Account Based Handset Protection Coverage

• US 20140200931A1
• Filed: 03/18/2014
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Asurion, LLC (NEW Asurion Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asurion, LLC (NEW Asurion Corporation)
• Inventors: Kulla, Jeff, Laue, Charles
• Application Number:
  US14/218,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20140200931A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/012 Providing warranty services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0231 Awarding of a frequent usage incentive independent of the monetary value of a good or service purchased, or distance travelled
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

Methods and means for device account based protection coverage are provided which allow for account holders to share a protection plan across a shared account, thereby covering a plurality of individual devices and discreet devices. Program users are able to manage their device protection in a manner more consistent with the way they use their device and services. Users are also able to purchase rate-tailored protection plans for all (or some) of the plurality of devices tied to the account, thereby facilitating cost-sharing of service fees with other members associated with the account. Account members can also share claims benefits across the protected group.

Claims

1. A system for providing account based protection for a plurality of portable electronic devices, said system comprising:

means for bundling a plurality of discrete lines associated with a plurality of individual portable electronic devices; and

means for protecting against loss factors associated with said bundled lines across an account-based portable electronic device protection program.

2. The system for providing account based protection of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for automatically adding protection for new portable electronic devices added to the bundled protection program.

3. The system for providing account based protection of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for automatically removing protection for portable electronic devices disconnected from the bundled protection program.

4. The system for providing account based protection of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for sharing claims across the bundled protection program account.

5. The system for providing account based protection of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for sharing claim benefits across the bundled protection program.

6. The system for providing account based protection of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for establishing bundled protection account management.

7. The system for providing account based protection of claim 6, wherein said means for establishing bundled protection account management further comprises:

means for providing a plurality of account level reporting tools.

8. The system for providing account based protection of claim 6, wherein said means for establishing bundled protection account management further comprises:

means for providing tools for tracking claims and benefits across a bundled protection program account.

9. The system for providing account based protection of claim 8, wherein said means for providing tools for tracking claims and benefits across a bundled protection program further comprises:

means for providing a plurality of account level reporting tools.

10. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 6, wherein said means for establishing bundled protection account management further comprises:

means for validating individual portable electronic devices covered by the bundled protection program account.

11. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 6, wherein said means for establishing bundled protection account management further comprises:

means for providing product and protection services information.

12. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for adding a line of service to a bundled protection account at the time said line is first acquired.

13. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for adding a line of service to a bundled protection program during a predetermined time period window following the date on which a line is first acquired.

14. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for removing a line of service to a bundled protection program during a predetermined time period window following the date on which a line is first acquired.

15. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for issuing a single bill to a primary account holder of the bundled protection program.

16. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 15, wherein said means for issuing a single bill to a primary account holder of the bundled protection program further comprises:

means for billing on a single premium coverage basis.

17. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 15, wherein said means for issuing a single bill to a primary account holder of the bundled protection program further comprises:

means for billing on an added line coverage basis.

18. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 15, wherein said means for issuing a single bill to a primary account holder of the bundled protection program further comprises:

means for billing on a banded pricing basis.

19. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 15, wherein said means for issuing a single bill to a primary account holder of the bundled protection program further comprises:

means for discounting a total of all premiums on a bill after initial application of a predetermined rate.

20. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 15, wherein said means for issuing a single bill to a primary account holder of the bundled protection program further comprises:

means for applying a discount at a predetermined rate based on a total number of portable electronic devices protected under the program.

21. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for evaluating a claims request and authorizing issuance of a replacement portable electronic device after determining whether one or more of a plurality of predetermined replacement criteria has been satisfied.

22. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 21, wherein said means for authorizing issuance of a replacement device after determining whether one or more of a plurality of predetermined replacement criteria has been satisfied further comprises:

means for authorizing issuance of a replacement portable electronic device via direct delivery to a customer.

23. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 22, wherein said means for authorizing issuance of a replacement device after determining whether one or more of a plurality of predetermined replacement criteria has been satisfied further comprises:

means for authorizing issuance of a replacement portable electronic device via direct delivery on an expedited basis after determining whether one or more of a plurality of predetermined priority customer criteria has been satisfied.

24. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 21, wherein said means for authorizing issuance of a replacement device after determining whether one or more of a plurality of predetermined replacement criteria has been satisfied further comprises:

means for authorizing issuance of a replacement portable electronic device via pickup at an authorized retail dealer.

25. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for extending a service provider contract commitment for any line of service in the bundled protection account.

26. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises:

means for replacing any portable electronic device on any line of service in the bundled protection account.

27. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1, wherein said plurality of portable electronic devices further comprises a plurality of telephone handset devices.

28. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1, wherein said plurality of portable electronic devices further comprises a plurality of personal digital assistants.

29. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1, wherein individual portable electronic devices within said plurality of portable electronic devices are identified and registered in association with a discrete device identification number.

30. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1, wherein individual portable electronic devices within said plurality of portable electronic devices are identified and registered in association with a discrete line number.

31. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1, wherein individual portable electronic devices within said plurality of portable electronic devices are identified and registered in association with a discrete account number.

32. The system for providing account based protection coverage of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises means for collecting pertinent data used to determine an associated protection coverage pricing model.