Automatic marketing of networking solution

• US 20030200132A1
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bryant, Nathan H.
• Application Number:
  US10/128,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20030200132A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and signal-bearing medium for recommending to a potential customer that the customer retain a current electronic device and purchase additional products to use the current electronic device in a network. The recommendation may be made based on the electronic device'"'"'s configuration.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

determining a current configuration of an electronic device;

comparing the current configuration to a minimum configuration for networking; and

when the configuration is less than the minimum configuration, recommending upgrading the electronic device from the current configuration to the minimum configuration.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the current configuration is greater than the minimum configuration, but less than a suggested configuration for networking, recommending upgrading the electronic device from the current configuration to the suggested configuration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the current configuration further comprises a processor speed of the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein comparing the current configuration to a minimum configuration for networking further comprises:

comparing the processor speed in the current configuration to a processor speed in the minimum configuration.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the current configuration further comprises a memory size of the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein comparing the current configuration to a minimum configuration for networking further comprises:

comparing the memory size in the current configuration to a memory size in the minimum configuration.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the current configuration further comprises an indication of a type of network adapter in the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

comparing the indication in the current configuration to a network adapter needed for the minimum configuration.

9. A signal-bearing medium comprising instructions, wherein the instructions when read and executed by a processor comprise:

receiving a request from a potential customer wherein the potential customer has a current electronic device; and

in response to the request, recommending upgrading the current electronic device to a configuration suitable for networking.

10. The signal-bearing medium of claim 9, wherein configuration suitable for networking comprises a minimum configuration suitable for networking.

11. The signal-bearing medium of claim 9, wherein the configuration suitable for networking comprises a suggested configuration suitable for networking.

12. The signal-bearing medium of claim 9, wherein the request comprises a request for information.

13. The signal-bearing medium of claim 9, wherein the request comprises an order for a new electronic device, and wherein the recommending further comprises recommending using the current electronic device and the new electronic device in a network.

14. The signal-bearing medium of claim 9, wherein the recommending further comprises determining that a configuration of the current electronic device is less than a minimum configuration for networking.

15. A server comprising:

memory comprising configuration rules; and

a controller to;

receive a request from a potential customer wherein the potential customer has a current electronic device,

compare a current configuration of the current electronic device to the configuration rules, and

when the current configuration does not meet the configuration rules, recommend upgrading the electronic device to a networking configuration.

16. The server of claim 15, wherein the configuration rules further comprise a minimum configuration suitable for networking.

17. The server of claim 15, wherein the configuration rules further comprise a suggested configuration suitable for networking.

18. The server of claim 15, wherein the server further comprises a network adapter and wherein the request is received across a network via the network adapter.

19. The server of claim 15, wherein the server further comprises an input device and wherein the request is received by the controller via the input device.

20. The server of claim 15, wherein the configuration rules further comprise a processor speed, a memory size, and a network adapter characteristic.