Systems and methods for online selection of service providers and management of service accounts

• US 7,139,728 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2001
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fintegraph, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Rod Rigole
• Inventors: Rigole, Rod
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CUONG H
• Application Number:
  US09/753,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20010049632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,149 Days
• Field of Search: 705 26- 27, 705 21- 22, 705 39- 40, 705/14, 705/28, 703/6, 703/22, 717/174, 717/178
• US Class Current: 705/7.31
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• 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 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0247 Calculate past, present or future revenues
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0277 Online advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0605 Supply or demand aggregation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0613 Third-party assisted
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0617 Representative agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0619 Neutral agent
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0625 Directed, with specific intent or strategy
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

An interchange party computer system (IPCS) having means for presenting user interfaces to consumer computer systems and capturing data input through the user interfaces, the IPCS being associated with at least one database holding data representing a plurality of consumer profiles, the profiles including consumer profiles expressing service selection attributes for a plurality of service sectors, and at least one database holding data for a plurality of service programs under a plurality of service sectors, each sector being represented by service programs from a plurality of service providers, the IPCS including (a) a Service Comparison/Selection Module; (b) an Automatic Bill Payment Module; (c) an Automated Services Monitoring Module; (d) an Automated Best Services Selection Module; (e) a Services Search Module; (f) an Incentive Program Module; (g) a Data Mining Module; and/or (h) a Pooling Module.

Claims

1. A method carried out through an interchange party computer system (IPCS) capable of network communication with a plurality of participating party computer systems, the IPCS presenting to participating party computer systems, at least one electronic page including information about service offerings for a plurality of service sectors, and at least one page including a user interface allowing a consumer to do two or more of the following:

(a) apply for or enroll in service programs offered by a service provider by completing an online form and transmitting the form data to the IPCS or a computer system directly associated with the IPCS;

(b) create a consumer profile and electronically transmit the profile to the IPCS so that matching offers for service may be determined through the IPCS, the IPCS maintaining a record of enrollments established between consumer and service provider participating parties;

(c) establish automated bill payment with a service provider by transmitting a request for automated bill payment through the IPCS;

(d) request automatic notification of offers of service programs matching a consumer profile created for a consumer, and

receiving a consumer profile data input through the user interface for the two or more of items (a)–

(d).

2. A method carried out through an Interchange Party Computer System (IPCS) comprising:

receiving consumer profile data from a consumer computer system the profile containing data usable by the IPCS to query one or more databases of service programs for services that match the profile to a predetermined degree, the database(s) holding queryable data for a plurality of service programs under a plurality of service sectors, each sector being represented by service programs form a plurality of service providers;

querying the database(s) for service programs that match the consumer profile to a predetermined degree;

presenting consumer computer systems information about matching service programs found in a query;

wherein the information comprises an offer for service, the information being returned to a consumer is in association with a user interface for accepting an offer of service;

wherein the information includes details of offers for at least two service programs, each program being under a different service sector.

3. A method carried out through an Interchange Party Computer System (IPCS) comprising:

receiving consumer profile data from a consumer comptuer system, the profile containing data usable by the IPCS to query one or more databases of service programs for services that match the profile to a predetermined degree, the database(s) holding queryable data for a plurality of service programs under a plurality of service sectors, each sector being represented by service programs from a plurality of service providers;

querying the database(s) for service programs that match the consumer profile to a predetermined degree;

presenting consumer computer systems information about matching service programs found in a query;

wherein the consumer is automatically enrolled in one or more matching service programs and wherein the information returned to includes details of service program(s) in which the consumer was automatically enrolled;

wherein the information includes details of enrollment in at least two service programs, each program being under a different service sector.

4. A method carried out through an Interchange Party Computer System (IPCS) comprising:

receiving consumer profile data from a consumer computer system, the profile containing data usable by the IPCS to query one or more databases of service programs for services that match the profile to a predetermined degree, the database(s) holding queryable data for a plurality of service programs under a plurality of service sectors, each sector being represented by service programs from a plurality of service providers;

querying the database(s) for service programs that match the consumer profile to a predetermined degree;

presenting consumer computer systems information about matching service programs found in a query;

wherein the IPCS presents information in the nature of least two notices of enrollment that are electronically returned to a computer system for the consumer submitting the profile data, each notice being contained on a different electronic page end for different service sectors and each notifying the user of enrollment in a service program for a service under the respective service sectors.

5. A method carried out through an interchange party computer system (IPCS) comprising:

providing means for the IPCS to have network communication with a plurality of consumer computer systems;

presenting to a plurality of consumer computer systems user interfaces for input of consumer profiles;

capturing data input through the user interfaces, and transferring the data to one or more databases, at least one database holding data representing a plurality of consumer profiles for different consumers, the associated databases including at least one database holding data for a plurality of service programs under a plurality of service sectors, each sector being represented by service programs from a plurality of service providers;

processing data captured from the user interfaces or stored in a consumer profile database using at least one of the following program modules associated with the IPCS;

(a) a Service Comparison/Selection Module for finding service programs that match consumer profiles to a predetermined degree;

(b) an Automatic Bill Payment Module, for allowing consumers to engage in automated billing transactions;

(c) an Automated Services Monitoring Module for monitoring service program databases for service programs that match consumer profiles to a predetermined degree and notifying consumers of matching programs;

(d) an Automated Best Services Selection Module for finding service programs that match consumer profiles to a predetermined degree and automatically enrolling consumers in matching programs;

(e) a Services Search Module for finding service programs that are offered on Internet websites not directly associated with the IPCS;

(f) an Incentive Program Module for analyzing consumers'"'"' bills and spending habits to determine service programs offered through the IPCS that better match consumers'"'"' needs;

(g) a Data Mining Module for generation of information from data stored in or passed through the IPCS; and

(h) a Pooling Module for providing a group of consumers benefits for group transactions with a service provider.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the data is processed using at least two of the modules.