Configuration of systems with services

• US 20030208361A1
• Filed: 05/02/2002
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Belinne, Daryl Jarvis, Dandekar, Shree, Howell, James A. Jr., Boesch, Shannon Christopher
• Application Number:
  US10/137,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20030208361A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

The invention relates to an on-line store which allows a customer to order services of other providers while maintaining a consistent customer experience and control over the customer. Additionally, the invention relates to a system for enabling configuration of an information handling system which includes a configurator, a checkout module, a service activation module, and a database. The configurator configures the system with options selected according to user input. Payment options, obtaining payment and delivery information are presented by the checkout module. The service activation module enables a user to activate a service and a database receives and supplies information to the configurator, the checkout module and the service activation module. The invention also relates to a method of enabling configuration of an information handling system which includes configuring a system with options selected according to user input, presenting payment options and obtaining payment and delivery information during the checkout process, enabling a user to activate a service; and using information derived during the configuring for the enabling. The invention further relates to an on-line store for enabling configuration of an information handling system which includes configuring a system with options selected according to user input, presenting payment options and obtaining payment and delivery information, enabling a user to activate a service; and a database. The database receives and supplies information from and to the configurator, the checkout module and the service activation module.

Claims

1. A system for enabling configuration of an information handling system comprising:

a configurator, the configurator configuring a system with options selected according to user input;

a checkout module, the checkout module presenting payment options and obtaining payment and delivery information;

a service activation module for enabling a user to activate a service; and

a database, the database receiving information from and supplying information to the configurator, the checkout module and the service activation module.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the configurator and the service activation module provide a customer with a consistent customer experience.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein

the service activation module enables a user to activate services based upon the options selected according to user input.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the services activation module is coupled between the configurator and the checkout module.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the services activation module enables activation of a service after checkout has occurred.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the service activation module generates information relating to the services activated by the user.

7. A method of enabling configuration of an information handling system comprising:

configuring a system with options selected according to user input;

presenting payment options and obtaining payment and delivery information during a checkout process;

enabling a user to activate a service; and

using information derived during the configuring for the enabling.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising

providing a customer with a consistent customer experience during the configuring and the enabling.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein

the enabling allows a user to activate services based upon the options selected according to user input.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein

the enabling occurs after the configuring and before the presenting of payment options.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein

the enabling occurs after the presenting of payment options.

12. The system of claim 7 further comprising

generating information relating to the services activated by the user.

13. An on-line store for enabling configuration of an information handling system comprising:

means for configuring a system with options selected according to user input;

means for presenting payment options and obtaining payment and delivery information;

means for enabling a user to activate a service; and

a database, the database receiving information from and supplying information to the configurator, the checkout module and the service activation module.

14. The on-line store of claim 13 wherein:

the means for configuring and the means for enabling provide a customer with a consistent customer experience.

15. The on-line store of claim 13 wherein

the means for enabling enables a user to activate services based upon the options selected according to user input.

16. The on-line store of claim 13 further comprising

means for generating information relating to the services activated by the user.