Method and system for executing a transaction

• US 20050091172A1
• Filed: 10/21/2004
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Jones, Dennis J., King, Philip J., O'Rick, Sherry L.
• Application Number:
  US10/970,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20050091172A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method of executing a transaction associated with performance of an action involving a plurality of parties includes the steps of a first party initiating a transaction by contacting a designated call center through a secure portal and requesting performance of an action. Another step includes the call center querying a second party regarding predetermined preferences of the first party. Still another step includes one of the first party and the call center selecting a third party to perform the requested action. The selection being based at least in part upon the predetermined preferences. Yet another step includes the call center contacting the third party through the secure portal and arranging for performance of the requested action by the third party. Further steps include the third party obtaining a performance acknowledgement from the first party after performance of the requested action and transmitting the performance acknowledgment to the second party through the second party through the secure portal. A system for executing a method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of executing a transaction associated with performance of an action involving a plurality of parties, said method comprising the steps of:

a) a first party initiating a transaction by contacting a designated call center through a secure portal and requesting performance of an action;

b) said call center querying a second party regarding predetermined preferences of said first party;

c) one of said first party and said call center selecting a third party to perform said requested action, said selection based at least in part on said predetermined preferences;

d) said call center contacting said third party through said secure portal and arranging for performance of said requested action by said third party; and

,

e) said third party obtaining a performance acknowledgment from said first party after performance of said requested action and transmitting said performance acknowledgment to said second party through said secure portal.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising a step of said call center obtaining data associated with a specific geographic location of said first party prior to step c).

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said selection in step c) is based at least in part on said specific geographic location and said predetermined preferences of said first party.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein said data associated with a specific geographic location of the first party is obtained by said call center through said secure portal.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of initiating a transaction includes said first party contacting said call center through said secure portal via one of an audio communication, a video communication and a data communication.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of obtaining said performance acknowledgment from said first party in step e) includes a step of said third party electronically capturing said performance acknowledgment.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said step of electronically capturing said performance acknowledgment includes one of reading of a data card, recording a signature on an electronic tablet, recording a voice print, and scanning a biological feature of said first party.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said call center and said secure portal are integrally associated.

9. A method of executing a transaction associated with performance of an action involving first, second and third parties, said first party including an associated transporter and an associated transport administrator, said third party including an associated servicer and an associated service administrator, said method comprising the steps of:

a) said associated transporter of said first party initiating a transaction by contacting a designated call center through a secure portal and requesting performance of an action;

b) said call center obtaining data associated with a specific geographic location of said associated transporter;

c) said call center querying a second party regarding predetermined preferences of said first party;

d) said call center querying a plurality of potential third parties through said secure portal with regard to at least one of inventory, availability, and response time;

e) said call center obtaining data associated with a geographic location of said associated servicer relative to said specific geographic location of said first party for one or more of said plurality of potential third parties;

f) said call center ranking said potential third parties based upon individual responses to said query of step d) and said geographic location of said associated servicer relative to said geographic location of said associated transporter;

g) one of said transporter, said call center and said associated transport administrator selecting a specific third party based upon said ranking of potential third parties;

h) said call center requesting authorization from said associated transport administrator through said secure portal for performance of said requested action by said selected third party;

i) upon receiving an affirmative response from said associated transport administrator through said secure portal, said call center contacting said selected third party through said secure portal and requesting performance of said action;

j) upon receiving an affirmative response from said third party through said secure portal, said call center arranging performance of said action by said third party through said secure portal; and

,

k) said selected third party obtaining a performance acknowledgment from said associated transportation person after performance of said requested action and transmitting said performance acknowledgment to said second party through said secure portal.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein one of steps b) and e) include obtaining data from an external service provider through said secure portal.

11. A method according to claim 9, wherein prior to receiving an affirmative response from said associated transport administrator to said request in step h) said call center receiving a negative response from said associated transport administrator to said request in step h), said call center repeating steps g) and h) until said affirmative response is received in step i) responsive to a subsequently selected third party.

12. A method according to claim 9, wherein prior to receiving an affirmative response from said third party to said request in step i) said call center receiving a negative response from said associated transport administrator to said request in step i), said call center repeating steps g), h) and i) until said affirmative response is received in step j) responsive to a subsequently selected third party.

13. A method according to claim 9, wherein prior to receiving an affirmative response from said associated transport administrator to said request in step h) said call center receiving a conditional response from said associated transport administrator to said request in step h), said method further comprising steps of:

said call center contacting said selected third party and requesting performance of said action;

upon receiving an affirmative response from said third party, said third party performing an evaluation of the requested action and forwarding said evaluation to said associated transport administrator through said secure portal;

one of said associated transporter, said call center and said third party requesting authorization based on said evaluation for performance of said action from said associated transport administrator through said secure portal;

upon an affirmative response from said associated transport administrator, said third party performing said requested action; and

,

said selected third party obtaining a performance acknowledgment from said associated transporter after performance of said requested action and transmitting said performance acknowledgment to said second party through said secure portal.

14. A method according to claim 9, wherein one of step b) and e) includes a step of said call center querying an external service provider through said secure portal to obtain data associated with said geographic location of one of said first party and said servicer.

15. A method according to claim 9 further comprising said call center determining an estimated time of arrival of said servicer based upon said geographic location of said servicer relative to said geographic location of said first party.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein step f) includes said estimated time of arrival in ranking said potential third parties.

17. A method according to claim 9, wherein said querying of potential third parties in step d) includes querying respective service centers of said potential third parties with regard to at least one of inventory, availability and response time.

18. A system for executing a transaction associated with performance of an action involving a plurality of parties, said system comprising:

a) a secure portal having means for sending and receiving one of audio, video and data communications;

b) a call center in communication with said secure portal, said call center having means for directing communications into and out of said secure portal and computing means for processing said communications;

c) a database of predetermined preferences of a first party that is maintained by a second party;

d) means for communicating among said secure portal, said database, and at least one of said first party, said second party and said third party;

e) means for said third party to electronically obtain a performance acknowledgment from said first party after performance of a requested action; and

,

f) means for transmitting said performance acknowledgment to said second party through said secure portal.

19. A system according to claim 18 further comprising means for determining a geographic location of one of said first and third parties.

20. A system according to claim 50 further comprising means for evaluating said predetermined preferences of said first party and prioritizing a plurality of potential third parties based upon said predetermined preferences.