Automatic lead distribution and processing confirmation system and method
First Claim
1. A computer based method for providing leads to a sales agent from a remotely located electronic lead database system to enable the sales agent to contact the lead to determine interest in at least one of a product or a service, the electronic lead database system comprising an administrative unit and operated by a third party not under the control of the sales agent, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving by the electronic lead database system an electronic lead request from a sales agent;
providing a lead from the electronic lead database system to the sales agent in response to the lead request;
receiving by the electronic lead database system a lead selection from the sales agent, the lead selection providing an electronic lead selection signal to the administrative unit indicating that the sales agent elects to contact the lead;
moving the lead from an active set of the electronic lead database system to a selected set of the electronic lead database system for a predetermined time period, wherein leads in the selected set cannot be provided to a second sales agent; and
responsive to detecting the electronic lead selection signal by the administrative unit, triggering an automatic transmission from the electronic lead database system of a first confirmation message to the lead prior to the sales agent contacting the lead, the first confirmation message for introducing the lead to the sales agent.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for efficiently, accurately, and inexpensively receiving, assigning, and tracking leads. A lead unit integrates and stores the sales leads. A lead control unit can interface with an administrative unit to provide active leads to a reseller unit. A reseller control unit can determine whether a user is permitted to select leads. Selected leads can be removed from the set of active leads for a predetermined time period. The user can process a selected lead and identify a result for the lead. The lead control unit can place a selected and processed lead into a processed lead set. The reseller control unit can generate reports about the user'"'"'s active or processed leads.
-
Citations
53 Claims
-
1. A computer based method for providing leads to a sales agent from a remotely located electronic lead database system to enable the sales agent to contact the lead to determine interest in at least one of a product or a service, the electronic lead database system comprising an administrative unit and operated by a third party not under the control of the sales agent, the method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving by the electronic lead database system an electronic lead request from a sales agent; providing a lead from the electronic lead database system to the sales agent in response to the lead request; receiving by the electronic lead database system a lead selection from the sales agent, the lead selection providing an electronic lead selection signal to the administrative unit indicating that the sales agent elects to contact the lead; moving the lead from an active set of the electronic lead database system to a selected set of the electronic lead database system for a predetermined time period, wherein leads in the selected set cannot be provided to a second sales agent; and responsive to detecting the electronic lead selection signal by the administrative unit, triggering an automatic transmission from the electronic lead database system of a first confirmation message to the lead prior to the sales agent contacting the lead, the first confirmation message for introducing the lead to the sales agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for requesting a lead by a sales agent, the method comprising the steps of:
-
sending a lead request to an electronic lead database system, the electronic lead database system comprising an administrative unit and operated by a third party not under the control of the sales agent; receiving a lead from the electronic lead database system; sending a lead selection to the electronic lead database, the lead selection providing an electronic lead selection signal to the administrative unit indicating that the sales agent has selected the lead, the sales agent for contacting the lead to determine interest in at least one of a product and a service, wherein the lead in the electronic lead database system is moved to a selected set of the electronic lead database for a predetermined time period after sending the lead selection, wherein leads in the selected set cannot be provided to a second sales agent and further wherein responsive to detecting the electronic lead selection signal by the administrative unit, automatic transmission from the electronic lead database system of an automatic first confirmation message to the lead is triggered prior to the sales agent contacting the lead, the first confirmation message for introducing the lead to the sales agent. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A system for providing leads from a electronic lead database to enable a sales agent to contact the leads to determine interest in at least one of a product or a service, the system operated by a third party not under the control of the sales agent and comprising:
-
a lead unit configured to receive a lead request from a sales agent; a lead control unit communicatively coupled to the lead unit and configured to provide a lead from the electronic lead database to the sales agent in response to the lead request; an administrative unit communicatively coupled to the lead control unit and configured to receive an electronic lead selection signal responsive to a lead selection from the sales agent, the lead selection indicating that the sales agent elects to contact the lead; a timing unit configured to move the lead from an active set of the electronic lead database to a selected set of the electronic lead database for a predetermined time period wherein leads in the selectedset cannot be provided to a second sales agent; and an input/output unit communicatively coupled to the administrative unit and configured to transmit an automatic first confirmation message to the lead prior to the sales agent contacting the lead upon being triggered by the administrative unit responding to detection of the electronic lead selection signal, the first confirmation message for introducing the lead to the sales agent. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A computer readable medium for providing leads to a sales agent from a remotely located electronic lead database system to enable the sales agent to contact the lead to determine interest in at least one of a product or a service, the electronic lead database system comprising an administrative unit and operated by a third party not under the control of the sales agent, the computer readable medium comprising:
-
program instructions for receiving a lead request from a sales agent; program instructions for providing a lead from the electronic lead database to the sales agent in response to the lead request the sales agent capable of contacting the lead to determine interest in at least one of a product and a service; and program instructions for receiving a lead selection from the sales agent, the lead selection providing an electronic lead selection signal to the administrative unit and indicating that the sales agent elects to contact the lead; program instructions for moving the lead from an active set of the electronic lead database to a selected set of the electronic lead database for a predetermined time period, wherein leads in the selected set cannot be provided to a second sales agent; and program instructions for triggering, responsive to detecting the electronic lead selection signal by the administrative unit, transmission from the electronic lead database system of a first confirmation message to the lead prior to the sales agent contacting the lead, the first confirmation message for introducing the lead to the sales agent. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A method for providing leads to a sales agent from a remotely located electronic lead database system to enable the sales agent to contact the leads to determine interest in at least one of a product or a service, the electronic lead database system comprising an administrative unit and operated by a third party not under the control of the sales agent, the method comprising the steps of:
-
receiving by the electronic lead database system an electronic lead request from a sales agent; providing a lead from the electronic lead database system to the sales agent in response to the lead request; moving the lead from an active set of the electronic lead database system to a selected set of the electronic lead database system for a predetermined time period, wherein leads in the selected set cannot be provided to a second sales agent; triggering an automatic transmission from the electronic lead database system of a first electronic confirmation message to the lead prior to the sales agent contacting the lead, the first electronic confirmation message for introducing the lead to the sales agent, wherein the automatic transmission is triggered responsive to detecting an electronic lead selection signal by the administrative unit generated in response to the sales agent selecting a lead. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
-
Specification