Patent ID: 7398233

Claim:
A method for enabling product configuration market research comprising the steps of: sending market research software from a network addressable site, via a network, to one or more computer systems which when executed by said computer systems enables each user of said computer systems to select the features of a hypothetical product configuration which is not being offered for sale; displaying via said market research software a total price value of the product at each of said computer systems in accordance with price values of said selected features separate from the operation of said network addressable site; updating said displayed total price value in accordance with changes in said selected features separate from the operation of said network addressable site; returning information via said network to said network addressable site having data representing at least said features selected when the user of each of said computer systems has completed the configuration of the product; and determining at least one of new product, product configuration, pricing, or segmentation in accordance with said information.