ES2247953B1 - SYSTEM AND PROCEDURE FOR OBTAINING AND TRANSMISSION OF DATA. - Google Patents

Abstract

System and procedure for obtaining and transmitting data comprising the steps of: - selecting a set of panelists to survey a panelist database; - contact through a communication network with the panelists and transmission of the questionnaire; - reception of panelists responses; - optionally, statistical treatment by electronic means of the responses; characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - storing the survey questionnaire in electronic memory media and assigning a network resource locator to them, said questionnaire being accessible from mobile phone multimedia terminals; - Sending to the selected panelists an invitation message containing the data from the network resource locator that allows access to the aforementioned questionnaire.

Description

System and procedure for obtaining and data transmission.

The present invention relates to a system for obtaining and transmitting data, in particular data for the elaboration of statistical studies provided by a population, and a procedure that executes said system.

In particular, the present invention relates to a system and to a procedure for obtaining and transmitting data especially applicable to panelistic surveys that it presents remarkable characteristics of novelty and activity inventiveness.

On many occasions, companies require the obtaining population data, for example, to be able to measure the degree of achievement of the desired objectives achieved through the technical solutions developed by them in their products and / or services, either once these solutions have been implemented techniques, in a test phase or sometimes, even before have developed them This data can also be used to Orient in the most appropriate direction the costs of R + D + i (research, development and innovation), with the consequent cost savings of the final product or service for the user, as well as to achieve a greater degree of satisfaction. Given the technical feasibility of obtaining data from all customers existing or possible, the use of  statistical surveys In cases where the segment of population to which the survey should be sent present some very specific characteristics (for example, surveys on regular customers, or who already have the product / service in study, or about potential clients that present some certain characteristics that differentiate them from the population general) so-called type surveys are appropriate panelistic Under the term "panel survey" is done reference in the present description to the application processes of data transmission through a questionnaire or survey, and of receipt of such data, in which respondents have accepted previously and voluntarily be surveyed, their data being entered, usually, in a specific database. The panelistic surveys are also applicable in the evaluation of the service in distribution networks, such as in the evaluation of the speed of internet access in networks of Internet type, or to determine television audiences.

In general, the procedure for obtaining data of a population through a panelistic survey It comprises the following phases:

- in a general case, generation of questionnaire based on the information provided by the interested in data to be obtained and population segment at that the survey should be conducted;

- selection in the panelists database of the individuals to survey;

- communication with respondents and transmission from the questionnaire to them;

- reception of responses;

- if necessary, repeat the two steps before reaching the number of responses according to the sample size required;

- statistical treatment of the data obtained; Y

- transmission of results to interested.

There are several inconveniences associated with known systems and procedures for obtaining data through this type of surveys. A first problem is that no it is possible to obtain complex data for a survey time short, since the known communication systems snapshot (such as those based on communication of the questionnaire by phone) do not allow with ease and in an economical way the transmission of questionnaires  complex, such as questionnaires with contents of visual and / or auditory nature, while the systems of known communication that allow the transmission of questionnaires complex (such as those based on regular mail or electronic or personal interview) do not allow obtaining and / or fast data collection.

Another problem associated with surveys panelists carried out through some of the referred systems of communication, especially with those of instantaneous type, is that require the pollster and the respondent to meet simultaneously and continuously available during the completion of the poll. For example, in the case of a telephone interview, it is it is necessary that both the interviewer and the panelist interviewed remain continuously available on the telephone line during the survey

Another problem associated with systems and known procedures is that obtaining the database of panelists is an expensive process, particularly when it should understand very different population segments characteristics, which makes it difficult and / or more expensive to carry out This type of surveys.

Finally, another problem associated with this type of procedures is that you must continually motivate yourself to the panelists to continue participating in the surveys. He abandonment of panelists from the database in excessive quantity may produce erroneous results of the surveys due to lack of representativeness of the sample, so it is desirable that the Survey procedure favors motivation of the panelists.

The present invention discloses a system and a procedure for obtaining data from a population through a panelistic survey that allows solving the inconveniences mentioned above, allowing the collection of data from fast and economical way, transmitting them to the interested party in time real, being able to perform the process of obtaining data in at any time, applied to specific segments of the population and by using complex questionnaires, favoring, in addition, said procedure the motivation of the panelists.

In particular, the procedure subject to the The present invention is of the type comprising the phases of:

- selection of a set of panelists to survey a panelist database based on the objectives of the survey to be carried out;

- contact through a communication network with the panelists surveyed and transmission of the questionnaire to themselves;

- reception of responses to questionnaires of the panelists surveyed;

- optionally, statistical treatment by electronic means of the responses obtained;

and it is characterized because said procedure It also includes the following phases:

-

questionnaire storage a answer in electronic memory media and assign a network resource locator to them, being stored said questionnaire in a format that is accessible from mobile phone multimedia terminals;

-

Shipping to the selected panelists of an invitation message that contains the data of the network resource locator that allow access the aforementioned questionnaire through a telephone network mobile to mobile phone terminals. Said shipment will be made, preferably, through an IP (Internet Protocol) network of a telephone operator, being able to configure the connection to the network IP, for example, using SOAP protocols (Simple Object Access Protocol)

Preferably, said invitation message It also contains information about the response time required, and can also include information on incentives offered to the panelist in exchange for getting a response to questionnaire. In the generation and sending of the invitation message may be used, for example, SMS technology (Short Message Service), MMS (Multimedia Messaging System) or WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) push.

Preferably, the data corresponding to the answer to the questionnaire are received by means automatic, through the mobile phone network, such as GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), from a telephone operator mobile, coming from multimedia mobile terminals that have Received the invitation message.

More preferably, the data obtained through the survey they are supplied to the interested party in real time, more preferably through a network interface.

The questionnaire may, for example, be stored in XHTML (eXtensible Hyper Text Markup Language) format, you can include image and / or sound data and may be designed so such that different questions and routes are generated within the questionnaire based on the answers received through of computational media.

On the other hand, the system object of the present invention, suitable for carrying out the procedure object of the present invention, presents computational processing means, an electronic memory device that can be accessed computing processing means and at least one connection to network, and it is characterized because it comprises:

- storage media in a device electronic memory of a questionnaire in a format that does accessible through a network connection by terminals mobile phone multimedia;

- communications management means for allow access to the questionnaire from telephone terminals mobile;

- means for automatic sending to through a mobile phone network of messages containing the data from a resource locator that allows access to the aforementioned questionnaire through a mobile telephone network to terminals mobile telephony

Preferably, the system also includes means to manage access to the questionnaire from terminals Mobile telephony that have received the invitation message.

The system will also preferably comprise digital storage media in which the data corresponding to a panelist database and, eventually, to a database of results from the Answers to the questionnaire.

The system may also include interfaces network with an administrator with the interested in obtaining data and with panelists.

The system may also comprise networks of a telephone operator, as well as a set of multimedia terminals of mobile telephony.

Other preferred embodiments of both system as of the method object of the present invention is described later.

The present invention also comprises a data carrier that contains a source code for the execution of instructions executable by computational means for realization of a method object of the present invention by part of a system according to the present invention.

For your better understanding they are attached, by title an explanatory example but not a limitation, some drawings of a exemplary embodiment according to the present invention.

Figure 1 is a block diagram corresponding to an example of carrying out the process according to The present invention.

Figure 2 schematically shows a system which allows to carry out the procedure of figure 1.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in figures 1 and 2, in a first phase (1), the Survey services applicant (18) interested in obtaining certain data of a population segment with some certain features, provides the service provider of panelistic survey (17) the data corresponding to analysis and information requirements: for example, questions to perform, characterization of the target population segment, maximum response time required and accuracy of results or sample size. This data can be provided, by example, through a network interface (24 '), such as a page web, resident in a panelists server or APM server (Access Mobile Panel) (12).

The APM server (12) comprises means of computational processing, for example a microprocessor, a electronic memory device that can be accessed processor and at least one network connection. It also includes the adequate means to carry out and / or manage their functions, such as media and communications management media for the generation and execution of the orders corresponding to its functions, for the execution of all or part of the phases of the procedure according to the present invention.

Once the order is received, we proceed in another phase (2) to the design of the questionnaire, defining, if necessary, Sample size For example, the questionnaire can be designed and be stored on a hard drive or other storage device of said server (12) of panelists, in a format that allows access to it from mobile phone multimedia terminals, for example in XHTML format. The designed questionnaire as well stored, can include images, sounds, as well as others multimedia possibilities The design of the questionnaire can also understand the generation of different questions and routes depending on of the answers that are given. A server is assigned a identifier or locator to the questionnaire (for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) or URI (Uniform Resource Identifier), so that it is accessible from a telephone terminal mobile, preferably a multimedia terminal, through a net.

This design can be done so semi-automatic, for example, by an application resident in the panelist server (12) which, executed by the means of computational processing, generates the questionnaire from the data entry made by the interested party (18) through network interface (24 ') mentioned above, or the process may be supervised by an administrator user (16), for example, through of enabling a corresponding network interface (24``).

In a phase (3) the selection of the sample of the panelists database (10) on which will carry out the survey, based on the data provided by the interested party, referring to the survey to be carried out. This selection it can be done by computational means, for example, APM server computing media (12).

Said database (10) of panelists or collaborators may store data related to panelists, and It will contain at least one panelist identification field, a field corresponding to the panelist locator through a mobile phone network, such as your mobile phone number and, preferably, fields corresponding to the classification of panelist with respect to the rest of the population or the rest of the panelists contained in the database (for example: sex, age, geographical location, types of services and / or products offered, etc ...). These data will allow discrimination against  panelists depending on their characteristics. This database (10) can be generated and maintained through any process of uptake (11) of known type, for example, through advertisements or banners on websites, through telephone, personal recruitment, etc. In a novel way, the procedure object of the present invention provides that the collection is also carried out in a manner advantageous through the communication channels of an operator telephone (19).

Once selected the panelists to survey proceed in a next phase (4) generate and send to panelists (9), (9 '), (9' ') an invitation to participate in the survey. Said message, for example a text message, is send by mobile phone message to a multimedia terminal of mobile telephony (22) using, for example, SMS, MMS technology, WAP push or other suitable technology. In the example shown, said  tasks can also be performed using media computational, in particular the APM server (12).

The invitation message to participate in the survey will contain the location or identification data that they will allow the panelist to access the questionnaire stored in the server, such as a URL or URI.

Sending the invitation message can be performed, for example, using SMS or MMS WAP push technology and It can be done using an IP type network (21) of an operator telephone (19).

The message contains an invitation to participate in the survey and the stored questionnaire locator. He message can also detail the incentive that will receive the panelist in exchange for his participation. For control purposes, the server that sent the messages can receive Acknowledgment of receipt of messages.

Once the message has been received with the invitation to participate, in a phase (5) the panelists (9), (9 '), (9' ') access via mobile phone networks to the survey questionnaire stored on the APM server (12). To that end, the message of invitation can be designed in such a way that when the panelist (9), (9 '), (9' ') accept the invitation message, for example, by pressing the OK key of a mobile terminal (22), your terminal will connect to the URL on the APM server (12) where it is located Stored the questionnaire.

The questionnaire can allow you to navigate through of the different surveys, open drop-down menus, enter alphanumeric answers, etc. It is also possible by the method object of the present invention generate automatically different questions and routes depending on the answers that the panelist surveyed provides. Too it is possible for the panelist surveyed to send files of all type, including multimedia files such as photos, files audio, etc. In response to a questionnaire. Likewise, through procedure object of the present invention it is possible to locate geographically, automatically, to respondents.

Sending the answers to the questionnaire can be carried out through the telephone network, through technology GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) or similar (3G, UMTS).

The answers (6) are stored in a base of results and / or analysis data, for example, in a location of electronic memory (140). These data can be used, if desired, to expand the contents of the database panelists data (which for example can also be stored in an electronic memory location (100). Preferably the memory resources (100) and (140) that store databases of panelists and results can be found in the same electronic storage device (18) for greater comfort. The information included in the results database and / or analysis can be used to maintain and / or expand the data existing in the panelists database, for example, to give unsubscribe to non-interested panelists, or to expand the data that characterize the existing ones.

Preferably, it can proceed in a next phase (7) to the statistical treatment of the data contained in the results / analysis database. This can be done only by automatic electronic means, or can be supervised by a specialist in the treatment of statistical data from the administrator post (16) APM (12) and the electronic storage device (18) of the bases of data.

In a final phase (8), the results of the customer survey, for example by mail electronic. However, the present invention also allows the client (18) can access in real time, through a corresponding network interface (24 ') with the APM server (12), to the results of the survey, and then you can access a detailed summary, which may include the analysis of the results performed by a specialist technician.

In figure 2 a system for carrying out the procedure explained above has been schematically represented. It has schematically represented a client (18) interested in obtaining data from a population, which requests services from a panel survey provider (17) through a network interface (24 '), such as a web interface, if either the order could be done by phone or by any other means. The client interface may allow you, for example, to make a request, include photos, approve the questionnaire made by the provider (17) based on your data and view the results of the survey in real time. In the example shown, the panelist service provider (17) is essentially composed of the APM server (12), connected through a security module ("firewall") and integration with the device (13) or devices containing the electronic memory media that stores the panelists databases (100) and results / analysis (140). The APM server (12), for example, performs the functions of storage of questionnaires, management of sequential records of data on results storage ("result store log"), panelist management, access management via network, and Security management. The APM server can also have the necessary programming so that its computational means perform an automatic statistical treatment of the answers to the questionnaires obtained. In addition, the panelist service provider comprises a command post (16) from which the processes performed by the APM server (12) can be monitored, as well as, for example, performing maintenance of the system. The connection between the command post (16) and the APM server may be, for example, through a network interface (24 '). The functions of the command post (16), which may comprise, for example, a TNS (Transparent Network Substrate) type interface, may comprise the performance and / or monitoring of the tasks of receiving the customer request (18) and / or validation of the same, review and / or design of the questionnaire, sample selection, sending of invitation messages, panelist management and vision, treatment and presentation of
results.

The APM server (12) communicates with an operator telephone, for example, through a network or IP connection, using SOAP protocols. The telephone operator can put provision of your networks, for example your IP network (20) and / or your GPRS network (21) for communication between panelists (9) and the server APM (12).

Panelists will have a mobile terminal multimedia (22), although they can also access the server APM (12), for example, from a proprietary computer terminal (23) and of the corresponding network interface (24) to perform the tasks Maintenance: registration, cancellation, verification and execution of incentives, etc., although it is also possible to make these tasks can be made from the mobile multimedia terminal (22).

The process object of the present invention allows panel surveys to be carried out quickly, Efficient and with a notable cost reduction. Allows the customer Know the results in real time. In addition, it allows you to motivate panelist in a way more easily. For example, it is possible to provide incentives related to telephone service mobile, for example, through the mobile telephone operator (19). On the other hand, automatic maintenance of the base is allowed panelists data. All these features allow to achieve a broad panelist base that allows studies panel type for very diverse sectors of the art and that allow a high degree of discrimination of the population objective to which the sample is directed. The system also allows to obtain service quality data of a distribution network in real time, even when it is not possible to measure the quality of service through the network itself distribution.

In general, everything that does not affect, alter or modify the content of what is described here should be considered as contained within the present invention.

Claims (39)

1. System for obtaining and transmitting data from a population, for example for conducting surveys, of the type presented by computational processing means, an electronic memory device that can be accessed by said computational processing means and, at least, a network connection, characterized in that it comprises: - storage media in a device electronic memory of a questionnaire in a format that does accessible through a network connection by terminals mobile phone multimedia; - communications management means for allow access to the questionnaire from telephone terminals mobile; - means for automatic sending to through a mobile phone network of messages containing the data from a resource locator that allows access to the aforementioned questionnaire through a mobile telephone network to terminals mobile telephony 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises means for managing access to the questionnaire from mobile telephone terminals that have received the invitation message. 3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises digital storage means in which the data corresponding to a panelist database is stored. 4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that said data corresponding to a panelist database are arranged in such a way that for each panelist data fields corresponding to at least one panelist identifier, a terminal locator are reserved of mobile telephony of the panelist and at least one field corresponding to the classification of the panelist with respect to the rest of panelists contained in the database. 5. System according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that it further comprises digital storage means of a database of results from the responses to the form. 6. System, according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that it has means for selecting mobile terminal identifiers from the panelist database, for the subsequent sending of invitation messages to said mobile terminals, based on the information of objectives required to obtain data. 7. System, according to any of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a security and integration module that manages access to the memory resources in which the panelists database is stored. System according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a network interface with an administrator. 9. System according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a network interface with the person interested in obtaining data. 10. System, according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises means for communication to the interested party, in real time, of the results of the process of obtaining data through the network interface with said interested party. 11. System according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises,
In addition, a network interface with panelists. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the network connection comprises an IP type connection with a telephone operator. 13. System according to claim 12, characterized in that it uses a SOAP protocol for the IP type connection with a telephone operator. 14. System according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it further comprises an IP network of a telephone operator. 15. System according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it further comprises a mobile telephone network of a telephone operator, such as a GPRS network. 16. System according to any of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that it comprises at least one multimedia terminal of mobile telephony. 17. System according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that it includes text data in the invitation message. 18. System according to claim 17, characterized in that it uses SMS or MKS or WAP push technology in sending the message. 19. System according to any of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that it comprises means for assigning a URL to the stored questionnaire. 20. System according to any of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that it comprises means for the statistical treatment by means of computational means of the data obtained. 21. System, according to any of claims 1 to 20, characterized in that it stores the questionnaire in XHTML format. 22. Procedure for obtaining and transmitting data of a population, for example for the realization of surveys, which includes the phases of: - selection of a set of panelists to survey a panelist database based on objectives of the survey to be carried out; - contact through a communication network with the panelists surveyed and transmission of the questionnaire to themselves; - reception of responses to questionnaires of the panelists surveyed; characterized in that the procedure also includes the following phases:

-

storage of the questionnaire of the survey in electronic memory media and allocation of a network resource locator to them, being stored said questionnaire in a format that is accessible from mobile phone multimedia terminals;

-

Shipping to the selected panelists of an invitation message that contains the data of the network resource locator that allow access the aforementioned questionnaire through a telephone network mobile to mobile phone terminals.

23. A method according to claim 22, characterized in that the sending of the invitation message is carried out through the IP network of a telephone operator. 24. Method according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the generation and sending of the messages is carried out by means of computational processing that have a network connection. 25. Method according to any of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that said invitation message also contains information regarding the time limit for answering the questionnaire. 26. Method according to any of claims 22 to 25, characterized in that said invitation message is a text message. 27. Method according to any of claims 22 to 26, characterized in that the sending of the message implies the use of SMS, or MMS or WAP push technology. 28. Method according to any of claims 22 to 27, characterized in that said network resource locator is of the URL type. 29. Method according to claim 28, characterized in that the data corresponding to the response to the questionnaire are received by automatic means, through the telephone network, such as a GPRS network, of a mobile telephone operator, originating from terminals multimedia mobiles that have received the invitation message. 30. Method according to any of claims 22 to 29, characterized in that the results of the survey are provided in real time. 31. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 30, characterized in that the results of the survey are supplied through a network interface. 32. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 31, characterized in that the storage of the questionnaires is carried out in a server or electronic device with network access. 33. Method according to claim 32, characterized in that the SOAP protocol is used for communications between said server and the operator of the telephone networks involved in the procedure. 34. Method according to any of claims 22 to 33, characterized in that said stored questionnaire includes image and / or sound data. 35. Procedure, according to any of claims 22 to 34, characterized in that computational means generate different questions and routes within the questionnaire according to the answers received. 36. Method according to any of claims 22 to 36, characterized in that the data corresponding to the questionnaire are stored in XHTML format. 37. A method according to any one of claims 25 to 36, characterized in that the determination of the panelist group to which the invitation message is sent is carried out by the computational processing means that send said messages. 38. Method according to any of claims 22 to 37, characterized in that the statistical treatment comprises computational means of the answers to the questionnaires obtained. 39. Data carrier containing source code for the execution of instructions executable by means computations for performing a procedure according to any of claims 22 to 38 by a system according to any of claims 1 to 21.