Abstract: A computer-readable storage medium contains instructions that cause one or more computing devices to receive a product specification data set identifying one or more items, and price data sets that include one or more items and corresponding price data. For each price data set, metric data is obtained which includes one or more market reference prices for the items in the price data set. A market value of the items is calculated for comparison to the price data in the price data set. The instructions may also cause the one or more computing devices to compare the price data in the price data set to the calculated market value to generate a comparison value. In another embodiment, metric data is obtained for each item in a product specification data set, and a market value of each item is calculated for comparison to the price data in the price data sets.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a survey comprises an incentive module, a survey determination module, a timing module, and a survey interface module. The incentive module determines a dynamic incentive for a panelist. The dynamic incentive is associated with the survey. The survey determination module provides the survey to the panelist. The timing module determines a survey time and if the panelist may perform another survey in a remaining time. The survey interface module provides a graphical representation of the survey to the panelist.

Abstract: A method may include identifying a content item associated with a contributor. Users may be invited to review the content item. A survey adapted to estimate engagement with the content item by a plurality of the users may be provided to the users. Results of the survey may be received from the plurality of the users. Popularity of the content item with respect to the plurality of the users may be determined from the results of the survey. At least a subset of the plurality of the users may be categorized based on the popularity of the content item with respect to the plurality of the users.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and program for pre-selling tickets to determine whether to book an event or activity, and for facilitating the sale of those tickets. Consumers who pre-purchase a ticket are plainly notified if an event has not yet been booked. They are also shown the progress toward the likely booking of the event. A successful pre-sale of tickets triggers the booking of the event. An unsuccessful pre-sale results in the event not being booked. Consumers who help effect an event booking may be given privileges over those who purchase traditional tickets for the same event after it has already been booked.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a credibility management system that aggregates user posts from several social media sites contemporaneously with the posts being published to those sites. The system parses each of the aggregated posts to identify an entity that is targeted in each of the posts and presents the posts to the targeted entities in a real-time manner. The credibility management system computes a score to determine the impact that a user post would have on the credibility of a targeted entity. By presenting the computed scores and aggregated posts to the targeted entities, the credibility management system notifies the targeted entities about what is being said about them across social media, identifies the impact of those posts, and provides a platform whereby the targeted entities can reply in order to mitigate or improve the impact that the posts would have on credibility.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for conducting survey using wireless devices. The system architecture of the present invention comprises a location server and a location system. The location server can receive a survey request from a subscriber, delineate a survey area for the survey, broadcast a query containing the survey to a plurality of wireless devices, process responses received from the wireless devices, and deliver a result of the survey to the subscriber. The location system can generate location information for each of the wireless devices that received the query. The location system may be a network-based unit or a portable unit provisioned at each of the wireless devices. In one of the embodiments, the location system is a GPS receiver that generates the longitude and the latitude of the wireless devices at which it is provisioned.

Abstract: SMS-based communications methods and systems comprising interactive functionalities, as well as devices, software, modules and integrated systems and methods are provided. The text-messaging methods and systems of the invention are particularly useful for increasing the marketability of products and services, and for increasing commercial traffic to one or more commercial establishments through network communicated dialogues and other communications. SMS-based systems and methods of the invention are configured also to be able gather and analyze many different kinds and patterns of data, such as that relating to marketing and advertising activities, and to performance of the systems and methods themselves. The present technology relates also to methods and systems for both gathering and using marketing and other commercial information on a real time basis to increase enterprise incoming traffic flow and business.

Abstract: A system for optimizing blending. The system can include a processor configured to aggregate material information, aggregate production information, model consumer liking of the at least one product, and provide plan information for controlling production resources based on the material information, the production information, and the consumer liking. The material information can be associated with a product input of the at least one product. The production information can be associated with the production resources of the at least one product.

Abstract: Items—including gourmet products—are evaluated and rated by participants in a controlled event, which can be coordinated by software locally or at a dedicated website. Event data, including item scores and participant scores can be shared with vendors, merchants and other commercial entities associated with the products. Promotional incentives from such entities for the products (and related products) can then be directly targeted and provided to participants and other members of the public. The participant's activities can also be collected and disseminated to affiliates/friends of the participants through social networking sites, personalized web pages, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for use in audience-related measurements, including hybrid techniques which include use of panel-based audience-related measurement information and census-based audience-related measurement information. Techniques are provided in which panel-based audience-related measurement information is obtained from multiple providing entities, and census-based audience-related measurement information is obtained one or more providing entities. The obtained information is stored in a database. The stored information may be provided to the information-providing entities, and may be used in calibrating or improving the accuracy of audience-related measurements.

Abstract: A method is provided for recommending a product to a plurality of people. The method comprises the following steps. A consumer is provided with an entry point to recommend the product. The consumer is then provided with at least one applet configured for a corresponding social network. The applet is used to create a custom recommendation personalized by the consumer, and disseminate the custom recommendation amongst the consumer's contacts within the social network. A computer readable medium including instructions for implementing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A method analyzes preferences of one or more participants. Each of the participants may be presented with a plurality of evaluation items that illustrate various marketing options. Response data from the participants that indicates at least an approach, if any, toward the evaluation items is obtained. An approach entropy value may be generated for the marketing options based on the response data for each participant. A relative preference order for each participant for the marketing options may be determined from the generated approach entropy values.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, multimedia content may be streamed, together with associated timing information, to various users, who may provide feedback data in response to the multimedia content; the feedback data may be related to the multimedia content using the associated timing information, and then stored to some medium.

Abstract: A system and method for digitally collecting and analyzing real-time customer feedback. In at least one embodiment, a tablet computer or other digital device is used to collect guest feedback on-site in real time. The device sends the feedback to a server where the feedback is stored and analyzed. The feedback can then be viewed from a Client Portal, which can also be used to customize and configure the Device in real-time.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for a computer-implemented method which receives user input that specifies values for predetermined questions provided in an environmental questionnaire, identifies environmentally friendly businesses or individuals by analyzing the user input values and determining those businesses or individuals that meet predetermined minimum requirements, and stores a list of the identified businesses or individuals within a database.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed which facilitate collecting information about users, including responses to poll prompts, and analyzing such information in order to determine correlations and inter-relationships of information and information areas. In an aspect, information from many users is collected across a variety of user interaction channels and computing device platforms. Such information is analyzed in order to generate profiles of like-minded individuals. Such profiles may be useful for recommending peer-to-peer connection between individuals, marketing products and services to individuals with similar attributes and traits, and examining changes in individual preferences over time or in response to external factors.

Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to targeted polling and creating, responding, managing, publishing, socializing, and/or commercializing targeted polls using a variety of media such as mobile applications, the web, and/or other communication media. In one aspect, the disclosed subject matter facilitates allowing mobile users to respond to and/or promulgate polls. As further advantages, embodiments of the disclosed subject matter allow polls to be created, responded to, published, shared, managed, and/or analyzed within a social polling platform. Further non-limiting embodiments are provided that illustrate the advantages and flexibility of the disclosed subject matter.

Abstract: A system and method are provided which comprises a proprietary computer software that allows for relationship and contact management and promotion. The system and method may allow the user to track their activities for business development purposes. Moreover, the individual user of the system would be able to enter activity dates, along with the name of the contact. The individual user could select a contact from an address book from a database, and identify their initial activity from a list of preselected actions or enter a new activity. A point would be assigned to this activity. The system would then provide the use of the option of preselected actions along with the date to complete the action, or the user would have the ability to enter a new activity and date. The program would tally the number of points a user has accumulated on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

Abstract: Systems and methods described herein provide a mechanism for conducting meaningful market research on respondents using mobile devices. Data contained in code-based indicia relating to a mobile respondent is leveraged to initiate more effective market research applications such as surveys and the like. Using such information, a market research enterprise interested in focused market research may initiate market research specifically related to that mobile respondent, perhaps accounting for the mobile respondent's location, purchase history, financial means and associations, etc. The market research applications may be transmitted to mobile respondents by a number of different mechanisms such as push messages, text messages, SRS messages, emails, etc. Also, mobile respondents may download and install an application that allows them to quickly access the market research applications and transmit the market research data.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for an interactive financial customer experience that allows collaboratively selecting financial products for a customer. The customer experience assesses the customer's life events and subsequently uses the life events and the proximate date of occurrence of the life events to determine financial product recommendations and offers for the customer. Additionally, the customer experience may assess the customer's life interests and/or financial portfolio to further determine financial product recommendations and offers. The financial product recommendations, along with other financial product options, may be presented to the customer and financial institution associate in a user-friendly platform that further accentuates the collaborative nature of the financial product selection process.

Abstract: Method of generating root causes for sentiments is presented. An individual can initial a root cause analysis of a corpus of documents (e.g., product reviews), possibly through clicking an icon near the corpus. A root cause analysis engine analyzes the corpus and sentiment to generate one or more root causes for the sentiment. The engine can then configure an output device to present the root causes for further review. The services offered by the root cause analysis engine can be provided in exchange for a fee.

Abstract: An overall average review rating for a product may be determined, based on user ratings that are associated with opinions of a product, within a dimension corresponding to a user trait. A segment variation score for each of a plurality of segments of the dimension may be determined. Each segment may correspond to one or more values of the user trait corresponding to the dimension. A total variation score may be determined for the dimension based on the segment variation scores determined for each of the plurality of segments of the dimension. The total variation score for the dimension may be compared to a polarization threshold to determine whether the dimension is polarized. Generated information may identify the product as having sentiment that is polarized.

Abstract: A dynamic supporter analysis system for mobilizing supporters comprising: a set of computer readable instructions embodied in a central server for receiving the geographical location of the portable computing device, determining an operational location from the geographical location of the portable computer device, constructing a set of streets within a predetermined proximity to the portable computer device based upon the operational location, retrieve voter records according to the streets and the clues to construct a set of target supporters located on at least one street in the set of streets, transmitting the target supporters to the portable computer device, receiving supporter selection information from the portable computer device, transmitting supporter information for the selected supporter, receiving supporter update information from the portable computer device and updating the voter record of the selected supporter with the supporter update information.

Abstract: A real-time computer implemented method of customer satisfaction determination for retail business. A server computer is provided that powers a website on the world wide web. A web portal is provided that is accessible to members of the public through the world wide web, the web portal providing access that allows any individual member of the public to provide consumer feedback regarding their recent retail experience with a number of feedback options without having to identify themselves.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing viability and marketability of an asset are provided. In exemplary embodiments, an asset assessment system receives disclosure information for the asset. The disclosure information comprises information indicating at least one taxonomy segment associated with the asset. An attribute grade may then determined based on the disclosure information, while a market grade may be determined based on market data for the at least one taxonomy segment. A final grade based on the attribute grade and the market grade is then calculated. This final grade provides an indication of the viability and marketability of the asset. The final grade may then be output.

Abstract: A method of collecting input from individuals comprising searching a database containing individual consumer data, assigning a unique customer key to each individual consumer data and removing the identifying characteristics from the individual consumer's data with a computer having a memory and a processor operating a privacy filter to provide de-identified individual consumer data, maintaining a confidential record of each individual consumer's identifying characteristics associated with the unique customer key. De-identified individual consumer data are analyzed to define members of a target group. An electronic communication including a survey is passed through a linker/delinker to link contact information associated with the unique customer key of a member of the target group, sending the electronic communication to a member of the target group. A response from the member is received and passed through the privacy filter to associate the response with the unique customer key.

Abstract: The present generally relates to a method of processing open-ended responses to customer feedback surveys. The method stores open-ended responses from a plurality of received customer feedback surveys in a database. The method further processes each open-ended response to identify a concept based on a concept library. The method further processes each open-ended response to assign a corresponding rating, and generates a consumer satisfaction metric for one of the concepts based on the ratings. The method also generates a report to present the consumer satisfaction metric and a user-operable control for extracting open-ended responses corresponding thereto.

Abstract: Computer-implemented method, computer-program product, and system for performing an operation, the operation beginning by receiving a request for a product summary, the request identifying a product. The operation then determines, by searching a plurality of opinions, a primary characterization of a positive aspect of the product and a primary characterization of a negative aspect of the product. The operation then determines, by searching the plurality of opinions, a secondary characterization of at least one of the positive aspect and the negative aspect of the product. The operation then generates a product summary for the identified product, wherein the product summary identifies the product and includes the primary characterization of the positive aspect, the primary characterization of the negative aspect, and the secondary characterization. The operation then outputs the generated product summary responsive to the request for the product summary.

Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for forecasting color preferences in clothing via electronic surveys transmitted to survey participants over the Internet. The electronic surveys present survey participants with families of colors and ask the survey participants whether they would wear clothing in any of the colors of a given family of colors. The surveys also ask which colors from each family survey participants would wear. The surveys also present survey participants with color choices in the context of specific types of clothing and seasons. The electronic surveys can also be used to predict preferred colors for use on products and services.

Abstract: A research and development system that gathers feedback from patients and healthcare providers with respect to the their experience with various aspects of a supplier's products in order to tabulate, consolidate, compare and analyze the data received rapidly and efficiently, and which can be used on successive iterations to determine future products and services.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for providing relevant user information to devices within proximity of a user. A wireless identity transmitter associated with the user periodically broadcasts messages that include obscured identifiers. A proximate proximity broadcast receiver may receive and relay the broadcast messages to a central server which may process the included information. Based on categories related to the proximity broadcast receiver and the user, the central server may identify subsets of stored profile information about the user that are relevant to the proximity broadcast receiver. The central server may transmit relevant profile information to devices to assist in activities associated with the proximity broadcast receiver. In an embodiment, the central server may only transit relevant profile information that is authorized by the user via permissions associated with the profile.

Abstract: A computing system for searching for and identifying data repository deficits includes an interactive database of items, a data repository that stores a first type of information related to items, a search engine configured to identify items that do not have an amount of the first type of information that meets a first threshold, a candidate selection interface that provides functionality for the user to select an item from recommended candidate items needing the first type of information, a user interface via which the user can provide the first type of information for an item selected by the user, a game system configured to calculate for a game scores and rankings based at least in part on data stored in the data repository.

Abstract: A questionnaire network in which a mobile device is used by user to create questionnaires and send it to other recipients. The questionnaire is created by user of mobile device using audio inputs for a questionnaire preamble and question preambles. A server in the network incorporates other generic portions of the questionnaire. Thus, a user can make adhoc questionnaires, send them to recipients and receive the results.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing communications for a managed virtual computer network overlaid on a distinct substrate computer network, including for communications involving computing nodes of the managed virtual computer network that use an alternative addressing scheme to direct network packets and other network communications to intended destination locations by using textual network node monikers instead of numeric IP addresses to represent computing nodes at a layer 3 or “network layer” of a corresponding computer networking stack in use by the computing nodes. The techniques are provided without modifying or configuring the network devices of the substrate computer network, by using configured modules to manage and modify communications from the logical edge of the substrate network.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a computer-implemented system that analyzes free-form text comments provided by a user (such as a customer of a company) and draws conclusions about the tone of the user's feedback, such as whether the user's feedback is positive, negative, angry, critical, or congratulatory. Such conclusions may be reflected in a single numerical value referred to herein as “emotivity.” A customer's emotivity score may be used for various purposes, such as determining whether the customer is likely to provide a positive testimonial for the company, or whether a follow-up phone call should be made to the customer to improve the company's relationship with the customer. Furthermore, a measurement of the customer's loyalty to the company may be modified based on the user's measured emotivity.

Abstract: Techniques are described for managing various types of content in order to identify content having attributes of interest, such as based at least in part on automatically generated assessments of the reputations of authors of the content and/or of evaluators of the content. When content of sufficient interest is identified, it can then be provided to readers in various ways. In some situations, the content being evaluated and managed may include item reviews and/or how-to guides provided to a Web merchant by user authors, and in some situations may include information from blogs. Various types of awards can also be provided to authors and/or evaluators based on one or more of multiple types of reputation scores from their assessed reputations. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring it, and is submitted with the intention that it not reflect the limit of the scope of the claims.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed to distinguish between media purchases and media consumption. An example method includes parsing an electronic mail (e-mail) message for nomenclature associated with media, in response to identifying nomenclature associated with media, parsing the e-mail message for an indication of consumption activity, determining a merchant identity associated with the indication of consumption activity, and selecting a consumption confidence weight for the media based on the indication of consumption activity and the merchant identity.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for selecting a subset of categories of product items to be used in merchandising. The subset of categories may be selected on a basis of a measured level of interest in the product items. Based on the subset of subcategories that have been selected, merchandising presentations may be automatically formulated and presented to a customer.

Abstract: A method of distinguishing nociceptive pain from neuropathic pain includes providing a series of questions for answering by the patient. Each of the answers by the patient are given a numerical value within a nociceptive pain category and a neuropathic pain category. The values within the two categories are then summed, with the resultants potentially modified using a series of one or more equations. The ratio of the neuropathic pain to the nociceptive pain is then calculated. The ratio provides a value for the physician to diagnose the patient as suffering from nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain, or both nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain. Embodiments of the present invention include a system for assisting a physician to identify whether a patient's pain is nociceptive pain or neuropathic pain.

Abstract: A method includes authorizing a user to participate in a survey, generating a key associated with a user identifier and a survey identifier, sending the key to a user terminal, directing the user terminal to a survey uniform resource locator (URL), connecting communicatively with the user terminal via a second URL, determining whether the second URL designates the survey as completed, retrieving the encrypted key from the user terminal responsive to determining that the second URL designates the survey as completed, and updating the status of the survey in a memory responsive to verifying the integrity of the encrypted key.

Abstract: Whilst partaking in a traditional electronic questionnaire survey, responses given by any one respondent are almost always influenced by that person's emotional state due to the survey format. This emotional content skews the results thus obtained making them inaccurate, so that statistical methods become necessary to interpret the results. Such a statistical analyses requires not only a minimum sample size but also to be interpreted, which can also lead to false, non repeatable results. However, by structuring the system and method of the electronic questionnaire survey in accordance with a strict set of guidelines, it is possible to measure a respondent's views on any subject matter both emotionally and rationally, together with the respondent's level of conviction. By comparing the emotional responses with the rational responses, a truly quantifiable and repeatable measure of respondent satisfaction towards the subject matter can be achieved, which also allows benchmarking as an added benefit.

Abstract: A computer implemented method optimizes a configuration of an information technology (IT) infrastructure. A processor establishes a technology rule set, which defines technology weights of an IT infrastructure by mapping capabilities of IT infrastructure components to IT infrastructure attributes needed to execute a specific workload. A candidate IT infrastructure for executing the specific workload is then configured. The processor then receives responses, provided by a customer, to an attribute questionnaire. Each question in the attribute questionnaire is mapped to an IT infrastructure attribute of the candidate IT infrastructure, and the responses define a customer's level of agreement/disagreement with the technology weights. In response to the processor determining that the candidate IT infrastructure fails to meet the customer's expectations, the candidate IT infrastructure is reconfigured until the customer's expectations are met.

Abstract: A method comprises maintaining, in a database, assessment data from a plurality of assessment tools; maintaining report elements for a report template; selecting, by a user, at least one report element for the report template; and determining a location for the selected report element in the report template. The method further comprises processing the assessment data for the selected report elements; and providing the assessment report using the report template and the processed assessment data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system and method for assisting a service representative an enterprise. A device operated by an agent and a mobile communication device operated by an expert may be associated by a registration at a server. An indication of required assistance may be provided to the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device may included in a session already including a device operated by the agent and a device operated by a customer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, methods, and computer program products for an operational reliability index (“ORI”) scoring system in the knowledge management system that is standardized and centralized across the channels and sub-channels in an organization. The ORI system scores the reliability or confidence of the channels, sub-channels, and applications in an organization. The ORI receives reliability data associated with one or more predictability factors related to a business application. The ORI determines predictability factor reliability scores for each of the one or more predictability factors based on the reliability data and weighted values assigned to the predictability factors. Weighted values are also assigned to the categories, applications, sub-channels, and channels.

Abstract: Machine-implemented methods and computer systems are disclosed for determining a collective outcome for a survey from a plurality of potential outcomes. Each outcome is a particular combination of options. Each survey participant ranks the options to develop an influent function. For each participant, the influent function is applied to each potential outcome to determine a satisfaction score for the outcome. A collective dissonance score is calculated based on the participants' satisfaction scores for the potential outcome. The potential outcomes are ordered based on a weighted combination of the satisfaction scores and the collective dissonance score for each of the potential outcomes. In particular embodiments, the methods and systems aim to determine a collective outcome that achieves greatest satisfaction and minimizes dissonance among the participants.

Abstract: A system for analyzing security compliance requirements analyzes a linked database that includes data from the Unified Compliance Framework™. The system generates a tiered question structure to obtain information about a particular business offering, wherein questions of a particular tier are based on answers to questions of a preceding tier. Based on the information, the system generates a query and submits the query to the linked database. The query results provide a list of security compliance requirements, leading practices, and/or regulations applicable to the business offering.

Abstract: Methods and systems for propagating requests for proposal via a collaborative services framework are provided. The methods include receiving a request for proposal from a first user in a first market that implements at least one peer node in the collaborative services framework and maintains lists of market neighbors and potential neighbors. The methods further include propagating the request for proposal to potential neighboring markets that are selected from a list of potential neighbors of the first market. The methods also include receiving a notification that the first user has accepted a bid from a second user responsive to the request for proposal, the second user being in a second market different from the first market, and then updating the lists of market neighbors and potential neighbors of the first market based on the accepted bid.

Abstract: The invention may be embodied in a compensation driven permission marketing and polling system referred to as an instant response system. The instant response system directly targets market polling communications to precise demographic, geographic, psychographic and/or keyword-associated audiences to empower businesses with sophisticated, immediate and effective targeted marketing and research at a fraction of the traditional expense. Dynamic polling techniques are used to automatically adjust polling demographics to match polling results to demographic objectives with minimum number of polling responses and reduce the cost of market surveys. Social media links to member profiles encourage self-generating membership growth and direct, interactive links to member profile data, such as member location tracking and survey compensation posting on the member's social media.

Abstract: Items—including gourmet products—are evaluated and rated by participants in a controlled event, which can be coordinated by software locally or at a dedicated website. Event data, including item scores and participant scores can be shared with vendors, merchants and other commercial entities associated with the products. Promotional incentives from such entities for the products (and related products) can then be directly targeted and provided to participants and other members of the public. The participant's activities can also be collected and disseminated to affiliates/friends of the participants through social networking sites, personalized web pages, etc.