Personal business service system and method

• US 10,078,850 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2013
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 1, LLC
• Original Assignee: III Holdings 1, LLC
• Inventors: Stevens, Dian
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilligan, Christopher L
• Application Number:
  US13/783,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20130179261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,024 Days
• Field of Search: 705 1438, 705 1449
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A system and method of computerizing companies with customized individual addressable electronic direct marketing, self-service automation, and customer care support. The system contains a private network connecting product companies, manufacturers, stores, educational institutions, travel companies, medical providers, financial institutions, and many others to a specified individual customer. The connection is made to a personal agent device carried or worn by a participating consumer that contains local processing means with an interactive display, security features, optional camera, and wireless communications with the private network. Communications microchips can be placed on products that communicate product information upon interrogation with the personal agent. The invention also includes business professional units in communication with the private network and in-store local wireless communication between personal agents and the business professional unit.

Claims

1. A system for personalized customer service, comprising:

a control node configured to;

receive consumer business data and prior purchasing information of a consumer transmitted from a plurality of participating business service providers,

process the consumer business data and prior purchasing information of the consumer by performing statistical analysis of the consumer business data and prior purchasing information of the consumer to predict buying trends and preferences relevant to the consumer in a shopping environment at a business location, and

produce consumer messages for the consumer based on the predicted buying trends and preferences;

a personal agent device configured to;

receive and provide real-time display of the consumer messages, and

provide location and current purchase information of the consumer to a business professional unit or to the control node;

a communications system configured to allow the control node to communicate bidirectionally with the business professional unit,

wherein the control node is further configured to transfer the consumer business data to the business professional unit, and

wherein the business professional unit is configured to transfer location and purchase feedback data concerning the consumer to the control node; and

a tracking system configured to track the location and current purchase information associated with the consumer in response to the consumer being in the business location,

wherein the control node is further configured to;

receive product information in response to the consumer being at a predetermined location within the business location,

process the product information and the consumer business data of the customer to generate a virtual try-on image, and

sending the product information and the generated virtual try-on image to the personal agent device.

2. The system for personalized customer service of claim 1, wherein the communications system comprises a plurality of in-store transmitter and receiver nodes located within the business location.

3. The system for personalized customer service of claim 1, wherein the communications system is wireless.

4. The system for personalized customer service of claim 3, wherein the communications system includes cellular telephony.

5. The system for personalized customer service of claim 1, wherein the communications system is part of a local area network.

6. The system for personalized customer service of claim 1, wherein the personal agent device comprises a cellular telephone.

7. The system for personalized customer service of claim 1, wherein the personal agent device is configured to provide personal banking services by exchanging credit card information of the consumer with the control node.

8. The system for personalized customer service of claim 1, wherein the personal agent device is configured to identify a user of the personal agent device as an authorized user.

9. The system for personalized customer service of claim 1, wherein the personal agent device is further configured to display the product information and the virtual try-on image.

10. The system for personalized customer service of claim 1, wherein the control node is further configured to target the consumer for at least one of product and promotions based on the predicted buying trends and preferences.

11. A method of personalized customer service, comprising;

receiving, by a control node, consumer business data and prior purchasing information of a consumer transmitted from a plurality of participating business service providers;

deriving, by the control node, buying trends and preferences of the consumer based on a statistical analysis on the received consumer business data and prior purchasing information;

producing consumer messages for the consumer based on the derived buying trends and preferences of the consumer;

sending the consumer messages to personal agent devices to display the consumer messages for the consumer;

communicating, over a network, between a subscribing business entity and the consumer in response to the consumer being in a subscribing business location,

wherein the control node is configured to transfer the consumer business data to the subscribing business entity, and

wherein the subscribing business entity is configured to transfer location and purchase feedback data concerning the consumer to the control node;

receiving, by the control node, product information in response to the consumer being at a predetermined location within the business location;

processing, by the control node, the product information and the consumer business data of the customer to generate a virtual try-on image; and

sending, by the control node, the product information and the generated virtual try-on image to a personal agent device of the consumer.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising gathering, by the control node, product sales information.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising detecting, by a tracking system, the consumer entering the subscribing business location.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising tracking, by a tracking system, a location of the consumer in the subscribing business location.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined location is within proximity of a product in the subscribing business location.

16. A system for personalized customer service, comprising:

a control node configured to;

receive consumer business data and prior purchasing information of a consumer transmitted from a plurality of participating business service providers;

process the consumer business data and prior purchasing information of the consumer by performing statistical analysis of the consumer business data and prior purchasing information of the consumer to derive buying trends and preferences relevant to the consumer in a shopping environment at a business location;

produce consumer messages for the consumer based on the derived buying trends and preferences;

a personal agent device configured to;

receive and provide real-time display of the consumer messages, and

provide location and current purchase information of the consumer to a business professional unit;

a communications system configured to allow the control node to communicate bidirectionally with the business professional unit,

wherein the control node is further configured to;

transfer the consumer business data to the business professional unit,

receive specific product information in response to the consumer being at a predetermined location within the business location,

process the specific product information and the consumer business data of the customer to generate a virtual try-on image, and

send the specific product information and the generated virtual try-on image to the personal agent device to cause the personal agent device of the consumer to display the specific product information and the virtual try-on image, and

wherein the business professional unit is configured to transfer location and purchase data of the consumer to the control node; and

a tracking system at the control node configured to track location and purchase information associated with the consumer in response to the consumer being in the business location.

17. The system for personalized customer service of claim 16, wherein the personal agent is configured to provide personal banking services by exchanging credit card information of the consumer with the control node.

18. The system for personalized customer service of claim 16, wherein the communications system is wireless.