Patent ID: 8612360
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method performed by an automated system, the method enabling a registrant to receive comments from at least one person anonymously in a group of people known to the registrant, including the at least one person known to the registrant, the system including an internet connected server comprising a processor and the system also having a database connected to the processor, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) receiving via the internet, by the processor, a registrant's answers to multiple questions about the registrant and storing, by the processor, the registrant's answers in the database; (b) after the identifier has been validated, prompting, by the processor, the person over the internet, the person being previously known to the registrant and wanting to provide an anonymous comment to the registrant, to answer questions about the registrant that have been previously answered by the registrant; (c) determining, by the processor, a level of closeness between the anonymous person and the registrant from a plurality of closeness levels by comparing the person's answers to the registrant's stored answers, the plurality of closeness levels being tiered by the person's knowledge of the registrant, each according to a percentage of questions answered correctly by the person, and enabling the person previously known to the registrant to communicate anonymously with the registrant depending upon the comparison of the person's answers to the registrant's stored answers; (d) communicating, by the processor and via the internet, comments of the person anonymously to the registrant in conjunction with the determined level of closeness; (e) sending to the registrant, via the internet, anonymous feedback by persons known to the registrant; and (f) enabling utilization of the level of closeness, by the registrant, to determine a significance of the anonymous feedback provided by persons known to the registrant.