Personal business service system and method

• US 6,327,570 B1
• Filed: 11/06/1998
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: III Holdings 1, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dian Stevens
• Inventors: Stevens, Dian
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US09/187,728
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 705/10, 705/21, 705/91, 705/7, 455/900
• US Class Current: 705/7.29
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data

Abstract

A system and method of computerizing companies with customized individual addressable electronic direct marketing, self-service automation, and customer care support. The system contains a private network connecting product companies, manufacturers, stores, educational institutions, travel companies, medical providers, financial institutions, and many others to a specified individual customer. The connection is made to a personal agent device carried or worn by a participating consumer that contains local processing means with an interactive display, security features, optional camera, and wireless communications with the private network. Communications microchips can be placed on products that communicate product information upon interrogation with the personal agent. The invention also includes business professional units in communication with the private network and in-store local wireless communication between personal agents and the business professional unit.

Claims

1. A system for personalized customer service comprising, in combination:

at least one central control node receiving consumer business data from a plurality of participating business service providers;

said control node statistically processing said consumer business data using buying trends and stated preferences of consumers to identify data relevant to a particular business consumer in a particular shopping environment;

said control node producing consumer messages for said particular business consumer identified as being at a particular business location;

at least one business control node located at said particular business location receiving said consumer messages for said particular business consumer, optionally adding local business information, and transmitting said consumer messages to

said consumer;

at least one portable personal agent device carried by said business consumer, said personal agent device receiving and providing real-time display of said consumer messages and providing location and purchase information feedback concerning said particular business consumer back to said business location, said personal agent device containing said business consumer'"'"'s identity and shopping preferences;

a communications system for said business control node to communicate bidirectionally with said personal agent devices;

a communications system for said central control node to communicate bidirectionally with said particular business location, said central control node transferring consumer business data to said particular business location, and said business location transferring location and purchase feedback data concerning said particular consumer to said central node;

tracking system at said central control node for tracking location and purchase information concerning said particular business consumer while said consumer is in said particular business location.

2. The system for personalized customer service of claim 1 where said communications system for said business control node to communicate with said personal agent devices comprises a plurality of in-store transmitter/receiver nodes located within said particular business location.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said communications system between said in-store transmitter/receiver nodes and said personal agents comprises local wireless technology.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said communications system between said in-store transmitter/receiver nodes and said personal agents comprises infrared optical technology.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said communications system between said central node and said business control node is a private service network containing at least one server.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising direct communications between said central node and said personal agent devices by cellular telephone.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said personal agent device contains a global positioning satellite receiver, said satellite receiver providing real-time longitude and latitude coordinate information of spatial location of said personal agent device, said personal agent device communicating said longitude and latitude information to said central node.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said personal agent device provides personal banking services by storing said particular consumer'"'"'s credit card account information and by exchanging said credit card account information with said business control node.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said personal agent device contains a security identifications means for identifying a user of said personal agent device as being an authorized user.

10. A method of personalized customer service comprising the steps of:

gathering personal consumer buying information for a particular consumer into at least one central control node via a private network interconnecting subscribing business entities;

performing statistical analysis on said particular consumer buying information to derive consumer product information for said particular consumer;

displaying and presenting said derived consumer product information to participating consumers via personal agent devices;

communicating via local area wireless networks between subscribing business entities and participating consumers when participating consumers are in subscribing business locations.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of gathering product sales information into said central control node via said private network.

12. The method of claim 10 where said local area wireless networks use code division multiple access communications techniques.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of store notification whereby said personal agent devices notify associated subscribing business entities when participating consumers enter said predetermined business locations.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of reporting participating consumer location derived from a global positioning satellite receiver contained in said personal agent device to said central control node.