Multi-provider funeral plan web site and administration thereof
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a database storing item information regarding a plurality of funerary items;
(b) a plurality of provider profile data structures respectively configured to define at least one provider catalog for each of a plurality of funerary service providers, each provider profile data structure identifying a subset of the plurality of funerary items from the database to be included in the provider catalog defined thereby, each provider profile data structure further identifying provider-specific pricing information for at least a subset of the funerary items identified in the provider catalog defined thereby; and
(c) program code configured to access the provider catalog for each funerary service provider by accessing the provider profile data structure associated with such funerary service provider.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Internet-based technology is utilized to provide a funerary-related web site such as a funeral planner web site for use in planning a funeral or other memorial service online on behalf of one or more funerary service providers such as funeral homes. Custom-tailored web sites are supported for multiple funerary service providers, with a significant degree of customization supported for both look and feel and provider-specific product and service offerings. Moreover, through the use of several unique administration functions, self-configuration of a funerary service provider'"'"'s custom web site is facilitated, even for users having limited computer and Internet skills.
32 Citations
88 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a database storing item information regarding a plurality of funerary items;
(b) a plurality of provider profile data structures respectively configured to define at least one provider catalog for each of a plurality of funerary service providers, each provider profile data structure identifying a subset of the plurality of funerary items from the database to be included in the provider catalog defined thereby, each provider profile data structure further identifying provider-specific pricing information for at least a subset of the funerary items identified in the provider catalog defined thereby; and
(c) program code configured to access the provider catalog for each funerary service provider by accessing the provider profile data structure associated with such funerary service provider. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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19. A method of accessing a selected product catalog for a selected funerary service provider among a plurality of funerary service providers, the method comprising:
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(a) accessing a provider profile data structure associated with the selected funerary service provider, wherein the provider profile data structure is among a plurality of provider profile data structures, each provider profile data structure configured to define at least one provider catalog for an associated funerary service provider from among the plurality of funerary service providers, each provider profile data structure identifying for inclusion in the provider catalog defined thereby a subset of a plurality of funerary items stored in a common database, and each provider profile data structure further identifying provider-specific pricing information for at least a subset of the funerary items identified in the provider catalog defined thereby; and
(b) accessing offering information from the provider catalog for the selected funerary service provider using the provider profile data structure associated with the selected funerary service provider.
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31. A program product, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of provider profile data structures respectively configured to define at least one provider catalog for each of a plurality of funerary service providers, each provider profile data structure identifying a subset of a plurality of funerary items from a common database to be included in the provider catalog defined thereby, each provider profile data structure further identifying provider-specific pricing information for at least a subset of the funerary items identified in the provider catalog defined thereby;
(b) program code configured to access the provider catalog for each funerary service provider by accessing the provider profile data structure associated with such funerary service provider; and
(c) a signal bearing medium bearing the plurality of provider profile data structures and the program code.
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32. An apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a memory storing a plurality of provider profile data structures respectively configured to control a display configuration of a multi-provider funerary web site for each of a plurality of funerary service providers, a first provider profile data structure defining a plurality of entities falling within an organizational structure of a first funerary service provider, and defining a plurality of branding groups identifying a plurality of unique display configurations, wherein the first provider profile data structure associates each entity with a branding group from among the plurality of branding groups; and
(b) program code configured to retrieve a display configuration for a selected entity in the organizational structure of the first funerary service provider by accessing the provider profile data structure associated therewith to retrieve the display configuration associated for the branding group with which the selected entity is associated. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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38. A method of retrieving a display configuration for a selected entity among a plurality of entities defined in an organizational structure of a selected funerary service provider among a plurality of funerary service providers, the method comprising:
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(a) accessing a selected provider profile data structure associated with the selected funerary service provider to determine a selected branding group from among a plurality of branding groups for the selected entity, wherein the provider profile data structure is among a plurality of provider profile data structures, each provider profile data structure respectively configured to control a display configuration of a multi-provider funerary web site an associated funerary service provider from among the plurality of funerary service providers, the selected provider profile data structure defining a unique display configuration for each of the plurality of branding groups, wherein the selected provider profile data structure associates each entity with a branding group from among the plurality of branding groups; and
(b) retrieving the display configuration for the selected entity by accessing the selected provider profile data structure to retrieve the display configuration associated with the selected branding group.
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44. A method of creating a funeral plan, the method comprising:
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(a) selecting a funeral home with which to associate a funeral plan, wherein the funeral home is among a plurality of funeral homes defined in an organizational structure for a funeral home company;
(b) accessing a provider profile data structure associated with the selected funeral home to determine a branding group from among a plurality of branding groups associated with the funeral home company;
(c) retrieving from the provider profile data structure a display configuration associated with the determined branding group; and
(d) creating a funeral plan for a customer by displaying a sequence of web pages to the customer and receiving user input from the customer, wherein displaying the sequence of web pages includes formatting each web page in the sequence according to the retrieved display configuration for the determined branding group. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of administering profile information in a provider profile data structure for a selected funeral home company, wherein the provider profile data structure is among a plurality of provider profile data structures stored in a database for a plurality of funeral home companies, wherein the profile information includes at least one of a display configuration and a provider catalog of funerary items, and wherein the selected funeral home company includes an plurality of funeral homes, the method comprising:
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(a) displaying first, second and third company structure options to an authorized user for the funeral home company, the first company structure option for defining the profile information as funeral home-specific profile information, the second company structure option for defining the profile information as company-wide profile information, and the third company structure option for defining the profile information as group-based profile information;
(b) in response to selection of the first company structure option by the authorized user, displaying a first administration web page configured to manage administration of the profile information on a funeral home by funeral home basis;
(b) in response to selection of the second company structure option by the authorized user, displaying a second administration web page configured to manage administration of the profile information on a funeral home company-wide basis; and
(c) in response to selection of the third company structure option by the authorized user, displaying a third administration web page configured to manage administration of the profile information on a group by group basis, the third administration web page further configured to manage a group organization for the funeral home company.
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51. An apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a database storing item information regarding a plurality of funerary items;
(b) a plurality of provider profile data structures respectively configured to define at least one provider catalog for each of a plurality of funerary service providers, each provider profile data structure identifying a subset of the plurality of funerary items from the database to be included in the provider catalog defined thereby, a first provider profile data structure defining a plurality of entities falling within an organizational structure of a first funerary service provider, and defining a plurality of provider catalogs identifying unique subsets of items from the database, wherein the first provider profile data structure associates each entity with at least one provider catalog from among the plurality of provider catalogs; and
(c) program code configured to access the provider catalog associated with a selected entity in the organizational structure of the first funerary service provider by accessing the provider profile data structure associated therewith. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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59. A method of accessing a product catalog for a selected entity among a plurality of entities defined in an organizational structure of a selected funerary service provider among a plurality of funerary service providers, the method comprising:
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(a) accessing a selected provider profile data structure associated with the selected funerary service provider, wherein the provider profile data structure is among a plurality of provider profile data structures, each provider profile data structure configured to define at least one provider catalog for an associated funerary service provider from among the plurality of funerary service providers, each provider profile data structure identifying for inclusion in the provider catalog defined thereby a subset of a plurality of funerary items stored in a common database, the selected provider profile data structure defining a plurality of provider catalogs identifying unique subsets of items from the database, wherein the selected provider profile data structure associates each entity with at least one provider catalog from among the plurality of provider catalogs; and
(b) accessing the provider catalog associated with the selected entity in the organizational structure of the first funerary service provider by accessing the provider profile data structure associated therewith.
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65. A method of locating a funeral home, the method comprising:
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(a) accessing a database of funeral home locations to generate a result set that identifies at least one funeral home location meeting a geographic search criterion; and
(b) thereafter filtering the search results according to an exclusion criterion associated with a funerary services provider. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 72)
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69. An apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a database identifying a plurality of funeral home locations; and
(b) program code configured to access the database to generate a result set that identifies at least one funeral home location meeting a geographic search criterion, and to thereafter filter the search results according to an exclusion criterion associated with a funerary services provider.
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73. An apparatus, comprising:
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(a) a database storing item information regarding a plurality of funerary items;
(b) a plurality of provider profile data structures respectively configured to define at least one provider catalog for each of a plurality of funerary service providers, each provider profile data structure identifying a subset of the plurality of funerary items from the database to be included in the provider catalog defined thereby, at least one provider profile data structure further defining at least one package identifying a subset of items from the provider catalog defined thereby, the package further identifying a package price for the subset of items from the provider catalog; and
(c) program code configured to access the package by accessing the provider profile data structure associated therewith. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
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81. A method of accessing a selected package for a selected funerary service provider among a plurality of funerary service providers, the method comprising:
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(a) accessing a provider profile data structure associated with the selected funerary service provider, wherein the provider profile data structure is among a plurality of provider profile data structures, each provider profile data structure configured to define at least one provider catalog for an associated funerary service provider from among the plurality of funerary service providers, each provider profile data structure identifying for inclusion in the provider catalog defined thereby a subset of a plurality of funerary items stored in a common database, the provider profile data structure associated with the selected funerary service provider further defining at least one package identifying a subset of items from the provider catalog defined thereby, the package further identifying a package price for the subset of items from the provider catalog; and
(b) accessing offering information from the package for the selected funerary service provider using the provider profile data structure associated with the selected funerary service provider. - View Dependent Claims (82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88)
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Specification