Scheme leveraging knowledge gained of a customer's computer system to suggest possible products and services of interest
First Claim
1. A custom computer acquisition method comprising:
- a) causing the contents of a source computer to be surveyed;
b) from said surveying, gaining knowledge of the components of said source computer;
c) acquiring knowledge of a plurality of upgrade products which at least contain an upgrade over one or more components of said source computer;
d) receiving an order for a new target computer from a customer having dominion over said source computer;
e) recommending to said customer, at least one upgrade product to be installed on said target computer based upon knowledge of said source computer components and knowledge of said upgrade products;
f) enabling said customer to choose at least one upgrade product to be installed on said target computer;
g) migrating to said target computer, the source computer components chosen by the customer to be migrated;
h) installing the chosen upgrade products on said target computer;
i) processing said order; and
j) following elements h) and i), causing a custom target computer to be delivered to said customer or said customer'"'"'s agent.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A comprehensive and flexible computer replacement scheme allows a user/customer to order a new replacement computer, and have the new computer delivered having installed thereon, a migrated “user state” from a source computer, and updated versions (and also suggested software predicted to be of interest to the user/customer) and upgrades of user state components with the aid of a Replacement Assistant software tool. The updates and upgrades, etc. include newer versions of application software, newer versions of operating systems, and even hardware and peripheral devices that differ from the hardware or peripheral devices of the source computer. Adapted for use by computer and software vendors and merchants, the Replacement Assistant controls the migration, upgrade and purchase processes. The Replacement Assistant can be operated remotely (online), locally at the business or home of the user/customer, or in-person at a merchants store, etc.
27 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A custom computer acquisition method comprising:
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a) causing the contents of a source computer to be surveyed;
b) from said surveying, gaining knowledge of the components of said source computer;
c) acquiring knowledge of a plurality of upgrade products which at least contain an upgrade over one or more components of said source computer;
d) receiving an order for a new target computer from a customer having dominion over said source computer;
e) recommending to said customer, at least one upgrade product to be installed on said target computer based upon knowledge of said source computer components and knowledge of said upgrade products;
f) enabling said customer to choose at least one upgrade product to be installed on said target computer;
g) migrating to said target computer, the source computer components chosen by the customer to be migrated;
h) installing the chosen upgrade products on said target computer;
i) processing said order; and
j) following elements h) and i), causing a custom target computer to be delivered to said customer or said customer'"'"'s agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer replacement method comprising:
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a) providing a source computer;
b) providing a target computer;
c) surveying the source computer assets to establish a user state of said source computer;
d) providing a user with at least one enhancement to at least one component in said user state not available on said source computer;
e) in response to user input, migrating said user state to said target computer; and
f) in response to user input, contemporaneously installing at least one enhancement on said target computer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A marketing method comprising:
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a) causing the contents of a customer'"'"'s computer to be surveyed;
b) from said surveying, gaining knowledge of the components of said source computer;
c) acquiring knowledge of a plurality of products or services available through a sponsoring merchant; and
d) recommending to said customer for consideration and purchase, at least one product or service in c) based upon the knowledge gained in b).
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Specification