Systems and methods of survey sampling prior to widespread distribution-publishing of messages

Abstract

Systems and methods for surveying electronic messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing are disclosed. The system includes a publisher and surveying server, specifying a parameter for subsequent publishing and compiling a notification list of participants in a given survey. The system further includes a notification server, messaging user agents and a feedback module, collecting information regarding interacting with the message and transmitting this information to the surveying server. The method includes composing a message, specifying at least one parameter for subsequent publishing, compiling a notification list of in a given survey, selectively notifying the message to the participants in the notification list, viewing the message notified to the participants in notification list and interacting with the message. The method further includes collecting feedback information regarding the interacting with the message and transmitting this information to the surveying server.

1 . A system for survey sampling of messages prior widespread distribution-publishing thereof comprises:
 (a) a system for automated and widespread distribution-publishing of electronic messages, over a computer network, characterized by utilizing feedback data of at least one selective notification of an electronic message over said computer network, performed prior to said widespread distribution-publishing, said system further comprising:
 [a] at least one data storage unit having stored therein:
 [1] a database of potential participants; 
 [2] a notification list of a predefined group of participants; 
 [3] feedback data of interaction of said predefined group of participants with at least one item of said electronic message; 
 
 [b] at least one first computer, configured as a publisher, comprising a sending terminal, wherein said sending terminal is configured to perform at least for one function selected from the group consisting of:
 [1] composition of at least one message subject to initial surveying, and 
 [2] composition of at least one message subject to widespread distribution-publishing; 
 
 [c] at least one second computer, coupled to said data storage unit, operable as a surveying server, configured to receive said at least one message subject to said initial surveying from said first computer, and further to:
 [1] specify at least one parameter for inclusion in a subsequent automated and widespread distribution-publishing of said at least one message subject to said initial surveying, wherein said at least one parameter for said subsequent automated and widespread distribution-publishing of said message is selected from the group consisting of:
 [i] a deterministic parameter, and 
 [ii] a comparative parameter; 
 
 [2] compiling said notification list of said predefined group of participants, wherein an attribute of said participants in said notification list meets a criterion for participation in a given survey; 
 
 [d] at least one third computer, coupled to said data storage unit and/or said second computer, operable as a notification server, said notification server is configured to selectively notify said message subject to said initial surveying to said predefined group of participants in said notification list; 
 [e] a plurality of fourth feedback providing computers, operable as a plurality of feedback enabled messaging user agents comprising:
 [1] an input network terminal configured to receive said message notified to said predefined group of participants in said notification list; 
 [2] a human accessible interface configured for:
 [i] viewing said message notified to said predefined group of participants in said notification list, and 
 [ii] interacting with said message notified to said predefined group of participants in said participants list; 
 
 [3] a feedback gathering module configured to collect feedback data regarding said interacting with said message on said human accessible interface; 
 [4] an output network terminal configured to transmit said feedback data to said surveying server. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system for survey sampling of messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprises a notification server configured to perform said widespread distribution-publishing. 
     
     
         3 . The system for survey sampling of messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprises a plurality of messaging user agents, which are not connected to said client feedback module, said plurality of messaging user agents are configured to view said message subject to said widespread distribution-publishing. 
     
     
         4 . The system for survey sampling of messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprises a notification history database. 
     
     
         5 . The system for survey sampling of messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said message is a combination of a message and metadata, wherein said metadata comprising at least one feed backing parameter related to said message. 
     
     
         6 . The system for survey sampling of messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said interacting comprises an action, selected from the group consisting of: an active action and passive action; said action is exerted onto said message in a way selected from the group consisting of: directly thereon and indirectly thereto; wherein said action pertains to a value selected from the group consisting of: a qualitative value and quantitative value. 
     
     
         7 . The system for survey sampling of messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said interacting is at least one action selected from the group consisting of: ignoring said message, rejecting said message, blocking a publisher of said message, blacklisting said publisher, not opening said message, deleting said message, opening said message, scrolling through said message body, opening hyperlinks embedded in said message, open any files attached to said message, replying to said message, forwarding said message, performing a copy operation to at least a portion of said message, changing an appearance of said message, changing font size, deleting said publisher, sharing said message with others, publishing said message, making a purchase as a result of said message, saving said message, ranking said message, opening up an application, arriving within a predefined radius of a geographical location, powering off said messaging user agent. 
     
     
         8 . The system for survey sampling of messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said messaging user agent module and said client feedback module are integrated, being operable on a single device. 
     
     
         9 . The system for survey sampling of messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said client feedback module is external. 
     
     
         10 . A method of automated survey sampling of electronic messages prior to widespread distribution publishing thereof over a computer network, characterized by utilizing feedback data of at least one selective notification of an electronic message, performed prior to said widespread distribution-publishing, said method comprises:
 [a] composing at least one message subject to initial surveying;   [b] specifying at least one parameter for subsequent automated and widespread distribution-publishing of said at least one message subject to said initial surveying, wherein said at least one parameter for subsequent automated and widespread distribution-publishing of said message is selected from the group consisting of:
 [1] a deterministic parameter, and 
 [2] a comparative parameter; 
   [c] compiling a notification list of a predefined group of participants, wherein at least one attribute of said participants in said notification list meets a criterion for participation in a given survey;   [d] selectively notifying said message subject to said initial surveying to said predefined group of participants in said notification list, over said computer network;   [e] viewing said message selectively notified to said predefined group of participants in said notification list;   [f] interacting with said message notified to said predefined group of participants in said notification list;   [g] collecting feedback information regarding said interacting with said message;   [h] transmitting said information to a surveying server;   [i] applying said at least one parameter for said subsequent automated and widespread distribution-publishing of said message, upon attaining at least one criterion selected from the group consisting of:
 [1] from a number of participants in said notification exceeding a predefined minimal quorum; 
 [2] receiving an amount of data exceeding a predefined minimal quota; 
 [3] exceeding a predefined period of time; 
   [j] performing said automated and widespread distribution-publishing of said at least one message subject to said initial surveying.   
     
     
         11 . The method of automated survey sampling of electronic messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said parameter for said subsequent automated and widespread distribution-publishing of said message is said comparative parameter, said method is characterized by:
 [a] said composing of said at least one message subject to said initial surveying further comprises composing at least two messages subject to said initial surveying;   [b] said applying of said at least one parameter for said subsequent automated and widespread distribution-publishing of said message further comprises comparing said feedback information related to said at least two messages subject to said initial surveying and selecting one message for said widespread distribution-publishing.   
     
     
         12 . The method of automated survey sampling of electronic messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said message is a combination of a message and metadata, wherein said metadata comprising at least one feedback parameter related to said message. 
     
     
         13 . The method of automated survey sampling of electronic messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said interacting comprises an action, selected from the group consisting of: an active action and passive action; said action is exerted onto said message in a way selected from the group consisting of: directly thereon and indirectly thereto; wherein said action pertains to a value selected from the group consisting of: a qualitative value and quantitative value. 
     
     
         14 . The method of automated survey sampling of electronic messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein said interacting is at least one action selected from the group consisting of: ignoring said message, rejecting said message, blocking a publisher of said message, blacklisting said publisher, not opening said message, deleting said message, opening said message, scrolling through said message body, opening hyperlinks embedded in said message, open any files attached to said message, replying to said message, forwarding said message, performing a copy operation to at least a portion of said message, changing an appearance of said message, changing font size, deleting said publisher, sharing said message with others, publishing said message, making a purchase as a result of said message, saving said message, ranking said message, opening up an application, arriving within a predefined radius of a geographical location, powering off said messaging user agent. 
     
     
         15 . The method of automated survey sampling of electronic messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in  claim 10 , prior to said widespread distribution-publishing of said at least one message subject to said initial surveying, further comprises performing at least one action selected from the group consisting of:
 [a] obtaining a permission from publisher to perform said widespread distribution-publishing;   [b] notifying said publisher with results of said survey;   [c] notifying said publisher with statistical analysis of said survey;   [d] defining a selection parameter for inclusion in said widespread distribution-publishing.   
     
     
         16 . The method of automated survey sampling of electronic messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprises storing said at least message notified to said predefined group of participants in a notification history database. 
     
     
         17 . The method of automated survey sampling of electronic messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in claim  10 , further comprises selectively excluding from said distribution-publishing participants in said notification list. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for automated survey sampling of electronic messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof over a computer network, characterized by utilizing feedback data of at least one selective notification of an electronic message, performed prior to said widespread distribution-publishing, said method comprises:
 [a] a means of composing at least one message subject to initial surveying;   [b] a means of specifying at least one parameter for subsequent automated and widespread distribution-publishing of said at least one message subject to said initial surveying, wherein said at least one parameter for subsequent automated and widespread distribution-publishing of said message is selected from the group consisting of:
 [1] a deterministic parameter, and 
 [2] a comparative parameter; 
   [c] a means of compiling a notification list of a predefined group of participants, wherein at least one attribute of said participants in said notification list meets a criterion for participation in a given survey;   [d] a means of selectively notifying said message subject to said initial surveying to said predefined group of participants in said notification list, over said computer network;   [e] a means of viewing said message selectively notified to said predefined group of participants in said notification list;   [f] a means of interacting with said message notified to said predefined group of participants in said notification list;   [g] a means of collecting feedback information regarding said interacting with said message;   [h] a means of transmitting said information to a surveying server;   [i] a means of applying said at least one parameter for said subsequent automated and widespread distribution-publishing of said message, upon attaining at least one criterion selected from the group consisting of:
 [1] from a number of participants in said notification exceeding a predefined minimal quorum; 
 [2] receiving an amount of data exceeding a predefined minimal quota; 
 [3] exceeding a predefined period of time; 
   [j] a means of performing said automated and widespread distribution-publishing of said at least one message subject to said initial surveying.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus for automated survey sampling of electronic messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said parameter for said subsequent automated and widespread distribution-publishing of said message is said comparative parameter, said method is characterized by:
 [a] said composing of said at least one message subject to said initial surveying further comprises composing at least two messages subject to said initial surveying;   [b] said applying of said at least one parameter for said subsequent automated and widespread distribution-publishing of said message further comprises comparing said feedback information related to said at least two messages subject to said initial surveying and selecting one message for said widespread distribution-publishing.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus for automated survey sampling of electronic messages prior to widespread distribution-publishing thereof, as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein said interacting comprises an action, selected from the group consisting of: an active action and passive action; said action is exerted onto said message in a way selected from the group consisting of: directly thereon and indirectly thereto; wherein said action pertains to a value selected from the group consisting of: a qualitative value and quantitative value.