METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR PROVIDING TARGETED FULFILLMENT WITH RESPECT TO WIRELESS DEVICE PROTECTION PROGRAM

• US 20120252403A1
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Assurant Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Assurant Incorporated
• Inventors: Becerra, Manuel, McMillan, David Glenn, Gorman, Edward, McWilliams, Gary
• Application Number:
  US13/435,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20120252403A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/405
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services

Abstract

A method for providing targeted fulfillment with respect to a wireless device protection program may include receiving claim information associated with a subscriber, the claim information indicative of a claim associated with a wireless device protection program, employing a predictive model to determine a plurality of options for fulfillment of the claim, the predictive model defining a weighted value for each option where the weighted value considers cost and a corresponding predicted benefit associated with each option, and enabling ranking of the plurality of options based on the weighted value of each option. A corresponding computer program product and apparatus are also provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving claim information associated with a subscriber, the claim information indicative of a claim associated with a wireless device protection program; and

employing, via processing circuitry, a predictive model to determine a plurality of options for fulfillment of the claim, the predictive model defining a weighted value for each option, the weighted value considering cost and a corresponding predicted benefit associated with each option.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the weighted value defined for each option comprises one or more of a parametric valuation or a monetized value enabling a comparison of the plurality of options for fulfillment of the claim.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

ranking the plurality of options based at least in part on the weighted value of each option to enable selection of an option.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

selecting one or more options as suggested options from the plurality of options based at least in part on the ranking of the plurality of options; and

presenting the one or more suggested options to enable a user to select an option to use for fulfillment of the claim from among the suggested options.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based at least in part on the weighted value of each of the plurality of options, a best option for fulfillment of the claim; and

automatically selecting the best option to use for fulfillment of the claim.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of options comprises an option defining a predictive outcome of using the option to fulfill the claim, wherein the predictive outcome is assigned a value, and wherein the weighted value defined for the option defining the predictive outcome is defined based at least in part on the value assigned to the predictive outcome.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the predictive outcome defines a likelihood of the subscriber expanding use of subscribed services in response to the option being used to fulfill the claim.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of options comprises an upgrade option by which the claim is fulfilled at least in part by providing the subscriber a new device or refurbished device having improved functionality relative to a covered device being replaced.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising analyzing the plurality of options, including the upgrade option and an option by which the claim is fulfilled at least in part by replacing the covered device with a device having substantially the same level of functionality as the covered device to determine whether to award the upgrade option to the subscriber.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of options comprises a replacement option by which a covered device is replaced with a new or refurbished device and a repair option by which the covered device is repaired, wherein the weighted value defined for the replacement option accounts for a cost of replacing the covered device and a benefit of improved subscriber satisfaction, and wherein the weighted value defined for the repair option accounts for a cost of repairing the covered device.

11. An apparatus comprising processing circuitry configured to cause the apparatus to at least:

receive claim information associated with a subscriber, the claim information indicative of a claim associated with a wireless device protection program; and

employ a predictive model to determine a plurality of options for fulfillment of the claim, the predictive model defining a weighted value for each option, the weighted value considering cost and a corresponding predicted benefit associated with each option.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the weighted value defined for each option comprises one or more of a parametric valuation or a monetized value enabling a comparison of the plurality of options for fulfillment of the claim.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the apparatus to:

rank the plurality of options based at least in part on the weighted value of each option to enable selection of an option.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the apparatus to:

select one or more options as suggested options from the plurality of options based at least in part on the ranking of the plurality of options; and

present the one or more suggested options to enable a user to select an option to use for fulfillment of the claim from among the suggested options.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the apparatus to:

determine, based at least in part on the weighted value of each of the plurality of options, a best option for fulfillment of the claim; and

automatically select the best option to use for fulfillment of the claim.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of options comprises an option defining a predictive outcome of using the option to fulfill the claim, wherein the predictive outcome is assigned a value, and wherein the weighted value defined for the option defining the predictive outcome is defined based at least in part on the value assigned to the predictive outcome.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of options comprises an upgrade option by which the claim is fulfilled at least in part by providing the subscriber a new device or refurbished device having improved functionality relative to a covered device being replaced.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to cause the apparatus to analyze the plurality of options, including the upgrade option and an option by which the claim is fulfilled at least in part by replacing the covered device with a device having substantially the same level of functionality as the covered device to determine whether to award the upgrade option to the subscriber.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the plurality of options comprises a replacement option by which a covered device is replaced with a new or refurbished device and a repair option by which the covered device is repaired, wherein the weighted value defined for the replacement option accounts for a cost of replacing the covered device and a benefit of improved subscriber satisfaction, and wherein the weighted value defined for the repair option accounts for a cost of repairing the covered device.

20. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions stored therein, the computer-readable program instructions comprising:

program instructions configured to receive claim information associated with a subscriber, the claim information indicative of a claim associated with a wireless device protection program; and

program instructions configured to employ a predictive model to determine a plurality of options for fulfillment of the claim, the predictive model defining a weighted value for each option, the weighted value considering cost and a corresponding predicted benefit associated with each option.