Patent Abstract:
A user interface display for software has a user satisfaction portion displayed on each page. The user satisfaction portion includes a user selectable element which allows a user to provide a user satisfaction score (or level) with a single mouse click. In response to receiving the user satisfaction level, the context of the software which the user is using is recorded, and the user satisfaction level is correlated to that context. The captured data can be provided to application designers and developers directly or via computed metrics.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     User feedback is currently an important mechanism by which developers of software improve the experiences of the user&#39;s who use the software. For instance, if a user provides feedback indicating that the user experience is unsatisfactory, a developer may undertake changes to the application in an effort to improve the experience of the users using the application. 
     Some current software systems allow a user to provide feedback. However, the user must often navigate away from a current display, and enter a specialized user feedback display. The user feedback display then dominates the user&#39;s screen and requires the user to input a fairly onerous amount of information into a user feedback form. The user must then submit the form, and only then can the user return to the application display that the user was previously viewing. This is a fairly cumbersome mechanism for receiving user feedback. Therefore, many users do not provide any feedback, whatsoever. They simply have a satisfactory user experience, or an unsatisfactory user experience, and they return to the software systems on which they have had satisfactory experiences, and tend to stay away from those systems where they have unsatisfactory experiences. 
     It is also currently very difficult to provide a mechanism for receiving user feedback on subtle features of a user interface. For example, if a developer changes a user interface page layout, or color, of if the developer changes the features available on a given user interface page, it is difficult to tell how the users are perceiving those changes. For instance, many user feedback mechanisms allow the user to rate an overall product, but not to rate a specific screen or user interface display. Therefore, if the user rates the product relatively low, the developer is left wondering whether it was the user interface features, the layout of the page, the function of the application, etc., which left the user with an unsatisfactory experience. Similarly, if the user rates the application relatively high, the developer is in no better position to determine precisely what parts of the application the user enjoyed. 
     The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     SUMMARY 
     A user interface display for software has a user satisfaction portion displayed on each page. The user satisfaction portion includes a user selectable element which allows a user to provide a user satisfaction score (or level) with a single mouse click. In response to receiving the user satisfaction level, the context of the software which the user is using is recorded, and the user satisfaction level is correlated to that context. 
     The captured data can be displayed to application designers and developers directly or via computed metrics. Also, the user can optionally provide additional information, including query type and other explicit feedback. The additional information can also be captured in metrics. 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one illustrative embodiment of a user satisfaction scoring system. 
         FIG. 2  is a flow diagram illustrating one embodiment of the overall operation of obtaining a user satisfaction score in the system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3A  is one embodiment of a user-selectable satisfaction indicator that can be displayed on a display screen. 
         FIG. 3B  shows one embodiment in which the user-selectable satisfaction indicator is displayed in a user satisfaction display area of an application display area. 
         FIGS. 4-6  show illustrative embodiments of displays which can be generated on the user satisfaction display area shown in  FIG. 3B . 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating the overall operation of the system shown in  FIG. 1  in generating user satisfaction reports. 
         FIG. 8  is one illustrative screenshot showing a report as generated in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a block diagram of one illustrative computing environment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of one illustrative embodiment of a user satisfaction measurement system  100 . System  100  illustratively includes user satisfaction control component  102 , user interface component  104 , metric calculator  106 , user satisfaction data store  108  and report generator  110 .  FIG. 1  also shows that user interface component  104  illustratively generates a display  112 , and report generator  110  generates reports, such as report  114 .  FIG. 2  is a flow diagram illustrating the overall operation of system  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , in generating user satisfaction measurements for a given application. 
     In one embodiment, user satisfaction control component  102  illustratively causes user interface component  104  to generate display  112  with a user-selectable satisfaction indicator on each screen (or form) displayed on display  112 . This is indicated by block  200  in  FIG. 2 . In one embodiment, the user-selectable satisfaction indicator is always present on the user interface display so that, no matter where a user is in an application or software system, the user can easily provide user satisfaction feedback by invoking features of the user-selectable satisfaction indicator. 
       FIG. 3A  is one exemplary screenshot of a user satisfaction indicator  250 . It can be seen in  FIG. 3A  that indicator  250  illustratively includes a textual description  252  such as “Rate your user experience”. That textual description  252  is then followed by a plurality of user-selectable elements  256  that range from very satisfied to very unsatisfied. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3A , selectable elements  256  are a range of face icons that vary between a widely smiling face icon on the left and a sternly frowning icon on the right. When the user clicks on one of the icons, this indicates the level of user satisfaction that the user is currently experiencing. 
       FIG. 3B  shows that, in one embodiment, an application or other software system generates a display such as an application display on display area  260 .  FIG. 3B  also shows that, in one illustrative embodiment, the user-selectable satisfaction indicator  250  is constantly displayed in a user satisfaction display area  262 . Of course, in one embodiment, the user can drag and drop the user satisfaction display area  262  to any desired location on display  260 , and that shown in the lower right hand corner of  FIG. 3B  is exemplary only. Also, as shown in  FIG. 3A , the user may engage one of two additional control elements  258 , which allow the user to close the user-selectable satisfaction indicator  250 , or receive a further explanation as to how it is used. 
     In any case, in one embodiment, user-selectable satisfaction indicator  250  is always displayed on display area  262  of the display screens  260  generated by the application or other software system. Of course, while the present discussion proceeds with respect to indicator  250  being constantly displayed on display  260 , that need not be the case. Instead, indicator  250  may be displayed on only selected display screens, as desired by the developer of the software system. Constant display of indicator  250  is exemplary only. 
     Providing user-selectable satisfaction indicator  250  as constantly being displayed on the screens of the application can be done in any number of ways. For example, a program can be run to add code to desired pages of the application so that indicator  250  is displayed on all desired pages of an application. Alternatively, or in addition, the code can be added to only certain pages, for certain users, or users in a certain geographical area, or using any other criteria to determine when and under what circumstances indicator  250  is added to a display screen. In any case, the user-selectable satisfaction indicator  250  is illustratively displayed on the application display screens  260 . 
     When the user wishes to provide user satisfaction information, the user simply clicks on one of the user elements  256  on indicator  250 . In that case, user interface component  104  receives the user selection input indicative of user satisfaction and provides it to user satisfaction control component  102 . User interface component  104  also illustratively records a variety of data which can be used later in generating reports. For instance, component  104  can record context data, time data, a unique user identification, and provide all of that information to component  102  for storing (along with the user satisfaction input by the user) in user satisfaction data store  108 . Receiving the user selection input actuating one of elements  256  to indicate user satisfaction is indicated by block  202  in  FIG. 2  and recording the various features of the user interface (such as context data, time data, PII-GUID data, etc.) is indicated by blocks  204 ,  206 , and  208 . Block  208  is shown in dashed line to indicate that it is optional. Of course, all of the different types of data are optional, and more types of data can be added in the recording process, as desired. 
     The context data may illustratively include data such as the market in which the application is being used (e.g., English speaking, Chinese speaking, etc.), a particular command that the user has just input (such as the text of a search query input on a search engine), the form code of the user interface display then being displayed by the application, the version number of the application being used, or any other features that describe the context that the user is currently in, when the user provides the user satisfaction input. Of course, the context information may also illustratively include the overall configuration of the display being provided to the user, such as background color, font size, the placement of user interface elements, etc. 
     The time data may illustratively include when the user&#39;s session with the application began, the particular time within the session that the user satisfaction input was provided, and it may also provide the time that the user&#39;s session ends, so that it can be determined whether the user&#39;s satisfaction input was provided towards the beginning or towards the end of the user&#39;s session. Of course, all of these items of information may be tracked by the application the user is using, and retrieved by user interface component  104 , or they can be tracked by the operating system, or a combination of the two, or by other information tracking components in the computer system. In any case, the information is recorded in user satisfaction data store  108 . 
     After the user satisfaction measure and the data has been recorded, user satisfaction control component  102  can control user interface component  104  to generate a user selectable interface element  270  that allows a user to input additional information. For example,  FIG. 4  shows one illustrative screenshot of such a user-selectable interface component  270 . The component includes a text string such as “Thank you for your feedback, tell us tiny bit more”, with the text “tell us a tiny bit more” being selectable by the user to cause a further interface element to be displayed. 
     If the user selects the “tell us a tiny bit more” link, then it is determined that the user wishes to provide additional user satisfaction information. Determining whether the user will provide additional feedback is indicated by block  210  in  FIG. 2 . If not, then user satisfaction control component  102  causes user interface component  104  to simply generate a “thank you” message, such as message  280  shown in  FIG. 6 . Generating the thank you message is indicated by block  212  in  FIG. 2 . 
     However, if, at block  210 , the user agrees to provide additional information, then user satisfaction control component  102  causes user interface component  104  to generate another user selectable element  272 , one example of which is shown in  FIG. 5 , that will allow the user to input additional information. The further information generated through element  272  will illustratively include task data that identifies the particular task that the user is attempting to perform. This allows system  100  to very clearly determine the intent of the user in using the application, at the time the user feedback is provided. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , element  272  illustratively includes a text string such as “I am currently using this application to:” 
     Immediately below the text string is placed a drop down box  274 . When the user selects the drop down box, a drop down task list  276  is displayed which allows the user to select a task. For instance, when the application is a search application, the task might be “submit a query”, “View results”, “Modify query”, etc. 
     The type of tasks may also illustratively include such things as “navigation” (where a user is looking for a site), “informational” (where a user is looking for a some information), “shopping”, “getting a specific answer”, or “none of the above”. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , element  272  also includes a text box  278  which allows a user to submit additional textual comments. Element  272  further includes a cancel button  282  which allows a user to cancel the additional user feedback option, and a submit button  284  that allows a user to submit the additional user satisfaction information generated through element  272 . Generating the further information collection display  272  is indicated by block  212  in  FIG. 2 , and receiving the task data identifying the user&#39;s intent is indicated by block  214  in  FIG. 2 . 
     Once this information is received, user interface component  104  passes it to user satisfaction control component  102  which stores it in user satisfaction data store  108  for later report generation. Recording the task data is indicated by block  216  in  FIG. 2 . 
     Again, once the user satisfaction input process is finished, the system illustratively generates the “thank you” display  280  shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     It will, of course, be understood that in one illustrative embodiment, all of the displays in  FIGS. 3A , and  4 - 6 , are provided in the user satisfaction display area  262  shown in  FIG. 3B , so that the user satisfaction displays do not completely take over the application display area  260 . Therefore, the user need not navigate away from the particular screen  260  where the user initiated the user satisfaction feedback process. This provides a much simpler and more efficient mechanism for a user to provide feedback then prior systems. In addition, the collection of the task data and other context data, time data and user identification data also make it much easier to correlate the user&#39;s satisfaction input to specific features of the user interface that the user is then using. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating one illustrative embodiment of the operation of system  100  in generating a report once sufficient user satisfaction data has been stored in data store  108 . First, it is determined that an administrator or other user desires to generate a user satisfaction report for a given software system. This is indicated by block  300  in  FIG. 7 . When this happens, a variety of processing steps can take place, as desired by the person receiving the report. For instance, in one embodiment, a metric calculator  106  accesses the data in data store  108  and analyzes it to create the reports. Metric calculator  106  illustratively correlates user feedback scores indicated by the user feedback input received through element  250  to various features that were recorded. For instance, if the user inputs a high degree of satisfaction, that may illustratively be reduced to a numerical score when it stored in data store  108 . Metric calculator  106  illustratively correlates that score to the various features of the user interface that were recorded at the time that the score was input by the user. For instance, metric calculator  106  may correlate the score to the various physical features of the interface, such as the color, the background color, the foreground color, the font, the font size, the placement of user interface elements on the screen, etc. 
     Similarly, where the user has provided additional information, in addition to the context data, the scores can be correlated to that information as well. Therefore, if a user has provided an input indicating the type of task that the user was attempting to perform when the user satisfaction input was received, metric calculator  106  can correlate the received score to that type of task. Further, metric calculator  106  can correlate the score to the time that the score was received, to the market from which the score was received, to an individual user that input the score, to a time within a given session (whether it was toward the beginning or end of the session) that the user input was received, etc. In addition, metric calculator  106  can correlate the score to a given version of an application that the user was using. A wide variety of other correlations can be made as well, and these are mentioned for exemplary purposes only. Correlating the score to the user interface features is indicated by block  302 , correlating the scores to task types or queries is indicated by block  304 , correlating the scores to a time or version of the software is indicated by block  306 . 
     Once the desired correlations are made, metric calculator  106  illustratively calculates evaluation metrics for the report. Of course, a wide variety of different metrics can be used. For instance, metric calculator  106  may calculate simple averages for all user satisfaction inputs received on the application, and combine them to obtain an overall average for an application. Similarly, however, metric calculator  106  can refine the granularity so that the averages are computed for each form displayed (or for each display screen displayed when the user provided a user satisfaction input), by task type, by query or query type, by time of day, or by any other correlation criteria accessible by metric calculator  106 . 
     Similarly, the averages may not be simple averages, but weighted averages. In other words, it is generally accepted that a user&#39;s first and last impressions are likely to be remembered by the user. Therefore, user satisfaction scores that were input into the system early in the user&#39;s session or late in the user&#39;s session can be weighted more heavily than those input toward the middle of a user&#39;s session. Also, some task types might be more important than others in the application, or might be used more often, and therefore, the scores can be weighted based on the type of task performed. Similarly, some contexts may have received a higher number of user satisfaction inputs than others. In that case, the scores for those contexts may be weighted more heavily than other scores for other contexts. Similarly, metric calculator  106  can calculate the metrics for any of a wide variety of other correlations. Calculating evaluation metrics is indicated by block  308  in  FIG. 7 , weighting them based on time is indicated by block  310 , weighting them based on task type is indicated by block  312 , calculating simple averages is indicated by block  314 , and displaying the scores or metrics based on other correlations generated is indicated by block  316 . 
     Once the metrics are calculated and correlated as desired, report generator  110  illustratively retrieves the information to generate report  114 . Outputting the report is indicated by block  318  in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 8  shows one exemplary screenshot of a report  400  generated using system  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . Report  400  has three sections. The first section  402  indicates the overall average user satisfaction score for a given software system. Section  402  includes an experiment identification section (which may identify a particular project or study for which the report is generated), a total number of user satisfaction inputs received, and an overall average score (in this case referred to as a “smile value”) for those user satisfaction inputs. The exemplary report  400  also includes section  404  that includes overall averages by form code (by screenshot generated). The section includes an identification of the particular study or experiment being conducted, an identification of the individual form codes for which user satisfaction inputs will be received, the total number of user satisfaction inputs (smile clicks) received for each individual form code, and the overall smile value (or user satisfaction score) broken down by form code. Finally, report  400  includes section  406  that includes overall averages by query type. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the application is a search engine. Therefore, some of the additional task information input by the user is the type of query which was input (such as navigational, finding specific information, shopping, etc.). Section  406  again includes an identification of the experiment or study being conducted, an identification of the query type for which a user satisfaction input was received, the total number of user satisfaction inputs received for each query type, and the overall average score for each query type. Again, report  400  is illustrative only and a wide variety of different reports could be generated as well. 
       FIG. 9  is one embodiment of a computing environment in which the invention can be used. With reference to FIG.  9 , an exemplary system for implementing some embodiments includes a general-purpose computing device in the form of a computer  510 . Components of computer  510  may include, but are not limited to, a processing unit  520 , a system memory  530 , and a system bus  521  that couples various system components including the system memory to the processing unit  520 . The system bus  521  may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and not limitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, and Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus also known as Mezzanine bus. 
     Computer  510  typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by computer  510  and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by computer  510 . Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media. 
     The system memory  530  includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM)  531  and random access memory (RAM)  532 . A basic input/output system  533  (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computer  510 , such as during start-up, is typically stored in ROM  531 . RAM  532  typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by processing unit  520 . By way of example, and not limitation,  FIG. 9  illustrates operating system  534 , application programs  535 , other program modules  536 , and program data  537 . 
     The computer  510  may also include other removable/non-removable volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,  FIG. 9  illustrates a hard disk drive  541  that reads from or writes to non-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive  551  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk  552 , and an optical disk drive  555  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile optical disk  556  such as a CD ROM or other optical media. Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive  541  is typically connected to the system bus  521  through a non-removable memory interface such as interface  540 , and magnetic disk drive  551  and optical disk drive  555  are typically connected to the system bus  521  by a removable memory interface, such as interface  550 . 
     The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed above and illustrated in  FIG. 9 , provide storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer  510 . In  FIG. 9 , for example, hard disk drive  541  is illustrated as storing operating system  544 , application programs  545 , other program modules  546 , and program data  547 . Note that these components can either be the same as or different from operating system  534 , application programs  535 , other program modules  536 , and program data  537 . Operating system  544 , application programs  545 , other program modules  546 , and program data  547  are given different numbers here to illustrate that, at a minimum, they are different copies. They can also include the system  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . System  100  can be stored other places as well, including being stored remotely. 
       FIG. 9  shows the clustering system in other program modules  546 . It should be noted, however, that it can reside elsewhere, including on a remote computer, or at other places. 
     A user may enter commands and information into the computer  510  through input devices such as a keyboard  562 , a microphone  563 , and a pointing device  561 , such as a mouse, trackball or touch pad. Other input devices (not shown) may include a joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit  520  through a user input interface  560  that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port or a universal serial bus (USB). A monitor  591  or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus  521  via an interface, such as a video interface  590 . In addition to the monitor, computers may also include other peripheral output devices such as speakers  597  and printer  596 , which may be connected through an output peripheral interface  595 . 
     The computer  510  is operated in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer  580 . The remote computer  580  may be a personal computer, a hand-held device, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer  510 . The logical connections depicted in  FIG. 9  include a local area network (LAN)  571  and a wide area network (WAN)  573 , but may also include other networks. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet. 
     When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer  510  is connected to the LAN  571  through a network interface or adapter  570 . When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer  510  typically includes a modem  572  or other means for establishing communications over the WAN  573 , such as the Internet. The modem  572 , which may be internal or external, may be connected to the system bus  521  via the user input interface  560 , or other appropriate mechanism. In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to the computer  510 , or portions thereof, may be stored in the remote memory storage device. By way of example, and not limitation,  FIG. 9  illustrates remote application programs  585  as residing on remote computer  580 . It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used. 
     Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6