PROOF SUPPORTED REVIEW SYSTEM
An invention is disclosed for an information system, method, or process that, among its enabling features, collects, organizes, and disseminates review information from customers with proof of involvement or engagement, such as sales receipts. Such a system, method, or process also provides a more inclusive, reliable, or otherwise effective way of gathering reviews for product, service, and seller and communicating them with consumers.
1 . A computer-implemented method for collecting reviews, the method comprising, by a computer system:
receiving in a database from a user an indication of review information relative to a subject matter and an indication of a proof of engagement relative to the subject matter;
storing in the database a review entry and a proof record, the review entry relative to the review information, and the proof record relative to the proof of engagement;
associating in the database the proof record with the review entry;
determining in the database that indications of other review entries associated with the subject matter exist;
associating in the database the review entry with the subject matter;
receiving from another user a request relative to the subject matter; and
in response to the request, presenting to the other user an indication of feedback, the feedback based at least in part on the review entry and one or more of the other review entries.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein associating in the database the review entry with the subject matter includes deriving a score based on the review entry and one or more of the other review entries; and wherein the feedback includes the score.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein deriving a score based on the review entry and one or more of the other review entries includes assigning less or zero weight to any of the other review entries not being associated with a proof record.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject matter includes a product, and the proof of engagement includes a purchase receipt of the product; and wherein associating in the database the review entry with the subject matter comprises associating in the database the review entry with a record identifying the product.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject matter is a seller or event, and the proof of engagement is a purchase receipt from the seller or relative to the event; and wherein associating in the database the review entry with the subject matter comprises associating in the database the review entry with a record identifying the seller or event.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the proof of engagement includes a digital copy of a transaction receipt, the receipt comprising information relative to the subject matter.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the digital copy of the receipt includes an image, the image having a part concealed, or having an indication for a part whose information is to be obfuscated or extracted.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving in the database from the user the indication of the review information relative to the subject matter and the indication of the proof of engagement relative to the subject matter includes receiving in the database from the user the indication of the review information relative to the subject matter, the indication of the proof of engagement relative to the subject matter, and price information relative to the subject matter or engagement.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the proof of engagement includes a code, the code being unique to a seller for each instance of engagement with the seller; and wherein associating in the database the proof record with the review entry comprise associating in the database the proof record and the code with the review entry.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving in the database from the user the indication of the review information relative to the subject matter and the indication of the proof of engagement relative to the subject matter includes receiving in the database from the user the indication of the review information relative to the subject matter, the indication of the proof of engagement relative to the subject matter, and the code.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
before associating in the database the proof record with the review entry, determining in the database that the code associated with the seller does not exist.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback includes an indication of availability of the proof record being associated with the review entry.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
In response to a request relative to the indication of availability of the proof record, presenting to the other user the proof record.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a request from the user;
in response to the request relative to the subject matter, retrieving in the database one or more entries;
presenting the one or more entries to the user; and
wherein the indication of the review information relative to the subject matter includes an indication of review information relative to the one or more entries.
15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a request from the user;
in response to the request relative to the subject matter, retrieving in the database one or more entries;
presenting the one or more entries to the user;
receiving an indication of another entry from the user; and
wherein the indication of the review information relative to the subject matter includes an indication of review information relative to the other entry, the other entry not being among the one or more entries.
16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that the proof record comprises information indicating engagement with the subject matter.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein determining that the proof record comprises information indicating engagement with the subject matter includes identifying subject matter information from the proof record and storing in the database the subject matter information.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein determining that the proof record comprises information indicating engagement with the subject matter includes determining by a third user that the proof record comprises information indicating engagement with the subject matter.
19 . The method of claim 1 , further comprises:
receiving a request from the user, the request relative to the proof record being associated with the review entry;
receiving from the user an indication of another proof of engagement; and
replacing in the database the proof record with another proof record based at least in part on the indication of the other proof of engagement.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
wherein the feedback includes an indication of availability of the other proof record; and
in response to a request relative to the indication of availability of the other proof record, presenting the other proof record.