JP2005346224A - Research data analysis system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a research data analysis system enabling a requester to repeatedly and rapidly perform an analysis at any time without the risk of external outflow of know-how for analysis processing of a market research agent. <P>SOLUTION: The research data analysis system comprises an online analysis server 2 of the market research agent and a personal computer 3 of the requester, which are connected through the Internet 1. The online analysis server 2 comprises a research data acceptance program 22 making a research data storage server 5 store a research data ID transmitted from the personal computer 3 of the requester and research data; and a requester authentication program 23 and a research data analysis program 24 for performing, only in a case that authentication of an access from the personal computer 3 of the requester is successful, analysis for the research data stored in the server 5 corresponding to the research data ID transmitted by this access, and returning the analysis result to the personal computer 3 of the requester. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a survey data analysis system for analyzing survey data of a market survey such as a questionnaire survey.

  In some cases, a client such as a company requests a market researcher to conduct a market research in order to accurately grasp the needs of general consumers and acquire customers. Then, the market researcher provides the client with the results of the market research conducted through a questionnaire survey or the like. At this time, the client may ask for the result of the survey selected from the market survey conducted in advance by the market researcher. In some cases, the survey results may be requested. The market researcher may provide the results of the market research as the survey data itself, may provide the results of analyzing the survey data, or may provide both of them.

  However, even if the market survey data itself is provided, expert knowledge is required for the analysis process, so not all clients can analyze this survey data accurately and use it effectively. For example, when a questionnaire survey was conducted to vote for items that consumers were most interested in regarding multiple options, the survey data listing the vote results of each voter was given to the client in CSV (Comma Separated Values) format. However, not all clients can easily perform even simple data processing such as taking this survey data into a database or spreadsheet software and ranking the items in descending order of votes. In addition, for example, the client must divide the voter by gender, age, and residential area, and perform advanced analysis such as data processing for each voter or complicated analysis by data mining. Is often difficult.

  However, even if a market researcher conducts analysis of survey data and provides the analysis results, there are a variety of methods for analyzing this survey data. It takes too much and the analysis result to be provided becomes enormous. For example, even when ranking the survey data of the simple questionnaire survey illustrated above, in addition to ranking the voter separately for each attribute such as gender, age, residential area, etc. If ranking is performed for each combination, analysis processing is required for the number of combinations, and if each attribute of the voter who voted for each item is ranked, analysis of the number of items x the number of attributes Processing is required. In an actual questionnaire survey or the like, since there are many such survey items, it is necessary to perform a huge number of analyses. In addition, most of such enormous analysis results are not always useful to the client, and therefore wasteful.

  Therefore, in the past, only analysis results for an appropriate number of analysis methods selected in consideration of the analysis method desired by the client and the business of the client by a market researcher have often been provided. In addition, the market researcher can easily analyze the survey data by various methods as an application program that can be executed by the client computer along with the survey data. Was also provided.

  However, when a market researcher provides analysis results, it is difficult for the client to select the optimal analysis method from the beginning, and the analysis method selected by this market researcher tends to be uniform. It becomes. For this reason, the client should re-analyze the analysis using a new analysis method in order to obtain an analysis result that more accurately indicates the needs of the consumer by examining the analysis result provided first. There are many. In addition, there is not always one new analysis method that is desired in this way, and it is always tempting to know the results of analysis by a plurality of analysis methods. There is also a tendency for the number of analysis methods desired to increase cumulatively. However, every time the client wants a new analysis method, he / she asks the market researcher to perform this analysis process, so that he / she obtains an analysis result that accurately shows the consumer's needs that the client actually wants to know. This causes a problem that a long period of time is required.

  In addition, when a market researcher provides an analysis program, there arises a problem that the know-how and methods of analysis processing of this supplier are leaked to the outside. In other words, the analysis processing of survey data often includes know-how and unique methods based on years of experience and unique ideas of the trader in the selection of analysis methods and the analysis processing itself. In addition, in the analysis using a heuristic method such as data mining, for example, the influence of this know-how and method on the usefulness of the analysis result becomes extremely large. Furthermore, the analysis result presentation methods often include know-how and unique methods peculiar to the supplier. However, providing the client with an analysis program itself that performs such analysis processing may result in analysis of processing know-how and methods, and using this analysis program, the client himself or another contractor may be analyzed. Since it is also possible to analyze the survey data obtained through market research, the market researcher's advantage of being able to perform useful analysis of the survey data is impaired.

  The present invention allows the client to analyze the survey data provided by the market researcher at any time via the network, so that the client cannot easily perform analysis by a new analysis method, It is intended to solve the problem that analysis know-how and techniques of market research agents may be leaked to the outside.

  The invention of claim 1 is a survey data analysis system in which a computer on the market researcher side and a computer on the client side are connected via a network, and the computer on the market researcher side is sent from the computer on the client side. The survey data ID and the survey data received are received, the survey data receiving means for identifying the survey data based on the survey data ID and storing the survey data in the survey data storage device, and the access from the client computer are authenticated. Only when the authentication is successful, the survey data stored in the survey data storage device corresponding to the survey data ID sent from the requester computer by the authenticated access is sent from the requester computer. Analyze according to the received instructions and send the analysis results to the client computer. Characterized in that it comprises a survey data analysis means to return.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the computer on the client side functions by executing an upload program stored in a storage medium provided by a market researcher, and is stored in the recording medium. A survey data transmitting means for transmitting the survey data ID and the survey data to the survey data receiving means of the computer on the market researcher side is provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the client uploads the survey data provided by the market researcher from the client's computer to the market researcher side computer at any time via the network, and performs any desired analysis. An analysis process can be performed by the method, and the analysis result can be obtained immediately. For this reason, the client can perform analysis processing of survey data easily and quickly using a market researcher's analysis program. By performing the analysis repeatedly by changing the method, it becomes possible to easily obtain an analysis result that accurately shows the needs of the consumer in a short time. In addition, it is possible for the market researcher to eliminate the hassle of receiving multiple requests for analysis processing for the same survey data from the client, and there is a risk that the know-how and methods of this analysis processing will be leaked to the outside. Can be lost. Moreover, since the survey data is uploaded every time the client conducts an analysis rather than using the survey data held by the market researcher, all of the clients managed by this market researcher are all There is no need to make the database server or the like storing the survey data accessible from the network, and the security of the survey data can be reliably ensured. Furthermore, since the survey data is uploaded and analyzed by the client himself / herself, it is not necessary to keep the past survey data provided to each client by the market researcher forever.

  In addition, the survey data can be analyzed only by clients who have been certified by the survey data analysis means. For market researchers, it is therefore necessary for a person other than the client to execute the analysis process without permission. It is possible to prevent this, and it is possible for the client side to restrict the execution of the analysis process only to those who have specific authority in the client company or the like.

  Further, the uploaded survey data is identified on the basis of the survey data ID sent together with it, stored in the survey data storage device, and this survey data ID is also sent when the client instructs the analysis. For example, if different clients upload survey data at the same time, or if different persons in the same client's company upload different survey data at the same time, it is wrong. The analysis process is not performed based on the survey data.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the client receives the survey data ID and the survey data stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM together with the upload program. The survey data and the survey data ID can be automatically uploaded by simply setting the computer in the computer and starting the upload program, thereby facilitating the work associated with the analysis process.

  Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In this embodiment, a survey data analysis system in which a client analyzes survey data provided by a market researcher via the Internet will be described.

  The market researcher of this embodiment makes a questionnaire survey and creates survey data by allowing an unspecified number of general consumers to access a survey site operated by the company via the Internet using a mobile phone. At this time, a general consumer who wants to vote first sends an e-mail to a market researcher using a mobile phone, and the URL (Universal Resource Locater) of the registration site displayed in the body of the reply e-mail. The qualification for voting for the questionnaire survey is obtained by entering and transmitting personal information such as gender, date of birth, postal code of the address, etc. in the form of this Web page. At this time, an e-mail confirming the acquisition of the voting qualification is received, and a URL for questionnaire survey dedicated to the voter displayed in the body of the e-mail is assigned. Through this registration operation, the market researcher can obtain the e-mail address of the voter, personal information, and the model name of the mobile phone (can be obtained from the user agent information in the HTTP header when accessing the registration URL) in the database. At the same time as registration, a voter ID is assigned to each e-mail address, and this voter ID is embedded in the query character string at the end of the URL for questionnaire survey sent to the voter. Therefore, the URL for the questionnaire survey is dedicated to the voter, and when the voter accesses for the questionnaire survey, the voter is not required to input personal information again. Can be identified.

  The reason why the e-mail address of the voter's mobile phone is requested when the voting qualification is given here is to prevent the same voter from voting multiple times and impairing the reliability of the survey result. That is, a normal consumer usually has one mobile phone, and one e-mail address is generally set for this mobile phone. Therefore, registration by an electronic mail address such as ISP (Internet Service Provider) used in a personal computer other than a cellular phone, for example, is rejected. However, depending on the carrier of the mobile phone, it may be possible to set a plurality of e-mail addresses. For example, an identification code that can be individually identified by each terminal, such as the serial number of the mobile phone, is acquired. A voter ID may be given to this. However, if the voter is identified for each e-mail address, even if the voter changes the model of the mobile phone, as long as the same e-mail address is still used, the person must be the same person. It becomes possible to recognize, and also to know the history of model change. In addition, the query character string added to the end of the URL for the questionnaire for exclusive use of the voter has a large redundancy, so that only the query character string can be rewritten to impersonate others and improper voting. Try to prevent it from happening. Furthermore, by checking the IP address of the access source to the URL for questionnaire survey dedicated to the voter, access from other than the mobile phone is prohibited, and illegal voting using a personal computer or the like may be performed. To prevent.

  When a voter accesses the URL for questionnaire survey, a web page for questionnaire survey is displayed. The questionnaire survey asks, for example, the voter's preferences and hobbies, etc., and examines the degree of information recognition, etc. The market researcher creates their own questions or creates questions according to requests from clients. . On the questionnaire survey web page, the form displays a plurality of choices for each question and an input field for inputting the reason for selection, and so on. It has become. In addition, since the reference source (HTTP header referrer) is often not sent when accessing with a mobile phone, the questionnaire that was accessed using an input field with a hidden attribute, etc. when sending this form. The query character string of the URL for investigation is also transmitted at the same time so that the voter ID of the voter can be acquired. It should be noted that since the options displayed in the questionnaire survey tend to be selected more frequently as items are displayed earlier, it is preferable to change the display order at random each time the voter accesses. Since a plurality of web pages for the questionnaire survey are usually prepared, it is possible to move to the next web page when one vote is completed. In addition, at the beginning of access, the voter can select which genre to participate in the questionnaire survey, or the individual voter's hobbies and preferences can be stored in the database based on the voter's past voting results. A web page corresponding to the screen may be automatically selected and displayed. The use of CGI (Common Gateway Interface) using Perl language or C language, PHP language, JSP (Java Server Pages) language, server side script using VB script language, etc. Changes and the transmission of the query string can be easily performed. And a voter can obtain a prize and a privilege by participating in this questionnaire survey.

  The survey data obtained by voting in the questionnaire survey is stored in a market researcher's database. In voting, in addition to questions, selection items, selection reasons, etc., information on the voter ID and the model name of the mobile phone at the time of voting is obtained. From the voter ID, the voter's e-mail address, gender, date of birth, postal code, and model name of the mobile phone at the time of registration are known. However, the e-mail address of the voter's mobile phone is not included in the survey data in order to protect privacy. In addition, the postal code shows part of the address of the voter's residence prefecture, residence municipality, etc., and the model name of the mobile phone and the IP address of the access source show the carrier of this mobile phone. Therefore, the market researcher's database contains questions and selections along with personal information such as the voter's gender, date of birth, postal code, residence prefecture, residence municipality, mobile phone model name, mobile phone carrier, etc. Survey data consisting of items and reasons for selection is stored.

  When the market researcher receives an order from the client, the survey data selected according to this order or the survey data of the voting result for the question ordered in advance is stored in the CD-ROM together with the survey data ID and delivered. To do. The CD-ROM also stores an upload program for uploading the survey data and the survey data ID stored therein to an online analysis system site described later. The survey data ID can be embedded as data in this upload program.

  The survey data stored in the CD-ROM and provided to the client is a CSV format of the voter's personal information, questions, selection items, selection reasons, and the like. However, the survey data is not limited to all items of the survey data stored in the database of the market researcher, and for example, the details of the personal information of the voter may be partially deleted. The survey data ID stored in the CD-ROM is composed of codes for identifying the survey data generated for each survey data provided to the client, and the market researcher uses the survey data ID to request the client. And the provided survey data (not limited to the survey data itself, but may be information such as the date of delivery of the survey data, order contents, survey contents, etc.). In addition, information that proves that the survey data is actually provided to the client by the market researcher can be added to the survey data ID. In order to perform such proof, for example, a hash value (message digest) of survey data may be added, and if the hash algorithm is known, this hash value may be encrypted (encryption in this case) And decryption are both performed by market researchers, so common key cryptography can be used).

  The client who has received the CD-ROM storing the survey data imports the CSV-format survey data stored in the CD-ROM into a database or spreadsheet software and conducts an arbitrary analysis so that the general consumer can Can be used to understand the needs of However, not all clients can perform such analysis processing, and it is often difficult to perform advanced analysis processing, so market researchers can use all clients via the Internet. Online analysis system.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the online analysis system uses an online analysis server 2 operated by a market researcher provided on the Internet 1, and a client personal computer 3 connected to the Internet 1. The survey data is analyzed. The online analysis server 2 is a server computer (hardware), and the Web server 21 (software) operates as a resident application program in order to accept access from a client. The online analysis server 2 stores a survey data reception program 22, a requester authentication program 23, and a survey data analysis program 24 that can be activated. The online analysis server 2 is connected to a survey data storage server 5 and an authentication server 6 via a firewall 4. The survey data storage server 5 is a file server (hardware) provided with a hard disk device for temporarily storing survey data uploaded by the client, and the authentication server 6 authenticates access from the client. Is a database server (hardware) in which authentication information for performing authentication is stored, and in order to prevent unauthorized access via the Internet 1, only the access from the online analysis server 2 is accepted by the firewall 4 It has become.

  When the client uses the online analysis system, first, as shown in FIG. 2, the CD-ROM 7 provided by the market researcher is set in the client's personal computer 3 and stored in the CD-ROM 7. The uploaded upload program 31 is started. Then, the upload program 31 automatically accesses the Web server 21 of the online analysis server 2 via the Internet 1 by HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), and is stored in the same CD-ROM 7 with respect to the survey data reception program 22. The survey data ID and the survey data are transmitted by the POST method. At this time, in order to prevent eavesdropping on the communication data, the access by the upload program 31 is encrypted by SSL (Secure Socket Layer) or the like. SSL is a protocol for encrypting HTTP communication based on a public key encryption infrastructure (PKI). The survey data reception program 22 is activated by the Web server 21, receives the survey data ID and the survey data transmitted thereto, and stores them in the survey data storage server 5 through the firewall 4. However, since the survey data ID is for identifying the survey data, for example, if the database storing the survey data ID provided to all the clients in the past is accessible from the survey data receiving program 22, this survey data ID is used. By searching the data ID and storing the survey data uploaded at the same time in association with the information in this database and storing it in the survey data storage server 5, it is not always necessary to store the transmitted survey data ID.

  In the above uploading, it is preferable to confirm whether or not the survey data ID or survey data is actually provided by the market researcher in order to prevent unauthorized upload. This confirmation can be determined as appropriate in consideration of the security level. However, for example, the survey data ID uploaded using the above-mentioned database can be any survey data ID provided to the client in the past. Search for a match, or pre-encrypt the survey data ID itself using a common key encryption method and store it in the CD-ROM 7 before providing it to the client, and decrypt the uploaded survey data ID By doing so, it may be checked whether this is a valid survey data ID. However, in any case, if the survey data ID is valid, a person other than the client can illegally obtain and upload this together with the survey data or the entire CD-ROM 7. This upload alone does not actually help anything, but for the time being, the client may be authenticated here as in the case of the analysis process described later. In addition, in order for the client or other person to replace only the survey data, and to avoid analyzing the survey data obtained by the client himself / herself or other companies by themselves, the uploaded survey The hash value of the data may be compared with the hash value added to the survey data ID to check whether they match. The survey data receiving program 22 stores the survey data ID and the survey data in the survey data storage server 5 only when it is confirmed that the survey data ID and the survey data are valid.

  When the upload of the survey data is completed, as shown in FIG. 3, in the requesting personal computer 3, the upload program 31 starts the existing browser 32 (Web client program having a GUI (Graphical User Interface)). The browser 32 accesses the Web server 21 of the online analysis server 2 via the Internet 1. Further, when accessing the Web server 21, the survey data ID uploaded earlier is transmitted. Even when accessed by the browser 32, encryption is performed using SSL or the like to prevent wiretapping of communication data. Since the browser 32 that is currently popular is capable of object-oriented remote control from another process, the upload program 31 is automatically started by operating the browser 32 using this. And access to the Web server 21 and transmission of the survey data ID. However, if the existing browser 32 cannot perform such remote control, a dedicated browser 32 that operates in cooperation with the upload program 31 is stored in the CD-ROM, or the client manually operates these browsers. Do the operation. The Web server 21 may distinguish the access by the upload program 31 and the access by the browser 32 by the difference in URL, or by the information such as the user agent in the HTTP header, the format of the transmission data, or the like. it can.

  Upon receiving the access, the Web server 21 activates the requester authentication program 23 to authenticate access from the requester, and rejects access if this authentication fails. This authentication is performed by displaying a login screen that prompts the user to input the user ID and password that the market researcher has provided to the client in advance as a document, and the user ID that the client inputs and transmits from this screen. And checking whether the password matches that registered in the authentication server 6. By authenticating the client in this way, it is possible to prevent, for example, a person other than the client who obtained the CD-ROM 7 illegally from analyzing the survey data without permission. In addition, if the user ID and password are notified only to a person who has a certain authority in the client's company or the like, even an employee of this company or the like can use the CD-ROM 7 without permission. It is also possible to prevent taking out and analyzing the survey data. Further, at the time of authentication of the client, it is preferable to confirm that the survey data ID transmitted together with this access is provided to the client. By performing such confirmation, it is possible to prevent a client from obtaining a CD-ROM 7 provided to another client, authenticating with his own user ID and password, and performing analysis without permission. . In addition, when a plurality of CD-ROMs 7 are provided to the same client, a plurality of sets of user IDs and passwords are provided, and whether or not the analysis processing is permitted for each CD-ROM 7 is determined for each user ID. In this case, it is possible to confirm whether or not the user ID used for authentication of the requester is permitted to be analyzed by the survey data ID. However, if these confirmations are not required at the time of authentication, the survey data ID may be transmitted after the authentication. Although it is troublesome for the client to input the user ID and password, the currently popular browser 32 has a function of storing the user ID and password once input, so the second time. Thereafter, this input trouble can be eliminated. Further, the general Web server 21 has a user authentication function (access restriction using a .htaccess file or the like). Here, in order to improve security, a dedicated client authentication program 23 is used. Authentication is performed, and authentication is valid only during the same session by the browser 32.

  If the authentication by the client authentication program 23 is successful, the client is logged in and the survey data analysis program 24 is started as shown in FIG. The survey data analysis program 24 searches for and reads the corresponding survey data stored in the survey data storage server 5 based on the survey data ID transmitted at the time of authentication, and requests the requester via the Web server 21. The analysis instruction Web page corresponding to the survey data is sent to the browser 32 of the personal computer 3 and displayed. This analysis instruction web page is a web page with an easy-to-understand user interface form for instructing how to analyze the survey data. The client instructs the analysis method and transmits it. I do. When the survey data analysis program 24 receives an analysis method instruction from the client via the Web server 21, the analysis data is analyzed according to the instruction, and the analysis result is used as an analysis result display Web page. To the browser 32 of the requester's personal computer 3 for display. The analysis result display Web page uses not only a list or table such as ranking by HTML (HyperText Markup Language) text, but also a graphical histogram, line graph, 2D or 3D pie chart, etc. by importing image data This is a Web page where the analysis results can be presented clearly and easily.

  The client can analyze the survey data uploaded by the above operation, and can perform analysis repeatedly by changing the analysis method as necessary. Therefore, even if the client cannot perform the analysis process of the survey data by himself, the client needs to execute this analysis process that requires specialized knowledge over and over again at the convenience of the client using an easy-to-understand user interface. In addition, since these analysis results can be acquired in real time, it is possible to easily obtain analysis results that accurately indicate the needs of consumers that the client actually wants to know. When the analysis of the survey data is completed, the requester performs logout processing to end the browser 32 session. Note that the survey data stored in the survey data storage server 5 is deleted when this logout is performed in order to ensure security and to eliminate waste of disk capacity. When the client ends the session without performing logout processing, the survey data is retained for a certain time and then deleted. Therefore, if the client starts the upload program again during this period, it can be confirmed by the survey data ID that the survey data exists in the survey data storage server 5, so that the survey data having a large amount of data can be confirmed. By omitting uploading itself and performing authentication by the browser 32 again, the analysis process can be continued again.

  When the Web server 21 calls the survey data analysis program 24 as CGI, servlet, or the like, the survey data analysis program 24 is activated every time analysis processing is performed. However, when the user authentication function of the Web server 21 is used, this authentication is valid as long as the session of the browser 32 continues (HTTP header basic authentication). However, when this authentication is performed by the client authentication program 23, this authentication cannot always be maintained, and it may be necessary to repeat the authentication every time analysis processing is performed. However, in the second and subsequent authentications, it is possible to embed a user ID and password in a Web page or the like so that the client is not conscious. Also, authenticated information is set in the HTTP header cookie that is valid only during the session of the browser 32, or the requester authentication program 23 checks the IP address and port number of the requester that is the access source. Thus, it can be assumed that the authentication is performed while the two match. Further, if the requester authentication program 23 also operates as an HTTP server and directly accepts access from the requester without going through the Web server 21, authentication is performed while a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) connection is established. Can also be maintained.

  With the above configuration, according to the online analysis system of the present embodiment, the client can repeatedly perform analysis by various analysis methods at any time and obtain the analysis results immediately. The client can easily obtain an analysis result that accurately indicates the needs of the consumer that the client wants to know. For the market researcher, it is only necessary to store the research data analysis program 24 created based on specialized knowledge and experience in the online analysis server 2 operated by the market researcher. It is possible to eliminate the risk of leaking data creation technology for presentation to the outside. Further, since the survey data storage server 5 connected to the Internet 1 through the firewall 4 only stores the survey data uploaded by the client temporarily, all the survey data held by the market researcher is stored. It is possible to prevent the danger of leaking outside. In addition, since the survey data is stored and stored in the CD-ROM 7 by the client, and is uploaded and analyzed whenever necessary, the past survey data provided by the market researcher to each client is stored indefinitely. There is no need to keep it. Furthermore, since the survey data stored in the survey data storage server 5 is identified and analyzed by the survey data ID, even when a plurality of survey data is uploaded and stored at the same time, the wrong survey is performed. Analysis processing is not performed based on the data.

  In the above embodiment, a case has been shown in which the market researcher creates survey data by conducting a questionnaire survey via the Internet using a mobile phone of a general consumer, but the method of creating this survey data is not particularly limited. Survey data can be created by market research by any method.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the survey data is uploaded and analyzed using HTTP has been described, but these protocols are not limited. However, when HTTP is used, it is possible to use the existing browser 32 that the client is familiar with, and the client's personal computer 3 is set so that it cannot access the Internet 1 through a proxy server. Even in this case, since an HTTP proxy server is usually available, it can be easily accessed from a LAN (Local Area Network) in a company.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the Web server 21 activates the survey data reception program 22, the requester authentication program 23, and the survey data analysis program 24 on the online analysis server 2 has been shown. For example, the upload of survey data and the authentication and analysis processing of the client may be performed by a completely different program or server computer. Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the case where the computer of the market researcher side was comprised with the online analysis server 2, the server 5 for a survey data storage, and the server 6 for authentication, this hardware structure is also arbitrary, For example, the processing can be performed by one server computer. That is, for example, on the online analysis server 2 composed of one piece of hardware, not only the software web server 21, the survey data reception program 22, the requester authentication program 23, and the survey data analysis program 24 are operated. With sufficient consideration, the survey data uploaded by the client is temporarily stored in the hard disk device of the online analysis server 2 and authentication information for authenticating access from the client is stored in advance. In this case, hardware such as the survey data storage server 5 and the authentication server 6 is not necessary. Furthermore, although the case where the uploaded survey data is stored in the hard disk device of the survey data storage server 5 or the online analysis server 2 has been described above, it is stored in a semiconductor memory or other storage medium. The storage medium for storing the authentication information may be arbitrary.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the client computer 3 of the client accesses the online analysis server 2 of the market researcher via the Internet 1 has been described. The Internet 1 does not necessarily have to be connected through a network that can be accessed simultaneously.

  Moreover, although the case where a user ID and a password are used for authentication of a client by the client authentication program 23 has been described in the above embodiment, this authentication method is also arbitrary. For example, one-time passwords using a challenge / response method or time-synchronous method, a digital signature using a public key cryptosystem, or biometric authentication using biometric features such as fingerprints may be used. it can.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the survey data is automatically uploaded by the upload program 31 using the CD-ROM 7 provided by the market researcher in order to reduce the operation time of the client is shown. The method of providing survey data and survey data ID is arbitrary, and may be stored in a storage medium other than the CD-ROM 7, downloaded through the Internet 1, or sent as an e-mail attachment, and uploaded. When the program is not provided, the client can upload these survey data and survey data ID by manual operation of the browser 32, for example.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention and showing a configuration of an online analysis system. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention when an online analysis system performs survey data upload processing. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention when an online analysis system performs authentication processing of a client. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention when an online analysis system performs analysis processing of survey data. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Internet 2 Online analysis server 21 Web server 22 Survey data reception program 23 Client authentication program 24 Survey data analysis program 3 Personal computer 31 Upload program 32 Browser 5 Survey data storage server 6 Authentication server 7 CD-ROM

Claims (2)

In a survey data analysis system in which a market researcher computer and a client computer are connected via a network,
The computer on the market researcher side
Survey data receiving means for receiving survey data ID and survey data sent from the client computer, identifying survey data based on the survey data ID, and storing the survey data in the survey data storage device;
Only when the access from the client computer is authenticated and the authentication is successful, the access is stored in the survey data storage device corresponding to the survey data ID sent from the client computer by the authenticated access. Survey data analysis means comprising: survey data analysis means for analyzing the received survey data in accordance with instructions sent from the client computer and sending the analysis results back to the client computer system. The client computer is
A means for functioning by executing an upload program stored in a storage medium provided by a market researcher, and the survey data ID and the survey data stored in the recording medium are surveyed by a market researcher computer. The survey data analysis system according to claim 1, further comprising survey data transmission means for transmitting to the data receiving means.

Images