Patents by Inventor Rand B. Nickerson

Rand B. Nickerson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20080033790
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system comprises a first element viewable on a web page on or near an advertisement and soliciting user reactions concerning the advertisement; and a second element displayed in response to selection of the first element, soliciting one or more user reactions concerning the advertisement, and displaying the advertisement or a substantial duplicate thereof. In one embodiment, a method comprises collecting user reactions concerning an advertisement on a web page and presenting a report of the reactions comprising a bar graph with each bar representing a characteristic of the advertisement. In one embodiment, a method comprises collecting user reactions concerning advertisements included on web pages and presenting a report of the reactions comprising a graph including multiple icons, each representing an advertisement; an axis corresponding to a quantity of reactions; and an axis corresponding to ratings associated with the reactions for characteristics of the advertisements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Rand B. Nickerson, Mark A. Treschl, Charles H. Williams, Sebastien J. Arnaud, Kennith G. Hunter
  • Patent number: 7085820
    Abstract: A system (10) for reporting to a website owner (12) user reactions to one or more particular web pages (28) of a website (26) includes a database (36) containing user reaction information for each page (28). The user reaction information for a particular page (28) reflects the subjective user reactions to the particular page (28) received from users (16) that have accessed the particular page (28). A reporting module (46) coupled to the database (36) generates one or more reports (100) using the user reaction information for communication to the website owner (12). Each of the reports (100) reflects the subjective user reactions to one or more particular pages (28). User reactions to a particular page (28) may be received using user reaction measurement software (30, 32, 34) associated with a viewable icon (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: OpinionLab, Inc.
    Inventors: Rand B. Nickerson, Mark A. Treschl, Kathryn L. Kidd, Matthew J. Crofoot, A. Gregory Samata, David E. Mason
  • Patent number: 6928392
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is provided for collecting a user response to an explicit question specifically concerning a particular web page of a website. An icon viewable on the particular web page the explicit question specifically concerns is operable to present the explicit question specifically concerning the particular web page to each user that accesses the particular web page while the user is viewing the particular web page and without requiring the user to access any web page other than the particular web page. Software associated with the icon viewable on the particular web page the explicit question specifically concerns is operable to receive a response to the explicit question specifically concerning the particular web page from the user while the user is viewing the particular web page for reporting to a website owner associated with the particular web page without requiring the user to access any web page other than the particular web page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: OpinionLab, Inc.
    Inventors: Rand B. Nickerson, Mark A. Treschl, Kathryn L. Kidd, Matthew J. Crofoot, A. Gregory Samata, David E. Mason
  • Patent number: 6785717
    Abstract: A method of incorporating user reaction measurement software (30, 32, 34) into a particular web page (28) of a website (26) includes receiving an icon selection from a website owner (12) specifying a viewable icon (50) to appear on the particular page (28). The icon (50) has associated user reaction measurement software that includes a call to a directory containing an associated script. The icon (50) is incorporated into the particular page (28) and the directory containing the script is generated for communication together with the particular page (28). The call is also incorporated into software of the particular page (28) such that the user reaction measurement software is able to receive a subjective user reaction to the particular page (28), using the script, from a website user (16) that has accessed the particular page (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: OpinionLab, Inc.
    Inventors: Rand B. Nickerson, Mark A. Treschl, Kathryn L. Kidd, Matthew J. Crofoot, A. Gregory Samata, David E. Mason
  • Publication number: 20040049534
    Abstract: A method for receiving page-specific user feedback concerning a particular web page of a website includes using a comment icon viewable on the page to solicit one or more page-specific open-ended comments concerning the page from a user. In one embodiment, the method includes using software associated with the comment icon to automatically communicate a request for a comment window to a remote computer system that is separate from a computer system hosting the website in response to the user selecting the comment icon, receive the comment window from the remote computer system, present the comment window to the user, and receive one or more or more page-specific open-ended comments concerning the page from the user provided using the comment window for reporting to a website owner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: OpinionLab, Inc.
    Inventors: Rand B. Nickerson, Mark A. Treschl, Jay S. Rudman, Mark D. Krebs
  • Publication number: 20040049417
    Abstract: A method for receiving page-specific user feedback concerning a web page of a website includes using an icon viewable on the page to solicit one or more page-specific open-ended comments concerning the page from a user that has accessed the page. The method includes using software associated with the icon to receive one or more page-specific comments from the user for reporting to a website owner. In one embodiment, the software requires the user to provide one or more page-specific subjective ratings concerning the page as a whole to provide one or more page-specific open-ended comments concerning the page. In another embodiment, the software obtains background data for reporting to a website owner along with the one or more page-specific open-ended comments concerning the page. In another embodiment, each appearance of a specified word in the one or more open-ended comments concerning the page is identified and a report reflecting the identified appearances of the specified word is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: OpinionLab, Inc.
    Inventors: Rand B. Nickerson, Mark A. Treschl, Jay S. Rudman
  • Publication number: 20040019688
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for providing substantially real-time access to collected information concerning user interaction with a web page of a website includes collecting information concerning user interaction with the web page. The method includes receiving, from a website owner who has accessed the web page using a web browser and while the web page is viewable within a browser window of the web browser, input indicating a desire to access the collected information concerning user interaction with the web page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: OpinionLab
    Inventors: Rand B. Nickerson, Mark A. Treschl
  • Patent number: 6606581
    Abstract: A system (10) for measuring a user reaction to a particular web page (28) of a website (26) includes a viewable icon (50) that solicits a subjective reaction to the particular page (28) from a user (16) that has accessed the particular page (28). The system (10) further includes software associated with the icon (50) that receives the subjective user reaction for reporting to a website owner (12). Software associated with the icon (50) may be incorporated into software of the particular page (28). Software associated with the icon (50) may include a call to a directory containing a script that receives the user reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: OpinionLab, Inc.
    Inventors: Rand B. Nickerson, Mark A. Treschl, Kathryn L. Kidd, Matthew J. Crofoot, A. Gregory Samata, David E. Mason
  • Publication number: 20030115023
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a system is provided for collecting a user response to an explicit question specifically concerning a particular web page of a website. An icon viewable on the particular web page the explicit question specifically concerns is operable to present the explicit question specifically concerning the particular web page to each user that accesses the particular web page while the user is viewing the particular web page and without requiring the user to access any web page other than the particular web page. Software associated with the icon viewable on the particular web page the explicit question specifically concerns is operable to receive a response to the explicit question specifically concerning the particular web page from the user while the user is viewing the particular web page for reporting to a website owner associated with the particular web page without requiring the user to access any web page other than the particular web page.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: OpinionLab, Inc., a Delaware Corporation
    Inventors: Rand B. Nickerson, Mark A. Treschl, Kathryn L. Kidd, Matthew J. Crofoot, A. Gregory` Samata, David E. Mason
  • Publication number: 20030009555
    Abstract: A system for measuring user feedback concerning a particular web page of a website includes a first icon. The first icon is viewable on the particular web page independent of input from a user subsequent to the user accessing the particular web page. The first icon solicits user feedback concerning the particular web page as a whole from the user independent of input from the user subsequent to the user accessing the particular web page. The first icon receives user input indicating a desire to provide user feedback concerning the particular web page as a whole, and the user input causes a second icon to become viewable on the particular web page for providing the user feedback concerning the particular web page as a whole. Software associated with the second icon receives the user feedback concerning the particular web page as a whole for reporting to a website owner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: Corporate Performance Resources, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Rand B. Nickerson, Mark A. Treschl, Kathryn L. Kidd, Matthew J. Crofoot
  • Patent number: 6421724
    Abstract: A web site response measurement tool is provided for collecting user reaction to a web site on a page-by-page basis and for providing online self-serve topographical linked reports displaying the collected data. Additional diagnostic information can be collected as well as user demographic information for assisting a web site owner in tailoring his/her web site to a specific audience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: OpinionLab, Inc.
    Inventors: Rand B. Nickerson, Mark A. Treschl, Kathryn L. Kidd, Matthew J. Crofoot
  • Patent number: 5226177
    Abstract: A system for collecting data from a plurality of respondents having a central portion with a central processor and a base station and a remote portion with a plurality of wireless response units for respondents to be prompted to enter response data to a visually perceptible display which may be shown live, on a television monitor or may be taped. The display may include multiple choice questions. The central processor accumulates the response data via radio, optical or acoustic communication links with the remote units, each of which has a unique address. The central processor displays the accumulated response data in real time and may overlay the processed response data and originate display shown to the respondents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Viewfacts, Inc.
    Inventor: Rand B. Nickerson
  • Patent number: 4816904
    Abstract: A data gathering system includes a plurality of remote units which are controlled from a central location. Each of the remote units is attached to a television receiver which is generally but not necessarily attached to a cable system. Each of the remote units can function to determine which of several TV modes is in use as well as to store TV channel selector data, data from an optical input device, and/or data input by viewers representative of the composition of the viewing audience. The data is stored for either later collection by a portable data collector, or for direct transmission via telephone to the central location. A video message for a TV viewer, such as a survey, may be transmitted from the central location and stored at the remote units, for later display on the TV receiver associated with the remote units. Substitution of alternate programming information may also be achieved by the central control point on selected of the remote units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Assignee: Control Data Corporation
    Inventors: William J. McKenna, Kenneth W. Silvers, Rand B. Nickerson, Russell J. Welsh, Harold R. Walker, Joseph A. Cullity, Bohdan Stryzak
  • Patent number: 4658290
    Abstract: A data gathering system includes a plurality of remote units which are controlled from a central location. Each of the remote units is attached to a television receiver which is generally but not necessarily attached to a cable system. Each of the remote units can function to determine which of several TV modes is in use as well as to store TV channel selector data, data from an optical input device, and/or data input by viewers representative of the composition of the viewing audience. The data is stored for either later collection by a portable data collector, or for direct transmission to the central location. A video message for a TV viewer, such as a survey, may be transmitted from the central location and stored at the remote units, for later display on the TV receiver associated with the remote units. Substitution of alternate programming information may also be achieved by the central control point on selected of the remote units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1987
    Assignee: CTBA Associates
    Inventors: William J. McKenna, Kenneth W. Silvers, Rand B. Nickerson, Russell J. Welsh, Harold R. Walker, Joseph A. Cullity, Bohdan Stryzak
  • Patent number: 4566030
    Abstract: A data storage and transmission system is provided for accumulating and transmitting data from a plurality of remote T.V. panelist locations to a central location. Each remote unit includes a microprocessor, a control memory, and a data store memory. The control memory stores control information for the remote unit, which may include dynamic allocation information. The data store memory is event driven and stores data as to television channel selection and times thereof, and can store viewer reaction data and the like. At a preselected time, each remote unit initiates a telephone call to a central location and identifies itself. Upon successful telephone connection between a remote unit and the central location, any data such as viewer habit and/or reaction data and the like contained in the data store memory is transmitted over the telephone line to the central location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: CTBA Associates
    Inventors: Rand B. Nickerson, Russell J. Welsh
  • Patent number: 4546382
    Abstract: A data gathering system includes a plurality of remote units which are controlled from a central location. Each of the remote units is attached to a television receiver which is generally but not necessarily attached to a cable system. Each of the remote units functions to determine which of several TV modes is in use as well as to store TV channel selector data and data from an optical input device. All this data is stored for later transmission by each of the remote units to a central data collecting point. A video message for a TV viewer, such as a survey, may be transmitted from the central location and stored at the remote units, for later display on the TV receiver associated with the remote units. Substitution of alternate programming information may also be achieved by the central control point on selected of the remote units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: CTBA Associates
    Inventors: William J. McKenna, Kenneth W. Silvers, Rand B. Nickerson, Russell J. Welsh, Harold R. Walker, Joseph A. Cullity, Bohdan Stryzak