Service trial system and method for individuals and communities

• US 20070149174A1
• Filed: 12/28/2005
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Torvinen, Marko
• Granted Patent: US 7,751,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/412.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP

Abstract

Mobile wireless devices include a Service Trial Client that establishes a link to a Service Trial Server to set up temporary trials of online services. The Service Trial Client and Service Trial Server enable a service provider to attract potential customers with free trial subscriptions to an online service for a limited period of time. The trial subscription can be shared with friends of the customer for the limited period of time, thereby enabling the service provider to attract a larger number of potential customers. Monitoring logic is included in the Service Trial Server to review the record of each trial service subscriber on a periodic basis and to prompt the subscriber and the subscriber'"'"'s friends to subscribe the service provider'"'"'s normal paid-subscription service at the end of the trial period. The result is a complete over-the-air service trial and subscription tool that integrates discovery, trial and subscription functions for online services.

Claims

1. A method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices, comprising:

storing a Service Trial Client software module in a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

displaying a service trial icon in the mobile wireless device with a link to a Service Trial Server;

wirelessly connecting the mobile wireless device to the Service Trial Server when the link is activated;

wirelessly downloading to the mobile wireless device from the Service Trial Server a general catalog of available online services;

displaying a Provider'"'"'s Service Trial Icon of an online service listed in the catalog associated with a service provider of an online service, the Provider'"'"'s service trial icon displayed with a link to trial-provisioning logic within the Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider for a limited period of time for the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

activating the provider'"'"'s service trial icon and its associated link to set up the trial service subscription using the Service Trial Server to be provided by the service provider;

sending wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices to the Service Trial Server in association with said activating step;

sending the user'"'"'s wireless network address from the Service Trial Server to the service provider;

receiving an authorization code from the service provider that is forwarded by the Service Trial Server to the Service Trial Client software module in the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

distributing said authorization code and an invitation to join in the trial to said wireless addresses of the one or more friends; and

accessing the service by the user'"'"'s and the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices during the user'"'"'s trial period.

2. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 1, said accessing the service further comprising:

directly addressing the service provider by the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device over the wireless network and sending the user'"'"'s authorization code;

sending by said service provider a query including the user'"'"'s wireless address and authorization code to the Service Trial Server;

checking by Said Service Trial Server to confirm that the user'"'"'s trial period has not expired;

responding by Said Service Trial Server to the service provider whether the user is still within the trial period; and

if still within the trial period, proceeding by the service provider to provide the service to the user.

3. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 2, further comprising:

if the user'"'"'s trial period has expired, then the Service Trial Server sending a request directly to the user and the user'"'"'s friends to subscribe to the service provider'"'"'s normal paid-subscription service at the end of the trial period.

4. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 1, said accessing the service further comprising:

directly addressing the service provider by the friend'"'"'s mobile wireless device over the wireless network and sending the user'"'"'s authorization code and user'"'"'s wireless address;

sending by said service provider a query including the friend'"'"'s wireless address and user'"'"'s wireless address and user'"'"'s authorization code to the Service Trial Server;

checking by Said Service Trial Server to confirm that the user'"'"'s trial period has not expired;

responding by Said Service Trial Server to the service provider whether the user is still within the trial period;

if still within the period, then proceeding by the service provider to provide the service to the friend;

if the user'"'"'s trial period has expired, then the Service Trial Server sending a request directly to the user and the user'"'"'s friends to subscribe to the service provider'"'"'s normal paid-subscription service at the end of the trial period.

5. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 1, further comprising:

said accessing the service being sending the request for the service to the Service Trial Server;

if the user'"'"'s trial period has not expired, then the Service Trial Server sending a message to the service provider including the user'"'"'s wireless address and authorization code, authorizing the service provider to provide the service to the user.

6. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring each trial service subscriber on a periodic basis by the Service Trial Server and when a trial period is found to have expired for a trial service subscriber, prompting the trial service subscriber and its named friends to subscribe to the service provider'"'"'s normal paid-subscription service.

7. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 1, further comprising:

directly addressing the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices with the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device and sending the authorization code and an invitation to a free subscription to the service.

8. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 1, further comprising:

addressing the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices with the Service Trial Server and sending the authorization code and an invitation to a free subscription to the service.

9. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a copy of the Service Trial Client software module to a friend'"'"'s mobile wireless device that does not have a copy.

10. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a notice to the user when a friend accepts the invitation to the trial service indicating that the friend has joined in the trial.

11. A system for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices, comprising:

a Service Trial Client software module in a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

a service trial icon in the mobile wireless device with a link to a Service Trial Server;

said Service Trial Server wirelessly connected to the mobile wireless device when the link is activated for downloading to the mobile wireless device a general catalog of available online services;

said Service Trial Client displaying a Provider'"'"'s service trial icon of an online service listed in the catalog associated with a service provider of an online service, the Provider'"'"'s service trial icon displayed with a link to trial-provisioning logic within the Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider to the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device for a limited period of time;

said Service Trial Server responding to an activation of the provider'"'"'s service trial icon and its associated link to set up the trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider;

said Service Trial Server receiving wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices in association with said activating step;

said Service Trial Server sending the user'"'"'s wireless network address to the service provider;

said Service Trial Server receiving an authorization code from the service provider that is forwarded by the Service Trial Server to the Service Trial Client software module in the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

said Service Trial Server distributing said authorization code and an invitation to join in the trial to said wireless addresses of the one or more friends; and

said user'"'"'s and the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices accessing the service during the user'"'"'s trial period.

12. The system for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 11, said accessing the service further comprising:

said the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device directly addressing the service provider over the wireless network and sending the user'"'"'s authorization code;

said Service Trial Server receiving from said service provider a query including the user'"'"'s wireless address and authorization code;

said Service Trial Server checking to confirm that the user'"'"'s trial period has not expired;

said Service Trial Server responding to the service provider whether the user is still within the trial period; and

if still within the trial period, said service provider proceeding to provide the service to the user.

13. The system for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 12, further comprising:

if the user'"'"'s trial period has expired, then said Service Trial Server sending a request directly to the user and the user'"'"'s friends to subscribe to the service provider'"'"'s normal paid-subscription service at the end of the trial period.

14. The system for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 11, said system accessing the service further comprising:

said friend'"'"'s mobile wireless device directly addressing the service provider over the wireless network and sending the user'"'"'s authorization code and user'"'"'s wireless address;

said Service Trial Server receiving from said service provider a query including the friend'"'"'s wireless address and user'"'"'s wireless address and user'"'"'s authorization code;

said Service Trial Server checking to confirm that the user'"'"'s trial period has not expired;

said Service Trial Server responding to the service provider whether the user is still within the trial period;

if still within the period, then said service provider proceeding to provide the service to the friend;

if the user'"'"'s trial period has expired, then said Service Trial Server sending a request directly to the user and the user'"'"'s friends to subscribe to the service provider'"'"'s normal paid-subscription service at the end of the trial period.

15. A computer program product for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices, comprising:

a computer readable medium;

program code in said computer readable medium for storing a Service Trial Client software module in a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

program code in said computer readable medium for displaying a service trial icon in the mobile wireless device with a link to a Service Trial Server;

program code in said computer readable medium for wirelessly connecting the mobile wireless device to the Service Trial Server when the link is activated;

program code in said computer readable medium for wirelessly downloading to the mobile wireless device from the Service Trial Server a general catalog of available online services;

program code in said computer readable medium for displaying a Provider'"'"'s service trial icon of an online service listed in the catalog associated with a service provider of an online service, the Provider'"'"'s service trial icon displayed with a link to trial-provisioning logic within the Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider for a limited period of time for the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

program code in said computer readable medium for activating the provider'"'"'s service trial icon and its associated link to set up the trial service subscription using the Service Trial Server to be provided by the service provider;

program code in said computer readable medium for sending wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices to the Service Trial Server in association with said activating step;

program code in said computer readable medium for sending the user'"'"'s wireless network address from the Service Trial Server to the service provider;

program code in said computer readable medium for receiving an authorization code from the service provider that is forwarded by the Service Trial Server to the Service Trial Client software module in the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

program code in said computer readable medium for distributing said authorization code and an invitation to join in the trial to said wireless addresses of the one or more friends; and

program code in said computer readable medium for accessing the service by the user'"'"'s and the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices during the user'"'"'s trial period.

16. The computer program product for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 15, said program product for accessing the service further comprising:

program code in said computer readable medium for directly addressing the service provider by the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device over the wireless network and sending the user'"'"'s authorization code;

program code in said computer readable medium for sending by said service provider a query including the user'"'"'s wireless address and authorization code to the Service Trial Server;

program code in said computer readable medium for checking by Said Service Trial Server to confirm that the user'"'"'s trial period has not expired;

program code in said computer readable medium for responding by Said Service Trial Server to the service provider whether the user is still within the trial period; and

program code in said computer readable medium for determining if still within the trial period, then proceeding by the service provider to provide the service to the user.

17. The computer program product for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 16, further comprising:

program code in said computer readable medium for determining if the user'"'"'s trial period has expired, then the Service Trial Server sending a request directly to the user and the user'"'"'s friends to subscribe to the service provider'"'"'s normal paid-subscription service at the end of the trial period.

18. The computer program product for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 15, said accessing the service further comprising:

program code in said computer readable medium for directly addressing the service provider by the friend'"'"'s mobile wireless device over the wireless network and sending the user'"'"'s authorization code and user'"'"'s wireless address;

program code in said computer readable medium for sending by said service provider a query including the friend'"'"'s wireless address and user'"'"'s wireless address and user'"'"'s authorization code to the Service Trial Server;

program code in said computer readable medium for checking by Said Service Trial Server to confirm that the user'"'"'s trial period has not expired;

program code in said computer readable medium for responding by Said Service Trial Server to the service provider whether the user is still within the trial period;

program code in said computer readable medium for determining if still within the period, then proceeding by the service provider to provide the service to the friend;

program code in said computer readable medium for determining if the user'"'"'s trial period has expired, then the Service Trial Server sending a request directly to the user and the user'"'"'s friends to subscribe to the service provider'"'"'s normal paid-subscription service at the end of the trial period.

19. A method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices, comprising:

storing a Service Trial Client software module in a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

displaying a service trial icon in the mobile wireless device with a link to a Service Trial Server;

wirelessly connecting the mobile wireless device to the Service Trial Server when the link is activated;

downloading to the mobile wireless device from the Service Trial Server a general catalog of online services;

displaying a Provider'"'"'s service trial icon of an online service listed in the catalog associated with a service provider of an online service, the Provider'"'"'s service trial icon displayed with a link to trial-provisioning logic of the Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to the service for a limited period of time for the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

activating the provider'"'"'s service trial icon and its associated link to set up the trial service subscription using the Service Trial Server;

sending wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices to the Service Trial Server in association with said activating step;

sending the user'"'"'s wireless address and the friends'"'"' wireless addresses from the Service Trial Server to the service provider;

setting up the trial service subscription for the user and the user'"'"'s friends using the Service Trial Server; and

accessing the service by the user'"'"'s and the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices during the user'"'"'s trial period.

20. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 19, further comprising:

sending a request to the user and the user'"'"'s friends to subscribe to the service provider'"'"'s normal paid-subscription service at the end of the trial period.

21. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 19, further comprising:

monitoring each trial service subscriber on a periodic basis by the Service Trial Server and when a trial period is found to have expired for a trial service subscriber, prompting the trial service subscriber and its named friends to subscribe to the service provider'"'"'s normal paid-subscription service.

22. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 19, further comprising:

sending a copy of the Service Trial Client software module to a friend'"'"'s mobile wireless device that does not have a copy.

23. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 19, further comprising:

sending a notice to the user when a friend accepts an invitation to the trial service indicating that the friend has joined in the trial.

24. A system for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices, comprising:

a Service Trial Client software module in a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

a service trial icon in the mobile wireless device with a link to a Service Trial Server;

said Service Trial Server wirelessly connected to the mobile wireless device when the link is activated for downloading to the mobile wireless device a general catalog of online services;

said Service Trial Client displaying a Provider'"'"'s service trial icon of an online service listed in the catalog associated with a service provider of an online service, the Provider'"'"'s service trial icon displayed with a link to trial-provisioning logic of the Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to the service for the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device for a limited period of time;

said Service Trial Server responding to an activation of the provider'"'"'s service trial icon and its associated link to set up the trial service subscription;

said Service Trial Server receiving wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices in association with said activating step;

said Service Trial Server sending the user'"'"'s wireless address and the friends'"'"' wireless addresses to the service provider;

said Service Trial Server setting up the trial service subscription for the user and the user'"'"'s friends; and

said user'"'"'s and said friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices accessing the service during the user'"'"'s trial period.

25. A computer program product for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices, comprising:

a computer readable medium;

program code in said computer readable medium for storing a Service Trial Client software module in a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

program code in said computer readable medium for displaying a service trial icon in the mobile wireless device with a link to a Service Trial Server;

program code in said computer readable medium for wirelessly connecting the mobile wireless device to the Service Trial Server when the link is activated;

program code in said computer readable medium for downloading to the mobile wireless device from the Service Trial Server a general catalog of online services;

program code in said computer readable medium for displaying a Provider'"'"'s service trial icon of an online service listed in the catalog associated with a service provider of an online service, the Provider'"'"'s service trial icon displayed with a link to trial-provisioning logic of the Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to the service for a limited period of time for the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

program code in said computer readable medium for activating the provider'"'"'s service trial icon and its associated link to set up the trial service subscription using the Service Trial Server;

program code in said computer readable medium for sending wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices to the Service Trial Server in association with said activating step;

program code in said computer readable medium for sending the user'"'"'s wireless address and the friends'"'"' wireless addresses from the Service Trial Server to the service provider;

program code in said computer readable medium for setting up the trial service subscription for the user and the user'"'"'s friends using the Service Trial Server; and

program code in said computer readable medium for accessing the service by the user'"'"'s and the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices during the user'"'"'s trial period.

26. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, said computer data signal representing a computer program for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices, the computer data signal comprising:

program code for storing a Service Trial Client software module in a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

program code for displaying a service trial icon in the mobile wireless device with a link to a Service Trial Server;

program code for wirelessly connecting the mobile wireless device to the Service Trial Server when the link is activated;

program code for downloading to the mobile wireless device from the Service Trial Server a general catalog of online services;

program code for displaying a Provider'"'"'s service trial icon of an online service listed in the catalog associated with a service provider of an online service, the Provider'"'"'s service trial icon displayed with a link to trial-provisioning logic of the Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to the service for a limited period of time for the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

program code for activating the provider'"'"'s service trial icon and its associated link to set up the trial service subscription using the Service Trial Server;

program code for sending wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices to the Service Trial Server in association with said activating step;

program code for sending the user'"'"'s wireless address and the friends'"'"' wireless addresses from the Service Trial Server to the service provider;

program code for setting up the trial service subscription for the user and the user'"'"'s friends using the Service Trial Server; and

program code for accessing the service by the user'"'"'s and the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices during the user'"'"'s trial period.

displaying a Provider'"'"'s Service Trial Icon of an online service provided by a service provider, the Provider'"'"'s Service Trial Icon displayed with a link to trial-provisioning logic within the Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider for a limited period of time to the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

27. A method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices, comprising:

displaying a Provider'"'"'s Service Trial Icon of an online service provided by a service provider, the Provider'"'"'s Service Trial Icon displayed on a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device with a link to trial-provisioning logic within a Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider for a limited period of time to the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

activating the Provider'"'"'s Service Trial Icon and its associated link to cause the Service Trial Server to set up the trial service subscription with a Service Trial Client in the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

sending wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices to the Service Trial Server in association with said activating step;

sending the user'"'"'s wireless address and the friends'"'"' wireless addresses from the Service Trial Server to the service provider;

setting up the trial service subscription for the user and the user'"'"'s friends using the Service Trial Server; and

accessing the service by the user'"'"'s and the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices during the user'"'"'s trial period.

28. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 27, further comprising:

sending a request to the user and the user'"'"'s friends to subscribe to the service provider'"'"'s normal paid-subscription service at the end of the trial period.

29. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 27, further comprising:

monitoring each trial service subscriber on a periodic basis by the Service Trial Server and when a trial period is found to have expired for a trial service subscriber, prompting the trial service subscriber and its named friends to subscribe to the service provider'"'"'s normal paid-subscription service.

30. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 27, further comprising:

sending a copy of the Service Trial Client software module to a friend'"'"'s mobile wireless device that does not have a copy.

31. The method for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices of claim 27, further comprising:

sending a notice to the user when a friend accepts an invitation to the trial service indicating that the friend has joined in the trial.

32. A system for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices, comprising:

a Service Trial Client software module in a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

a Service Trial Server wirelessly connected to the mobile wireless device when a link is activated in the mobile wireless device;

said mobile wireless device displaying a Provider'"'"'s service trial icon of an online service provided by a service provider, the Provider'"'"'s service trial icon displayed with a link to trial-provisioning logic of the Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to the service for the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device for a limited period of time;

said Service Trial Server responding to an activation of the provider'"'"'s service trial icon and its associated link to cause the Service Trial Server to set up the trial service subscription with the Service Trial Client in the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

said Service Trial Server receiving wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices in association with said activating step;

said Service Trial Server sending the user'"'"'s wireless address and the friends'"'"' wireless addresses to the service provider;

said Service Trial Server setting up the trial service subscription for the user and the user'"'"'s friends; and

said user'"'"'s and said friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices accessing the service during the user'"'"'s trial period.

33. A computer program product for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices, comprising:

a computer readable medium;

program code in said computer readable medium for displaying a Provider'"'"'s Service Trial Icon of an online service provided by a service provider, the Provider'"'"'s Service Trial Icon displayed on a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device with a link to trial-provisioning logic within a Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider for a limited period of time to the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

program code in said computer readable medium for activating the Provider'"'"'s Service Trial Icon and its associated link to cause the Service Trial Server to set up the trial service subscription with a Service Trial Client in the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

program code in said computer readable medium for sending wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices to the Service Trial Server in association with said activating step;

program code in said computer readable medium for sending the user'"'"'s wireless address and the friends'"'"' wireless addresses from the Service Trial Server to the service provider;

program code in said computer readable medium for setting up the trial service subscription for the user and the user'"'"'s friends using the Service Trial Server; and

program code in said computer readable medium for accessing the service by the user'"'"'s and the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices during the user'"'"'s trial period.

34. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, said computer data signal representing a computer program for providing a trial online service accessible by a plurality of mobile wireless devices, the computer data signal comprising:

program code for displaying a Provider'"'"'s Service Trial Icon of an online service provided by a service provider, the Provider'"'"'s Service Trial Icon displayed on a user'"'"'s mobile wireless device with a link to trial-provisioning logic within a Service Trial Server to set up a trial service subscription to be provided by the service provider for a limited period of time to the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

program code for activating the Provider'"'"'s Service Trial Icon and its associated link to cause the Service Trial Server to set up the trial service subscription with a Service Trial Client in the user'"'"'s mobile wireless device;

program code for sending wireless addresses of one or more friends'"'"' wireless devices to the Service Trial Server in association with said activating step;

program code for sending the user'"'"'s wireless address and the friends'"'"' wireless addresses from the Service Trial Server to the service provider;

program code for setting up the trial service subscription for the user and the user'"'"'s friends using the Service Trial Server; and

program code for accessing the service by the user'"'"'s and the friends'"'"' mobile wireless devices during the user'"'"'s trial period.