SERVICE STAGE FOR SUBSCRIPTION MANAGEMENT

• US 20110238498A1
• Filed: 03/29/2010
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Guday, Shai, Baron, Andrew T., Hassan, Amer A., Anders, Billy R. JR., Teh, PehKeong
• Application Number:
  US12/748,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20110238498A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.53
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0255 based on user history
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A utility for managing subscriptions for multiple services in a consistent fashion. The utility may collect information from multiple service providers and present the information to a user in a consistent format. A user interface component may control the user interface during performing actions associated with managing subscriptions, regardless of the specific service for which management operations are performed. The utility may include a feedback component, providing feedback relating to a user such that service providers can elect to supply offers for additional services or service features that align with a user'"'"'s interests.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computing device comprising at least one processor and a display, the method comprising:

presenting on the display a common interface area;

presenting within the common interface area a plurality of icons, each icon representative of a service of a plurality of services, the plurality of services comprising services of a plurality of different types;

receiving user input identifying an identified service of the plurality of services;

in response to the user input, displaying information relating to a subscription to the identified service; and

receiving user input relating to managing a subscription to the identified service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of services comprise a wireless communication service.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of services further comprises a service related to an automobile.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing information relating to usage of a service of the plurality of services to a provider of the service.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving from the provider of the service an advertisement for an additional feature associated with the service.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the additional feature relates to the provided information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

receiving user input relating to managing a subscription comprises receiving user input instructing that a payment be made to a provider of the identified service; and

the method further comprises transmitting a message instructing a payment be made to the provider of the identified service.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying information relating to the subscription to the identified service comprises a current amount owed by a user of the computing device to the provider of the identified service.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein

receiving user input relating to managing a subscription comprises receiving user input instructing that a change be made to usage allowance for the identified service;

and

the method further comprises transmitting a message to the provider of the identified service indicating a change be made to the usage allowance.

10. At least one non-transitory computer storage medium encoded with computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor implement a plurality of components for implementing a subscription management utility on a computing device, the plurality of components comprising:

a service management engine adapted to receive communications from each of a plurality of service providers, each service provider providing a service of a plurality of services, the plurality of services comprising a plurality of different type services;

a service stage adapted to display, in a consistent format, information related to the plurality of services;

a feedback engine adapted to collect user information relating to activities of a user associated with usage of services of the plurality of services or usage of the computing device and provide the user information to one or more of the plurality of service providers.

11. The at least one non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 10, wherein the service stage comprises a wizard adapted to present a user interface relating to changing a service, the wizard presenting information relating to changing each of the plurality of services in the consistent format.

12. The at least one non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 10, wherein the service management engine comprises an integrated payment platform adapted for conveying payment instructions for payment to each of the plurality of service providers.

13. The at least one non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 10, wherein the service management engine further comprises and advertising platform adapted to receive an advertisement from a service provider of the plurality of service providers and present the advertisement to the service stage for display to a user at a time correlated with display of information related to an existing service of the plurality of services.

14. The at least one non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 13, wherein:

the advertisement relates to an additional feature associated with the existing service;

the service stage is adapted to display the advertisement to the user at a time correlated with display of information related to the existing service by displaying in a user interface presenting in a common interface area data associated with the existing service and an indication that the additional feature is available.

15. The at least one non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 10, wherein:

the at least one non-transitory computer storage medium further comprises computer-executable instructions comprising an operating system for the computing device; and

the plurality of components comprise a portion of the operating system.

16. A method of operating a computing device coupled to a network and comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:

with the at least one processor, implementing a service management engine that operates in accordance with a method comprising;

sending first communications in response to receiving input from a user, the first communications relating to instructions associated with management of subscriptions to each of a plurality of services;

receiving second communications over the network from a plurality of service providers providing the plurality of services, each second communication providing information about a service subscription associated with the user; and

receiving third communications from the plurality of service providers, the third communications comprise offers for the user to procure services or service features;

wherein, the plurality of services comprise services of a plurality of types.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first type communications further comprise instructions to effect payment for services of the plurality of services.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the second communications comprises a communication in a defined format comprising a plurality of fields, a first field of the plurality of fields comprising an identifier of a service provider.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the second communications comprises a communication in a defined format comprising a plurality of fields, a second field of the plurality of fields comprising an identifier of the user.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein:

receiving the first communications comprises receiving user input through a wizard adapted to guide a user through a process of managing an operation associated with a service subscription.