Patent ID: 7072847
Filing Date: 2006-07-04
Classification: G06F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method for delivering product information and anonymously obtaining consumer preferences for a product/service category over a communications network from a plurality of consumers, comprising the steps of: anonymously receiving one or more product/service criteria for said product/service category from a consumer and at least one of said product/service criteria as a ranking parameter from said consumer, such that no information identifying or specific to said consumer is received or collected; searching a database having product and service information for products or services in said product/service category based solely on said product/service criteria anonymously received from said consumer, such that the search is based solely on consumer's explicit search criteria; ranking products or services in said product/service category satisfying said product/service criteria in accordance with said ranking parameter anonymously received from said consumer to provide a ranked list, thereby ranking the search result based solely on said consumer's explicit order of importance; and storing said product/service criteria anonymously received from said consumer and said ranking parameter anonymously received from said consumer as market research data of consumer preferences, thereby anonymously obtaining market research data based solely on consumer's explicit selections without receiving or collecting information identifying or specific to said consumer to preserve the privacy of said consumer.