Method and System of Converting a Generic Tool and Customer Service System into a Specific Tool and Specific Customer Service System

• US 20110264322A1
• Filed: 04/27/2010
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Inventors: Chen, Ieon
• Granted Patent: US 9,123,051 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/016 After-sales
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

Provided is a method for converting a generic system into a specifically-branded system after the sale of an item. The method alleviates a supplier'"'"'s inventory burdens by allowing the supplier to inventory generic items, rather than items specifically branded for a particular retailer. The items may be branded with the selling retailer'"'"'s logo or indicia after the sale of the item. Furthermore, the item may be associated with a customer service system, which may also be branded with the selling retailer'"'"'s logo after the sale of the item. The conversion of the item and customer service system from a generic item and system into a specifically-branded item and system may foster the relationship between the supplier and retailer and entice the retailer to maintain the relationship with the supplier.

Claims

1. A method of associating a private label retailer with an electronic device sold by a plurality of retailers, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing the electronic device for sale to a plurality of private label retailers, the device provided to each retailer being substantially the same;

b) providing to an end user, after retail sale of the electronic device, a list of the plurality of retailers;

c) receiving retailer data from an end user identifying the retailer from which the electronic device was purchased; and

d) configuring a customer service website to display the identification indicia specifically associated with the identified selling retailer in response to receipt of the retailer data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step b) includes displaying the list of the plurality of retailers on the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step b) includes displaying the list of the plurality of retailers on a computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step b) includes displaying the list of the plurality of retailers on a web site.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step b) includes displaying the list of the plurality of retailers on a kiosk.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step c) includes receiving the retailer data at the electronic device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step c) includes receiving the retailer data at a computer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step c) includes receiving the retailer data at a website.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step c) includes receiving the retailer data at a kiosk.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein step d) includes configuring the customer service system to display the identification indicia on the electronic device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein step d) includes configuring the customer service system to display the identification indicia on a computer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein step d) includes configuring the customer service system to display the identification indicia on a website.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein step d) includes configuring the customer service system to display the identification indicia on a kiosk.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of configuring the electronic device to display the identification indicia specifically associated with the identified selling retailer in response to receipt of the retailer data.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein step d) includes providing a plurality of customer service websites, each customer service website displaying identification indicia related to a respective one of the plurality of retailers.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein step d) further includes displaying the respective one of the plurality of customer service websites associated with the selling retailer.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein step d) includes providing a customer service website having a plurality of graphic interfaces associated therewith, each graphic interface including identification indicia associated with a respective one of the plurality of retailers.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein each graphic interface includes a respective electronic address associated therewith.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein step d) further includes displaying the graphic interface associated with the selling retailer on the customer service website.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein step c) includes retrieving the retailer data from the electronic device.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein step a) includes providing an automotive diagnostic tool for sale, the automotive diagnostic tool being configured to retrieve diagnostic data from an onboard computer located on a vehicle.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein step b) includes providing a diagnostic website configured to analyze diagnostic data retrieved from a vehicle.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the diagnostic website includes a diagnostic database, the method further comprising the step of comparing the diagnostic data with the diagnostic database to determine a diagnostic solution.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of configuring the customer service website to display the identification indicia associated with the selling retailer in response to subsequent establishment of a communication link between the electronic device and the customer service system, independent of any requirement to repeat steps b) or c).

25. The method of claim 1, wherein step a) includes providing an electronic device having a digital display, the method further comprising the step of configuring the electronic device to display the identification indicia associated with the selling retailer in response to receipt of the retailer data.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the step of configuring the electronic device to display the identification indicia associated with the selling retailer in response to subsequent establishment of the electronic device and the computer service system, independent of any requirement to repeat steps b) or c).

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating a sale of a product on the customer service website; and

sharing income derived from the sale between the private label retailer and the supplier of the electronic device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of generating the sale includes directing an end user to a website where the private label retailer markets products or services.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of generating the sale includes directing an end user to a website wherein the supplier markets products or services.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating an advertising sale on the customer service website; and

sharing income derived from the advertising sale between the private label retailer and the supplier of the electronic device.

31. A method of associating a private label retailer with an electronic device sold by a plurality of retailers, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing the electronic device for sale to a plurality of private label retailers, the device provided to a first one of the plurality of private label retailers being substantially similar to the device provided to a second one of the plurality of private label retailers;

b) providing a customer service website associated with the electronic device;

c) prompting an end user to enter retailer data identifying the retailer from which the electronic device was purchased;

d) receiving the retailer data from the end user; and

e) configuring the customer service website to display the identification indicia specifically associated with the identified selling retailer in response to receipt of the retailer data.

32. A method of associating a private label retailer with an electronic device sold by a plurality of retailers, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing the electronic device for sale to a plurality of private label retailers, the device provided to a first one of the plurality of retailers being substantially similar to the device provided to a second one of the plurality of retailers;

b) providing an input field to the end user allowing the user to enter retailer data identifying the respective one of the plurality of retailers from which the electronic device was purchased;

c) receiving the retailer data from the end user; and

d) configuring a customer service website to display the identification indicia specifically associated with the identified selling retailer in response to receipt of the retailer data.

33. A method of converting a generic customer service system marketed by a supplier into a specific customer service system after the sale of an electronic device from a selling retailer, the selling retailer being one of a plurality of retailers, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing the electronic device for sale;

b) providing a customer service system operative to communicate with the electronic device, the customer service system being configured to display identification indicia associated with the plurality of retailers;

c) receiving retailer data after the sale of the electronic device, the retailer data being associated with the selling retailer; and

d) configuring the customer service system to display the identification indicia associated with the selling retailer in response to receipt of the retailer data.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of configuring the customer service system to offer selected ones of a plurality of customer service functions associated with the selling retailer in response to receipt of the retailer data.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the retailer data is generated in response to input from an end user.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the retailer data is generated independent of any input from an end user.

37. The method recited in claim 33, wherein step b) includes providing a kiosk for interfacing with an end user.

38. The method recited in claim 33, wherein step c) includes receiving customer input retailer data.

39. The method recited in claim 33, wherein the selected ones of the plurality of customer service functions are selected by the selling retailer from a selection of features offered by the supplier.

40. A kiosk based customer service system for supporting the operation of the electronic device associated with a plurality of retailers, the system comprising:

a kiosk having a display and a user interface configured to receive customer input data identifying a selling retailer; and

a database in communication with the kiosk to receive the customer input data, the database having a plurality of graphic interfaces, each graphic interface being associated with a respective one of the plurality of retailers, the database being configured to support the operation of the electronic device by displaying the graphic interface associated with the selling retailer in response to receipt of the r input data identifying the selling retailer.

41. The system recited in claim 40, further comprising a function database in communication with the kiosk to receive the customer input data, the function database having a plurality of functions associated with each retailer, the function database being configured to include the functions associated with the selling retailer on the graphic interface associated with the selling retailer in response to the input data.

42. An automotive diagnostic tool for use with a vehicle and a computing device, the vehicle having an on-board diagnostic computer, the computing device being operative to communicate data between the tool and a database, the automotive diagnostic tool comprising:

a housing;

a processing unit disposed within the housing, the processing unit being disposable in communication with the on-board diagnostic computer to receive diagnostic data therefrom, the processing unit further being disposable in communication with the computing device to receive a post-sale configuration signal therefrom identifying a selling retailer; and

a digital display connected to the housing and in communication with the processing unit, the digital display being configured to display a graphic interface unique to a selling retailer in response to receipt of the configuration signal

43. The automotive diagnostic tool as recited in claim 42, wherein the processing unit is operative to communicate with a personal computer to receive the configuration signal therefrom.

44. The automotive diagnostic tool as recited in claim 42, wherein the processing unit is operative to communicate with a remote website to receive the configuration signal therefrom.

45. The automotive diagnostic tool as recited in claim 42, wherein, after receipt of the configuration signal, the processing unit is operative in subsequent use to display the graphic interface unique to the selling retailer independent of any requirement to again receive the configuration signal.

46. The automotive diagnostic tool as recited in claim 42, wherein the processing unit is operative to retain information representative of the configuration signal to display the graphic interface unique to the selling retailer in subsequent use, independent of any requirement to again receive the configuration signal.