CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The embodiments herein claim the priority of the Indian Provisional Patent Application with the serial number 201641030059 and entitled, "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A PLATFORM FOR ELECTRONICALLY COLLECTING CUSTOMERS' FEEDBACK, REVIEWS AND EXPERIENCES AT A MARKET PLACE OR POINT OF EXPERIENCE" filed on September 02, 2016 and subsequently Post-dated by 6 month to March 02, 2017 the contents of which are included entirely as reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Technical field

[0002] The embodiments herein are generally related to a system and method to collect customer reviews about a product, place or service. The embodiments herein are particularly related to electronically collecting reviews from a customer who has experienced a service, product or a place. The embodiments herein are more particularly related to providing a platform for electronically collecting reviews from customers on the platform and sharing the reviews with a plurality of other users of a plurality of online platforms. The embodiments herein are also related to providing a platform for electronically collecting, storing and analyzing the feedback provided by users of a service or product and share the information with the providers of the service, manufacturers and distributors of the product.

Description of the Related Art

[0003] In today's age of information, most parts of the world are becoming known and accessible. The amount of information available enables a person to discover and explore new things every single day, whether it is a new restaurant, a movie, an electronic device or an exotic holiday destination. [0004] However, these large numbers of options tends to make a person confused about choosing the option that best suits the person's need. In order to filter these large number of options, customers are increasingly depending on reviews from previous users to determine the quality of a product or service. A plurality of reviewing methods and platforms are integrated in the various online and offline marketplaces.

[0005] Currently available reviewing methods are not enabled to determine whether a person providing the review actually experienced the service, product or a place. This results in a lack of reliability or credibility of the reviews and a person looking for genuine reviews is not assured of the integrity of a review. Another problem in current methods is that a very low percentage of users of a service, product or a place provide reviews. Users of a product or service are not provided with easily accessible and intuitive ways of providing reviews immediately after, or as a part of, their experience. Due to the lack of immediate reviewing mechanisms, genuine users often end up not providing their reviews.

[0006] Apart from reviews, the feedback information from users helps the service providers and product manufacturers in improving the quality and performance of the experiences offered. However, conventional methods of collecting reviews and feedbacks result in a low response rate from customers. Also, the reviews and feedbacks collected using those methods do not represent a large customer or user base to truly represent enough segments in order to accurately make corrective operational decisions. A lack of genuine feedback also prevents the service providers from fully understanding customer expectations and the lack of understanding affects the quality of service or product.

[0007] Hence, there is a need for a system and method to enable collection of reviews from customers who actually experienced a service or a product and sharing those reviews with a plurality of probable future users of the product or service. There is also a need for electronically collecting, storing and analyzing the feedback provided by users of a service or product and share the information with the providers of the service or manufactures of product. There is also a need to generate survey reports for the users of the present platform, who seek or search for reviews, feedbacks and/or experiences.

[0008] The above mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein and which will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.

OBJECT OF THE EMBODIMENTS HEREIN

[0009] The primary object of the embodiments herein is to provide a system and method for electronically collecting reviews from a customer who has experienced a service, product or a place.

[0010] Another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a platform for electronically collecting reviews from customers on the platform and sharing the reviews with a plurality of other users in a plurality of online platforms.

[0011] Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a platform for electronically collecting, storing and analyzing the feedback provided by users of a service or product, or visitors of a place, and share the feedback information with the providers of the service, manufacturers of a product or hosts at a place.

[0012] Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a triggering device at the location where a user experiences a service or a product for collecting the review from the users.

[0013] Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a triggering device at the location, where a user experiences a service or a product, for connecting with the user's computing device and enable the collection of reviews and feedback from the user and share with other the providers of the service or the manufacturers of the product. [0014] Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a triggering device at the location, where a user experiences a service or a product, for connecting with the user's computing device and enable the collection of reviews and feedback from the user and generate survey reports for the users of the present platform, who seek or search for reviews, feedbacks and/or experiences.

[0015] Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a triggering device that connects with the user's computing device through wired or wireless means at the location where a user experiences a service or a product.

[0016] Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a digital application that runs on a computing device and enables a user to connect with triggering devices at the location of a service or a product and provide review about the service or the product through the computing device.

[0017] Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a digital application that runs on a computing device and provides a user with intuitive and simplified options to provide a review about a service or product.

[0018] Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a digital application that runs on a computing device and enables a customer to share reviews of services or products with a plurality of remotely located potential future customers of the services or products on a plurality of online and offline platforms.

[0019] These and other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein will become readily apparent from the following summary and the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. SUMMARY

[0020] The following details present a simplified summary of the embodiments herein to provide a basic understanding of the several aspects of the embodiments herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of the embodiments herein. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the embodiments herein or to delineate the scope of the embodiments herein. Its sole purpose is to present the concepts of the embodiments herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0021] The other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein will become readily apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0022] The various embodiments herein provide a system and method for electronically collecting reviews from a customer who has experienced a service, product or a place. The system provides a platform for electronically collecting reviews from customers on the platform and sharing the reviews with a plurality of other users of the present platform and a plurality of other online platforms. The embodiments herein also provide a platform for electronically collecting, storing and analyzing the feedback provided by users of a service or product and share the feedback information with the providers of the service, manufacturers of the product or hosts at a place.

[0023] According to one embodiment herein, a triggering device is provided at the location where a user experiences a service or a product. The triggering device transmits or represents a unique identification code through wired or wireless means and enables a user to connect a computing device with local or remote servers through wired or wireless means. The unique identification code is a set of unique characters that are physically located in the triggering device, which is looked up in a local storage of user's computing device or remote servers. [0024] According to one embodiment herein, a method is provided to enable a user to initiate the process of providing a review or feedback. A software application provided in the computing device of a user triggers the computing device to transmit a unique code. A receiver device, which is provided at the location where a user experiences a service or a product, is enabled to recognize the unique code and the receiver device enables the user's computing device to connect with local or remote servers through wired or wireless means. The local or remote servers authenticate the user's computing device, and upon successful authentication, the user is enabled to provide a review or a feedback about the service, product or place.

[0025] According to one embodiment herein, the triggering device transmits a unique identification code by emitting an ultrasonic signal. A user with a computing device is provided with an application that runs on the computing device. When the application is active on the computing device and the computing device is in the proximity of the triggering device, the computing device receives the ultrasonic signal, decodes it and authenticates the signal. When successful authentication is done, the user is enabled to provide reviews on the application.

[0026] According to one embodiment herein, the triggering device transmits a unique identification code by a near field communication tag or Bluetooth beacons. A user with a computing device is provided with an application that runs on the computing device. When the application is active on the computing device and the computing device is in the proximity of the triggering device, the triggering device triggers the application on the computing device to enable the user to provide authentication on the application. When successful authentication is done, the user is enabled to provide reviews on the application. [0027] According to one embodiment herein, a server module is provided. The server comprises a database of a plurality of review questions that are asked to a user and is connected to the triggering device in the location where a user experiences a service or a product. The server is provided on the user's computing device as a database or provided in a remote location. Depending on the unique identification number or information of the triggering device provided at the location of experience and the type of user connected to the system, the server provides a set of questions or information that are presented to the user. The replies provided by the user are stored in a local or remote server connected to the user's computing device.

[0028] According to one embodiment herein, the server module acts as the controlling device for a plurality of triggering devices provided at the location of experience of a product or service. The server communicates with the triggering device through wired or wireless means for controlling and accessing information on the triggering device such as the mode of operation of the device, battery status, health parameters of the device, location information, configuration of unique identification code or information, details of users connected to the device and access of all the data in the device.

[0029] According to one embodiment herein, a software application that runs on a computing device, which enables a user to connect to the triggering device for providing a review, is provided. When the user accesses the application, the application prompts the user to connect to the triggering device provided in the location where a service or product is experienced. The application also enables the user to connect the computing device to the triggering device through wired or wireless means. When a connection is established between the users's computing device and the triggering device, the user is provided with visual or textual questions/data that enable the user to provide review on the service or the product. The application transmits the review information to the server. The application also provides the user with an option to share the review with a plurality of contacts on the user' s computing device, social networking platform and any other online or offline list of contacts of the user.

[0030] According to an embodiment herein, a software application on a computing device prompts a user about the nearest triggering device available for connection and providing a review about the service or product offered at the location of the user.

[0031] According to an embodiment herein, a system for electronically collecting reviews from a customer who has experienced a service or product is provided. The system comprises a user's computing device, triggering device, server, a plurality of probable users and a service/product provider. The user's computing device is connected to the triggering device through wired or wireless means. The server collects the review information from the user's computing device and shares the information with a plurality of probable users and the service/product provider.

[0032] According to an embodiment herein, a method of collecting, storing and sharing reviews from users with a plurality of other users is provided. The method comprises the following steps: user launches the mobile application on computing device and/or initiates an action to provide a review; the application searches for a unique identification code for providing review through a plurality of sensors wired and wireless communication means provided in the computing device; the application receives the unique identification code from the triggering device when the computing device is in the proximity of a triggering device or when connected to the triggering device; the application decodes the code and transmits it to the server; the server communicates the review questions and images to the computing device; the user submits the review, which is stored in the computing device and/or in the server; and, the review responses, reviewer's details and service provider's details are stored, processed, analyzed and shared with other users of the application in form of review or restructured information and shared with the service provider/product manufacturer in the form of feedback.

[0033] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The other objects, features and advantages will occur to those skilled in the art from the following description of the preferred embodiment and the accompanying drawings in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system for electronically collecting reviews from a customer who has experienced a service or product, according to one embodiment herein.

[0036] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram explaining the steps comprised in the method of collecting, storing and sharing reviews from users with a plurality of other users, according to one embodiment herein.

[0037] Although the specific features of the embodiments herein are shown in some drawings and not in others. This is done for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the embodiment herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS HEREIN

[0038] The various embodiments herein provide a system and method for electronically collecting reviews from a customer who has experienced a service, product or a place. The system provides a platform for electronically collecting reviews from customers on the platform and sharing the reviews with a plurality of other users of the present platform and a plurality of other online platforms. The embodiments herein also provide a platform for electronically collecting, storing and analyzing the feedback provided by users of a service or product and share the feedback information with the providers of the service, manufacturers of the product or hosts at a place.

[0039] According to one embodiment herein, a triggering device is provided at the location where a user experiences a service or a product. The triggering device transmits or represents a unique identification code through wired or wireless means and enables a user to connect a computing device with local or remote servers through wired or wireless means. The unique identification code is a set of unique characters that are physically located in the triggering device, which is looked up in a local storage of user's computing device or remote servers.

[0040] According to one embodiment herein, a method is provided to enable a user to initiate the process of providing a review or feedback. A software application provided in the computing device of a user triggers the computing device to transmit a unique code. A receiver device, which is provided at the location where a user experiences a service or a product, is enabled to recognize the unique code and the receiver device enables the user's computing device to connect with local or remote servers through wired or wireless means. The local or remote servers authenticate the user's computing device, and upon successful authentication, the user is enabled to provide a review or a feedback about the service, product or place. [0041] According to one embodiment herein, the triggering device transmits a unique identification code by emitting an ultrasonic signal. A user with a computing device is provided with an application that runs on the computing device. When the application is active on the computing device and the computing device is in the proximity of the triggering device, the computing device receives the ultrasonic signal, decodes it and authenticates the signal. When successful authentication is done, the user is enabled to provide reviews on the application.

[0042] According to one embodiment herein, the triggering device transmits a unique identification code by a near field communication tag or Bluetooth beacons. A user with a computing device is provided with an application that runs on the computing device. When the application is active on the computing device and the computing device is in the proximity of the triggering device, the triggering device triggers the application on the computing device to enable the user to provide authentication on the application. When successful authentication is done, the user is enabled to provide reviews on the application.

[0043] According to one embodiment herein, a server module is provided. The server comprises a database of a plurality of review questions that are asked to a user and is connected to the triggering device in the location where a user experiences a service or a product. The server is provided on the user's computing device as a database or provided in a remote location. Depending on the unique identification number or information of the triggering device provided at the location of experience and the type of user connected to the system, the server provides a set of questions or information that are presented to the user. The replies provided by the user are stored in a local or remote server connected to the user's computing device. [0044] According to one embodiment herein, the server module acts as the controlling device for a plurality of triggering devices provided at the location of experience of a product or service. The server communicates with the triggering device through wired or wireless means for controlling and accessing information on the triggering device such as the mode of operation of the device, battery status, health parameters of the device, location information, configuration of unique identification code or information, details of users connected to the device and access of all the data in the device.

[0045] According to one embodiment herein, a software application that runs on a computing device, which enables a user to connect to the triggering device for providing a review, is provided. When the user accesses the application, the application prompts the user to connect to the triggering device provided in the location where a service or product is experienced. The application also enables the user to connect the computing device to the triggering device through wired or wireless means. When a connection is established between the users's computing device and the triggering device, the user is provided with visual or textual questions/data that enable the user to provide review on the service or the product. The application transmits the review information to the server. The application also provides the user with an option to share the review with a plurality of contacts on the user' s computing device, social networking platform and any other online or offline list of contacts of the user.

[0046] According to an embodiment herein, a software application on a computing device prompts a user about the nearest triggering device available for connection and providing a review about the service or product offered at the location of the user.

[0047] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system for electronically collecting reviews from a customer who has experienced a service or product. The system comprises a plurality of User's Computing Devices 101a, 101b..., 101η, Triggering Device 102, Server 103 and a Service/Product Provider module 104. The user's computing device 101 is connected to the triggering device 102 through wired or wireless means. The server 103 collects the review information from the user's computing device 101 and shares the information with a plurality of user's computing devices 101a, 101b..., 101η and the service/product provider module 104.

[0048] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram explaining the steps comprised in the method of collecting, storing and sharing reviews from users with a plurality of other users. The method comprises the following steps: User launches the mobile application on computing device and/or initiates an action to provide a review (201); The application searches for a unique identification code for providing review through a plurality of sensors wired and wireless communication means provided in the computing device (202); The application receives the unique identification code from the triggering device when the computing device is in the proximity of a triggering device or when connected to the triggering device (203); The application decodes the code and transmits it to the server (204); The server communicates the review questions and images to the computing device (205); The user submits the review, which is stored in the computing device and/or in the server (206); and, The review responses, reviewer's details and service provider's details are stored, processed, analyzed and shared with other users of the application in form of review or restructured information and shared with the service provider/product manufacturer in the form of feedback (207).

[0049] The present invention provides a system and method for electronically collecting reviews from a customer who has experienced a service or product. The present invention provides users with a software application that is installed on the user's computing device. When a user experiences a service or product, the application on the user's computing device automatically locates a triggering communication device in the location, which is a part of the present invention, and communicates with the triggering device to enable the user to provide a review of the service or product. The review is electronically shared with a plurality of other probable users through a local or remote server. The review is also shared with the providers of the service or product in form of feedback. The present invention ensures only genuine users provide reviews. The ease of providing the review also increases the number of users providing review of their experiences. The software application on the user's computing device also enables the user to share the review with a preset group of contacts of the user.

[0050] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

[0051] Although the embodiments herein are described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the disclosure with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the appended claims. [0052] It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the embodiments described herein and all the statements of the scope of the embodiments which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.