Multi-region market research study processing

Abstract

A market research service is provided with a study creation service that includes a number of functions to support the creation of multi-region market research studies. In one embodiment, the functions include a function in support of implicit country and/or city selection within a region. In another embodiment, the functions include a function in support of providing a real time cost estimate for the study being created. In yet another embodiment, the functions include a function in support of auto notification to translators providing translation services for translating study elements (such as questions, messages, pick lists and concepts) into supported target languages. In yet another embodiment, the functions include a function in support of on-line check in of the translated study elements. In yet another embodiment, the functions include a function in support of on-line monitoring of translation status.

1 - 153 . (canceled)  
     
     
         154 . A computer-implemented method for creating a multi-region market research study, the method comprising: 
 displaying information to facilitate on-line selection of one or more geographical regions in which to conduct a multi-region market study;    receiving, from a market research client, an on-line selection of one or more geographical regions in which to conduct a multi-region market study;    in response to receiving the on-line selection from the market research client, providing a real time cost estimate for conducting the multi-region market research study, wherein the real time cost estimate is based at least in part on the geographical regions selected by the market research client; and    automatically notifying one or more translation services to translate elements of the multi-region market research study from an original language into one or more target languages, wherein the one or more target languages are associated with the one or more geographical regions selected by the market research client.    
     
     
         155 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 154  wherein, after the elements of the multi-region market research study have been translated, the method further comprises: 
 conducting the multi-region market research study for the market research client; and    analyzing the results.    
     
     
         156 . The method of  claim 154 , wherein automatically notifying the one or more translation services includes automatically notifying the one or more translation services in response to on-line definition of the multi-region market research study.  
     
     
         157 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 154 , further comprising: 
 providing on-line check in for the translated market research study elements; and    providing on-line status monitoring for the translated market research study elements.    
     
     
         158 . The method of  claim 157 , wherein providing on-line check in for the translated study elements includes providing on-line check in for at least two of study questions, study messages, study pick lists, and study concepts.  
     
     
         159 . The method of  claim 157 , where providing on-line check in for translated study elements includes separately storing study questions, study messages, study pick lists, and study concepts.  
     
     
         160 . The method of  claim 157 , wherein providing on-line status monitoring for the translations comprises displaying a summary report of the translation status of the study elements by target languages.  
     
     
         161 . The method of  claim 154 , wherein automatically notifying one or more translation services to translate study elements includes automatically notifying one or more translation services via electronic mail.  
     
     
         162 . A method for creating a multi-region market research study, the method comprising: 
 displaying information to facilitate on-line selection of one or more geographical regions in which to conduct a multi-region market study;    receiving, from a market research client, an on-line selection of one or more geographical regions in which to conduct a multi-region market study;    automatically notifying one or more translation services to translate elements of the multi-region market research study from an original language into one or more target languages, wherein the one or more target languages are associated with the one or more geographical regions selected by the market research client; and    providing on-line check in for translated study elements of the multi-region market research study translated from an original language into one or more target languages.    
     
     
         163 . The method of  claim 162  wherein providing on-line check in for translated study elements includes providing on-line check in for at least two of study questions, study messages, study pick lists, and study concepts.  
     
     
         164 . The method of  claim 162  wherein providing on-line check in for translated study elements includes separately storing study questions, study messages, study pick lists, and study concepts.  
     
     
         165 . The method of claim  61 , further comprising providing on-line status monitoring for the translated study elements.  
     
     
         166 . A multi-region market research study creation system, the system comprising: 
 a computer-readable medium containing a plurality of programming instructions designed to automatically implement a plurality of functions to support on-line creation of a multi-region market research study, the programming instructions including: 
 a first function to display information to facilitate on-line selection of one or more geographical regions in which to conduct a multi-region market study;  
 a second function to receive, from a market research client, an on-line selection of one or more geographical regions in which to conduct a multi-region market study; and  
 a third function to notify one or more translation services to translate elements of the multi-region market research study from an original language into one or more target languages, wherein the one or more target languages are associated with the one or more geographical regions selected by the market research client; and  
   one or more processors operably coupled to the computer-readable medium to execute the programming instructions.    
     
     
         167 . The system of  claim 166  wherein the programming instructions are further designed to automatically implement a fourth function to facilitate on-line check in for the translated study elements.  
     
     
         168 . The system of  claim 167  wherein the fourth function is designed to provide on-line check in for at least one of study questions and study concepts.  
     
     
         169 . The system of  claim 166  wherein the programming instructions are further designed to automatically implement a fourth function to facilitate on-line selection of panelists from the one or more selected regions to participate in an on-line survey relating to the market research.  
     
     
         170 . The system of  claim 166  wherein the programming instructions are further designed to automatically implement a fourth function to select one or more countries/cities within a region in response to a selection of the geographical region via the second function.  
     
     
         171 . The system of  claim 166  wherein the programming instructions are further designed to automatically implement a fourth function to provide a real time cost estimate for the multi-region market research study.  
     
     
         172 . The system of  claim 166  wherein the programming instructions are further designed to automatically implement a fourth function to provide a real time cost estimate for the multi-region market research study based at least in part on the number of geographical regions selected for the study.  
     
     
         173 . The system of  claim 166  wherein the programming instructions are further designed to automatically implement a fourth function to display a summary report on the translation status of the study elements by target languages.