand video content
US20060253330A1 (en) * 2000-10-12 2006-11-09 Maggio Frank S Method and system for automatically substituting media content
US20040015399A1 (en) * 2000-10-12 2004-01-22 Maggio Frank S. Method and system for verifying exposure to message content delivered via outdoor media or in a concentrated format
US20060282319A1 (en) * 2000-10-12 2006-12-14 Maggio Frank S Method and system for substituting media content
US20040107138A1 (en) * 2000-10-12 2004-06-03 Maggio Frank S. Method and system for verifying immersion in advertising content via an immersion enhancing content vignette
JP2004531747A (en) * 2000-10-12 2004-10-14 フランク エス. マッジョ、 Method and system for transmitting advertising and entertainment contents and collecting consumer information
US20050060232A1 (en) * 2000-10-12 2005-03-17 Maggio Frank S. Method and system for interacting with a writing
US20040103032A1 (en) * 2000-10-12 2004-05-27 Maggio Frank S. Remote control system and method for interacting with broadcast content
JP2004533660A (en) * 2000-10-18 2004-11-04 ジヨンソン・アンド・ジヨンソン・コンシユーマー・カンパニーズ・インコーポレーテツド Intelligent performance-based product recommendation system
AU2002243431A1 (en) * 2000-10-23 2002-06-24 Deloitte And Touche Llp Commercial insurance scoring system and method
US6999987B1 (en) * 2000-10-25 2006-02-14 America Online, Inc. Screening and survey selection system and method of operating the same
US9819561B2 (en) 2000-10-26 2017-11-14 Liveperson, Inc. System and methods for facilitating object assignments
US8868448B2 (en) 2000-10-26 2014-10-21 Liveperson, Inc. Systems and methods to facilitate selling of products and services
US6845374B1 (en) 2000-11-27 2005-01-18 Mailfrontier, Inc System and method for adaptive text recommendation
US20020083006A1 (en) * 2000-12-14 2002-06-27 Intertainer, Inc. Systems and methods for delivering media content
US20020078152A1 (en) * 2000-12-19 2002-06-20 Barry Boone Method and apparatus for providing predefined feedback
AU2002231146A1 (en) * 2000-12-22 2002-07-08 William M. Tomlinson Collecting user responses over a network
US7698161B2 (en) * 2001-01-04 2010-04-13 True Choice Solutions, Inc. System to quantify consumer preferences
US20030018525A1 (en) * 2001-01-09 2003-01-23 Joao Raymond Anthony Apparatus and method for providing compensation-based telemarketing information
US7526434B2 (en) * 2001-01-30 2009-04-28 Linda Sharp Network based system and method for marketing management
US8751310B2 (en) 2005-09-30 2014-06-10 Sony Computer Entertainment America Llc Monitoring advertisement impressions
US20020133391A1 (en) * 2001-03-12 2002-09-19 Johnson Timothy Lee Marketing systems and methods
US7805338B2 (en) * 2001-03-26 2010-09-28 Usa Technologies, Inc. Method of constructing a digital content play list for transmission and presentation on a public access electronic terminal
US20020143647A1 (en) * 2001-03-30 2002-10-03 Intertainer, Inc. Subscriber management system
US20020144283A1 (en) * 2001-03-30 2002-10-03 Intertainer, Inc. Content distribution system
US6925469B2 (en) * 2001-03-30 2005-08-02 Intertainer, Inc. Digital entertainment service platform
US7305364B2 (en) * 2001-04-06 2007-12-04 General Electric Capital Corporation Methods and systems for supplying customer leads to dealers
US7216102B2 (en) * 2001-04-06 2007-05-08 General Electric Capital Corporation Methods and systems for auctioning of pre-selected customer lists
US20020152110A1 (en) * 2001-04-16 2002-10-17 Stewart Betsy J. Method and system for collecting market research data
US20020156690A1 (en) * 2001-04-18 2002-10-24 Yi Sheu Ren Automatic agency marketing method and the system of the same
US7958006B2 (en) * 2001-04-27 2011-06-07 True Choice Solutions, Inc. System to provide consumer preference information
JP4028187B2 (en) * 2001-05-07 2007-12-26 本田技研工業株式会社 A computer system that provides web pages suitable for users.
JP2002334248A (en) * 2001-05-07 2002-11-22 Honda Motor Co Ltd Computer system judging customer type in real time
US7254226B1 (en) * 2001-05-08 2007-08-07 At&T Intellectual Property, Inc. Call waiting priority alert
US6983276B2 (en) * 2001-05-15 2006-01-03 I2 Technologies Us, Inc. Facilitating electronic commerce transactions using buyer profiles
US7349868B2 (en) * 2001-05-15 2008-03-25 I2 Technologies Us, Inc. Pre-qualifying sellers during the matching phase of an electronic commerce transaction
US7475030B1 (en) 2001-05-16 2009-01-06 I2 Technologies Us, Inc. Facilitating electronic commerce transactions using a shared product data repository
US7263515B1 (en) * 2001-06-18 2007-08-28 I2 Technologies Us, Inc. Content enhancement in an electronic marketplace
US7127416B1 (en) 2001-06-18 2006-10-24 I2 Technologies Us, Inc. Distributed processing of sorted search results in an electronic commerce system and method
US7085358B2 (en) 2001-06-25 2006-08-01 Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation Visual caller identification
US7330829B1 (en) 2001-06-26 2008-02-12 I2 Technologies Us, Inc. Providing market feedback associated with electronic commerce transactions to sellers
US8086643B1 (en) 2001-06-28 2011-12-27 Jda Software Group, Inc. Translation between product classification schemas
US7809672B1 (en) 2001-06-28 2010-10-05 I2 Technologies Us, Inc. Association of data with a product classification schema
US7162453B1 (en) 2001-06-29 2007-01-09 I2 Technologies Us, Inc. Protecting content from unauthorized reproduction
US7346560B1 (en) 2001-06-29 2008-03-18 I2 Technologies Us, Inc. Protecting content from unauthorized reproduction
US20030009371A1 (en) * 2001-07-03 2003-01-09 Ravi Gauba Interactive decision-making scenarios in an audio/video broadcast
US7963899B2 (en) * 2001-07-13 2011-06-21 The Proctor & Gamble Company Continuous in-line pleating apparatus and process
US20030028871A1 (en) * 2001-07-20 2003-02-06 Annie Wang Behavior profile system and method
US7874841B1 (en) * 2001-08-08 2011-01-25 Lycas Geoffrey S Method and apparatus for personal awareness and growth
US7315614B2 (en) 2001-08-14 2008-01-01 At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. Remote notification of communications
US7403768B2 (en) * 2001-08-14 2008-07-22 At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. Method for using AIN to deliver caller ID to text/alpha-numeric pagers as well as other wireless devices, for calls delivered to wireless network
US8090617B1 (en) * 2001-08-27 2012-01-03 Renesas Electronics America Inc. Determining if a potential customer is a desirable customer
US7711595B2 (en) * 2001-08-28 2010-05-04 International Business Machines Corporation Method and system for generating a value proposition for a company in an industry
US7085774B2 (en) 2001-08-30 2006-08-01 Infonox On The Web Active profiling system for tracking and quantifying customer conversion efficiency
AU2001284628A1 (en) * 2001-08-31 2003-03-10 Kent Ridge Digital Labs Time-based media navigation system
US7063264B2 (en) 2001-12-24 2006-06-20 Digimarc Corporation Covert variable information on identification documents and methods of making same
US6865578B2 (en) * 2001-09-04 2005-03-08 Wesley Joseph Hays Method and apparatus for the design and analysis of market research studies
US6754676B2 (en) * 2001-09-13 2004-06-22 International Business Machines Corporation Apparatus and method for providing selective views of on-line surveys
US20030055762A1 (en) * 2001-09-18 2003-03-20 Holt Laurence E. Incremental active user profile construction for content customization interspersed with content display
US7269249B2 (en) 2001-09-28 2007-09-11 At&T Bls Intellectual Property, Inc. Systems and methods for providing user profile information in conjunction with an enhanced caller information system
US20030074447A1 (en) * 2001-10-16 2003-04-17 Rafey Richter A. Intuitive mapping between explicit and implicit personalization
US20030163363A1 (en) * 2001-10-19 2003-08-28 Campagne Associates Computerized prospect rating system and method
US7191143B2 (en) * 2001-11-05 2007-03-13 Keli Sev K H Preference information-based metrics
US7079837B1 (en) * 2001-11-06 2006-07-18 Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation Caller identification queue for wireless telephones
US20090157483A1 (en) * 2001-11-14 2009-06-18 Retaildna, Llc Method and system for using artificial intelligence to generate or modify an employee prompt or a customer survey
US8200511B2 (en) * 2001-11-28 2012-06-12 Deloitte Development Llc Method and system for determining the importance of individual variables in a statistical model
US20110178877A1 (en) 2001-12-14 2011-07-21 Swix Scott R Advertising and content management systems and methods
US7212979B1 (en) * 2001-12-14 2007-05-01 Bellsouth Intellectuall Property Corporation System and method for identifying desirable subscribers
US9967633B1 (en) 2001-12-14 2018-05-08 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. System and method for utilizing television viewing patterns
US7444658B1 (en) 2001-12-14 2008-10-28 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Method and system to perform content targeting
US7325065B1 (en) * 2001-12-21 2008-01-29 Aol Llc, A Delaware Limited Liability Company Identifying unauthorized communication systems using a system-specific identifier
US20050071863A1 (en) * 2001-12-21 2005-03-31 Matz William R. System and method for storing and distributing television viewing patterns form a clearinghouse
US7086075B2 (en) * 2001-12-21 2006-08-01 Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation Method and system for managing timed responses to A/V events in television programming
US7694887B2 (en) 2001-12-24 2010-04-13 L-1 Secure Credentialing, Inc. Optically variable personalized indicia for identification documents
US7207494B2 (en) 2001-12-24 2007-04-24 Digimarc Corporation Laser etched security features for identification documents and methods of making same
US7315618B1 (en) 2001-12-27 2008-01-01 At&T Bls Intellectual Property, Inc. Voice caller ID
US8086491B1 (en) 2001-12-31 2011-12-27 At&T Intellectual Property I, L. P. Method and system for targeted content distribution using tagged data streams
US7412424B1 (en) 2002-03-19 2008-08-12 I2 Technologies Us, Inc. Third party certification of content in electronic commerce transactions
WO2003085486A2 (en) * 2002-04-04 2003-10-16 Arrow Electronics, Inc. Computer-implemented system and method for assessing supply chain solutions
WO2003088144A2 (en) 2002-04-09 2003-10-23 Digimarc Id Systems, Llc Image processing techniques for printing identification cards and documents
US20030204436A1 (en) * 2002-04-30 2003-10-30 Joerg Flender Survey data gathering
US7824029B2 (en) 2002-05-10 2010-11-02 L-1 Secure Credentialing, Inc. Identification card printer-assembler for over the counter card issuing
US20030236729A1 (en) * 2002-06-21 2003-12-25 Kenneth Epstein Systems and methods of directing, customizing, exchanging, negotiating, trading and provisioning of information, goods and services to information users
US8036919B2 (en) 2002-07-10 2011-10-11 Deloitte & Touche Llp Licensed professional scoring system and method
US20040015394A1 (en) * 2002-07-19 2004-01-22 Beatrice Mok Method for rewarding customer loyalty with respect to a lease agreement
US7139374B1 (en) 2002-07-23 2006-11-21 Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corp. System and method for gathering information related to a geographical location of a callee in a public switched telephone network
US7623645B1 (en) 2002-07-23 2009-11-24 At&T Intellectual Property, I, L.P. System and method for gathering information related to a geographical location of a caller in a public switched telephone network
US20040210472A1 (en) * 2002-07-25 2004-10-21 Lew Ark L. System and method for conducting a real-time survey
US20040019688A1 (en) * 2002-07-29 2004-01-29 Opinionlab Providing substantially real-time access to collected information concerning user interaction with a web page of a website
US7478121B1 (en) 2002-07-31 2009-01-13 Opinionlab, Inc. Receiving and reporting page-specific user feedback concerning one or more particular web pages of a website
US7370285B1 (en) * 2002-07-31 2008-05-06 Opinionlab, Inc. Receiving and reporting page-specific user feedback concerning one or more particular web pages of a website
AU2003265369A1 (en) 2002-08-06 2004-02-23 Blue Flame Data, Inc. System to quantify consumer preferences
US8521590B1 (en) * 2002-08-22 2013-08-27 Denise Larson Hanusch Systems and methods for assessing consumers' product brand loyalty
US20040044569A1 (en) * 2002-08-30 2004-03-04 Roberts William Anthony Systems and method for providing targeted message in a media player
US20040054558A1 (en) * 2002-09-09 2004-03-18 Stefan Wahlbin Computerized method and system for determining claimant status in premises liability for an accident
US20040054556A1 (en) * 2002-09-09 2004-03-18 Stephan Wahlbin Computerized method and system for determining causation in premises liability for an accident
US20040054557A1 (en) * 2002-09-09 2004-03-18 Stefan Wahlbin Computerized method and system for estimating premises liability for an accident
US7672860B2 (en) * 2002-09-09 2010-03-02 Computer Sciences Corporation Computerized method and system for determining the contribution of defenses to premises liability for an accident
US7702528B2 (en) * 2002-09-09 2010-04-20 Computer Sciences Corporation Computerized method and system for determining breach of duty in premises liability for an accident
US20040064357A1 (en) * 2002-09-26 2004-04-01 Hunter Jeffrey D. System and method for increasing the accuracy of forecasted consumer interest in products and services
US20040073482A1 (en) * 2002-10-15 2004-04-15 Wiggins Randall T. Targeted information content delivery using a combination of environmental and demographic information
US7676387B2 (en) 2002-10-31 2010-03-09 Computer Sciences Corporation Graphical display of business rules
US7689442B2 (en) 2002-10-31 2010-03-30 Computer Science Corporation Method of generating a graphical display of a business rule with a translation
US7451148B2 (en) * 2002-10-31 2008-11-11 Computer Sciences Corporation Method of modifying a business rule while tracking the modifications
AU2003248880A1 (en) * 2002-11-26 2004-06-18 The Advertizing Firm, Inc. Method and system of advertising
WO2004049242A2 (en) 2002-11-26 2004-06-10 Digimarc Id Systems Systems and methods for managing and detecting fraud in image databases used with identification documents
US7805321B2 (en) * 2002-11-27 2010-09-28 Computer Sciences Corporation Computerized method and system for estimating liability for an accident from an investigation of the accident
US7809586B2 (en) * 2002-11-27 2010-10-05 Computer Sciences Corporation Computerized method and system for estimating an effect on liability using a comparison of the actual speed of a vehicle in an accident and time and distance traveled by the vehicles in a merging vehicle accident
US20040102984A1 (en) * 2002-11-27 2004-05-27 Stefan Wahlbin Computerized method and system for estimating liability using recorded vehicle data
US7702529B2 (en) * 2002-11-27 2010-04-20 Computer Sciences Corporation Computerized method and system for estimating an effect on liability using claim data accessed from claim reporting software
US7792690B2 (en) * 2002-11-27 2010-09-07 Computer Sciences Corporation Computerized method and system for estimating an effect on liability of the speed of vehicles in an accident and time and distance traveled by the vehicles
US7660725B2 (en) * 2002-11-27 2010-02-09 Computer Sciences Corporation Computerized method and system for estimating an effect on liability based on the stopping distance of vehicles
US7818187B2 (en) * 2002-11-27 2010-10-19 Computer Sciences Corporation Computerized method and system for estimating liability
US7725334B2 (en) 2002-11-27 2010-05-25 Computer Sciences Corporation Computerized method and system for estimating liability for an accident using dynamic generation of questions
US20040103005A1 (en) * 2002-11-27 2004-05-27 Stefan Wahlbin Computerized method and system for estimating monetary damages due to injuries in an accident from liability estimated using a computer system
US7895063B2 (en) * 2002-11-27 2011-02-22 Computer Sciences Corporation Computerized method and system for creating pre-configured claim reports including liability in an accident estimated using a computer system
US20040128236A1 (en) * 2002-12-30 2004-07-01 Brown Ron T. Methods and apparatus for evaluating and using profitability of a credit card account
EP1609100A2 (en) * 2003-03-19 2005-12-28 Customiser Ltd. Recognition of patterns in data
US8069076B2 (en) * 2003-03-25 2011-11-29 Cox Communications, Inc. Generating audience analytics
US20040204981A1 (en) * 2003-04-14 2004-10-14 Schuebel Diane M. Business method for performing consumer research
CA2522551C (en) 2003-04-16 2009-12-22 Digimarc Corporation Three dimensional data storage
US7443964B2 (en) 2003-04-18 2008-10-28 At&T Intellectual Property, I,L.P. Caller ID messaging
US7978833B2 (en) 2003-04-18 2011-07-12 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Private caller ID messaging
US20040220858A1 (en) * 2003-05-02 2004-11-04 Maggio Frank S. Method and system for verifying exposure to message content delivered via subscription networks
US7492172B2 (en) 2003-05-23 2009-02-17 Cascade Microtech, Inc. Chuck for holding a device under test
WO2005001631A2 (en) * 2003-06-10 2005-01-06 Citibank, N.A. System and method for analyzing marketing efforts
US7827487B1 (en) 2003-06-16 2010-11-02 Opinionlab, Inc. Soliciting user feedback regarding one or more web pages of a website without obscuring visual content
US8301482B2 (en) * 2003-08-25 2012-10-30 Tom Reynolds Determining strategies for increasing loyalty of a population to an entity
US7769626B2 (en) 2003-08-25 2010-08-03 Tom Reynolds Determining strategies for increasing loyalty of a population to an entity
US7895064B2 (en) 2003-09-02 2011-02-22 Computer Sciences Corporation Graphical input display in an insurance processing system
US7559018B2 (en) * 2003-09-10 2009-07-07 Sas Institute Inc. Computer-implemented system and method for data collection
FR2860318A1 (en) * 2003-09-25 2005-04-01 Calame Software ELECTRONIC INVESTIGATION METHOD
US10643003B2 (en) * 2003-09-25 2020-05-05 Ateb, Inc. System and method for maintaining privacy of data used at a signature capture device
US7250626B2 (en) 2003-10-22 2007-07-31 Cascade Microtech, Inc. Probe testing structure
US20050108063A1 (en) * 2003-11-05 2005-05-19 Madill Robert P.Jr. Systems and methods for assessing the potential for fraud in business transactions
US7623849B2 (en) 2003-11-13 2009-11-24 At&T Intellectual Property, I, L.P. Method, system, and storage medium for providing comprehensive originator identification services
US7716079B2 (en) * 2003-11-20 2010-05-11 Ebay Inc. Feedback cancellation in a network-based transaction facility
US20050131828A1 (en) * 2003-12-16 2005-06-16 Glenn Gearhart Method and system for cyber-security damage assessment and evaluation measurement (CDAEM)
US20050132225A1 (en) * 2003-12-16 2005-06-16 Glenn Gearhart Method and system for cyber-security vulnerability detection and compliance measurement (CDCM)
US7672444B2 (en) 2003-12-24 2010-03-02 At&T Intellectual Property, I, L.P. Client survey systems and methods using caller identification information
US7187188B2 (en) 2003-12-24 2007-03-06 Cascade Microtech, Inc. Chuck with integrated wafer support
US20090019083A1 (en) * 2003-12-30 2009-01-15 Bacon Charles F System and method for adaptive decision making analysis and assessment
US8392249B2 (en) * 2003-12-31 2013-03-05 Google Inc. Suggesting and/or providing targeting criteria for advertisements
GB0410014D0 (en) * 2004-05-05 2004-06-09 Nokia Corp Multimedia message delivery optimisation
US10373173B2 (en) * 2004-06-14 2019-08-06 Facebook, Inc. Online content delivery based on information from social networks
US8195136B2 (en) 2004-07-15 2012-06-05 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Methods of providing caller identification information and related registries and radiotelephone networks
US8763157B2 (en) 2004-08-23 2014-06-24 Sony Computer Entertainment America Llc Statutory license restricted digital media playback on portable devices
US20060085083A1 (en) * 2004-09-02 2006-04-20 Robert Congel Methods and system for conducting research and development on an urban scale
US20060136273A1 (en) * 2004-09-10 2006-06-22 Frank Zizzamia Method and system for estimating insurance loss reserves and confidence intervals using insurance policy and claim level detail predictive modeling
US20060059021A1 (en) * 2004-09-15 2006-03-16 Jim Yulman Independent adjuster advisor
US20060085255A1 (en) * 2004-09-27 2006-04-20 Hunter Hastings System, method and apparatus for modeling and utilizing metrics, processes and technology in marketing applications
US20060080172A1 (en) * 2004-10-13 2006-04-13 Softcoin, Inc. Method, system, and software for electronic media driven promotions that include off-line actions
US20060085253A1 (en) * 2004-10-18 2006-04-20 Matthew Mengerink Method and system to utilize a user network within a network-based commerce platform
US20060143071A1 (en) * 2004-12-14 2006-06-29 Hsbc North America Holdings Inc. Methods, systems and mediums for scoring customers for marketing
US20070214415A1 (en) * 2004-12-14 2007-09-13 Williams John M Systems and Methods for Logo Design
US7535247B2 (en) 2005-01-31 2009-05-19 Cascade Microtech, Inc. Interface for testing semiconductors
US7656172B2 (en) 2005-01-31 2010-02-02 Cascade Microtech, Inc. System for testing semiconductors
US7272582B2 (en) * 2005-02-10 2007-09-18 Data Gater, Llc Fee determination device
US20060229932A1 (en) * 2005-04-06 2006-10-12 Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. Intelligent sales and marketing recommendation system
US8214264B2 (en) * 2005-05-02 2012-07-03 Cbs Interactive, Inc. System and method for an electronic product advisor
US20060265368A1 (en) * 2005-05-23 2006-11-23 Opinionlab, Inc. Measuring subjective user reaction concerning a particular document
US20060271552A1 (en) * 2005-05-26 2006-11-30 Venture Capital & Consulting Group, Llc. Targeted delivery of content
US20060271437A1 (en) * 2005-05-26 2006-11-30 Maggio Frank S System and method for home product delivery
US20060282371A1 (en) * 2005-06-08 2006-12-14 Ge Mortgage Holdings, Llc Methods and apparatus for analysis of opportunities for marketing and providing of mortgage services
US20060288367A1 (en) * 2005-06-16 2006-12-21 Swix Scott R Systems, methods and products for tailoring and bundling content
GB2430072B (en) * 2005-08-18 2008-02-13 Mark Jones Teaching apparatus
US7673017B2 (en) 2005-09-06 2010-03-02 Interpolls Network Inc. Systems and methods for integrating XML syndication feeds into online advertisement
US8738732B2 (en) 2005-09-14 2014-05-27 Liveperson, Inc. System and method for performing follow up based on user interactions
US9432468B2 (en) 2005-09-14 2016-08-30 Liveperson, Inc. System and method for design and dynamic generation of a web page
US8626584B2 (en) 2005-09-30 2014-01-07 Sony Computer Entertainment America Llc Population of an advertisement reference list
US20070118425A1 (en) 2005-10-25 2007-05-24 Podbridge, Inc. User device agent for asynchronous advertising in time and space shifted media network
US8676900B2 (en) 2005-10-25 2014-03-18 Sony Computer Entertainment America Llc Asynchronous advertising placement based on metadata
US10657538B2 (en) 2005-10-25 2020-05-19 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC Resolution of advertising rules
US11004089B2 (en) 2005-10-25 2021-05-11 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC Associating media content files with advertisements
CA2524527A1 (en) 2005-10-26 2007-04-26 Ibm Canada Limited - Ibm Canada Limitee Systems, methods and tools for facilitating group collaborations
CA2525267A1 (en) * 2005-10-28 2007-04-28 Ibm Canada Limited - Ibm Canada Limitee Systems, methods and tools for aggregating subsets of opinions from group collaborations
US20070192161A1 (en) * 2005-12-28 2007-08-16 International Business Machines Corporation On-demand customer satisfaction measurement
WO2007096876A2 (en) * 2006-02-21 2007-08-30 Massive Impact International Limited Return rate optimization system and method for promotions
US8706560B2 (en) 2011-07-27 2014-04-22 Ebay Inc. Community based network shopping
US20080022414A1 (en) 2006-03-31 2008-01-24 Robert Cahn System and method of providing unique personal identifiers for use in the anonymous and secure exchange of data
US20070290878A1 (en) * 2006-04-07 2007-12-20 Media Ip Holdings, Llc System and method for interacting with automobile race and advertising content
US20080032277A1 (en) * 2006-04-08 2008-02-07 Media Ip Holdings, Llc Dynamic multiple choice answers
EP2018728A4 (en) 2006-05-05 2011-07-06 Sony Comp Entertainment Us Advertisement rotation
US8706544B1 (en) 2006-05-25 2014-04-22 Videomining Corporation Method and system for automatically measuring and forecasting the demographic characterization of customers to help customize programming contents in a media network
KR100840072B1 (en) * 2006-06-05 2008-06-19 주식회사 인터파크지마켓 Method for providing advertisement inducing active participation from targeted customers and system therefor
US7930204B1 (en) 2006-07-25 2011-04-19 Videomining Corporation Method and system for narrowcasting based on automatic analysis of customer behavior in a retail store
US7831473B2 (en) * 2006-07-29 2010-11-09 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Methods, systems, and products for crediting accounts
US7965827B2 (en) * 2006-07-29 2011-06-21 At&T Intellectual Property I, L. P. Methods, systems, and products for purchasing pre-paid services
US20080027819A1 (en) * 2006-07-29 2008-01-31 John Ruckart Methods, systems, and products for purchasing products
US8775237B2 (en) 2006-08-02 2014-07-08 Opinionlab, Inc. System and method for measuring and reporting user reactions to advertisements on a web page
US20080059288A1 (en) * 2006-08-14 2008-03-06 Backchannelmedia Inc. Systems and methods for accountable media planning
EP1895459A1 (en) * 2006-08-31 2008-03-05 Opinionlab, Inc. Computer-implemented system and method for measuring and reporting business intelligence based on comments collected from web page users using software associated with accessed web pages
US7945582B2 (en) * 2006-09-23 2011-05-17 Gis Planning, Inc. Web-based interactive geographic information systems mapping analysis and methods of using thereof
EP3156959A1 (en) * 2006-10-02 2017-04-19 Segmint Inc. Personalized consumer advertising placement
US8874465B2 (en) 2006-10-02 2014-10-28 Russel Robert Heiser, III Method and system for targeted content placement
US7752554B2 (en) * 2006-10-05 2010-07-06 Microsoft Corporation Bot identification and control
US20080109480A1 (en) * 2006-11-02 2008-05-08 David Brophy Relationship management for marketing communications
US20090319931A1 (en) * 2006-11-07 2009-12-24 Hutchings Christopher J Visual Intelligence Systems
US20090061883A1 (en) * 2007-08-30 2009-03-05 Fatdoor, Inc. Business reviews claiming in a geo-spatial environment
US8126766B2 (en) * 2006-11-29 2012-02-28 Yahoo! Inc. Interactive user interface for collecting and processing nomenclature and placement metrics for website design
US20080148311A1 (en) * 2006-12-13 2008-06-19 Tischer Steven N Advertising and content management systems and methods
US8402114B2 (en) 2006-12-28 2013-03-19 Advertising.Com Llc Systems and methods for selecting advertisements for display over a communications network
US8086511B2 (en) * 2006-12-29 2011-12-27 American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. System and method for presenting a competitive comparison of a recommended or custom card
US8458063B2 (en) * 2006-12-29 2013-06-04 American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. System and method for profiling consumers and creating a recommended or custom card
US7913178B2 (en) * 2007-01-31 2011-03-22 Ebay Inc. Method and system for collaborative and private sessions
US20080215352A1 (en) * 2007-02-07 2008-09-04 Seaton Corp. Method and apparatus for recruiting students
US8473345B2 (en) 2007-03-29 2013-06-25 The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc Protocol generator and presenter device for analysis of marketing and entertainment effectiveness
US20080255928A1 (en) * 2007-04-10 2008-10-16 Thomas Joseph Tomeny Trusted networks of unique identified natural persons
US8392253B2 (en) 2007-05-16 2013-03-05 The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc Neuro-physiology and neuro-behavioral based stimulus targeting system
US8056118B2 (en) 2007-06-01 2011-11-08 Piliouras Teresa C Systems and methods for universal enhanced log-in, identity document verification, and dedicated survey participation
US9398022B2 (en) 2007-06-01 2016-07-19 Teresa C. Piliouras Systems and methods for universal enhanced log-in, identity document verification, and dedicated survey participation
US8959584B2 (en) 2007-06-01 2015-02-17 Albright Associates Systems and methods for universal enhanced log-in, identity document verification and dedicated survey participation
US8893241B2 (en) 2007-06-01 2014-11-18 Albright Associates Systems and methods for universal enhanced log-in, identity document verification and dedicated survey participation
US8000986B2 (en) * 2007-06-04 2011-08-16 Computer Sciences Corporation Claims processing hierarchy for designee
US8010389B2 (en) 2007-06-04 2011-08-30 Computer Sciences Corporation Multiple policy claims processing
US8010391B2 (en) * 2007-06-29 2011-08-30 Computer Sciences Corporation Claims processing hierarchy for insured
US8010390B2 (en) 2007-06-04 2011-08-30 Computer Sciences Corporation Claims processing of information requirements
KR20100038107A (en) 2007-07-30 2010-04-12 뉴로포커스, 인크. Neuro-response stimulus and stimulus attribute resonance estimator
US8160226B2 (en) 2007-08-22 2012-04-17 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Key word programmable caller ID
US8243909B2 (en) 2007-08-22 2012-08-14 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Programmable caller ID
US8386313B2 (en) 2007-08-28 2013-02-26 The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc Stimulus placement system using subject neuro-response measurements
US8055671B2 (en) 2007-08-29 2011-11-08 Enpulz, Llc Search engine using world map with whois database search restriction
US8219533B2 (en) 2007-08-29 2012-07-10 Enpulz Llc Search engine feedback for developing reliable whois database reference for restricted search operation
US8392255B2 (en) 2007-08-29 2013-03-05 The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc Content based selection and meta tagging of advertisement breaks
US20090083129A1 (en) 2007-09-20 2009-03-26 Neurofocus, Inc. Personalized content delivery using neuro-response priming data
WO2009046224A1 (en) 2007-10-02 2009-04-09 Emsense Corporation Providing remote access to media, and reaction and survey data from viewers of the media
US8416247B2 (en) 2007-10-09 2013-04-09 Sony Computer Entertaiment America Inc. Increasing the number of advertising impressions in an interactive environment
US7991648B2 (en) * 2007-10-30 2011-08-02 Microsoft Corporation Opportunity index for identifying a user's unmet needs
EP2214550A1 (en) 2007-10-31 2010-08-11 Emsense Corporation Systems and methods providing distributed collection and centralized processing of physiological responses from viewers
US11062351B1 (en) 2007-11-15 2021-07-13 Verizon Media Inc. Systems and methods for allocating electronic advertising opportunities
US8131586B2 (en) * 2008-01-16 2012-03-06 Alvin Cordeiro Method and apparatus for personalized consumer to business matchmaking
US8219424B2 (en) 2008-01-18 2012-07-10 Computer Sciences Corporation Determining amounts for claims settlement using likelihood values
US8769558B2 (en) 2008-02-12 2014-07-01 Sony Computer Entertainment America Llc Discovery and analytics for episodic downloaded media
US7895102B1 (en) 2008-02-29 2011-02-22 United Services Automobile Association (Usaa) Systems and methods for financial plan benchmarking
US7865455B2 (en) * 2008-03-13 2011-01-04 Opinionlab, Inc. System and method for providing intelligent support
US8234159B2 (en) * 2008-03-17 2012-07-31 Segmint Inc. Method and system for targeted content placement
US11138632B2 (en) 2008-03-17 2021-10-05 Segmint Inc. System and method for authenticating a customer for a pre-approved offer of credit
US10885552B2 (en) 2008-03-17 2021-01-05 Segmint, Inc. Method and system for targeted content placement
US11120471B2 (en) 2013-10-18 2021-09-14 Segmint Inc. Method and system for targeted content placement
DE202009019060U1 (en) 2008-03-17 2016-02-12 Segmint Inc. System for placing targeted content
US11669866B2 (en) 2008-03-17 2023-06-06 Segmint Inc. System and method for delivering a financial application to a prospective customer
US11663631B2 (en) 2008-03-17 2023-05-30 Segmint Inc. System and method for pulling a credit offer on bank's pre-approved property
US9659299B2 (en) * 2008-04-30 2017-05-23 Hartford Fire Insurance Company Computer system and method for interim transaction diagnosis for selective remediation and customer loyalty enhancement
US8190623B2 (en) 2008-06-05 2012-05-29 Enpulz, L.L.C. Image search engine using image analysis and categorization
US8180788B2 (en) 2008-06-05 2012-05-15 Enpulz, L.L.C. Image search engine employing image correlation
US8229911B2 (en) 2008-05-13 2012-07-24 Enpulz, Llc Network search engine utilizing client browser activity information
US8171041B2 (en) 2008-05-15 2012-05-01 Enpulz, L.L.C. Support for international search terms
US8250083B2 (en) 2008-05-16 2012-08-21 Enpulz, Llc Support for international search terms—translate as you crawl
US20090287471A1 (en) 2008-05-16 2009-11-19 Bennett James D Support for international search terms - translate as you search
KR101042429B1 (en) * 2008-05-30 2011-06-16 엔에이치엔비즈니스플랫폼 주식회사 Method and system for matter targeting advertisement by using an account domain
US8799200B2 (en) 2008-07-25 2014-08-05 Liveperson, Inc. Method and system for creating a predictive model for targeting webpage to a surfer
US8762313B2 (en) 2008-07-25 2014-06-24 Liveperson, Inc. Method and system for creating a predictive model for targeting web-page to a surfer
US20100030616A1 (en) * 2008-07-29 2010-02-04 Criner Walter H Apparatus and method for conducting surveys
US8805844B2 (en) 2008-08-04 2014-08-12 Liveperson, Inc. Expert search
US20100070406A1 (en) * 2008-09-15 2010-03-18 Stein Adam L Integrated mortgage and real estate origination system
US8655713B2 (en) * 2008-10-28 2014-02-18 Novell, Inc. Techniques for help desk management
US9892417B2 (en) 2008-10-29 2018-02-13 Liveperson, Inc. System and method for applying tracing tools for network locations
US8775230B2 (en) * 2008-11-03 2014-07-08 Oracle International Corporation Hybrid prediction model for a sales prospector
US8319503B2 (en) 2008-11-24 2012-11-27 Cascade Microtech, Inc. Test apparatus for measuring a characteristic of a device under test
US10430803B2 (en) * 2008-12-23 2019-10-01 Mastercard International Incorporated Methods and systems for predicting consumer behavior from transaction card purchases
US20100250325A1 (en) 2009-03-24 2010-09-30 Neurofocus, Inc. Neurological profiles for market matching and stimulus presentation
US11004093B1 (en) * 2009-06-29 2021-05-11 Videomining Corporation Method and system for detecting shopping groups based on trajectory dynamics
US20110029365A1 (en) * 2009-07-28 2011-02-03 Beezag Inc. Targeting Multimedia Content Based On Authenticity Of Marketing Data
US8763090B2 (en) 2009-08-11 2014-06-24 Sony Computer Entertainment America Llc Management of ancillary content delivery and presentation
US20110047213A1 (en) * 2009-08-20 2011-02-24 Alan David Manuel Method and process for identifying trusted information of interest
US10987015B2 (en) 2009-08-24 2021-04-27 Nielsen Consumer Llc Dry electrodes for electroencephalography
US20110184813A1 (en) * 2009-09-14 2011-07-28 Cbs Interactive, Inc. Targeting offers to users of a web site
US20110066608A1 (en) * 2009-09-14 2011-03-17 Cbs Interactive, Inc. Systems and methods for delivering targeted content to a user
US20110131503A1 (en) * 2009-09-14 2011-06-02 Cbs Interactive, Inc. Apparatus and methods for providing targeted advertising from user behavior
US20110066476A1 (en) * 2009-09-15 2011-03-17 Joseph Fernard Lewis Business management assessment and consulting assistance system and associated method
US9129292B2 (en) * 2009-10-29 2015-09-08 International Business Machines Corporation System and method for example based targeted marketing
US9560984B2 (en) 2009-10-29 2017-02-07 The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc Analysis of controlled and automatic attention for introduction of stimulus material
US20110106750A1 (en) 2009-10-29 2011-05-05 Neurofocus, Inc. Generating ratings predictions using neuro-response data
US8332232B2 (en) * 2009-11-05 2012-12-11 Opinionlab, Inc. System and method for mobile interaction
US20110145841A1 (en) * 2009-12-15 2011-06-16 Cbs Interactive, Inc. System and method for generating pages of content
US8448204B2 (en) * 2009-12-23 2013-05-21 Cbs Interactive Inc. System and method for aggregating user data and targeting content
US20110166986A1 (en) * 2010-01-05 2011-07-07 Bank Of America Corporation Banking Center First Mortgage Origination
WO2011127049A1 (en) 2010-04-07 2011-10-13 Liveperson, Inc. System and method for dynamically enabling customized web content and applications
EP2569746A4 (en) 2010-05-10 2015-07-08 Segmint Inc Targeted marketing with cpe buydown
WO2011143176A1 (en) 2010-05-10 2011-11-17 Segmint, Inc. Targeted marketing to on-hold customer
WO2011143170A2 (en) 2010-05-10 2011-11-17 Segmint Inc. Consumer-specific advertisement presentation and offer library
US8504419B2 (en) * 2010-05-28 2013-08-06 Apple Inc. Network-based targeted content delivery based on queue adjustment factors calculated using the weighted combination of overall rank, context, and covariance scores for an invitational content item
US20120089455A1 (en) * 2010-10-07 2012-04-12 Eshwar Belani System and method for real-time advertising campaign adaptation
US10410287B2 (en) 2010-10-21 2019-09-10 Consensus Point, Inc. Prediction market and combinatorial prediction market volume forecasts
US10825033B2 (en) 2012-12-28 2020-11-03 Consensus Point, Inc. Systems and methods for using a graphical user interface to predict market success
US11151588B2 (en) 2010-10-21 2021-10-19 Consensus Point, Inc. Future trends forecasting system
US9652779B2 (en) 2010-12-06 2017-05-16 Dynamic Logic, Inc. Method and system for on-line survey recruitment ensuring availability of control group participants
US8918465B2 (en) 2010-12-14 2014-12-23 Liveperson, Inc. Authentication of service requests initiated from a social networking site
US9350598B2 (en) 2010-12-14 2016-05-24 Liveperson, Inc. Authentication of service requests using a communications initiation feature
US20120166252A1 (en) * 2010-12-22 2012-06-28 Kris Walker Methods and Apparatus to Generate and Present Information to Panelists
US20120203639A1 (en) * 2011-02-08 2012-08-09 Cbs Interactive, Inc. Targeting offers to users of a web site
US20120215613A1 (en) * 2011-02-22 2012-08-23 Rajiv Madhok System and method for managing offers for prepaid telephony accounts
US8943002B2 (en) 2012-02-10 2015-01-27 Liveperson, Inc. Analytics driven engagement
US9569986B2 (en) 2012-02-27 2017-02-14 The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc System and method for gathering and analyzing biometric user feedback for use in social media and advertising applications
US8805941B2 (en) 2012-03-06 2014-08-12 Liveperson, Inc. Occasionally-connected computing interface
US10592919B1 (en) * 2012-04-03 2020-03-17 Predictwallstreet, Llc Distributed social ad technology
US9563336B2 (en) 2012-04-26 2017-02-07 Liveperson, Inc. Dynamic user interface customization
US9672196B2 (en) 2012-05-15 2017-06-06 Liveperson, Inc. Methods and systems for presenting specialized content using campaign metrics
US10997665B2 (en) 2012-08-09 2021-05-04 Hartford Fire Insurance Company Interactive data management system
US9525687B2 (en) 2012-12-28 2016-12-20 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Template for customer attributes
US20140229236A1 (en) * 2013-02-12 2014-08-14 Unify Square, Inc. User Survey Service for Unified Communications
US20140278620A1 (en) * 2013-03-14 2014-09-18 Oracle International Corporation Method and system for determining marketing attributions
US20140289014A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-09-25 Vestorly, Inc. Method and system to evaluate contacts
US20150220948A1 (en) * 2014-02-05 2015-08-06 Ntn Buzztime, Inc. On-site election method and apparatus
US10929858B1 (en) * 2014-03-14 2021-02-23 Walmart Apollo, Llc Systems and methods for managing customer data
US11386442B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2022-07-12 Liveperson, Inc. Online behavioral predictor
US20160063536A1 (en) * 2014-08-27 2016-03-03 InMobi Pte Ltd. Method and system for constructing user profiles
US10380656B2 (en) 2015-02-27 2019-08-13 Ebay Inc. Dynamic predefined product reviews
US9936250B2 (en) 2015-05-19 2018-04-03 The Nielsen Company (Us), Llc Methods and apparatus to adjust content presented to an individual
WO2016196806A1 (en) 2015-06-02 2016-12-08 Liveperson, Inc. Dynamic communication routing based on consistency weighting and routing rules
US11429906B2 (en) 2016-06-16 2022-08-30 Conduent Business Services, Llc Profiling of users' behavior and communication in business processes
EP3497560B1 (en) 2016-08-14 2022-11-02 Liveperson, Inc. Systems and methods for real-time remote control of mobile applications
US10846779B2 (en) 2016-11-23 2020-11-24 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC Custom product categorization of digital media content
US10860987B2 (en) 2016-12-19 2020-12-08 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC Personalized calendar for digital media content-related events
US10931991B2 (en) 2018-01-04 2021-02-23 Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC Methods and systems for selectively skipping through media content
CN111367596B (en) * 2018-12-25 2023-06-23 阿里巴巴集团控股有限公司 Method and device for realizing business data processing and client
US10635506B1 (en) 2019-02-05 2020-04-28 Bank Of America Corporation System for resource requirements aggregation and categorization
US10810040B2 (en) 2019-02-05 2020-10-20 Bank Of America Corporation System for real-time transmission of data associated with trigger events
US10937038B2 (en) 2019-02-05 2021-03-02 Bank Of America Corporation Navigation system for managing utilization of resources
US11080091B2 (en) 2019-02-05 2021-08-03 Bank Of America Corporation System for real time provisioning of resources based on condition monitoring
US10831548B2 (en) 2019-02-05 2020-11-10 Bank Of America Corporation System for assessing and prioritizing real time resource requirements
US10963173B2 (en) 2019-02-05 2021-03-30 Bank Of America Corporation System for smart contract dependent resource transfer
US11562326B2 (en) * 2019-02-20 2023-01-24 eCU Technology, LLC User interface and system for client database management
WO2021237354A1 (en) * 2020-05-26 2021-12-02 Wealthie Works Daily, Inc. System and method for automated generation and distribution of targeted content to promote user engagement and conversion
US20220342947A1 (en) * 2021-04-23 2022-10-27 At&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. Apparatuses and methods for facilitating a provisioning of content via one or more profiles

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5848396A (en) * 1996-04-26 1998-12-08 Freedom Of Information, Inc. Method and apparatus for determining behavioral profile of a computer user
US5999918A (en) * 1997-04-02 1999-12-07 Rational Investors, Inc. Interactive color confidence indicators for statistical data
US6012043A (en) * 1996-09-09 2000-01-04 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. Computerized system and method used in financial planning
US6014638A (en) * 1996-05-29 2000-01-11 America Online, Inc. System for customizing computer displays in accordance with user preferences
US6093026A (en) * 1996-07-24 2000-07-25 Walker Digital, Llc Method and apparatus for administering a survey
US6216129B1 (en) * 1998-12-03 2001-04-10 Expanse Networks, Inc. Advertisement selection system supporting discretionary target market characteristics

Family Cites Families (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4759063A (en) * 1983-08-22 1988-07-19 Chaum David L Blind signature systems
US5041972A (en) * 1988-04-15 1991-08-20 Frost W Alan Method of measuring and evaluating consumer response for the development of consumer products
US5537586A (en) * 1992-04-30 1996-07-16 Individual, Inc. Enhanced apparatus and methods for retrieving and selecting profiled textural information records from a database of defined category structures
US5867799A (en) * 1996-04-04 1999-02-02 Lang; Andrew K. Information system and method for filtering a massive flow of information entities to meet user information classification needs
US5890152A (en) * 1996-09-09 1999-03-30 Seymour Alvin Rapaport Personal feedback browser for obtaining media files
US5956691A (en) * 1997-01-07 1999-09-21 Second Opinion Financial Systems, Inc. Dynamic policy illustration system
US5974398A (en) * 1997-04-11 1999-10-26 At&T Corp. Method and apparatus enabling valuation of user access of advertising carried by interactive information and entertainment services
US6925441B1 (en) * 1997-10-27 2005-08-02 Marketswitch Corp. System and method of targeted marketing
US6021397A (en) * 1997-12-02 2000-02-01 Financial Engines, Inc. Financial advisory system
US5918217A (en) * 1997-12-10 1999-06-29 Financial Engines, Inc. User interface for a financial advisory system
US6286005B1 (en) * 1998-03-11 2001-09-04 Cannon Holdings, L.L.C. Method and apparatus for analyzing data and advertising optimization
US6189008B1 (en) * 1998-04-03 2001-02-13 Intertainer, Inc. Dynamic digital asset management
US6349290B1 (en) * 1998-06-30 2002-02-19 Citibank, N.A. Automated system and method for customized and personalized presentation of products and services of a financial institution
US6505202B1 (en) * 1998-08-04 2003-01-07 Linda Allan Mosquera Apparatus and methods for finding information that satisfies a profile and producing output therefrom
US6430542B1 (en) * 1998-08-26 2002-08-06 American Express Financial Corporation Computer-implemented program for financial planning and advice system

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5848396A (en) * 1996-04-26 1998-12-08 Freedom Of Information, Inc. Method and apparatus for determining behavioral profile of a computer user
US6014638A (en) * 1996-05-29 2000-01-11 America Online, Inc. System for customizing computer displays in accordance with user preferences
US6093026A (en) * 1996-07-24 2000-07-25 Walker Digital, Llc Method and apparatus for administering a survey
US6012043A (en) * 1996-09-09 2000-01-04 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. Computerized system and method used in financial planning
US5999918A (en) * 1997-04-02 1999-12-07 Rational Investors, Inc. Interactive color confidence indicators for statistical data
US6216129B1 (en) * 1998-12-03 2001-04-10 Expanse Networks, Inc. Advertisement selection system supporting discretionary target market characteristics

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20170109784A1 (en) * 2000-01-07 2017-04-20 Home Producers Network, Llc. System and method for trait based people search based on genetic information
US8495682B2 (en) * 2010-03-26 2013-07-23 Google Inc. Exposure based customization of surveys
US20110239243A1 (en) * 2010-03-26 2011-09-29 Google Inc. Exposure based customization of surveys
US11734715B2 (en) * 2012-01-31 2023-08-22 Groupon, Inc. Pre-feature promotion system
US20210209642A1 (en) * 2012-01-31 2021-07-08 Groupon, Inc. Pre-feature promotion system
US10318996B2 (en) 2013-06-20 2019-06-11 Yahoo Japan Corporation Auction apparatus and auction method
US9916600B2 (en) 2013-06-20 2018-03-13 Yahoo Japan Corporation Auction apparatus and auction method
US9477973B2 (en) 2013-06-25 2016-10-25 International Business Machines Visually generated consumer product presentation
US9760945B2 (en) 2013-06-25 2017-09-12 International Business Machines Corporation Visually generated consumer product presentation
US10360623B2 (en) 2013-06-25 2019-07-23 International Business Machines Corporation Visually generated consumer product presentation
US20150066593A1 (en) * 2013-08-30 2015-03-05 Google Inc. Determining a precision factor for a content selection parameter value
US9516098B2 (en) * 2014-04-24 2016-12-06 Bank Of America Corporation System for generating a response to a client request
US20150312321A1 (en) * 2014-04-24 2015-10-29 Bank Of America Corporation System for generating a response to a client request
US20160225014A1 (en) * 2015-01-30 2016-08-04 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. System and method for building a targeted audience for an online advertising campaign
US10776816B2 (en) * 2015-01-30 2020-09-15 Walmart Apollo, Llc System and method for building a targeted audience for an online advertising campaign
US9836444B2 (en) * 2015-12-10 2017-12-05 International Business Machines Corporation Spread cell value visualization
US20180181978A1 (en) * 2016-12-27 2018-06-28 Mastercard International Incorporated System and method to provide a reward during a cashless transaction
US20190265852A1 (en) * 2018-02-27 2019-08-29 Oath Inc. Transmitting response content items
US11243669B2 (en) * 2018-02-27 2022-02-08 Verizon Media Inc. Transmitting response content items
US20200388184A1 (en) * 2019-06-07 2020-12-10 The Toronto-Dominion Bank System and method for providing status indications using multiple-choice questions

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US6236975B1 (en) 2001-05-22
USRE42869E1 (en) 2011-10-25

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6236975B1 (en) System and method for profiling customers for targeted marketing
Changchit et al. Determinants of online shopping influencing Thai consumer’s buying choices
US6801899B2 (en) Assistance method and apparatus
US7483522B2 (en) Sponsored information distribution method and apparatus
US20020147625A1 (en) Method and system for managing business referrals
Järveläinen Online purchase intentions: An empirical testing of a multiple-theory model
US7974886B2 (en) Method and system for delivery of targeted commercial messages
US8620677B2 (en) Online, interactive evaluation of research performance
US6701322B1 (en) Interactive customer-business interview system and process for managing interview flow
US20060106670A1 (en) System and method for interactively and progressively determining customer satisfaction within a networked community
US20020073005A1 (en) Computerized lifestyle planning system and method
US20100268669A1 (en) Advisor Referral
US20070050201A1 (en) Information system with propensity modelling and profiling engine
US20040107131A1 (en) Value innovation management system and methods
Tan et al. Exploring manager’s perspective of service quality strategies in Malaysian Banking Industry
US7769629B1 (en) System and method for providing hierarchical reporting for online incentive programs
US7788128B2 (en) System and method for provision of information services
Anton et al. Listening to the voice of the customer: 16 steps to a successful customer satisfaction measurement program
Burke et al. Rethinking marketing research in the digital world
Norberg et al. Customization, information provision and choice: What are we willing to give up for personal service?
US20050021402A1 (en) Method and apparatus for providing internet based marketing channels
JP6906003B2 (en) Scoring device, scoring method, and program
WO2001018728A2 (en) Computer-implemented dynamic financial mentor
US20070083415A1 (en) Computerized internetwork system for automated training, management, and accounting of distributors
Du An empirical analysis of Internet banking adoption in New Zealand

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: IGNITE SALES, INC., TEXAS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BOE, BARBARA J.;HAMRICK, JULIA M.;AARANT, MARJORIE L.;SIGNING DATES FROM 19980928 TO 19980929;REEL/FRAME:027110/0342

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION