System and method for conducting product configuration research over a computer-based network
View Patent ↗A system and method is provided for enabling respondents at their computer systems to connect with a server computer over a network, such as the Internet, and receive an executable configuration program enabling each respondent to select for each of the features of a product one of multiple subfeature attributes or levels for that feature. Each of the subfeatures for each feature has a price value and the combination of selected subfeatures for the features of the product provides a total price value of the product. The total price value is displayed and updated as subfeatures for the features are selected by the respondent or the selection of subfeatures are changed by the respondent. When the total price value of the product is acceptable to the respondent, and subfeatures have been selected for each feature of the product, the program returns configuration information to the computer server having data representing the subfeatures selected for the product, the total price of the product, the time for the respondent to complete the configuration of the product, and each of the features and subfeatures selected and changed by the respondent in arriving at the final configured product. The configuration program may be part of a survey being conducted over the network by the server computer in which questions of the survey following receipt of the configuration information by the computer server may be in accordance with such configuration information.
1. A method for enabling product configuration market research comprising the steps of:
sending market research software from a network addressable site, via a network, to one or more computer systems which when executed by said computer systems enables each user of said computer systems to select the features of a hypothetical product configuration which is not being offered for sale;
displaying via said market research software a total price value of the product at each of said computer systems in accordance with price values of said selected features separate from the operation of said network addressable site;
updating said displayed total price value in accordance with changes in said selected features separate from the operation of said network addressable site;
returning information via said network to said network addressable site having data representing at least said features selected when the user of each of said computer systems has completed the configuration of the product; and
determining at least one of new product, product configuration, pricing, or segmentation in accordance with said information.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein one or more of said features has a plurality of subfeatures for selection by each user of said computer systems, said total price value of the product is further in accordance with the price values of said selected subfeatures, and said data further represents said selected subfeatures for said selected features.
3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of measuring elapse time for each user of the computer systems to configure the product, and said information further comprises data representing said elapse time.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said information further comprises data representing said selected features and any changes in the selection of said features by the user of each of said computer systems until said product configuration is completed.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said information is unassociated with any real purchase of the product.
6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of sending a survey having questions to each of said computer systems from the network addressable site one of before, after, or before and after said step of sending market research software, which enables the user of each of said computer systems to answer said questions and to send answers to said questions to the network addressable site.
7. A method for enabling product configuration market research comprising the steps of:
sending market research software from a network addressable site, via a network, to one or more computer systems which when executed by said computer systems enables each user of said computer systems to select the features of a hypothetical product configuration which is not being offered for sale;
displaying via said market research software a total price value of the product at each of said computer systems in accordance with price values of said selected features separate from the operation of said network addressable site;
updating said displayed total price value in accordance with changes in said selected features separate from the operation of said network addressable site; and
returning information via said network to said network addressable site having data representing at least said features selected when the user of each of said computer systems has completed the configuration of the product, wherein said information represents market research information relating at least to the total price for a hypothetical configured product the user of each of said computer systems is willing to pay in accordance with said features selected by the user.
8. The method according to claim 7 wherein one or more of said features has a plurality of subfeatures for selection by each user of said computer systems, said total price value of the product is further in accordance with the price values of said selected subfeatures, and said data further represents said selected subfeatures for said selected features.
9. The method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of measuring elapse time for each user of the computer systems to configure the product, and said information further comprises data representing said elapse time.
10. The method according to claim 7 wherein said information further comprises data representing said selected features and any changes in the selection of said features by the user of each of said computer systems until said product configuration is completed.
11. The method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of sending a survey having questions to each of said computer systems from the network addressable site one of before, after, or before and after said step of sending market research software, which enables the user of each of said computer systems to answer said questions and to send answers to said questions to the network addressable site.