Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20060265368?dq=%22edwin+asa+markham%22
Timestamp: 2017-11-23 04:26:12
Document Index: 116679626

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 140', 'art 124', 'art 124', 'art 140', 'art 124', 'arts 124', 'art 140']

Patent US20060265368 - Measuring subjective user reaction concerning a particular document - Google Patents
In one embodiment, a system for measuring subjective user reaction concerning a particular document includes a first icon incorporated into a particular document. The first icon becomes viewable at least partially on or near the document independent of input from a user subsequent to the user accessing...http://www.google.com/patents/US20060265368?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20060265368 - Measuring subjective user reaction concerning a particular document
Publication number US20060265368 A1
Application number US 11/135,045
Also published as CA2608564A1, EP1889185A2, EP1889185A4, WO2006127286A2, WO2006127286A3
Publication number 11135045, 135045, US 2006/0265368 A1, US 2006/265368 A1, US 20060265368 A1, US 20060265368A1, US 2006265368 A1, US 2006265368A1, US-A1-20060265368, US-A1-2006265368, US2006/0265368A1, US2006/265368A1, US20060265368 A1, US20060265368A1, US2006265368 A1, US2006265368A1
Inventors Rand Nickerson, Mark Treschl
Patent Citations (58), Referenced by (43), Classifications (8), Legal Events (1)
US 20060265368 A1
In one embodiment, a system for measuring subjective user reaction concerning a particular document includes a first icon incorporated into a particular document. The first icon becomes viewable at least partially on or near the document independent of input from a user subsequent to the user accessing the particular document and solicits a subjective user reaction to the particular document from the user. The first icon receives user input indicating a desire to provide a subjective user reaction to the particular document, and the user input causes a second icon to become viewable at least partially on or near the particular document. The second icon provides the user an opportunity to provide a subjective user reaction to the particular document. The system also includes software associated with the second icon that receives the subjective user reaction to the particular document and directs the subjective user reaction to a predetermined destination for reporting to an owner of the document.
1. A system for measuring subjective user reaction concerning a particular document, the system comprising:
a first icon incorporated into a particular document, the first icon having been incorporated into the document in connection with creation of the document and remaining with the document over a publication period, the first icon becoming viewable at least partially on or near the document independent of input from a user subsequent to the user accessing the particular document, the first icon soliciting a subjective user reaction to the particular document from the user independent of input from the user subsequent to the user accessing the particular document, the first icon operable to receive user input indicating a desire to provide a subjective user reaction to the particular document, the user input causing a second icon to become viewable at least partially on or near the particular document, the second icon providing the user an opportunity to provide a subjective user reaction to the particular document; and
software associated with the second icon and operable to:
receive the subjective user reaction to the particular document; and
direct the subjective user reaction to a predetermined destination for reporting to an owner of the document.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second icon comprises one or more multi-level rating scales.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the multi-level rating scales comprise one of more of:
a first rating scale for rating a relevance of the particular document;
a second rating scale for rating an accuracy of the particular document; and
a third rating scale for rating a completeness of the particular document.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second icon comprises a dynamic comment card (DCC).
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined destination comprises a destination associated with one or more of an author of the particular document, a document administrator for an organization that published the document, and a third-party provider of analytics with respect to the document.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein, to direct the subjective user reaction to the predetermined destination, the software directs the subjective user reaction to a predetermined World Wide Web (WWW) address.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the particular document has a format corresponding to:
WORD PERFECT; or
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the document is accessible to the user over the World Wide Web (WWW).
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the software is further operable:
when receiving the subjective user reaction to the particular document, to collect usage information on the access of the particular document by the user; and
to direct the usage information to the predetermined destination for reporting to the owner of the document along with the subjective user reaction.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the usage information comprises one or more of:
an indication of an amount of time the user kept the document open;
an indication of whether the user printed the document;
an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the user; and
an indication of a date and a time when the user accessed the document.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein the software is further operable, if the software receives the subjective user reaction to the particular document when the user is offline, to store the subjective user reaction and wait until the user is online to direct the subjective user reaction to the predetermined destination.
12. A method for measuring subjective user reaction concerning a particular document, the method comprising:
using a first icon incorporated into a particular document to solicit a subjective user reaction to the particular document from a user independent of input from the user subsequent to the user accessing the particular document, the first icon having been incorporated into the document in connection with creation of the document and remaining with the document over a publication period, the first icon becoming viewable at least partially on or near the document independent of input from a user subsequent to the user accessing the particular document, the first icon operable to receive user input indicating a desire to provide a subjective user reaction to the particular document, the user input causing a second icon to become viewable at least partially on or near the particular document, the second icon providing the user an opportunity to provide a subjective user reaction to the particular document; and
using software associated with the second icon to:
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second icon comprises one or more multi-level rating scales.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the multi-level rating scales comprise one of more of:
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the second icon comprises a dynamic comment card (DCC).
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined destination comprises a destination associated with one or more of an author of the particular document, a document administrator for an organization that published the document, and a third-party provider of analytics with respect to the document.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein using the software to direct the subjective user reaction to the predetermined destination comprises using the software to direct the subjective user reaction to a predetermined World Wide Web (WWW) address.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein the particular document has a format corresponding to:
19. The method of claim 12, wherein the document is accessible to the user over the World Wide Web (WWW).
20. The method of claim 12, further comprising using the software:
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the usage information comprises one or more of:
22. The method of claim 12, further comprising, if the software receives the subjective user reaction to the particular document when the user is offline, using the software to store the subjective user reaction and wait until the user is online to direct the subjective user reaction to the predetermined destination.
This invention relates in general to communications and more particularly to measuring subjective user reaction concerning a particular document.
Particular embodiments of the present invention may reduce or eliminate problems and disadvantages associated with previous techniques for receiving and reporting user feedback concerning one or more particular documents.
FIGS. 8A through 8C illustrate an example web page including an embedded document and an incorporated user feedback measurement tool;
FIGS. 9A though 9C illustrate another example web page including an embedded document and an incorporated user feedback measurement tool;
Periodically or in response to receiving feedback information from a user 16 concerning one or more particular pages 28 of website 26, collection module 42 of server 18 may perform a “crawl” to identify the pages 28 that are associated with website 26 (and possibly other websites 26) and incorporate tool 30. Based on this information, the collection module 42 may generate a map or other suitable report concerning the topography of website 26 and store the map in a database 44, which may include one or more storage locations integral to or separate from database 36, database 40, and server 18. In one embodiment, the pages 28 are parsed to identify their titles, URLs, and other suitable information for use in generating the map. Reporting module 46 uses the map to generate reports concerning the pages 28 of website 26, which might be linked to one another according to the topography of website 26 as described more fully below with reference to FIGS. 10A and 10B. Owner 12 may subsequently modify one or more pages 28 of website 26 according to the subjective ratings or other feedback received from users 16 (and possibly their demographic profiles), as reflected in the reports, to improve the pages 28 or better tailor the pages 28 for particular categories of users 16.
For example only and not by way of limitation, parentheses around the plus and minus symbols may meet (or nearly meet) above and below the plus and minus symbols to resemble a capital “O” or oval. Analogously, square brackets around the plus and minus symbols may meet (or nearly meet) above and below the plus and minus symbols to resemble a square. Furthermore, although variations of plus and minus symbols are primarily described, any suitable stationary or animated icon 50 may be used to represent the association of tool 30 with page 28, and the opportunity 5 to provide feedback, without departing from the intended scope of the present invention. Preferably, icon 50 is the same or substantially the same across all pages 28 of website 26 and, more preferably, pages 28 of other websites 26. This may contribute to the icon 50 becoming a readily identifiable and well accepted standard throughout the community of all users 16 of websites 26.
To record general feedback concerning page 28, the user 16 clicks on, points to, or otherwise selects an appropriate symbol 62 reflective of the feedback. In response, tool 32 (or tool 30) may store the user feedback information and, at the appropriate time, cause the feedback information to be communicated to server 18 for storage in database 36. In a particular embodiment, the user feedback information collected in response to user 16 providing general feedback concerning the page 28 may include, in any suitable combination and without limitation: (1) the title of page 28; (2) the URL for page 28; (3) the feedback user identifier; (4) the subjective rating (for example only, “++,” “+,” +−,” “−,” or “−−”); (5) the time and date page 28 was accessed; (6) the time and date the subjective rating was received; (7) the web profile information for user 16; and (8) any other suitable information. According to the demographic user identifier, if one is available at server 18, the demographic information for user 16 may be stored in association with the user feedback information in database 36, as described more fully above.
User feedback measurement tool 30 may be incorporated into a web page 28 that includes one or more embedded documents, and user feedback measurement tool 30 may enable website users 16 to provide feedback concerning one or more of the embedded documents in web page 28. ActiveX controls, Java or other applets, or both may be used to render a document into a web page 28 viewable within a web browser 52. A media loader may facilitate seamless loading of various types of media into a web page 28. ActiveX controls may be embedded into a document having an HTML frameset to seamlessly load the document into a web page 28. In particular embodiments, using a web-based framework to embed documents requires deployment consideration. One or more plugins to one or more document viewers may facilitate such deployment. As an example and not by way of limitation, an SDK/API document viewer plugin in C or C++ may facilitate interaction between user feedback measurement tool 30 and one or more embedded PDF documents.
An embedded document in a web page 28 may include one or more of the following: one or more MICROSOFT OFFICE documents (such as WORD, EXCEL, POWERPOINT, VISIO, and PROJECT documents); streaming video, nonstreaming video, or both (such as REAL, WINDOWS, and QUICKTIME video); one or more MACROMEDIA FLASH, SHOCKWAVE, DIRECTOR, or similar documents; streaming audio, nonstreaming audio, or both (such as MP3, AAC, REAL AUDIO, WINDOWS, and QUICKTIME audio); and one or more PDF-formatted or similar documents (such as ADOBE ACROBAT documents). Although particular embedded documents in particular web pages 28 are illustrated and described, the present invention contemplates any suitable embedded documents in any suitable web pages 28. Reference to a “document” may encompass one or more documents, spreadsheets, slideshows, diagrams, charts, video files, audio files, or other documents or a combination of two or more such documents, where appropriate. Software associated with one or more embedded documents in a web page 28 may enable website users 16 to view the embedded documents. As an example and not by way of limitation, MICROSOFT WORD may enable website users 16 to view one or more MICROSOFT WORD documents embedded in a web page 28. As another example, ADOBE ACROBAT may enable website users 16 to view one or more PDF documents embedded in a web page 28. Reference to an “embedded document” may encompass one or more embedded documents in a web page 28, software enabling website users 16 to view the embedded documents, or both, where appropriate.
FIGS. 8A through 8C illustrate an example web page 28 that includes an embedded document 84 and an incorporated user feedback measurement tool 30. Application 86 is a word processor (such as, for example, MICROSOFT WORD) providing website users 16 access to document 84. User feedback measurement tool 30 appears as a language-independent icon 50. Language-independent icon 50 may be located on web page 28 such that language-independent icon 50 does not obscure document 84 or any visual components of application 86. To collect feedback concerning document 84, user feedback measurement tool 30 and language-independent icon 50 may operate as described above with reference to FIGS. 2 through 6. User feedback measurement tool 30, associated software, or both may also collect information on website users 16 accessing document 84. As an example and not by way of limitation, user feedback measurement tool 30, associated software, or both may collect information uniquely identifying document 84 being viewed when website user 16 selected language-independent icon 50 to submit feedback concerning document 84. Document 84 may be identified according to a universal document name, HTTP, HTTPS, LAN path (such as SMB or NFS), local file, or other identifier. As another example, user feedback measurement tool 30, associated software, or both may collect information identifying a current page or frame of document 84 being viewed when website user 16 selected language-independent icon 50 to submit feedback concerning document 84. As yet another example, user feedback measurement tool 30, associated software, or both may collect information indicating a time spent by website user 16 viewing each of one or more pages of document 84. As yet another example, user feedback measurement tool 30, associated software, or both may collect information indicating a time spent by website user 16 viewing document 84 since website user 16 first opened document 84. As yet another example, user feedback measurement tool 30, associated software, or both may collect information identifying text in document 84 that website user 16 selected or highlighted.
FIGS. 9A though 9C illustrate another example web page 28 that includes an embedded document 88 and an incorporated user feedback measurement tool 30. Application 90 is a PDF viewer (such as ADOBE ACROBAT) providing website users 16 access to document 88. User feedback measurement tool 30 incorporated into web page 28 appears as a language-independent icon 50 located in a masthead region 56 of browser window 52 and remaining in masthead region 56 as a website user 16 scrolls or otherwise navigates through web page 28. To collect feedback concerning document 88, user feedback measurement tool 30 and language-independent icon 50 may operate as described above with reference to FIGS. 2 through 6. User feedback measurement tool 30, associated software, or both may also collect information on website users 16 accessing document 88, as described above with reference to FIGS. 8A through 8C.
Many organizations (such as, for example, corporations and other enterprises) have moved their support documents to websites 26 to facilitate access by employees, shareholders, and customers. By way of example and not by way of limitation, support documents may include product or service documents accessible by customers, e.g., user manuals for products, sales and service documents for employees, e.g., sales presentations, human-resource documents, e.g. policies and procedures, and documents intended for shareholders, e.g. financial results. Placing such documents online may provide one or more benefits. By placing a “search” function in front of document access, placing documents behind passwords, and/or listing available documents by product or employee responsibility or market or business division, support may become self-serve. Access may be facilitated or controlled. This is a first step in document management. Organizations such as IBM and GOOGLE provide hardware and software systems to facilitate this first step in document management.
Documents are often published online in a variety of formats using document creation software. Typically, however, management of online documents ends at this point. Little, if any, attempt is made, for example, to monitor the frequency of use, relevance, usefulness, or accuracy of these documents as time passes. The result is that an organization may have enormous libraries of online documents, many of which become inaccurate, out-of-date, or irrelevant over time, with no adequate way of managing which documents should be withdrawn, updated, or replaced and in what priority. Inaccurate or incomplete documents can be injurious to the organization, particularly in such markets as financial services and insurance.
These documents typically exist online in a number of formats, depending on the programs used to create them. Examples of document creation programs may include MICROSOFT WORD, ADOBE ACROBAT, MICROSOFT POWERPOINT, WORD PERFECT, and MICROSOFT EXCEL. These programs typically include collaborative features allowing a few stakeholders to comment on the document during creation for the purpose of streamlining editing. Comments are typically stored with the document during this stage, but this feature is turned off once the document is published for wide-scale use. In fact, many document creation programs specifically allow the author to lock the document before publication to prevent users from changing the content. This is marketed as an advantage to those publishing such documents for access over the World Wide Web (WWW) or other web.
Particular embodiments provide a set of document-creation features allowing the creator of one or more documents to go beyond locking the document to enable continuous tracking of user access and user opinion on distinct criteria throughout publication of the documents. This allows management of the documents throughout their publication period. Particular embodiments enable an organization to pursue document management beyond publication to continuously track performance of one or more documents throughout their online publication life.
By way of example and not by way of limitation, consider ADOBE ACROBAT. ADOBE ACROBAT permits the creation and conversion of documents to a standard format that allows for collaboration during the creation process, standardizes the format, and locks the content of the document on publication. An additional document management feature may be incorporated into a masthead region 56 of a display of an ADOBE ACROBAT document that allows the document creator to continuously track access to the document, user ratings of the document on critical dimensions such as “relevance,” “accuracy,” and “completeness” and open-ended comments from users for the life of the document. The author may use a program feature allowing the author to customize a Dynamic Comment Card (DCC) to be available to all or some users of the document. In addition to customizing questions, rating scales, and appearance, the author may fill out a field to specify a WWW or other address for the data collected through the DCC to be sent. In particular embodiments, this may be the author or a document administrator for an enterprise or other organization or ADOBE or a third party provider of analytics, such as OPINIONLAB, for example. In particular embodiments, a continuous tracking feature may be enabled within a document creation program at the time of publication. DCC methodology and back-end analytics may be readily adapted to this application.
By activating this feature on publication, a reader of the document may have access to a DCC by clicking an animated symbol or other icon 50 in a masthead region 56 of a program used to read ACROBAT documents, such as ADOBE READER. When the DCC is activated by the user of the document (after viewing the document), it may appear over the top of the document, as described above with reference to FIGS. 4, 6, 8A-8C, and 9A-9C. While the user fills out the card, tool 30 may collect usage information (such as, for example, a time of access, whether the user printed the document, and IP address of the user, and a date of access) in the background. On closing the DCC, data may be sent to the specified address or stored until the reader next goes online with ACROBAT open.
If the organization sends its document data to ADOBE or a third party provider of analytics, such as OPINIONLAB, persons associated with the organization may access back-end analytics in an Active Server Page (ASP) environment used by ONLINEOPINION to optimize website user experience. Organizations may use these analytics to “optimize” their online document libraries by tracking and identifying documents that may need to be replaced, edited, or supplemented. This may significantly reduce inefficiencies and liabilities related to incorrect, out-of-date, or inaccurate resource documents. Similarly, open-ended comments may direct document administrators to the need for new documents to streamline online support. Organizations may subscribe to the back-end analytics on a business model similar to ONLINEOPINION. The service provider may store, maintain, and analyze the data through online and printed reports, as described below, for example.
As an example and not by way of limitation, in particular embodiments, post-publication online document management based on continuous user feedback may operate as follows:
1. The author may activate continuous tracking of user response using a DCC activation process embedded within the document creation software (e.g., ACROBAT or MICROSOFT WORD). The activation process may include specification of an address to send data collected through the DCC.
2. An author or corporate document administrator may insert custom questions into the DCC related to the document, for example, by subscribing to an appropriate OPINIONLAB service.
3. On opening a document, a reader may see a feedback icon 50 embedded in a masthead region 56 or menu bar of the document-reading software (e.g., ACROBAT READER). On clicking the icon, a DCC may appear over the document. While the reader completes the user comments and ratings, tool 30 may collect context and behavior data such as date, time, whether the document was printed, and so on. The data may be sent to the collection location as the DCC is closed or stored for retrieval next time the reader goes online.
4. If the organization subscribes to a back-end service, the data may be sent, stored, and maintained on a server, such as reporting server 18. The subscriber may access the data through proprietary online tools analyzing the user performance of all published documents created using the document creation software. Documents may be quickly identified as inaccurate, out dated, or irrelevant, and appropriate corrective action may be taken.
5. Document administrators may activate an alert system. Using this system, administrators may be automatically alerted (by, for example, reporting server 18) if a document fell below a certain threshold related to average rating, number of negative comments, or frequency of access.
In particular embodiments, a result of such post-publication online document management is improved document management and stakeholder support based on continuous feedback related to user requirements and document performance. In particular embodiments, a benefit to the subscriber is improved document management through the life of the publication. In particular embodiments, a benefit to the organization marketing the document creation software is a point of differentiation in the marketplace.
A document management application (such as, for example, ACROBAT 6.0) may provide an Application Presentation Interface (API) that is accessible in JavaScript within a document viewing application (such as, for example, ADOBE ACROBAT). In particular embodiments, a document (such as, for example, an ADOBE ACROBAT document) may be processed to include a “tag.” The tag may include a script or other software component that provides a link in the document for providing feedback concerning the document. A plugin in the document viewing application may allow the process to be integrated seamlessly into the document during creation or processing (for older documents). As a result, in particular embodiments, the process need not be built completely into the document viewing application by a provider of the document viewing application (such as, for example, ADOBE). A plugin may be used to add feedback capabilities to a document.
As an example and not by way of limitation, consider the following embodiments (which may also be applied in substantially similar form to MICROSOFT products as well):
1. ADOBE integrates tool 30 into ACROBAT (which provides a PDF creation/authoring environment) and READER (which provides a PDF viewer application) software that makes tool 30 available for on and off-line use. A DCC is configured through the ACROBAT software and information (e.g., design, questions, and where to send the data) is passed along with the document to READER. In particular embodiments, the DCC may be able to launch when the user is offline and store the ratings until the user regains access to the Internet. The next use of READER detects a network connection and uploads all ratings history. Application integration may allow for more behavioral data to be collected along with the ratings information (e.g., zoom level, number of times the document was viewed, whether it was printed, etc.).
2. ADOBE integrates tool 30 into ACROBAT for online use only. Using ACROBAT, a DCC may be configured through: (a) ACROBAT software—using ACROBAT, the DCC design is stored with the document; (b) an OPINIONLAB website—using OPINIONLAB, the DCC design is stored in an OPINIONLAB database, which may be associated with reporting server 18. Either way, the READER software must detect an active connection state to render an icon 50 or the like telling the user it accepts feedback on this document.
3. ACROBAT users download a plugin from an appropriate website (which may be a third-party website) which inserts an icon 50 or the like during authoring. Upon viewing in READER, an icon 50 may be present on the document that invokes a new browser window upon rating to render the DCC and pass the ratings data.
FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 11 illustrate example reports 100 for one or more pages 28 of website 26. Reports 100 are intended to provide the owner 12 with a readily understandable view of feedback concerning a particular page 28, a set of particular pages 28, or website 26 as a whole (considering all pages 28). As described above, feedback concerning page 28 may include responses to one or more explicit questions about page 28, one or more elements of page 28, one or more items with which page 28 is logically associated, or any other suitable subject. Reports 100 may reflect only feedback collected during a specified time period or might reflect all feedback collected since tool 30 was incorporated into the particular page 28 or pages 28 that reports 100 concern. As an example, reports 100 for successive time periods might allow owner 12 to identify trends in the feedback information and to respond appropriately. Reports 100 may reflect only feedback collected from users 16 having a specified user profile or one or more specified demographic characteristics, or may reflect all feedback collected for the particular page 28 or pages 28 of interest. The present invention contemplates one or more reports 100 to provide the owner 12 with any information collected using tools 30, 32, or 34, in a format appropriate for owner 12.
As shown in FIG. 10A for a website 26 as a whole, ratings table 102 may include a timeframe 104 during which the feedback of ratings table 102 was collected. A website overview 106 might include, in any combination and without limitation: (1) the number of ratings for all pages 28 of website 26 (generally or as to one or more specific aspects); (2) the number of one or more specified types of ratings for all pages 28, such as the number of negative ratings (generally or as to one or more specific aspects); (3) the number of unrated pages 28 among all pages 28 (where user 16 accessed page 28 incorporating tool 30 but did not provide a rating); (4) the number of positively rated pages 28 (generally or as to one or more specific aspects) among all the pages 28 (which might include, for example, both positive ratings and very positive ratings according to rating scale 60 or 72 described above); (5) the number of neutrally rated pages 28 (generally or as to one or more specific aspects) among all of the pages 28; (6) the number of negatively rated pages 28 (generally or as to one or more specific aspects) among all pages 28 (which may include, for example, both negative ratings and very negative ratings according to rating scale 60 or 72); (7) the number of ratings for the page 28 with the most ratings or most ratings of a specified type, such as the most negative ratings (generally or as to one or more specific aspects); (8) the number of comments received in connection with all pages 28; (9) and any other suitable rating information concerning website 26, considering all the pages 28. In the alternative, the ratings table 102 might provide similar information concerning one or more particular pages 28.
In one embodiment, report 100 may also include a chart 140, integral to or separate from chart 124, providing a percentage or other relative portion of pages 28 of website 26 that have been rated. For example, and without limitation, if chart 124 is substantially circular as illustrated in FIG. 10A, chart 140 may be located in a sector of chart 124 to allow the owner 12 to appreciate the information in charts 124 and 138 substantially simultaneously. The percentage of other relative portion of rated pages 28 may be indicated using a scale 142 or according to the amount 144 of the chart 140 that is colored, filled, or otherwise indicated as corresponding to that percentage or other relative portion. Providing site level rating information to the owner 12 in an integrated and readily understandable manner using report 100 is an important technical advantage of the present invention.
FIG. 11 illustrates an example report 150 for a particular page 28 of website 26. Similar to report 100 for website 26 as a whole, report 100 for page 28 may include ratings table 152 having a timeframe 154 during which the feedback of ratings table 152 was collected. A page overview 156 may include, in any suitable combination and without limitation: (1) the number of ratings for page 28 (generally or as to one or more specific aspects); (2) the number of one or more specified types of ratings for page 28, such as the number of negative ratings (generally or as to one or more specific aspects); (3) the number of positive ratings for page 28 (generally or as to one or more specific aspects), which may include both positive ratings and very positive ratings according to rating scale 60 or 72; (4) the number of neutral ratings for the page 28 (generally or as to one or more specific aspects); (5) the number of negative ratings for page 28 (generally or as to one or more specific aspects), which may include both negative ratings and very negative ratings according to rating scale 60 or 72; (6) the number of comments received in connection with page 28; (7) and any other suitable rating information concerning page 28.
One or more portions of a report 150 for a page 28 may include hypertext or other suitable links to comments from users 16 regarding page 28. In particular embodiments, for example, a rating line 170 representing a particular rating received from one or more users 16 may include a link to one or more comments regarding page 28 received from users 16 in connection, with the particular rating. An owner 12 may select the link, read one or more comments, and attempt to determine one or more reasons for the particular rating. In particular embodiments, as another example, report 150 may include an area in which received comments from users 16 regarding page 28 are tallied and grouped according to ratings received from users 16 in connection with the comments. Such an area may include one or more links to the comments. As described above, background data may be obtained from users 16 in connection with comments from users 16. Such data may also be presented to owner 12 in any suitable manner. For example, when owner 12 accesses a comment from a user 16 regarding a page 28, background data obtained from user 16 may be presented to owner 12 with the comment independent of owner 12 making a specific request for such data.
FIG. 12 illustrates an example method of incorporating tool 30 into one or more particular pages 28 of website 26. The method begins at step 200, where owner 12 communicates a download or other suitable request to server 18 (shown in FIGS. 12 through 14 as “system server 18” to distinguish it from server 14, shown in FIGS. 12 through 14 as “website server 14”). At step 202, server 18 prompts owner 12 to provide identification, billing, and any other suitable registration and setup information. At step 204, owner 12 communicates the requested information to the server 18 (whether or not the server 18 is local to or distributed from owner 12). Server 18 may also notify owner 12 that website 26 may be crawled to identify and gather data pertaining to pages 28, may provide owner 12 with a license agreement and other information concerning the services to be provided to owner 12, or may communicate any other suitable information with owner 12. At step 206, server 18 may assign an owner identifier and password to owner 12 to allow the owner 12 to access reports 100. Server 18 stores the registration and setup information for owner 12 in an appropriate storage location (not explicitly shown) at step 208 to complete registration and setup of owner 12.
FIG. 13 illustrates an example method of measuring feedback of user 16 to one or more particular pages 28 of website 26. The method begins at step 300, where user 16 establishes a connection to server 14 to access a particular page 28 of website 26 incorporating tool 30. At step 302, server 14 communicates page 28, with incorporated tool 30, to user 16 and, at step 304, a separate directory containing the script associated with tool 30 is installed in some appropriate manner on the user's computer system. If page 28 is the first page 28 incorporating tool 30 that the user 16 has accessed during the browser session at step 306, tool 30 attempts to determine at step 308 the IP or other electronic address for the user's computer system and, when technically feasible, the hostname for the user's computer system. At step 310, the tool 30 attempts to store a cookie, token, or other appropriate message on the user's computer system, through the user's web browser or otherwise, containing the session identifier for the browser session. At step 312, tool 30 may also store the time and date at which user 16 accessed the page 28. At step 306, if page 28 is not the first page 28 incorporating tool 30 that user 16 has accessed during the browser session, the method may proceed directly to step 312. The present invention contemplates steps 304 through 312 occurring in any appropriate order, according to particular needs.
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U.S. Classification 1/1, 707/E17.116, 707/999.005
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:NICKERSON, RAND B.;TRESCHL, MARK A.;REEL/FRAME:016596/0778