Conjoint Analysis Integration for Search Result Relevance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies lack a method to effectively combine conjoint analysis with customer relationship management, auction, and search engine software, limiting user interaction and decision-making efficiency in complex choice scenarios.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a software tool that applies the conjoint model decision process to simplify complex choices by developing user profiles and providing a 'quality of fit' measure for products or services, integrating conjoint analysis with CRM, auction, and search engine software to facilitate user interaction and decision-making.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conjoint analysis is used to assess consumer preferences among complex products or services, then decision-making accuracy is improved, but system complexity and difficulty of operation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecision-making accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an automated software intermediary that mediates between the complex conjoint analysis methodology and the end user. The software automatically performs attribute identification, utility calculation, and preference assessment, transforming the complex statistical process into simple user interactions where users only need to indicate their preferences among presented alternatives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing users to independently conduct conjoint analysis without requiring expertise in the underlying methodology. The software automatically guides users through the process, performs calculations, and generates results, making the complex tool accessible to ordinary users who simply need to make decisions about complex products or services.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If conjoint analysis gathers data from individuals by asking them to consider multiple variables simultaneously, then preference measurement accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreference measurement accuracyVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex task of considering multiple variables simultaneously into a sequence of simpler decisions. The software breaks down the conjoint analysis process into discrete steps where users evaluate alternatives one at a time or in small groups, rather than requiring them to mentally process all attributes and alternatives at once. This segmentation maintains measurement accuracy while dramatically improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically preparing and presenting alternatives with their attribute settings before user evaluation. The software pre-processes the data, organizes alternatives for comparison, and structures the presentation to guide users through the evaluation process, reducing the cognitive burden on users while maintaining rigorous preference measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If conventional search engines present hundreds or thousands of search results, then information coverage is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in locating desired information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation coverageVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by using conjoint analysis results to dynamically re-rank and re-order search results based on individual user preferences. Instead of presenting results in a fixed order or simply by relevance, the system transforms the result set according to the user's measured preferences for different attributes, automatically adjusting the presentation parameters to match user needs while maintaining comprehensive coverage of available information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8171022B2Methods, systems, and computer program products for facilitating user interaction with customer relationship management, auction, and search engine software using conjoint analysis
Publication Date: 2012.05.01 ADP INC
  • US8171022B2 patent drawing
  • US8171022B2 patent drawing
  • US8171022B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods, systems, and computer program products for combining conjoint analysis with customer relationship management software, search engine software, and auction software are disclosed. According to one method, conjoint analysis is used to facilitate user interaction with a search engine. According to the method, search keywords are received as a user and treated as attributes by a conjoint analysis application. The conjoint analysis application presents the user with paired trade-off questions regarding the search keywords. Conjoint analysis is performed based on user responses to the questions. Based on the user's responses to the questions, relative importance weightings are computed for keywords. The keywords and the relative importance weightings are input to a search engine. The search is performed using the keywords. Results to be output to the user are selected based on occurrences of the keywords in the search results and the relative importance weightings.