Interactive feedback system

Abstract

A feedback system including a controller configured to: register a system account for each of a plurality of users, wherein the feedback system account includes a unique identification code for each of the plurality of users; provide a graphic user interface through which a first user: generates a request for feedback; selects one or more groups to which to communicate the request for feedback, where in the selection of the groups includes associating one or more unique identification codes with each of the groups; receives feedback from at least a second user associated with a unique identification code associated with one of the groups, wherein, upon receipt of the feedback from the second user, the first user is automatically authorized to reply to the second user; and accesses feedback analytics related to the feedback received in response to the request for feedback.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A feedback system comprising:
 a controller; and   a memory coupled to the controller, wherein the memory is configured to store program instructions executable by the controller;   wherein in response to executing the program instructions, the controller is configured to:   associate a unique identification code for each of a plurality of users;   provide a graphic user interface through which each user may send feedback to other users, request feedback from one or more other users, respond to feedback from other users, and view feedback analytics, wherein the graphic user interface includes a feedback form interface through which each user providing feedback enters freeform text via a freeform text feedback input and a selected feedback tone category via a feedback tone category input, wherein the selected feedback tone category is identified by the user providing feedback as representative of the tone of the free form text;   wherein, when a first user provides feedback to a second user, the controller generates a unique communication thread for communications related to the feedback, wherein the feedback is tagged by the controller according to the selected feedback tone category;   wherein the controller tracks the feedback by its relationship with one of the plurality of unique identification codes and generates feedback analytics including aggregated feedback tone category analytics; and   wherein for each feedback requested from a plurality of other users, the controller tracks the number of feedback received having a second selected feedback tone.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  where the first user provides feedback to the second user anonymously, such that the identity of the first user is unknown to the second user. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of users includes one or more users that is an individual and one or more of users that is a business. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the second user is a business. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the business is a business unit. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the business unit is a business location. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the business unit is a business department. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the business unit is an employee. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the first user is an individual for which the unique identification code is associated with demographic information. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the first user is an individual for which the unique demographic information is a location. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein, requesting feedback from other users includes the steps of:
 generating a new request for feedback; 
 selecting one or more groups to which to communicate the request for feedback, where in the selection of the groups includes associating one or more of the unique identification codes with each of the groups; 
 receiving feedback from at least a responding user whose associated unique identification code is associated with one of the groups, wherein, upon receipt of the feedback from the responding user, a unique communication thread is generated for communications related to the feedback; and 
 accessing feedback analytics related to the feedback received in response to the request for feedback. 
 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the group is selected such that the users associated with the group of one or more unique identification codes share common demographic information. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the common demographic information is a location. 
     
     
         14 . A feedback system comprising:
 a controller; and   a memory coupled to the controller, wherein the memory is configured to store program instructions executable by the controller;   wherein in response to executing the program instructions, the controller is configured to:   associate a unique identification code for each of a plurality of users;   provide a graphic user interface through which a first user:
 generates a request for feedback; 
 selects one or more groups to which to communicate the request for feedback, where in the selection of the groups includes associating one or more unique identification codes with each of the groups; 
 receives feedback from at least a second user associated with a unique identification code associated with one of the groups, wherein, upon receipt of the feedback from the second user, a unique communication thread is generated for communications related to the feedback, and wherein the feedback is associated with the unique identification code of the second user providing the feedback and wherein the graphic user interface includes a feedback form interface through which the second user enters freeform text via a freeform text feedback input and a selected feedback tone category via a feedback tone category input, wherein the selected feedback tone category is the feedback tone identified by the second user as representative of the tone of the free form text; and 
 accesses feedback analytics related to the feedback received in response to the request for feedback; 
 wherein the feedback analytics include a number of feedback received having the first selected feedback tone. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the group is selected such that the users associated with the group of one or more unique identification codes share common demographic information. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the common demographic information is a location. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the feedback received from the second user is anonymous. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first user is a business and the second user is an individual. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the request for feedback relates to a business location. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the request for feedback relates to a business unit.