Patent ID: 8234146
Filing Date: 2012-07-31
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A computer-implemented method for conducting controlled online marketing research with budgetary control, said method comprising: receiving user selection criteria, by a computer, for entry of a user into an online experiment, when said user visits an online site, where said online experiment is conducted; determining, by said computer, that said user selection criteria, for entry of said user, match user selection criteria for one of a plurality of existing experimental groups and an existing control group stored in said computer system, said user selection criteria comprising: determining, by said computer, that said user satisfies said user selection criteria for entry into said online experiment, matching said user to a previous participant of said online experiment, assigning said user to one of said plurality of existing experimental groups and said control group, other than that to which said previous participant belongs, entering said user into said online experiment, and conducting said online experiment; and outputting, by said computer, an analysis of a change in a marketing variable with respect to a response variable given by said user measured during the experimental time period for said online experiment, said marketing variable comprising any of a price of product, a discount, an advertisement, a bundling of products, and a product design or packaging.