Abstract:
A system and method for creating, designing, and deploying World Wide Web-based surveys in a host machine using a standard web browser without requiring the need of a survey creation program at the survey designer&#39;s computer. Survey results are viewable in real time. Survey creation is accomplished from a web browser user interface that allows web content objects stored in a database to be selected, customized, positioned, resized and edited. The web content objects include a plurality of elements selectable for constructing a survey within a survey creation engine. The web content objects further include a plurality of survey templates, e-mail invitation templates, survey question and answer types, page design features, multimedia objects, and general purpose objects. Objects from outside the remote database can also be imported for inclusion in the survey.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/157,264, filed Oct. 1, 1999, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to surveys, and more specifically, to World Wide Web-based survey creation, design, deployment, and result compilation and tracking. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Surveying is an important tool utilized in performing research and is generally used to collect data relating to people&#39;s opinions, preferences, knowledge and availability. In the context of market research, the collected data drives many decisions in the business world. More generally, surveys are conducted with varying degrees of formality to plan activities, gauge community opinions, solicit ideas and feedback, and gather information of a desired nature. 
     Conventional surveying techniques include paper-based surveys conducted through the mails, telephone surveys, and face-to-face interviews. As noted above, surveying is also often performed on an informal basis to gather input and solicit feedback on a particular topic by asking a group of people the same set of questions on the topic. Thus, a family reunion can be planned by asking family members to submit a preferred time and place for the reunion. The same family members may also be asked to submit alternative times and places together with preference rankings for each. 
     Since the introduction of the World Wide Web (WWW) on the Internet, market researchers and individuals are increasingly using the WWW as a medium for executing surveys and obtaining feedback. Individuals and organizations conventionally have accessible HTML documents (web pages) which are served from server machines and accessed by a web browser. These web pages conventionally include an e-mail address providing a visitor to the web page with a mechanism for responding to the content of the web page. 
     In addition, the WWW provides a medium for delivering summarized survey response data back to organizations and individuals that wish to make inferences from it. By coupling the mechanism used to execute WWW-based surveys and the WWW mechanism used to deliver summarized survey response data, it is possible to deliver survey results in real time. 
     However, despite advances in WWW-based surveys, there remains a need for an improved system and method that provides quick and easy construction and publication of WWW-based surveys on the Internet and which further provides quick access to the survey results for analysis. Preferably the system and method enable a user to collect feedback and survey groups of people for a plurality of purposes including business, personal/social, education, and community. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a system and method for creating, designing, and deploying WWW-based surveys in a host machine using a standard web browser without requiring the need of a survey creation program at the survey designer&#39;s computer. As such, the system and method is usable by an individual who has no knowledge of Hyper Text Mark-Up Language (HTML) or any other computer language. 
     The system and method are preferably hosted in a server machine coupled to a communications network and include functionality for providing survey results in real time. 
     Survey creation is accomplished from a web browser user interface that allows web content objects stored in a remote database to be selected, customized, positioned, resized and edited. The web content objects include a plurality of elements selectable for constructing a survey within a survey creation engine. The web content objects further include a plurality of survey templates, e-mail invitation templates, survey question and answer types, page design features, multimedia objects, and general purpose objects. Objects from outside the remote database can also be imported for inclusion in a survey. In this manner a logo or trademark can be included in a survey. 
     A plurality of survey templates are provided to facilitate the creation of the survey. Templates include sample surveys in subject areas including business, personal/social, education, work, and community. The content of each template can be easily edited and customized to conform to the needs of the user. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, survey recipients are solicited to respond to a survey by means of e-mail messages from the user. The web content objects include a plurality of e-mail invitation templates customizable by the user. 
     The survey questions are customizable to provide for survey questions including choice questions, multiple choice questions, pull-down questions, matrix questions, constant sum questions, comment questions, spinner questions, ranking questions, importance/satisfaction questions, yes/no questions, and open-ended questions. In addition to question and answer format, question and answer content is customizable. 
     The page design objects further provide for customization of the layout of the survey by providing a selection of various types of customizable survey design items including standard questions, titles, captions, progress bars, rules, panels, images, and video clips. The design objects further include options including survey background design, font and color scheme. 
     The system and method further provide for the customization and design of survey reports including the format of the displayed results and permissions relating to the display of survey results. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the user determines who is granted permission to view pre-selected portions of the survey results. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a list management process accepts a list of survey recipients from the user and contacts pre-selected survey recipients to solicit responses to the survey. Alternatively, a panel management process provides a pre-selected panel from which survey respondents are solicited. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, a survey creation wizard is provided for guiding the user in the creation of a survey. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, a help facility is provided to help the user in the creation and design of the survey, and in the interpretation of survey results. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the survey and the responses thereto are saved and stored in the host machine. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, sophisticated control over processing logic is provided. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, the system and method are extensible and can easily support new requirements and Internet applications as they evolve. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, survey result reports can be downloaded into spreadsheet or presentation software. 
     Other advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the drawings and detailed description as set forth below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating interconnected computers and a database configured in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the host machine shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a user&#39;s survey design machine shown in  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of one embodiment of the non-volatile memory module located within the host machine of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of one embodiment of the database shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of one embodiment of the survey objects in the database of  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11 , and  12  illustrate a preferred method of practicing the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention relates to World Wide Web-based survey creation, design, deployment, and result compilation and tracking. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a host machine  100  connected to a database  102  and to a communications network such as the Internet  104 . A plurality of client machines  106 , survey design machines  108 , and a survey reporting machine  110  are shown coupled to the Internet  104 . The host machine  100  hosts the system of the present invention and the client machines  106 , having installed web browsing applications, provide survey recipients and survey respondents with access to the surveys hosted on the host machine  100 . Surveys are designed by survey designers accessing the host machine  100  from survey design machines  108 . 
     When a survey is accessed from a client machine  106 , a server process on the host machine  100  retrieves a saved survey including web content objects from the database  102  and objects provided by the user, and assembles them into a survey which is served to the client machine  106 . The web browsing applications of the client machines  106  allow survey recipients to view and respond to surveys served by the host machine  100  through the Internet  104 . 
     When a survey response is submitted, the host machine  100  processes and stores the response in the database  102 . The responses are viewable in real time by the survey designer at a survey design machine  108 . Additional qualified users are allowed access to the survey results. For example, a qualified user including a survey respondent may be permitted to view survey results. Additionally, a qualified user including a non-respondent user may be permitted to view survey results, such as by utilizing survey reporting machine  110 . Survey reporting machine  110  may further provide for the downloading of survey results for use in presentation or spreadsheet software. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating components of the host machine  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . The host machine  100  includes a CPU  202 , RAM  204 , non-volatile memory  210 , an input device  212 , a display  214 , and an Internet interface  208  for providing access to the Internet  104 . The host machine  100  also includes a database interface  206  in order to allow access to database  102 . 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating components of the survey design machine  108  shown in  FIG. 1 . The survey design machine  108  includes a CPU  302 , RAM  304 , non-volatile memory  306 , an input device  308 , a display  310 , and an Internet interface  208  for providing access to the Internet  104 . 
       FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the non-volatile memory  210 . The non-volatile memory  210  includes a survey creation engine  402  which enables a user to create, design and deploy web-based surveys. The survey creation engine program  402  preferably includes a wizard feature for facilitating the creation of a survey. The created surveys can contain a number of survey elements, including titles, questions, greetings, captions, buttons, images, video, panels, progress bars, and rules. 
     The non-volatile memory  210  also includes a web server  404  to serve surveys to survey recipients and survey respondents, receive and compile survey results, serve survey results, and allow access through the Internet  104  to the survey creation engine  402 . The non-volatile memory  210  further includes an e-mail list management facility  406  to facilitate management of recipient e-mail lists, and a panel list management facility  408  to facilitate management of the lists of panelists or potential survey respondents. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the database  102  shown in  FIG. 1 . The database  102  includes a plurality of web content objects including a template library  501  having survey and e-mail templates, general purpose objects  502 , page design objects  504 , multimedia library objects  506 , a locker  507 , survey results  508 , site member list(s)  510 , panelist/survey taker list  512 , e-mail lists of survey recipients and panelists  514 , and survey deployment statistics  516 . The general purpose objects  502 , page design objects  504 , and multimedia library objects  506  provide a survey designer with common survey-type objects that can be selected and included within a survey. The objects are preferably customizable to meet the survey designer&#39;s needs. Furthermore, functionality is included in the web server  404  that allows a user accessing the survey creation engine  402  to have a personal password-protected locker  507  in database  102  for providing a place to save and store surveys and survey results. Additionally, recipient e-mail lists may be stored in the locker  507 . 
     The survey deployment statistics  516  track features including the date deployed  518 , the number of recipients  520 , and date closed  522 . 
     One of the key elements in a survey is the survey question. The survey question can be constructed in various different types of question formats. Referring to  FIG. 6 , general purpose objects  502  include a list of a plurality of different types of question and answer formats that can be used in a survey. These formats include choice questions  602 , multiple choice questions  604 , pull-down questions  606 , matrix questions  608 , constant sum questions  610 , comment questions  612 , spinner questions  614 , ranking questions  616 , importance/satisfaction questions  618 , rating questions  619 , yes/no questions  620 , and slide bar questions  622 . The general purpose objects  502  further include a survey title  624 , respondent names  626 , contact information  628 , and submit buttons  630 . These general purpose objects represent standard objects used in web-based surveys. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a preferred embodiment of a method  700  for creating, designing, and deploying a web-based survey. The method  700  includes a step  702  in which a user, from a survey design machine  108 , accesses the web server  404  of the host machine  100 . In a step  704  the user decides whether to create a new survey. If the user decides to create a new survey, the survey creation engine  402  is called in a step  706 ; otherwise in a step  705  the user decides whether to open a saved survey. 
     The user decides in a step  708  whether to use the wizard facility in creating the new survey. If the user decides not to use the wizard facility, templates are displayed in a step  718 . Otherwise, a step  710  cells the wizard facility and in a step  712 , the user is guided by the wizard facility in the creation of the new survey. In a step  714  the user decides whether to deploy or save the survey. If the user decides to save the survey, then in a step  716  the survey is saved and the user selects further options as described hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 10 . Survey deployment is described with reference to  FIG. 12 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , if in step  705  the user decides to open a saved survey, the saved survey is opened in a step  802 . In a step  804 , the user decides whether to modify or deploy the survey. If the user decides to modify the survey, the survey is modified in a step  806 . The user may then decide to deploy or save the survey in a step  808 . If the user decides to save the survey, it is saved in a step  810 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , if in step  705  the user decides not to open a saved survey, then in a step  902  the user decides whether to view survey results. In a step  904 , the survey results are displayed and in a step  906  the user decides whether to set preferences for those persons that can view the survey results. In a step  908  the user sets viewer preferences. 
     If in step  902  the user decides not to view survey results, then in step  910  the user decides whether to view e-mail lists used to solicit survey respondents. In a step  912  the user decides whether to edit the e-mail lists. In a step  914  the user edits the e-mail lists. 
     With reference to  FIG. 10 , the method in a step  1002  enables the user to select options including whether to view a saved survey, create a new survey, customize a template, view survey results, and edit e-mail lists. If the user does not select an option, the method ends. Otherwise, the user is returned to the selected option in a step  1004 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates the survey creation component of the method of the invention. In a step  1102 , the user selects a template from the displayed template selection. Each selected template is customized in a step  1104 . In a step  1106  the user decides whether to save or deploy the created survey and, if the user so decides, in a step  1108  the survey is saved. 
     With reference to  FIG. 12 , the user deploys a survey by deciding in a step  1202  whether to use an e-mail list or a panel. In case the user chooses to use the e-mail list, then in a step  1204  each recipient on the e-mail list is mailed a solicitation to take the survey. The solicitation preferably includes a link to the survey on the host machine  100 . In a step  1206  the web server  404  compiles the survey from the web content objects and serves the survey to the survey respondent. Survey responses are received and analyzed in a step  1208  and saved in a step  1210 . 
     If in step  1202  the user chooses to use the panel of survey recipients, then in a step  1212  each panelist is mailed a solicitation to take the survey. Preferably the panelists are solicited by e-mail. The solicitation further preferably includes a link to the survey on the host machine  100 . In a step  1214  the web server  404  compiles the survey from the web content objects and serves the survey to the survey respondent. Survey responses are received and analyzed in a step  1216  and saved in a step  1210 . 
     Several embodiments are specifically illustrated and/or described herein. However, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations are covered by the above disclosure and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope thereof.